Kraus House

April is here and almost gone. Mother nature has been teasing us with warm temps one day and the next snow. We have had showers some days and nice inviting sun the next. May is right around the corner and we are getting excited for some special boys 8th birthday! Jeff has the itch to get out in the boat and cast a few lines to see if any fish will bite. So far on the two trips he has taken, only the bottom feeders are going for the bait. School is getting closer to the end and it saddens me to know that this amazing school year will be over. Jayden has had an amazing teacher and has grown so much; we are so proud of him. And our family has grown one person larger with the addition of our new little niece Claudia. We hope that you can find some fun looking at our adventures we have had in the month of April.

Whoops, we did have a get together at the end of March that I forgot to include in last months posting. Here are the kids enjoying some cousin time. Can't believe how fast everyone is growing.

Us girls. Love that us cousins still get together almost every month.

Family picnic that turned a little silly!

When I went to my parents one afternoon, I couldn't believe all the robins in their neighbors yard. The picture doesn't even capture how many there were, but I tried.

Who's a big brother? GRANT!!!

Introducing Claudia Grace Claffey! Congrats to my sister Nicole and Mike.

The Claffey Family. I feel that the next few years are going to be crazy, but a lot of fun.

Proud big cousin! Jayden knows his responsibility is to be a great role model for all his little cousins.

Grandma and Grandpa Stoffel bought him new PJ's for being a great helper. Jayden said "Daddy, look, Grandma bought these for me for being such a great babysitter." Love how kids interpret things.

Can't get enough of this little girl.

Jayden checking out Grandpa Stoffel's new boat. Think we found the new caption of this ride!

Winter in Spring. Thought these pictures were pretty. Let's hope that Spring comes back.

Grant took over the camera. He just wants anyone's phone or camera so you have to watch out.

Picking Jayden us from school in fashion! We thought it would be a great surprise for Jayden, which is was.

Decorating eggs. Grant was more interested in smelling Claudia's feet though. Maybe next year he will show more interest.

Jeff took Jayden on two Easter Egg hunt.

After the egg hunt they took a little trip to Bubholz nature preserve to check out the new dock and the snakes.

Easter 2014.

Jeff was able to get out in the boat and fish a little. He decided to go on a little adventure himself and find where a little creek would take him. Well, it took him to a really neat place to take a picture.

Jayden found deer tracks in the yard after school. He thought that was pretty cool.

Here is proof that the deer were really here.

Cousin's just hanging out, watching a movie together.

So happy to see us girls, the "triplets", together again. Linds made it home from China safely with her family and Nat was able to be there with her new 1 week old. They acutally had a few other of their kids there too. These girls are amazing mothers...between the two of them, they have 11 children 9 and under. Their parents are so lucky and blessed to have 6 grandboys and 6 grandgirls.

Congrats to the new babies! Nicole with Claudia(3 weeks old), Natalie with Theo(1 week old) and Danielle with Reuel(3 weeks old). Claudia and Reuel share the same birthday which is pretty cool. It was great to be with the family again.

Girls night out! We decided to celebrate Kristin's birthday with dinner and drinks which turned into a night out with friends. It was great to spend quality girl time with no husbands or children.

We even ran into Jeff and Chad's Uncle Buck! What a trooper to put up with us girls.

Buck's girlfriend Liz was there too. At this time I think we were feeling pretty good and I decided to turn to water. Pretty sure I was the best one out of the group.

It was so nice to hang with my great friend Teresa too(her husband Chris was there too). We had such a good time to just hang out and have no worries! Love girls night out!

Our family wishes you a Happy Spring and hope that everyone has a great May! Our May schedule is going to book up quick, but looking forward to the many adventures to come.

Have a wonderful May!

Jeff, Heather and Jayden

This month we have had lots of fun and hope that you all have too. We know that the weather hasn't been the nicest here in Wisconsin, but we tried to make the most of it. Looking forward to a little warmer temps, but we are all good with what ever comes our way. As long as we can be together as a family, what difference does it matter.

Jayden's Nature Ranger class this month was all about Maple Syrup. We learned a little about their adopt a bucket program, decorated a bucket and took a hike out to the Sugar bush. The other kids in the picture are a family that we usually share a table with.

Here is Jayden drilling into the Maple tree so when it warms up, the sap should run.

Quiz time...how many gallons of sap does it take to make 1 gallon of syrup? 40 gallons. Jayden is enjoying some syrup on ice cream. What a wonderful and yummy treat after the big hike.

Time for some fun at the farm. We went sledding on the hills and enjoyed it greatly.

Jayden found a kitty and actually was able to pick this one up. He loves to look in the barn for all the kitties.

Grandma and Grandpa Stoffel posing with Jayden for a candid farm shot.

Oh yes, I did talk my mom into going sledding with Jayden. Guess you can still act like a kid even if you have a mile stone birthday around the corner.

Jayden showing Grant the lady bugs he found on the window. Lets just say that the lady bugs don't have a chance around Grant. I'm sure Jayden will be showing more bugs and critters to come.