First Day of School - 2010

Best wishes surprise greeting for the kids this morning!


Miss Kate - ready for 3rd grade!

Ben - Kindergarten bound!!!

Look out Fairmeadows Elementary - here we come!

Well, the day that I thought I had been dreading for 5 years came and went this morning, with more ease than I ever would have imagined. Ben went to Kindergarten, meaning that I no longer have any kids left here at home with me during the day! I remember Kate's first day of Kindergarten. Being very emotional, really feeling those heart strings get a firm tug, getting teary eyed at school, but then realizing this was an exciting era that we were beginning for her at school and at the Cairney house. Now I would have the 1:1 time with Ben that Kate and I had enjoyed before his arrival! And enjoyed we did......for the past 3 years, Mr. Ben and I have laughed, cried, kissed "owies", snuggled, played at the park, ran around the bases at the baseball fields 100's of times, enjoyed the zoo, science center, picnic lunches, story times, raced cars, shot baskets, read stories, and everything else we felt like doing!!!! I will cherish these moments always, and hope that he will too, but today, when we walked to school hand in hand, I couldn't have felt more proud of him and the little guy that he is becoming.

The kids both woke up so excited for their day, and Miss Kate made it clear to me that I did not need to walk her to her room (I did not think this request would come until at least 6th or 7th grade )-: ) Anyway, Ben looked up at me and said, "You can walk me in Mom..." - thanks buddy, mommy needed that. We walked into the room, I watched him get his bag into his cubby without any problems, unpack his papers, and then he asked me "Why are there tears in your eyes Mom?" I just said, "Ben, it's just because they are happy tears. My heart is so full of them for how proud I am of you my boy, and they don't know where else to go??". He just smiled, gave me a big hug and off he went to his desk! I then walked by Kate's room, got her attention at the door, and she gave me a wave, and out the door I went.

It was such a beautiful morning here in West Des Moines.... a perfect time for me to walk home, think about how blessed I am and thank-God for the amazing little people that he put in my life.

The rest of my morning was spent over tea and snacks with my dear friend Chris - whom I just do not get to spend enough time with any more! Thanks again old girl - this morning was exactly what I needed!!!

From both kids, it sounds like they had an awesome first day, and can't wait to go back tomorrow!!!!!

tatoos and icecream

check out our tatooed babe's - compliments of the Iowa state fair


enjoying their ice cream "Wonder Bar" - it started out being chocolate covered with sprinkles - that did not last long!

A day at the Fair

Kate and I by the biggest pumpkin (weighing in at 1,312 pounds)


Kate was obviously enjoying her bite of the corn dog

The "two little farmers", picking their apples at "Little Hands on the Farm"

Ben is not so sure about reaching in for his eggs

I LOVE going to the Iowa State Fair. Mr. Cairney and I met, about 12 years ago, talked many times about all of our hobbies, interests, favorite foods, sporting events, families, traveling, church, kids, work, dreams, aspirations, etc.,... but not once do I ever remember talking about how much I love the Fair and how much he does NOT Love the Fair???? (-: So, now that we have children, they get the extreme pleasure of going with me. Kate is starting to show some signs of having memories year after year of where our favorite "foods on a stick " are located, where the famous "butter cow" is, finding the "biggest boar" ( which by the way this year was called "BIG D, and weighed in around 1,212 pounds ---which Kate then pointed out was less than the pumpkin!!!) I cannot believe that I did not get a picture of him. There is always next year right?? Anyway, it was a beautiful day last Wednesday, we rode the shuttle from the capital complex, and started our trek across the fair grounds. Our many stops included the food center (where we enjoyed looking at the cake contest winners), the baby animal barn (where we were able to watch baby chicks hatch out of their shells and the birth of a new calf and some baby pigs). I was in heaven (-: it just really brings back so many of the memories that I have growing up on the farm, playing with the 100's of baby pigs that we had, watching my ducks and chicks hatch out, etc,.,.. I just loved all of that! We then headed up to "Little Hands on the Farm", harvested the little crops that we planted, took our eggs to the market, picked out a treat from the general store, and enjoyed a corn dog for lunch. The rest of the day was spent walking thru a few museums, the old school house, watching a "grape stomp", taking a peak at the butter cow and butter sculptures of Dr. Seuss and friends, watching a few horse shows, getting as many tattoos as we could find, and of course, sharing a "Wonder Bar" - the ice cream bar of the Fair....

We had such a wonderful day. Miss Kate and I are already looking forward to next year, Ben however is contemplating staying home with his Dad (-: how could the boy that runs around the baseball bases 100+ times, dripping in sweat, complain that his "legs were tired" of all of the walking??? I guess this story is to be continued until next year???? I hope that he decides to join us --- who knows, maybe Doug will come along too!

pizza for lunch

The kids, enjoying their upper level, patio seating arrangement

A friend of mine from work recommended that we try out "Shot Tower" pizza for lunch before we headed back to Des Moines and it was great! The upper level, covered patio was perfect for a beautiful afternoon. Not being used to ordering for a family of 6, and with kids that said "we are not very hungry" we guessed correctly on the large cheese for the kiddos and doug and I enjoyed a small "cheeseburger deluxe" pizza! It was a great weekend - thanks Cassie and Elly for being such ladies all weekend, I really enjoyed the time with you both....can't wait for the Cairney camp out!

Weekend in Dubuque

Doug and I over looking the mighty river


Elly, Cassie, Kate and Ben, strutting their stuff on the top of the river banks


Elly, Cassie and Kate, enjoying the beautiful morning

Mr. Ben, tossing a few rocks

The Cairney cousins: Annie, TJ, Ben. Back - Hailey, Cassie, Jenna, Kate,

Lauren and Elly.

We had such a great time celebrating with Kyle and Maddy at their wedding reception in Dubuque a few weeks ago. Our two neices (Kate's only girl cousins (-: Cassie and Elly ) were able to ride over and stay with us for the weekend and that was also a delight to have them along. Ben and Doug survived all of the giggling and "girl power" in the van/hotel for 24 hours....besides being stuck on I-80 going East and West both times for 1+ hours due to traffic accidents, and Ben setting a new record for the most wedding cake ever eaten in one night (3+ pieces) it was a very uneventful trip. After the reception, we all headed back to the hotel. I was privileged enough to get to stay up late with all of the girls for a very giggly, but entertaining game of "Apples to Apples Jr" in the lobby until 11-11:30. Kate thought this was so fun, and I agree, it is so much fun! Spending time with your girl cousins, giggling, and just enjoying being together!!!! It reminded me so much of when I was younger.

After breakfast on Sunday morning, we headed down to the river walk area in downtown Dubuque. It is beautiful there, and we could not have picked more perfect weather. The kids enjoyed their time outside, throwing rocks and just being "kids".

Dress shopping

Kate, Papa, Aunt Wendi, Jonny, Ben and Nanny


Aunt Wendi and Kate

We had the pleasure of meeting my parents and my sister Wendi in Omaha a few weeks ago to shop for Miss Kate her flower girl dress.....she had the best time, and we ended up finding one right away. You know what they say, sometimes you just know once you put it on. Papa gave it the double thumbs up immediately and we were sold! Now for those of you that don't know Kate really well, you should be informed that she is more of a "sporty spice" usually instead of the "princess" type, but she loves this dress and cannot wait for the wedding next May.

Aunt Wendi, you look absolutely gorgeous in this gown!!! Thanks for making your day so special for all of us.....we love you XOXOXOX

A day at the zoo

the kids and I in the Desert Dome


Check out the shark right behind them in the aquarium


Ben did not really want to share his snack with this peacock, but she really liked us!

the new Madagascar Lemur exhibit was so amazing. here are a few of the furry friends!

We love this water "globe" outside of the Desert Dome

We survived one of the hottest days at the Omaha Zoo a few weeks ago, but we had the best time! I am a huge fan of the zoo and have tons of fond memories of going there as a child with my parents (whom both also love the zoo!) So, to get to spend those moments there with Doug and the kiddo's were fun for me. Ben said that his favorite parts were the polar bear eating the watermelon for a snack (that was quite amazing to see, red cheeks and all (-:!!! ), and the monkey house. Kate loved the lemurs, and the desert dome. Doug tolerated all of us, the heat, and the zoo (thanks for hanging with us all day dearie!) and I just loved it all~so many new things (the butterfly house, the lemur exhibit, the skyfari ride ~ thanks Henrly Doorly Zoo for such a great day...we will be back soon!!!!