Saturday

We had a really nice, relaxing, fun day yesterday!  We started off with our first trip of the year to the Des Moines Farmer's Market.  We LOVE the Farmer's Market!!!!!!!  We always try to go early (usually by 8 or so, but today we should have gone earlier-- it was busy!), grab some yummy coffee at Java Joe's, and then enjoy walking the downtown streets and checking out the booths.  LOVE it.

Today was extra special at the Farmer's Market, because it was Police Day when all the police, fire, and city vehicles are out on the bridge on display!  HELLO!!!!  Jeremiah's dream come true! :)  I think we spent more time with the vehicles today than at the market, but that's okay-- we have many more Saturdays to enjoy everything the market has to offer!

All smiles-- driving a DM police gator!

Inside the Mercy One hospital helicopter!

Mommy forcing J to pet the horsey!

Checking out the bomb squad robot-- it surprised J by giving him a sucker and talking to him!

Drivin' a street sweeper.

Explaining how the vacuum truck works (there were a LOT of sound effects with that).

The bomb squad command center.

Inside the SWAT Team truck.

Old-school Ankeny police car!

After our trip to the market, we headed home to start on a yard project (well, that was mostly Adam).  He's been wanting to do some landscaping around our front step, which was pretty plain.  I mean, a big front step, grass around it..... that's it.  Of course, I totally forgot to take a "before" pic. :(  But just picture this-- a big white front step, and grass...... and that's about it.  I did find a pic from last summer where you can kind of see the boring-ness of it.

Look at that cute little guy eating a popsicle!!!!!!!  Love him.  Oh, but look past him-- BO-ring front step, grass, downspout.... and my flower pots to try to liven things up.  So, it was time for an upgrade!

Digging up the grass around the step!

Lunch break!  And Daddy planting-- different ornamental grasses and daylillies!

Laying the rock.

Watering our new plants!

J's Father's Day gift to Daddy last year has a prominent spot-- how cute is that? :)

The finished product!

Quite a Weekend!

Well, as I think back on my many (3) years as a Mom and celebrating Mother's day as a Mom, it seems that Mother's Day weekend almost always includes other special events.  I don't mind a bit-- makes for a wonderful weekend of celebration! :)  My first Mother's Day was extra special because Jeremiah was also baptized on that day!  The next year we actually had nothing else going on that weekend-- and I got to experience my first "Mother's Day Tea" at J's daycare (be sure to click that link and then watch the video from the tea party-- what a difference 2 years makes!).  Then last year, Mother's Day also fell on the weekend of my Dad's retirement festivities, so we were in Wisconsin.  And this year is no exception!

This past weekend we not only got to celebrate Mother's Day, but also Adam's graduation from William Penn University!!!  I am so so so unbelievably proud of my hubby!  He has worked SO incredibly hard the past 2 years-- going to class each week, completing tons of homework online, oh and not to mention working full time and having a family!  He graduated with a BA in Business Management, but not only that, he graduated with honors.  Unfortunately he did not get to hear his name at graduation followed by "Summa Cum Laude," but he should have!  He is technically an August graduate, though, as he has 4 more weeks left to complete.  So his honors will be added to his transcripts at that time.  But isn't that awesome?!?!?!?!?  Way to go, hubs!!!!

How a 3 year old sits through a loooooong graduation ceremony.

The verse in the graduation program-- our favorite!!

J and I are so proud! :)

Both my parents and Adam's parents came for this momentous occasion, which was so nice!  J LOVED having all of his Grandpas and Meemas at his house!!!

Oh, and I did have a wonderful Mother's Day, too!  My guys spoiled me rotten! :)

On Friday, I went to the "Mother's Day Tea" at Jeremiah's daycare.  Check out THIS VIDEO of the songs the kids sang-- such a difference from 2 years ago!!!!

J and his friends "on stage."

It was a Tea Party-- hence my lovely hat and corsage! :)

Friday night we went out for dinner to Panera (where else?) with my parents, and then hit Van Dee's for ice cream!!!

This boy loves his ice cream!

J enjoyed stories with Grandma!

On Sunday, we went to church with our parents and then headed home.  Adam, the grillmaster, grilled up some delicious steaks for lunch!

And it was nice enough to eat outside!

It was a wonderful weekend!  Adam and J got me some jewelry, a mani/pedi gift certificate, and also flowers delivered to school on Thursday!  See?  Spoiled rotten! :)

Love love love this boy!  So blessed to be his Mommy!

It was so nice to be able to celebrate Adam and his accomplishments this weekend, too.  Now, we'll see where God leads our family!