Strawberry Jam

On Sunday afternoon, the kids, Grandma Selhorst, and I went to Fulton Farms to pick strawberries.  We got back to Columbus on Monday around lunch and then made jam!  24 jelly jars and 3 freezer pints.  It was our first time making homemade jam and it's delicious!

Anna enjoyed picking the strawberries more than anyone else.  Xavier and Isabelle thought it was too hot, so they picked a few and then left me and Anna to finish!

Xavier and Anna played on the wooden train set for a little bit after strawberry picking.

Everyone helped make the jam.  Brian and Isabelle cut the tops off the strawberries and Anna and Xavier cut up the strawberries (kind of).

 Xavier and Anna were both very diligent in their cutting...

Apple Nachos

Apple nachos?  Anna says "thank you, pinterest!"

Mother's Day Circus

We went to the Ringling Brothers Circus on Mother's Day. Anna thought it was a little loud (of course!), but Xavier thought it was AWESOME!!! Isabelle has been to the circus with the Angerman's a few years ago, but she was excited to go again and had a great time.

Xavier didn't really want to pose with me...can you tell?

Anna covering her ears...

ELEPHANTS!!!

Xavier and Daddy...

Xavier and Anna each got to pick a souvenier (Isabelle didn't want one), so they both picked swords.  Xavier's lights up and has a spinner and Anna's is just a regular one with a sheath, but of course as soon as we got back to our seats, Xavier thought Anna's was neater and has been playing with hers ever since!

Tigers standing on their hind legs!  Some of these tigers were getting a little fiesty and we were pretty sure we were going to witness a tiger attack at the circus...thankfully, everything was fine!

Last Day of Preschool

Today was Xavier's last day of preschool.  He's had a great year and is ready for next year to start!  He got a certificate and a bag of golfish with a tag that read "You're o-FISH-ally done with preschool" from his teachers - too cute!

The kids sang us some of the songs they learned throughout the year.  Here they are singing "5 Little Pumpkins."

Hugging Miss Julie...

Getting his goldfish from Miss Jessica...

Zoo Day

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!  Oh my, indeed!  Jenni and I decided to take all the babysitting kids to the zoo today.  We were very on the ball and dropped Isabelle, Ethan, and Kylie off at school and then headed straight to the zoo.  2 adults, 7 kids...no problem, right!  It actually went really well and the kids are all beat!  We only made it across the road to the Shores, Australia, and Africa.  North Ameria, Polar Frontier, and Asia are for the next trip!  Check out the pics of our madness!

Everyone on the manatee (you'll notice it is IMPOSSIBLE to get 5 kids to all look at the same time!)

Levi and Abby...off to the side, poor kids!

Walking to the other side of the zoo, NOT seeing a manatee, and then going through the kangaroo land was apparently very tiring...a snack was needed!

Leopard...

Gorillas...

On the gorilla...is everyone looking?  nope!

Bonobos...

Levi enjoyed himself!

Anna didn't want to leave the bonobos, so she pouted for a while!

Carousel...this could have been a disaster, but turned out really well!  Jenni had to sit in the bench with Levi, Abby, Anna, and Alex.  Xavier was tall enough to be by himself, and I had to stand right next to Mady and Kara. 

Chasing ducks after our picnic...

Happy Mother's Day

I made handprint bouquets with the kids yesterday to give to their mom's for Mother's Day!  They turned out pretty well, even though I had to make my own purple and it looks more like gray!  Xavier said he was making his Mother's Day picture for Daddy - of course!

 Xavier also wanted to pose with his Diego picture that he painted.

 Alex

 Mady