Twin Study

One of the local health organizations, Avera, also the one I work for recently launched a Twin Study and a friend of Maggie's and I suggested we join. One of the perks is a zygocity test which means we will find out if we are identical or fraternal, something we have talked about doing for years, but have never followed through with. We enrolled and had our initial meeting last week. After a lifetime of being mistaken for one another and constantly fielding the 'are you identical' question, we will finally have a definitive answer. While the results don't really matter, I admit I would be a little let down if the results were fraternal. Time will tell! We will receive results in the fall and hope to have a little fun with our reveal.

Mouth swabs, my mom is also joining in on the experience. 

DNA test fun. 

The data is officially submitted. 

Selfie outside of the Institute for Human Genetics.

Birthday fun for everyone.

What a wild and fun few days. It is safe to say that we are all in birthday recovery mode over here. We have been busy planning, prepping and celebrating, from one gathering to the next. We finally have a chance to chill today, minimal things on the agenda which has given the kids a chance to play (and fight over ;)) Sully's new toys.

We kicked off the birthday week with a camping party for Sully. Dave reserved a spot at Newton Hills State Park a month ago or so and as it neared we thought it would be fun to host a small party there with some family friends of ours. It was on Memorial Day so it was a great way to wrap up the weekend. The party was fun! We grilled burgers and dogs and had fruit and s'mores and played and enjoyed being in the wilderness. Four families came, as well as my parents and aunt who was in town for Sully's actual birthday party the following evening. There were 12 kids, and Isaac (8) was the oldest. Needless to say, it was wild! Dave and Isaac and Sully stayed over night and everyone else went home around 8. Greta and Anna were not happy with that decision, but considering the logistics, it had to be that way. Next time they will be included in the overnight fun.

Tuesday was the official birthday and it was perfect. Isaac and Anna came to celebrate most of the day and the party was in the evening. Most of mine and Dave's family were here to make it ultra special. We had Qdoba, a piñata, presents, and cake and ice cream. What more could a four year old want!? He was so excited for what was coming next. We are so proud of our sweet Sully. He has grown up so much over the last year.

Finally, we celebrated Jeff Oliver's birthday yesterday at the baseball diamonds with ice cream to follow. It was a great gathering and fun to celebrate such a deserving guy. Happy 42nd, Jeff!

Camping presents with friends. 

So many kids!
Isaac, Beatrice, Anna, Kade, Rhys, Sully, Annika, Greta, Alexander, William, Khloe and Piper.

Campfire stories after the group had left. 

Birthday morning hike.

Paw Patrol birthday cake.

Party goers. 

Mandy, Shelley, and mom.

Birthday boy's little sis. 

Big hitter Isaac. 

Owen breaks it with the big guns. 

Jeff helping Greta get some loot. 

Cousin Matthew surprises Sully with a new
Bayern Munich soccer shirt. 

Blowing out the birthday candles with his favorite girl, Anna. 

Family photo. 

Celebrating Jeff. 

Dave turns 54!

Birthdays are for celebrating. 

As Dave's birthday approached we tossed around several celebration ideas. We decided on dinner here with the kids, Dave's meal of choice was grilled pizzas. The pizza turned out great even though we are slightly out of practice. Dessert was Dave's favorite, chocolate bundt cake with white icing. The kids helped me decorate the cake, so needless to say, it was full of green and pink sprinkles. It was a mellow and perfect evening. 

We celebrated with family last evening and really wanted to keep it focused on downtown favorites. We met for drinks and apps at Prairie Berry followed by dinner on the patio at The Market, we ended the evening at Crave on their patio. It was fun to walk everywhere and appreciate the vast improvements of downtown and the absolute perfect weather. Dave and I are both moving a little slow today but still feel a high after the fun we had. We are so grateful for everyones enthusiasm for Dave and I am so thankful that I get to party plan for such a deserving guy. It reminds me of when I was in the hospital after I delivered Sully. A nurse walked in and made the connection that I was married to Dave (he works with many of the staff there when he does OB cases). She quickly said 'so you are Dr. Munce's wife? He was the most eligible bachelor around here for so many years!' As perfect timing and life collided, fate stepped in and yes, I am the lucky one. But he is lucky, too :). We compliment each other so well and I am proud to call him mine. Between our kids and our life, my cup runneth over. 

Happy Birthday, babe! Its just going to keep getting better.

Daddy's girls in matching clothes.

Bayern Munich matching jammies.

Daddy takes the princess to Hy Vee. 

Dave and the kids and birthday fun.

Sarah, Troy, Dave, Lauren, Matt, Cassandra, and Ashlee. 

Dave and I. 

The whole group!
Sarah, Cassandra, Ashlee, Matt, Paul, Mary Ellen, Troy,
Suzie, Dave, Matt, Lauren, Maggie, Liz, and Jeff. 

School is out for summer!

Sully had his final day of preschool last week and Greta joined me for the preschool party. It was fun to see all of the kids and their parents and to have one last gathering.

Sully has grown so much over the last year. For the first 4-5 months of school, he was unable name anyone in his class and he would say so little about school. He would often cry at drop off, but would calm quickly with the help of his teachers. By the end of the year he could name his two best buddies, Jack and Alex, was dressing himself, buckling his own car seat, and totally knew the drill. He has grown so much in the last few months, we are so proud of him.

Sully will continue with Miss Jean, Miss Jaspers, and Miss Amy (for speech) through the summer along with a camp or two. Greta will also continue with Miss Jaspers through the summer and she cannot wait to start with Miss Jean one morning a week in the fall. Piper will hang with me :).

We look forward to park and pool days this summer, and are really hoping to finish up with outside projects so we can get house things off of our mind for a year or so. We are currently getting ready for sod, prepping to replace the driveway and waiting for the rest of the fence to go up. Hopefully a couple of these things will happen this week. Ill get back to some before and after photos of the last spaces when the outside is done. We hope to do some landscaping and to replace the shutters after we have had some recovery time (probably next spring). We do have a short punch list that we are also slowly working on. In time, in time ;).

Costume day. Police man/Chase.

Celebration day at Kindermusic with Maggie. 

My early riser.

Adventures with Miss Jean.

First day of school (Sept '15).

Last day (May '16).

First day (Sept '15).

Last day (May '16).

Fun at the Falls after speech. 

Hello May!

We are well into May and its been jam packed with fun activities and warm weather...finally!

As soon as we returned from California I bought a new attachment for the stroller so Sully could ride on the back and it has been life changing. I feel like we are so much more mobile. Im not afraid to take them all on a stroller ride to the park, or to go visit Dave. I wish it had an odometer on it as I can't even begin to imagine the miles we have walked over the past almost four years (what!? I can't believe Sully will be four soon).

In the last week, Dave and I have had two date nights, I have work two evenings, and threw a baby shower, oh and Mother's Day. We are so busy having fun. I feel like my life has opened up since Piper turned six months and since I started working one shift per week. It is just enough to get out of the house and to miss the kids, and for them to miss me. It has put a spring in my step. We have been able to schedule the shifts for when Dave is early out so we have babysitter coverage for about 5 hours during the day which also gives Dave an opportunity to hit the gym. My parents have been helping by picking Sully up from school, which has been fun for both Sully and them. We are still figuring things out around here, but it is safe to say we are headed in the right direction.

On Saturday morning Maggie and I threw a baby shower for our friend Sonia Schumacher. She has been waiting her whole life for this baby and it was so fun to honor her. Maggie and I work so well together, picking up the slack where the other leaves off. She will claim that she picks up after my messes, but we all know its just the opposite ;). Mega thanks to Dave for taking the kids so I could have the house to host. Saturday evening Dave and I went to Art's Night, an annual auction which has turned into one of our favorite outings of the year. We sat at a table with some neighbors for the second year in a row and had a blast. Many of the couples bought art which really brings the level of excitement up. AND, my mom annually gets her art selected, it was exciting to see her's go for $1,000, in the top 15%...yay mom! We can hardly wait until next year.

Mother's Day was perfect. We woke up on Sunday morning and the kids gave me my Mother's Day gift which was a pot of planted flowers they had done the previous day with Dave. It was so sweet. We followed that up with breakfast here and a walk and then lunch and naps. We went to my parent's for pizza after. It was mellow and relaxing. I'm SO thankful to have my kids. They are all so sweet and silly and they fill my heart. Oh, and Dave. Mucho thanks to him for being supportive and helping us to survive this wild (but fun) time in our life.

The amazing stroller. 

Checking out Grandma Banana's art submission for Art's Night. 

Piper tries bananas. 

Oliver kids sleep over, we do nails!

Playing and sleeping in the secret room (Greta slept in her crib :)).

This diva is tired after a morning of fun
(she is sneaking in a car snooze).

Piper is 6 months old!

10 years at Avera! 

Shower cohost selfie. 

Cohosts and guest of honor. 

The spread. 

The flowers, courteous of Maggie's garden. 

Art's Night fun with the Weisses, Balouns, Kimbers, Fritzes, and Edelens. 

Mother's Day love. 

"Punder and mightening is scary, lets hide GG!"
-Sully, almost 4. 

Playing dress up with Piper
(yes, Sully wiped out again, that poor face)!

Sully helps daddy hang our Art's Night purchase.

Park fun with Greta while Sully is at school.
Her tongue matches her shirt and shoes.