A Visit from Grandpa & Grandma Kostman......
This past week Brandon's parents came to visit the us and the grand kids. It was so nice visiting with them and the kids had a great time spending time with there grandpa and grandma. Also so many projects got done around the house, which is such a blessing.

The First Garage Sale Find of the Season......
Deforest had there city wide garage sales last weekend and I came across this Little Tikes picnic table for $15. What a great deal:) The kids love it and it will be a great way to keep some mess outside.

New Bathroom flooring....
One of the big projects that Brandon's dad did while he was here was put new flooring in our upstairs bathroom. I should of taken pictures of the old flooring, but I didn't think about it till it was torn out. Just think late 70's patterns and it was so dingy and dirty, but now we have super nice new flooring. It sure changes the look of the bathroom. The last thing that I am going to do to finish up the bathroom is fame the mirror with some wood trim. That will make the bathroom look really sharp.

Before:
After:

Gabe's Birthday Pictures.......
It was so nice to have Grandpa and Grandma Kostman here for Gabriel's Birthday. I was able to put together a double layer chocolate cake with almond butter cream frosting and it was a big hit. Wow it hard to believe he is 2 years old and such a cutie.

Happy 2nd Birthday Gabriel.....

Today my little guy turns 2 and it's hard to believe. We will post some birthday pictures in a couple days. Grandma and Grandpa Kostman are coming for a visit and so we are going to have a birthday party for him on Sunday night.

Noah is almost 4 months old.....
What a cutie pie:) He started rolling over at around 3 months old, which was the first week of May and he is a very good baby. He also is sleeping a good 5 to 6 hours stretch at night and takes several good naps during the day. I could not be more blessed with this little sweetie.

Leaving for a Long Weekend......
The kids and I are leaving tomorrow to visit Grandpa & Grandma Marting and attend a graduation party on Friday. Brandon has to stay behind because his finals start at the end of the week. It's hard to believe that his first year of school is done. I will post some new pictures next week. Also have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend.

Anna's First Bike.......
Brandon and I had been thinking that we needed to get some kind of bike for Anna to ride this summer, but we weren't sure were we'd find it. I was hoping that I'd come across one at a garage sale. Well, we took some stuff to Goodwill earlier this week and as Brandon was unloading the trunk I noticed on the bike rack in front of Goodwill that they had this little blue bike with training wheels. How perfect:) So we snatched it up right away and Anna was all excited. We also picked up a larger girls' bike that she'll be able to ride in a few years. We paid a total of $20 for the two of them. Here are some pictures of Anna's first bicycle ride. She had trouble at first figuring out that she needed to keep the pedaling going the same direction. She'd be pedaling along and suddenly pedal the opposite direction and cause the back tire to skid. She's learning quickly, though.

Dress #2 Completed.....
Well I have completed another little dress for Anna. I am having lots of fun. This dress turned out much better then the first and I ordered another dress pattern , which is a little different style and am hoping to make another dress in the next couple of weeks. One nice thing about these dresses is they are long enough that they should fit her for a while, which will be nice.

Just call me Nurse Kostman...

Brandon, here. Renee's husband. This blog is usually Renee's domain, but she told me I had to post something regarding my big news: It seems that the U.W. Madison - School of Nursing has seen fit to accept me into their BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program for the Fall of 2008. Before you know it I'll be wearing cartoon character scrubs to work instead of steel toed boots and a 7-Up uniform. I know that most female nurses wear floral print scrubs, or Care Bears, or some other rot, but, as a guy, that's just not me. I'll do my best to find some scrubs with ninjas, or maybe GI Joe, or Batman on them. Being a Murse (male nurse), I wouldn't want to be mistaken for a Madison metrosexual or, even worse, a Madison homosexual.

As it stands now, I have two weeks of class left this semester and then finals. I start my summer job working at 7-Up at the end of May. Nursing School starts the first week of September.

Brandon

Turned around and came home......
Yesterday I attempted to take the kids for a walk. It was very windy outside which made it a bit difficult to walk, but that wasn't the only thing that made us turn around and come home. It was the WORMS... It rained that morning, but the sun had come out and dried up most of the rain. Well you know what the ground looks like after it rains. There are worms all over the place. So as we started to head on our walk Anna started getting all scared because of the worms. After going a ways down the street I decided it would be best to turn around and come home, since she was having a real hard time walking.

On the walk I had tried to comfort her and tell her they will not hurt her, but that God created the worms for the birds to eat. So then this morning while she was coloring at the table she said, "I don't like worms." & "The birdie took all the worms away." It is so funny to listen to kids. They say some of the funniest things.

Took the kids out for a walk.....
This is a super nice backpack carrier that some friends gave to us. It is very comfortable to wear and it sure is nice to have with three little ones. The weather has been so nice here this past week that the kids and I have been able to go for several walks and have been playing outside. What a blessing:)



Noah is clean after a bath...what at cutie:)

Noah sitting up in this nice little chair from Aunt Jen....Thanks!

Here is a picture of my little guys....
Noah is getting so big. He will be turning 3 months here in just a week. Just last week I had to get the 3-6 month clothes out.

Here is Gabe wanting to get his picture taken before his sister does. What a cutie!

First Dress Attempt...
I finally was able to get to town to buy a zipper, so I could finish the dress that I started several months go. This dress is definitely one of my first, so you don't want to look too close. Anna is very excited about it and she even used some little scissors and helped me cut threads as I sewed. It was also my first attempt at putting a zipper in and I think it went pretty well. I am now ready to start another one in hopes that my skill will get better and it's great learning for my daughter as well. What I need to try to make is a dress that she can twirl in, since she loves to dance and spin. Wish me luck:)

The Little Guy Fell Asleep.....
We got the johnny jump up swing out this last week and have been putting Noah in it. He seems to enjoy it. He is able to look around and enjoy some swinging at the same time. He is such a strong little guy.

The start of many fun times outside....
It is so wonderful that the nice weather has arrived. The kids have been so stir crazy and ready to get outside and have some fun. We bought a big new bubble blower and the kids also each have a new ball. Anna really wants a bike, but we will have to see what we can come up with.

My "New" Job Title !!

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ...?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman.

'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,' Said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself

in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,

efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,

'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know.

The words simply popped out.

'I'm a Research Associate in the field of

Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and

looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,

in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,

'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,

I heard myself reply,

'I have a continuing program of research,

(what mother doesn't)

In the laboratory and in the field,

(normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)

and already have four credits (all daughters).

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,

(any mother care to disagree?)

and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).

But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers

and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she

completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,

I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.

Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,

(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,

testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the official records as someone more

distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom.'

Motherhood!

What a glorious career!

Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers
Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations

And great grandmothers

'Executive Senior Research Associates?'

I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts '
Associate Research Assistants.'

So be encouraged as mothers:)

This story was sent to me by a friend and I just had to post it. Enjoy:)

THE MUSTARD STORY
I Love Mustard. (This is a true story. If you have children you will probably relate to this father.) As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection: a thick slab of ham on a fresh bun with crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard. The corners of my jaw aching in anticipation, I carried it to the table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands but was stopped by my wife suddenly at my side. 'Here, hold Johnny (our six-week-old son) while I get my sandwich,' she said. I had him balanced between my left elbow and shoulder and was reaching again for the ham sandwich when I noticed a streak of mustard on my fingers. I love mustard. I had no napkin. I licked it off. It was not mustard. No man ever put a baby down faster. It was the first and only time I have sprinted with my tongue protruding out. With a washcloth in each hand, I did the sort of routine shoeshine boys do; only I did it on my tongue. Later, after she stopped crying from laughing so hard, my wife said, 'Now you know why they call that fancy mustard 'Poupon'.

Pictures from the last few days.......

Noah gets lots of love from his brother and sister.....

And the dog:)


It has been so nice to have some warmer weather. The kids have had a chance to get outside several times this week, which has been nice for me too. I am so looking forward to spring when I can leave the door open and let the kids go in and out. They seem to play so much better outside.

Pictures from the last couple of weeks.......



What a cute little smile.....