Family PIcture 2009

Here's the family picture we took on Sunday! I know Dad's in heaven having all surrounding his '57 Chevy!

Back row left to right: Valerie, Chris, Dad, Derek, Corey, Robin, Mike, Dave, Amy, & Mason.

In Car: Jenna and Julia

Front: Joe, Caden, Diana, Trey, Ian, Tyler, Mom, Luke and Michael.

It was a great weekend with all the family in to visit!

Chris and Val's Wedding

Friday night was the big day for Chris and Val! It was a wonderful wedding and it was a gorgeous day! Everything was perfect from my point of view as we welcomed our newest sister in law! Congrats!


Ian, Luke and Mason all dressed up for the occasion... Ian REALLY loved the dancing! He was out there shakin' his bootie with me! How fun! Luke didn't like the loud music, and ran off numerous times, and finally crashed around 10 pm. Mason was a handful, but loved the food (go figure) and the cake, and finally crashed around 9:30. It was a long night for them!


Me, Val, Chris, Joe and Robin. The siblings welcome Val to the clan!

And then there is Uncle Mike, teaching Ian and his cousin Tyler the REAL use of fancy silverware! HA! They had fun together!

Goggle-Head Mason

Yesterday after the parade, I was at my mom's and we were playing with Mason and the swimming goggles. He was SO incredibly cute with them on, I had to capture it! haha! Isn't he adorable? After he was done playing with them on his face, he just kept them around his neck for about another hour or so... he thought he was cool! You're so funny, Mason! I love you sugar!

CLASSIC! This one is going to be my new desktop!

Popcorn Parade!

We had a pretty good time watching the Popcorn Festival Parade yesterday morning. We got there just as it started and walked a pretty good distance, to be at the tail end of the parade route. Unfortunately, some other people stood in front of us the whole time, so we didn't really see the parade stuff until it was right in front of us. But it was good. The boys liked all the police cars and firetrucks and horses and floats. It wasn't as great of a parade as it has been in the past, but it was fun to get out anyway and do something different. The boys got lots of candy and a flag (which they used as a sword - go figure) I think Luke had his fingers almost touching his brain inside his ears... he doesn't enjoy loud noises at all... so his fingers were in there the entire parade - although one ear was exposed when candy was tossed to them! haha

Luke Starts Preschool!

Today was Luke's first day of TLC Preschool! Yeah! We didn't know for sure if he'd make it, cause he was up coughing last night, but we made it and he is going to have a great time! He was a little leary when we got there, and asked me if I was going to stay, but then he saw the big slide, sandbox and train set with all the toys in the craft/free play room his class will start in and he didn't even notice I was in the room anymore! He is in a class of 10 boys and no girls! His teacher is way excited to have an all boy class - she's raised 4 boys herself, so I think she knows what she's doing, maybe she can give me some tips - and she seems VERY nice. Luke said he likes his teacher and didn't want to leave! I guess that's a good sign! Hopefully this Kindergarten Readiness will help him be ready for the big school by next year! We love you Luke and are so proud of how grown up you are becoming!

The mad dash through the FUN ROOM! He wouldn't stop long enough for me to snap a picture, so this is what you get!

Making a goofy face showing me his bucket that he gets to decorate and take with him to school each day he goes! (like his backpack)

Looks like Luke will have a FUN year at TLC!

Royal Blue for Fall Baseball

Ian is on the Royal Blue team this fall in a new fall league at Liberty Rec. He is pretty new to 'all the rules of baseball' since he has only played tee ball. But he's catching on. Wednesday was his 2nd game against the yellow team (which they lost - but the yellow team had about 8 players on the team that played on the springs all star team!) Ian struck out both times up to bat, played in right/center field, and got to be the catcher for the first inning! I was so nervous for him because he has never done that before, and he doesn't know the rules to what the catcher does... and Ian's statement to the coach while he's getting the catcher's gear on is, "Um... Coach? Where does the catcher go?" I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time! Awe... he was so nervous and scared. He told me later that he was afraid the ball was going to hit him. Obviously - plus, he doesn't catch that great yet either! But he was so cute anyway, and did a great job on his first time being catcher! He definatly has the body build for a catcher, and it does keep his mind off of playing in the grass in the outfield! haha! Last week they won their first game in the rain and all (which is why there are no pictures - I don't take the camera out in the rain) But he struck out then too. He'll get better! Love you, Ian!

A swing and a miss....

Ian's first time catching. Actually, he stood right on home plate when he first got out there. A little embarassing for me as a mom, but again, it was his first time! I love that little kid!

Making a hole in the outfield with his shoes, not paying attention as usual! Last game he made a great play from outfield and got a guy out at 2nd base, so that was good! yah!

First Day of First Grade!

And he's OFF to First Grade! Ian got on the bus this morning for his first day of first grade! He is TOTALLY excited and so am I! He got one of the teachers he wanted and his friend, Alex from church, is in his class! Yeah! We went to the open house last night at the school and got to meet his teacher, check out the class room, find his desk and have cookies! It was fun. Dave gave Ian a speacial Father's Blessing last night as well, for help with school this year. Ian was really looking forward to that too! Ian picked out his own clothes for his first day, and I think he did a good job! Needless to say, he was anxious for the day to begin! I hope it goes well for him, and I'm sure it will. He is very excited about homework, which is good! I hope he likes it most of his life, because he'll have lots of it! Ian likes being challenged, and I think his teacher will do a good job of that! I love you Ian, and hope your days in first grade are wonderful!!

My little first grader!

Doesn't he look like Dave here?

At the bus stop!

Have a great day, Ian!

Another Family Campout!

Well, we made it through 2 nights and almost 3 days of camping with the boys! It was really fun and we had a great time! We're grateful to our friends the Edwards for inviting us to go with them and their family to a campground that is own by some of their family! It was nice! There was a nice fire pit, a nice deck, shade, and plenty of fun things for the kids to do! Jerry and Marla have twins that are 7 years old, Corrine and Sean, and Ian and Luke just had a blast with them! We went swimming, played a little tennis, played at the playground, ate yummy food, and got to know our friends better! It was a good time! The weather was great at night and the boys did really well in the tent! What a fun weekend we had!

Mason and Mommy at the pool!

How cute is Mason all laying out and getting a tan!?

We got a floatie for Mason! Proved to be AWESOME for everyone!

Luke the 'Noodle' ON his noodle! He loves to go swimming, but can't do it all himself yet! The pool was WONDERFULLY warm on the first night!

Luke wearing Sean's helmet, and having a ton of fun on his bike!

Dave and Jerry trying their 'feet' at syncronized swimming.... what do you think? Not really olympic material just yet! hahaha That was hilarious!

Ian and Sean LOVED jumping into the pool! They are great swimmers!

Ian, Corrine, Sean and Luke, playing a fun game of Uno in the tent!

Mason just chilling around the campfire! He was so good on the campout, but was ready to go home yesterday! Great times were had by all!

My silly kiddos

Last week the boys were particularly loopy, so I thought I'd capture a few moments.

Mason's big thing is to do this with his tongue... it's so cute - he walks around with that tongue out on his upper lip and sticks his nose up in the air! He thinks it's hilarious!

Luke loves being in his underwear.... and putting things on his head that belong on other places! Dave calls him his spaghetti noodle! So cute!

Ian wanted to be funny too, so he reverted back to his toddler days with a bucket on his head!
My kids are a little wacky sometimes, and that's just great - they make me smile when I need it the most sometimes!

We did it! We went to the Fair!

After much tribulation..... we made it to the FAIR! Yeah! I guess I am a lame-O parent who has never taken her children to the county fair! Well, I take that back. I took Ian and Luke when Luke was about one with my mom and sister, but never with our little family! I practically had to pull teeth to get Dave to agree to it, but he knows how I am when I am set in my ways... relentless... and annoying. So, again, after much tribulation and a threat to not go at all, we made it to the fair.

The boys had a fun time - we think - and they didn't even complain after we left... although they were excited to go home and play the new fishing game Dave bought for the Wii with his birthday money! All in all - and after much tribulation - we had a good time!

Luke and Ian with the Fire Truck that closed before we left.

Luke and Ian on the Dragon Ride -whoa... that was a handful. Luke ended up crying for being so scared on the third time around and the guy had to stop the roller coaster... Poor little Luke! I felt so horrible! Mason and I - Mason didn't like all the noise of the rides at ALL!

Daddy and Mason. Luke petting a baby pig.

Dave can't get away from the lawn mowers - even on his day off! The boys liked all the tractors and John Deer equipment.

Luke like the boats because they went 'slow'. He was much more calm on this one as opposed to the Dragon Coaster! Ian and I LOVED the swings! One of my favorites since childhood!

Ian and Luke rode the motorcycles first - Ian had a blast while Luke was a bit uneasy! I really don't think Luke's facial expression changed throughout the whole ride...

Feeding the potbelly pigs, and Ian rides the bumper cars. Well, he only went about 3 feet... he didn't understand how to drive it... oh well... but what a waste of 3 tickets! ah!