Much of this summer has been spent shirtless and dirty! What more did you expect right? Our neighbors all seem to be very clean all the time. How do they do that? Maybe its the farm blood in us. We like to be in the dirt (or if your Ava, eating dirt...and as it appears in this picture Kale may have had a big bite as well. Either that or it's chocolate. I'm betting on chocolate!) By sunset, if we aren't a little grubby with a few stains on the clothes we actually ARE wearing, we have been TOO lazy! :) (when I say "we" I mean "the kids" I am fully clothed :))
Over the Fourth (having to jog my memory of what even went on back then) we had the Schueller family join us down here. Kale loved having those babies around. He could hold a baby for hours. And the smaller the baby, the more he wants to snuggle. He was particularly fond of Macie this weekend. Ava, gave the babies no attention....
Note to all parents of young children: A backyard little blowup pool is worth EVERY penny. (Even if the water does get a ..whats the word Cole? Stagnant or something? Cole's paranoid about it..lighten up! :)) We spent hours and hour jumping in this thing! With or without water! with or without safety goggles as well! expect nothing less from kale!
This is my absolute favorite picture from the Fourth weekend. Apparently, our fireworks didn't even leave the ground. Landyn wanted nothing to do with pictures. All of his shouting was too loud for Macie who showed her disgust with that sweet lil' pouty lip, Ava was easily distracted and off to the races.... and then there was Kale, who wanted nothing more than to get this picture over with so he could leave, trying to hold the crew together with all his might. Needless to say, we called it a wrap... no picture of happy little angels in matching Fourth of July shirts. Maybe next year!
Our neighbors, Jill and Jeremy, kindly allowed the kids and I to crash their party with their family. Kale LOVED running around with all those kids. Here are some of the kids waiting for fireworks. They were more impressed by the dollar laser lights! It was a perfect night (minus the fact that Joe had to work but don't worry he joined after hours!)
Sweetie corn Ava! Big girls eat corn right off the cob and ...shirtless, of course!
And her pretty pink toenails! So, she won't let me put anything in her hair and I was feeling a little more girly than normal and I decided to take on the task of painting Ava's toenails. I knew my little busy bee would NEVER sit still long enough for me to accomplish this task under normal circumstances....SOOO I put her in the highchair and distracted her with a yummy ice cream treat. It wasn't graceful by any means but I haggled and wrestled and we got those suckers painted and you better believe they looked pretty! :)
Kale has made several successful attempts at this no training wheel thing. He can go straight on his own and is quite proud. However, his bike is never actually and "bike" to him. Its many other things. (i.e. motorcycle, crop sprayer, tractor, A+ lawncare treatment applicator, etc.) Those types of machines have a lot of work to do on a daily basis. So, it isn't long before he needs to make of for lost time of only going straight and get those training wheels back on so he can get his work done!
We spent a few days in Okoboji with the Goeken's! Mom and Dad rented a gorgeous condo (which we are trying to convince them of gettting one of their own..... it only seems logical right?). The kids all had a great time swimming, boating, fishing and catching fireflies. How wonderful!
Ava enjoyed the park there, as always. She loves to swing, slide and climb! And look at that sweet lil smirk.
Kale loved playing captain Kale in the boat and learning how to fish with Papa.
All the kids and Nana and Papa ready to go for a late afternoon cruise. It worked out perfectly and turned out to be a nice relaxing vacation with everyone.
Drake has been exhausted this summer. The neighbors got a dog, Max. They like to chase each other back and forth from their opposing sides of the fence. It makes for great exercise. In fact, Drake is down 2 pounds (which is a miracle considering all the foods Ava proudly feeds him during mealtime.) Our vet commended us for keeping him in great shape... :) Thanks Max for making us look good!
Hours in the sandbox. Lots of repeated phrases like, "Not in your mouth Ava." "No, Ava. Don't eat the sand." "Mom, Ava just ate all my sand!".... yep people, the girl loves dirt. we're talking not a tiny bit of sand..A WHOLE MOUTHFUL of sand...and shes sneaky about it!! Little stinker. Will she be on TLC's my stange addiction?..please, no!
Note #2 to parents of young children... Halloween costume are worth EVERY penny! Lots and lots of superheros, cops, firefighters and farmers at our house (just wait for the fairy princess costumes to join the collection!)
Kale got to go to VBS for the first time this summer. Here he is at church in his Wild For Jesus shirt. Overall success!
Ava has joined Kale in the love of books (which makes this teacher momma very happy :)). And again, in the underwear... don't judge people, less laundry!
Farmer Kale, husking our meal.
We love the pool! We are poolrats. Ava loves the water. It has been so fun to see how much they both have grown since the beginning of the summer. Ava loved the pool from the beginning but now she loves to find just the right depth so she can lay with her ears below the water and listen to the splashing. Kale, too, loved the water from the get go.... but amazingly he went from someone who THOUGHT he could swim to a someone who actually COULD swim. He swims under water like a little fish! He is so proud of himself!
Joe had to work and we were antsy, so we packed up to the state fair parade. Ava sat right beside Kale on the curb the whole time. They both seemed to be pleased. I on the other hand was thinking this was NOT worth a late bedtime. But, it wasn't about me right????? That's what I kept telling myself ;)!
Our state fair is a great state fair (insert the rest of the lyrics I don't know here)... We went to opening day of the state fair. We aren't very big fair goers (in fact, we didn't go at all last year) but the weather was absolutely gorgeous so we decided to pack up the troops! Surprisingly, it wasn't that crowded. Not even a line for the bathroom (and as it turns out we are very thankful for that...long story for another day)..phew!
Our state fair is a great state fair (insert the rest of the lyrics I don't know here)... We went to opening day of the state fair. We aren't very big fair goers (in fact, we didn't go at all last year) but the weather was absolutely gorgeous so we decided to pack up the troops! Surprisingly, it wasn't that crowded. Not even a line for the bathroom (and as it turns out we are very thankful for that...long story for another day)..phew!
We are typically very spontaneous in just about everything that we do...BUT this time i made an itinerary of what we were going to see in our visit. Way more fun, an itinerary is highly recommended! :) Kale enjoyed everything (except for when we decided to have Ava get a free eye exam. She screamed and so... Kale did too. He was "worried". Surprise surprise, his favorite part was sitting on the tractors, skidloaders and lawnmowers...hes a cheap fair date. Ava, of course, insisted on sitting on everything as well!
The big slide was fun! It IS a great state fair!
Joe has been keeping busy with work. He really likes his job and we are lucky enough to be living in an area where I don't worry. BUT you just never know. Joe has seen a lot this summer. In our relatively low key area we are occasionally reminded of us of what his job entails and the sacrifices he could and would make if he was put in a difficult situation. We just pray that he will make smart quick decisions and stay safe!
We have also been sucked into following some blogs of friends (actually friends of friends, that we don't even know personally) that are dealing with illnesses and now deaths of their sweet babies. One situation was a baby girl in, who at 7 months, was suffering from liver failure and died waiting for a donor. It is sad. It really hits home when you have young children yourself. We are now feeling guilty for our worries/stresses about Kale listening the first time, being gentle and calm, and using good table manners and Ava waking up before 6:30am, gagging herself on purpose at the table, screamign to get out of her carseat and picking her nose. We have two beautiful healthy children to be thankful for who are happy (well, most of the time). And somewhere, right now, parents are dealing with so many bigger life altering issues including the death of their precious baby. I can not even imagine! I am sure they would give anything for their child to wake them up in the middle of the night or throw a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. My heart is so heavy for this family (again, that I don't even know but I feel like I do). Hug your babies people. Tomorrow is no guarantee. I am not going to sweat the small stuff with our kids anymore. They are just kids. Our kids. Happy and, thank God, healthy kids.
Look at these big baby blues.... and that beloved plug she can't get enough of! She is only to have it when resting or riding (but sometimes she suckers us into letting her have it more) but for the record she IS riding in this picture...a wagon ride counts!
Look at those big green eyes! and nope! luckily, he doesn't have a plug during resting OR riding ;). But oh does this boy give us a run for our money. But I guess I can only blame myself. From what I hear I am getting a taste of my own medicine..... and I wouldn't have it any other way (but if he could just go with the flow a little better...)
One of Ava's "looks" she has many of them... she has cute, shy, flirty,surprised and a not so nice "what the hell do you want!"... I think that would be this one. I guess her momma trys to make her smile too much for the camera. She's not taking the bait today!
Cheers to the end of summer and the start of fall! Looking foward to watching these two grow some more!
The big slide was fun! It IS a great state fair!
Joe has been keeping busy with work. He really likes his job and we are lucky enough to be living in an area where I don't worry. BUT you just never know. Joe has seen a lot this summer. In our relatively low key area we are occasionally reminded of us of what his job entails and the sacrifices he could and would make if he was put in a difficult situation. We just pray that he will make smart quick decisions and stay safe!
We have also been sucked into following some blogs of friends (actually friends of friends, that we don't even know personally) that are dealing with illnesses and now deaths of their sweet babies. One situation was a baby girl in, who at 7 months, was suffering from liver failure and died waiting for a donor. It is sad. It really hits home when you have young children yourself. We are now feeling guilty for our worries/stresses about Kale listening the first time, being gentle and calm, and using good table manners and Ava waking up before 6:30am, gagging herself on purpose at the table, screamign to get out of her carseat and picking her nose. We have two beautiful healthy children to be thankful for who are happy (well, most of the time). And somewhere, right now, parents are dealing with so many bigger life altering issues including the death of their precious baby. I can not even imagine! I am sure they would give anything for their child to wake them up in the middle of the night or throw a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store. My heart is so heavy for this family (again, that I don't even know but I feel like I do). Hug your babies people. Tomorrow is no guarantee. I am not going to sweat the small stuff with our kids anymore. They are just kids. Our kids. Happy and, thank God, healthy kids.
Whoa...sorry to get all spirtual and sappy and down! Let's turn this blog around now! Phew!
Kale's recent quotes:
(at raccoon river) Kale: What's a hillbilly?
(at raccoon river) Kale: What's a hillbilly?
Me: I don't really know how to explain it...
Kale: (quickly responding) Is it like that guy?
Me: (looking at a man with a long beard, swimming in overalls...busting out laughing) yes, I guess that would be a good example.
(Conversation stopped here...later that night getting ready for bed.)
Kale: Its funny hillbillies don't like swimming suits.
(we are mowing)
Kale: Why are you doing it that way?
Me: What?
Kale: That's not the way to do it.
Me: It's fine.
Kale: (as he stomps away) Interesting. (Really?? does he think he 16 or something?!?! :))
Ava's recent words (and lack there of but she makes up for it in busyness)
Dada
mama
Dah (Kale)
Dah (Duck)
Dah (Drake)... yep, duck,Drake AND Kale get the same name
Da En (the end)
Ah Du (all done)
NahNah (Nana)
Ahdododahdahdoo (We don't know what this is yet but she will have a full converstation with you repeating this phrase).
Look at these big baby blues.... and that beloved plug she can't get enough of! She is only to have it when resting or riding (but sometimes she suckers us into letting her have it more) but for the record she IS riding in this picture...a wagon ride counts!
Look at those big green eyes! and nope! luckily, he doesn't have a plug during resting OR riding ;). But oh does this boy give us a run for our money. But I guess I can only blame myself. From what I hear I am getting a taste of my own medicine..... and I wouldn't have it any other way (but if he could just go with the flow a little better...)
One of Ava's "looks" she has many of them... she has cute, shy, flirty,surprised and a not so nice "what the hell do you want!"... I think that would be this one. I guess her momma trys to make her smile too much for the camera. She's not taking the bait today!
Below Ava is reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We have now read this book 8,903,451 times. I could recite it right now but I won't. She will sign "more" throughout the book until you get to the butterfly at the end. Just so she can swat it! :) She LOVES bugs...mostly because of the swatting.
Cheers to the end of summer and the start of fall! Looking foward to watching these two grow some more!
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