Random Phone Pics

So, I think I've mentioned before that my kids are geniuses...last night, Kyler figured out how to remove the safety covers on our electrical outlets...guess those are no good any more!

Speaking of Kyler...she really likes to put on makeup...she just doesn't understand yet that Crayola markers are NOT makeup!  Thank goodness they come off (mostly) with a wet wipe!

And I walked into the living room to this scene last week...kids & Derek on the floor under a blanket watching the HUNTING CHANNEL!  REALLY?!?

We ordered new shirts for Luedke Excavating this month...here is Colton ready to go to work!

Five chairs at our dining room table, and these two decide they need to sit on the same one!  Oh well...they actually ate a lot more than I thought they would this way...LOL

Night night!  Yeah right!  That lasted all of about 2 seconds...but it was still pretty cute!



PAT Playgroup

Our Parents As Teachers playgroup met last month at the fire department in Highland.  We had a grea time checking out the sherrif's car, ambulance and fire truck!

Hoping we don't see her in the backseat of one of these some day...LOL

All of the kids had a blast climbing through the ambulance...Colton saw it and asked if that's what they put dead people in...YIKES!  Where does he come up with this stuff???

LOVED 'driving' the fire truck!



Colton's 4th Birthday

Yes, I know these are a little (ok, a LOT) late, but here they are anyway!

Phineas & Ferb cake, compliments of Aunt Tina...we LOVED it!!!

CHEESE!!!

The Birthday Boy...complete with his brand new cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and

Phineas & Ferb shirt...can you tell we are big fans of Phineas and Ferb right now?  :)

Jed, Ang & Jace gave him two cap guns...they ALWAYS get him the 'cool' gifts...

(do you detect a hint of sarcasm in my voice????)

Papa Kent & Grandma Barb got him a really cool Fire Truck...although I've never seen a Fire Truck that shoots 'water missiles...'  :)

Happy Birthday Colton!  We love you!



Playdates and Piggies...

Yes, another playdate with Jace...but we have SO much fun when he's around!  We really hope that he will get to visit us just as much next summer when his Mom is hopefully not quite as busy as she was this year!  :)

A new favorite pastime when I'm changing sheets...or any time really...LOL

My turn to play on my couch!

Colton is getting REALLY good at this!

Kyler's hair is now long enough to put into 'piggies'...and she looks pretty darn cute! And more like a little girl and less like my baby girl...  :(

Hanging out together in Dad's chair...

Yes, I let them all walk on my couch.  No, I don't worry about them falling off...usually...and Yes, they have SO much fun doing it!

CHEESE!!!!

DOG PILE!!!!

Not really sure what happened here, but I can only guess it had something to

do with Colton jumping on the couch somehow...

I want up there too guys!

Seriously, if you're looking for Christmas ideas, these couches are AWESOME!



Swimming Lessons

are over for us for this summer...  :-(  Colton has never been real fond of playing in the pool, unless he can touch.  I would even say he was borderline 'afraid' of the water... So, I wanted to get him in swimming lessons this summer hoping that he would end up loving the water...  Our friend Whitlea has been helping Colton out with his swimming skills over the last couple of weeks.  And while I still wouldn't say he can 'swim', he is definitely enjoying the pool a LOT more these days!

Yes, that is Colton JUMPING in!

 'Swimming'...well, he moves his arms and legs anyway...it's a start!

 Blowing bubbles...

 Back floating...this one was a doozy!  Still not super comfortable with it, but nevertheless willing to try!

 Jumping in like Superman!

 Even went down the slide!  With some help from Whitlea's mom who helped him halfway down to where he could slide off the end into Whitlea's arms...even so...HUGE improvement!

 She even got him to go underwater on more than one occasion!  For my kid who HATES water on his face (like his mother) this is BIG!

 Now, if only he would remember to hold his nose all the way under the water and back up, he might not look so miserable when he comes up!  Still really awesome!

Whitlea has patience like no one I know.  She let Colton run the show, but still managed to get him to teach him a lot of new things in the water.  I'm hoping to keep taking him swimming some this summer, and hope he can work with her again next year!

Jace

has been spending a lot of time at our house this summer while his parents are working hard getting his new house ready to move in! Colton & Kyler LOVE having someone else to play with!  They all get along really well, and I've found that having three kids in the house is not much worse than my regular two...  :)

Jace poses while eating a snack

 Kyler also poses while eating snacks...looks like Oreos to me!

 Colton LOVES to help feed Jace & Kyler...he's getting very good at keeping them

entertained and out of trouble!

 This tent is STILL a huge hit in our house!  Not really sitting the way it's supposed to,

but they make it work

 Yes, that is Colton & Jace having a man-to-man talk on the Princess couch

Jace is even getting the hang of our nightly 'rodeo' with Derek!

Oh the fun! Jace, can't wait to send Colton & Kyler to come play at your house!  :)

Boating

So we went to Perry with Papa and Grandma (aka Kent and Barb) on their boat.  The kids LOVED it!  They are definitely boaters, but are still not too sure about being in the water with their lifejackets.  The more they do it, the more they love it!  We all had a great time!

Kyler and Jayger with Derek for their very first boat ride!

Kids and Derek (shhh!) cheesin' for my camera when we got home!

Colton swimming (holding on for dear life) with Uncle Blaine and Taylea.  Our friend Gracie (the little blonde) is not a bit afraid of the water!

Colton was helping Papa drive...but quickly fell asleep after a LONG day!

We had a great day and I hope we can go again before the end of the summer!

The Laundry Chute...

is for LAUNDRY, right??? WRONG!!! This is one of my kids' FAVORITE places to play!!

Where's Colton?

There he is!

Where's Kyler?



HERE she is!

Pretty sure at this point, Colton was upstairs talking down the laundry chute to Kyler...

 Colton posing for a picture...

The only thing you don't see here is the pile of towels they pulled out so they could play in here...but you didn't want to see that anyway!