Last Few Days of Summer Fun

Our good friends have a boat out at Big Creek and have graciously asked the boys and I to tag along a few times. The boys love the water and today they swam in the water for a good hour and loved every minute of it! Before long, we'll be outside in our snow boots (which I cannot wait for), but it's still nice to enjoy a day like this in the middle of September!

Tatey in the water

Ty swimming from the "shark"

My handsome boys

Go, Duzer!

Herky

Meet Herky Cornelius Duax, the newest member of our family. I have every intention of training him and teaching him to speak. We love him so much already - well, the boys and I do. . . . Brian, not so much. ;-)

Herky, not too sure of his new surroundings. 

Science Center. On the Weekend. Punch me in the face!

My boys are always on the go and never ones to just lie around watching TV all day, so because it has been raining here all day, I thought we better get the boys out of the house. We decided on the Science Center and asked our good friends and neighbor to tag along, too. Once we arrived, we were immediately thrown into a gigantic line (which I've never experienced, but then again, I never go on a a Saturday at 1 p.m. either). Then once entering the world of little exploreres, it was a bit much. Those that know me well, know that I would prefer to skip the huge crowds - especially the part where I have to fight (not literally - most times) another kid just so my kid can have a 30 second turn on something that half the time, doesn't work how it's suppose to anyway. Nonetheless, all the boys enjoyed themselves and it was nice to get out of the house, if only for a few hours.

Ty trying to catch a fish

Tate loved these turtles

The "Bat Cave"

So cute

Oh, Duzer!

Ty. Starts. Kindergarten. (Hold in tears)

On Monday, August 15, Ty started kindergarten at Ashland Ridge Elementary.  I had butterflies in my stomach the whole morning, but acted as though nothing was wrong.  Ty on the otherhand, did just great, and barely gave mom any thought as he sauntered into his room as though he'd been going there forever.  I only violently cried for about a week and a half, and finally was feeling better . . . . . that is, until Tate started Preschool.  Ugh!  The tears started again.  Aside from my weak, pathetic, stints of violently bawling, Ty and Tate are both doing great and liking school . . . . for the most part (Ty continually complains that "the day takes forever.")  =)

August 15, 2011 - sniffle, sniffle

He's ready

Ty and his good buddy, Cole (and Turkey)

Duzer and Samuel - Cousins, BFF's

Putting stuff in the locker - breath, Kristin, breath

Okay, Mom, leave now.  No, seriously, are you going to leave now?!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 - Ok, we can do this

He's ready, too.  Where's the Kleenex?

Ty turns the big 0-6!

Ty has gone and grown up on us.  On August 21, Ty turned SIX!  I know that may not seem too old to some of you, but to a mother, it is HUGE.  I only cried a few times on his big day, which is a huge accomplishment on my part.  He had a blast and was so blessed with so many awesome gifts. For his "friends" birthday party, we rented out the Ankeny Public Pool for just Ty and his guests and it was a huge hit! 

Happy Birthday, Duzer!

Ty and Samuel on the lilly pads - the highlight of the entire party!

Blowing out the whopping six candles!

Tatey swimming

All of Duzer's friends who came out to celebrate

Summer (Super) Fun!

This past summer has come and gone so fast, I'm not sure what happened.  Last fall I quit my job so this is the first summer I have stayed home with my boys every day, all day.  It was amazing to be with them all summer and to explore and do all the fun things we did.  We were always so busy and on the go to our next mini adventure.  We . . . . played outside from sun up to sun down, caught frogs, found and raised tadpoles, swam, swam, and swam some more, ran through the rain, went to the beach, went to a carnival or two, rode Ty's dirt bike, went on bike rides and hikes, went to a parade, saw fireworks, Tate started his first soccer league,  mini golfed, went to the movies, went out to eat (a lot), rode a camel, went to the zoo, Kristin went to Nashville to visit her BFF, Brian and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary, and Ty's 6th birthday.  I feel so blessed to have had this time with my dudes!

Ty at the beach

                                                                      

Tate at the beach

Our tadpole, turned baby frog.

                                                          

Ty on his dirt bike

Happy Fourth!

Happy!

Ty, Cousin Samuel and Cousin Stewie at the parade

Ty and Samuel in the pool

Playing some mini golf

Tate legitimately made THREE hole in ones on this mini course!

Getting ready to see Kung Fu Panda III

Tate getting ready to go to his first soccer practice

Eating brunch on Mother's Day

My four favorite boys at the zoo

Sigh!

Riding the camel

Ty feeding a giraffe

Tate caught a frog

Happy 7th Wedding Anniversary

Visiting Kourt in Nashville

Third Times a Charm??

Here I am . . . . again, attempting to create and maintain a blog for our family.  I wanted something concrete for our boys to be able to look back on their childhood and, for me, to me able to refer to specific things regarding their childhood, should I forget.  So here goes nothing.