cohen's 3rd birthday

saturday was cohen's third birthday.  we were able to celebrate with him both saturday and then today was his construction themed party. 

i volunteered to run big r with brody and cohen saturday evening to get the bobcat and dump truck for the cake...we only had about 10 minutes to run in and get the equipment before the store closed so there was no time for any meltdowns.

somehow we came out of the store with what we needed, PLUS a backhoe and mini excavator.  i tried to be strong and say no, but cohen came back with, but it's my birthday aunt jen. so i caved pretty quickly and out they both walked with their new toys.  who knew i was such a softie? (side note: michelle was a softie too on saturday...cohen didn't want to go down for his nap.  he told michelle she had beautiful hair and michelle let him stay up for awhile longer!)

we had a late night of cookie decorating, but they turned out pretty cute.

i do believe mr. cohen had a great birthday.  he definitely understood the concept of his birthday this year, which was fun to watch.

a gator ride later, it was time to wrap up the party.

happy birthday cohen!!  we love you!

more fort building

 riley has no fear and has to be in the middle of all the action...

 brody has to be just like his dad and wear his working pants, his working boots and his working hat.  he know completes the look with a tape measure in his pocket and a carpenter's pencil in his hat. 

when he is concentrating on his 'work', he gets his left arm a swinging...it was definitely swinging in this picture!  (check out the almost finished fort in the backgroud.)

to close, our happy boys riding 'the beast'!  riley insists on climbing up all by himself...if you put him on it, mr. independent himself will climb off and climb back up all by himself. 

the end

After 9 years, I resigned from FSA today.  I never in million years thought I would leave...mostly because I was not looking for a job.  I knew I couldn't find something comparable in benefits...or at least I thought so!  It's been a great career for me.  During my time with FSA so many life events took place, I was in a car accident, my mom had a stroke, I bought my first vehicle (which I still miss), got engaged, married, went on some awesome vacations, Katy got married, we lost our Granny, Michelle had Cohen, Katy had Eli, and I had Brody and Riley. 

Although my next adventure is going to be exciting, it was really sad to leave my people today.  I couldn't even give them a proper thank you and good-bye because I was so upset.  I know they read this random stuff I write from time to time.  So FSA & Tammy -thank you...for everything.   I couldn't have asked for better co-workers...ever!  I couldn't have asked for a more generous boss...ever!  Right now I feel like I'm on vaca, but soon it will sink in that I'm officially a front door guest to the building. 

Now, enough sappy, make me weepy stuff. 

I have left a verbal disclaimer in the office...they aren't allowed to curse me too loud when they find something that I didn't do right or they wonder why the heck I did something one way, when it could have been simplified another way.  I think I might submit that in writing too...just to be safe!

(i never realized how short i was compared to the rest of you until today.) 

And just so they laugh reading this...I opened my mouth one day when I shouldn't have.  It's came back to haunt me over the last couple weeks because I was fearful someone would really carry through with it...and that someone did. 

Yep, that's me in some chaps.  A story is attached to chaps, but you will just have to ask for that one in person!

wildlife prairie park

a couple of weekends ago, the whole family spent the day at wildlife prairie park. 

and a good time was had by all!

sharing

these four boys went through three cups of applesauce in no time. helped counteract all the chips they ate that night and a bonus...i got to eat my chips too!

what a pair.

Farm Progress Show 2011

I don't think we missed a tractor or combine or lawn mower at FPS.  Brody prefers the buddy seat and Cohen prefers the driver seat...couldn't have worked out better.  I think after a hot day with very little shade, that I prefer the a/c! 

Brody and Cohen would agree with me that GSI had the best freebie...snow cones!!

riley

saturday night fun.

Justin's 30+ birthday was Saturday.  Michelle whipped up a fabulous picnic, Mackinaw Valley Vineyards had a great band playing on their lawn and these little boys showed us all how to dance.

our evening entertainment

fort bible

over the weekend, kurt and davestorm started to build a fort.  there is still plenty to do, but brody is already over the top excited!  now we just need the trees to the west to grow some more for more evening shade. 

Side stepping.

He's walking more than crawling these days!

state fair 2011

we spent the day at the state fair today.  brody and riley got to meet lots of animals.  riley was content viewing from a distance, but brody became more and more brave the longer we were there.  he ended up milking a cow before we called it a day.

off to grammy's house

randomness

 brody started sleeping in a twin size bed over the weekend.  he calls it his big boy bed and is pretty excited to show it off to just about everyone.  i only have one set of twin sheets right now so when he peed out over the weekend, he ended up sleeping in our bed.  sheets are on our shopping list for the weekend.

 yep, they still ride on the lawn mower for entertainment. 

brody likes to build boats and airplanes out of the cushions from the sofa's and chairs.  riley was enjoying their 'boat ride' so much he about fell asleep!

riley likes corn on the cob.  he had his first piece on his birthday and hasn't stopped eating it since.  watermelon is another favorite food right now as well.  he took some steps tonight to get to aunt helen for watermelon.  six or seven steps at a time are all he takes before he realizes he is walking and plops down.

brody is working on potty training.  he peed on my mom's kitchen floor and thought he should still get a special treat.  we had to rewind and discuss where we can and can't go to the bathroom again. 

kurt flew via helicopter to beck's hybrids plant in indiana today.  brody was pretty excited to see the pictures and video kurt took.

brody had lettuce and some salad dressing for breakfast...better than a donut i guess.

and that concludes some tuesday night randomness. 

Noah V

 Is he not adorable?



More Wedding

 The Cowden girls!

Mr. Will...his outfit matched all the other little boys.  He may have stole the show from Courtney with all his cuteness?

Brody was traumatized when he accidentally let go of his first balloon.  It was soon okay whenever everyone else sent their balloons into the sky though.

Check Shutterfly for more pictures.

Happy Honeymooning to the Newlyweds!