Fishing Trip

 

Last weekend, the boys had Kurt all to themselves for a boys only fishing trip to Merna and Papa Jerry's pond.  They successfully caught catfish and blue gill and then tossed them all back for next time.  Now, not only do they want to fish again, but they want to go camping too.  I'm not super gung-ho about the camping part...in a tent or camper for that matter...but I'll give it try for them.  

Davestorm, they also want to go fishing with you in your super fast boat.  I'll buy donuts for breakfast for all of you!

A forgotten Disney video.

 

Parades...they love them!  Riley had been asleep in the stroller on this particular day.  Everyone else went to ride something so I took a stroll with Ri to keep him sleeping as long as possible.  We just happened upon this parade at Hollywood Studios as he was waking up and a spot right on the street was open for us.  He waved and talked this way the whole parade.  We still watch Disney parades on YouTube to this day because they loved them so much!  Brody told us recently that we are going back to Disney in July...maybe he knows something I don't?

Water Fight!

Harper

She may have been nibbling on dirt/rocks...a little dirt never hurt anyone, right?

Grant

Parade

When your hands are full of candy, you stick the extra under your chin to deliver it to the bag. 

Our parade watchers...waving at all the tractors. 

A big thanks to Noah 'Hide, Gabrielle and AEV for inviting us!

Che-he! Che-ha! Che-ha-ha-ha! Go Illini Go!

For my dad...

My dearest father informed me I was slacking...big time.  So, I'm sitting at his desk putting this together for him so he can see just what we have been up to.

Kurt and I had 24 hours to ourselves thanks to Aunt Michelle and Grammy.  I actually got to ride in a tractor without two little boys asking when I was going to get out of their seat! 

We picked the boys up the next day and made a stop the University of Illinois...my alma mater and their future school.  They both already sing part of the Illinois Loyalty song, so they are destined to attend. 

The boys wanted to jump, so we accomplished that on Memorial Day. 

???  Unexplainable at times ???

The kick off to the Summer reading program at the library included a fire truck and police car. 

Matching outfits so I could easily pick them out if they strayed away from me.  It took 30 minutes for them to work up the nerve to climb into the fire truck so no worries about them getting any further than my arm could reach.

Katy and I ran in the village of Stew's 5K.  We ran by our house and the boys cheered us on!

Nap time...I should just buy a double bed so they can sleep in the same bed at night. 

He voluntarily drank pickle juice AND liked it...yuck!

The training wheels need to be removed from Brody's bike.  He is a balance bike champ so there is no need.  Ri just started riding his bike on Wednesday of last week. 

His new trick this week...he stands to peddle like I do!  NO FEAR!

Steak-N-Shake!!

The library had a juggler one evening last week.  We were impressed with his skills!!

Uncle Chris turned another year older on Saturday. 

And on Sunday, we had a lovely invite to a parade.  Riley stood just like that until the folks in the parade started throwing candy...lots and lots of candy!

 

So Dad, there you go.  I might even post a video or two just for you!

Last Day

Riley William

Brody John Robert

first driveway swim

If I lick it, I like it!

Riley's favorite saying used to be, "If I need it, I need it."  He also loves to ask Kurt and I if we worked hard for our money at the end of the day.

Mother's Day morning, he pulled out a new one.  "If I lick it, I like it, Mama!"  He used his best Roz voice from Monsters, Inc. to share this beauty with us. 
 

The.Best.

Farming - it's the life they love right now and can't get enough of it. 

 

Saturday, they packed a lunch box and water jugs so they could work as long as they wanted.  With auto steer, they even get to sit in 'the seat' and drive!  Saturday, when they were working smaller fields and couldn't sit in 'the seat' and it was bumpy, Kurt declared it was time for them to go home.  Brody told his dad that he needed to go knock down weeds in his fields anyway, so no one exited the tractor kicking and screaming.  I had made them fields on the floor with blue painter's tape and of course, one of the blue tape farms was Aunt Bessie's and the other farm was Henton.  Who knew blue tape could make for many happy hours of play?

Mother's Day 2013

 

 

Working together.

I think I sometimes remember their fighting and instead should remember that they really do love each other and can work together.

(Allison, please note that they CHOSE to wear matching shirts!)

Riley loves him

Grant is most definitely loved by all, but Riley has an extra special love for this kid. He only calls him by his full name, Grant Hayden 'Ellic'. He stood on a chair and watched him in his bouncy seat for a very long spell yesterday evening and then wanted to hold him. It was not okay if I held him. They are spending the day together so hopefully Aunt Michelle finds him as helpful today!

This is how we roll!

 

The weekend

I told the boys about 12 hours to soon that we were going to stay in a hotel over the weekend. Riley told us about every fifteen minutes leading up to our departure that he was 'ready to go to hotel!' Brody was just ready to get in the car and watch Peter Pan while we drove south.  It's rare I drive on family outings, so a car full of sleeping people made for some nice drive time, complete with my choice of music!   

 

Most important part to them, they got to swim! 

Horribly blurry, but Brody had no fear when jumping in.  Riley and Eli were a little more clingy! 

I believe Riley could quite possibly be a difficult student for his swim instructor this summer... 

Riley is ready to go to a hotel again.  In fact, he has asked constantly since we arrived home if we can go again!

 

Brody

A few words about Brody:

• Brody has started skipping nap time on days he doesn't go to school.  The picture on top was a school day he skipped his rest and cried part of the way home and then fell asleep (complete with drool).  Some days no nap equals a long evening and other days it doesn't phase him.  
• He definitely likes to be a helper.  This particular evening he wanted to chop up strawberries for everyone.  He did a great job with his butter knife and cutting board and was definitely proud of his work.
• He is my shadow.  Whatever I do, he likes to help me for awhile at least.  We have worked our way through the flower beds, which resulted in me touching more worms than I have in a lifetime.  We have built natural habitats for them and he names them.  The only name I remember is Wormie though.  I am always just working hard to keep them out of his pockets and out of the house.  
• He is riding a bike with training wheels.  I don't think he needs them after conquering the balance bike last year, but for now he has them.
• He crossed the street by himself a couple weeks ago to visit our neighbor with Ms. Mahnke.   She fed him a popsicle and played in the rocks with him so I believe she might have sealed the deal on their friendship for a lifetime.  
• He still enjoys school and has worked through several different units and is working hard at mastering his letter and number writing skills. They have talked about the devil at school and anytime Riley misbehaves or doesn't listen, Brody informs us that Riley is following the devil.  
• B is looking forward to summer so he can SWIM!  He showed us his skills this weekend and amazingly hadn't forgot much of what he had learned last summer.