Bonfire

We did another attempt at a bonfire this summer!  We were more successful than last year and I only see us getting better/easier! 

Amelia and Daddy roasting a marshmallow

Landon eating one from the bag!  Gotta watch this one!

'Oh this is gonna be soooo goood'

Gotta have some chocolate with a smore!

Marshmallow explosion!  Who is going to win this?

So far it looks like the marshmallow!

Daddy roasting more!

Landon took his smore piece by piece

Isabelle helping daddy with getting more marshmallows

There was lots of eating!  And lots of good memories!

Isabelle's Gymnastics

We signed Isabelle up for 2 rounds of gymnastics and she loved it!  Not only that, but she is pretty good too!

On the 'high' bar

The rings

Hanging from the balance beam

Going up the balance bar to the high beam.   If you look in the background - Daddy and Landon are watching and cheering Isabelle on!  Isabelle loved having her family watching her and got very proud!

I was so impressed by Isabelle's attention span!   This seemed to be an evolving activity for her.  I felt prior to this she had a short attention span, but she sat, listened and was a very quick learner!  She only had to watch the instructor 1 time and she knew what she was supposed to do at each station!

Isabelle did a great job of following instructions!  Though sometimes she got excited and joined in on the other groups' activities.

Climbing up and over.

Rolling across the floor.

The balance beam!

She swings off of the high one and then drops to the ground

See those little feet at the end sticking up? Yep those are Isabelle's!

The roller.

I have to say - I think/hope we sign Isabelle up for some more gymnastics.  She really was able to grow and learn a lot of new skills - she also reminded me a bit of mighty mouse!   I'm so proud of you Isabelle!

Summertime Fun

Don't be fooled, they are not actually sleeping :)

Amelia working on a bead necklace!

We became awesome parents and got you kids ride-on toys.  Here you are in your pj's riding them around.   Isabelle, you look so small on that 4-wheeler!

Landon loves to take rides with you girls.....though I think he feels safer with Amelia

Hold on Amelia!  Isabelle is driving!   For as crazy as you are driving Isabelle - you are remarkably accurate and don't run into much stuff!  You just happen to go at full speed most of the time!

Landon pushing the coop around

Starting to hit the ball around too

Daddy and Landon

Mowing time!   Landon was NOT happy until he could get his lawn mower out and follow daddy all over the yard....

up, down and all around.

You also like to follow me with the vacuum cleaner

Water party!   Gotta love a slide with a pool at the end!

Landon and Isabelle

Amelia with all of her accessories

Another hair cut for Landon!  Lets just say he didn't like the buzz at home any more than the buzz at the salon.

One of Landon's many days home sick.  We decided to take a little walk to get some fresh air.   He was very intrigued by the water flowing down below.

Works great, even on the road!

We've been waging a war....against rabbits.   Never mess with a lady's flowers, when she actually paid money for them!   We started off by catching this little guys brother who was stuck in our garden.  He got away until we caught him again.   No worries - they were released far away.  You kids liked looking at him though.

Amelia had to get her bunny and show the real bunny to make him feel safe.

Oh boy - I love your smile!  And it only keeps getting better as you get older!

Amelia's 5th Birthday

After getting home from California, it was time to celebrate Amelia's Birthday!!! She is turning 5!

What better than a fancy pink cake!  Amelia was so excited.

She blew her candles out like a pro!

Hmmmmm!

For her birthday, Amelia got a fish tank with fish!   She got to pick out most of the decorations and got 3 fish!

We also got a couple family fish and decorations!

Amelia, 

Girlie, I love you so much!  I am amazed by your thoughtfulness for other people!  You are constantly looking out for your sister and brother and are willing to sacrifice for their benefit.  You have also started doing such big kid things, like making your own breakfast.   Amelia you have also shot up and have gotten very tall lately!  You are not a dare devil - and instead think things through before doing them!  You get this from your daddy and it will serve you well in life.  Another characteristic you have like your daddy's is your amazing memory!  You never cease to amaze me with what you can remember!   You love to play imagination games, with elaborate setups and story lines!  You are constantly working on a project or picture that usually you end up giving either me or your daddy!  I love to get your presents! 

You also love Jesus so much!  You have almost all the bible stories memorized and are telling us about God's love.   You are going to Noah's Ark preschool and thriving there.  All your teachers love having you and can't say enough about your sweet personality and good manners.

Amelia Jane - I love spending time with you and the excitement you have for life and the things that are happening.   Often before an activity, you can't think about it too much otherwise you can't sleep the night before.   I love that about you!

You also continue to love to bake or do anything you can with us.   

We are so lucky to have you in our lives sweet girl!

I love you!

Complex Trickery

This post has been a long time coming.....but generally speaking - I've been a bit behind in my posts (still in June - currently October - yikes!).   Anyway, I'm still pluggin' slowly away and my boy in particular is growing like crazy!  And this kid doesn't miss a thing - kind of like the other 2 but for whatever reason, he just keeps us on our toes.  Yes boy, yes other distractions, but still - complex trickery is all I can think of to describe it.  

So it used to be things like getting into the trash or pulling out ALL the kleenex - multiple times.  It grew to getting on the stool in the bathroom and sucking on all the toothbrushes or pulling off the child protective things on a couple of the cabinets (we watch him very closely on a couple now).  He then graduated to lifting to toilet cover and splashing in the water (fun - ew), pulling everything out of my purse and finding the hand & foot cards - proceeding to open the zip lock bag and throwing them all over.   

Now he has upped his game - and stick with me on this.....

Part 1 - Isabelle wanted some water, so I got her a water bottle and labeled it with an I on top.   She left it on the dining room table.    Landon loves to mess with stuff on the dining room table.  I saw him playing with the water bottle - and I moved on to other distractions - as did he.

Part 2 - Couple days pass.  We sit down to watch TV after the kids in bed, Patrick goes to grab a water bottle and downs half of it and starts to get comfy on the couch....then says -  What's this?!  Looks down and there is an I on the water bottle.  Hmmmm, evidently Landon knows where the water bottles come from and felt he should put it back!   What a smart kid.

Gotta watch this kid!