4th of July.

Somehow the only pictures I took on the 4th of July were these adorable pictures of Titus who loves to stick out his tongue!  

The boys and I spent the day hanging out and enjoying each other while Mark ran a laser tag event at a local fair.  After lunch we went to my friend Kammy's house to swim in her pool!  All 3 boys loved the water.  With life jackets on, Isaiah and Levi can entertain themselves for hours in the pool!  Neither one of them has any fear of the water and love to put their faces in, dive for the bottom, jump in as crazy as they can and so much more.  Levi, especially, is such a little dare devil that a life jacket is an absolute must for him in any pool that is more than a few feet deep!

After the pool party at Kammy's we went to LeAnna's sister's house to spend the evening and have some dinner.  The boys loved to play with the kids and jump, jump, jump on the trampoline!  Mark got off work a little after 8 and made it to the party for a little bit before we ended the evening a little before 9 (after bedtime!) and headed home to bed.

We didn't make it to fireworks this year - I'm still a pretty big stickler for getting my boys in bed on time each night, including the weekends, mainly because the later they get in bed, the earlier they tend to get up.  For some reason if they go to bed at 8:30 they wake up about 7:30, if they go to bed at 9:30 they wake up about 6:30!

What a great day we had celebrating our freedom!  I am so thankful that we were blessed to be born in a country where we have so many freedoms and are rich in many, many ways!

real food.

By early-July at 7 months, we couldn't keep Titus away from "real"food so we would often give him something to eat while we eat. Something to chew on and maybe get little pieces of here and there.  It would keep him from fussing while watching the rest of his family eat!  By mid-August he was able to pick up and eat smaller bites of what we eat rather than having to just chomp on a big piece.    

Isaiah's t-ball

Isaiah participated in the rec center kindergarten t-ball this summer for about 6 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  He was very excited about it and even more excited when he found out that he was randomly selected to be on his best buddy Caiden's team!  It was fun to watch all the almost kindergartner's do their best at t-ball!  I will admit the coaches weren't in it 100% and I'm not sure Isaiah learned a whole lot, but they all had fun and at 5 years old, that's really what matters anyway.  

 The local fire department sponsors the kindergarten t-ball which means they got to get their picture in front of the big firetruck--wow! :)

 Isaiah had lots of fans in the crowd cheering for him!  Not only his parents, but his 2 little brothers made it to every practice/game and even Grandma Karen came out to watch a few times!  

What a fun way to get out of the house and enjoy the weather a few mornings a week!  

one day...

It was one of those days that I woke up late and rushed to the shower only to find this...

maybe, just maybe, one day I will miss mornings like this.

Sturgis parade

Adrenaline X Laser Tag had a spot in the Sturgis Falls parade this year.  What a great way to have fun celebrating Sturgis and Mark's business!  We had lots of kids want to walk in the parade with us and were pumped to be showing off what laser tag is all about! The theme for Sturgis Falls was Mardi Gras so some of our crowd was dressed with beads and masks along with a couple homemade signs.  The boys and I were in the back of the truck while Mark walked around the truck.  Isaiah got out to walk about the last half of the parade.  Everyone had a great time!  

It was a great way to get our name out to the community and show people some of our equipment!  Let the good times roll...play laser tag!

Big wheel race.

I somehow learned that Sturgis Falls was bringing the annual Big Wheel Race back this year - probably saw it on someone's facebook page - and then my friend LeAnna mentioned that she had a couple big wheels that were just too big for her little preschoolers that she thought Isaiah and Caiden might enjoy...I put 2 and 2 together and off our family was to the race!  There were several races going as they divided the kids up into age groups so the boys were each in their own race of about 5 kids.

Levi's little legs were just a big short for the big wheels that we had available, but the rules stated it was a 3 wheel'd race so we brought the trike instead.  It was a bit funny to see him on a trike as he has been riding his bike since last summer, but he didn't seem to mind.  He was a bit shy when we got to the street where the race was to be held, but after watching lots of kids warm up, he decided he'd give it a go - broken arm and all!  He did a great job and earned himself a ribbon...which really was upsetting to him - you see, somewhere  along the way my boys decided that the "real winner" (of a race, game, competition) gets a trophy and anyone who comes in less than first place gets a ribbon.  So after thinking about it some, Levi was upset that he didn't get the opportunity to go for a trophy to win.  :)

Isaiah, on the other hand, could ride the big wheel with ease, but unfortunately didn't have the most quality big wheel out there - the faster he rode the more the wheel slipped on the pavement.  He didn't seem to notice that the kids with the fancy (and expensive) Radio Flyer big wheels were flying right by him.  He had a good race and was excited to participate!! 

Titus was a smiley baby who sat back and watched the whole thing go by.  Other than the parade the next morning, this was our extent of Sturgis Falls for the year!

first food...

On June 20 at 6 months and 8 days we figured it was probably time to give the baby some real food - I remember with Isaiah I was excited at 4 months to start cereal and then couldn't wait for 6 months to give him some baby food - this time around, it wasn't quite that way! :) I chopped up some carrots with  our little chopper and Mark fed them to him - he ate them okay, wasn't thrilled, but ate some.  The first several weeks after he just about refused all baby food - homemade or store bought - cereal, applesauce, sweet potatoes, pears, anything.  As we gave it to him more, he will eat it, but still much prefers 'real' food like crackers, noodles, bits of peaches, apple, green beans, etc.  

I love the expressions on his face in these pictures - what in the world are you putting in my mouth?  what is that on my lips?  really?  haha :)

pool

It was a H.O.T. summer this year and finding fun ways to keep cool was a must!  I knew the boys would love the swimming pool, but I just didn't think one parent (Mark and I work such opposite hours that our family time with all 5 of us has been super limited this summer!) and 3 little boys at a busy, crowded pool would be the most fun option (at least for the parent!) so I opted for a bigger outside pool at our house.  All three boys loved it and we spent many summer hours enjoying this pool!  

We started with the pool in the backyard (which is mostly shade) and one day Mark moved it to the front which gets lots of sun - what a great idea!! The middle picture below is one silly day that Isaiah put the water gun bucket upside down in the pool and stood as a statue for several minutes just for fun :)

I couldn't help but make them pose for some cute summer swimming pictures together.  What sweet brothers and what sweet days we have with them... I think both Mark and I are trying to cherish every sweet moment we have with these fast growing boys!

sweet 6 month old

Titus turned 6 months old in June.  I love his big blue eyes and cute dimples.

Father's Day 2012

We celebrated Father's Day with my dad, mom, sister and her family the Saturday before Father's Day  (after the broken arm urgent care visit :)).  We spent the beautiful day outside playing and grilling.   The boys always love playing with Liahna and Elise.  It's also fun to see how these wild boys can play with a pretty little princess.  

 On Father's Day morning the boys gave their daddy a few Father's Day gifts before church - a piggy bank (because the boys each have their own so when we were at Target shopping, they insisted that daddy needed one of his own -which he switched our 'trip fund' money into), a couple new water bottles, and some toe shoes (the kind that your toes each have their own spot).  After church we stopped by Grandpa Mark's house to wish him a Happy Father's Day.

 Then we were off to do some geocaching with our friends the Andersons.  We had a great day on the trails, but not before we about got killed by flying softballs--I was beyond terrified when a ball just about hit us from  a long ways a way.  I insisted that we get off the playground!  Isaiah couldn't have been happier to have a buddy to ride his bike with.  Isaiah and Caleb were both racing each other trying to be the fastest biker - I think they both crashed off their bikes at least 40  times, but there were no tears!  I guess once the training wheels come off, you just know you can't cry about it!  I knew it was going to be a challenge when Caleb, Elise and Isaiah had their bikes and broken armed Levi couldn't have his.  Levi got so upset that he ended up riding Elise's bike about half the time and she was nice enough to take his place in the stroller.  I'm not sure why I didn't get a picture of the little boy with a broken arm and sling riding a pretty pink bike with streamers and all :)  

 We ended up back at my parent's house for dinner to have one more celebration with my dad.  Titus tried one of his first 'real' foods - a pickle - and he could not get enough!  

What a nice way to celebrate my dad and the father of my boys!  Happy Father's Day!

VBS

The boys could not wait for VBS this summer!  They had such a good time last year that they had been waiting all year long!  The theme this year was Sky - Everything is possible with God. The boys loved all the music, especially the song God's Not Dead (Like a Lion) and Give me a J .  At the end of the first night the boys were amazed with the helicopter that came and flew off in the sky.  What a way to kick off the week!

 I was hoping to volunteer again this year, but in a job that I could have a baby with me (like handing out snacks or something) but when I went to sign up (at the last minute) they said all positions in all areas were full - so I had 4 nights with just a baby!  Mark and I took advantage a couple nights and went out to find a few geocaches without kids - and the other couple nights I got some work done at home!  A nice break for me too!  

I love that the kids get so excited to learn stories from the Bible - between Sunday school, preschool and VBS Isaiah has the basics down.  It's so neat to hear him share what he knows about our God.

The week was quickly over and the boys have already been asking when we get to do VBS again.  I thought about doing another week at another church, but I wasn't sure I was up for another week of late nights with cranky, tired boys! :)  They will just have to keep on being excited for next year!

broken.

Well, it finally happened - in a house of wild, crazy and fearless boys - a bone was broken!   We were out and about and decided to find a few geocaches one day.  After succesfully finding a few caches at a park we hadhe called never been to, we decided to let the boys play on the play equipment.  It was a park we had never been to and the boys were excited about the monkey bars (which we had never really attempted before at other parks).  Isaiah was actually getting the hang of them and made it 9 bars!  Levi was trying his hardest too - he'd go out one bar and then call me to get him down, and then he'd get back up and do it all over again.  After about 10 times of this I told Levi he needed to play something else since I was also trying to push the baby in the swing.   Well, what do you know, he got up to do it again - he called for help to get down; Mark, being a good dad and following through with his word, told him that we said not to do it again so he needed to get down himself.  Levi tried to swing his legs back to the platform, but slipped and fell just right on his arm.  He cried and cried which isn't like him.  We left the park and about 45 minutes later he still had tears rolling down his face so we decided we needed to go to urgent care (it was a Saturday).  We got in and the doctor looked at him and decided to x-ray it.  Levi and I went back to the x-ray room, he was still crying and by this time I'm sobbing too.  The x-ray lady was really nice but Levi just kept moving and screaming when I had to move his hand to point his thumb up so we had to redo a few shots.  

 The doctor came back to say that she could easily tell that he broke both bones right above the wrist. She put him in a wrap to wear over the weekend and said the orthopedic doctor would contact us on Monday after he had reviewed the x-rays to confirm the break.  Levi was such a trooper.

 My sister was in town to celebrate Father's Day with my dad a day early so we went to spend some time with them and within a few minutes you would never have known that Levi had just broken his arm.  He was up playing and being his silly self. 

 

He did such a good job keeping the sling on (which really didn't work on an active little boy) and took the ibuprofin and tylenol whenever ask - which we did give him to make sure he wouldn't be in too much pain (but after a day of this, we stopped and he didn't complain at all).  The first night he went to bed just fine no complaints of pain or anything.  The second night, however, he woke up SCREAMING that it hurt.  We gave him a dose of medicine and he fell back asleep and that was the only complain of real pain from him!

We went Monday afternoon to the orthopedic doctor who confirmed his break.  He said it was a very clean greenbreak (? I think that's what he called it) fracture that would heal very quickly and completely.  He put him in a half cast thing that went on the bottom half of his forearm to make sure his arm stayed straight and wrapped it with an ace wrap. He had to wear this for 3 weeks and then come back to see how it was healing with new x-rays.  Definitely not what we were expecting since urgent care had told us to expect a full cast for at least 6-8 weeks!

We were excited about this news and excited to be done with the sling!  Once again, this didn't slow Levi down one bit.  We wrapped his arm in plastic so he could get in the pool and he played, rode his bike, and so much more as if his arm was fine.  

 We went back to the doctor after 3 weeks and they re-x-rayed his arm (with no tears by anyone this time! in fact, he went in all by himself!).  The doctor said he was very happy with how it was healing, but wanted him to wear a brace when he was awake and playing just to be sure.  He could take it off at night, for baths, etc but he wanted didn't want it to get bumped wrong.  We were so happy that it was healing correctly! The doctor had him wear this for 3 more weeks, but didn't need to see him back for 3 months.  

We made it through those 3 weeks and Levi was such a good boy to leave it on without complaint.  Again, didn't slow him down one bit.  It was an exciting day when the arm brace got to come off and I think it seemed a little strange to him to take it off.  He seems fully recovered now, but will see for sure the middle of September when he gets x-rayed again.  

There just never seems to be a dull moment in our lives - especially with Levi around - and we wouldn't want it any other way! :)

strong baby!

The beginning of June when Titus was 5 1/2 months old he was already thinking about going mobile!  He could easily hold his head up nice and high...

and push himself up on all fours...

it was a lot of work!

If it wasn't on his toes, he'd be up on his knees...

What a strong boy!  

strawberries.

We went out to the strawberry farm as a family one evening.  The strawberry season was just about over so the berries were small, but they were still very tasty!  The boys were super excited to get started.

 And Isaiah was thrilled to find the berries!  

 Titus was such a content boy just watching in the stroller.  He can be such a mellow boy!  (as long as mommy is in view!)

 Mark had a good time too.  I love that he's always willing to go along with whatever I would like us to do...

 Levi, well, he had a good time eating the berries all along the row.  He did get a couple in the basket :)

 New at the farm this year was a big jumpy pillow.  I love these things!  The big boys and I had a lot of fun jumping together!  Mark jumped a little bit too. 

I love the strawberry farm!  We ended up picking a lot less than we have in years past which meant no jam this year, bummer....but we had plenty of strawberry snacks to make up for it.  Hopefully next year I will be more on the ball and make it during peak picking season!  

T-ball for Levi.

Mark's dad and step-mom own the company Easy Does It.  They sponsor at least one team for the Evansdale Youth Softball teams each year and this year they sponsored a rookie t-ball league so two of their grandchildren could be on the team -- Levi and Khia.   

Levi loved the first day of practice.  The little 3 anad 4 year olds looked so cute trying to figure out what they were doing.  It made for lots of smiles and laughs.

The second practice time was for team pictures.  They looked so cute together...

Levi wasn't thrilled that I made him do some individual pictures while we were waiting, but they turned out pretty cute too.

And we had to get some of the three cousins together too.  Isaiah was thankful that Grandma Cindy gave him a shirt too!  

The unfortunate thing is that during the week after the t-ball picture practice, Levi broke his arm (more to come on this) and was unable to participate in any other practices or games....bummer.  Good thing there is next summer!!