4TH OF JULY '09

KIDDIE PARADE 2009 "DRESS AS YOUR FAVORITE ERA"

BAM BAM

PEBBLES

CHASER WON A BIKE

RED-WHITE AND BLUE

PARADE 2009

Rain - Rain Go Away

Hi!!!!

Ready For the CANDY

ALL AMERICAN

This picture will give you an idea of how "cooperative" Ms. Katelyn is during our lil photoshoots.

Time for S'MORE FUN

LOOK-A-LIKES

STEAL OF A DEAL

During the summer months I amuse myself with garage sale treasures... now I know some people HATE garage sales, I mean who wants other peoples used stuff, the answer is ME. Here are my most recent steals:

$10 powerwheels lawn mower

(Mr. Chase thinks he is really big stuff on this thing)

$5 antique twin bed

(my granola bar & energy drink were more expensive than this darling piece of funiture)

I also got a ton of adorable IT'S OK TO TRASH THESE CLOTHES outfits for the kids to wear this summer - we LIVE outside after school/work, no fun playing if ya can't get DIRTY!!!

BUSY BUSY

It feels like summer has hit full force, we have something planned almost every weekend for the next few months-busy busy busy. This weekend we're going to the carnival @ Pioneer Days- and next weekend we're headed camping in Grandma Sue's new camper... Katelyn can't wait to GO TO THE BEEEEEEACH

In case you were wondering...

... we're doing well too. For every 250 pictures of I take of the kids, I have 1 taken of us.

Here's a rare photo of the happy couple, a few weeks shy of their 10yr anniversay (5yrs of marriage of course- the other 5yrs were just fun and fancy)

WEEKEND FUN

Friday we took Katelyn and Chase to My Wloo Days - Katelyn rode the train and won a crazy stuffed unicorn- Chase rode the stroller, and clapped for his sister. Good times.

Saturday we headed to Grandpa Mikes for a family BBQ- had a great time, the kids got some good outdoor play time with Bailey and Jonny.

And some random summer photos:

POOR EXCUSE FOR A MAN

Katelyn to her broken Ken doll:

"Well how are you supposed to do all your rescues without a head?"
(she went on to tell him that is he didn't get back together the cake would never be saved and none of the princesses would ever ever ever have a birthday)

Wouldn't have been half as funny is she didn't use that WAY TO LET US DOWN voice.

MEMORIAL DAY

The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children. - Memorial Day Quotes by William Havard

I witnessed two men this morning standing on an overpass together - waving a flag over the highway- something unexpected on a drive I make most every day. We are so blessed to have had good friends/ family/ food/ fun and FREEDOM this weekend. Hope everyone had a wonderful extended weekend.

BRINGING IN SUMMER FULL FORCE

Straight out of the car- into the house- out of daycare clothes - into sprinkler clothes- fun in the water - walk around the block - swing - swing - swing- swing - finger paints - cat chase- inside to cook - then back outside to eat it on a blanket.... and that puts us @ bedtime phewwwww sure glad I get up @ 4:30am so we can enjoy the daylight

Grandma's 85th

A GREAT BIG HAPPY 85th to Grandma Gleason!

Only got a few photos before my battery died... hopefully I can steal some from Heather soon.

Just a Normal Day

Long time - no update - busy as usual. BUT... Mark has started his Thursday golf leauge, so the kids and I had an exciting night on our own.

On average I'd say we visit the school park @ least twice a week, each time the kids seem to enjoy themselves more than the time before, but it's always the same park for ME.

So tonight we hopped in the car and drove , and drove, and drove, until we found a NEW PARK - one we've never been to. We spent an hour or so there playing then headed off to the store to pick up diapers for daycare and a take home supper.

When we pulled in the driveway Katelyn exclaimed "WOW we sure did have a fun trip huh mom... we went to the biggest play park they ever made, went shopping at the big store for a new toy and had good snacks" - a welcome reminder that any activity no matter how small, matters to them.

ENJOY EVERY SINGLE DAY

DUVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

I recently had the opportunity to design a logo for Duvel Photography, Chisten is an amazing photographer now located in the old VanderWerf Photography building in Waterloo - If you are in need of creative photography services check out her website: http://www.duvelphoto.com/
And make sure to check out the Crossroads Mall display May 8th-17th .

FUTURE PARTNERS IN CRIME

1mo - 18mo-2yrs-3yrs ... good bunch of kids :)

SPRING UPDATE

The nice weather has finally returned and we've been enjoying the outdoors again. Saturday we grilled out and Sunday we made a trip to Lowes to get some materials for outdoor projects... I finally repainted the fence & fixed it's gate, Katelyn and I planted flowers, and we moved the swingset so we could push mow. Here are a few pics from the weekend:

MAY DAY

Katelyn making May baskets for Preschool...

Katelyn Soaking up the Sun

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME

Ms. Bailey (8) was over this weekend and saw a photo of my friend's son on my computer - she asked his name and I responded "BROCK"

She said... LIKE BROCK OBAMA ?

PRAY FOR IT

Every night we ask Katelyn what her favorite part of the day was- then she says her prayers.

She prayed for "Mom, Dad, Chaser, Big Ricky, all friends @ school...." then said, WAIT- we need to pray for Al's baby (not Heather and Al's baby... just Al's)
"PLEASE JESUS CAN BABY EZ-WAH COME LIVE WITH US"- man is she going to be disappointed.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL

WELCOME TO THE WORLD EZRA!!!

Heather was induced yesterday at 7am - I was working from home (Katelyn has been sick) and started to get ready to go when Mark got home at 3. Heather was only at 6-7 the last time I talked to her so I packed my stuff and hit the road- Al called when I was barely 1/2 way to the hospital and said she was READY TO PUSH!!! ... but they waited for me to get there-

he was born @ 4:49 April 8th 2009 - 9LBS 4.4OZ 22IN

BABY CONFUSION

As many of you know - my big sister is due tomorrow w/ her 2nd little boy I AM SO EXCITED - I asked Katelyn if she was happy that the baby was coming and she said:

"Yes, and when he comes I'll be a bigger sister and Chaser will be a man" ... I'm not sure how she came to that conclusion.

GET'N BIGGER EVERY DAY...

PLINKO AND DUCK POND AND CAKE WALK OH MY

Nothing beats a good school carnival - P & K had a great time and I enjoyed the scotcharoos we scored @ the cakewalk! woo hoo

THE GIRLS BLOWING THEIR EAR PIERCING NEW WHISTLES