Nana's Love

The past couple days, DG has been a little under the weather...fever, tummy, and owie throat. And of course, we can't forget about those silly teeth that keep coming in!!

So, Nana came for some love and care while Mommy and Daddy went to work.

Lots of cuddles, books, and knocking down towers. However, not feeling well is exhausting. I even feel asleep after filling my tummy with a cereal bar,  and took a nice long nap.

Even though Nana makes me say my "please" and mind my manners. My sweet innocence and bashful looks always win her over.

Thanks for taking care of me this week!

~SALSA~

A couple weekends ago it was time to can some homemade salsa to enjoy all winter long. With the help of Nana and Papa, and some local farmers (our garden didn't produce many tomatoes this year), we set to blanching, chopping, crying (from the onions), simmering, smelling the amazing aroma...

Look at the amazing colors of fresh veggies.

Daddy was smart and we did the final seal
step outside in the turkey fryer.

Some of the rewards to be enjoyed for months
to come...24 pints in all.

So glad we were able to can and that the boys had a fun time playing, all I wondered on Monday morning is if I made salsa or if I had spent the weekend trying to learn how to dance the salsa...I was tired and sore! I am sure I won't remember that this winter though...

Go Fish

One morning of our family reunion week, we headed out to a family friend's pond for some good 'ole fashion fishing. Or what we fondly call "catching", because you can not go out to this pond and not catch something! You can actually watch the fish bite your line!! Perfect for our kid crew and adults alike!

It was a beautiful morning...

The hooks were baited...

Daddy reminded VW how to cast and reel in the biggest fish of the day...boy, was it quite the celebration.

But really, seriously it is crazy, everyone is a winner out in these country waters...

Taking in the sights and conversation...

There is even a line for the out-house in the country...

And they think we are just fishing...

Friday's

I love Friday's. It starts with VW cheering that it is Friday and tomorrow is Saturday and we get to stay home together as a family.

Then I get to buddies tonight and find this handsome prince:

Once the prince went to bed, VW and I had some artistic quality time and in-depth conversation over a sip of water and Cheez-its.

Family

What a gift from God to have such a wonderful family!!

Building Towers and Such

Last night, DG skillfully placed one block on top of another, building his first true tower all by himself. He built so diligently that it began to literally tower over him. He beamed with pride of accomplishment as he kept on building, occasionally peering over his long eye lashes inquisitively for a cheer from his impressed audience of Mommy, Daddy, and VW. Way to go, DG, you too are built with skilled hands into the masterpiece you are!

Along with skilled craftsmanship, DG has also been watching his big brothers after breakfast responsibilities. This morning I washed DGs hands and face from the peanut butter stickiness of what was left of breakfast and placed him on the floor. He started crawling under his high chair to retrieve the sippy cup of milk he threw there and yelled “uh oh” [uh oh is for accidents, not for on purposes]. He shimmed his little bum backwards to safely stand and purposefully walked to the fridge and tried to pry it open. In curiosity, I had followed him to the fridge and helped him open it. He carefully placed his cup on the bottom shelf and closed the fridge, turned around and headed downstairs. Well, I guess that task is done with and accomplished. DG you seriously make me giggle!

WEB

Boys will be boys and, oh my, are we having some fun “boy time” here. We found this cool praying mantis this past weekend. It is an awesome brown color here.

At the zoo, we found the trail of water sorta flowing down the hill to stomp in and even better yet, we found a small crack in the pavement that our foot barely fit in, but provided a nice puddle to get just a little bit more messy (and stuck).

We’ve played pirates on the swing set and underdogs on our tummies on the swings. Built big castles in the sandbox and wiggled our toes in the mud and sand.

We've cuddled, climbed, and tickled our puppy!

AND we’ve been webbed so many times by Spider-Man, er, I mean, VW, that I randomly just stop moving throughout the day...you can’t move when you’ve been webbed, you know.

I Thought You Were...

watching DG is not what you want to hear when you meet Daddy in the hallway. AND when you can hear his jubilant giggle, you want to find him ASAP. 

Where you don't want to find him, is sitting on the edge of the toilet with nearly half his body in the bowl, pulling the toilet paper into the bowl with him. 

No, I do not have a picture. But when I came into the room and gasp, he jumped and showed me the wet, clumpy toilet paper. Gee, thanks Love.

All we can assume is that he wanted to be like his brother and tried using the big potty!

Oh gracious, DG, you sure keeps us on our toes!

JUMP (or drop)

Last night we headed on possibly our last trip to the pool this summer (we will see what the rest of August bring us). The day was warm, the pool cool. VW was so excited to go with his cousin NR to what he fondly calls the "big pool" (the country club) vs. the gyms pool. He swam and swam and even tried out NRs goggles. He even jumped to Mommy off the board all by himself! He has battled his concerns of the pool this summer and has beat them! We are so proud to watch him grow!

DG loves the pool! Once he escaped me and Aunt M was on the run. They went all around the outside of the pool until he excitedly grabbed the ladder of the diving board. He had arrived to his destination. He so wanted to jump off the board like the big kids. (We cannot keep him away from the 5-foot long slides at the gym and often have to leave because of the exhaustion of fighting him). The sparkle in his eyes, the excited grunts of his voice, and the tight grip on the ladder. So...what does any second-child, lifeguarding mother do? You let your son jump off the board!

Aunt M helped DG up to the board, DG gripped tightly to his Cousin IM hands all the way to the end of the board and was gracefully lowered down to Mommy and Daddy's hands! The pure joy in DGs smile and giggle was priceless. He didn't even get his head wet with his lifejacket and Mom and Dad's tight grip, but he had accomplished his goal! AND of course, wanted to do it again!! Next, Cousin EK helped DG off the board with pure delight!

Thank goodness it is the end of summer and not the beginning...

Follow the "Leader"

It has been super cute at our house these days. DG is learning so many fun and exciting things and is growing up so quickly. He is very aware of what his big brother is doing, mimicing and copying him often.

He notices when he makes his brother laugh and does it again (even when not appropriate) and joins in the laughter.

We have some fun cars crashes and rolling around on our hands and knees with very slobbery sound effects.

We are trying to throw the baseball as well as our older brother.

Coloring is always a fun activity while Mom makes supper, but eating them is kinda gross.

Helping VW move bricks for Daddy is kinda fun, but dangerous!

Running in circles and up/down the stairs is adventurous.

Climbing up the slide is more fun than going down.

Playing doctor is sometimes the activity of choice.

Helping make breakfast is fun as long as you get to lick of the spoons, too.

And even crying and whining in the wing-back chair opposite your brother, when he is acutally the one in time-out, is the supportive brotherly thing to do (and kinda cute for today, but not tomorrow).

SPLASH!

All summer the preparation and anticipation for a day of fun at the SL waterpark loomed in discussions. From our first summer visit to the pool of dipping our toes into the water with leary concern to jumping into the water and becoming our little fish...we finally arrived.

All the cousins going down the slide together...

From our first splash down the family slide with all the cousins; to climbing the outdoor stairs for the orange tube slide with Daddy, only turning around near the top; to walking carefully up the stairs with Aunt M., looking at each step, and jubilantly informing her you are going down even without your Mom and Dad around to witness your first waterslide ride; to conquering the indoor green slide over and over all by himself with spin at the end; to finally have the courage on the outdoor stairs to ride with Mommy/Daddy down the blackness of the orange tubeslide. VW had a blast with his cousins, who so sweetly and carefully watched and protected him when Mommy and Daddy couldn't be everywhere! Our first visit to the waterpark will always have special memories with one "lazy" Mom and DG on one more lap around the lazy river ;-)

I am Amazing!

Things heard around our house…

“I love you.”

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“It’s a bunk bed, but not really it is just Kelty and Bailey.” [as the whole family stands in the kitchen and Kelty walks under Bailey, because it’s the only space left].

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“Eh, eh, eh, eh” [like the seagulls on Nemo-except, thank goodness, it is not mine, mine, mine!!]

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“Big Grandma is in heaven and someday God will have us come up there OR we can get a hot air balloon and go way high.”

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“I love my brother. He is cute.”

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Whining.

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“Please.” “Thank you.” “Okay.” – “Do I get a sticker?”

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“I can talk to the birds!”

“Really!? What do you say!?”

“Tweet. Tweet.” [really high pitched screech]

“Oh? And what do they say?”

“Tweet. Tweet.”

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“I remember when you had a baby in your tummy. You named him, DG.”

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With pure excitement, “NR, I love your batman jammies! When you get big, may I have them?”

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No words…just the most precious “thank you” cuddle, when you give DG something (especially a cup of food). He leans into you and puts his head on your shoulder to say thank you.

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Lots of singing…we don’t know the words…but we sure have a joyful tune!

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“And forgive us our trespasses.  Not temptation. Evil. And our trespasses. Kingdom. Our trespasses. Forever and ever. Amen.”

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“Can I play iPad? The big one?”

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“Come here, brother.”

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“Won’t that be good?”

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“I look amazing!”

“I am amazing!”

“'Cuz I can do somersaults!”

Buggin'

Of course, you cannot go to a farm without playing with some "toys!" Papa took his grandkids and nieces for some fun buggin' around the farm. Boy, did everyone have fun!