sold

Goodbye Silver Streak.  You've been oh so good to me for the last 11 years.  It was bittersweet to see you go tonight!  I have so, so, sooooo many memories with you, 149, 533 miles worth of memories in-fact.  I hope you will be good to your next owner....and maybe she'll sing Happy Birthday to you when you turn the big 150k just like I always did with you on the road!

soccer star

Grant has been looking SOOOOO forward to starting soccer this week and that is putting it mildly. He keeps telling us he's going to play in the soccer ball game! Amazingly, I can't seem to find our soccer ball around the house so I think I'm going to have to break down and actually buy one soon because he's become obsessed!

Just as they were told to circle up in the middle of the floor to begin class Grant ran over to me and told me it was time to go sit down.  He hasn't been in a class without parent participation since he wasn't 3 years old yet so, this was a new experience for him and he did great!

This is about one second before he took a huge tumble, you can see his foot rolling on the top of the ball.  It hurt just to watch, his head bounced off the gym floor but he rolled right over and shook it off like a champ.

Here he is "listening"

Happy Independence Day 2011

Here are the notables this Independence day:

::Parker slept through his very 1st Independence Day fireworks, I was thrilled!
::Grant has mastered climbing his first tree..the lower branches anyway!  I never got a picture but will be sure to the next time we are visiting Grandpa & Grandma R's.
::Grant stayed up past 11 PM two nights in a row & took one of his VERY few, ever in his life, 3 hour naps.
::Grant also got to have fun with his first sparkler...again, no photo to share!

These two had a grand time together, I can just hear cousin Francesca still yelling, "Gant, Gant, where are you Gant!"  I can only imagine what they're looking at right here in Grandpa's garden!

Here they are on cousin Jake's Gator, they typically got to drive it when it was almost out of juice, and I use the word "drive" very loosely!

Here they are, looks like everyone is bailing out since Grant is behind the wheel, I can't blame them!

And then there is this little bear, love him, love him, love him!!!!

These two are just plain funny.  They ran the Gator into the raspberries and got it stuck in the dirt...the battery was almost dead too but regardless, they stayed like that for probably close to 20 minutes.  I would have loved to have known what they talked about, seriously funny!!

My patriotic little boys, love this photo on Grandpa & Grandma R's front porch.

Frank got to be the hero at the party this year, he set off the parachute fireworks for all of the little kids to run and catch out in the field before the real fireworks show began.  There were over 30 little kiddos running after them as they dropped from the sky, what a hoot!

Where is my Rossi...and where are his toys?

We were fortunate to spend a weekend with our friends the Shumate's, just a short while ago.  Grant still asks about Rossi frequently as well as about his toys!  We had a grand time....as if they had never moved which makes our time together all the more sweet but even harder to say goodbye !

This face is just priceless and I'm soooo happy to have captured it, it is Rossi determined and thoroughly enjoying himself!

Grant starts pee wee soccer next week and I think he's ready!

The happy Shumate family!

This is Grant saying, "Rossi, I MISS you!" :)

88 today

Welcome Summer, I love you...and all of the yummy treats that come along with you like sun tea with fresh sprigs of mint!

Bear

We made it back from Iowa, safe & sound.  Frank & my Dad drove across the country with our "new" car...from my Grandma.  My Mom & I flew back with the boys and then my parents returned to Iowa after staying with us for a week.  It was such a blessing to have them here to help with Grant while we had Parker's surgery, thanks Mom & Dad for making the trip and for all of your help and hard work, we love you!

Grandpa and Grandma O on the swings at the park with the boys, too funny!

Parker with his 6 teeth showing proudly and having a ball on the swing!

Happy 11 month Birthday Bear!

Here is a pretty good shot of his eyebrow bump that was removed the next day.

Here's Parker waiting in his hospital gown to be wheeled off to surgery.  Wow, it is hard for me to just look at this picture and thankfully it's all over and was a 100% success.  I thank God everyday for healthy children, what a gift. 

Our little guy waking up from his anesthesia, Praise God!

Parker's cyst ended up surprising us (and the doctors) by being a hemangioma (birth mark) under the skin.  We are thankful that it has been removed, without complication, and that our little guy was a champ through it all.  We love you Bear! 

one last visit

We had one last playdate at the park where we were able to meet up with our friends, the Beyer family!  It was so great getting to catch-up with my friend Jamie and finally get our kiddos together for a playdate, they were adorable!!

Aly took a bit to warm up to Grant but soon they were sliding the slides together!

Me and the boys with Jamie & her kiddos, Evan & Aly.  Thanks again for making the time to meet up with us!

Caleb at the bottom of the slide with a leaf that undoubtedly was once in his mouth...yes Sarah, I agree you may someday have to call Poison Control on this little guy!