A Sunny Day at the Park

Last summer we enjoyed going down to TaHazooka Park, but this summer it is even better since they have a brand new playground structure! Add that to the bridge, lakes, ducks, and water fountains, and the boys couldn't have more fun! They do still enjoy the old slides and swings and we kind of make our way around the whole park as we go from one thing to the next.

Photo Shoot with Alex

Ever try getting a 3 yr old to pose for a photo shoot? There is a reason you take kids to a photography studio--they are professionals and know what they are doing!! We attempted to get some good shots of Alex a few Saturday mornings ago at the park for his 3 year photos, but only came up with one of him smiling and a few others that are ok. We are hoping to get a few more possibly this Saturday, or soon anyway, but we'll post these for now! He is cute--we're not arguing that fact!!--it's just hard to get him to cooperate with the camera!!

The Madison County Fair

This was our first year to go to the fair as a family. The boys were in love with it. They loved the cows. They loved the petting zoo. They loved the model trains. They loved the children's fun room. They loved the ferris wheel. The only thing they didn't love was leaving!
Sam really, really tried to get a hold of one of these goats. Poor thing, he actually grabbed it's lips one time!
Alex kept getting nose-to-nose with these little goats--it was hilarious!





This goat was trying to make friends with us since we had a little cup of food pellets!
The view from the ferris wheel of the fields west of the fairgrounds

the carnival in all it's tacky fun! Alex begged to go on every ride!

Sam just sat back and enjoyed the ride. He was pretty tired by this point and just relaxed in my lap. Ryan and I were a little nervous about whether or not the boys would be scared so high up in the air, but they weren't at all.

Alex loved the ferris wheel. We heard lots of oohs and ahhs from him. He loved it so much, in fact, that for the next several mornings first thing when he woke up he asked me, "I go on Ferris Wheel today? Big Boy?"

Independence Day Festivities!

We started off the weekend with a few fireworks of our own in our driveway. (these just left over from last year really!)

This is how we started out watching Daddy light them off--Sam on my lap and Alex close by...then Alex moved to a "safer zone" and Sam was fidgeting so I had to back up and hold him!
Alex watched the rest crouched on the doorstep. He would grimace and then when it was over ask for more!
my little pyro!
We were going to go to the zoo on Friday for the day, but Omaha was getting rain the whole day, so Ryan said we should just make a quick overnight trip to my parents' house since they have a parade and stuff at the park. So we piled the kids in the car and off we went!
Ryan and Sammy waiting for the parade!!

Alex and Jen got to ride the train!! The fun of being an aunt!!

Heather and Cole got to ride the train too later that night.

Dad and Cole are talking to Alex!! I think Dad's trying to stop a 'sword' fight!

Love the parade!!

Alex waved at everybody in the parade. He also got pretty good at asking for candy--great!--which he actually did not want to eat. He's not a big candy fan, just suckers. He just wanted to do what all the other bigger kids were doing!

Sam watched the entire parade very intently. He seemed to love it, and spent most of it in his Aunt Jen's lap, chillin'.
The other half of our parade line up!
My littlest nephew, baby Hunter, spent much of the time snoozin' away!

Grams got the boys some bubble wands to play with and they loved it!

Sammy got his first try at corn on the cob! Did a pretty good job, with some help, and loved it too! That's my bottomless pit child!
right before we left for home we got to have s'mores in mom & dad's new firepit that we kids got them for their anniversary! It was really fun!
Hope you had a Happy 4th!!

Nina & Papa's May Visit!

I can't believe it's taken me this long to sort through all the pics of the Coons' May visit to us, but that's life I guess! We had a great time with them. We had some church activities to go to, spent lots of time outside, found a little children's museum here in town, even took the boys to Chuck-E-Cheese for the first time! The kids had a great time get spoiled by their grandparents and we had lots of time to relax together. Thanks again to the Coons for driving all this way!