Happy Trails

Well here we are on our first day of vacation. We got up early this morning and made the trek to Rapid City. We stopped at Cabella's and Wall Drug on the way. We even ran into some of our relatives that we are meeting in Montana at Wall Drug. Small world I tell ya! Almost 8 hours later we arrived at our "Mowtel." Carson has never been so excited in his life to stay in a "mowtel."

On our way out to supper tonight we stopped to fill up the Durango. It was on E so we knew it would be quite a fill. However, we were still shocked when the pumped stopped at an astounding $95.25. So shocked in fact, that we forgot to clean off the 4000 bugs splattered on our windshield. Even though we budgeted for gas to be this much its still a stab to the heart to pay that. Good thing I got a good deal on our room to make up for the difference.

To celebrate our first day of vacation we decided to try some place other then McDonalds. I know scary thought. But after paying that much at the pump we needed a beer.

Or two.

But could only afford one after that!

So we headed to the Freighthouse Brewery. It was excellent! We ordered calamari and we were both SHOCKED to see this.....

Yes, that's both boys stuffing their face with calamari. Either they were starving (because it was after 8) or they are growing from a pickle and cheese diet to something a little more enjoyable and sophisticated.

Who needs McDonalds?

A Trip to the Zoo

On Friday Grandma and Grandpa Lee came to take us to the Omaha Zoo. The boys, and us, had a blast. Here are some pictures from our fun, hot day at the zoo.

Riding the steam engine train. It even has conductors.

Here we are exactly one year ago on the same train! My how the boys have grown.

Toddler Cargo.

Watching atop daddy's shoulders.

Silly animals.

Watching the sea lions get fed.

A little brotherly love on a hot day.

Don't touch the kids' popcorn.

Declan had more fun climbing all over the double stroller. We don't use it much anymore so it was a new thing for him.

It must have been a long weekend with not enough sleep. At 9am this morning they were too tired to sit up and play.

Next Sunday we are heading out of town for a week! We can hardly wait. Which means this week is going to ddrraaaaaaggggg on. We are spending a couple of nights in Rapid City and going to Mount Rushmore and then its off to Red Lodge, MT via the Beartooth Pass. It's going to be a long ride (775 miles) with the boys but we are so looking forward to a vacation. Daddy is off for a whole week and I think it may be just what the boys need, and me too!

Warm enough to swim.....finally!

Not much to be said about these pictures. The boys love the water.

One of the funnier outtakes I got.

Nap Time

Declan's not quite ready for one nap. So usually he'll fall asleep on the way home or between stops when we are out in the morning. The other day we were at the mall with our friends and he was riding in the front of my friend's stroller. We were heading for the food court for lunch and by the time we got there Declan had assumed this position.

He's totally asleep.

(And the picture was taken on my cell phone so its not the best quality.)

Our Daddy

Carson and Declan -

I hope you both realize how incredibly blessed you are to have such a special man in your life. One you can look to for strength, wisdom, love and as many hugs and kisses as you want.

He is the leader of our household, he is the provider for our family and he is our rock to lean on. He is hard-working, strong willed, compassionate, devoted, loving, a steward of God and the best daddy we could ever ask for.

He protects us and cares for us. He guides us and nutures us. He pays attention to you (and me) and he looks forward to your smiles and laughter everyday. He is so proud of you both!

So today we celebrate him and everything he brings to our family. We love him and we are so very grateful for all he has done for our family.

How blessed we are to be loved by him!

Laundry Monster

I hate laundry. I hate separating it, I hate putting it in the washer or dryer, I hate folding it and I hate putting it away. Its a vicious, vicious cycle that NEVER ends. Someday when I'm debt free (thanks to Dave Ramsey) I'm going to hire someone just to do laundry. I'd rather clean my house then do laundry. In the last 3 weeks I've done some wonderful things with laundry.

First was deciding at the last minute to wash my two favorite pairs of pants with my favorite black sweatshirt. We were heading out of town and I decided I wanted it all clean so I could take it with. All the other laundry for the weekend had been done the day before, this was a last minute, impulsive decision. You can imagine my horror when I pulled them out to find nice red bleached spots all over them. Apparently the bleach didn't rinse out in the last load.

And just so you know....I'm not a bleacher. I'd like to blame this tragic bleach episode on my husband. It's his fault. You see he got new socks, wore them outside and as a result had ruined his new socks. So me, being the loving wife, decided to bleach them in an effort to keep them new looking. I didn't even use much bleach!

Then this weekend I washed a load of clothes and left a tube of lipstick in my pocket. I won't even list what I ruined here. Enough said.

Then yesterday in my effort to do 90 loads of laundry I somehow managed to wash a roll of paper towels with our jeans and pants. It must have been under the load when I grabbed it off the floor and put it in the washer. I'm sure Trevor left it on the floor and that's how it ended up getting in the washer. ;-) Good news is that it didn't ruin the clothes but left a nice mess in the lint trap and on my black pants.

So if you know any good launderers (is that a word...must be spell check didn't flag it) send them my way.

In the meantime the boys and I are off to the pool for the first time this summer.

Friends

Last night we watched 2 friends of ours. 4 boys under 3.5. People at the park had to think we were nuts with all these kids!

Sam and Carson even learned how to give each other a ride. (Don't mind that mountain of crap in the background...we need to make a serious run to the dump)

We even enjoyed a bomb pop!


I think his lips are STILL red.

Lucas was the popsicle eating champ though. He bit that thing off faster then the older boys.

Here is what happens when the wind blows at our house. This lovely hunk of tree was laying in our driveway when we got home today. I've lived here 6 months and I am already sick of hauling sticks away!

Good thing we have two boys who will help us!

The hair hasn't tamed any since becoming shorter. This was the style after nap the other day. And that stunned look comes from me pulling the plug to get a picture BEFORE he lost his mind.

Prayer Request

A very close friend of ours needs your prayers. She's 15 and is struggling with an eating disorder. She's in an inpatient treatment facility and needs lots of prayers. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
~Isaiah 41:10

Push-Ems on the driveway

We all enjoyed a few Push-Ems on the driveway the other night.

He's my little daredevil.

I put WAY to many bubbles in the tub last night so it was a little baby jacuzzi.

Guess what he did!!

I probably went a little crazy in rewarding him for his achievement but I was too excited to hold back. Hopefully this trend continues! He tried unsuccessfully today a few times. I guess we'll see what tomorrow holds. Say your prayers and cross your fingers that it continues.

A Change in the Yard

Guess what we did this weekend? And the answer is not putting rocks around the tree (at least not the one I'm looking for)....nice try. Keep guessing.

Any idea what this is? We have a nine foot bush full of them. They don't really have a scent either.

Checking for worms in the puddles.

He's so proud that he went into the house by himself and got dressed after he got his shorts all wet. You really can't tell from this picture but those are Declan's sweatpants. Goof!

Have you figured out what we did this weekend yet? Here's another view.


Any guesses????


Here's the before picture.

Yes, we really did take it down and I love it.