Ride On Tractor

I was in the kitchen the other day and heard Cole making his "frustrated" grunting noise....this is what I saw when I looked around the corner. I don't really know what was making him so angry...looks like he fits just fine to me!

Birthday Invite

And here is the finished birthday invitation! I think it turned out very cute.

Birthday Invitation Pictures

I needed a recent picture to put on the boys' birthday invitation, so I took some outside photos while visiting my parents. They all turned out so cute, but I especially love this first one of Cole. (note the date stamp is obviously incorrect)

Hippo Chair

Cole really loves his soft blanky and is always burying his face in it. So, I remembered that we had a Hippo Critter chair that Tyler got for his first birthday. We brought it upstairs for Cole, which instantly created jealousy with Tyler. Here is how it went....

Tony: Tyler, now Cole gets your hippo chair.
Tyler: (instant tears and sobbing) nooooooo
Me: Okay, how about you just share your chair with Cole.
Tyler: (still sobbing) noooo, I don't want Cole to be on the chair.
Me: You can share.
Tyler: But I don't want Cole to slobber on it!!!!!

Tony and I seriously started laughing out loud. The whole time Tyler was crying, we thought it was all about giving away his chair and not sharing when in reality he just didn't want any of Cole's slobber on it! For those of you that don't know, Tyler has a real phobia of slobber, kisses, etc. Tyler didn't find it at all amusing, but Tony and I couldn't help but laugh!



Tyler's facial expression says it all in this one!

Mr. Big Shot

I have realized lately that Cole really wants to do what the "big kids" are doing a lot of the time. So when I put him in the coupe car, he was beyond thrilled. He thought he was really something driving the car like Tyler!

Mealtime with Daddy

This is what happens when Mommy is gone at dinner time.....enough said!!!

Riley and Sophie Visit

My sister-in-law had to go out of town for a conference, so I volunteered to keep my nieces for the week. They could either stay at home with Dad - which meant going to the babysitter during the day, or come and stay at Aunt BBs house....of course I won that toss up! We had so much fun and the girls were so good. Tyler and Sophie even got along great the whole week - they tend to have power struggles since they are so close in age!

I love the things that kids say when their parents aren't around...I can only imagine what Tyler tells other people. My favorite quote from the girls was when I was mopping our kitchen floor...

Riley: "Our Dad doesn't ever mop the floor because he doesn't know how!"
Sophie: "Nuh uh...he doesn't mop the floor because he's always grouchy!"

Funny stuff! I was also very amused at the number of bandaids that are requested in a day by little girls. I learned very quickly that you don't hand out bandaids every time they are requested. I told my brother he should have bought stock in bandaids when he had his second daughter! There are such differences in little boys and little girls...it's so fun to sit back and just observe the differences...and very funny!

We were sad to see them go, but it did confirm for Tony and I that 2 children is enough for this family! Just getting sunscreen on 4 kids was a full time job, not to mention bath time!!!


Tyler (3) Sophie (3) Riley (6)
Only a brave woman takes 4 kids to the zoo!

Cole had to sit at the table like a big kid!

Aurora's 4th Birthday

Aurora, our niece, had her 4th birthday party at the end of June. Despite the heat, the kids had a lot of fun....mainly due to the large waterslide in the front yard. The pinata was a big hit too - especially with Tyler since he's the one that broke it open. Happy 4th Birthday Ro!


Cole enjoying time with Papa and thrilled that a dog was there too!

Let the pinata fun begin. Check out the mammoth pinata!

Why wait to start eating the candy!

Aurora (4) Ariel (6) Tyler (3)

Joseph Aven - 7 months

Such a cutie!

Trip to Hudson

Back in June, the boys and I went to visit my college roommate, Amanda (aka "A") in Hudson, IL. We went to the children's museum in Bloomington, a sprinkler park and just hung out. We had a lot of fun and the boys all played great together. Amanda and I were just happy that all 4 children were healthy at the same time. The last time we got together is when Tyler had his crazy skin reaction to the antibiotic and the trip had to be cut short.

Amanda and I have now known each other for 15 years.....seems like we should just be moving into the college dorm and instead we are getting together with our children. Where does the time go?!?



Benjamin Tyler and Justin

They all really enjoyed this particular sprinkler?!?!?!?!?!?!?