whobody wore awesome shirts?

I just wanted to throw a picture out there of Jason in his new shirt....
with Gabe and his awesome shirt.

They are a dangerous pair.

whobody got a trophy?

After the 4th of July parade in Garnavillo, there is always a kiddie tractor pull.

 It really isn't the sort of thing we are "into" at all

...BUT the kids love it, so we let them do it once a year.

Keaton, Lola and Nash all participated this year.  

Technically, the youngest age group is 4 year olds, 

but they said Nash could participate even though he is only 3.

So, he did....and he had a blast.

Here he is showing his muscles after his first pull...

He ended up getting 2nd place in the 4 year old group!!! 

He was so excited. 

He has been dreaming of getting a trophy! 

Keaton and Lola were good spectators...however, 

Cruz thought it was boring and took a nap instead.

(Or he was just exhausted and it was nap time!)

Nash and Lola went and got celebratory snowcones and a balloon sword and flower. 

(Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike balloon creations? 

They always cause more heartache in our family than joy....

because they tend to get popped or untwisted within a few hours....)

Keaton and Lola also took part in their age groups, they both did well, 

but neither one placed.

I'm pretty sure Nash asked to take his trophy with us wherever we went for the first couple of days...just to show people.

whobody LOVED the 4th?

I have way too many pictures from July 4th...and way too little time to blog about them....so here they all are...together...with just a few comments.

(Someday, I will have more time....maybe.)

First. The annual Teddy Bear Parade.  The kids love this. They dress up in patriotic clothing, and parade through the park for all of the moms and dads and grandpas and grandmas to see. THEN they get a teddy bear to take home. It is always a fun start to our 4th of July celebration!

Okay. So, the hat...I got out for Nash to wear....the cape and mask....THAT was all him. He had been wearing it around the past few days, and decided that he should wear it since it was red and blue.  I put my foot down on the Lightning McQueen rain boots...

Nash and Hayden. He is 3 weeks older...and according to this picture, 3 feet taller!

In Cruz's eyes...this was the best part. He could have sat in this swing all night (he pretty much did)!

Now, pictures from the Garnavillo 4th of July parade. 

My. favorite.

Cruz just doesn't like to be told where to sit....

After the parade, we ate and did all of the things you do at the park...mostly the tractor pull. (Which was very exciting for Nash.)  We ended the day with face painting, Keaton chose the ear of corn.

Nash ALMOST fell asleep on the chair while he was getting painted. Seriously.

That kid was WHOOPED.

He, of course, chose a manly rainbow and star.

It may have been because that was what Lola picked out too!

They all napped hard that afternoon...and then we headed to Hoeger's for a little party. The kids had a BLAST!

So, those were the pictures from our 4th of July...here are the pics from the weekend before at Guttenberg's Stars and Stripes! It was a little cooler weather.  The kids jumped on inflatables...and got to ride in a little train...

They then got to watch the parade!

As usual, Cruz was happy as long as he was being fed!

We have had a great summer...especially the 4th. I just wish I had more time and energy to write about it! But, back to the other things I have to do!!! Stay tuned.

whobody went on the river?

I am SO behind on this blog!

Can you believe it is almost AUGUST. Nooooooo!!!!

Sadly, we have only taken the kids out on the river 2 times this year. Yikes.

Our schedule has just been SO busy.

These are the pictures of the first night we took the kids out. The river was still pretty high that night, so we just took the kids out for dinner on the river.  They loved it (but not as much as the sandbar).

Well, Cruz wasn't really crazy about it at first...

but then we let him be the dj...

At the restaurant (okay, it's a bar) Nash couldn't resist playing the video games...without money. Luckily he was wearing his sunglasses, so hopefully his disguise hid who he really was.  So often, we really are THOSE parents.

We had a GREAT night out on the river.

whobody played ball?

June is filled with Little League.  

Between Keaton and Lola we had 4 games a week! 

(Did I mention that we coach both teams?)  

We have so much fun doing this, but boy, is it a crazy month! 

Keaton is in a pitching machine league, and it is so much fun to see how much the kids have improved since t-ball! We have been lucky enough to end up with a lot of the same kids on our team year after year.  

We also coach Lola's t-ball team. It is a great way to get to know the kids and parents.  

Both of our kids love baseball.

Here are a few pictures of Keaton....

(I cannot find any pictures of Lola...her t-ball team was a little more high maintenance....therefore, I must not have ever found the chance to get my camera out....bummer.)

If we had time before a game, we would go and have batting practice with the kids using the pitching machine!  Here Cruz is helping Jason pitch to Keaton.

This one last picture was taken at Lola's game.  

Usually, if grandma is at a game, she keeps an eye on the ones who aren't playing. This picture was taken on a day that no one was there to watch the kiddos...so Nash and Keaton were in charge of Cruz...and they sat with our team. 

Nash loaded Cruz's stroller up to make sure he didn't run out of food, drink, or toys!

We are so lucky that he is so tolerant!

Little League season is one that I really enjoy...but I also really enjoy it being done. I feel like we have a little more free time on our hands....however, I have NO idea how it is already the middle of JULY!!!