Grammy's here!!!

Steven's mom Toni is visting from California this week until 8/12 so I might be kinda MIA for a bit. We are enjoying her visit so far. Ethan wants to take her to all these fun places right now!!! Yesterday we drove around to show her what our state looks like without snow, this is her first trip here without snow, lol. Today we went to the museum and WalMart. Other plans...the old mill, the zoo, Ethan's play, shopping and some lazy days just hanging out! Have a great weekend!

What have we been missing?

We have lived here for almost 5 years now and just today we decided to head out to a near by bike trail for a ride. The path was beautiful and Ethan and I got to ride ahead and soak up our surroundings while Steven stayed behind with Abram on his TRICYCLE! I told Steven to bring the bike trailer and he insisted Abram wanted to ride his own bike...I'm sure he did, but come on man! So, needless to say the end of the ride was disasterous with Abram on my shoulders while I walked next to my bike at the same time I was balancing Abram's tricycle on the handle bars while Steven waited ever so patiently back at the van for his wife and youngest child to arrive. I was fit to be tied to say the least. As the sweat ran down my entire body and my shoulders were burning from 25lbs of kid, I never wanted to see bikes again! Of course we'll go ride on the trail again, I dont stay mad too long, but next time we *ARE* bringing the bike trailer!!!
I forgot my camera so no pictures this time, but next time for sure!

this boy is going to give me a heart attack!

Ethan is a climber and it scares me to death! He loves to climb trees, he and Madi both. The neighbor lady saw them and Madi said "Look we're Indians" and my neighbor said, "No, more like Tarzan and Jane." LOL
Now...if we can just escape his childhood with no broken bones...

So tonight I took a little break...

from the theatre. Ethan really wanted Steven to see how hard he and the cast has worked and begged he come to watch. I more than gratefully said I didn't mind not going to rehearsal tonight as I had some things I needed to get done any way, so...it was just little guy and me tonight! First we walked 2 miles around the lake in the sweltering heat and humidity. I kept wondering why no one was out walking, but after the first mile and I was dripping in sweat I quickly figured it out, LOL. Then we came home and cleaned out the van and I finished all the laundry and packed for our overnight trip to my sister's in-laws cabin. The boys and I are spending Friday night with them. We did this last year too and it is so much fun for the kids. So to my readers, have a wonderful weekend and I'll catch up with ya early next week, if not sooner!

Baseball...what summers all about!

Last Sunday we went to a Redhawks baseball game. The enitre time we all kept saying, "Now this is what summer is all about." We had a ton of junk food, sunshine and fun. Each boy ended up getting a baseball, Ethan got his from center-fielder Joe Mathis and Abram got his from a young boy that caught a foul ball and gave it to him. After the game the boys also got their balls signed by Joe Mathis. That was a lot of fun to see kids of all ages lined against the fence waiting for him to sign their baseballs. All in all it was a great day!

Abram waiting for a foul ball.

Abram with his ball.

Ethan with his ball from Joe Mathis.

Grandmom and Ethan

Hawkeye and Ethan

Joe Mathis signing the baseballs.

The boys with their autographed baseballs.

After the game we came home and went on a drive. We wound up at an old mill where the park area is just perfect for playing catch.

My cute boys and their new hats from the game.

Happy birthday Ella

Today is my niece Ella's 2nd birthday. I can't believe it has been 2 years since she was born. She was just a small little peanut then at 6 lbs and still is. We had fun getting to see her in May when we went to Colorado. She has such a cute personality and is darling. I love her cute little piggy tails, her Spanish words she says and the love she gives. She loved me when we went and you know not, having any girls of my own I soaked that up! Happy birthday Ella Bella Blueberry, hope you had a wonderful day. Can't wait to see your birthday pictures and hear about your fun day!


Abram, Ethan holding Noah and Ella.

Abram, Ethan and Ella and the zoo.

County Fair

Chili cheese dogs and corn dogs

Outrageous prices

Unlimited rides with wristbands~thanks Grandpa!

Nauseous tummies after too many rides

Totally worth it

Young ones to boot



Four H

Agriculture to look at

Irresistible cheese curds and mini donuts

Ready to go home at 11:30pm

Dani and Abram

Dani, Abram and Kamiryn

All 6 kids in the Dizzy Dragon

Ethan and Abram on the train ride

Abram :)

The best picture I could get of them on

Pharaoh's Fury

Derek is in the green, Kamiryn squished between one of her sisters and Derek, Grandpa Lloyd right behind Derek in the grey and Ethan is in the red sandwiched between Dani or Miranda both were in orange.

Four and a half hours!!!

Was how long play rehearsal was tonight.
I'm so tired and have a headache...I can't imagine how Ethan feels.
It's coming together nicely though. Glad to have Friday and Saturday off but next week we have 3-4 hour practices on Sunday(which Steven does NOT like), Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then Friday and Saturday off again.
Have I told how happy I'll be when this is OVER?!?!?!?
So sorry my blogging is lacking but not anything too exciting to report.

Not {too} much happenin'...

Hey everyone,
I just thought I'd update a bit.
~With Steven's new job the boys are all confused on why daddy has to work so many days in a row before he gets one off and why he can never make us breakfast anymore, LOL....so, we are learning to adjust to that. His new schedule is M-F 8-4:30/5ish. Since Steven no longer has the days I worked off, the boys have enjoyed going to my moms house. I call it "Camp Grandmoms." She really is enjoying the kids as well.
~Ethan's play rehearsals are intense and LONG and I attend EVERY single one of them for the entire time. Kinda bummed now I didn't learn to knit, I could have an entire queen size blanket done by now. I have been reading books though(and for those who know me know I'm not really a book reader, I have read 4 books this summer and are in the process of reading 3 now) and memorizing lines as is Ethan so we like to act out scenes at home. We even have Abram repeating lines, it's cute!
~The weather has been nice so we spend a lot of time outside. Grandmoms pool, parks, the backyard...ya know.
~Ethan and Madi have spent a lot of time together this summer and are lovin' that. It's nice to have her come places too so Ethan isn't so bored. They can entertain each other for hours!!!
~Miranda, my oldest niece has been watching Abram until Steven gets home from work while I am with Ethan at play rehearsals. She is lovin' the experience and I KNOW Abram loves her company. She is doing such a great job. Thanks Miranda!
So, that's where we are. I will be one happy mom when this play wraps up. It will have !!!!EIGHT!!!! showings. Steven's mom will be here for 3 of the showings which is awesome, we can't wait for her to be here see him perform.
I hope you all have a great week. The county fair is this week and we are going Friday, I will post pictures of that for sure.
Oh, tomorrow is my brother-in-law Derek's birthday, so to Derek---Happy Birthday!

"Now that's one red ripe strawberry....

the hungry bear will never get! "

This is one of Abram's FAVORITE books and right after our adventure of picking strawberries with two adults and six children last week I thought this title was suiting. Heather and I decided that getting up at 7am to be at the fields by 8am picking strawberries would make wonderful memories for our children, oh and the fact Heather needed to make freezer jam...so we did it! The kids had a wonderful time and although our kids were the ONLY kids out there among lots of adults they were enjoyed by all. I really hope our kids look back at this memory as a 'look what my mom and auntie did for us' one.

Abram and I picked together and he gently laid them in the box, lol.

Abram, so proud of our strawberries.

Ethan and Madi rocked! They collected the most strawberries,

but it helped that there were two of them, lol.

Ethan's prized strawberry.

For more pictures check out Heathers blog.

Happy 4th of July

The 4th of July is by far my most favorite holiday!

This year was awesome. On July 3rd,

our community held their fireworks show and

it was beautiful. Most of the kids held

it together until the show started at 10:30pm.
Waiting for fireworks on the roofs of our cars.

Dani, Abram and Miranda

Ethan, Kami and Madison

Grandpa Lloyd and Abram

On the 4th, in the morning all the kids were in a bike parade, then we went to lunch and over to my parents to grill and swim. Heather's 3rd daughter Madison stayed in town with us while they all went to a cousin's cabin.
All the kids in the parade.

Ethan

Abram

My friend Vanessa, her children didn't ride bikes but they dressed up in the most adorable costumes. Jaxon was a solider, Kira was Betsy Ross and Gabe was The Statue of Liberty.

Enjoying smores in the yard at Grandmoms.

Fireworks at Grandomom's
Abram

Ethan

Madison

Waiting for the fireworks

All three with sparklers.

My baby and me.

Abram being Abram