Mutton Bustin!

We have a 2 year old who is obsessed with mutton bustin!

We saw the show last year at the fair and he was terrified, then we saw it last night at the fair and he ran home, threw on his football helmet and started to practice on our golden retriever! (For those of you who don't know what mutton bustin is: its like bull riding for 2-6 year old...only on sheep).

He talked about it nonstop so I took him back to the fair today with his cousins with our free passes and signed him up. Austin fared better than Jack did - but expected for a 4 year old. They both did super great for their first time and if they want to do it again next year I think they will do even better. I think I was more nervous than he was...he was doing a dance to the music beforehand, and trying to climb in the cage as Austin was getting on his sheep! Cooper and Charlotte were just excited to be at the fair eating Hawaiian ices and corn dogs and taking in all the excitement.

I was so proud of my usually super cautious little boy! Watch the video of the 2 of them getting ready for the big ride....

Hugging brother right before he got on his sheep...

Dancing around in his "bootball" gear.

The kids having a great time visiting the animals...

The Llama barn was a big hit!

Big Boy Bunk Bed

After months of talking about it and weeks after ordering it...today we put together Jack's big boy bunk bed. It was a momentous day filled with more than enough excitement for Jack and lots of hard word for both Flo and myself. Flo and I both commented that we have never seen him this excited about something.

He has been looking forward to this for some time now. He was our little helper with sanding, staining and cutting the boards for the bed as well! Tonight is the first night and after a talk about staying in bed and a slight threat about the looming baby bed that can be brought back at any moment, it is quiet in his room for now.

We are rewarding ourselves for the hard labor with a little ice cream and relaxation. I can't believe my little one is growing up so fast. It makes me both sad and proud that he is such a good hearted little boy who is so happy and such a pleasure to be around for us. It seems like these past couple of months he has just started to really grow up in little small ways that we notice and all of a sudden its a big way like the bed.

Super Duper grin right before lights out...

Just finished our 4 man job of putting it together and he climbed right in.

Helping Daddy with the hard work today.

playing on the mattresses in our living room for the past 2 days (who needs toys?)

bees, bubbles and the blues

A special shout out to Uncle John who is in Qatar right now and I just added on the blog list... Stay safe, we miss you and are praying for you!

It happened today at our house.

In a parents life, it happens sooner or later to everyone...in our case later. Today our son repeated something that we (or I) said and now we are forced to be more conscientious about what and how we say things as we have a play back who is 3 feet tall. It wouldn't be so bad but of all things to pick as a first thing to say... I was tossing dog bones to our two dogs and Ellie our little one was just sitting there not going after any of them and letting Lucy get them all. (I think she was holding out for something better) but I said "Ellie are you Dumb? There is nothing else." And then we heard about 20 times "Mommy, Ellie Dumb?" "Daddy, Ellie Dumb?"

I think Flo was both proud that he repeated and mortified at what it was. Good job Mommy.

Today was a pretty boring day for the most part...for the past two days I have been sorting through the boys clothes to see what sort of building blocks we have for the fall and winter and turns out my suspicions about having moose for children were correct. 5 hours later and about 4 outfits left and I am prepping myself for some bargain shopping in the near future before the cold weather hits.

The boys were great through the tub and dresser raiding. They managed to amuse themselves with a hamper for a good hour and played "boo" their favorite game on and off for at least another one. And who could complain when the day starts off with some blues singing from Jack over breakfast and ends with some bike, wagon and car washing with Daddy? The only big downer on the day was that Jack got stung on the leg by a bee before lunch. But, I do have to say after the tears stopped the first thing out of this mouth was "ice mommy". He is a tough kid.

The huge monthly cereal sale is tomorrow and I will bribe, distract and sing my way through it if it means that I have 2 happy kids and a grocery cart full of cereal for the month and then we are off to the park to play after 2 days in doors.

I LOVE MY KIDS.

Jack taking the wagon through the Florence car wash. He is growing up toooo fast!

Amusing themselves while Mommy works...

Eating his favorite like a champ - corn on the cob.

Singing some songs he learned in Sunday School for me!

The Big 3 - 0!

All the anticipation, or rather dread leading up to turning 30 was washed away by my day of being spoiled by my truly wonderful husband - and boy did I need it! After packing up the family and moving, a yard sale, and multiple dump runs along with 3 bouts of the flu a day of pampering was what I needed!

Flo surprised me with an hour long massage and then lunch just the two of us followed by a mini version of "what not to wear" by treating me to a shopping spree for just me. Only two rules: I couldn't buy anything white or black and I couldn't buy anything for the kids. Sign me up!

Sounds bad but a day without my kids is just what the doctor ordered... a 30 year old lady could use a little time with her hubby to reconnect, hold hands and laugh about things other than spit up and toots. I missed the boys terribly but will forever remember how much trouble Flo went to to make this birthday special. I managed to make it 7 whole hours with no spit up, puke, dirty hand marks or bodily fluid of any kind from a kid on my clothes - I call that a success!

Following the shopping spree (I sadly think I got a blister or two) he had planned a surprise get together at my sisters with my favorite food and cake for dessert. This day will definitley make me a better mom and wife.

It was a great day. I wouldn't mind turning older every year if it was like this. Hands down the best birthday to date. Thank you Bissy for your time with the kids and thank you Flo for the memories.

Cooper enjoying my birthday cake a little too much...

Coops and Aubrey hanging out this week at John's going away picnic.

They boys enjoying some sun time in our back yard. Jack pretty much turned the hose on the two of us two seconds after this was taken!

Birthdays, Boxes and Brains

Due to the relocation of our family to a new home in Spokane I have been unable to write for quite some time. Packing in between naps and then the big move forced me to live and breath this move since I don't have much free time to start off with. We are now in the process of trying to unpack all those said boxes but the boys at least have a back yard to run around in. During this whole process Flo accepted a new job with Medtronic and now has a job in Surgical sales for Neurological devices (brain and spine)...just a little higher on the cool list from Ostomy products plus he is loving it too!

We just wanted to take a little time out of our busy chaos to wish Grandpa a HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! The boys will give you two huge wet sloppy kisses when we see you next. We love you!

The Florence boys love their...

DILLY BARS!

Just beating the heat with a good ol' ice cream treat after dinner :)

We have a tooth!

After 3 loooooong days and 3 looooooong nights of 100 - 103 degree temps and an irratable baby, Cooper has returned to us and he has a tiny little tooth on the bottom of his mouth! 8 months old for the first one and I can finally get a good nights rest again tonight :)

Woohoo!!