A Few Summer Highlights....

Chase learns to sit on his own. Here he is enoying his toys outside.

Camping at Cuttys and swimming! (or Huttys as Addison calls it)

Good ole Iowa sweet corn!

Auntie Dani and Uncle Vandenn. It is a sad, sad few weeks at our house after they leave! For one, the kids cant seem to figure out where they went and what they are doing. Two, their arrival means I dont have to cook for about three weeks! Three, they dont come back for yet another year!

On the plus side, next year they will bring a new cousin!

That poor kid has no idea what its in for.

Preschool

Pictures from Carter's first day of preschool. He is modeling his new watch and backpack.
I asked Carter after his first day if he wanted to go back. He said "Um, No Thanks!"

That day at lunch, Carter started laughing to himself. He exclaimed to us, "I tried to sneak to the other ladies classrooms!" He was very proud of himself.

We were not. It was funny though.

Even funnier is that we aren't sure if he actually did it or was imagining it!

He now likes school. He wont tell us much other than he went to the gym or the playground..

The Airplane

The past few weeks have been very exciting for Carter as there have been many crop dusters flying around our house. Carter was thrilled to watch them. He was even more thrilled when the plane in these pictures flew past him and Chad. The pilot flew by really low, tipped the wings and waved at Carter. Too bad the poor kid was standing in the grass going potty at the time!!!

5 years and 3 kids later.....

While on our Black Hills Vacation, we celebrated our 5th Anniversay! I would never have thought that in the last five years we would have so much happen!! Between Carter, Addison, and Chase, and Carter and Chads health its been crazy.

We are so thankful for our little family. Also for our many family and friends who have supported us these last five years!

Black Hills Vacation

We had a fun time on our little family vacation to the Black Hills with Ashley's family.
Here are a few highlights........

The family at Mt. Rushmore. We HAD to go there because Carter wanted to see "Rushmore" like Curious George did. He was very excited to see the same helicopter that George rode in fly past "Rushmore".

Tried to take artistic shot of Rushmore for Vandenn to see. This was about the best I could do.

Here is Chase on his first swing ride at Storybook Island, a large park with storybook themed play equipment. The kids loved playing here even though it was hot.

An afternoon at the community swimming pool. They have shallow water and all sorts of things that squirt water. It felt wonderful on a hot day. Carter was THRILLED with the water slide. Addison was too nervous to go down by herself, so Chad went with her. As you can guess, she still had a meltdown even with daddy along.

Camping

We went camping Sunday-Wednesday to celebrate Carter's 4th birthday. We had a good time. The weather was wonderful on Sunday, but the rest of the days were wet and cold.

Addison and Charlotte relaxing together.

Carter and his "big boy bike" he got last summer. He didn't want to ride it untill this spring when we hid his trike that he was WAY TOO BIG for!

Chase spent his time wishing he was big enough to ride any bike, let alone the big boy bike!

the 3 amigos

No, Chase is not scared for his life.....although it looks like it.

He actually is "talking" (a very raspy Ooohhhhhh sound)

that Addison and Carter find very funny.