Are you ready for some football?

We are ready in our house for lazy Sunday's -really who am I kidding here- we watch football on Saturday too, okay and Monday, and maybe Thursday! Last weekend Braden asked if he could watch a show and this was my response to him, "Braden what day is it?" B-"Sunday, Mom." "Yes, it is Sunday what do we watch on Sunday?" B- "Football." He will learn to LOVE watching football on television as well! And FYI I did let him watch something he wanted to later on during the day. I am not that mean!

Sunny Florida

Nick had to go to Florida for work this past week. The boys and I decided to tag along with him. We had such a nice relaxing few days. Nick had to work the mornings and most of the afternoon, but all the boys and I had to do all day was be at the pool and the beach! We would get up and head to the beach by 9:00, then the pool, eat lunch (on a blanket that we brought with us b/c I am OCD in a hotel room), boys take a nap, and then go back out for the rest of the afternoon with Nick. The boys liked the pool because they both have gain more independence this summer in the pool. They both move pretty freely (Braden more so then Blake) with their floaties. Blake still forgets that he has to hold his head up and pay attention. Blake found a new love for jumping off the side of the pool. Braden found his love for jumping over the waves in the ocean. The plane trip down and back went really well for the boys. Now I had sweaty pits but I am the mom, so I think that is how it is supposed to work! We got some really nice compliments from strangers about how well behaved the boys were. Thanks Nick for letting us go hang out in Florida while you had to work!!

A little thank you...

Our neighbors have three children, two of which are boys. They are in 2nd and 1st grade and also have "B" names. Yes, funny all four boys start with B. We call them the "B gang." The oldest B got a new bike, which meant his younger brother, B got his old bike. So they had an extra bike that they told us that we could have. (So nice by the way-saved us some money!) Braden was over the top excited about the new bike and the night they gave it to us we wrote them a thank you card. Braden wrote the whole thing by himself. I wrote the words on another piece of paper that he was looking off of. I was so proud of him!

Ribberfest.. A few weeks ago

Enjoying some family river time!


We love that the grandparents live only a few miles from each other. The boys got to hang out with all of them at Ribberfest in Madison and boating the next day. I think we all had a great time!

The Windy City- A few weeks behind.....

Braden and Todd enjoying some cotton candy. Braden had the whole bag!

The boys at Wrigley Field- Cubs Vs. Reds- Reds WIN!

Braden and Todd - Braden and Blake's first game at Wrigley Field- Thanks Uncle Todd and Aunt Alicia

Sunday Fun

The boys had a great day today playing in the water and outside in general. They ran, they sat on the sprinkler, they walked, they raced, they fell down/they got up, they drank from the hose, there wasn't much that wasn't explored today. And we all loved every minute of it.

I love nights like this....

Trying to ride on the bike together.

Braden's new trick

I love summer evenings that aren't 95 degrees with a heat index of 100 degrees! And last night was a perfect night to be out. The boys love being outside. They love riding bikes up and down the sidewalk, playing baseball, running with the neighbor kids, riding in their truck together looking for bad guys, running threw the sprinkler (it is on almost every night because our grass is brown and hard) (clothing is optional when running in the water- sometimes fully dressed, others with trunks, other times we just go in the undies!), making hop scotch on the driveway, whatever it is outside they love doing it- no matter how much sweat is dripping off their heads!

Braden was all about trying "new tricks" last night outside. He did this one (legs off pedals after going really fast) about 10 times. Then he took it to the next level. He did the same trick but with no hands. Notice I don't have a picture of that trick because it didn't last long enough for me to get his hands up! He was getting pretty fancy on his scooter as well!

Blake is now riding the bike in the picture completely on his own. We walked around part of the neighborhood (about 1/2mile) and he did the pedals the whole way. I only had to help when going back on the sidewalk from the road. All he wants to do is "ride on Brays bike."

The funny part of this great milestone is that Nick and I got him a new bike with pedals at Target at the beginning of the summer (50 bucks-yikes!) because he couldn't do the pedals on Braden's and the other bike didn't have pedals (and he was ready for pedals). Oh well, it looks like Braden will be getting a new bike because I think Blake has made Braden's bike officially his!

Here is to summer evenings- may we enjoy them to their fullest!