Family Time

Ashley riding Stephan's trike...

Tim and I have made a commitment to walk together three nights a week. We've been doing really good at it. This week, we've been walking early enough that the kids have been going with us. We don't get the together time and serious talking time,but we get fun and laughs because the kids make us laugh.


When we picked up Stephan on Saturday, we brought home most of his toys. Boy did Ashley have fun!

Stephan riding his monster truck. Appropriately named, The Grave Digger.

First, on our walk, Stephan insisted on riding his monster truck. This is basically a push toy, but he can sit on it and ride it. We were hesitant about his ability to go the distance, but decided to give it a try. He can definitely cruise on this little toy. The only problem is the asphalt. He hit the ground a number of times. He was such a tough guy - he jump up and yell, "Took a digger!" We call him "Digger" now.

After his bath, Stephan modeled his elbow scratches.

When elbows meet asphalt...

By the time we got home, Ashley's adrenaline was up and she was trying out all of Stephan's ride toys. She jumped on his trike and started racing him around the truck. They were so funny! Then she attempted to ride his motorcycle. Even funnier - but with disastrous results. Ashley should never own a motorcycle.

OK - so Stephan never really had a chance at catching Ashley, but he still chased her around the truck at least 15 times. I laughed so hard!

Our walks are great fun, and a wonderful time with family.

Tools of the Trade (aka: How to Survive at a Roping)

Comfie place to take a nap.
Good attitude and plenty of toys.
Chairs, children, stroller, playpen, book, toys...
Excellent babysitter for those times you just need to get away. (Summer, Ashley's horse kept close watch on the boys.)
A place to get out of the sun, and sunglasses, of course.
Footrest...
foot rest for a different location...
Backpacks for hauling children when the stroller could be a hazard...

Kids and Horses

Aiden has decent balance. He loves the horses and loves to watch Tim rope.
Isaiah likes the horses well enough, but doesn't have the passion for them that Aiden does.
He has already figured out how to hold on.
The two boys were just giggling when we were walking around. They would grab each others hand and start squealing. It was funny.

Ashley has a natural talent for riding. She's been riding since she was 10 days old. She loves her horse, and her horse loves her. They work well together, and have gone to many competitions together.

A couple of weeks ago we headed up north for a roping. The weather was amazing and the scenery is great. The boys both helped groom before Tim had to saddle. Ashley was able to take off for a little while to ride in the mountains. Her horse threw a shoe in the rocks so she came back to read her much loved book series, Twilight.

And They Are Off!

Aiden
Isaiah

A couple of months ago I ran across a walker at a children's resale shop. Ashley just happened to be with me that day. We were discussing which one to get when she replied, "Just get them both. That way the boys can pretend they are bumper cars." I figured what the heck -

Little did I know...
"I'm just going out for a quick stroll...Little help with the door, please?"

Isaiah can chase (I use that term loosely) Ellie (my corgi) down the hallway. He can also manuver from the kitchen into the front room around the corner and into the hallway down to my room. He hasn't figured out how to make that turn yet.

Aiden can go backwards, but hasn't figured out forward motion. He really doesn't need to though because Isaiah will get beside him and just push him until he runs into something that stops them and then Isaiah is off and running again. Can you tell who my trouble maker is?

"The news is boring! We want cartoons!"

Time Out

I often find that it is easier to stay at home rather than venture out on the town. Not because my boys are trouble, but because it is a hassle to load them up, get out a stroller, unload from car seat into stroller, do whatever errand I chose, then unload from stroller and load back into car seat, toss heavy double stroller back into truck, ... you get the picture? There are times when I have to leave for my own sanity. Those are the times when I drive to the local Mexican food restaurant where I can call my order in and then go through the drive thru.

Yesterday, I traveled to a friend's house. The drive was nice - it was mostly freeway, but just to get away for a little while was lovely. I forget to do that. She has two kids that absolutely loved playing with my boys, and my boys were in heaven! They had little people to play with them. It was nice having adult conversation while eating lunch at a table. The little things I don't always take the time for.

When we got home, it was hot so I took the boys' clothes off and put them in their crib to play. They were having such a good time so I took a few photos. I was playing with my color settings so they are ecclectic today.

Enjoy your day.

Time Flies...

Wow - it has been another month and I haven't sat down to blog... where does the time go?

Updates:

Ashley: Ashley has been gone most of the summer. I'm still bummed. She went on the FFA High Point/Officers camping trip. She is the new Historian for the FFA at her high school. She then spent a week in Phoenix with my mom. When she got home, she left for FFA Leadership Camp, again, she was home for a day, then off to California with my dad, Betty, Courtney, and the littles. She was home a few days - then to my mom's, and now finally, she is in Holland. Please keep her in your prayers. She will start school Aug. 6th.

Aiden and Isaiah: I guess at some point they will need their own identity vs. the twins or "Aiden and Isaiah". They turned 6 months old this month. Aiden weighs a whopping 21 lbs, and Isaiah weighs in at 18 lbs. They are both rolling over and cooing, but only Isaiah has teeth. My boys show little desire in standing, creeping, or crawling. Maybe I spend too much time playing and holding them...

Tim: Still working. He is trying to rope a little more this summer. He will stick one of the boys in the backpack and they ride while he warms his horse up - then whichever boy he has sits and watches the big boys. Aiden loves going out there - Isaiah could take it or leave it. Tim is running for the school board in Nov., and he is planning to coach volleyball at the middle school again.

Robyn: Still playing with babies. I go into the office one day a week to help with payroll. Anyone want to do lunch? I forget to leave the house sometimes...

It's the Little Things...

Grandpa (my dad) with Aiden and Stephon.
These are a few of the tulips I grew this spring.
"Pumpkin," Ashley's cat enjoying my summer garden - before it was in bloom.

I know that everyone always says, "It is the small moments that matter the most," but it is such a cliche. Tonight however, I can honestly say that it is true.

My dad has come to visit for a few days. He drove up on Sunday (Father's Day) with Stephon, Cameren, and Chandler. I cooked dinner and we had a lovely dinner out on the patio. Tonight, as we were sitting in the yard talking and enjoying each others company, laughing at the kids, and relaxing, I looked up and Stephon was "watering" my garden with one of my planters shaped like a watering can. There was dirt going everywhere. He was really trying to be very neat, but he's two! He played there in my garden for 15 minutes and was completely at peace. A few times he would look over to where we were and smile. What a cutie. Of course, when I went into the house to get the camera he left the garden and started playing with the big kids, but that memory of this sweet little boy, smiling and playing in my garden, will live in my heart for a very long time.

Brad Paisley and Friends

For Ashley's 8th grade promotion we gave her tickets to a Brad Paisley concert. She took her friend Amy. I think it is safe to say that everyone had a good time. We took the boys and they did great! I had no idea that concerts were so much fun. Tim slept through most of it - hard to believe, but he did! I'm ready to go to another concert. Who is coming next? Who wants to go to a concert with me? Tim is hesitant. It was hard for him to work the next day. Enjoy the photos...

Random Ramblings...

I'm suppose to be cleaning my house and running, but instead I find that I'm unmotived ~ so, here I sit typing. Procrastinators of the world unite! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read what's been up on our world for the last three weeks. I really need to be more current with this blog thingie...

My birthday -

No - it was not a camping lantern. I got a Dyson Animal Vacuum. No, it's not sexy, but it is so much fun. I actually vacuum my floors now! It is a huge deal around our house! My day was spent cleaning out the garage. It was so full of crap that we couldn't even get the Excursion parked in there! We didn't get it finished, but we are slightly more organized for the next cleaning day...(which will occur on Father's Day.) My girlfriend called around noon and demanded that she watch the boys and Tim and I go to dinner. We went to "Nic's" for a very nice dinner. Ashley stayed home with Isaiah, and Melissa watched Aiden. Ashley didn't want to go, but she volunteered to watch one of the boys.

Time with Friends...

Last week, my friends Wyatt and Wylie came to spend the afternoon with us. I had forgotten how lazy summer days can be. Check out the way the kids spent a large portion of the afternoon.

Wylie is sitting on the left side, Wyatt is sleeping on the couch, and Ashley is sprawled across the loveseat on the right side of the photo. Those were the days...

Wylie saw Wyatt and Tim eating peppercinis and he decided that he could eat them too! Hmmm... maybe he just needs more practice.