Catching Up

Hey there, I'm just trying to get back in the habit here...so here's a few more pics from my phone, I'll try to just caption and move on:) 

This is a pic that Tara posted to Instagram...these little ones had so much fun on the dance floor - adorable and they went pretty long! Kate was sad that she was the first to go, but we had amazing babysitters and wanted them to get some sleep! Don't worry, they stopped for ice cream on the way :) 

So, it is getting close to school time (Kate starts first grade on September 1st) and though I'm WAY ready for her to start school, I now feel like we need to soak up every minute of the last couple weeks. I caught the cold that many had during the wedding weekend (and Ayden, he had it worst) but I decided we had to get out of the house, so we went to a state part nearby! 

Roche-A-Cri State Park is a small state park on the other side of the lake. It has a giant rock formation and you can climb it. Possibly I was silly to think we could do this...but BAM! we did awesome!!

They didn't even complain. They were motivated and excited. 

Endless stairs, tons. It is a 300 foot rock. They were a little disappointed that there were trees on top. They wanted to be all the way on top of the trees :) 

It was a gorgeous day.

Showing me their muscles:) 

We found the tiny little park there afterward. 

There are Indian Petroglyphs on this part of the rock. I love it right there. 

Let's all take a minute to thank God above for summer and the fact that my children can play outside and I can watch them out my kitchen window. This is a game changer. I can now wash dishes (18 times a day) and watch them play happily outdoors. I'm SO happy. This house has many windows on every wall, I can keep good track of them, and they actually do really great.

We went to the fair! and rodeo:) Kate was EXCITED!! Anyone who had boots wore them:)

Checking out the animals...

Produce...

milkshakes....

and the rodeo!! We stayed almost to the end (didn't expect that). They loved it. Kate was "cheering for the cows" :) I enjoyed it more than I expected. 

My fam <3 

Collin wanted to ride this little dragon thing. Talked about it the whole night. It was late and we had $3 dollars left. That is how much it cost to ride (WTF!) so Kate was sweet and didn't even protest. Let him ride. He liked it. But when it went up - he cried. :) It was pretty cute, actually. 

We had another CSA potluck night! We adore these. It was cooler and cloudy, but we had a nice dinner inside and then saw the chickens and grabbed a couple boxes of tomatoes to freeze/make into sauce. Ayden was obsessed with the dogs, he is chasing the tiny little dog under the table. And kept yelling, "Doggie!" out the window at Peia (our friends's dog). 

Kate and I at the farm

Some of the heirloom tomatoes we grabbed to make sauce! 

Here's a little update on the kids! 

Ayden. Oh, Ayden. He has a cold, is super snotty, coughing and has some moments where he seems really upset about it. But other than that, he is such a happy guy. He repeats everything and can say 3 word sentences. Mostly: I got it. I did it. I love you (just this morning:) Other common phrases....shoes on, go stairs (up or down) go 'side (outside), more milk

He is having trouble sleeping with this cold, his canines are also coming through and giving him an awful time. I think by the time he starts high school this damn teething business will be done. Ugh.

Ayden's a genius. :)  (like all our kids, right?) He can count to twelve, though skips seven. He can recognizably sing the ABCs and will join in other songs as well. He loves reading books and sits and listens well. If he knows something or wants to count - he YELLS it!

They all want mommy right now. They adore Daddy, clamor to him when he comes home, want to ride in the truck all the time, Collin goes on and on during the day about how Daddy loves him and he loves Daddy... but if they are upset or it is bedtime, they want me. Ugh. I love it, but....at that point in the day, I'm usually happy to be downstairs finishing up chores. I do love reading to them though....that's how they get me :)

We are reading books (we are on By the Shores of Silver Lake with Kate already!), and then doing high/lows for the day and working on a bible verse. They love it and so do I. I just need a bit more energy at that point! :)

Kate: I use her as a helper SO much. I feel bad. But she loves it much of the time. She is cherishing any girl time or time alone with Dave or I or both. She is excited for first grade and dance to start again. She misses her friends and just had a playdate the other day. They picked her up, went swimming all day, got ice cream and they dropped her back off. Wow! That was amazing!

She dreams up these very elaborate scenarios, rearranges the whole house and plays a part all day. It is rather hard to keep up with but I adore her imagination. The boys are included and seem to love it and have just as big of a mind for it.

They run. In the house a lot. I can't stop it. It is so loud. But as long as they are laughing and having fun and not endangering someone/thing...I let it go. I'm happy for any activity where they are not in front of a screen or mad/hurting/screaming...

Kate is having trouble sleeping. Whenever she goes from sleeping with Collin (camper, Gma & Gpas house, etc) to her own room...she has trouble. She has had a LOT of trouble lately and we are not sure what to do. She also seems to dream hard and wake up but not wake up. She has scary dreams and they rattle her bad. Any suggestions are helpful, the last few nights were great, so maybe we just need to stay home for a bit.

Collin: What a dude. He has been pretty sunshiny lately...wakes up happy. He is very into Ayden right now, feeding him, soothing him, "I sharing!!!!" with him (okay, that sometimes takes much prompting) but he is pretty happy. He is mad when Daddy leaves (a little more attached to him than earlier this year) and always asks Dave to take him to a restaurant and get a cheeseburger and fries. And Dave totally caved the other night! He talks a lot and well, but has so many words that are hilarious....sandwich = sna-nich, both boys call milk = mulk (ugh). guacamole = different every time, but my favorite was broccamole. :) playground = gring=ground? I don't even know.

If he is going to do something bad - he covers his eyes and sneaks through the house. Getting out of timeout early, going to steal something from the kitchen...it's definitely one of those moments when I have to try not to laugh:)

When Kate says something like, "I want to go with you!" Collin will yell, "Me four!!" Instead of "Me too." It's "Me four." So funny.

He still likes going outside, riding bikes, playing cars, watching shows, eating chips and salsa (he can take it hot!) playing in sand, digging...all that. He is less interested in drawing and writing than Kate was at this age. But he wants to go to school and have a teacher so bad.

Potty-training = boo. :(   He'll go potty on the toilet easy but doesn't let us know when he needs to. We haven't had any poop on the potty in a long time. I'm getting a little crazy about it. But I just keep reading you can't force it...so.....we'll get some better routine with school and I might make a grand attempt again and see what happens.

He is obsessed with Spiderman and superheros. He wants to be in outer space when he grows up. He grew like a weed and none of his clothes fit anymore, Kate grew taller too. No pants fit!

I'd better post some more pics and just call it a day! I'm pretty unorganized about all of this now, but just trying to get back in the groove!

The boys helping Daddy put together a desk :) 

Look at him!!

This where he prefers to sleep right now...

Mommy and Kate date night <3 

Buffalo Phils in the Dells...she had the whole evening planned out:) 

Trampoline park!

Baking some brownies for the Sheriff's Department!

He is starting to like hats

When Mommy thinks it is the school Open House....and it isn't....you play at the park

Kate reading the boys a bedtime story:)
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site

They're Hitched!

We are all married :) The Brown's are hitched. Kylie is officially my sister-in-love and we had an absolutely fantastic time celebrating them! Dave was working in Clinton, IA the week prior and he took the camper down and drove up with it Thursday (parked it at Andy's for the weekend). I took the kids down on Wednesday, it was a hairy day getting us packed and on the road, but oh well;)

This is brief! Just the few pics I have - others have more and I can't wait to see them all.

3 

 Wednesday night was a girls night!! Sister/cousins at Amanda's house. It was lovely and a fun bonding experience. We all needed a few hours to just relax! I kind of think this should be a regular thing when we are all home!

Thursday morning was Nail Day! We all got prettied up and spent girl time together...the bride couldn't decide what color nail to get.... :) Shae was so happy but the fumes in there were pretty harsh! She didn't stay long:) 

Kate got to be a part of the fun and had a blast with the big girls. There were multiple appointments and crews that came through, here was ours! 

Ron and Bobbi graciously offered to watch the kids while we were busy with wedding activities - THANK YOU!!!!! Collin wanted to come with us to the nail salon, but as soon as he saw Gpa Ron and Gma Bobbi he wanted to stay home:) 

This happy girl not only got her nails done, but ice cream too! She was excited to see Uncle Andy <3 I love the Sugar Bowl on Water Street!

Kate also got to come along and help decorate at Oneota Country Club! She had a blast "watching" Shae but also helped Molly and I hang the lanterns over the dance floor! 6 going on 13!

After decorating, we had an evening out at Geoff and Mary's to visit with friends and family. Another fun wedding week activity!

Friday was actually not as crazy as I imagined.... :) I hung with the kids while Mom tended to some rehearsal dinner things, the men golfed...it was a nice little rest before more to come!

Getting into something..., the three of them dream up all kinds of things and make elaborate scenarios...I'm pretty sure they are spies in this picture...

Cleaned up and ready for rehearsal! 

Gpa Wally made the ring box (and other things) and Collin was BEYOND proud to be the "Box Boy" :) He was so excited and yes, he dropped the box a couple times..(I was sweating...) The moment we walked into the beautiful church, Ayden just started yelling at the top of his lungs. Happy, loud screams...it echoed and he was in heaven. We were not. 

She requested this hair do...

After rehearsal, we had dinner upstairs at Tbocks! It is a cool place. We got to spend more time with Grandma Oehlke!

Awww!!! A nice family picture!

The kids had a blast playing and dancing (Huinkers, Hodens, Browns and Lenningers) 

Tony and the kids:)

The bride and groom handed out some amazing gifts and the boys loved these John Deere sticker books. Ayden liked putting them on me. They do this at the doctor too.

Wedding morning!! Kate's hair. I LOVED it!! She was perfect and the gal complemented her many times. It was so beautiful...

The girls hanging around the salon in the morning...

And we were texting back to Dad and Dave...they had to get the boys ready (I was slightly nervous - but look! No need  - good grief these boys have all of my heart...) and they stayed in this full outfit all night!

The flower girls playing while the gals got dressed at Pat and Roger's

After the ceremony!! Playing outside:)

The wedding party hopped on a sweet wagon pulled by a John Deere (duh) and we took pictures and had a blast. The kids were rather disappointed that they could come along. So James took them for a ride during the reception  - they loved it! 

There are so many other pictures, it is overwhelming to me to try and grab them all. But let's just leave this as a glimpse into this perfect day :)  We were so grateful to be a part of it and this family!