New Lens....

I bought E a new camera lens for his birthday.....but I think I am going to be the one that has the most fun with it.....here is a trial run today....A graciously was my model for the pictures...it took a bit of bribing but I think she did a pretty good job.

I really want to get better at taking the kids pictures myself...because I get so tired of the JCP portraits....and the entire 10 minutes they take with my kids.....

Enjoy

P.S. - Sorry for the excess of photos I just couldn't pick one...and I took well over a 100 this morning!!!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday E!!!

We love you very much and hope you have a good day!!!

We celebrated early because E has softball games tonight!!!

And He's OFF........

I think we can safely say - E is finally walking!!! He has been toying with the idea for weeks now and finally this week at my parents house....he just took off and went everywhere. He still can not get up on his own...but that hasn't stopped him from finding a wall or chair to help him get up.

Splash Park......

We spent this past week in Billings holding a Garage sale at Grandma and Papa's while E was out of town for work.....
On Thursday we went to a splash park to let the kids enjoy the water for a bit......

It took A a little while to warm up to the idea of getting splashed with cold water...but she came to really enjoy it....


She even took a moment to pose for me....to show me she was having fun......


E on the other hand wanted nothing to do with getting wet.....the cold water was just a little too much for him.....this is how he spent most of his time....in the arms of someone.
(on a sidenote....he now also has refused to take a bath the last 2 times we have tried.....he screams and cries until we take him out....and if we don't take him out....he'll try getting out on his own....it's added a whole new meaning to bath time.....Last nights bath consisted of A, Little E and BIG E - sorry no pictures!!)

Whatever works....

E's latest passion in learning to walk is pushing this pink stroller around the house like a mad man!!

Go Daddy Go!

A & E love going to E's softball games....and E ends up being the loudest one in the cheering section when E is up to bat saying "go daddy go"......

Storybook Island....

Grandma J and C are here visiting this week.....so we ventured off to one of the greatest FREE parks in RC - Storybook Island. The kids love it...and I loved it because I had someone there to help me with little E - who wants to do everything but since he hasn't decided to walk yet it can sometimes get a bit challenging.


"The ole' Fire Truck"


"The Big Slide"


Taking a minute to stand on his own......


"Raggety Ann and Andy's House"


Little E was insistent on looking over the wood and not through the "head holes"


Checking out the ducks.....


Listening to what the "cat in the hat" has to say......


101 dalmations......dogs...as real as they get for these kids....


Especially this one....can you imagine having a dog this big!!


E driving the little red car

A funny little side note.....3 of the cememt charaters were stolen from the park this past week (that's not the funny part)....but we happened to be at the park when they were filming a news story on the missing characters and it just so happens that Little E and CP made it on the the news...with CP's famous quote of "That's so sad".......

There may be hope.....

Our little man may just decide to walk yet.....I was thinking that for sure by June he would be walking....now I am just holding out hope that maybe before the new baby arrives. He is definitely on his on schedule and has his own agenda.

He is taking about 5-6 steps if encouraged to do so...

but still knows that crawling will get him anywhere much faster....

And never mind our monkey in the background crawling inappropriately on the furniture....

Home Ownership = Work!

The work is never done around here......E just finished the fence today and now he has moved onto the decks.....washing them down and preparing them to start re-staining them tomorow

Harney Peak

I borrowed a few pictures from my brother that he took at the top of Harney Peak last Saturday w/ E.

A 4th of July re-cap

We ventured out camping this weekend with Papa, G'ma,Uncle T, Aunt T and Cousin Z. We DID NOT sleep in tents - I decided at 29 weeks pregnant that was not an adventure I was up for so we rented a cabin while Papa and G'ma RV'd it and while it was a fun time I can assure you I don't think we are up for camping with a 2 year old and 1 year old again any time soon - at least by ourselves - there is a lot to say for being able to have your kids sleep in their own beds and not miss their daily naps and it was quite evident this morning that they had not had either of those the last 2 days as we packed up to leave with 2 incredibly grumpy kids!! Enjoy the pics - we really did have a nice time and it was nice to get away.

A & G'ma dipping their feet in the COLD water!

Sylvan Lake

A wanted to climb this "mountain" so Uncle T guided her up

A & Uncle T at the Top
E and T also climbed up Harney Peak on Saturday morning.....not a hike for the weary as it turns out. Harney is SD highest peak (no pics E did not have the camera along)....and although not a Colorado Mountain it is definitely a climb worth taking (if your not pregnant or toting 2 kids).

Looking out on Sylvan Lake - the lake was packed with people on Friday and there was even a wedding taking place along the shore line while we were there.

Can you name the movie this scene is from???

"Kissing Cousins"

Our little bundle of energy - always on the go - via his knees!

A and G'ma roasting a marshmallow

Little E was also very insistent on roasting his own marshmallow but really what he wanted was just to hold the stick with a marshmallow on the end like he was fishing....I think E only was wacked in the head about 10 times.

All three cousins together....and to think by this time next summer - the number will have doubled and there will be 6 cousins apart of this picture.