Summer

Can you believe this picture was taken only about a week ago? We had a big summer storm and this is the hail we got! I took the picture right after it happened, probably around 2:20 am. The next day we still had piles of hail in the shade at noon! (When it was 90 degrees- that's a lot of hail!)

The sad thing was we had no idea it was going to happen and Cooper had been growing green beans in a pot outside. He really was excited to garden but that's all we had gotten around to. Of course it got shredded by the hail. He was really disappointed!

Ryan with his boys on Father's Day! (we didn't even mean for them to match, isn't that funny?)

Cutie pie Jackson

My cute Cooper!

We recently went to my friend Dana's house for a playdate. She has this really fun pool in her backyard and the boys loved it!

We actually got all the kids to sit for a picture! Our friend Ashleigh was there too-her kids are Hunter and Ally, then Ashlynn is Dana's daughter, then of course my boys.

We are really enjoying our summer so far!

Chocolate Covered Bananas

We recently had fun making a yummy snack. I melted some chocolate chips and the boys rolled a frozen banana in it. Then they rolled the banana in cheerios. The idea was to then put it back in the fridge to harden before they ate. I saw it in a magazine and they even put a popsicle stick in it to eat it. Well, Jackson was so excited to eat the snack, he started crying before we started making it to eat the chocolate! So our snack never made it into the fridge.

Here they are waiting to start. I gave Jackson a taste of the chocolate to entice him to join us, and that was all he needed! He's crying for the chocolate as I'm taking the picture.
Making the snack.

Yummy! Doesn't that look tasty?? (maybe not, it does look gross but I had some and it was actually really good!)

Cooper thought it was so much fun! We don't make fun treats very often so he thought this was really cool. I realized I need to do stuff like this more often!

Yet another messy picture of Jackson!

Cooper by this point had left us to play, so I just kept taking pictures of Jackson. I had to pry him away from the chocolate!

Swimming Lessons

Cooper just finished swimming lessons with a new teacher in our area this year. He has had a GREAT time and loves swimming! His big thing is to swim without any floaties. He does fairly well, but definitely needs to be able to touch the ground to swim for any length of time. He has fun and that's what counts the most!

Here he is doing the "dishwasher"


practicing his kicking

floating

his favorite part, the diving board at the end! The child in front of him is his friend Zach.

Jumping with no floaties! Made me scared the first time but he did a great job!

Swimming (and watching swimming) really takes it out of you!

The Zoo and Other Fun Stuff

Jackson dressed in my visor and slippers and I just thought it was cute!

We recently went to the zoo with our friend Zach (and his mom!). They also are our neighbors so that made it fun to ride with someone now that we live so far away from the zoo! It was a little hot, but they all actually did well.

Here we are checking out the baby monkey, isn't it cute??

Cooper likes the monkeys!

Cooper and our friend Zach. They'll be in the same PK class next year which will be fun.

all three boys checking out a pretend alligator. I think it's actually some prehistoric dinosaur.

another dinosaur. They move and make noises and everything which the boys are absolutely enthralled with. Jackson and I spent many zoo school days walking between all the dinosaurs and checking them out.

We also fed the birds which I hadn't done in a long time. It was pretty crowded so the birds weren't that hungry, but we managed to find one to feed.

An alligator you can sit on!

We also rode the train which I hadn't done either. The boys thought it was great!

We like to end our trip to the zoo with ice cream. Cooper always picks "Krazy Kolor" ice cream which turns his tongue some very crazy colors!

Back at home... Jackson learned how to swing on his tummy!

Grandma and Grandpa S recently visited and bought the boys spiderman PJs. Oooh, they were in heaven. Here they are being strong spidermen!

It was hilarious how Jackson was imitating Cooper.

We hope you're having a really fun summer!

Silly Boys

Cooper and Jackson have so much fun playing together now. Here Cooper is telling Jackson a "secret."

Making silly faces

Jackson loves to copy his brother!

Cooper is reading to Jackson!!! He just started doing this and I love it. Jackson does the backward scoot into Cooper's lap and plops down (he's almost as big as Cooper!) and then Cooper will "read" to him.

Wearing mommy's shoes!

Snuggling with LilyI love these boys!

I could not get him to smile!

blowing kisses!

Chris and Amanda's Visit

Ryan's brother Chris and his girlfriend Amanda came down to our neck of the woods last week and we had the pleasure of their company for a few days. It was so much fun! Cooper LOVED his Uncle Chris being at our house and really had fun playing with Amanda. Jackson learned to say "CHRIS!" "MAMBA" and especially loved calling for them while playing in the sprinkler.

Here Cooper is showing off his "angry bird" skills. I don't exactly love that he plays it with Ryan but oh well, it's a bonding thing I guess :).

The boys.

Playing in the sprinkler has become a favorite activity. This is where Jackson would say "GO CHRIS GO" and have him run in the sprinkler with him. Then the same thing with Amanda, me, Cooper... He says it over and over louder and louder until you respond. He definitely will not let himself be ignored!

We hope they come again soon!