Chatter Boxes

We're finishing our basement (slowly but surely) which gives me a new space to decorate.  I'm working on a cooler, more whimsical feel than the rest of our house.

Inspired by this idea found on pinterest, my mom and I made this budget-friendly wall art.  Now if only we could finish the basement so I can have a wall to hang it on.

The boys are having a sleepover at Aunt Kelly's house tonight.  As we were loading her car with sleeping bags and pillows, Seth says, "Mommy you're going to be home all alone tonight in the peace and quiet...it's so sad."

Colin has been getting himself dressed in the morning when he wakes up.



He says he likes it this way.

Now that both boys have graduated to booster seats for the car instead of their winged back chairs baby seats...napping in the car can be a bit of a challenge.

I have a few Questions from Seth to include in the next installment of "Seth's Questions"  Remember, I can't give you any further information or put them into context...there isn't any.  These questions come out of the blue and often Seth cannot provide additional hints that might help me figure out what he's saying.

Question #1:  Mommy when we get there do you we go first or second?
Question #2:  Mommy will I get my car keys on the first day of Kindergarten or the second day? (This one is just to provide a little humor to your day.  I think we might have set his expectations for Kindergarten a bit high)

Exploring Science City It has nothing to do with the post, I just like posts with pictures better than posts without

The All-Star fun continues.  Thanks to Chad and Katie for letting us join them again tonight for The Futures Game and The Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.  Having grown up going to Royals' games, it was fun to see our hometown stadium all gussied up.

My dad and sister came up to visit during part of the game.

This perfectly illustrates the difference in our two children when it comes to sports.  Seth  pays close attention to every little thing, appreciating good plays, keeping track of each players and what position they play.  Colin is just trying to figure out what is going on and when he can have another snack.

  

If you ask Seth what he wants to do when he grows up he will tell you that he wants to play "baseball AND football...or maybe all the sports except gymnastics."  We end up talking a lot about that player being interviewed on the big screen. Seth was pretty excited to see him, even if it was from a far.

Thanks again Chad and Katie.  We are blessed by your friendship (and not just because you invite us to fun things).

Colin on the Merry-Go-Round

Daddy and Colin in Planet Snoopy

Seth on the Merry-go-Round

We started out the day by meeting  these folks for fun at the farm park.

After Seth got a few laps around the tractor track, we paid him 5cents to push  Milo around.  Next year Milo...you'll be able to reach those pedals...no problem!

Grandma's pictures of of local foilage.  There are thousands of these pictures from around the world.  Someday I should do a whole post just on flower pictures taken by my mom.

More flower pictures

Seth and Grandpa checking out the owl

  

Later that afternoon we all  went to a Royals' game equipped with a 12 pack of cold water bottles and 5 frozen wash cloths to help us beat the heat.

Whew!!!  What a day!

As most of you know...the All-Star Game is being hosted in our fair city this week.  Thanks to some dear friends (thanks Chad and Katie) we were able to join them for Fan Fest (one of the week's activities).  Seth got to go twice today.  Once with Grandpa this morning and again this evening with the rest of us.

Batting Practice

Batting Practice Trying Not to Hit that Lady

Pitching Practice

Forty minutes of my life I'll never get back Face Painting

I was actually quite impressed with how quickly these woman worked.  We stood in line for a long time and not one of them took a break.  Impressive!

Good times at Fan Fest

I told the boys before we got in line that we'd be washing their faces before bed.  I would take lots of pictures and we could look at them anytime but I didn't want them to get upset when it was time to wash it off.  The lady in front of me in line turned around and told me I was "very wise".  Thank you lady in line...sometimes I am.

John in the batting cages

 Thanks again Chad and Katie for a fun fan fest.

Seth graduated from Pre-K.  I was more choked-up about it than I thought I would be.  The kids performed the story of the Pout Pout Fish.  Seth was an octopus and said his line ("Hey Mr. Fish let me tell it to you straight.  Your hulky bulky sulking is an unattractive trait!") perfectly.  After the diplomas and t-shirts were distributed everyone lined up for refreshments.  I cried all the way to the chocolate fountain.  Which seemed fitting given my current emotional state.  I soothed my soul with various chocolate covered goodies.

Seth getting his diploma and t-shirt

Happy faces all around

Seth (the tall one) with a few other classmates

Seth with his best buddy Braden.  Every day I 'd ask Seth what he did in school that day.  Almost every day the answer was "Played with Braden"  I'm sad these two will not be together in Kindergarten.

All year Seth has been asking to ride his bike to daycare.  It's a 13 mile drive so we've always said  it's too far.  That didn't stop him from asking.  "I can do it daddy!"

Today was his last day of Preschool and daddy was able to map out a safe and steady route.  They left early this morning.  They stopped for water, snacks, and breakfast and made it to school in 2 hours.  Total distance traveled (by a five year old and his daddy)...12.8 miles.  Amazing! Mommy and Colin picked everyone up after school/work and Seth got to choose where to go for dinner.  McDonald's play land of course.  I thought he'd be dragging a bit, maybe a little less talkative than normal.  Nope...same 'ol Seth.  Lots to do and lots to say about it.  I was very proud of his accomplishment.

Goodbye Sweet Girl

John grilling burgers (on our new paver patio)

Nothing says 4th of July like corn on the cob

Waiting for fireworks

John watered the field in case of falling embers...safety first

The Grand Finale

All Tuckered Out

Happy Independence Day!

We're almost all caught up...

We spent a week in Nashoba visiting Grandparents and this is the one and only picture I have to mark the occasion.  Ugh!  I need my picture taking friends to travel with me at all times.

Picking strawberries (here).  We picked almost 15 lbs of berries.   Anyone need strawberry jam?

Seth had more dental work done and needed soft foods.  Colin and I took advantage of the situation and joined him for  a frozen yogurt lunch

This is what happened when I said "smile"

Grandpa and Grandma came to "visit" so we played like tourists in our own town with a trip to Science City.

Grandpa in the Mr. E Hotel...what happened to your legs?

You had to be there...but if you were, you would have laughed as hard as we did!

It's good to practice landing a jet on an air-craft carrier.  You never know when you'll need to recall that skill.

Tug of...

...War