Chatter Boxes

Usually I wait to post funny things the boys have said until I have a few built up, but I just couldn't wait to share.

John and the boys went camping on Friday.  This bike train left our driveway and rode 7 miles to dinner (here) and then another 2 miles to a lakeside campsite (here).

All Smiles...even Colin peeking through the trailer window

The boys took turns riding the on the tandem and in the trailer.

Off they go

Sun setting on the lake

They came home smelling like dirt and campfire smoke so I think it was a success.

It has been a sweltering summer.  Temps well over 100 most days with no significant rain for months.  But we had some relief earlier this week with a cool cloudy day.  We spent most of the day outside trying to revive wilted shriveled plants.  The boys picked some apples (with permission...that's the rule!) and rode their bikes.

A couple weeks ago we had a party at our house.  The worship team from church and their families came for some summer fun.  It was so fun to have our families together.  Towards the end of the evening we gathered on the back patio to worship together.  A few people brought guitars to accompany our worship time.


Most of the kids stayed out in the backyard, playing games.  But Colin can't resist music.  He loves it!  He pulled up a chair and joined right in.  After the first song or two, he jumped up and went inside.  A couple minutes later he emerged with his guitar.  In all seriousness he pulled up a chair next to the guitar players and joined in.  He wasn't playing with a toy.  He wasn't trying to be funny.  He was a serious musician with a talent to share.



The crowd appeased him with a rousing version of "I"ve been Workin' on the Railroad" (there's a button on the toy guitar that plays kid's songs).


I love this kid!

First Day of School

Seth wanted help getting from the bus to his classroom so Colin and I met him at the school.  The bus pulled into the circle drive and Seth jumped off and said, "Mommy, I don't need you anymore.  I found a friend that's in my class and we can do it together."

I gave him a high five, told him he was brave, and then died a little inside.

Off he goes to do great things.

For a look back to previous years see here.

We had another fun year at the JoCo Fair, despite the suffocating heat.

Both boys did the pedal pull.  Seth walked away with third place and Colin walked away a proud participant.

I was by myself during the pedal pull festivities so all you get here is some shoddy video.  Both age groups were called up at the same time and told to stand in separate lines.  Each line moved at a different pace (3 year olds aren't quite as eager and coordinated as their 5 year old counterparts).  You're lucky to have this video is what I'm saying.  I apologize for my repetitive cheering.  It's probably best that you watch this on mute.  Seth was hesitant to participate this year because our cheering last year embarrassed him.  I had to promise not to be "so loud and crazy".  It left me with few options...so apparently I stuck with "go go go".

Not sure why Seth is passed out in the train?  It was hot I suppose.

This is the latest installment of funny things I want to look back and remember someday.  For previous installments see here and here.

We've been watching a lot of the Olympics at our house.  We cheer loudly when Ethiopia wins.  We used to cheer loudly when USA won but I think the novelty has worn off a bit.  Here are a few funny moments straight from our living room.

1.  During the men's diving competition the commentators announced the Chinese diver.  Seth turned to Colin and said, "Colin, China is really good at diving.  They always win."  Colin gasps and walks over to me.  In his best tattle-tale-tone he says, "Mommeeee,  Seth said China!"  "Yes he did,"  I say.  "Mommeeee, we can't say China it's a private word."  After some explanation from me, he settled back down to watch the competition.  But every time the commentator said China, Colin quietly giggled to himself.

2.  The boys have both enjoyed watching Usain Bolt from Jamaica.  They laugh at his antics before he gets ready to race and at his dancing when he wins.  Here's a picture of Seth "bolting".  After one particular race the boys were waiting for some dancing and Usain did not disappoint.  They laughed and laughed and laughed.  Seth let out a big sigh, doubled over and said, "Oh that guy, he cracks up my heart!"



3.  We caught a bit of the rhythmic gymnastics competition this morning.  The boys were watching from the playroom (that looks down over the living room).  Rightfully so, the boys had a lot of questions about why they were dancing with balls and hoops.  Seth, who tends to think he knows everything, told Colin that it was a contest for princesses.  "These princesses dance around and get a score from the judge."  Colin says, "Like Mommy?  Mommy's a princess!"  Seth responds, "Yea, but Daddy's the queen!"

Oh Man...these boys make me laugh.

Someone is excited for school to start.  Supplies have been purchased.  We have new shoes and new clothes (which of course we're not allowed to wear until the first day of school).

The smell of new school supplies brought me right back to my childhood.  I loved getting new school supplies as a kid.  The feel of crisp notebook paper, the smell of a new box of crayons, and the never-been-used #2 pencils.

Shopping for school supplies as an adult...not so fun.   The aisles are crowded.  The shopping list is very specific.  I walked at least 2 miles searching the store for an 18 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer...never found it.  And I had to keep hiding all the supplies with Sp0nge B0b from Seth.*

I successfully hid my angst and Seth seems just as excited as I did when I was a kid.  I called my mom on the way home from the store to tell her we survived shopping for school supplies.  She responded, "isn't it awful?!"  So apparently she hid her angst well too.

Ready or not...Kindergarten here we come!

*Seth has never seen an episode but he's human and therefore longs for what others have, even if he has no idea what it is.

While my parents were here this summer we were able to celebrate Grandpa's birthday.  A few days before his birthday the boys asked him what kind of party he wanted.  When you're a kid...parties must have a theme.  Like a baseball party or a cowboy party.  Grandpa decided that he wanted to have a hat party.  Everyone donned various headgear (John walked around with a bag of hats that he changed every 30 minutes or so).

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

You know you're old when the Olympic announcers keep saying things like, "The fact he can still be out here competing at the age of 32 is just amazing!" and you're 4 years older.  In all fairness though, I did have to get up and stretch after sitting on the couch watching swimming for too long.