Before we left WI behind...

We had some fun together!
Gabby rode her bike all over the place and helped grandpa spread some mulch.


Liam hung out in the yard,


And we celebrated Owens birthday… Again!


Liam is wondering where his brownie is!


Owen was such a good boy to read his birthday card before ripping open his present.


So owen had a great birthday celebration more than once, but it was too bad that we had to spend so many hours on an airplane on his actual birthday. Though he didn't complain more than once…heehee.

Just chillin', mom!

Nothing more to say about that!


Naps...hmmm


And playing…

The airplane ride...

We got through ticketing and security without any problems. Owen was such a big help!


Owen was excited to have a window seat!
I took this picture of him, and then he looked at it and realized that his hat was on sideways. He asked me to delete this picture. I did not! I think it's cute.


Liam was a champ as long as he had his toys and some people to smile at.


We got stuck on the airplane in Chicago Because a storm hit just as we boarded. Two hours on an airplane with a six-month-old…


And then we took off.
Both boys actually did quite well! Owen fell asleep when it was bedtime for him. Liam, on the other hand, did not want to miss the action! He stayed awake and fought sleep for as long as he possibly could.


He flirted and smiled with this many people as he could engage. He finally did fall asleep, but when he woke up, he was ready to party again! When we finally landed and we were getting our bags out of the bin, Liam got to sit in the seat. He loved the attention!
It was too dark to see much at Lori's house when we arrived, but the next morning we had so much to explore.



Geckos, toads, frogs, bugs galore! My little boy couldn't get enough of it all!















And all that was just before lunch on our first morning here! I can't wait to see what other adventures we have.

Gramma's boy!

I made it! First journey to Wisconsin-5 hours that actually took six-in the car with three kids!



Electronics-check! Books-check! Snack bags-check! Blankies-check!...and anything else they packed! :-) gramma was waiting and ready for us!


The kids jumped in the pool right away...and Liam even got his toes wet! :-)


We had a wonderful dinner...


And then a campfire and s'mores!

















And the sun set on day one of this adventure!

Hi gramma!

What a show off! Too much fun getting around!

Parade!

We always get a parade for Owens birthday, but this year he had a party at a friends house...
So...


Gabby's going to have to grab all the goods!


And Liam's just going to have to grin and bear it...


Fire trucks and all! :-)

More baseball

We've watched a bit more baseball, and poppa Steve and nanny came too!


Poppa had a "front row" seat! :-)



And Liam was a good sport too!


Owen works so hard...I sure hope he enjoys it!


"Hi mom!"
I have begun to tangibly realize and truly witness how much my kids just want me there.


They don't wanty words alone. They don't want me to be busy.
They just want me to stop...



And have a little fun.
Honestly...we all just may be a bit more happy if we all did just that!

Such a happy baby!

HAPPY 6TH MONTHS, BABY BOY!

GRAMPA AND GRAMMA!

 I have no idea what is happening to my pictures here...

I'll have to see...

but, in the mean time...I will just put them here as is!

The kids love it when gramma and grampa come...

 Liam is getting to know grampa!...

 All love!

Baseball season!

 If you know Roger, You'll know who Owen is here...

 Their signature standing pose:

one foot out with hand on hip.

:-)

I smile.

I love baseball.  I even surprised my own sister when I said this the other day.

It is such a pure game.  Historical.

America's pasttime.

Classic.

There's strategy, athleticism, competition, skill...

You just have to know what's going on or it won't hold your interest.

So far, I don't mind having a child in baseball.

We have two games a week.

No tournaments except for the end of the season one.

The weather has held up...

well, except that ONE day.

Freak of nature!

 

 But my boy held up.

He even donned the catcher's gear...

 He was the first one to try it cuz his dad's the coach!

 Compliant...

 He follows rules...works hard.

And...he's held it together when he struck out...once!  

:-)

We'll see if he sticks with it...

If he wants to pursue it,

I'm game!

I can't wait so long!

 No excuses, but I will blame a full brain...

I should post more...for myself and my kids, if anything!

 I don't know what happened with some of my pictures here...
are they all messed up for you too?

 Don't know if you can tell..."big sister did my hair...again!"

 "She really does love me..."

 Places to go...people to see...

fun, fun, fun!

Boys and Girls...

I know there are differences between boys and girls.

Let me clarify,

There are needs...

noises...

Owen needs interaction, grunts, explosions, movement, 

vocal outlets, jumping, hitting, bouncing, 

yelling, contact...and the list goes on...

as you can hear in the video.

(he and Roger are playing WWE wii game...)

And I love all that about him...

even though I can't always handle it so well...

And then there is sweet Gabby...(who's not always sweet)...

she loves make-believe, individual play, reading,

creating stories, singing...

Yes, she can be loud, but not in the "explosive" way Owen is.

Yes, she can be rambunctious, but usually only when she plays with boys.

Yes, she needs contact, but not in the "wrestle way" 

(even though she can win any match 

with her brother or the boys at daycare).

She prefers to sit on your lap for a good story 

or a hug, or playing "superman"

Yes, she moves and bounces a lot, but she's so graceful!!!

God is so creative!

Thank you God for both of them!