Kieran at 23 months

Last sock monkey post before Kieran is a 2-year-old! So hard to believe!

Kieran's highlights...Loves to make others smile. Repeats words and imitates his brothers. Talks in short sentences. Understands everything he hears. Loves The Wiggles, books, and playing ball of any kind. Sings and gestures songs, like Hot Potato and Itsy Bitsy Spider. Enjoys being in the water. Tries his best to keep up with his brothers. LOVE this little guy!

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July together! Curt was off, so we were thankful to spend the day together. First, we boated over to the Haags' house on the lake for lunch and swimming. The boys taught themselves how to flip into the pool. They were very proud! Before going out on the boat to tube, the boys jumped off the roof of their boat dock into the lake a couple times. That was scary (for me)! They had a blast! Then we took the boats out for some tubing.

Lake swimming

After tubing and lake swimming, we swam at Island Bay for a while and then enjoyed another delicious BBQ. We came home for rest and showers, and then we watched the fireworks in Chatham. It was a water-filled 4th of July! It was hot, but a lot of fun.

Rankin 4th Celebration

Curt was on call over the last weekend of June, so the boys and I traveled to Rankin to hang out with Nana, Papa, Aunt Shannon, and Josh and celebrate an early 4th. We went to the tractor pull on Friday evening, and the boys played games, bounced in the bounce house, and participated (without luck) in the cake walk on Saturday.

At Nana and Papa's house, we had fun playing ladders and badminton.

On Saturday evening, we sat in Nana and Papa's yard to enjoy the fireworks.

Kieran let out a couple whimpers and wanted his paci, but he did pretty well with the loud booms.

Chasing fireflies before the fireworks started

Cole caught one and accidentally smashed it.

 Another awesome fireworks display, especially for such a small town!

Before heading home on Sunday, the boys played outside--more games and water fun.

Daddy was missed, but we had a fun weekend.

Celebrating Cole!

On June 20th, Cole turned 6 years old! He started his birthday morning with friends at Cherry Hills' VBS, and then Curt and I surprised him with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's for lunch and games with his brothers.

Determined to win!

Kieran loves the soccer game.

Playing the pirate game, of course! Caden and Cole insist on spending tons of tokens on this game, which takes forever to beat, but they feel so good when they are successful.

Intense air hockey match

After Chuck E. Cheese's, we came home to open presents.

We surprised Cole with a Nintendo DSi XL.

After opening his presents, Curt sent Cole upstairs to make sure the lights were off in his room. He took a quick look and ran back downstairs, so he could play his DS. Curt made him return to check his closet light, and we heard him giggle when he noticed this HUGE Iron Man fathead on his wall. While Cole was at VBS, Curt and I took down his vehicle art and replaced it with superhero art and several smaller fatheads in addition to the Iron Man.

Not easy to put up, but so worth it!

 Cole requested only Legos for his birthday, so we gave him the new Lego Batman 2 DS game.

Cole making a wish over the ice cream cake he selected

On the Saturday after Cole's birthday, we celebrated with family and friends at Midstate Gymnastics.

Grammy's awesome Avengers cake

The birthday boy

Kieran does not like to be left out. He joined in the fun on the inflatables without hesitation.

Having fun in the inflatables room!

Cole and Ethan

Caden

Shannon and me

Joe, Cole, and Tyler--preschool buddies who will be in kindergarten at the same elementary school (Yay!)

The birthday crew

Foam pit fun!

Great action shot by Shannon (Shannon and Josh were official party photographers. Thank you!!!)

Caden and Sophia--neighbors and friends

Kieran thinks he's one of the big kids.

 Cake and ice cream time for the superheroes

Post-party involved opening gifts from Grammy, Grandpa, Aunt Mariah, and Uncle Jason.

The mining set (very appropriate since Grandpa works in a mine)

Thankfully, the arrows are Nerf!

Story time with Aunt Shannon and Josh

Grammy with Caden and Cole

Aunt Shannon and Josh with Caden and Cole

US!

 Cole's family and friends know him well. He received lots of cool gifts.


Cole posing with all of his birthday Lego sets--He is so proud of his building skills, as he should be!



Hard to believe six years have gone by! Our world is a little wilder and a lot better with Cole in it. Love him so!