Our August

In August, we fit in a lot of fun before the start of another school year.

The boys spent a weekend with Nana and Papa in Rankin. They enjoyed a ride in one of the old cars that belongs to the dad of a childhood friend of mine.  

Likely playing American Ninja Warrior at one of the parks in my hometown

We spent a couple days in St. Louis. Our first stop was the zoo.   

The Colobus monkeys were very entertaining. We could have watched them all day.

Next stop was our hotel down by The Arch before going to the Cardinals game. 

The next day, we went to to Six Flags. 

A sure sign that school is around the corner...I had to take Caden to school to practice his new locker combination. Although he is in the same building, 6th grade is completely different than 5th grade. The BIG change for 6th grade is switching classes, so Caden walked his class schedule a few times.  

First of two visits to the Illinois State Fair...

Cole and Caden on the hang glider ride

Kieran taking a rest in the shade...It was HOT that day!

Cole and Kieran on one of Kieran's favorite rides

Photo op after checking out the butter cow

Caden's friend, Ryan joined us for a few rides.

We had an awesome visit with Aunt Charlene and Uncle Fred from Vermont, Aunt Shannon, and Nana and Papa. We spent an afternoon at Island Bay Yacht Club.   

One of Kieran's many tricks

After dinner on the deck at Island Bay, everyone (minus Curt and the boys) went to see West Side Story at The Muni. It was an excellent performance! The next morning, we took a hike at Lincoln Memorial Garden. 

The crew (Curt snapped the photo.)

Cole was our leader since he attended camp at Lincoln Memorial Garden this summer.

It was a hot and sticky morning, so Kieran shed his shirt at some point.

Cole and Uncle Fred deep in conversation

We spent a morning at Glow Golf with friends.  

My boys with the Sherwoods, Tolivers, and Yeagers. 

Summer flew by! The boys were excited to start another school year.

Caden-6th grade

Cole-3rd grade

The weekend after school started, we hit the Illinois State Fair again. This time, Nana and Papa went with us. Thankfully, the weather was much more comfortable for this visit. 

Caden squeezed in Kieran's favorite ride.

Nana, Kieran, and Papa

On the Sky Glide

Kieran--I think this was Kieran's first time on the bungees. He had so much fun!

Cole

Caden doing a flip at the top

Kieran's face sums it up--exhausted from State Fair fun

With the big boys back in school for a few weeks before Kieran started, I had to keep him entertained. He was bored without his big brothers. 

Kieran and Evan at Springfield's zoo

Kieran enjoys having his brothers home on the weekends. I had just thought about getting rid of our Planet Heroes, which we've had since Caden was around 3 years old, and then Kieran brought them out and recruited his brothers to play with him.