Ice Cream...That's How You Wear It!

That's how you eat an ice cream cone...

That was yummy Mommy!!!!  

Yuck!

YUCK!

One morning a couple of week ago we stopped off at the park on the way home from taking HK to school.  Nolan, of course, managed to find the mud puddle.  He went down hands first and saved his clothes from getting muddy.  However, he was quite upset that his hands were covered in mud.  It was quite humorous!     

The Latest Action

As many of you know we are beginning an addition/remodel project!  

Some things have changed and we needed to have two trees removed from our yard.  One was because it was in the way of the project. The other was because it had lots of dead sections and was very dangerous.  

The boys have loved all of the the logs laying around the yard... 

 Yee-haw!

King of the Mountain

It's a challenge every time we need to go somewhere!  The boys want to play on the logs, but I just want them to get buckled in the van!

Brothers Stick Together

Unfortunately I am afraid HK just got her first dose of brothers sticking together.  

One afternoon they were snuggling on the couch.  HK saw me take pictures of the boys snuggled together.  

She decided that she wanted to be a part of the snuggle and picture...

Liam had other ideas about that.  He pushed her up and told her about it!

She was not very pleased with being outcasted by him.  

Sorry Sis...I am afraid it will probably happen again.  Just hang in there.  They really do love you and need many of your creative ideas!

T & C Days 2012

This was HK's last year to ride in the Big Wheel Race sponsored by the Bank of Marion.  

2010

This was her first year...age 4.  She rode even with a broken arm.

2011

This was her second year...age 5.  

2012

This is her third and final year...age 6!

HK had fun but racing a bicycle is definitely not her competitive sport.  Her technique is great, but her speed not so much!  Now you put her in a foot race or dance competition, watch out.  The Big Wheel Race...well let's just say it's good experience!

Unfortunately, HK wanted to win a trophy so bad she could taste it.  She told her Daddy that she did not want to win first place and get the bike.  She just wanted third so she get a trophy.  She waited in anticipation for the results of which were obvious to us and others watching.  Her heart was broken!  Her Daddy had to hold her while she cried some tears on his shoulder.  It's hard to remember back to that first time of losing or failing.  Thankfully her Daddy has more compassion on her in this area than I do.  I am sure it will probably be opposite some day when it's Nolan and Liam.  After she dried up her tears, the disappointment was still evident on her face, but we were headed to ride a few rides.  

The little ferris wheel (or steering wheel as Nolan called it) was first.  HK was still so emotional from not getting a trophy that she got really scared and cried again on the ferris wheel.  

Nolan tried to hold her hand and cheer her up.

She eventually started enjoying the ride and perked up.

Liam is trying to figure out why he isn't on that ride.  It truly is self-explanatory....I don't want you falling out on your head!

Waiting in line together.  

They all LOVED this ride.  Nolan did too... despite the some what scared look on his face.  

Liam wasn't allowed on a ride unless HK sat with him.

After a few rides and some taffy it was time to get home and get to bed.  It was still a school night!  

We did go to the parade on Saturday and few more rides to finish of this year's round of T & C Days!

My favorite part of the rides was Nolan's excitement at riding the "big steering wheel" with Daddy.  He LOVED it!!!  

Love Me Some Jam

Who doesn't love Grandma Gray's jam???

It is by far the best and most loved jam in our house!  

Liam knows how to enjoy it and wear it well!

Thank you Grandma Gray for making such yummy jam!

Last Days of Summer Fun

This was one of the last days before school started.  The temperatures had dropped a bit and it was not quite so hot.  I had taken a day off from working at NHCA to get it ready for the first day of school to just play with the kids.  We drug out all of the bikes and outdoor toys.  We played outside ALL morning! 

Liam was okay on this for awhile...

Until he realized that he was missing out on something bigger and better!

Nolan wasn't too happy about Liam taking over his place.  

So we finally figured out something that worked for everyone.  You aren't really suppose to ride in the back, but I figured Nolan was old enough to hold on and sit close to the front.  Liam on the other hand was absolutely not allowed in the back!

Not really sure what this was all about?

A morning outside would not be complete without some digging in the dirt!

Nolan finally decided that he would be brave enough to drive the gator.  Usually he does not want to.  Let's just say he would not pass a driver's test!!!  This picture proves that point.  I was helping Liam do something and all of a sudden I heard Nolan screaming.  From my place in the front yard I could only see the back end of the gator sticking up out of the ditch!  I ran as fast as I could because I could only hear and not see Nolan.  When I got there, thankfully, Nolan was still in the gator but quite stuck.  Needless to say he scared himself quite well!  There was no way I could pull that gator out of the ditch.  

Lucky for us, Grampy dropped by and helped us pull it out of the ditch.  

Thankfully no one was hurt and neither was the gator!

The morning of outdoor play carried on with no more major calamity!

I love watching the three of them play together outside!!!

Big Sister Indeed!

The other night when Nate was working, HK decided that she wanted to be extra helpful.  She told me that she would give Liam a bath.  This was an offer totally of her own will.  

And she did....

I'm not sure this time it was that much extra help because I ended up watching almost the whole time because I was so entertained by the two of them.  

She did it all down to the drying off, lotion, diaper, and pjs.  I had to help with the diaper (rearranged it after she was done) and the pjs (a little hard to get on with the lotion not fully dry).

I will definitely take her up on that offer again in the future!

Tea Party

Back in July, Aunt Nell came to visit Greatie for a couple of weeks.
While she was here we had a tea party. 

We made homemade blueberry muffins, dressed up, and got out the china.

HK seated and served them.

We enjoyed our food.

The afternoon would not be complete without a few performances by HK.  I think our favorite was when she danced to Georgia on My Mind.  She borrowed my scarf.  

Another fun tea party in the Oldham kitchen.