Colton's First day of Preschool!

This has been a busy week!  Colton started preschool on Tuesday and he had a great time!  He LOVED preschool and didn't want to leave when I got there to pick him up.  He's been telling us a lot of little stories through the week about preschool.  He goes to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday this year. On Thursday morning he even got to ride the bus from the big school!  He was really excited to ride the bus and was only a little nervous when we first got to the school.  He has to wait in a room full of all the big kids and he doesn't like this part.  It is rather intimidating!  Austin's friend, Lincoln, is in the 4-a-day preschool program this year and he came over to Colton and asked him if he wanted to sit with him on the bus.  This was a huge help for Colton's confidence!  He was also excited to share with Austin at dinner that he sat with Lincoln on the bus and at lunch time!  It was very cute!

No training wheels!

So, this past week we decided it was time for Austin to try to ride his bike with no training wheels.  Thursday evening we were out in the driveway and Austin and Brian went up and down the road and Austin couldn't quite get the hang of it.  He couldn't keep himself balanced.  They tried several times and then Colton wanted to try.  We at first tried to talk him out of it because he is 3 and so little!!  He was pretty adamant that he wanted to try his bike with no training wheels so Brian took them off for him.  Brian was right behind him as they went up the road, but Colton didn't need his help after the first 20 yards or so!  He just pedaled up and down the road, to all of our amazement, especially Austin!!  Austin said, "Mommy, that isn't fair.  How come Colton can do it and he's so little and I can't do it?"  It was pretty cute and Colton was so proud of himself!  We clapped and cheered as Colton rode around.  I told Colton he was a bike riding stud-with-no-training-wheels!  Austin said he would wait until next summer to ride his bike with no training wheels.

Friday night Colton rode his bike up and down the road some more.  Friday he mastered the brakes.  He couldn't quite get the hang of braking on Thursday night but he pretty much had it all figured out Friday.  Austin rode his big wheel.

Saturday afternoon Austin wanted to give bike riding a try again.  He tried Colton's bike, insisting that his big was really wobbly and Colton's wasn't.  (Colton's bike is smaller than Austin's)  Austin was a little nervous his first round so we followed him close.  Second time up the street, he got it!  He rode Colton's bike for a few minutes and then hopped on his own and did just great!  Austin pulled up next to me in the driveway and said, "Mommy, I'm a bike riding stud-with-no-training-wheels now too, like Colton!"

Sunday we went on a family bike ride.  We rode over to the City Park; Gavin relaxed in the bike trailer! We played for about an hour at the park and then rode home.  We didn't want to go too far because we were worried about little legs getting tired.  They did wonderful!  It is the cutest thing to watch Colton ride his bike, his little legs just pedaling away!!

First Day of Kindergarten!

So it has finally arrived.  The first day of school!  Austin has been looking forward to this day since Preschool was over!  I cannot believe how grown up he is.  I asked him what he wants to be when he grows up and he says, "a worker or a baseball player!".  So, the sky is the limit for this kiddo!  When I dropped him off at school, he was worried because he couldn't remember his locker number.  We found it right away, he gave me an extra big hug and then he walked into the classroom.  He didn't look back!  I made it to the car before I let the tears fall.  How is my baby already a 5-year-old Kindergartner?  I love his amazing spirit and I hope his teacher is able to help him continue to be a good leader in his classroom.  So many emotions today, but I'm so excited to pick him up at 3:05 and hear all about it!!

Okoboji vacation!

So, all of last week we were on vacation in Okoboji.  We were able to spend our time with my mom, dad, brothers, and sister-in-laws!  It was a great time and we stayed at Terrace Park in Milford, IA.  It was a really great week.  Saturday we got to go on a boat ride on Donna & Randy's boat, along with Judy, Wayne, Mallory and Kelsey.  We at first thought it was going to rain but it got sunny and hot out, so the boat ride turned into swimming and all the kids got into the water!  After dinner we grilled at Anthony's and then had a fire in their fire pit (s'mores included).  What a great way to start off our vacation.  Colton still says that his favorite part of our trip was jumping off of the boat!

Sunday we went to Spirit Lake to watch Kelsey's soft ball team and then headed to Arnold's Park for lunch.  It was really nice to get to spend so much time with cousins!  After lunch, we went out on Donna & Randy's boat again!  This time the kids were able to climb around and play on a huge 'lily pad' that was attached to the back of the boat. 

Monday Brian and Jon took Austin & Colton mini-golfing while us girls (and Gavin) went shopping!  After mini-golf the boys came and met us at the Candy Shop!  Colton thought he needed everything in the store and both boys got to take a sack of candy home with them.  I think most of the grown ups also got something for themselves.  After the shopping we hung out at our condo and went on a walk down by the lake.  Austin's wiggly tooth finally came out!  The Tooth Fairy found us and he was a happy boy, planning out what he was going to buy with all of his new quarters!

Tuesday, Nick, Courtney and their niece Tatem arrived!  Nick and Brian took Austin, Colton & Tatem to the Nature Museum, Papa stayed home with Gavin and took a nap, and the rest of us went to a place called 'Creative Spirits'; where we sipped some beverages and created some amazing masterpieces!  The boys loved the nature museum and had fossils and rocks to show off when we all got back together.

Wednesday, the big boys all went golfing.  Courtney and I took the kids to the beach!  It was so nice to be at the beach and just relax.  There was a dock that the kids could jump off of and we practically had the beach to ourselves for most of the morning, which was nice too.  After the beach we headed back to the condo for lunch, before we went to Anthony's for another boat ride.  So much fun on the boat . . . the boys enjoyed seeing all the seagulls, fish jumping out of the water, and waving to fellow boaters.  We were also able to swim and jump off the boat some more before heading in to have dinner. 

Thursday we spent the morning and afternoon at Arnold's Park.  Brian & Nick got wrist bands and joined the boys on all of the rides!  Brian and Nick were not feeling so hot after all of the spinning and twirling.  I'm fairly certain that they will not be volunteering for this job next year. :)  We had lunch at the park, more rides, cotton candy, snow cones and everything else you can think of.  After the park we went back home and Nick and Brian took the boys fishing.  They didn't catch anything, but the boys were happy to get to go try out fishing and are already looking forward to the next time they can go.

Friday we spent the morning at the beach before we had to pack up and head to Nick's house.  The beach was probably my favorite part of vacation.  It was such a peaceful place and the boys really enjoyed building sandcastles!  We continued our vacation at Nick and Courtney's with a fire pit in their backyard on Friday night (again Smores included)! Saturday we saw some more extended family, two of my aunts, Wendy & Christy, as well as several cousins while we were at my Great Aunt Evie's memorial service in Colfax.  Christy and Wendy came to Nick's afterwards and it was great getting caught up with both of them.  We spent one last night at Nick's house playing bags and having homemade ice cream.  It was hard to head home on Sunday morning because we had such a wonderful and relaxing week away! 

I am having trouble posting pictures and my camera lens is broken so I plan on getting a new one next month.  If I can get the pictures from my phone to upload, I will add them later.  So many wonderful memories were made over the last week!!  Our family is awesome!

Austin has a loose tooth!  Are you kidding me?!?  I told him to stop growing so fast!!  ;) 

Austin also said last night at dinner, "I wish there was a shortcut to get to Denver to Jon and Clare's house . . . like one that would only take ten minutes!"

I took all three of the boys to the Dr. yesterday.  Here are their stats:

Gavin weighs 23lbs 8ounces and is 31" long
Colton weighs 38lbs and is 3'3" tall
Austin weighs 48lbs and is 3'10" tall

Everyone is growing!!!

The boys had a busy 4th of July week!  They spent the first half of the week in Fort Dodge at Annie and Papa's house.  They made a fort, went to the splash pad, played in the swimming pool, played games, and had a great time!  The second part of the week, they spent time in Emmetsburg at Grandma and Grandpa's house . . . lots of lake time!  Brian and I came up to Emmetsburg on Friday morning and we all spent the 4th of July in Emmetsburg together.  Friday was a great day for jumping off the dock, going for a boat ride, playing bags and of course watching the fireworks.  Gavin slept through the fireworks show and Colton & Austin stayed outside for the entire time. I had to hold Colton, but it was great that he wanted to watch all of them this year, he even fell asleep at the end! Austin laid in the back of Uncle Nate's pick up truck next to Grandpa!  Colton's favorite ones were the green ones and Austin loved ALL of them and couldn't pick a favorite.

 

On Saturday Brian was in a golf tournament so Austin, Colton and I went to the beach to meet Jamie and Keller.  We played in the water for a couple hours, tried to catch minnows and then Nate and Amanda showed up to say hi.  Amanda's sister, Sarah, brought five baby ducks with her to the lake to show the boys.  Austin held one of the ducks!  Nate's friend Cory took Ausitn & Colton on a boat ride after that.  Jill and I took Gavin on a long walk while the big boys were gone.  When Brian got home from the golf tournament, we sang happy birthday and celebrated!  Gavin was not sure about that cake . . . there was too many candles!  :)  It was a great weekend and it was a wonderful week for the boys!