The Tom Question Show

Last Wednesday The Tom Question Show came to our library as part of the summer reading program. What's The Tom Question Show? A stilt-walking juggler, that's what. The boys liked it, Grace slept through it.

Camp Grandma

Last week the boys stayed with Grandma Bobbie. I thought it was just a chance for Jeff and I to catch up on our sleep, but no! It was a full on camp!

The first day they went horseback riding. A neighbor has a horse that likes kids so much, Bayley and Hayden both rode her without a saddle. They were quite impressed.

They went hiking, but I think were more interested in trying to find all three of the snakes on Grandma's property...and using the Slip n' Slide...and turning Grandma's waterfall on and off...and using their squirt guns...

One day they made it to Hagg Lake and get this...went kayaking! Oops Kayak was there and they showed the boys all about kayaks. Some day there may be pictures on their website...but we haven't seen them yet.

And then there was the swimming pool the boys have asked to be taken back to. A community pool in Carlton opens up for the afternoon, and Grandma let them show off what they learned in swimming lessons.

So...horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, swimming...sounds like summer camp to me. Only with better food. She made them waffles and bacon for breakfast every morning!!

Playdate

You know, I think they either slept or ate through most of their 'playdate'.

Grace Is This Many...

Jack Speaks Spanish

I'm not sure when or how it started, but Hayden thinks that Uncle Dan & Aunt Christina's cockapoo, Jack, speaks Spanish. I'm guessing the dog actually might speak Spanish, hence his insistence. He understands that Rogue speaks English - or responds to it when he feels like it...


Anyway, Hayden likes to have playdates with Jack, probably because the pooch looks like a stuffed animal and loves kids! They went to a dog park and Hayden was quite impressed there was a drinking fountain for dogs!

Outpost

Hayden met up with a crowd of his preschool friends at a local park today. A wonderful program is held there ever weekday. A business in the community puts on a craft and activity, the school lunch program provides lunch for all the kiddos, and a handful of churches recruit volunteers to run the whole shebang.

The kids had a great time...getting completely filthy. It turns out they thought one of the fireplaces there was a throne.

Isn't She Cute?

Karate

Hayden has wanted to take Karate for quite some time, but it never quite worked into our schedule...plus I'm leery of having to buy-in. I've heard you have to sign your kid up for a year at a time, some places take an automatic withdrawal monthly (like a gym membership) and while that claims to include everything - including the pajama outfit - you then get charged for 'extras' like when your kid wants to test for a new belt for his pajama outfit. Grrreat.

Anyway, the Rec Center came to my rescue yet again, having a short Karate class both boys could attend. They enjoyed it so much I'm thinking I might have to actually sign them up at a karate studio...after I have them do another round at the Rec Center :) Just in case they get tired of it.

Out of This World

Reid's birthday gave us another excuse to get out of the house - this time to Out Of This World, a local pizza and indoor playground. The rock wall, bouncy house and slide were of course big hits, but this week they had a magician for the kids.


Bayley has been very interested in magic tricks, not in learning the slight of hand bits, but in figuring out how the tricks work. He thought he spotted a trick - making a hankercheif disappear into an egg. Bayley saw the red spot where the hankie had been stuffed in...a few hand movements later and the magician cracked the egg onto a plate. Impressed Bay to no end!


Hayden just wanted in on the action. He stepped in on a trick Brandon was doing. Luckily, Brandon didn't mind.

Lean On Me

They aren't quite sitting up yet, but haven't they grown? Grace was 14 lb, 6 oz today at her 2 month check-up!

Helicopters

Aunt Lynn sent the boys helicopter as a big brother/birthday gift. They were a HUGE hit. The boys loved them on site, and then more once they got them to fly.

They had them flying through the back yard, then when they kept hitting the fence moved out front. When Daddy came home he decided to give it a try.

The helicopter wound up in a tree. It took Dad quite a while to get it down...using a soccer ball and a rake. It was more fun to watch Jeff decide how to get the helicpoter down than to watch the things fly.

When Pop Pop arrived he thought they were pretty cool as well...so cool that his attempt to fly the helicopter ended with one stuck in a neighbors rain gutter.

Burke Brother's Birthday Bash

I think this is the last year we can get away with doing a combo-party for both boys. It's been fun while it lasted! Since their birthdays are on a holiday weekend, hardly anyone is in town. Having their party be a laid back park affair has allowed us to invite a ton of kids, which gets a plethora of 'sorry, but we're out of town' RSVPs, and have a good showing of kiddos.

They made the rounds at the playground, ate pizza and cake, and used the parachute I bought for last year's party. We didn't even miss the bubble machine we learned was broken on the eve of the party :)

Hayden's Birthday

Hayden wanted IHOP for breakfast for his birthday...no clue where he got the idea since he's never been out to breakfast before...maybe he thought 5 years was long enough to wait. Lunch was Sweet Tomatoes. We'd been wary of going there with the girl in tow, but like always she was an angel. I kid you not, she didn't fuss until I was done eating, and she completely slept through breakfast. Perhaps that was her birthday gift to Hayden?

The neighborhood had a 4th of July BBQ. Uncle Matt, Uncle Dan, Aunt Christina, Grammo & Pop Pop all were there to watch Hayden share his birthday cupcakes with the crowd. He was thrilled by the watergun Uncle Dan & Aunt Christina gave him...so thrilled a water fight ensued. Fireworks topped off a night that didn't end until he was truly exhausted.

Bayley's Big Day

Bayley's birthday was a big hit. He loved having soccer camp. He wanted to go to lunch at Noodles, but we couldn't find a parking space, so we did Arby's instead. I still feel kinda bad about that one. He shared his birthday cupcakes - chocolate with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting - with his neighborhood friends.

We came home to find a package - clothes for Grace and brithday presents for the boys from Great Aunt Lynn. The boys we uber excited...she got them helicopters that can fligh high enough to get stuck in the trees. Dad was not as impressed, helicopter rescue hero that he is.

Dinner was Red Robin. Bayley is all about 'trying new things' now that he is 7, so instead of his usual chicken nuggets and fries, he got macaroni and cheese with fries. Way to branch out. Not to be outdone, Hayden also skipped the nuggets in favor of a corn dog. No, chickens do not have nuggets and dogs are not made of corn. But I digress...

Isn't She Pretty?

Happy Birthday, Bayley!

He's 7. I can't beleive it. For the record, he's requested building sets (K'Nex, Legos, Erector), Leapster games, and a Nintendo DS. And so...we got him a bike.

He had soccer camp this week. In the spring he thought he might want to play soccer in the fall, but I held off registering him until he'd done this camp. He loves it, so I asked if he wanted me to sign him up for the league...maybe when he's in the 3rd grade was his response...

It was really hot, he might like it better in cooler weather. Check out how much he sweat!

Slip And Slide

The weather has been HOT! The boys brought out their Slip And Slide to share with the neighborhood. It was quite the big hit! Once they figured out how to slide on it...