Let's Build a Fort

The kids had been BEGGING me to build a fort for a long time. The problem is....we never have enough free time to enjoy it. We do a lot together, but are always busy on the weekends and I didn't want to build it unless we had at least an entire day to enjoy it. To our luck, and entire Saturday opened up, and I knew that that would be the day we would build a fort. It stayed up for two nights and three days and they had SO MUCH FUN! They kept themselves busy for two days straight, and then we spent about an hour cleaning it up for Family Night on Monday night. We had lots of fun. I know we will build another one some time.....just don't know when. Life never seems to slow down!

They were so excited about all of the HEAVY stuff they found to hold the fort down......syrup and everything!

Just Hanging Out!

Playing Games

I know you can't see through the sheet, but this was so cute.

They hid together behind it and Kylie was reading a book to the boys.

They were leaning their heads together on her.....I wish you could see it!

Snack Time!

Night Night!

All Ready for Church

Nothing special about this post. Just some cute pictures of the kids all ready for church. This happened to be Cameron's first week wearing a tie. He felt so cool next to his Daddy and Chad and was so cute walking into church with them. Love my boys (and girl)!

Happy Birthday Oma!

My mom turned 60 this year and decided to do something crazy......like go skydiving!!! Now this may not be crazy to some people, but if you know me, then you know that I think she is crazy. Unfortunately now she has lit a spark for skydiving in some other people in our family, one of which I am married to, and I am not very happy about it! Anyway....it was a great day celebrating with her. All of our family was there, as well as her best friend Theresa. Here are some pictures documenting her trip. She LOVED every minute of it and can't wait to save up enough money to do it again. We were very proud! The kids loved to watch their Oma come down out of the sky in a parachute!

Cameron and the Dentist

This summer was Cameron's first official trip to the dentist. He has come with me since he was tiny, and watched Kylie and Chad too. He even sat on my lap while they kind of cleaned his teeth one other time - but this time was for real! He was all happy sitting in the waiting room and watching his big brother and sister. But when it was time for his turn, he freaked out. Check out the picture above....too funny (man I look tired!) He cried for about 5 minutes while we tried to talk him into it, and bribed him with the treasure chest. Eventually he calmed down on my lap.....and then it was smooth sailing from there. He felt like such a big boy and now says he can't wait to go again! He is such a fun boy to have around. I love his little personality and he makes everyone smile!

KDA Scholarship Auditions

At the end of every summer, Kylie has to "audition" at her dance studio. I have probably posted about this in year's past. In order to be involved in Kane Dance Academy's Scholarship program you have to try out every year. They really want to create good life experiences for the girls, and get them ready for real life "auditions." She has to put together a resume, with parental help of course, and get her dance bag ready, and learn all kinds of dance terminology. If she is successful (and usually everyone is), she can participate in the scholarship program and take as many classes that she would like throughout the year, and we pay only one fee. Saves us lots of money, and she becomes a very well-rounded dancer. She did a great job and earned the Gumby Flexible award. She was very proud!

All set and ready to go.....

At the Scholarship "you made it" party.....

Kylie and Miss Kristy, the studio owner

Puzzle Museum

David and I were out together somewhere and the kids stayed at our house with Grandma. This is what we found when we came home:

A puzzle museum.....at least that's what they called it. I love it when my

kids work together and are creative! Too cute!

Potty Training Time

About a week after we got home from our trip, it was time to begin potty training with Cameron. He was almost exactly 2 1/2 and was going to start preschool in the fall a couple of days a week. I knew he was ready and the thought of having NO kids in diapers was very exciting. Chad was so easy to potty train, and so I just hoped that Cameron would be too. Here's what we did on day one:

Watched the Potty Time video with Elmo
(you can see in his face that he was thinking "yeah, right!")

Bought new Thomas the Train underwear......very exciting!

Read LOTS of stories about big boys going on the potty.

Started a sticker chart with, you guessed it, Thomas the train stickers.

He started to get excited about half-way through the day. Kylie and Chad were a HUGE help. We all screamed and did the potty dance whenever he went in the potty.

Overall, the day was very tiring. We had two accidents all together on day one. Day two, he woke up and was a new boy. We are so lucky to have had two little boys that were EASY to potty train. No more accidents after day three, wearing underwear out and about. After a week of being dry overnight, we decided to take the pull-ups off and wear underwear when sleeping too. Since then we have never had an accident. Potty training IS the worst part of parenting, even when it is easy. So glad it is over.....no more buying diapers!!! Woo-hoo!