marble jars full!

We've been doing this marble jar thing with the kids for a month or so - if we catch them doing good (sharing, getting a drink or spoon for each other, helping with the baby, using their manners, etc...) then they get a marble in their jar. They can't ask for a marble, they just have to be caught doing positive things. When the jars are full, they get a special treat. The first time around, they got gumballs and were THRILLED, because I just don't usually buy gum. But, this time the jars were full Shane had this crazy idea - he has been wanting to take them to the toy store. I was thinking, "you're crazy!" But, we took them and they had a great time. We heard a lot of "Wow!" and huge gasps as they kept seeing neat toys aisle after aisle. Andie actually put her hands over her mouth and her jaw dropped when she saw the Disney princess section. Anyway, they ended up with these two wheel scooters. Big hit. But, I told them that was a special treat, that we won't be able to do that every time the jars are full!

dirt magnets

Shane had a whole load of dirt in the dump trailer to fill in some landscaping and the kids had quite a time. We think they seem most at home in the dirt! :) I'm not really for this - as it gets dirt everywhere in the house and bathtub (how does that happen even if they go straight up to the tub??), but once in a while is OK! Wyatt is jumping from the top of the pile and then sliding down the hill. nice.

singing in the rain

happy ending

Making chocolate pie

If you haven't heard our story, we had a real life nightmare occur last weekend. Andie fell out of a window... on the second story. It was absolutely horrible. I can't even describe. Miraculously, she is OK. No broken bones or internal ruptures. She is still a slight bit sore when she does somersaults or other such fancy moves, but other than that is basically back to her goofy self. Just a bit more cautious, maybe. I am finally sleeping at night without replaying the whole horrible moment over and over and over again in my mind (seeing a pink flash by the lower window, running out into the rain, scooping her up...) and can finally talk about it without sobbing! Shane and I are still in a kind of somber shock with the weight of what could have happened, but feel so incredibly blessed that she is OK and it turned out to have a happy ending. Praise God!!!

Mucho thank you's to Aunt Teppie and Aunt Chele for sending the most fun surprise care packages!! Homemade cookies - and her very own rolling pin that was put to use the next day! And, gigantic suckers made Andie and Wyatt's faces light up...(see videos :) - I especially like the serious kazoo performance by Wy-Wy. What a hoot!) It really was so nice and thoughtful and brought out huge smiles, which we needed! Thank you!!

first day of preschool

Andie had a really good first day of preschool, I think. She seemed excited, but not over the moon about it. By the third day, though, she said she liked school and didn't want to leave. (I suspect that's because they were playing out on the playground...) She also said she has a friend, but can't remember her name. :)

tiny kickers

Andie tried Tiny Kickers (intro to soccer) through our parks and rec. I wouldn't say she was thrilled about it - so we'll see. The coaches weren't too energetic or enthusiastic, is that the word I'm looking for? But, it was definitely good exercise! Wyatt, on the other hand, wanted very badly to get out there and try kicking, too!

trauma

Well, Shane had a horrific event occur this weekend... he cut his finger off (well, almost) while using a table saw (that he has used hundreds of times) to create our front porch. It was still barely attached by a shred of bone and some skin. It was a mad dash to the ER, all of us scared to death, and Shane's heart breaking at the thought of not being able to play the guitar. I'll spare you all the details, but WOW, it was horrible. (At first I thought I was going to be looking for the finger on the ground!) We are so thankful, really, because it could have been much worse. The doctor is optimistic that it will mend - so now he is supposed to be resting after they sewed it back on to hopefully keep his finger!

meet the teacher night

Andie's first little meet the teacher night for preschool - do you think the sassy red boots gave the teacher any worries about this girl? :)
Shane has been building a new front porch for our house (since it didn't have one) and the kids have a new interest in their play tools. I found them measuring and fixing their trampoline. too cute.
And now the infamous "letting go" of things...

Grandpa Great

There is something about Grandpa Great's scooter that all of the kids love. When they were little, it was almost mesmerizing to gently glide around, now Andie pretends she is riding a bus and Wyatt wants to DRIVE the thing!
Doing chalks together...the simple pleasures of summer.

Lake Gammie and Papa's

Andie went to visit my mom and dad for a couple of days with her cousin Raeanna. They went to a butterfly garden in Ames, then down to their house at the lake. She had so much fun! (Her mom and dad were a little nervous, though, as it was her first time spending the night away from us!) She came home exhausted, but as they were pulling away, she was crying and said between sniffles, "I...don't want...Gammie and Papa... to go."
My mom and Andie at the gardens.

Andie and Raeanna at the lake
Gammie has a great collection of dress up clothes!
She caught a fish all by herself - she made sure I knew that. :)

Crafty Cousins Retreat!!

Andie, Sawyer and I went to a craft retreat in St. Cloud, Minnesota for a few days with my mother-in-law and several of Shane's aunts and cousins. It's ladies only, so Wyatt stayed home for some special time with daddy and Papa. (And Sawyers ticket in is he's still breastfeeding.) It was SO fun!! We worked, laughed a lot, ate lots of nibblies and got little sleep. I felt so special because half of the group was working on gifts for my kids - quilts, little pillows (like yours, Meg) and pajamas for Andie... it was great. Of course, they had to tease me that at the rate I have babies, they have been pretty busy :). Really, I love them to pieces and am so blessed to be a part of this family. They are so wonderful and have truly made me feel like one of their own.This is Aunt Julie. We stayed at their house the first night in Cambridge, MN, and Andie is STILL talking about cousin Daniel!! He is the best kid - gave Andie toys to play with, took her to the park and even tucked her in that night! WE LOVE YOU, DAN!! (When are you guys moving in next door?) :) This pic is Aunt Julie giving Sawyer a sewing lesson with the beautiful quilt she made just for him! Man, can these ladies sew!
Aunt Betty (Great Great Aunt Betty to the kids) is one of the sweetest ladies you could ever meet. She brought her scrapbook album to work on and she does recall the show I Love Lucy (Emily, you're cute).
This is cousin Emily and cousin Andrea. Now let me just say these girls are the most WONDERFUL young people!!! They are so nice and played with Andie, held Sawyer and offered help left and right. I LOVE THEM! Thank you, sweethearts!
Aunt Sandi Sue (who is really a cousin, but we call her aunt) with Sandi and her rotary cutter. We met Sandi Sue in Ames on the way up to caravan and because our car was packed to the gills. She is so fun! These two together = trouble! Ha!
Cousin Barb with her scrapbooking supplies. (Yea - another scrapbooker!) She actually got 15 pages done...but how is she the lucky one who lives right there in St. Cloud?

Sissy making crafts. She had a blast. Cousins to love on her, chocolate to eat... yep, she had a fun time. When I asked her if she missed Wyatt, she just looked at me and said, "Noo-o".


Wyatt LOVED the little pillow and quilt that Sandi Sue made for him. It has trains and tools - what could be better? His little face lit right up and he had to try it right away. Thank you, ladies, for all of that work on such wonderful gifts!! We love them!

daddy's band

This has to be one of my favorite things! Shane plays bass guitar for the church band and whenever he practices, the kids drag all of their little instruments into our little office room to play along with him. Here, Andie has made her own sheet music like daddy's and is playing on the floor right next to his chair. But often they are dancing around AND playing various instruments at the same time with quite fancy moves. I'm pretty sure this is counterproductive to Shane's practice time - but it is so cute.
Wyatt gave Sawyer a trumpet. :)
Just thought this was cute...let me sleep!

...and he's up

yes, yes - a few posts ago I was a little worried, and now look!! He is wasting no time in his pursuit to keep up with his older siblings. 6 months! Little stinker.

Mmm, yummy toesies!

balloon landings!

The Indianola Balloon Classic was going on this weekend and 3 hot air balloons went RIGHT over our house - I mean one could have actually landed on our roof! This is our back yard. The last one really did land in our neighbors yard. We hurried out and watched the "chase crew" deflate the balloon, fold it up and pack the huge basket onto their trailer. Andie says she wants to ride in one someday, so I shared some pictures of when I got to ride in one when I was little. Shane is worried he will actually have to go up in one with her (with his love for heights). Anyway, it was exciting... they are serious about ballooning here in Indianola!

just the beginning?

Well, we tried a summer session of dance classes for Andie - to "see if she likes it" (that's what I told Shane. He replied, "like she's not going to like it!") ha! So, this is her at her very first class! Let me just say, she was the CUTEST thing I have ever seen!!! It was so great. She had fun and we had fun watching her.
They actually did barre!
Look at that pointed toe!!

a little shuffle action...
a little heel step action (my father-in-law would be so proud I can write these out) :)

all done! I have to say, even though there were only 4 kids there (being only a summer class) she was the best one. And the others had danced in a class before. The teacher told us afterwards she was surprised it was her first class and that she has great feet. It was truly fun and yes, probably just the beginning.

brothers

I love this picture!! Wyatt has been so nice to baby Sawyer, learning to give him loves. You can see his poor "dead" tooth. :( I'm so sad about it. Apparently he hit it hard enough during one of his many rough and tumble stunts that he killed the nerve. Shane's sister Rachele had this happen when she was 2, I've been told, and the tooth falls out. (I never knew she was such the rough and tumble type!) Ahhh! I don't want his little tooth to fall out!