Birthday Party Fun

We were invited to 2 birthday parties last weekend and they were both super fun - a pool party Friday night and a train party Saturday afternoon.

The pool party in Grain Valley was for Bernadette's girls - McKenna and Laiken. The boys had a great time at their pool - both boys were able to go down the frog slide and Brett ventured on to going down the slides in the deep end (with dad catching him) most of the night while Brady practiced doing karate kicks and making funny faces while jumping in off the side (those are the pics I really want - going to have to get a waterproof camera!). Thanks for inviting us Bernie & Chad and Sue, thanks for letting Brett borrow your "orange" muscles!




Saturday we went to Randall's 3rd bday train party (Ed's coworkers' son). And this was parked outside their house much to the boys' delight! Every parent's nightmare - the kids were all on the train and they couldn't get it to start. But eventually it got fixed and the kids loved it!

I think Randall's dad fully enjoyed his role as "train conductor"

Brett's Big Boy Bed!

Where's our baby?! We converted the crib into a big boy bed for Brett this weekend (just added railings)- I think he is pretty happy with it. I know Brady was - he immediately started talking about sleeping with Brett because he likes it so much. I do too (except his room looks much smaller now) - I've always loved that our "nursery" furniture is able to "grow up" with the boys. Now we just need to get him a comforter/quilt to make it cute!

Brett's Idea of Fun

This is from a couple weeks ago in Lebo, but it makes me smile every time I look at these pictures. I'm not sure exactly why, but Brett thought he would pile all of the toys by Ed's head while he was taking a nap. To know Brett, is to know if he's holding something, there's a 90% chance it will be thrown somewhere in the near future - and usually HARD (I try and ask him if he's done with his drink when we're in the car so he won't thrash me in the head with his sippy cup!) so I was just glad he piled instead of throwing them.

Summer Garden

My garden is getting to that stage where some things are beginning to look "past their prime" - I guess that's what happens when it gets hot and the rain stops . . . .but its been fun seeing the boys' reactions and thoughts about the different plants.

I have lots of zinnias - love them!















An experiment this year that has worked pretty well, but not the most beautiful thing to have right outside the front door - hanging cherry tomatoes! The boys love to see if there are any red ones ready to pick! They don't like to eat them though.

Fun at the Pool

Although Brady's 4 1/2, he's anything but a daredevil at the pool. However, Brett started going down the pool slides and jumping into the pool from the side this summer, so Brady has taken a chance (and even gets his hair wet - oh my!) and started doing what his little brother does. It has been so much fun seeing them try new things and have so much fun in the water!

Lake Tahoe

We headed to Lake Tahoe on July 9th with Ed's dad and Jacki to check out the Celebrity golf tournament. I had never watched it on TV so didn't really know what to expect, but it was a great time. Tahoe is beautiful - I had to keep reminding myself that we were by a lake and not an ocean. And I couldn't believe how close we came to so many celebrities!

Ed on top of the world - okay, just a big rock, but they were awesome. Sand Harbor had the most beautiful rocks!



















Viewing mountains, lake and boat from golf course -















Sitting on the 18th green - which was overlooking the lake, the best place to be!














Posing with Terence Newman - a KStater turned Dallas cowboy!