Kapnick's Adventures

Snow Bike Riding

2012-01-24T17:42:00.001-08:00

The boys have been patiently waiting to ride dirt bikes in the snow and on the ice. Finally they can cross off one of their winter agenda items!! I am not so sure they will be able to cross the second one off this year. These are some of the first pictures I took with the new camera I got for Christmas. Looking forward to using it more!!

Splashing In The New Year

2012-01-11T18:06:00.000-08:00

We decided to ring in the New Year with a splash by spending the day at the water park. We have been to this park a couple of times and have tried each time to talk the kids into going down the "big" slides. They both finally decided this trip was the right time!! The first time down I screamed more than Leland!!

A Cutie For A Cutie

2012-01-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

When Sutton likes to eat something, he likes to eat something. Lately he has really been into eating cuties. He will eat 3 to 4 at a time if we let him. They are great because he can get them, peel them, and pull them apart all by himself!!

The Final Partee

2012-01-08T12:23:00.001-08:00

We celebrated our last Christmas of 2011 with my dad, Kathy, and brother and his family. They all came to our house for homemade pizza. The kids enjoyed opening the last of the Christmas presents. The kids enjoyed a Charlie Brown Christmas Story book from Shandy and Kristy. They recorded their voices reading the book to the kids.

It's A Jungle Out There

2012-01-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

My brother and his family arrived in town the day after Christmas. We were excited to see them!! The last time we saw Shandy and Kristy was in June and Skyler came and spent some time with us in July. We decided to take the kids to Jungle Java so they could play. We all had a good time. Even my dad was brave enough to try out the structure. He was rather sore the next day!!

The Big Day

2011-12-31T11:11:00.000-08:00

Finally Christmas arrived, the boys never thought it would come. We have never pushed Santa, but Leland was pretty interested in him, so we did do some Santa gifts this year. Watching their faces when they saw the presents was fun. Leland immediately started looking at the tags to see who they were for. He then discovered the stockings!! After our Christmas we had my dad and Kathy and Pam and Al over. We have to say the best Christmas gift came from Pam and Al, a trip for all of us to Myrtle Beach for Spring break, let the count down begin!! We then headed out to my Uncle Tim's for dinner. After a brief visit there we headed to Grandma Cleo's (Nate's grandma). This was our busiest day, but we all had a good time!!

Christmas Eve

2011-12-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

We started Christmas Eve out by spending some time with the Bailey side of Nate's family. We then headed to church to enjoy the Christmas Eve service. We rounded out the evening by letting the kids open a couple of presents from us. Leland needed new pjs so we also got some for Sutton. We always get the boys a new ornament. So that is what they got to open.

The First Christmas of 2011

2011-12-28T13:41:00.000-08:00

We started our Christmas celebrations with Pam's family on Friday. Everyone came to our house and we all ate too much food!!! The boys were excited to open some presents. They got lots of nice things, but they are enjoying a construction set from grandma Chris and grandpa Bill the best.

Rockin' It Out

2011-12-28T13:34:00.000-08:00

Leland's school put on a kindergarten Christmas program the Tuesday before school got out for vacation. Leland had been singing some of the songs at home, especially during dinner so I thought he would sing at the program. I was wrong!! For most of the songs he just stood there. I think he may have been a little intimidated by the number of people who were there. He was much more comfortable after the program ended as you can see in the photo with his good buddy Eddie. I would have posted more pictures from the program, but I could not find the right setting on my camera for clear pictures.

Christmas Cards Minus The Postage

2011-12-28T13:29:00.001-08:00

I opted not to do Christmas cards this year. Instead you can view our annual family Christmas tree photo on the blog!!

Final Touches

2011-12-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

Decorating is no different than baking, the boys have to sample the sprinkles. Not sure how they can stand to eat just sprinkles, but they do!! They helped with the sprinkles from the first cookie to the last. I didn't think they would stick with it that long, but they did.

Baking Up Some Deliciousness

2011-12-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

The boys and I started baking near the beginning of December. Of course eating some of the dough was the highlight. The first batch we baked took several days from start to finish, but it was worth the wait!! Well Nate and I waited for completed cookies, but as you can see the boys could not wait.

Frozen Toes Parade

2011-12-19T18:33:00.000-08:00

We attended the annual Christmas parade again this year. Going with the familiar we again had Brownies Pizza, which Leland will tell you is the best. We also had some yummy pizza fondue made by Aunt Kay!! Just like last year the highlights of the parade included: candy, tractors, and jeeps that were all lit up for the occasion.

Let There Be Light

2011-12-19T18:24:00.001-08:00

The kids waited patiently, well at least they tried to wait patiently as I put all the things on the tree that needed to go on before the ornaments. Each year they get more excited about helping with all the Christmas decorations which is fun for me to see!! Each box is opened with such excitement. You wouldn't believe the debates that take place about who gets to hang what ornaments, they both are already forming which ones they like best!!

Timber!!

2011-12-11T17:47:00.001-08:00

We also got our Christmas tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Nothing like trying to pack lots of holiday events into one day. We enjoyed a tractor ride out to where we could cut our tree. Well at least the boys did. The boy driving the tractor didn't waste any time getting us there and it was a bit bumpy. It seems that we always tend to go with just barely enough time to pick a tree before it starts getting dark, it was no different this year. The highlight for the boys was getting to have a turn with the saw!!

Making Memories Gingerbread Style

2011-12-11T17:35:00.000-08:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we took the boys to a gingerbread house making class. While registering the lady asked me if I wanted to pay by check that day or with credit card over the phone. When I learned that it was going to be $60.00 to make 2 gingerbread houses I thought I was going to be in trouble with Nate. I was also hoping that it would be worth the money. Thankfully it was well worth the money. The boys had a blast. We had so many supplies we could have made about 5 houses a piece!! The kids enjoyed eating all the goodies as much as they did putting them on the houses. We were able to get them home with no damage. On the way out I finally told Nate what the cost was and even he agreed that it was worth it!!

Pint Sized Hauler

2011-11-29T17:42:00.000-08:00

Leland had a half day of school the day before Thanksgiving so we decided he could skip and spend the day with Nate. He could hardly stand himself until the day arrived. I called him on the phone shortly after they left and could still hear the excitement in his voice!! When he returned to school after Thanksgiving break I had almost forgotten about him trucking with Nate and thought he would share some other part of his weekend with his class. I was wrong though!! When I asked him what he shared that day he replied "I told them about logging with daddy and all about the skidder".

Leaves A'Plenty

2011-11-29T17:35:00.000-08:00

Thankfully all the leaves are finally gone, for awhile they never seem to end. During the fall our neighbor spends hours on end cleaning his yard. Leland thought it would be a good idea to help him one day. I think he was ok with it until Sutton picked up a big bunch and started chasing Leland into the part of the yard he had already cleaned!!

Fall Adventures

2011-11-29T17:21:00.000-08:00

The weather never seems to be too chilly for the boys to go to the swamp. They often think it is necessary to see what creatures might be out on any given day, even when the temperature assures us that nothing will be out!!

The Big Boy Bike Club Is Pleased To Announce Its Newest Member

2011-11-19T10:32:00.000-08:00

Sutton is riding his bike with no training wheels. We really didn't think he would take off until next summer, but he sure proved us wrong!! He had been trying a little bit on Leland's bike during the summer. On day a couple of weeks ago he asked Nate to take his training wheels off and away he went. Of course like all new bike riders he needs to keep working on steering!!

Getting Back To Basics

2011-11-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

The boys were able to enjoy some farming recently with Grandma Rosie and Popa Pete. Any chance they get to do some tractor riding they are all about it!! Sutton actually had more fun sitting in the tractor that had the grain trailer hooked up to it than riding in the combine. Leland of course enjoyed everything there was to do and see!!

Halloween Take 3

2011-11-19T10:14:00.001-08:00

Our Halloween festivities concluded with trick-or-treating on Halloween. The kids got way more candy then they needed, so of course they have had plenty of help getting it eaten!!

Halloween Take 2

2011-11-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

Our church hosted its annual harvest party the night before Halloween. It was complete with a bounce house, hot dog and marshmallow roast, and hay rides.

Halloween Take 1

2011-11-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Halloween started for us with Leland's party at school. I was talking to some of the other parents and we all agreed that we didn't remember having parties like that. The kids had so much food and candy it was crazy. Sutton tagged along and fit right in. I surprised he didn't even hang out with Leland. Leland kept asking me to dress up and I said I didn't think I would. The night before his party he changed his mind and asked me to come as a regular mom. Well at that point I had already decided that I would dress up as an old lady. His face was priceless when he saw me walking down the hallway!!

What Shape Do You Want That?

2011-11-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

We did our annual pumpkin carving on a warm and sunny Sunday. The boys were a little more interested this year, but Nate and I still ended up doing most of the work!! On the way to the porch Leland dropped his pumpkin, which ended up putting a large crack down the side of its face. Leland was so upset and every time since when he looks at the pumpkin he says "poor pumpkin Jack".

Chuga Chuga Toot Toot

2011-11-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

Nate and I took the boys for their first train ride a couple weekends ago. The ride was about 1 hour out and 1 hour back to where we started. It wasn't anything super fancy, but the boys thought it was pretty neat.

A Visit To The Orchard

2011-11-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

My dad and step-mom joined us on a recent trip to the orchard. Leland had a friend come along so he was acting silly most of the time. We attempted to do the corn maze, but that didn't turn out so well. You were suppose to answer questions to find your way through, but we couldn't find any signs in the maze. I ended up getting half my money back. The kids of course enjoyed the barn yard animals and all the pumpkins!!

Toasted Mud

2011-11-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

We were introduced awhile back to a neat pottery place by a friend of mine. On the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month they offer a children's story hour. The kids get to listen to a story and then they make a clay or pottery project related to the story. The kids have really enjoyed being creative and getting to make their own project.

Tractoring Around Kapnick Style

2011-11-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Nate recently used my grandpa's old tractor to do some mowing. Of course he couldn't get away with not taking the boys for a short ride. They even got to steer a bit so that made them extra happy!!

Fall Fun With The Chill Of Winter

2011-10-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

The boys and I enjoyed a family fall event a bit ago. Even though we were just getting into the fall season on this weekend it felt more like winter!! The boys enjoyed checking out all the different scarecrows, decorating a pumpkin, doing fall crafts, taking a wagon ride, and of course getting a frog painted on their hands.

Papa's Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

We did not plant anything in our garden this year. My dad did plant a garden though so the kids were able to pick a pumpkin from his patch!

Riding In Style

2011-10-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

We took the boys to the homecoming parade awhile back. They both decided that they would rather ride in a fire truck in the parade then actually watch the parade. I didn't end up getting any great pictures, but oh well. The good part about them riding instead of watching was that they didn't get to pick up any candy that was thrown!!

Sharp Shooter

2011-10-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Leland takes his pretend hunting pretty seriously don't ya think?

Bus Brigade

2011-10-18T18:16:00.001-07:00

I did not want to put Leland on the bus, especially as a kindergartner. However I quickly realized that could not last. I was not going to be able to drop him off and pick him up with my work schedule, even though I do cover his district this year. He didn't start riding until the second week of school. Of course it was another one of those emotional mom moments. He was ready and I had a hard time watching!!! He has done fine on the bus and he does only ride it in the morning so I can live with that.

Good To The Last Drop

2011-10-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Ice cream is definitely a staple in our house!! This fact proven by Sutton who enjoyed every last drop of his ice cream recently, literally!!

The Third And Final Event In A Day Of Firsts

2011-10-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Nate also got to experience a first the day Leland started school. Nate started a new job. Dean, his step-dad experienced some health issues and is no longer able to drive his semi. Nate was offered to take over his truck, so now he is a log hauler. It was hard for Nate to leave Technique, he had been there 14 years and he does like the people he worked with. However, he saw this as an opportunity to get out of the "shop". He has enjoyed the job so far and is doing well with learning the ropes.

The Second Event On A Day Of Firsts

2011-10-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

Sutton was back to daycare as normal the same day Leland started school. I wondered how Sutton would do without Leland. I thought he might be a little sad, but boy he proved that theory wrong in a hurry!!! Sutton has enjoyed being the oldest kid on the block at daycare!!

Finally In More Than One Way

2011-10-12T17:15:00.001-07:00

Leland is finally a kindergartner and I finally got these pictures on the blog!!! The first day of school was definitely much more emotional for me than for him. Nate was planning to go with us the first day, but that didn't end up happening. I did ok until I actually had to say good bye. Leland gave me his famous line "No crying Mom". I was actually surprised, I didn't see anyone else crying in the classroom. Not sure if that means I am a bigger wimp than I thought or what!! Leland has enjoyed school each day and it is good to see him growing and making lots of new friends!!

The Night Before Kindergarten

2011-10-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

We wanted to make Leland's night before kindergarten special. We bought Leland several books with kindergarten as the topic. We enjoyed reading them before he went to bed.

Good To The Last Kernel

2011-10-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

It is free entertainment for us watching the boys eat corn on the cob!!

One Last Dip

2011-09-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

What better way to end the summer of 2011 than doing what we enjoy the most!! It seems like so long ago that I took these pictures (Labor Day), especially since the weather is so different now!! However, it is nice to look back at the fun we had especially since Nate was able to be with us and not at work!!

Almost A Kindergartener

2011-09-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

After kindergarten registration in April Leland knew who he wanted his teacher to be. When he got his letter in the mail he was pleased that all his hoping and wishing came true and he would have Mrs. Day for kindergarten. Last week they invited all students to meet the teacher night. Leland had another great surprise when we got to his classroom. He learned that Maddie a girl from his former day care would also be in his class. Leland is excited about starting kindergarten, but also showing some apprehension. Today he asked me "Well what will I do in kindergarten all day?"

Brotherly Brushing

2011-09-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

This does not often occur, so I thought I would share this photo!! When I say this does not occur often I mean the arms around each other in a loving way, not the teeth brushing, just thought I should clarify!!

Rewards

2011-09-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

The boys and I participated in a summer reading program at our local library. As a reward for the end of the program we got to spend some time at Kapnicks orchard learning about farming, spending time feeding some animals, a wagon ride and picking some apples. Probably the best part was that their good friends Eddie and Levi were also there!!

PS: Sorry for the hiatus in posts. We got a tablet awhile back and our internet service is now through that and the service was extremely slow and would not upload my pictures to the blog. I thought I would try it again and now it seems to be working so I will hopefully have things updated by this weekend, lots of fun things to share!!

Lelanddid and Suttondid

2011-08-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

The capture of this katydid was probably fun for the neighbors to watch. It was on the front of the garage rather high up. I had to pull out a tall ladder climb to the top step and then reach as far as I could with a long handled net. What I won't do to catch a "cool bug" for the kids. Once captured Sutton wasn't so sure that he wanted it to be, he wouldn't let it get any closer than the end of the net. I was not sure what the bug was so when we looked in our handy bug book we discovered it was a katydid.

A Little Bird Nest Building

2011-08-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

The boys and I spent the day with my dad and Kathy. My dad enjoys spending time in his wood shop, so he had planned to make some bird houses, (or bird nests as Leland called them). They enjoyed using the "real" tools, even the air nail gun. They saw the project through to completion painting every last bare spot of wood.

All On A Short Walk

2011-08-18T18:53:00.001-07:00

The other day it almost felt like fall, no humidity, some leaves were falling, and bugs were a buzz. The boys found these 2 caterpillars. We were able to look them up in our insect book to determine what type they were.

Summer Camp 2011 Finale

2011-08-18T18:30:00.001-07:00

Summer Camp 2011 wrapped up with more craft activities, face painting, and fun with friends.

Cheap Entertainment

2011-08-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

I finally broke down and bought a new set of plastic golf clubs for the boys. They used to share a set that had been taped, taped, and re-taped, so you can imagine what they looked like. The last club finally made its way to the garbage. Ever since bringing these home they have played with them everyday. I guess that is a good deal considering each set only cost $5.00

Photo Opp

2011-08-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

We had pictures taken of the boys last Saturday you can see them at the following site: www.capturedbycaytlin.zenfolio.com

She had fun trying to get them to stand anywhere near each other. In the end though they turned out nice.

Have You Heard?

2011-08-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

Have you heard there is a new look in bike riding fashion? The thing to do is to wear your swim goggles for eye protection, just ask Sutton!!

A Fun Find

2011-08-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

The boys and I got in the trailblazer the other morning to go to a play date and we found this praying mantis on the visor. I wasn't sure what Leland would do with it or if he would even touch it. As you can see he did not hesitate at all!! There are no pictures of Sutton and the praying mantis because he wanted nothing to do with it.

Summer Camp 2011

2011-08-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

The boys are once again participating in and enjoying the summer camp being hosted by our local intermediate school district and Great Start.

We Are Overdue For Updated Lake Photos

2011-08-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Just some pictures that have been taken at the lake for you to enjoy!!

Frogs On A New Level

2011-08-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

Leland has decided to grant the tree frog that has taken residency on the kids picnic table umbrella a drivers license. What will he think of next?

A Visit With Sky

2011-08-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

Our nephew Skyler came to Michigan on a solo adventure and stayed at our house for one night. The boys had fun playing in the backyard, in the pool, at the lake, and just being boys!! And of course Leland did not want to miss out on sharing his love of frogs!! We enjoyed having him!!

A Good Spot For A Play Date

2011-07-31T17:42:00.000-07:00

We met up with Eddie and Levi for a play date at the park recently. The boys had a great time climbing, swinging, sliding, and running around like boys do.

Doing A Little Tree Trimming

2011-07-31T17:31:00.000-07:00

Sutton and Leland both can find many imaginative ways to use a stick. These days Sutton has been doing a lot of "tree trimming" around the yard with his stick. The only thing missing from this post is the chain saw sounds!!

That Boy Is At It Again

2011-07-30T18:40:00.001-07:00

There seems to be a theme to a lot of my picutes this summer, frogs and the lake. So here are some more frogs photos. Leland's quote from these photos "I am wearing this frog like gold."

Beating The Heat With Some Oustside Activities

2011-07-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

When I am not able to bribe the boys to stay inside the only way to be able to handle the heat outside is to be in the water. Even Winston agrees. I finally got out the dinosaur pool and got it blown up, we needed a change from the lake for a day.

Beating The Heat With Some Inside Activities

2011-07-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

Our kids would rather be outside than in, which is typically fine. However with the high temperatures we have been having lately I decided it was time to bribe them to stay inside where it was cooler. The invitation to paint these wood creatures from Michael's was well received!!

Happy 5th Birthday Leland!!

2011-07-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Leland got just what he asked for on his 5th birthday. He woke up to a bedroom full of balloons and more presents. Then we spent the day getting soaked at Soak City, the water park at Cedar Point. Later in the day Leland got to have chicken thrown at him so he could catch it with his mouth. He requested dinner at Nagoya, a Japanese steakhouse. He actually did a nice job catching the chicken, he did better than me!!! Happy 5th birthday Buckaroo!!

A Fifth Birthday In The Making

2011-07-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Leland's 5th birthday the day before his actual birthday with family and a few friends. Leland had his heart set on having an army tank birthday cake and once again Nate did a fine job decorating. Leland had a great time opening gifts and offered some great facial expressions!!

An Eventful Trip To The Zoo

2011-07-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

We enjoyed a recent trip to the zoo with Aunt Amy, Uncle Chad, Bailey, Aunt Lauren, and Trent. Well most of the trip was enjoyable I had a few moments of complete panic. The boys were looking at the orangutans. I got into the stroller to get Leland a sucker. When I looked back up Sutton was gone!! I hoped he was still within this same exhibit, but as I began looking for him I realized this was not the case. So Chad and Lauren went one way and I went another. The further I walked the more I told myself he could not have made it this far in this short amount of time. I was cutting through a flower garden on my way to talk to a zoo worker I had finally spotted when I saw him out of the corner of my eye. He was still walking away from where we were. As I got near him a lady was just bending down to talk to him. The first words out of his mouth were "Momma I was looking for you". I responded "I was looking for you too". I have to say that was one of the scariest moments I have had with my kids. Thankfully after we found him we were able to go on and enjoy a much less eventful rest of the zoo.

Rub A Dub Dub A Brown Dog In A Big Tub

2011-07-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

We don't typically give Winston a bath in the lake. However since we have been spending so much time there I didn't figure it was worth taking him to the pet wash for a "real" bath until summer is over. And besides that it was nice to have 2 small helpers for the task.

We Met An Author

2011-07-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Lisa Wheeler, a Michigan children's author came to our local library a couple weeks ago. She read a couple of her stories to the kids and we were able to buy some books at her cost. The boys really like her book titled Sixteen Cows.

The Boy Just Can't Get Enough

2011-07-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

When we got back home from Garden Day Sutton crashed in his bed. Leland on the other hand was on a mission to find more frogs and as you can see he was successful. Winston was also interested in the fine leopard frog!!

Garden Day 2011

2011-07-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

This years Garden Day proved to be just as great as it was last year. The day was filled with critter catching, critter touching, wagon rides, face/hand painting, craft making, snack eating, dog/horse petting, butterfly feeding, and wall painting. Even with it being so hot that day I had a hard time getting the boys to move on to the next activity. We were able to spend a little time with our friends the Denneys for some critter catching at the pond and a snack, it is always nice to see them.

Firework Bugs

2011-07-20T07:00:00.001-07:00

It was getting late when we got home from farming so the lightning bugs were beginning to come out. The boys had been begging for quite some time to catch some firework bugs (Sutton's name for lightning bugs), so we granted the wish.

Some Summer Time Farming

2011-07-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

The boys are still crazy about farming!!! They had the chance to go and harvest wheat with our farming friends the Ifflands. Sutton really surprised me, he did not want to ride in the combine. However, he seemed perfectly content to watch. Leland on the other hand did not hesitate at all. This day ended up being a bit crazy. On our way to go farming we ran out of gas. Thankfully Nate was almost home from work and we had not made it very far yet, so he saved us. Then we hit a bunch of construction, which would not have been a big deal but I was running out of time because I had a doctor appointment to get to. When we finally arrived I basically did a drive by telling the kids to have fun and making sure to give my camera to Denise. I then headed for my doctor appointment, the only other road block a train. I only ended up being 6 minutes late, so not to bad with all that happened. I guess you do what you have to when your kids want to go farming!!

Let The 4th Of July Celebrations Begin

2011-07-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

We kicked off our Fourth of July weekend celebrating with Pam, Al, and some of Pam's family. The boys could hardly wait for Katy (Pam's niece) to arrive. They had not gotten to see her since last June. The boys also enjoyed playing with Ashley (Pam's niece). This was the hottest day of the weekend, so the only place to be was in the water.

4th Of July Fun Continued

2011-07-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

We continued our 4th of July celebrations at my Aunt Kyle and Uncle Tim's on Sunday. We also invited some friends over. Leland and Sutton had a great time playing with Marshall and Clark.

Exploring Nature Last Call

2011-07-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

Our last 2 exploring nature classes were on the same day and consisted of tie dying a t-shirt and making a walking stick. Unfortunately this day was a little unorganized. When we arrived at noon the starting time of the first class most of the materials had already been used for tie dying. Many people arrived after all the materials were completely gone. At the end of this class the instructor had started passing out the walking sticks for the 2:00 class assuring everyone there would be enough. In between the classes we had a picnic with friends (Eddie and Levi). About 1:15 the instructor came back with some more walking sticks. We started heading that way and she then began letting others pick out sticks and decorating them. So we did the same thing. We were done before the class was even suppose to start and as we were leaving and more people were arriving (some who did get any materials at the last class) we heard that there were no more walking sticks. The next day was an opportunity to take a canoe ride, but when I asked how many she had I opted out. She was only going to have 3 life jackets and 5 canoes for about 40 people!!

Training Wheel Freedom

2011-06-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Leland took off on his bike without training wheels 2 days ago. He really did not want me to take them off, but I finally convinced him that it would be ok. He only took about 5 minutes to get the hang of it and the rest is history. Now that he has the balance part down pat he can work on getting himself going and steering.

Breakfast On The Farm

2011-06-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

The boys can never see enough cows or farm equipment so this breakfast on the farm event we went to last weekend hit the bulls eye for them. The event was free you just had to pick up a ticket at one of several locations in the area. The morning started with a tractor/wagon ride from the parking lot. We then had breakfast in the barn. Once done with breakfast you were free to explore the farm. The boys would have stayed and just watched the cows for hours if I had let them. Feeding the calves was exciting for them and their turn ended way to soon!! There was plenty of tractors to sit on and climb into. They also enjoyed the firetruck and ambulance that were also there. They even talked the firefighters into letting them try on the helmets, boy did this start a trend!! Our trip to the farm ended with a ranger ride back to our car, which suited the boys just fine!!

And He's Outta Here

2011-06-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

Leland played his last t-ball game last Friday. He went had a couple nice hits. Watching the progress he made in such a short time was fun. He is already looking forward to playing again next year.

A Little Alone Time With Sutton

2011-06-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

Last Friday Sutton and I spent a little time alone, well kind of. I guess we were alone except for all the other people and all the critters. I guess when I say alone I mean without Leland. Leland was preparing for his last t-ball game so he went to the ball field with Nate. Sutton and I got to see and touch a variety of critters. Sutton really surprised me, he touched everything. I was even more surprised when he let the snake curl around his arm, he is a better volunteer than me!!!

Exploring Nature Take 2

2011-06-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

Our next nature class was about insects. Everyone got a net and we attempted to find a variety of insects. It had been a little rainy and cool that day so we didn't find much. The instructor did help Sutton find this dragon fly larva, which he instantly took ownership of and would not part with.

Exploring Nature

2011-06-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

A local state park is hosting some free classes for kids. Our first class was about frogs. I felt so bad for this poor bull frog. There was only one of her and about 15 kids. There was only about 2-3 kids who did not hold her, one of those kids being Sutton. He was only willing to hold a developing tadpole after someone handed it to him. Leland was all for it, the only thing he was not interested in holding was a cray fish. He was afraid it would pinch him.

You Guessed It, More Lake Photos

2011-06-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Hope you don't get tired of viewing lake photos because we have not yet gotten tired of the lake!!

Some More Lake Photos

2011-06-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

These photos were also taken on Fathers Day, hope you enjoy!!

It Was All About Daddy

2011-06-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

We spent Fathers Day doing what Nate enjoys most on a hot weekend, soaking up some sun at the lake. Nate enjoyed his day with the kids. Thanks Nate for all you do for the boys and I!!

Found Dirt, Will Dig

2011-06-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

We had a small pile of dirt to get moved, so while Nate mowed the lawn that is what the boys and I did. They could not have been any happier, in fact I had to drag them out of the dirt because I was done. It was also fun finding a handful of worms!!

From Play Dates to Tee Ball with Nascar In Between

2011-06-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

Last Friday the boys had a fun filled day starting with a play date with some friends. Thankfully this was enough to tire Sutton out so he would take a nap for the remaining part of the day. Nate got 3 passes to his company's suite at Michigan International Speedway. The boys were so excited. When Leland got home he couldn't wait to tell me that he saw Junior, Kevin Harvick, and Jeff Gordon. Nate said the people got a good laugh when Leland declared that no girls should be driving race cars. He also informed all those taking pictures that they should only take a picture of a car if it was Chevrolet and to be sure not to take pictures if the car was a Toyota!! We ended the night with a tee ball game. It had been a while since Leland had played, but he did ok considering this.

Let The Wild Rumpus Start

2011-06-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

My summer break officially started after working all day Wednesday. The festivities have been many so far. Wednesday night we took the kids to a small circus that came to town. They enjoyed the sugary snacks and the pony rides. Their favorite parts of the cirucs included: watching some dirtbikes ride inside a large ball, the elephants, and the clown.

Good Byes

2011-06-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday marked Leland's last full day of full time day care, hard to believe. He spent some extra time saying good bye to Tami, giving her lots of hugs and even a few kisses on her arm. We are glad that he had a good year with her. Isabelle the little girl sitting on the swing with them is going to kindergarten next year also, so he is excited about that.

Froggy Friend

2011-06-07T17:42:00.000-07:00

I enjoy watching the kids get excited about things that as adults we really don't show interest in. So today when Sutton found this tiny frog it was no exception. Of course we had to debate how long everyone should have a turn and if some one had gotten a longer turn than the other. Sutton thought it was pretty funny when the frog jumped out of his hand and then landed right on his belly.

Let The Lake Times Roll

2011-06-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

We have finally been able to enjoy some time at the lake. The water was even noticeably warmer this weekend than last weekend. The boys were like 2 fish today, spending lots of time on the boogie boards. Sutton would stand in the water shivering because he was having so much fun. We have seen 2 turtles the 2 other times we have been at the lake this year, of course I didn't have my camera, so we are hoping they come out again so we can get some pictures.

Happy 10th To Us

2011-05-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

Nate and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed some time away in Myrtle Beach. The kids stayed back with Pam and Al. We were not sure how the kids would do, since this was the first time they have stayed overnight anywhere, but they did very well. As we were saying good-bye and both crying Leland tells Al "I asked them why they were crying and told them to stop." We had perfect weather every day and were able to enjoy the pool and beach. We also had lots of good food. For our last dinner we went to Ruth's Chris Steak House. We found this restaurant in Cancun when we were on our honeymoon.

House Guest Of A Different Type

2011-05-21T05:28:00.000-07:00

The boys discovered a bird nest in the playhouse attached to their swing set. At that time it was empty, but that didn't last for long!!

Awana Awards

2011-05-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to find the right setting to get a clear picture at church, so these aren't the greatest. Leland finished his 1st year in Awana. He did very well, he learned all the verses in his first book. He seems to have a memory like an elephant!!

Doesn't Get Much Better Than This

2011-05-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago the boys left the lid off the sand box. Since that time we have had our share of rain. So we had more of a mud pit box, which was just fine with the boys!!

Tadpole Fishin'

2011-05-19T18:11:00.000-07:00

The boys have been eager to catch some tadpoles. We have looked in a couple of spots, but have not had any luck yet. I guess what counts is we have had fun looking!!

Few And Far Between

2011-05-19T18:06:00.000-07:00

It is not often that I have my picture taken with the boys. This picture was taken on Mother's Day and though not the best thought I would share.

Let The Games Begin

2011-05-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Leland had his first T-ball game a couple weeks ago. He is enjoying the game and has done a nice job. He is able to have the coach pitch to him instead of hitting off the stand. He probably thinks the best part is going for ice cream after every game!!

Spring Has Finally Sprung!!

2011-04-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

We are finally starting to see signs of Spring!!

Batter Up

2011-04-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Leland had his first tee ball practice this week. He is one of the smallest guys on the team. At home we have only practiced hitting the ball, he has never ran any bases. After he would hit the ball he thought he should run after it to get it instead of running to the base, silly boy. He usually learns quickly, but these seems to be a hard concept for him to grasp!! He also experienced his first hit in the chest with the ball. He handled it well, he didn't even cry. I am sure his games will be a good time!!

From Donuts, To Egg Hunts, To Ribs

2011-04-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

We had a full day on Easter. The boys enjoyed some healthy donuts for breakfast. After church they enjoyed the church Easter egg hunt (more sugar). We then had lunch with Nates moms side of the family. Later that day Nate's dad and step-mom came over. They brought ribs, one of our favorites!!

Where Did The Time Go?

2011-04-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

Leland will be starting kindergarten in the fall. He is way more excited about this than I am!!! We went to kindergarten round up a few weeks ago. I was only able to get one picture because he was not with me for most of the time. He was excited because he ran into an old friend from a previous daycare. When I met back up with Leland for our bus ride he told me "I like those ladies (referring to teachers), they are so nice". Before we even made it back to the car he had already picked what teacher he wants to have.

Leland's Get Rich Quick Scheme

2011-04-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

Leland ended up losing the second tooth involved in the play date accident on Monday. It seemed that it was getting better for a couple days, but then it got really swollen and went down hill from there. Unfortunately the dentist had to numb him (of course this was the worst part). The good news was that it only took about 5 seconds to pop the tooth out. The dentist said that it was only being held in by the gum. Once again Leland surprised me with how he handled it. I think I was more nervous about going again then he was!!