Oh this face !

I just love him!  Aunt Dawn was squirting him with a spray bottle on his hand.  

Rainy Day

While making some errands in between raindrops, we hung out at home & watched an extra show or two.  Ryan saw Carter lay down & followed suit.

Then pillows came off the couch to make a 'pool' and they all made themselves comfortable.

After an errand all 3 boys were asleep.  I transferred Ryan to bed, but I let the other 2 wake up slowly while I pulled one weed.  One weed led to another & BAM pretty soon the hedge clippers were out! The boys woke up & helped me in between snacks inside or riding bikes or playing in the fort we built inside earlier.

Before pics:

After pics:

I still have to dig out a couple small bushes, but man alive does it look a million times better!!!!

Then later in the evening, the fort came down & a mountain appeared for an hour of fun.

A fun day indeed!

Random shenanigans

What do 2 little boys do when they have a balcony & a crane?

When daddy gets a new computer, what does one 5.5 year old create with the inside styrofoam?

(Their carnival dolphins now have a home on the side of their dresser.)

Who shall further protect these dolphins?

What does one sneaky 2-year old do while his mom is getting a shower?

<sigh>.....that is baking powder.  I grew nervous when he came upstairs with the almost empty brand new container.  The other two weren't nearly this mischevious at this age.....  :/

I love that Ryan asks to wear a hat randomly throughout the day.

I love when I am greeted in the morning by this cute character. & his posse:

But laugh when it is more like this:

Let's see....what else might a 2-year old do while his mom throws in a load of laundry?

Oh I do love them so!  Shenanigans & all!

Fix-It Boys

The older two loaded up some of their Home Depot power tools into their truck & headed to the tree in the front yard to do some work.

I love their imaginations! =)

Bike Ride with Grandma & Papa!

The boys & I spent the night at my parents house & I attempted (& succeeded) putting the bike rack on my van.   So naturally once Papa came home from work, we went for a bike ride....and the boys thought it would be a great idea to ride to the ice cream shop!  Of course said Grandma & Papa...we'll do dinner later!

Right after we started, Logan was ready to take off, which he did along with my mom.  She was trying to wait for us a bit, but he kept saying, you can go faster Grandma, I'm right behind you!  :)

Carter decided to ride his own bike instead of in the trailer....aiyiyi....he grew 'exhausted' moments after we started & took several breaks on the mostly flat quarter-mile ride.  Bless my dad for hanging back with him to help coach him

along.

We got a front row spot. :)

Thanks Carter, for being the only kiddo paying attention to smile. :)

Notice Ryan's method.  Giant spoonful of ice cream in one hand while drinking the melted ice cream out of the cup.  Needless to say he earned the messiest award - including chocolate in his hair & on my moms shirt.  I love that he looks so classy in this picture while wearing a shirt that says 'Chicks Dig Me'.  Yeah....only cute at this stage! :)

Fun time had by all!

Water time

While I made lunch this is what took place:

Ryan helped water my plants & flowers.

Ryan & Carter played with water.

Then Ryan thought this was a great idea!

Let's cool those hands off too:

Logan & I played Candyland (we haven't played games in quite some time):

And then lunch was served.  I am so proud that they both actually smiled genuine smiles at the same time:

Ryan napped and I decided to catch some rays.  I had some helpers to cool off my feet:

Then they made a water slide:

And a sprinkler:

Randomly Carter looks at me and says, "Mom, you look a little girlish".  Um, thank you?

Carter finished it up with squats while filling the wheelbarrow.  Weirdo.

In the last few minutes of typing this, Ryan woke up.  Here we are.  Stinker.

Bike ride to the park

I didn't catch a shot of Carter & Ryan in the bike trailer, but they were in it & liked it.  Ryan screams as soon as I put the cover down (to keep bugs from getting in there) but as soon as we get going he enjoys the ride.  Phew!  

And Logan....he's fast on a bike!  We did one mile to the park, played, had a snack (though next time more water is required) & biked a mile back. I was very proud of him.  Next week I will take him to a trail and see how he does on a continuous ride...

At the park...Ryan climbed high to make my heart beat faster but then he thankfully climbed back down.

Logan got adventurous.

He did the balance beam wonderfully!

Climbed this contraption with ease...

Then slid down the pole....well actually though it looks like he slid, he did not...he scooted while using his arm strength to do the scooting.  His upper arm strength is just nuts.

Then he rode his bike a bit more.

Meanwhile Carter got his swing on then walked backwards down a hill & rolled.  What a nut!

A very fun morning!!

Adding more bad habits to Ryan while saying no.  If he doesn't want to give you the toy, he either hugs it tight, or in this example, holds an entire golf 'bag' over his head.  We need to work on this one.....a bit more than the others I feel...

Fun with Cousins

Aunt Dawn helping the kids on the new alligator that Carter promptly got off of...

Carter & Olivia.  Great cheeeeeese face, Carter!

Just hanging by the wagon....

I love that all the cousins get along so well.  TJ, Michael & Lexy (the older cousins) play so well with the younger ones & all the younger ones truly look forward to going.  After my brother & his kids got to the party, he overheard Logan say (while pumping his arm) "yes, they're here".  And apparently His kids bugged him all morning to make sure that Logan. & Carter were going to be there.  James reminded them that we were celebrating Ryan (their brothers) birthday, so he was pretty confident that they would be there.  So cute!!  Here's to a fun summer with cousins!