Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Reunited
When Karsten started at Gail's, he had a best buddy named Jaiden who was about 9 months older than him. Jaiden't mom was pregnant with her second son at the same time I was pregnant with Liam. Quinton and Liam had as much fun playing together at Gail's as Jaiden and Karsten did. Leaving Gail's this summer was sad, but Liam was also sad to be separated from Quinton.
For Quinton's fourth birthday, Jaiden's mom invited us to a pool party. I was a bit nervous since Liam is not a great swimmer yet, and Karsten does ok as long as he can touch the bottom. Once she reassured me that there was a great splash area for the little guys, I was much more excited.
This is such a cool pool - the parents could sit by the side and watch the kiddos play right in front of us. Liam pretty much stayed in the splash area and Karsten could touch the bottom of the lazy river (whew!).
Hard to believe Karsten is six and Jaiden just turned seven!
Karsten and Jaiden got up the nerve to go down the water slide, they were both right at the height requirement, so we headed over to the bottom to capture a picture of them coming down. Jaiden came down and shortly after we heard wailing that sounded like Karsten. I thought he must have tripped going up the stairs, but it turns out the worker told him he was too short for the slide. We disagreed, but rules are rules so we didn't argue.
Liam started getting overly brave in the water so we put his life jacket on for extra protection.
This cracked us up - just two guys, hanging out in the hot tub chatting.
We had a great time, I think we'll definetely be back here in the winter for the boys to play together and get out some energy from being trapped inside due to the cold weather!
For Quinton's fourth birthday, Jaiden's mom invited us to a pool party. I was a bit nervous since Liam is not a great swimmer yet, and Karsten does ok as long as he can touch the bottom. Once she reassured me that there was a great splash area for the little guys, I was much more excited.
This is such a cool pool - the parents could sit by the side and watch the kiddos play right in front of us. Liam pretty much stayed in the splash area and Karsten could touch the bottom of the lazy river (whew!).
Hard to believe Karsten is six and Jaiden just turned seven!
Karsten and Jaiden got up the nerve to go down the water slide, they were both right at the height requirement, so we headed over to the bottom to capture a picture of them coming down. Jaiden came down and shortly after we heard wailing that sounded like Karsten. I thought he must have tripped going up the stairs, but it turns out the worker told him he was too short for the slide. We disagreed, but rules are rules so we didn't argue.
Liam started getting overly brave in the water so we put his life jacket on for extra protection.
This cracked us up - just two guys, hanging out in the hot tub chatting.
We had a great time, I think we'll definetely be back here in the winter for the boys to play together and get out some energy from being trapped inside due to the cold weather!
Saturday, October 17, 2015
A marching parade
When Kelli told us that Trent would be marching in the parade at the Maple Leaf Festival, we knew we wanted to go and cheer him on. The boys both had games this morning, then we hurried down to Baldwin City for the parade. We made it to the end of the parade route just in time that we could hear the police and bands start to head our way. This brought back all sorts of great memories - I spent many a Saturday morning in the fall lined up to march in a parade with my junior high and high school bands.
Each time we saw a band, the boys asked if this was Trent's band, and each time we told them no. They were so excited when Trent's band finally came by and were searching the rows for him.
His band sounded great and Trent did a fantastic job.
Each time we saw a band, the boys asked if this was Trent's band, and each time we told them no. They were so excited when Trent's band finally came by and were searching the rows for him.
His band sounded great and Trent did a fantastic job.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Pumpkin Patch
We've been going to Kerby Pumpkin Patch each year since Karsten was four months old - here is his first picture in a pumpkin in front of this truck. And here is Liam's first trip to the pumpkin patch when he was 11 months old. It doesn't seem that the pumpkin patch is keeping up it's facilities as well as you may hope for the cost, so we might check out another pumpkin patch next year.
Karsten was excited to ride the tractor train thingie. Liam would have nothing of it and wanted to go check out the little gift and snack shack with Grandma.
At first Karsten didn't want to do the zipline, but when we reminded him that he did it last year AND he did it much higher in Colorado, he was ready to give it a try.
Once he started, we couldn't get him off the zip line. Luckily, there were not long lines so he was able to do it several times.
The John Deere trikes area always a big hit. Last year Liam had trouble with the pedals but this year he was cruising around with no problems!
Next we headed to the duck run where you pump water and the ducks 'swim' down the pipes from one side to the other. One of the pumpers was broken which was a bummer, but they were able to take turns and both play on one side, we just had to move the duck back up the top instead of the water moving it.
Karsten is always talking about how he can't wait to be in first grade so he can play on the monkey bars at school. Apparently the kindergarteners are not allowed on the monkey bars during recess, so he wants to play on monkey bars any chance he gets. The first time he tried the monkey bars, he was scared and didn't trust that he could do it. When we were standing off to the side and he didn't think we were watching, he went all the way across the bars!
Liam was content to play inside the playhouse while Karsten went back and forth across the monkey bars.
Finally, we convinced the boys it was time for the hayride so we could pick out our pumpkin. It was so hot today, I think my car said 85 when we got out. It didn't seem right to be at the pumpkin patch on such a hot day!
We were happy that Grandma and Papa were able to join us for the fun afternoon!
Liam said 'could I get some help over here'? LOL
Not to be outdone, Karsten tried to pick an equally large pumpkin.
The obligatory photo once we've chosen our pumpkin!
Liam said 'I'll help you Papa!'
The boys had fun 'milking the cow'
Or, as Karsten said 'he was peeing the cow.' LOL
They were excited to see how tall they were compared to the giant scarecrow.
Karsten's first response when I told him that he was 48 inches tall was 'I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO ON THAT SLIDE WITH JAIDEN." He was still mad at the lifeguard that told him he wasn't tall enough to go on a waterslide.
Papa had the great idea to cool off with some ice cream after the pumpkin patch. Grandma and Papa even had carseats in their car, so Scott and I enjoyed a quiet ride to the Dairy Queen!
When Grandma and Papa were getting ready to leave our house, the boys were entralled by a bumble bee flying around the flowers. We kept telling him that Grandma and Papa were leaving, and finally we got their attention. The tiniest thing can distract them!
It was a fun Sunday afternoon at the pumpkin patch!
Karsten was excited to ride the tractor train thingie. Liam would have nothing of it and wanted to go check out the little gift and snack shack with Grandma.
At first Karsten didn't want to do the zipline, but when we reminded him that he did it last year AND he did it much higher in Colorado, he was ready to give it a try.
Once he started, we couldn't get him off the zip line. Luckily, there were not long lines so he was able to do it several times.
The John Deere trikes area always a big hit. Last year Liam had trouble with the pedals but this year he was cruising around with no problems!
Next we headed to the duck run where you pump water and the ducks 'swim' down the pipes from one side to the other. One of the pumpers was broken which was a bummer, but they were able to take turns and both play on one side, we just had to move the duck back up the top instead of the water moving it.
Karsten is always talking about how he can't wait to be in first grade so he can play on the monkey bars at school. Apparently the kindergarteners are not allowed on the monkey bars during recess, so he wants to play on monkey bars any chance he gets. The first time he tried the monkey bars, he was scared and didn't trust that he could do it. When we were standing off to the side and he didn't think we were watching, he went all the way across the bars!
Liam was content to play inside the playhouse while Karsten went back and forth across the monkey bars.
Finally, we convinced the boys it was time for the hayride so we could pick out our pumpkin. It was so hot today, I think my car said 85 when we got out. It didn't seem right to be at the pumpkin patch on such a hot day!
We were happy that Grandma and Papa were able to join us for the fun afternoon!
Liam said 'could I get some help over here'? LOL
Not to be outdone, Karsten tried to pick an equally large pumpkin.
The obligatory photo once we've chosen our pumpkin!
Liam said 'I'll help you Papa!'
The boys had fun 'milking the cow'
Or, as Karsten said 'he was peeing the cow.' LOL
They were excited to see how tall they were compared to the giant scarecrow.
Karsten's first response when I told him that he was 48 inches tall was 'I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO ON THAT SLIDE WITH JAIDEN." He was still mad at the lifeguard that told him he wasn't tall enough to go on a waterslide.
Papa had the great idea to cool off with some ice cream after the pumpkin patch. Grandma and Papa even had carseats in their car, so Scott and I enjoyed a quiet ride to the Dairy Queen!
When Grandma and Papa were getting ready to leave our house, the boys were entralled by a bumble bee flying around the flowers. We kept telling him that Grandma and Papa were leaving, and finally we got their attention. The tiniest thing can distract them!
It was a fun Sunday afternoon at the pumpkin patch!
Friday, October 9, 2015
Flu Shots
We planned to take the boys to get a flu shot today, and since they both hate getting shots, we both planned to go. We didn't know how to break the news to them, so we decided not to tell them until we got to the doctor's office. Turns out, we didn't have to tell them, because as soon as we turned into the parking lot, Karsten said 'Why are we are we at the doctor's office....wait, are we getting a flu shot?' then Liam started to cry.
By the time I got my car parked and went over to help Scott get the boys out of his car, they were both crying and Karsten was refusing to get out of the car. Never a dull moment...
We managed to calm Liam down and he was being brave. Karsten wasn't having it, and he was still pretty upset. We had to wait a few minutes in the waiting room and he sulked the entire time.
When we finally got in the room, Karsten was in tears again, not wanting to get a shot. The nurse did Liam's first since he was calm and already sitting on the table. As I turned to tell Liam that he did a good job, Karsten took off running out of the room.
He ran down the hallway, past our doctor (who didn't look quite as surprised as I would have expected, perhaps this is common?), and he slowed up when there were other people in the hallway. I grabbed him and carried him back to the room where we held him to get the shot. WHEW, we win the parent of the year award today!
By the time I got my car parked and went over to help Scott get the boys out of his car, they were both crying and Karsten was refusing to get out of the car. Never a dull moment...
We managed to calm Liam down and he was being brave. Karsten wasn't having it, and he was still pretty upset. We had to wait a few minutes in the waiting room and he sulked the entire time.
When we finally got in the room, Karsten was in tears again, not wanting to get a shot. The nurse did Liam's first since he was calm and already sitting on the table. As I turned to tell Liam that he did a good job, Karsten took off running out of the room.
He ran down the hallway, past our doctor (who didn't look quite as surprised as I would have expected, perhaps this is common?), and he slowed up when there were other people in the hallway. I grabbed him and carried him back to the room where we held him to get the shot. WHEW, we win the parent of the year award today!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Apple picking
We went apple picking in early September, and had used up or frozen all of the apple goodies we made. We decided one more trip to the orchard was needed before they were picked out for the season.
Little did we know that our favorite apple orchard has gotten pretty popular and apples were already sparse. We hunted a few less traveled areas of the farm and managed to find enough apples to fill up our bad.
Since the apples were mostly high and in the middle of the tree, the boys couldn't do too much picking. They played and ate a few apples to make sure they were good.
Isnt' this a cute fall setup?
A trip to the orchard is not complete without a visit to the ducks. The ducks are so used to people feeding them that they often hang out near the shoreline.
This apple peeler was an awesome investment, if we had not purchased this, I don't think we would have gone to the orchard as often. Some of our favorite apple treats are apple butter, apple crumble, apple fruit leather (like a fruit roll-up), apple muffins, apple cookies and applesauce.
Little did we know that our favorite apple orchard has gotten pretty popular and apples were already sparse. We hunted a few less traveled areas of the farm and managed to find enough apples to fill up our bad.
Since the apples were mostly high and in the middle of the tree, the boys couldn't do too much picking. They played and ate a few apples to make sure they were good.
Isnt' this a cute fall setup?
A trip to the orchard is not complete without a visit to the ducks. The ducks are so used to people feeding them that they often hang out near the shoreline.
This apple peeler was an awesome investment, if we had not purchased this, I don't think we would have gone to the orchard as often. Some of our favorite apple treats are apple butter, apple crumble, apple fruit leather (like a fruit roll-up), apple muffins, apple cookies and applesauce.
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