Birthday Boy

Evan got to pick what we had for supper...he picked macaroni and cheese and pigs in a blanket...yummy!

I love the excitement on his face as he opens each of his gifts!

7 years

7 years ago today, this beautiful baby boy (all 9 pounds 14 ounces of him) entered this world. Ben and I became parents for the first time. We were scared to death, but the love that we felt for Evan was instant. Being parents came very natural to us and we both felt it is what we were meant to do with our lives.

Evan, you make us so proud. Your caring and compassion for others makes you stand out. You are a joy to have as a son and we love how you take care of your little brothers and "protect" them like a big brother should. You are so helpful and act so much older than you are. Although you are excited to turn 7, we have decided that you can stop growing up now....you are growing too fast! We love you so much! Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Blue eyes.

Not sure how many posts I can have bringing attention to this face. Every so often I take a picture of Isaac with hiis "real" smile and those big blue eyes and it makes my heart skip a beat. He sure is a beautiful boy.

Brothers

I am sitting at the computer and I am listening to the big boys talk. I just heard Evan say to Isaac:

"I don't see why you are so scared to go to kindergarten? Every day I keep an eye on you...and the teachers go with you on field trips. Why do you stick your tongue out at me when you see me at school? I am there to protect you."

I have no idea what they are talking about, but I just love the conversations they have when it is just them together.

Eli fell off the lawn mower last night...he looks a little rough, but still VERY cute!

Birthday Bash

We had Evan and Isaac's birthday party today. It was a great day. The kids got lots of wonderful toys and had a great time playing with their cousins, Dylan and Keegan and all their aunts and uncles. I cannot believe that we just celebrated 7 years and 5 years. This does not seem possible at all!

Fun in the Sun and Mud

After many attempts to keep Eli out of the mud...we gave up. The boys had a blast today playing with the hose and the mud. Eli just loves being outside! We are starting to get summer fever around here!

New Helmet

Evan was on the news...

The elementary kids all received bike helmets through a grant. They were featured on the news and Evan was shown getting his helmet fitted. 

http://www.kimt.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?articleID=3695

Preschool Graduate

Mom Rocks

So, to make a long story short....

Evan has his bike rodeo today. It is a very exciting day where they get to bring their bikes to school and learn about bike safety. There is an obstacle course that they get to ride through. It's a good day for the elementary kids.

 

Rewind a few days

Last Thursday, Evan got a flat tire on his bike. Ben and I had already decided that he was getting a bike for his birthday next week. With the flat tire, we decided to just get him his bike early so he would have it for today and in case we didn't have time to get the flat fixed, he would have something to ride. On Friday we got him his new bike. He was so excited! We did have time to fix the tire, so we put the training wheels on it so Isaac would have a bigger bike. All was working out great. 

Until yesterday

Ben left at 6:30 a.m. for a field trip to Valley Fair with his Physics kids. It was a very nice night so the boys and I decided to take a walk after school and before T-ball. The boys rode their bikes and as Evan was walking his up to the house, we heard a HUGE LOUD BOOM. I look down to see his back tire go flat. His tire blew up! 

So, let me recap....Ben is in Minnesota until late, Bike rodeo today, little bike with training wheels on it, big bike with a blown out tire! GREAT! 

Evan was upset. There is nothing worse than seeing your child sad. I decided I was going to do anything I could to get his bike fixed...even if it meant driving to Wal Mart after Ben got home, late last night, for a new tire. I had watched Ben pull the tube out of the other tire and patch it. Luckily we bought a package of patches. I pulled the tube out and found the hole right away. It was big enough to put my pinky in....I patched it up, shoved the tube back in, got the air compressor out and filled it back up. I was quite impressed with myself! 

Apparently, Evan was impressed too....he said to me "Geez Mom, Dad can fix more stuff, but for a MOM you ROCK!" 

Yep, that's right, I ROCK...just ask Evan!

Just like the big boys...

Wherever the big boys are, Eli is one step behind.

Eli is so fun to watch lately. He mimics exactly what the boys do. He loves to play with the big trucks in the dirt. He fills the trucks up with rocks and dirt and makes truck sounds just like the big boys do!