Dane's a big helper

We are finishing our basement to move our business downstairs instead of it occupying our study upstairs. Dane asked if he could help me paint..."Sure," I said, "just don't paint above the line I've drawn." A little bit later he says, "Look mom, it's my name!"

Yes it is! That's my boy, using every opportunity to learn and practice. And yes, he helped paint the weight room and the bathroom too. He's very eager to help and he does a great job. He stays slightly ahead of me and I paint right behind him. It works nicely. Next weekend we'll aim for the foyer and extra play room, if the contractors have the doors and trim-work sprayed.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Drake

Dane woke up slightly earlier and climbed into bed with us. We rehearsed Dane saying "1, 2, 3" and us singing happy birthday when Drake came in to join us. What Drake did was not expected: he got embarrassed and got low to the ground and crawled (military style) to our bed and hid under there. We coached him out with presents.


We then spent the day at the Water Park at Six Flags, came home home had a small party. He enjoyed us singing to him this time. Maybe the cake had him preoccupied.


The following day was his party at the train station where Dane had his 3rd birthday as well. Lots of Drake's friends from school and church joined us as well as grandparents and our good friends.

This time he joined us in singing.




We were even fortunate enough to have a spot next to Dane's hand print (after 2 years) to put Drake's hand print. A fun time for all.

See you next week to show off pics of Dane's birthday.

Washington DC

We just got back a couple weeks ago from Washington DC for 10 days. But before that look at this adorable project Daddy, Dane and Drake did on Father's day.


This was the 1st time Drake flew in an airplane (outside the womb). Dane's a pro and did 4 flights in his 1st year and a half of life. And frankly it was uneventful...they had more fun in the airport watching them take off. Though we did have an hour delay on the runway in DC due to weather and both boys did AMAZING! Andy and I have to take some credit for doing puzzles and reading the same few books we had with us numerous times, but really for 2 and 4 year olds sitting in a hot plane being buckled without incident was a great task for them and they did it well.

While in DC we stayed with my sister and brother-in-law (Sharon and Lyle). We hit DC as tourists 3 solid days and took the metro (Bullet train as Dane calls it) 2 of the days. We did the whole tourist thing: hit all the museums, rode the double decker tour bus, went to the memorials and landmarks. It was nice to hang out at Sharon's pool a couple days. The real purpose of the trip was for Andy and I to attend the American Mental Health Counselor Assoc. annual conference, so for the 2 days we did that we stayed at the hotel and the Boys stayed with Lyle's daughter and husband (Michelle and BJ). The boys had lots of fun with them too: Chuckie cheese, making cookies, the Smithsonian zoo and another Dinosaur museum. Maybe that's why sitting in the plane for an extra hour on the way home wasn't too bad, we were all TIRED!

And please excuse the pics that require you tilting your head to view; I've yet to master rotating the pictures on the blog.







Last week the boys were outside riding bikes and eating a snack while I got my swimsuit on to go swimming with them. When I got outside I found them like this:

Eating their snack in the wheelbarrel together. Also note, my new 4-door jeep right behind them! Now we've got his and her jeeps. His has the 4 inch lift and big 35" tires and extra stuff on front and back for pulling jeeps out of precarious places (I don't know about that stuff*smirk*). Mine on the other hand has 4 doors, 2 car seats and nothing jacked up. His is fun, mine is....well it's more my style:)


View next week for Drake's 3rd birthday pics:)