End of Summer activities...

I realize it has been since August since I've written and up-dated everyone on our busy lives.  So here's lots of pictures and some short commentary to go along with them.

while playing the boys did a unique balancing act with some of their favorite toys....

My heroes.  And just because it's not summer, those goggles and water guns are still useful.

We went camping over Labor Day and not only did we pick out our "Bulls Eye" (the horse the boys got for their birthday), but we learned our puppy, Chloe, really, really, really likes swimming.  Bulls Eye is a mare (a female), but the boys still insisted on calling our new Palemino Bulls Eye from Toy Story. 

Dane had another birthday party.  This one at BounceU with all his new Kindergarten friends.  Here's the group picture with silly faces:)

Here's Dane sitting in the throne waiting to open his gifts.  He's so excited, look at him clapping his hands.  He also joined in and sang happy birthday to himself.

I went downstairs to work-out and came back upstairs afterwards to 2 of my boys asleep holding hands.

Awwwwwwwe, I love it!

Dane and Drake really scored big this summer with their birthdays. 

In addition to the horse they also got this little 4-wheeler. 

And see the garage...we have 4 vehicles....only 1 inside the garage!

Taking some time out for painting. 

Drake painted a monster with the sun setting and rising.

Dane painted Train Tracks and a Challenger with a RxR sign and the sun.

Drake had a scooter accident in which he lost 3 BACK teeth.

That's what happens when you attempt a wheelie on a scooter!  He was back on it the next day.

Say "Cheese!"  He still has the blood on his shirt.

the tooth fairy "gave me 3 money's" he said the next morning.

The next day we went to Grant's Farm for a birthday party....

and Drakie bought "Clyde" with his "3 money's"

Here they are feeding the goats.  Andy laughed at us because the goats kept eating our clothing even though we had bottles of milk for them.  They really are ridiculous animals.

Posing, "ughhh, mom, do we have to?"  Yes, if you want cake at the party:)

I'll get my pictures, and I'm not above bribery!

The group shot with Cooper, the Clydesdale behind them.

Last week Andy Chaperoned the preschool class to a pumpkin patch. 

Dane got to go since he's in half-day kindergarten.  It was with his teacher

from preschool last year.

Dane competed in a 1/2 mile Pumpkin run against his and another Kindergarten class.  Here he is coming in 1st!  His teacher told us he'd told her he'd come in first and when she asked why he thought that he replied, "Because I always do in P.E." 

We made a bat house for a scary decoration while Andy was in Vegas...and who says I can't hammer and nail some wood together!  We'll hang it up outside (minus the stickers) after Halloween.

Dane giving Drake a lift into a tree he wanted to climb.  Maybe I'll dress them up as Thing 1 & Thing 2 again this Halloween:)

We have continued to have bon-fires and "redneck movie night" almost every week.  With it getting cooler we've had 3-5 bon-fires a week.  This particular night we are watching "How to Train a Dragon" projected onto our garage.

And it's that time of year again.  Every October we do our hand stamps in the spare bedroom.  I let the boys pick their color and which hand to stamp as well as where they'll stamp their hands (as long as the hands are next to each other.)

I call this the "hands of change"

This weekend Dane and Drake had their last games and got their trophies. 

Drake played soccer and Dane played flagfootball.

Basketball starts in 2 weekends!

I can't believe it has been almost a year since I lost my dad.  Here's my latest visit; the day was beautiful and the leaves were starting to turn beautiful colors.

So, why the big delay in posting on this blog?  School, kids, life in general.  But really it's mostly school; I am finishing up my 5th class in my MBA this week.  I've got 7 more....almost 1/2 way done.  December 2011 is my anticipated finish date.  I've learned so much and I have so much more to learn.