Pictures from the week.

 It got HOT this week. We spent some time in the kiddie pool to cool off and the boys had swimming lessons all week as well. Colt loves swimming and is able to somewhat swim by himself now (though he tells me "mom I can still drown so you have to watch me"). Jax is pretty timid and unsure but tries hard and gives me lots of smiles and waves during his lesson.

 As usual Colt was up early one morning when I was getting ready to run and asked to go with me. We stopped at the end and hiked around a bit.

 I love that he still asks to go with me. I have been pushing him in the jogger since he was 2 weeks old and I don't think he has ever once complained about it.

 We got up at 5:30 in the morning on Thursday and picked blueberries. My dad and mom picked us up and we drove out to Milton Freewater (Dave stayed home since Case was still asleep) to pick some berries. The boys did great and picked some but mainly ate most of what they picked. Then they started finding lady bugs and after that it was their mission to find as many as possible.

Colt had basketball camp all week at the Y so the boys and I went on walks and played a little basketball ourselves while waiting for him.

Pictures from the week.

 Case loving the teeter totter.

 An early morning run with the oldest and youngest.

 Making strawberry jam with Di Di.

 Papa "babysitting".

 The boys FAVORITE activity.

Colt will spend HOURS doing this all day long. Too bad it requires adult supervision at all times, one day I stood out in the direct sunlight (95 degrees) for an hour so Jax and him could shoot.

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July this year. We started off the day by driving to Hood Park and spent all of the morning and most of the afternoon playing in the water, riding on the boat and enjoying the sun.

My parents joined us and it was so fun to have them and the help was awesome too!

Di Di and her youngest grandson.

Case is not afraid of anything, we made sure to put his life jacket on when we got there and never let him take it off. He loved playing in the water and throwing rocks.

Dave helping Jax swim, the water was surprisingly not too cold.

Getting ready to go do some tubing in the boat.

Case and Mommy.

Colt and I getting ready to tube. The sun was in his eyes but he was really excited to go.

Papa, Colt and Jax in the boat.

Colt and I on the tube, Dave pulled us for awhile but Colt was not loving it. He was so excited for it but it ended up being a little tougher than he thought it would be. He did fine on it and never came close to falling off but he said it hurt his neck:).

We ended up coming back to the beach and letting the kids just play on the innertube in the water. They loved that and it worked out well.

Di Di and Colt enjoying a snack.

 We stayed out at the river until about 3 and then came home, the kids all fell asleep on the way home and took a short nap. Later that night we went to the Walla Walla Sweets baseball game. The boys loved Sweet Lou the mascot (he is an onion) and went up to him multiple times during the game. Well Colt loved him, Jax was a little unsure close up but yelled for him from afar.

 After the game we came home and let the kids do some sparklers and lit off a few fireworks.

 Jax had fun with the sparkler until he burned his hand. Dave had just told him to make sure he did not touch the end of the sparkler because its hot and 10 seconds later Jax touches it and starts crying. Maybe next time he will listen, it was not a bad burn just a small one.

It was a fantastic day! We all had so much fun and are more than ready for bed tonight.

 (Thanks Memah for the flags and glasses!).

Happy Independence Day!

Pictures from the week

 Riding in style.

 We took away Case's binky and just like his brothers he now is comforted by his lovie.

 A nightly summer time activity.

 All three boys looking at the camera!

Farmer's Market with Papa.

Happy 5th Birthday Colt!

My oldest little boy turned 5 today, it is still hard for me to put into words what a difference this guy has made in our lives. I can't believe that just 5 years ago I became a mom for the first time, every birthday my boys have I always think back to the day they were born and the memory of their birth.
 Each child has their own birth story and each of their stories are very different. Colt's story is special to me because he was my first, I had nothing to compare it to and in my mind it was perfect! These last 5 years have seemed to fly by but I can still remember meeting him for the first time, his huge blue eyes looking up at me and falling instantly in love.

 Colt started off the morning at 5:50 in our room asking if he could go downstairs yet. I had him crawl in bed with me until Jax came in at 6:30 and we finally went downstairs. Both the boys were so excited!

 They immediately wanted to open presents, even though Jax already had a birthday Colt was so nice to let Jax open his gifts as well.

 Colt got a few fun toys that he has been wanting as well as a huge bag full of clothes from his Aunt Marni.

 Hulk gloves.  Jax REALLY loved these, we should have gotten  him a pair for his birthday.

 Jax got a Thor hammer for his birthday and when Colt saw it he asked for one as well and we got him that for his birthday. Maybe now they will stop fighting over it! Jax also picked out the Avenger sunglasses for Colt and a pair for himself.

For being a boy he really likes to try on clothes. He immediately started going through the clothes Marni got him and trying them on.

After presents we had bread dough pudding and peaches for breakfast. Dave left for work and Colt was begging me to take him to the movie Brave (Papa and DiDi gave him a movie gift card for his birthday).

 Colt called DiDi and asked if she would watch Case so we could go to the movie. The boys are so fun to take to the movie. They love to eat popcorn and sit on my lap. I love it!

 Later that evening we had a small family birthday dinner for him. My parents and Dave's parents came as well as Randee. We had pizza and fruit and sat outside enjoying the nice weather. The boys played with their new water guns, opened presents and had fun!

 Colt and his birthday box that my mom made him. Each boy got a birthday box for their birthday's this year. It was such a hit because she would decorate it with baby pictures of them, after Colt saw both Jax and Case's box he couldn't wait to get one of his own.

 Poppee and Case.

 My boys eating dinner.

 Colt wanted a DQ oreo blizzard cake this year.

 He always gets embarrassed when people sing to him. I love his facial expression.

 He let Jax help him pull the candles out (both boys insisted they wear their swim outfits that Aunt Amy got them because they were playing with the water guns).

 After all the fun Colt wanted to shoot arrows so everyone pulled their chairs out on the lawn and Colt, Jax and Dave got out the targets and started shooting. This is easily one of Colt's very favorite activities, I think he asks almost every night.

 He is a pretty good shot too!

 Case walked around, played on the teetor-totter and was a good sport. He is getting so much better about going to other people now.

 Colt on his new bike. Next up, he needs to learn to ride with no training wheels!

 Poppee and Jax on Daddy's bike.

 Happy Birthday Colt!!!

What a fun day, he was so tired by the end of the day he was begging me to put him to bed. Love you Colters, please let this year go slow. I want you to be 5 forever!!