Haircuts

I finally was convinced by Jeff that it was time to buy clippers and cut the boys' hair at home.  At $20 each, it was getting really expensive to get their haircut.  They all have really short hair now, which I was nervous about, but I think they look so handsome!

Eight Years

Today is our eighth wedding anniversary!  I thought it would be fun to look back at the past eight years...

7/26/2003 - Wedded Bliss!

7/26/2004
Spent our 1st anniversary at the Botanic Gardens

7/26/2005
Bought our house on our 2nd Anniversary

7/26/2006
Spent the summer in Huntington Beach, CA...what a great summer!!

7/26/2007
In HB, CA again but with our precious baby boy Jackson.

7/26/2008
5th Anniversary at home

7/26/2009
Is it Mommy & Daddy's anniversary? They're too tired to celebrate!

7/26/2010
They forgot again?? Are they hiding in this couch?

7/26/2011
8th Anniversary, a little more rested than the past two years, but still smiling as big as the first year!

Happy Anniversary Baby!! xoxo

Camping

Jackson has been talking about going camping since this past winter.  He saw something on TV about camping, and ever since that day has been determined to go camping.  He got his first opportunity this weekend, and it was a huge success!

Our local park district hosts a Family Camp Out every summer at one of the local parks.  You bring your tent and food, they provide the grills, an outdoor movie, and breakfast.  Jackson was so excited to go he could barely stand it.  Neither Jeff or I knew how the night would go, but both of us anticipated that at sometime in the middle of the night they would be heading home.  When I dropped them off at the park Saturday night I wish I could have captured the image I saw.  Jackson was chasing after his dad with his Toy Story sleeping bag strapped to his back.  He couldn't wait to get the tent set up and put out his sleeping bag.

They ended up setting up the tent, eating their picnic dinner, playing on the playground, watching the movie, and falling asleep under the stars around 11:00 pm.  Jackson surprised us all and made it all night long, sleeping right next to his dad, in the tent, snug as bug in his sleeping bag.  What a big boy he is!

See the excitement in that face!

Watching the movie with his friend.

Time to go to sleep.

Grant, Cooper, and I drove to the park the next morning to pick them up and of course, Jackson did not want to leave.  He wanted to keep on camping!  He has declared that camping is the best thing EVER, and that he wants to camp for years and year, next time in the woods!  He doesn't know yet that his mommy is not a camper...maybe this will be a "boys only" thing.

Daddy/son bonding time!!

Zoo

We took our annual trip to the Brookfield Zoo yesterday.  It was 72 and sunny, the perfect day to be at the zoo.  Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea!  We braved the crowds and were able to see some amazing animals in the 3 hours we were there.  The boys loved the dolphins, the bears, and the monkey house.  Those were definitely the highlights of the day.  I was terrible about taking pictures while we were there, so here are just a few.

By the big fountain.

Watching the dolphins.

The big rhino that was a little too close for me!

At the Zoo 2011

Here we are last year, 2010. Look at how the boys have changed!

Happy 4th of July!

We are so blessed to live in America and we are thankful for the many freedoms we have.  Here is how we spent our 4th of July weekend.  What did you do?

Making festive cake pops.

The finished product.

Playing in the tree like monkeys (along with our neighbor friend).

There may be a crush brewing!

Possibly my new favorite picture!  Do they look like brothers or what??!

Playing at the park.

Playing with our 4th of July pinwheels.

Cooling off with some water.

Attempting to see fireworks with Jackson for the first time...

Look at his poor face...We tried to leave after this picture because he was so scared, but couldn't get to our car so we had to stick it out. He spent the entire 15 minutes in my lap, clinging to me, with his ears covered. Hopefully we haven't ruined fireworks forever!

And of course we ended the weekend at the parade. Fun!

Waving to the firetrucks.

Happy 4th of July from our family to yours!

Roommate Reunion

How did it happen?  Four 20 year old girls who didn't all know each other, living in an apartment together off campus at the University of Northern Iowa, some of us meeting for the first time when we signed the lease, spending two years together in a small four bedroom apartment, with one bathroom, and 13 years later we remain the best of friends!  We have lived through graduations, new jobs, moving far away, laughter, tears, weddings, babies, babies, and more babies.

We went from our little group of four...

to a group of 21 today!

Last weekend was our annual Roommate Reunion.  Tonya and her family graciously hosted all 21 of us.  The weekend consisted of conversation, playtime, lots and lots of eating, and of course one trip to the ER (that's a story for later).  I feel so blessed to have these girls in my life.  Our lives have changed drastically over the past 13 years, but our friendship has remained constant.  Thanks Tera, Tonya, and Jill for being a part of my life!  I love you girls!

Here are some pictures from the weekend...