Judy

Today I took the kids over to visit Judy.  It has been almost 3 months since she has seen them and it was so nice to see her.  Riley gave her a big hug and told her he was missing her.  Austin warmed right up to her again too.  Riley's old playmates, Kiley and Eden(Judy's granddaughters) were there too.  We stayed for about an hour.  I want to take the kids over and visit every now and then.  Judy was a God send daycare provider.

Kornfest fun

Had a really nice weekend full of Kornfest festivities.  Friday night fireworks, Saturday parade, Sunday car show and Sunday night rides.  We live right in the middle of Kornfest so why not join in the fun. My good friend Carrie and I took the kids to the parade  on Saturday.  Riley seems to be learning the tricks of getting candy at the parade.  You can't be shy, sweet or bashful....you just have to shove right in there and yank the candy right out of the other kids hands.  These kids will do anything for a tootsie roll and watch out if it is a candy bar!  They were throwing out blow pop suckers and Riley actually ran up the street along side of the candy thrower to try and get one.  He came close but the other kid must have been a little more determined.  Still I was proud of Riley for his effort.  I have never actually went to the Kornfest parade before I moved to Holmen.  It is a great parade and I want to make it a tradition to go every year with the kids.

Sunday morning we took the kids to the car show across the street.  Boys always love cars and trucks. 

Austin is playing hide and seek at the car show.

A yellow Nova, my mom used to drive a yellow Nova.  I remember it but I thought it was my dad's car.

 

Sunday night we walked around and let Riley pick 3 rides to go on.  He first went on the giant slide and he was able to go all by himself this year since he is 42 inches tall now.  Last year I had to ride down it with him, it was fun but not 3 dollars a ticket fun!  Would people pay that if it was in my front yard?  Probably not.=(   Then Riley went on the roller coaster and he got to sit in the very front.  He was the only rider.  Lastly he went through the "Fun House".  That looked like loads of fun!  He also won a blue frog for making a shot in the basketball game he played.  That boy sure loves to win!  At the end of our carnival fun we got a bag of mini donuts.  Yummy!    

 

proof of height



3 dollar slide ride, this better be good!




Captain of the Coaster

 

 

 

winner of the blue frog
 

Here are some pictures of Austin in the sand box.

 



 

Backyard Fireworks

I just got done watching the fireworks with Riley from our deck in the backyard.  Austin was in bed and I can't believe he didn't wake up because it sounded like bombs going off.  I love that we have a front row seat for a firework show every year at Kornfest, that will be a good memory for our kids growing up.  It was fun listening to Riley watch the fireworks and see how his eyes got all lit up at the sight of them.  Oh to be a kid again and find such excitement in little things like fireworks, it takes you back in time.  I had fun and Riley kept repeating "Mom I am having so much fun."  After the first few ground fireworks Riley asks "Is dad setting those fireworks off."  Then he said another time "That one kind of looks like a willow tree."  It is funny when your child says something that requires understanding and you think "Wow he is not old enough to know that" then you realize "Oh yeah I guess he is growing up." 

After the fireworks were over he says "I wonder when this smoke is gonna get out of our yard."  Then he started in on some story telling.  He was telling me all about his firework maker he has and how he makes really cool fireworks.  Then he jumped subjects and told me he was outside yesterday and had forgotten his shoes.  He said he was looking at his garden and he noticed it didn't look good because he needs to buy potatoes.  My little story teller.  He is fun to hang out with because he makes me laugh.     

Swimming and Signing

Riley officially finished his swimming lessons.  He is a certified swimmer now!  He has a long way to go but it was a good start at learning the basics of swimming.  I think it would be a good idea to get him into some indoor swimming lessons for more practice and then next summer he can do the ones all by himself at the Holmen pool again.

 

Austin's new favorite word is "Hi".  He waves hello to everyone and waves goodbye to everyone.  Tammy taught him how to say "more" in sign language.  When I picked him up today he showed me how he can do it.  He may not say many words but he knows how to say a word in sign language which is much cooler!

 

 

Swimming lessons, a birthday party and a mullet baby

Today was Riley's first day of swimming lessons.  It was a cold and cloudy day for outdoor swimming lessons but the pool felt nice and warm.  At least we didn't get rained out. There were about 12 other kids who were part of our group. Riley had so much fun.  We sang songs and did front kick and back kicking games.  He went under water with his entire head and didn't inhale any water for the first time.  He jumped in from the side of the pool and went under the water for the first time too.  He learned a lot and it was only his first day.  Nine more days to go.  He kept saying "Mom I am having so much fun!"  On the way home he kept asking me if he can go on the big slide now that he is learning to swim.  Not until next summer I told him.

 
Last weekend I took Riley to Gabe's birthday party.  He turned 6 so he had a lot of little boys and girls at his party.  At that age the parents just drop there kids off and come back to get them when it is over.  Keeping track of a bunch of little kids can be tricky but all went well.  The fun I get to look forward to.

 
I made Austin into a "Mullet Baby" over the weekend.  I think I may have cut his bangs a little too short but oh well it will grow back.  He still looks adorable to me. 

Here are some more pictures from my week.

Cutting, Pasting and Painting

Riley brought home some cutting and pasting projects from Tammy's house yesterday.  He did a wonderful job and I am so glad Tammy takes the time to teach him how to do things like that.  Here are his projects:

I just had Riley in for his 4 year old well check a couple weeks ago.  He weighed 41 pounds.  He got all of his kindergarten shots done early.  Now not only is he ready for preschool next month but he is all set for when Kindergarten comes next year too.  No more shots until age 11.  He did an amazing job too.  I told him he would be getting some shots to make him stay healthy and that it might hurt a little but it would help him get all ready for school.  He kept asking "Mom when are they going to come and give me my shocks."  Ha!  There was one girl who came in and poked him there separate times and Riley did not cry once.  What a good boy!  Austin was seeing the doctor for his 15 month well check and he got some shots too.  He only cried right after and then he was fine.  He weighed in at 21 # 9 oz.  Doctor said he is in normal range on the growth chart.  He is just a little guy despite all his eating. 

Today I took the kids to my parents house for the day.  The boys played with paintbrushes.  My mom filled up a huge bucket of water and told them to paint the sidewalk and the house.  Wow, that was a great idea.  Cheap and long lasting entertainment for kids.  As soon as they finished painting one square of sidewalk with water and were starting on the next one the first one was dry again.  They had fun painting.  We had fun watching them.