Ballerina boys

Can't help but smile...

Drawing

All of our kids like to draw. It is neat to watch their abilities progress along with their ages. 

Samuel is beginning to try to draw things that are identifiable besides his usual smiley face. One day he decided to draw Diesel 10, one of the Thomas and Friends characters.  I can see the resemblance, can't you?

 Diesel 10

 After this, Emma decided to draw Lady (below).  After a couple of minutes she asked for my help.  I was on the phone at the time and encouraged her to keep trying on her own.

 Emma's "Lady"
I think she did great!

Ice cream!

A while back I took Emma, Samuel and Lucas to Dairy Queen so I could take a picture of ice cream for my One Every Seven photo challenge:  COLD.  I had to share these sweet photos!

All about Nathan

Good big brother...

A picture he drew from a book

Now 11 years old!  He is certainly growing up and becoming a fine young man!

Wisconsin

We spent a nice long weekend in Wisconsin with Brian's family. While we were there we had a mega photo session with the whole gang. Lots of family pictures in various configurations. I will post a few in a couple of weeks when we receive the cd from the photographer.  

The kids loved hanging out with their cousins and having lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa.

Stories before bedtime

 Beckett watching from afar

 Nathan reading his own bedtime story

 Emma and Lennon really enjoyed each others company

Sweet Emmett

Owen & Emma

 Brian with Aunt Joan and Great Grandma & Grandpa

 Tree climbing!

The beginning of Summer

Emma had her last day of Pre-K yesterday and she couldn't be more excited about summer!  She wanted to celebrate all day long {and we did!}

We had a neighborhood visit from the ice cream truck later in the evening so that was an extra special surprise treat!  Emma said she never knew there was an ice cream truck or that it played music!

I ran across this picture online of a local ice cream truck visiting the ISU campus in 1964.  This is closer to my childhood memories than the "van" that we saw today.

Olympic Day!

Monday was Olympic Day for Emma's class.  They spent the whole morning doing their own version of the Olympic games, complete with medals for the winners!

Samuel and I stayed, and he got to participate in everything!

He even won the water balloon toss!

 Emma in mid-air for the long jump

 Emma jumped over the finish line rather than crashing through it, and was the girl winner (there was also a boy winner)

Samuel admiring his egg before the egg on a spoon relay:

 Emma was awarded one of two special trophy's for great attitude, listening and cooperation!

Saving the best for the last

I love this picture of Nathan from a couple of nights ago... eating the "head" of the Lego guy from his birthday cake.

The Zoo

Brian, Samuel, Lucas and I went with Emma on her field trip to the zoo last week.  It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed it! 

Emma & her buddy Madison

 Brian and the kids on the train

Lucas looks like he wasn't so sure about the ride, but he did actually enjoy it.

 The kids and I watching the swimming sea lion

 Emma waving to her visitor

 Samuel feeding a giraffe

 Samuel and Daddy rode this roller coaster!  Samuel LOVED it!  Brian said he kept smiling and giggling!

I found this video on youtube of the actual coaster they rode: