It's Twins! {And NOT the Minnesota ones}

Meet the newest additions to my side of the family: !

Watson Gabriel & Irelyn Joy were born to my brother, Eric, and his wife, Jill. They are doing well and are so sweet

Dear Mr. Postman,

You may have to deliver the letters to the temporary mailbox for a few months...

A man backed into our mailbox this morning, and the boys are crushed! Hopefully, it will get fixed soon.

Calling All Rednecks

It's our county fair, and we decided to take the boys to the figure 8 races. If you haven't been to the races, well, it's loud, dirty, and all the crazies come out. Just kidding - a few stay home. It was a little warmish but nearly 20 degrees cooler than the weekend. We conned Melia into coming with us. She's a good sport. :)

The boys pretty much reacted like I expected. Leo thought it was cool, buuuut, he was afraid of the loud noises, so we spent the entire night covering his ears. Eli thought everything was awesome, except when the ladies drove. He didn't like them and would whine until the men were driving again. Silly boy! A great time was had by all, and we will be rednecks and go back again, I'm sure.

Chilling Off {Sprinkler Style}

After we got back from being "down south", I figured we'd hit a cool down. Yeah, not exactly. It was the same temp here. So Jus decided to let the boys help him fix the sprinkler system. They "helped" by getting on their suits and running around crazy.

Then the big red ball came into the picture. I told them it wasn't a good idea, that someone would get hurt, and be the new million dollar man - but who listens to their mom, right?!? Apparently, this time I was wrong. Now, I know what you are thinking - No way, Sara is never wrong! I know. I was shocked too, believe me. They made it through an hour of playing - and by playing I mean running, diving head first and bouncing off- the ball.

Jus says, "Alls well, that ends well." Hmmm...I might be letting the air out of the ball...

Gavin's Birthday Party

I'm not sure that anyone understands how completely hot it is this summer. Is it just here or is it everywhere? I feel like I'm going to have a heat stroke for being outside for 5 minutes. It's terrible! So what do we do to beat the heat? We travel 6 hours SOUTH to an even hotter area of the country. Thinkers we are! Gavin turned 7 this past week, and we headed down to see them. For his party we ended up going to a professional baseball game. In the 110 degree heat, we had the kids bat, eat, run the bases, ride the merry-go-round, and drink lots of water. Both boys did really well sitting there. Eli only had to go out a few times to walk around. Luckily, we were in the shade so it wasn't to terrible, but I think each of us needed a shower to drop our body temps back to normal! Enjoy the picture show! Leo & Katelynn

Leo & Mommy

Eli & Mommy looking super "hot"

Leo & Eli waiting their turn to bat.

Leo & His Buddy :)

Mini-Million Dollar Man

Eli just has to be like his brother and his dad. He copies everything Leo does and says. Sometimes it's cute and funny. Sometimes it's not so cute or so funny. And, sometimes, well, sometimes it just is down right bad. He thought he needed to join the "Million Dollar Man" club. We went "out west" to Justin's sister's house for gift opening last night. The boys were downstairs playing football. Can you tell where this is going? It's no place good, that's for darn sure! Eli was running to catch it, tripped and fell right into the cement wall. My poor Eli has a broken nose! (Well, we think it's broken, but go to the ENT on Wednesday, and will know for sure then.) It swelled up and turned black and blue in about 20 seconds. He wouldn't let us put any ice on it. Instead he just sat and cried. Well, I guess my boys are 3 of a kind!

Hockey?

Hmm... I think Eli might have been spending too much time with G'pa Randy lately. He is turning everything into a hockey item...

You and Me Go Fishin' in the Heat

100 degree heat plus 89% humidity. Not the best day to head to the local catch and release pond, but fish we did. G'pa & G'ma had gotten Leo a fishing pole for his birthday last year, so we decided to break it in. The fish weren't biting. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the unlucky-ness that follows us, or maybe it was the fact that 2 little boys were throwing rocks into the water and high speeds. I guess we'll never know. When they did start biting, G'ma was the first to get one. Leo helped reel it in. Both boys were so excited to see the fish and to touch it. (I think they get that from their dad. There was no way I was touching that!)

Finally, they started biting a little more. I caught the most (7!) today. I didn't rub that in at all. After all, it was my first time fishing. Thank.you.very.much!

It was quite a struggle reeling this baby in. I had to fight it like crazy! I'm not sure fisherman is in his future. He was pretty bored and didn't like it when he couldn't catch one.

Finally, the last fish of the day, Daddy caught his 1st! Who cares if it's the big one anyway?!?!

The boys asked if they could go fishing again. I said sure, as long as someone baits the hook, the weather isn't so hot, someone takes them off the hook, lots of other things as well!

Leo's Pool Party

Last year we had Leo's party at the pool, and I loved it! No cleaning my house and no clean up. Who am I kidding, I never clean anyway... So we decided to do it again this year. It was another hot day today. We hit 99 degrees! It was perfect pool weather. We had so many people come to help us celebrate Leo's birthday. It was so fun to have a lot of friends and family there. We went down slides, played in the deep end, squirted the guns (right, Dad...), and enjoyed the water. It was a great night! The birthday boy!

Slides with Daddy !

Leo & Jus

Eli & Mommy

Our Family <3

I'd like to thank the pool and the staff for the fun night. Leo was in heaven because Cole and Kyler were a few of the life guards. He loves those boys and will miss them when they head off ot college. Happy 5th Birthday, Leo!

Swimming Pool

We plan on having Leo's bday party at the pool again this year, but unfortunately, Mike, Erica & the kids won't be able to make it. So we had a little pre party. The kids were loving the hot weather today, because they could jump in the pool to cool off! The kids were jumping, and splashing, and running and playing like crazy. It was a great night to relax at the pool. Being silly for the camera.

Eli loves the new squirt guns we got in the dollar bin at, where else, Target!

Leo is such a fish. He loves to jump in and get his "Yoshie" and other torpedos.

The 4 of them relaxing in the lounge chairs.

I love our pool and our community!

Happy Birthday, America!

The 4th came so fast this year! (I think I might say that every year...) I think we were al so busy with Auntie Jodi's wedding, we didn't notice it was goig so fast! We went to the parade of the town Jus grew up in. Let me just tell you it was hot. I mean super hot. You could fry eggs on the side walk hot. People wondering if the rapture had come and they were left behind hot. It.was.hot. We found a place in the shade, and tried to keep as cool as we could. The parade was pretty good. Leo and E loved the Shriners in the dune buggies. Leo & Jaina tried to keep cool, as best they could.

The "littles" aka E and Jack were a little less tollerant

Aren't they so cute. Mike was so thrilled to have me take his picture.

After the parade, you can go to the school grounds to play games, but it was a little warm, so we headed back to the farm. We played games, my favorite activity, and went back outside to do a few fireworks. Leo loving his sparkler

Eli's turn

The boys and Jaina were hiding behind a car incase anything got "loud". Notice how they might be a little like their mother! However, when we went to watch the city's fireworks town's fireworks, I was the only one who was plugging their ears.

Leo & Jaina ~ Buds and cousins

The 4th was a lot of fun, and we look forward to it next year!

Auntie Jodi's Cowboy

Prepare for a picture overload! Justin's baby sister moved "out west" a few years ago for a teaching position. We always gave her a hard time that she was going to marry a cowboy. Well, Trenton road in and stole her heart.

They planned a wedding and wanted us to all be a part of it. Let me tell you, I was not opposed to seeing the men in my life all spiffed up. I was, however, worried about the younger men in my life spoiling the pictures! Turns out, things went well! The day started with the girls getting all pampered and pretty. Auntie Mindy said it was her only "girly" day of the summer. I thought of course she had to have eyeliner and maskara! (G'ma Jackie wasn't so sure...) Pictures started in the 90+ degree heat. I was fine in my dress, but I guess the men were a little warm. By the time we were ready to take the kids pictures I was a bit less calm. Got them dressed, and wowza, they were super cute! We said, "Don't go stand by..." or "don't smile..." and it worked like a charm! They were awesome during pictures! Success!! When it was time for the wedding, Leo and Jaina knew their jobs and did awesome! Eli and Jackson knew their jobs, but it was a little different for them! Jack ran down the asile for his candy, and E wouldn't come. He rang the bell, laughed, and waited for me to go and get him. Oh well, he was stinking cute! Wedding went off without a hitch, and we were off to the reception. The site was beautiful, the food was so good, and the dance was a blast! The 3 men in my life all danced the night away with me. Loved every second of it! Now get ready for the pictures: My hot date!

All dressed up with somewhere to go

Eli cheesin'

Leo's turn

My sweet Leo

Sweet Eli <3

Uncle Trent, Auntie Jodi and all the littles

My boys & I

Our sweet lil' family

Jus's brother's sweet lil' family

Eli being silly

Jaina & Leo getting in the mix

The sassy bridesmaids

Another shot of our sweet lil' family

Eli & Auntie Jodi

In honor of Jodi's cowboy, we got cowboy boots to wear!

Leo Beo

Daddy & Leo

Sassy & Momma!

Auntie Mindy, Leo & the Bride

Trent & Jodi cutting the cake

One very tired little boy

How cute are these cookies?!

Dancing with the Bride

Daddy & E dancing the night away

At Mike & Erica's, and Ours we took a pic like this, so we had to keep the tradition alive!