End of the Summer ice cream

Our last chance of the summer to head out to Sebastian Joe's for some ice cream. It was chilly (just like the entire last half of the summer...grrrr) but we were determined to not miss out. We had gone to Bar Abilene and then walked twelve blocks to Sebastian Joe's and the boys were less than well behaved, but it had to be done. If we had skipped it, we wouldn't have gotten one of the best lines out of Nathan..."Put ice cream right here, in my mouth!" (while pointing very animated at his wide open mouth) I only wish we had it on video...priceless!

Xander, the serious treat eater. He looks like he would snap if you got too close, but he actually shares with everybody.
Nathan and Chris shared a cone. Nate is a licker (not sure how Chris really feels about that!)
It was some of the best coconut ice cream I have ever tasted! Even though the boys were total buggers, it was still a good way to say goodbye to summer.

Last time fishing for the summer

We took our last trip out on the boat with Grandpa for the year. It was a nice day, but a little chilly. Thankfully the sun was out and everyone had a good time, no matter what fish were (or weren't) caught.

staring out into the water, trying to stay warm
Nathan waiting for the poles to come out
Snoopy pole!
Chris looks like such a rugged outdoorsman with the Snoopy fishing pole
Xander's catch (and release)
Boys looking around to see what to get into next
Nathan in the driver's seat
"Ooooh, dangerous tools...score!"
Xander on the wrong end of his binoculars
does anybody know how this thing is supposed to work??
so serious....
....or maybe not
the boys posing with Chris' catch. Nathan is not so impressed with having it's big mouth right in his face.

Family get-together at the zoo

We got together with the Nawrockis and the Involdstads for a zoo trip before school started. We had a lot of fun and the boys got to meet their cousin Bella. It was a great time and I hope we can do things like this more often.

Nathan and Annie

Brad and Brenda

Em and Ben (awwwwww!)

Xander and Nathan checking out the goats

Brushing the goats!

Nathan, Xander and Bella on the big pig statue

One more of just the boys

We headed outside for a big picnic lunch with tons of food and drink!

Nathan putting money into the donation box after the bird show

Getting a squeeze from Grandpa Jimmy. He was working, but came to visit us while we were having our picnic

Cute picture of the kids on the tortoise statue

Nathan and Bella with their new stuffed babies from the gift shop. She got a cute little monkey and Nathan picked out a leopard/jaguar.

Sad to say goodbye, but one tired boy ready to relax on the car ride home

Loring Elementary Ice Cream Social

We didn't find out until almost a week before school started who his teacher was going to be. We were thrilled when we found out it was Miss Michelle. A week before school starts, they have an ice cream social so that families can visit the classroom and the kids can see where they are going to be for many hours a day. I think it was that night that it hit me that my little boy, my baby...was about to start school and be out in the world without me for most of his days. Happy for him, but a bit sad...except days when he is home and driving me nuts!

Yummy mint chocolate chip ice cream for the boys

Of course Xander checks out the books and finds one he hasn't read before. He sat quietly and read while I chased Nate and Chris filled out paperwork.

Nathan had a blast getting into stuff in the room

Checking out more classroom stuff

End of Summer fun

Xander was having such a tough time riding his bike, even with training wheels. We bought him new training wheels and they made a huge difference. Too bad we figured it out at the end of the season!

Checking out Xander's cool space themed bike helmet

Nathan wanted to "ride" his tricycle around the block too. Since he is still too short to really reach the pedals and hasn't got the hang of actually riding the thing yet, he walked while I took pictures and carried his trike.

Nathan being a big helper

Since it is (and always has been) hard to ask Xander to do anything to help out, it is more about keeping him busy and out of trouble. Chris told him he could help by moving the climber so he could mow the area. I got several shots of him trying to move it and it was so funny to watch. What I did not get, because I had gone inside, were pictures of him actually moving the climber! Somehow, he moved it out of the way so Chris could mow. I can't move it, so I don't know how he did, but he was determined to do it!

Random August photos

Xander in the garden area of the school where he will be starting kindergarten

Nathan is digging the swings!

Nathan showing off his new shoes - New Balance with Elmo on them!

The boys burning off some energy in the jumper

Crazy Nate!

I love mornings that start out like this. They usually play so long that I have to remind them to eat breakfast

When playing with trains, it is important to wear an engineer's hat...while maintaining you coolness.

Hanging out in their tent. Inevitably, they start getting wild and it has to be packed away before they break it. But it is fun while it lasts!

Elm Creek....again

Trying to squeeze in as many trips to the beach as we can is difficult when it isn't very warm, especially on the weekends. We take every chance we get, even if it means going right when Chris gets home from work and packing our dinner to take with us. This time it was a Monday evening and it was the most fun of all! The water was perfect, it wasn't too busy and Xander immediately made a friend that he played with most of the evening. Lots of fun... we could have used many more nights like this!

Digging in the sand

He looks so big these days!

Nathan had a blast on Chris' back

Big giggles

Looks so peaceful...