Hattie's Birthday Celebration

Hattie had her 3rd birthday party the afternoon of June 18th and her actual birthday was June 20th.  For her party she had her neighbor friends, Ella and Finley, and daycare friends, Norah, Jackson and Everett come for an Anna Elsa party.  Hattie was so excited but I don't think she really knew what to expect because she didn't remember having been to a party.  She just loved that her friends were coming, she was having cake and mommy and daddy were there.  She didn't even know she was going to get presents.  When it was time to open, she sat down with the other kids and waited for her friends to open the presents. She didn't know they were for her. It was so cute!  The day of her party I went to Target to get the "Peeing" baby she wanted.  Of course, they were all out!  It was the only things she really wanted and I was so disappointed.  Turns out her two neighbor friends got her a peeing baby! :)  Saved!

 

 Hattie had to wear these socks . . . .

 3!!!

 Decorations

 June 20th, officially 3!

 and sassy.

 At lunch time we opened presents on the porch and she was so excited!

 Elsa soap and goggles

Puppy changing game from Bjorks

 Tea party set from Mommy and Daddy

She had so much fun playing tea party!  Daddy gave her her own lemonade powder in the bowl and she went to town drinking, making tea for us . . . she didn't sleep well that night.  High on sugar!

 Oh so pretty.

 We made our own Elsa crowns

 Pretty!

 The morning of her bday we met our friends at the Fireman's park beach to swim and have fun.  The girls ended up getting totally wet, but had a great time!  Kinley was born the same day and year as Hattie!

Owen's Tonsilectomy and Adenoidectomy

On July 26th Owen had surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. He had had 5 strep throats this past year and 3-4 prior to that.  It was a good thing we did the surgery because Dr. Meccia said his tonsils were "icky".  They looked like an adults that had had lots of infections.  He put Owen on an antibiotic too.  Owen did super!  He had a hard time coming out of anesthesia, which is not uncommon.  He was very confused, thinking that the surgery had not been done and telling us, "I don't want to do it!"  He was relieved to find out it was done.  He was very dizzy and threw up two times at the hospital.  They kept him and gave him two drugs to help with nausea and pain while he slept.  Surgery was at 8:45, we heard from the Dr. around 9:35 and we saw him around 9:45.  We left the hospital around 1 and Owen slept a lot at home.  He wasn't able to keep anything down, though, throwing up 3 times.  Finally around 6 he ate a fudgesicle and was able to keep that down.  He slept very well that night, just waking up when I gave him pain meds.  We are so proud of him and his strength, despite feeling yucky and disoriented at times. 

 Loving his gown shirt

 All ready to go with new cup.

 Listening to the TV

 Post surgery, sweet sleeper

 

Leaving the hospital.  He thought it was cool to leave in the wheel chair, and even gave us a smile.

Swimming

We went swimming today in the 93 degree heat at Life Time and had a blast. Swimming has been so fun this summer.  The boys are so confident and can touch easily and spend most of their time going down the water slides.  Their swimming lessons went so well this year and they were very proud of themselves.

Today Hattie was wear her life jacket.  She was holding on to the edge and I saw her let go with her fingers and float, then grab on again.  She was trying it out! It was adorable to watch and she was so proud that she let go.  I thought I could take her out into the deeper water and do the same.  She wasn't so happy about this and screamed a very scared scream and cried.  I didn't do that again.  She did get "brave" per her words and allow me to stand just out of reach with my arm out as she floated and kicked from one side of the pool to another part and she thought she was tough stuff.

I watched Chase and Owen make a friend and have so much fun doing karate kicks off the side and cannon balls and some amazing belly flops!

8 Year Olds!

On July 1st, the boys rose early, excited to see their doors decorated (which I do every year) and to celebrate their 8th birthdays.  They had been so excited and were counting down the day.  We had a big day planned with a trip to the beach with neighbor friends and then a special dinner out at Osaka, a Japanese steakhouse.  We had a great time at the beach goofing off-Chase lost his shoe in the water- and eating out.  They loved watching the Japanese cook and even loved the food.  We can't even express how quickly time has flown and how much Chase and Owen mean to us and our family.  They each hold a special and unique place in our family and hearts.  We love you!

Happy 3rd Birthday Hattie!

Our little sweet girl turned 3 on June 20th and boy, has she grown up so much this past year!  She has long hair, talks up a storm (actually she doesn't stop talking!), and is so independent!  She wants to do most things by herself, unless it involves being left alone. :)  She is such a ray of sunshine in our lives with her feminitity, skipping and light walking around the house, light touches, big hugs, back pats and sweet kisses.  Happy Birthday Sweetie Peetie!

Today she had her 3 year dr. appointment and she weighed 29.4 lbs (37th%), was 37.25 inches tall (57%) and was just adorable as usual. She did her first vision test and was able to point to the shapes she saw.

 It can be very difficult to get her to smile!  This is what I get!

 Ready to open presents on her big day!

 Beautiful blue eyes

Last Day of 1st Grade

The day was cool and the boys were excited! It's a "Big Deal to be a 2nd grader" Chase told me a few nights ago.  It's always bittersweet to see the end of the year come, especially when the teachers have been great and Chase and Owen love school.

 The beautiful sun coming through the clouds made for some bright pictures!

 It's chilly out!

 1st Grade

 Last bus stop wait with Norah

 Owen the 1st grader

Last day for 1st grader Chase

 Getting on the bus with bus driver Tom

 Saying Thanks to Tom

I tried to get the Cologne Academy on the side, which I guess I did!

1st graders

Oh how sad I am that my cute little first graders are almost done with their amazing year. They truly have had the best teachers who have not only taught them, but have loved them and given them confidence and helped them excel as people.

It's exciting and tough, at the same time, to see my kids grow up.  On one hand they are more independent and smarter and easier.  On the other hand, they have bigger troubles, are harder to pick up and move when they need to be taken to their rooms and I just don't want to see them grow up and leave us!  (at this point at least. :)

First grade has been amazing and the boys have had the best teachers-Mrs. Peterson was Chase's teacher and Miss Carlson was Owen's teacher.  They loved their teachers and their teachers loved them!  Chase and Owen gave them hugs at the bus each day before saying goodbye. They held the boys to high standards and helped them grow so much!

Family Night at Church

River Valley had an amazing family night a few weeks ago and we had a blast! The boys could have stayed at the photo booth the entire night!  We went to different stations and danced and sang, prayed for our family and the world, make Lego prayer walls and just had fun!

Fun Hair with Nana and Papa

My parents came and watched the kids back in March while Jeff and I had to work.  Hattie got her hair done extra special one day!