Shoe Tying

Boys leaned to tie their shoe laces in one setting. Was so nervous cuz it can be frustrating. Owen kept saying, I know how to do it, after doing it one time. But sure enough he knew!

Toots

We were reading goodnight moon and Hattie noticed the grandma bunny, who she calls mommy, was not in her chair. She told me she went "poop" then made a big tooting noise and started laughing.

Last week Hattie got out of the bathtub and had a big toot that flapped her cheeks and she was shocked and started laughing.  Also last week Hattie had a big cough that resulted in a huge toot at the same time. Her face was priceless as she liked behind her in shock!

4th of July

My sister and her family came to SD for the 4th and we ventured down for a night too.  We had so much fun seeing cousin Anderson and all the things on the farm and doing fire works!

We drove home on the 4th and had a little celebration in our driveway.  Hattie and I watched the boys have the fun.

Hattie pushed her baby

First Sleepover

Owen and Chase had their first sleep over last week and they couldn't have been more excited!  Our neighbor across the street had them and another friend over for a camp out in the back yard.  They got their sleeping bags, flash lights, etc. and were all set.  According to my neighbor, Kate, they began to trickle into the house around 11:15 and were all asleep by 11:30.  :)  They stayed the whole night and we were so proud of them.  According to Chase it was the "Best day of my life ever!"  So cute!

Words

Hattie's words have been exploding lately.  Having had Chase and Owen who were delayed in their speech, it's been really fun to hear new words daily.  Last night on the way home from camping she was talking saying something and finally covered her eyes and said "Sunny", however, it was more like "Unny".  Couldn't believe it.  She then said, "toot, Ela, Addy, Abby, thank you," and many more words.  She knows so much and she understands absolutely everything.

Hattie's Lunch Box

We took a trip to Target last week to get the boys' school supplies.  Hattie did great in the cart, cleaning it with the wipes they provide.  Finally she got sick of that and wanted out.  The boys were looking at folders so she went to the same area and soon enough she was loading the cart with Elsa and Anna folders! 

We moved on to the lunchboxes. I had decided the boys could get a new lunch box.  They were trying to decide and I could see Hattie out of the corner of my eye but I didn't really know what she was doing.  The boys had thrown their lunch boxes in the cart when I see Hattie run/hopping (that's how she runs) over to me with, holding in front of her with both hands, a princess lunch box.  She looked up at me with a big smile and big blue eyes and reached up to throw it over the cart, which was difficult since she isn't that tall.  Then she looked at me with big eyes.  I said, "Hattie, you don't need a lunch box, the boys need one for school."  She just looked at me with sad little eyes like she didn't understand and I couldn't say no!  How do you say no to that.  She just wanted to be like her brothers and get a new lunch box.  She doesn't know why they are getting one.  So, we had to look through and make sure it was the one she really wanted and after a little debate, it was!  Oh she just melts my heart with her innocence and sweetness.

7!!!

Chase and Owen turned 7!!!! On July 1^st. I had their doors decorated with streamers; we had breakfast and opened presents (Mixels and Constructobots) and headed to swimming lessons.  We took their friends Will and Colin to Cherry Berry for ice cream after that and everyone had fun! That night we had their favorite meal, mac n cheese and corn dogs! J  It was a wonderful day remembering back to the day they were born.  It truly is amazing how fast time goes and how much I love them more and more each day.  They are amazing boys.

opening gifts in the morning

Opening bionicles!

Owen excited about his new Lego Mixel

Chase with his gifts!

making cake!

The boys picked out the blue cake and yellow frosting.  Yum yum.

Happy birthday to Chase

and Owen!

Hattie likes cake too!

Sweet 7 year old Owen boy

Crazy birthday boy Chase

Likes:  Mixels, Legos, Constructobots, Bionicles, baseball, fruit snacks, ice cream, cookies, corn dogs, salami

Dislikes:  going to bed early, being bossed around by brother or anyone else.

Bed time in summer has been 9:00, during the year it’s more like 8:00.  Chase and Owen are such good boys.  They for, the most part, list well and treat others very well.  They are always advocating for people they feel have been bullied and are sensitive to being teased or picked on.  They stand up for each other and love Jesus with all their hearts. 

Chase is fun loving and enjoys being with people all the time.  He has so much fun and can go and go and go.  He is fair and a rule follower and likes to make people feel welcomed.  He loves Jesus, says prayers at dinner, loves his sister and brother, reads very well and works hard.  He doesn't complain much and works hard most of the time.  There are times when he doesn't feel he does something well and then doesn't want to play (like baseball practice at home).  He is creative, plays well by himself, has great ideas and is loving to me.  Chase loves to cuddle, have his blankey with him and loves stories.  He organizes play well and groups of kids well.

Owen has a great sense of justice and will try to talk you into whatever it is he wants. He doesn't take No for an answer, unless it's really important.  He's not disobedient, just is able to argue his point!  He feels for others and is very empathetic, often getting tears in his eyes as he "feels" what others are feeling.  He helps Hattie a lot in the car because he sits next to her and she seeks him out for help.  He loves to have others over too.  When he has had enough friend time he will come in the house and play by himself (not too often, but sometimes). He's a hard worker and wants things perfect and can get frustrated if it's not.  He is also a good reader and friend.  He loves Jesus and often asks questions or says we should pray for others.

My boys amaze me daily and I am so thankful for them in my life!

Potty Training

On Wednesday last week we started Potty Training and Hattie went poop in the toilet right away!!   I couldn't believe it!  I had the potty chair sitting out (It's Elmo and she loves it way more than the regular toilet!) in the bathroom and I heard her say "poop", walk into the bathroom and sit down.  I thought I would give her privacy.  She came running out yelling "Poop! Poop!" So I followed her to the bathroom and sure enough she had pooped in the potty chair!!!!  We all yelled and screamed and were so excited for Hattie.  Ever since then she's had many other successes in the #2 area.  She's had many successes and many messes in the #1 area, but she's doing so well!  She'll be playing outside and run inside to go potty.  I'm so proud of my little girl.  I bought her some new cute underwear and they look so little and cute on her little buns.  :)  She's proud and so are we!

Hattie

Photo Opps

My friend Heather took family pictures for us after Hattie's birthday party.  Here are a few I took with my camera. 

VBS

Every year I have the opportunity to volunteer at church as Chase and Owens' crew leader at VBS.  Since during the year I'm working, it's a great way to get to be with them at an event and they love it.  This year Jeff was gone, so Hattie came and went to the childcare, which she loved once she got there. The first few nights there was some major crying and I had to peel her off me.  We ate there each night and they had amazing desserts, like ice cream!

 This year we sat in the front row, which was so awesome!  We got to see everything front and center!

 Each year the kids raise an amazing amount of money for an organization.  This year they gave to Samaritan's Purse and the efforts in Nepal.  Chase and Owen raised about $25 by selling lemonade and freezies. They were so proud to be able to donate and even gave from their own piggie banks.

 Nothing warms the heart like random moving guys stopping to support the kids!

 Chase is loving it!

 Our biggest customer didn't pay a whole lot, but who could take money from her?

 This is a picture of Chase speaking into the mic (and it displayed on the screen behind) telling about their lemonade stand.  He was so nervous and kept asking how much they made. When he finally got up there he said he made 25 cents! : )

 

Owen racing in a game

 Cool moves Chase

Just cute!