July Festivities

We have been having fun doing all things summer. We are glad that it is finally here now that it is the middle of July!

Playing in the sprinkler with friends.

Getting warm on the sidewalk.

For the 4th of July we went to a fun potluck breakfast and then to a potluck BBQ later in the day. We set off some fireworks at their house and then went to the big show later on.

Kason loved the fireworks...

...Asher did not. He hated them, which really surprised me. I think it might have been due to the fact that it was way, way, WAY past bedtime after a fun filled and busy day. When we went to the big firework show later we sat in the back of our van, but Asher wasn't having anything to do with them. He climbed over the seat and laid on the floor and didn't move the whole time, except to sit on Isaac's lap a little bit and look for Buzz Lightyear fireworks.

Ready for summer. He loves his glasses.

Relaxing together

Kason just finished taking swim lesson for the first time. He has been pretty cautious about water in the past, but did great and is ready for the next level. He had a great teacher and LOVED going.

He holds his breath long before he goes under the water

Going under was a big step! And he can hold his breath for 4 or 5 seconds now.

Our friends pulled out their slip n slide and the kids had a blast as they were thrown down the slide.

Isaac is almost done teaching for this summer block too! Woohooo!

Oh My

We found out what we are having!

We went in thinking maybe a girl, probably a boy. We'd be happy either way.

Most importantly, everything looks healthy!

During the ultrasound the legs were crossed, she told me to cough a couple times...

and...

it's a...

GIRL!!!

Aaahhh! We are excited! And nervous. I love having my boys and I'm glad to have had two next to each other, and I think it will be good to have a girl now too. I'm feeling

overwhelmed, but excited as I get into the pink, and bows, and dresses mindset!

Asher was pretty oblivious to it all, but Kason got a big grin on his face when we told him what the baby was; he would have been happy with either. His suggestion for a name is usually "Whippy". Right now that's about the best we've got. :)

She's going to have two big brothers to keep up with,

and who will take such good care of her!

SuMMeR!

Happy First day of summer! We are so glad it's here, the windows are open, the sun is shining(let's hope it's here to stay now), and we are spending time outside! Summer is most definitely my favorite season. Other exciting events of the day: when I was in the back for literally 45 - 60 seconds Asher got into the fridge and got into the raw chicken I had cut up for dinner and had a little snack. Luckily I don't think he swallowed any, he realized it didn't taste very good...that boy.

sunshine and warm weather!

My 3 boys treated me super nice on my birthday,

and I had a fun night with these girls who are a big part of the reason I've made it through the last 3 years with my sanity still intact. 2 more to go!

The Oregon Coast

Some of Isaac's family came out for a few days and we all headed to the coast for some fun. Every time we go to the Oregon coast I'm reminded of what all this rain can do. It's so lush and thick and green and then goes right into the rocky beaches. It's very majestic. It almost makes all the rain worth it...almost. We had a great time. Get ready for picture overload.

We stayed at a really nice beach house right on the beach. This was the view from our bedroom.

The first day was a bit chilly, but after that we got some sun and nice weather.

These two were pretty inseparable. Good thing there was a washer/dryer there. There were some pretty sandy and wet boys.

Holding some sand creature.

At Seal Rock. I think this might be one of my new favorite places to go.

Cousins

Asher decided he was a little scared of the waves so he just wanted to sit on someone's lap and cry "water coming"

Asher loved playing in the sand and building sand castles to step on.

We got a kite for the kids to fly and they loved it. I think it was one of Asher's dreams come true. Isaac's dad also got a pretty nice kite that could really pull you around.

Isaac with the kids and the kite.

Kason flying the kite.

Asher flying the kite.

Isaac teaching me how to fly the "bigger" kite...

...and me getting pulled over by it.

Payton, Kason, and Maren

One of my new favorite pictures.

And if you made it through all that here is a picture Kason drew for me of our family and the baby in Mommy's tummy. Yup, we are expecting the beginning of December/end of November (insert slightly panicked screams here). I think (fingers crossed) I am starting to feel like I can function again. We are excited.

2

Asher turned 2 !!

When Isaac got home we opened presents. This boy loves to draw. He always comes up to us and asks us to draw a "car" or "sowman" (snowman). He also always writes and eats with his left hand now.

"Driving" his new car around the apartment.

The boys took an impromptu bath to try out the new bath fountain from

Grandma and Grandpa. Kason loves it. Asher loves it too, except for the red guy who squirts water out horizontally. That one freaks him out, so now he yells "yeyow guy, yeyow guy!" which sprays the water upwards.

His (kind of) soccer ball cake.

They have become best buds and Asher was kind enough to share some frosting all of his own doing. I should mention that Kason did such a good job of being excited for Asher. I could tell he was trying so hard to let Asher open his own presents and play with them first even though he was just dying sometimes. When we were getting the cake ready to bring over he ran up to Asher and said, "I just love you so much!"

About Asher:

-Height: 33 1/2 in (10%)

-Weight: 31 lbs (80%) so just slightly disproportionate! :)

-He has alot of personality, more than either of us know what to do with sometimes.

-He is very funny and sweet, but oh there is a mischievous/busy/determined and STUBBORN streak.

-He knows alot of the letters and sounds they make, it amazes me, but his favorite is definitely O

-He says, "I nu nu know" for I don't know.

-He loves the song Let's Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins and he always begs to watch "Fwy Kite" on the computer.

-His favorite movies are Toy Story (Buzz) and Cars, but he is really drawn to just TV in general. :/

-Basketball is called "shoop" for shoot.

-He likes to growl...alot. His favorite animals are a: bear, kiger (tiger), and doggie.

-He likes to give pows.

-He is rarely found without a ball. He loves soccer and basketball and can really kick and shoot pretty well. At the park sometimes he would rather kick a ball around or shoot hoops. Or more likely try to get right in the middle of and join some 13 year olds playing those games.
-He likes dinosaurs and can say it clearly now.

-He is really good about saying sorry - when he doesn't need to. He's not always so good about saying it when he does need to. :)

-He almost always says "Thank you Mommy" or "Thank you Daddy" on his own and will say it over and over until we say you're welcome.

-He also says you're welcome. It sounds like "ha kwe kwe"

-He asks why alot, but alot of the time will answer his own question with a "because?" I guess I answer too many of his questions that way!

And a mother's day pic. Love my boys!