Summer So Far

Today is the *official* first day of summer…but we’ve been calling it “summer” for well over a month now.  Lucky for us {insert sarcasm here} summer is really showing off and it’s supposed to be over 100 today.  Gag.

Despite the heat wave, we’re really enjoying our summer!  The kids are at such fun ages and we’re in a season where life is relatively easy again.  (I know, I know…it’s time to have another!  We’ll have to see about that…)  We’ve tried to take full advantage of our time and resources and do some fun things!

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We started June with a birthday party for the big guy!  He turned 35 this year and has been wanting to have a Minute to Win It party with some of our favorite friends so, that’s what we did!

The birthday boy
The birthday boy

We played silly, ridiculous games – and had a blast while doing so!

Unwrapping candy with oven mitts
Unwrapping candy with oven mitts
The classic knock the water bottles over with pantyhose on your head game...
The classic knock the water bottles over with pantyhose on your head game…

At the end of the night, this team DOMINATED the competition…which, I mean, look at them.  Bonafide athletes, all of them!

Minute to Win it Champs!
Minute to Win it Champs!

We made their trophies out of something from each of the games we played.  If they made it home, I’d be impressed!  HA!

Trophy time
Trophy time

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Sawyer got a new horse from her friend Mr. Jeff.  This sweetie’s name is LuLu and we. are. in. love!

Sawyer and LuLu
Sawyer and LuLu

LuLu is strong and stout and as sweet as they come.  She loves to eat treats from your hand and will stand all day where you tell her to.

On her first ride!
On her first ride!

These two are going to make a lot of good memories together…  We just have to keep the fighting down when it comes to who gets to ride her!

We love LuLu!
We love LuLu!

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A mobile Children’s Museum came to town so we checked that out!  It was fun enough inside.  The kids got to build and color and explore…

Testing out his foam house
Testing out his foam house
Playing with tops
Playing with tops
Petting the buffalo
Petting the buffalo
Making a magnet house
Making a magnet house

The best fun was outside!  They had a chore challenge race that was a LOT of fun!  They had to move the cow, throw the “cow patties”, haul the corn, churn the butter and shoot a buffalo!  The kids had a BLAST at this station!

Moving the cow
Moving the cow
Tossing those patties!
Tossing those patties!
Hauling her corn
Hauling her corn
Churning some butter
Churning some butter
Sayble's turn!
Sayble’s turn!
She loved every bit!
She loved every bit!

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Of course, we’ve already hit up Cody Park!

First ride on the carousel
First ride on the carousel
Sweet sisters
Sweet sisters
These two had a ball!
These two had a ball!
Sayble loved the train
Sayble loved the train
Love this pic...
Love this pic…
This is their favorite ride because it's FAST!
This is their favorite ride because it’s FAST!
Sayble loved holding the tickets
Sayble loved holding the tickets

I’m sure there will be a few more trips here for some good, cheap fun!

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We celebrated Father’s Day with this sweet guy!

He is so loved!
He is so loved!

We had yummy food (his love language – ha!), watched shows with snacks (Wryder’s idea), rode horses and played outside!

Daddy's girl
Daddy’s girl
Silly goose!
Silly goose!
Twins
Twins

My kiddos are so incredibly blessed to have this guy as a daddy.  He received two different father’s day cards in the mail that BOTH said, “I believe you are the kind of father that the Lord intended men to be.”  I couldn’t agree more…

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We just got home from a mini-vacation to Kansas!  Wrex had to go to the feedyard down there so we tagged along and had some fun when he was done!

Cute as buttons!
Cute as buttons!

We stayed at fun motel that had bunkbeds for the kids, checked out the local zoo (it’s free!!) and then went to the new indoor water park called Parrot Cove.  It. Was. A. BLAST!

Sawyer LOVES flamingos!
Sawyer LOVES flamingos!
Sassy cat
Sassy cat
This one just wanted to roar...
This one just wanted to roar…
At the water park
At the water park

They had 4 little kid slides, a lazy river, several pools, a rock climbing wall, 4 big water slides – it was a LOT of fun!  We can’t wait to go back!

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Sure do love these littles…and they’re only little once.  We do our fair share of work around here…we kinda like to work hard and play hard.  Can’t wait to see what the rest of summer brings!

Can’t Get Enough

We’ve had daddy home for 10 of the past 11 days (thank you, sale barns!) and tomorrow we must give him up to the sale barn again.  We have had such a good time together; no amount of days off would be “enough” for me.

Being a wife to my handsome hubby and a mom to my three cuties is better than I ever imagined it would be…better than I ever could have dreamt it…  Are there hard days?  Of course.  Are there days when I need to run to town just for a little bit of quiet?  Sure.  Are there times when Wrexy and I need to recharge and get back to the basics of our marriage?  Absolutely…but being a wife and mom are the best jobs I’ve ever had.  My soul is satisfied with this calling…

While daddy was home, we…

went on a family date…

They loved their root beer in a boot - boot beer!
They loved their root beer in a boot – boot beer!
Wryder kept her entertained long after her sweet potatoes were gone...
Wryder kept her entertained long after her sweet potatoes were gone…

had family fun day where Sawyer and I got pedicures while the boys (and Sayble) had ice cream and went to Menards…

Sweet little feet
Sweet little feet

celebrated with Sawyer as she finally earned that Barbie Pop-Up Camper!  We are so proud of her!

With her completed chore chart!
With her completed chore chart!
They had one in stock!
They had one in stock!
Taking it to the truck
Taking it to the truck

We had concerts…

They're gonna be famous...
They’re gonna be famous…

checked out the nativity scene in the neighboring town…

So excited!
So excited!
I love my babies...and baby Jesus
I love my babies…and baby Jesus

took selfies where mom’s arm didn’t quite reach…

Help!
Help!

played Paw Patrol, farm version…

This made me laugh!
This made me laugh!

ridden horses…

He's really gentle...
He’s really gentle…

crawled around with this cutie…

She has mastered the army crawl...
She has mastered the army crawl…

worked on trailers, took down Christmas decorations, played a mound of games, listened to at least 15 episodes of Adventure in Odyssey, watched a ton of football and just enjoyed being together!

I remember my parents telling (and re-telling) the story of me opening gifts at my grandparents’ house one Christmas.  They always did things BIG and I had opened gifts for a bit and I laid back in a pile of wrinkled wrapping paper and said, “Oh, the more I get the more I want!”  I’ve come a long way since then. *ahem*

I feel this way about my family, though; the more time I get with them, the more I desire!  They are my best friends, my closest confidants, the ones I get to minister to and the ones who minister to me.  They know me better and love me more than anyone on the planet and for that alone, I am so grateful.

My hearts....minus the baby who was sleeping.
My hearts….minus the baby who was sleeping.

We will send daddy off with smiles tomorrow and eagerly await his return home.  I’m so thankful that while he’s off buying cows and providing for our fam, that I get to stay home and hang with these babies all day.

Sawyer and I have a date to play Barbie Pop-Up Camper WITH water in the pool and Wryder wants help making a card for Goo Goo and I have no doubt Sayble will want me to make funny noises and kiss her cheeks and snuggle her in the chair.  I love these guys…I just can’t get enough…

Soaking Up Summer

This time of year, most sale barns in this area take a week or so off for wheat harvest and such so daddy gets 10 or so days of built in vacation time.  Are we blessed or what?!

Since we went to Texas last month, we’re opting for more of a stay-cation – with a few day trips thrown in for good measure.  We’ve already been to Nebraska to see the grandparents and Oklahoma cousins.  We got to go to Cody Park and feed animals and ride the rides…we stopped in at the Children’s Museum in Kearney with good friends and today we had really great company come to the house for lunch!  The kids were stoked to have visitors and we loved every minute with them!  (More on that later).

Last night, daddy took us to supper and we stopped at the fireworks stand on the way home.  Tonight, Wrexy lit some up and the kids had a BLAST!

They stood on the edge of the yard, holding hands waiting for the bang and the flash of lights.  Their little eyes were wide with excitement and anticipation.  Wryder jumped nearly every time but then would squeal with glee and run around asking daddy for more.

I love their excitement and zeal over all kinds of things…from fireworks to new swimsuits to meeting real live missionaries to eating Mexican food to watching a DVD in the car to seeing new baby chicks to spotting the moon in the sky before it’s even dark…the world around them is new and exciting and ready for them to explore…..AND?  As their parents, we get the pleasure of taking that journey with them.

Friends of wee ones, we are living in the best days of our lives, I am convinced!  Wrex and I were married for 5 years before we started having babies and those 5 years were really sweet.  We did that {horrible, awful, ridiculous, no good} long distance dating thing for 3 years before we were married so it was so nice to have some “us” time.  It allowed us to really solidify our marriage and prepare ourselves for raising children.

As good as that time was, we love this time of our lives even more.  To be able to see and feel and interact with the product of our love is such a treasure.  Oh yes, there are some hours and days that may feel long but oh – the joy far outweighs the work and the blood, sweat and tears that go into this parenting thing.

There’s a chance that you’ll never be this loved, this exciting, this worthy of emulation in their eyes ever again.  Revel in it.

Friends, I encourage you to soak up those kiddos of yours this summer…

Say yes a little more often…

Go swimming more than you want to and get in that swimsuit and jump in with them…

Eat at McDonalds (or Mickey Don-dalds) even if you just drink a Dr. Pepper…

Blow bubbles and jump on trampolines and go on nature walks…

Look for ways to show them grace…

Get messy and muddy and eat popsicles to beat the band…

Take lots of pictures and capture those smiles and squeals and ingrain them in your mind’s eye for days to come…

These are the best days of our lives.  Soak them up.  

On the Road Again

I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!  Long time, no write, yes?!  We’ve been a weeeeee bit on the go…

July is one of my favorite months because my hubby gets a little vacation thanks to the sale barns closing down for Independence Day and harvest and county fairs.  YIPPEE!  This year, we headed south to visit the plant in Texas and then see the fam in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Before we left, sweet Sawyer helped daddy get the car ready to go.  She helped change the oil and loved laying under the car.  (Safety note: the Ford is tall enough to change the oil without being jacked up so there was no risk of it falling on them.  Just wanted you to know before you started sending hate mail… 😉 )

Daddy's little helper
Daddy’s little helper
Cute cute
Cute cute

We went to the sale with daddy on Monday – his only one for the week – and then headed south to Texas where his plant is headquartered.  We got to stay with his boss/our good friend, Travis.  It was so good to see him and spend some time with his INCREDIBLY sweet girlfriend, Kasey.  She is the epitome of a hospitable, Texas lady and we were greeted with hugs, a steak dinner and fun gifts for the kids – what could be better?!

Opening her gift
Opening her gift
With Kasey and Travis - the kids almost look like they could be their's, yes!?
With Kasey and Travis – the kids almost look like they could be theirs, yes!?
Sawyer and Sky
Sawyer and Sky

Wrex spent Tuesday meeting with folks at the plant and then we loaded up and headed to Oklahoma to spend some time with the fam and meet those precious nephews of ours.

Sawyer and Breckyn had soooooooooooo much fun together!  They were both absolutely exhausted come nap and bedtime every day.

Sweet girls
Sweet girls

There was a lot of popsicle eating…

They're better with sweet cousins!
They’re better with sweet cousins!

and porch swinging…

The girls with Goo Goo
The girls with Goo Goo
RaRa and 3 of the grands
RaRa and 3 of the grands

and swimming…

Matching suits from Aunt Tootsie!
Matching suits from Aunt Tootsie!
Swim time!
Swim time!
What?!
What?!

and book reading…

The girls with RaRa
The girls with RaRa

and dog playing…

Sweet Booey
Sweet Booey
My turn!
My turn!
Booey in the cave
Booey in the cave

and cuddling…

Wryder and Goo Goo
Wryder and Goo Goo
Breckyn and Uncle Wrex
Breckyn and Uncle Wrex

and tea parties…

Apple juice and mini banana breads!
Apple juice and mini banana breads!
Let's eat!
Let’s eat!
Sweet Brecky
Sweet Brecky

and car driving…

Woo hoo!
Woo hoo!
Sharin' stories
Sharin’ stories
Distracted driver
Distracted driver

and general playing/running around/kid-fun chaos!  It was so fun to watch them all interact with each other…wish we all lived closer…

On Thursday, we got to meet our sweet nephews for the first time!  Oh. My. GOODNESS!  They are so sweet and cute and cuddly! We got to spend time holding them both and comparing their little personalities.

Proud Uncle
Proud Uncle with Brenhem
Proud Auntie with Berwick
Proud Auntie with Berwick

We were so hopeful that they would come home while we were there, but they both needed a few extra days in the hospital.  On July 11th, after 105 days in the NICU, they got to come home!!  I know it was a sweet, sweet homecoming; truly, they are miracles.

Headed HOME!
Headed HOME!

We hung out with more family and watched fireworks for the 4th.  I bought the girls some glow stick accessories to wear and they had a ball dancing around, entertaining us.

Putting on a show
Putting on a show
We glow!
We glow!

Saturday, we celebrated Breckyn’s 2nd birthday with an ice cream party!  Her momma had a fun idea for balloon ice cream decor – it turned out super cute!

Ice cream!
Ice cream!
Adorable, yes?!
Adorable, yes?!
From the door
From the door
Anxiously awaiting the party
Anxiously awaiting the party
Love this girl
Love this girl
Uncle Wrexy being squirrely
Uncle Wrexy being squirrely
Wryder didn't much care for the hats
Wryder didn’t much care for the hats
Gorgeous girls!
Gorgeous girls!

On Sunday, it was time to say goodbye.  🙁

One more twin pic
One more twin pic

We packed up and headed back north…with an extra car mate.  Booey the dog is in Colorado to live out the rest of her days!  Sawyer was so excited (as were we).  Booey is the sweetest little dog and doesn’t mind the constant pestering of children; she is truly an answer to prayer!

Enjoying the ride
Enjoying the ride

We stopped and spent some time in Kansas with Uncle Waco and Aunt Amber.  Sawyer got Uncle Waco to help her make her fancy necklace from Aunt Tootsie and Uncle Blake.

Cute as a button!
Cute as a button!

Someone slept with Sawyer all night…

How precious is that?!
How precious is that?!

We spent a little time at the farm with Amber’s family and then it was time to head north again, as daddy had a sale on Tuesday.  We finally got home on Tuesday evening and then headed to Denver Wednesday morning for an impromptu work day/mini vacation.  We stayed at a hotel and ran a bunch of errands we can’t do anywhere around here.

The kids swam and I shopped and we checked out the local Krispy Kreme.  Sawyer and Wryder had their first donuts that Tuesday so we went and saw how they were made.

Is she a doll or what?!
Is she a doll or what?!

They rode the train with daddy through the Orchard – a big hit!

Choo Choo!
Choo Choo!

We got home Thursday night and I spent eight hours on Friday unloading the car, unpacking bags and doing laundry.

It was soooooo good to get away for a bit and spend some time with some of our favorite people on the planet.  We laughed and ate and worked and talked and reminisced and enjoyed each other…give me a few more days to recoop and then I say let’s do it again!