Happy 4th of July!

Nate is standing by some (not all) of the fireworks set off in our backyard on the 4th. It was about 2 1/2 hours straight of a big fireworks show!

The kids having a fun picnic.

The boys had so much fun playing setting off the fireworks. They got pretty good at timing them to go off at the same time.

Dave and I went on a shooting date this morning. Dave has always wanted me to learn how to shoot his gun so I can be prepared in the middle of the night. I have warned him that I think I would faint or have a heart attack before holding my hands still enough to shoot an intruder...but I suppose it's a good idea to try and be prepared. I had a ton of fun shooting the balloon targets that we set up. Our friend has some beautiful property with 14 acres - and the perfect set-up for shooting. He is a gun expert (compared to us) and gave me a great lesson.

I also got to try a handgun. This one had some kick!

Dave was definitely in his element on our date.

Nate loves the girls' sewing teacher. He wanted a picture with her, too.

The girls were SO excited to finish their dresses that they sewed. Their teacher is strict (and wonderful) and really teaches them their stuff. If they don't sew their line just so, she has them unpick it and redo it. They are learning a lot!

Nate's haircut

Only a few times of crying today because my baby is growing up and looking too old.

p.s. We had rabbit for dinner. Our friends gave Dave the rabbit head for his odd hobbies, and they threw in the meat for fun. So Dave cooked it up tonight. I tried one bite and that was it. It actually tasted ok, but the thought bothered me. Nate loved it. Dave liked it.

Summer days in Rolla

I called the kids in for dinner. Sadie said "Just one minute, Mom. We have to do one more thing!" She wanted to help Nate pick flowers for me.

On their hunt for some wildflowers.

Nate loves to make silly faces and make us laugh.

Our first zucchini from the garden. We used half of it for a chocolate zucchini cake. The next day I used it as a vegetable in a stir-fry.

This boy is obsessed with the outdoors. I can't even walk outside to get anything in the garage without Nate running to the door to escape the indoors. He loves to sit on the mower and try his darndest to get it to start. One day Dave told Nate that they would mow after his nap. Well, after naptime came, our plans changed. Nate said "Daddy, mow?" Dave told Nate they'd have to wait. Nate burst into the saddest fit of tears. He was SO disappointed. 2 of his favorite things...his dad and the mower. I'd cry, too.

Dancing Kiddos

I am not very good at posting videos yet. This is dedicated to a few people...

1. Our cute niece, Sage, who requested more videos of Nate. Hope you like it, Sage!

2. Our brand new niece, Mary. Welcome to the world! Nate is dancing for joy that you arrived safely today! A big miracle in our books! We love you already!

3. Our wonderful sister Becky, who is the queen of dancing, and who pushed out a cute little baby tonight!

By the way...in the last song, it's my amazing sister, Kristi, singing and playing the guitar and piano to the song she wrote for me (about baby Nate).

American Girl Book Club

We've had two of our book club meetings so far and we're having so much fun. This is a picture of all the girls that come and my friend who helped out with sewing these sarapes. The girls are so so cute and fun to have over. We're enjoying learning about Josefina from New Mexico.

Ash wore her sarape to Achievement Days and they both wore their sarapes all over today. They love them.

Nate was chillin' in the backyard. The weather was perfect today. My kind of perfect - not too hot and not too cold. We set out to have a picnic on the picnic table that Grandpa John and Dave made. It was so much fun! I could just see Nate down the road...with his arm around a girl.

The kiddos went out to play in the rain. Then they discovered the mud and began mud fights.

On Memorial Day we went with a couple families to Onondaga Caves. They were amazing!

Tonight our friends stopped by to bring Dave a gift. They found a cow skull on their farm. Just what everyone expects to see at their door. When we heard someone at the door, Dave quickly put the snake around my neck for me to have on as I answered the door. I have a snake on my neck, and am greeting friends with a cow skull for my husband. What has become of my life? When they were visiting, the girls went straight to work dressing up the boys.

This is a funny boy. He loves to be silly.

Speaking of being silly. Just a short story for the record. Today I took the kids to a nearby retirement home to play the piano for the residents there. Of course, Nate wanted a turn at the piano. He was so tickled with the attention. I helped him play a twinkle variation, while he turned his head to face the audience with a big smile. Then he hopped off the bench, took a nice long bow, and climbed up again for another song. This one he played on his own....just goofing off with the keys. Then he hopped off the bench, took a long bow, and climbed up again for another song. I'm not sure how long this happened. At least 4 or 5 times. He loved the audience. Then he went around and gave hugs and high-5s to all of the grandmas and grandpas.

Ashlyn's comment after leaving the retirement home: I just try to keep a big smile on my face the whole time, so they can see a nice smile.

Teacher's Gifts - Nate liked them too!

Does school in Missouri seriously end on May 19? That's so early! Well, I guess that's my excuse as to why I didn't have any gifts ready to give to the girls' teachers. So one morning we whipped up some chocolate dipped oreos in some of my leftover gourmet chocolate from truffle making. Nate thought that oreos make a great breakfast. I would typically do this activity during Nate's nap - but we were pressed for time and had to get them done.

Nate enjoyed his chocolate breakfast so much - that he had to have more! He discovered some blocks of chocolate on the counter and was about dig in before I caught him. I had to grab the camera first.

They turned out cute, delicious and free!

The girls dressed Nate today