Italy Part 2

By popular request here are some more photos from the 1998 Italy trip. Enjoy. Oh BTW, yes Aaron did get a permission slip signed for the trip....JK!!

Italy 1998

So Aaron built a new computer this week and found some old photos. I especially like the ones from our first trip to Italy in 1998. It was a blast from the past. The high waisted pants are the best!

Go Cougars!

D had his first soccer game of the season
on Saturday.
He had fun until the other team
started scoring too many goals
in which he exclaimed, for all to hear,
My team STINKS!
He's just a bit competitive to say the
least.

Go Knights!

E had his first football game Saturday.

They lost a heartbreaker right at the end

14 - 12.

(E is the 4th from the left.)

His team played well.

They even had cheerleaders.

E wasn't too thrilled about it though.

His comment,

Last year Coach said no cheerleaders

because they would be distracting.

That is exactly what they were today...

DISTRACTING!

I thought they were quite cute.

He's very serious about football.

He brought home his play book.

As he looked through it he

made sure that no one could see it.

I asked him if I could see it.

He quickly responded,

No Mom!  You may tell the other team our plays!

First Day of Kindergarten

It's so hard to believe that

today was D's 1st day

of Kindergarten!

He was so excited to walk with the boys to school!

When we got to school, the Cedar Ridge Cougar

was waiting to welcome him.

His teacher is Mrs. Terry.

She was Alex's teacher.  She is amazing!

Drew was so excited, but a little nervous.

Peyton and I were sad to drop D off,

but the PTA sponsored a

BOO HOO Breakfast for the parents.

When Peyton and I picked

D up all his nervousness was gone.

He had a great day!

Biker Boy

Yesterday Drew came inside from riding bikes with his friends

and said, "Dad, I want my training wheels off my bike."  

Aaron went outside and took the training wheels off.

I went out to check on them about 5 minutes later and this is what I found....

He's definitely a natural!

First Day of School

Handsome E just

before he left for his first day of 4th grade.

Cute Alex

before his first day of 2nd grade.

Of course this morning

I had to wake D and P up

to walk the boys to school.

E's teacher is Mrs. Young.

Alex's is Mrs. Smith.

The boys both reported a 

very good first day!

I can't believe I have a 4th and 2nd grader!

Hard Work

Aaron took this past week off to do some major home improvement!  

He even worked through a terrible cold

and some sort of flu!

Now that's dedication!

He knocked out the wall at the bottom of the stairs and moved the two doors.  

It is so nice and open now.  I love it.

This view is at the bottom of the stairs to the left. 

The door has been moved and a new giant closet was built.

He then built a wall down the middle of the boys' room, 

so they each have their own room now. 

They're enjoying it already!

Thanks for spending your vacation hard at work! 

You did a great job!  

Now we can't wait until September 

when Uncle Wimp comes to help Aaron finish!!!!

Soccer Boy

P got into D's closet and brought me this outfit. 

He slept in it last night

and is still wearing it!

Almost daily he tells me, "I 4 and I get to play soccer. 

If you don't let me play my soccer team will put you in time out!"

If only they let 3 year olds play soccer.

He just doesn't like

kicking the ball to me in the backyard.

He wants to be on a team!

I just love this little guy!

A Bear

Tonight was Pack Meeting.  Ethan has been working hard.  He earned 2 red beads, Map and Compass belt loop, a gold arrow, and his Bear!  Way to go E!  If he continues to enjoy scouting, he'll have no trouble getting his Eagle long before he's 16.

The new Bear

Photo courtesy of Alex

Go E!

Summer Days

A couple of weeks ago we finally got some great patio furniture!

It has been so nice to be able to enjoy the back yard.

We've eaten outside almost every night. Last weekend we

even made Smores on the grill. Delicious!

Alex enjoys reading outside while

Peyton colors.

Family fun!

Happy Fourth of July

We started off the 4th with a hike to Battle Creek Falls.

 It was a great hike for all the kids.

Drew insisted on carrying the backpack and did a great job.

The boys have decided we need

to do a new hike

once a week.

Battle Creek Falls

E, Alex, and Drew

loved playing right near

the waterfall.

Peyton was a little nervous when the trail got narrow and steep, 

but hiked the whole way, 1.3 miles one way, without being carried. 

This may need to be a new 4th of July

tradition.

Happy Birthday!

Peyton had a great 3rd birthday!

He chose everything.  At first

he wanted an elephant party with a

doughnut cake.  However,

when we got to the party store

he changed his mind.

He chose a Choo Choo Train

party and

a baseball cake with

a choo choo train candle.

Look who's definitely a

big boy!

Way to Go!

Baseball season is officially over. Alex's team took 3rd place in the tournament which was awesome! Alex has turned into quite the hitting machine. He loved playing baseball! He had great teammates and wonderful coaches! After he got his medal, he told me how special the medal was to him. He's such a cutie!! Congratulations Alex!

Alex is a Hitting Machine

While the title might imply that Alex likes to whoop on his brothers, actually it refers to his BASEBALL skills. Yeah, Alex is a stud, he can do this all day long. See for yourself.

A New Boy

Before.....

AFTER....

He's so cute! I love the new summer hair cut!