My big brother.

Walter is proud to have a big brother. He calls Owen his big brother all the time. On Friday when Owen & Jer were getting back from school, he ran into the kitchen to tell me "My big brother is home!"

Friday was an eventful day at our house. We had some of Owen's friends and their families over for dinner. As we were prepping for their arrival, I asked Jer to take Griffin out to the triangle park and throw him some balls in hopes of wearing off some of his energy. Well, a ball went into the street as a car was coming down and Griffin ended up getting hit by the car. Griffin's right shoulder got hit and he rolled away from the car, thankfully. Jer said it was the worst thing he's ever seen. He came limping over to Jer as a neighbor's dog got loose and attacked Grif. Jer and some neighbors got the dog off Griffin and Jer brought him home completely shook up. He was limping and obviously exhausted from it all. We watched him carefully through the night and on Saturday he was about 70% back. By Sunday you would never have known anything had ever happened to him. He is one tough dog. To date he has survived blastomycosis, an abusive first family, and now being hit by a car. I get frustrated by him and his havoc he often causes, but after an event like that, I realize just how special he is to us and why we fight to keep him.

My grandparents arrived here from Kauai on Saturday, just in time for the cool weather. We spent Sunday with my family and will be doing more of that in the coming weeks. I'm really looking forward to our annual talent show. Owen is quite excited about it, as he seems to win year after year. Walter might be ready to give him a run for his money this year, though.

The boys and Jer went with his family to a very artsy mini-golf course on Saturday. It sounds like it was pretty spectacular, as I'm still hearing about the different holes.

I'm pretty much living and breathing Great Gala right now. I actually need to get working on it now...

Aye, aye, captain.

As we were driving home from gymnastics tonight, Walter said this. I have no idea where he heard this, but it sure was cute coming out of his sweet mouth. 

Owen had a blast at gymnastics tonight. He showed Jer & me that he could do a headstand against a wall this weekend and then proceed to push himself up into a handstand. I tried and couldn't even feel a hair move off the ground. When I ask him his favorite part of gymnastics, he always says rings and says he loves to go upside down on them. 

Walter has a pal at gymnastics with whom he always swap toys and chases around while his brother is in the gym. Tonight they were in the little lockers playing peek-a-boo and giggling like mad. So cute.

We had a nice weekend together with a minor hiccup along the way. We played in our yard quite a bit, including a water balloon fight and an outdoor bath. We also celebrated a week of very little whining and sass with a bowling excursion. Unfortunately I got a virus and wasn't feeling so hot Saturday night...well actually I was feeling too hot! :) All is well now, I just don't know where the weekend went as I slept through a good majority of it. Either way, it sure does remind you to be thankful for good health.

Where is it you, Mommy?

This is what I hear every once in a while around the house when Walter gets caught up in some toys or I run to get something in the basement or upstairs. Every time he says it, he makes me smile. He is so darn cute.

I had a meeting for the gala I am planning for Sunny Hollow today and I am so happy it is done. I'm a procrastinator by nature, so was up the past few nights preparing for it. It has been a fun and stressful addition in my life, and I am really looking forward to seeing it actualize. It should be a great event and I plan on making them lots of money. (If I haven't asked you yet...do you want to donate anything! :))

We've been having picnics in the garden at school daily. Its a great way to get to know other moms and avoid hearing 'I'm hungry' about a million times on the ride home. Today we also made a pit stop at the Longfellow Gardens to see the beautiful gardens and see and hear the beautiful hummingbirds. There were about 20 of them zipping around us. I never knew they made noises, but they do and sound kind of like crickets.

Tonight we have playgroup so I feel like I'm on easy street! Thank God for friends with kids!

Do you want to make a chart for Walter?

(Why?) Because he's whining a lot lately and it really hurts my ears.

This is what Owen asked and told me this afternoon. We had to have a discussion with Owen about being sassy and using kind words today and we came up with a reward system for using kind, big boy words. A few minutes later, Walter started crying about something, so Owen asked this! In time, it will work for Walter, too.

Owen had a big dream come true yesterday, he participated in his first run. He was so excited to run and particularly drink his Gatorade before and after. It was part of a new festival in our neighborhood, the Monarch Festival, which celebrates the monarch's journey from MN to Mexico. Lake Nokomis has a nice butterfly garden and we saw quite a few flying free after Owen flew to the finish line. There was also information on planting your own butterfly garden, something we intend to do this fall, so it was great to get some good reading, too.

We have been enjoying our lovely verdant back yard daily. I have realized I don't have to wash my floors as frequently, however, I do seem to be doing more laundry, as the boys tend to get soaked in the sprinkler roughly once a day! I'll gladly take this swap! We finally finished painted the fence today and now its just another reason to go stare at our beautiful yard! 

Jer took the boys bowling this afternoon. He started a bowling league at work last week, so now Owen is crazy about bowling! The last time we went bowling was a total nightmare as Walter didn't want to wait his turn and let everyone know about it. Jer said it was much better this time around. Owen got a 95 and Walter got a 55.

First you say 'hut, hut' then after I run some, say 'turn'.

Owen requested a game of football this evening. He and Jer had a few sessions in the triangle park by our house this weekend and he seems to have learned a few plays. He was not too impressed with my skills and was continually showing me how to do it correctly, but in the end there were lots of giggles and proud smiles. This was one set of instructions I received.

Today was Owen's first day of school. I was really not ready for summer to be over, however after today, it feels right. Its nice to be concerned of bedtime again, to resume a schedule and get into a routine again. He seems to have had a good day. He didn't tell me much, but after a few guessing games I figured out some of the work he did and he was excited to expand on each guess.

We had a packed weekend. On Saturday, we went to John's 5th birthday party. The boys had a blast playing at a water park, eating cake and playing with toys. 

On Sunday, we drove up to International Falls. Our dear friend Josh's brother, Mike, past away and we went up to partake in the funeral. It was a beautiful ceremony, right on Lake Kabetogama, which was a special place for Mike. 

After, we went to visit my Grandma, Uncle and cousins. Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead, so we weren't able to take any photos of the fun.

On Monday, Al and Joanne took the boys out to the Arboretum where they enjoyed getting lost in a maze! The boys really enjoyed themselves, while Jer and I got some work done in our yard.

That doesn't even scare me.

We spent the day at the Great Minnesota Get Together today, eating, riding, walking, exploring and having fun together. Owen wanted to do everything he saw, including the Haunted Mansion. As he looked at it with all the eery music, smoke and zombies dancing around it, he said this. We watched the people exiting for a bit and saw a boy a few years older than O come out bawling and said no to Owen. We didn't say no too much today, but that was one firm one!

We talked about our highlights on the ride home. Food highlights for Jer and me were corn dogs, for the boys it was cotton candy. Event highlights for everyone were the giant slide (Walter and me), breaking plates for prizes in the Midway (Jer), and the harnessed trampoline jump (Owen). It was so much fun, however, our stomachs and pocket book are pleased this is a once a year event!

Have you ever seen a bear swim?

The boys and I woke up today with no agenda. After a relaxing start to the day, we decided to take full advantage the rest of the day and headed to the zoo. It was such a great time. We were there for over 5 hours and spent time in the butterfly garden, saw the bird show, played in the awesome new park, watched the bears swim, ran around in fountains, and enjoyed being together. I even caved and got the boys a twisted lollipop, something I always wanted as a kid.

Got two, Mommy!

We have been doing our fair share of mini-golfing lately. The boys went over and over at my parents house, we've done a few family trips, Jer took the boys last weekend and I took them again yesterday. After each and every hole, Walter comes running toward me, telling me he 'got two, Mommy!' So sweet.

We've been busy as normal since I last posted. I spent the weekend with my mom's group friends at a cabin in Wisconsin. We had tons of fun dancing and talking all weekend long. Jer and the boys had a great time together spending time with some cousins and having some quality guy time. Owen keeps telling me we need to hit up the batting cages, an obvious highlight from the weekend with dad.

Last week we had the pleasure of spending an entire day with Lydia. She is just so sweet and laid back. The boys loved having her here and made her feel like a queen entertaining her every need. 

On Monday Owen had his first day of gymnastics in the big gym! He was so proud to use all the big equipment. He asked me why it was harder in the big gym after class.

Last night we had an ice cream social at Sunny Hollow to celebrate the upcoming school year. It was fun to see Owen's teachers and friends. I had been unsure of Owen's interest in going back to school, but I'm positive he's ready and will be loving it come Tuesday. He sure does seem to love it there.

Today we had playgroup at Melissa's and enjoyed a beautiful day playing in her beautiful yard. We are enjoying every last minute of summer.

Pete and Repeat.

This is what I call my sweet boys. Owen is really quite patient with his little brother who LOVES to follow him around, doing whatever he does and saying whatever he says. Thankfully, Walter has a wonderful role model.

We had a very busy day today, beginning with playgroup at our house. It was great fun playing with our friends and enjoying a beautiful summer day. 

We ended the day with a barbecue at Donna and Bruce's with the Hipps family. We had anticipated being able to see Aunt Rachel and cousin Isabelle, however poor Isabelle came down with quite a temperature. Luckily they are here for a couple weeks so we will have other chances to see them once Isabelle is 100% again.

Mom, watch this. Are you watching, Mommy?

We met my parents in Wausau and got the boys yesterday! It was so fun to see them again. We then went to Steven's Point to have a family night together. Jer took us to Sentry World where we hit a huge bucket of golf balls at the range. The entire time we were hitting, Owen said this over and over and over again.

It sounds like the boys had a nice time with my mom and dad and vice versa. There were lots of stories of mini-golfing, bon-fires, board games and other adventures. I'm so thankful that it worked out, that all went well and there may just be a repeat of this next summer...

Jer and I had an enjoyable weekend together, hitting up a movie and dinners. On Saturday Jer played 27 holes of golf and I spent 2 hours on my head, taking an inversion clinic at yoga. (I am so proud to say I did a hand-stand, head-stand, shoulder-stand, and some totally funky arm balances, too!!! Much of which was done with help, but it was still SO fun!) We ended the day together at a friend's house for a pool party and barbeque. Being free of responsibilities was fun, but its great to have it back again. I love my babies!

Ready, Set, Goooooo!

Its safe to say I officially miss these boys like crazy! We are going to pick them up tomorrow and spend a night together in Steven's Point. I'm anxious to give them lots and lots of hugs and kisses!

Who's yard is this?

Al's helped us out in a HUGE way this year. He drew up a beautiful design for our yard which his company did an amazing job executing. Thanks to him we have an awesome green backyard and two new beautiful patios, one in front and another in back. In addition to fundraising, yoga, cleaning and caring for Grif this week, I am also happily babysitting our new grass!

I couldn't bare to take a photo of the before, but am more than happy to show a picture of the after.

What are you doing up?

Jer brought the boys to Wausau this week, where my mom met him and took them to their house. I took on the biggest fundraiser for Sunny Hollow this year and needed some solid time to dedicate to getting the planning and fundraising rolling. (I think I'll also get some good yoga practice in and a clean home, too.) This morning when I called Jer at the usual 7:30 time, this was the first thing he asked me! I've never been known as a morning person and will be sure to sleep in tomorrow and Thursday, however this morning I had a meeting at Sunny Hollow to get up for!

On Sunday we went mini-golfing as a family. Owen was beyond excited. He is so cute when he's pumped - he just talks and talks, fairly loudly, too. Walter then repeats what Owen says. I'm going to miss those boys!

I went away this weekend with my Augsburg girlfriends. We went up north to my girlfriend's cabin on Fish Lake. Luckily we took advantage of a semi-clear Saturday morning and went on the pontoon boat, swimming and tubing behind the jet-ski, as the afternoon brought rain that didn't really stop. It was great fun, as always, telling old stories, catching up on what's new and just being friends. I'm lucky to have such fabulous women in my life.

Walter, you missed the wave!

Joanne called me this morning with an offer we couldn't pass up: four sweet tickets to this afternoon's Twins game. So we headed out the door to do our last day of summer gymnastics, as planned, then came home for lunch and hopped on the train to go to the game. We managed to get Mandy and Miles to join us and enjoyed a very hot humid day inside the a/c of the metrodome. On a whim, I decided to bring Walter's blanket and pacifier thinking it'd help him get through a potential no-nap meltdown and to my surprise, he actually fell asleep in my arms in the very, very loud dome. When he woke up, this was the first thing Owen told him. 

After the game we took our time to get outside and listened to a few street musicians along the way. When we finally got aboard a very packed train, Miles invited us over for pizza. We never say no to a pizza party, so we ended the day playing ball in Miles's backyard over pizza and watermelon. Such a fun, spontaneous day!