A Week on the Farm!

What a quiet week around here...the boys were in Iowa enjoying a week on the farm with Grandma and Papa! (Zane has recently renamed them Poppy and Grammy. He thinks it's funny!) Monday I had my school's annual fund-raising golf tournament to help with and I had 2 days of school meetings, so it was easier to have them at Grandma's for the week!


Mason now has a new best friend...Big! Grandma reported that as soon as Big saw Mason he ran right over and laid down so Mason could climb/crawl on him and pet him. For some reason I can't get this picture to upload, so be sure to check out our Flickr site for pictures of Mason and Big!

Zane found quite a treaure in the shed...

One day they were playing outside and Grandma told Zane to stay right there because she was going in to check on Mason (he was taking a nap). When she came out she couldn't see him, so sh started hollering for him. All of a sudden she heard some giggling and looked over to see him being a statue! That prompted lots of "why" questions, such as "Why don't these guys talk?" Here's Zane acting as a statue (and when he shows you, you HAVE to cock your head to the side)!

Riding the tractor

Wednesday was the rodeo parade in Lenox. Grandma and Grandpa loaded the boys up and headed there. My mom and dad were in the parade dressed as clowns and apparently it scared Mason terribly! Zane knew who they were but weren't sure of them and hid behind Grandma. Reports are that Zane got lots of candy and played lots of games!

Miniature golfing

Mason is all over the place crawling! He pulls himself up to everything and is getting very brave! He tries to go between things and walks along things that he can hold onto. He is so strong...he can even hold onto something with one hand and bend down to pick up a toy with the other hand! This weekend he was playing with some toys and without realizing what he was doing, he let go, held onto his toy, and stood up for a few seconds! I think he is going to try walking a lot sooner than I want him to!

Happy boy Mason

Fun on the farm (look at Mason's scared face!)

Both boys are content to be outside as much as possible, and on the farm there is so much for them to do! They were dirty and tired by the end of every day!

Playing in the sand

Wheee!


All too soon and he'll be riding it around!

Zane's new favorite thing is the lawnmower! They went through 2 tanks of gas because of him riding it around! They had to make rules, which he followed. Matt put a block on the pedal this weekend so he didn't have to reach so far. That really seemed to help!

The World According to Zane

• One night on our walk Zane looked at his skin and said "I'm brown." Then I asked him what color Daddy's skin was and he said "Dark brown. I'm light brown." (For the record, he says I'm light brown and Mason's dark brown).
• Zane was playing with bubbles in the garage and some spilled. I slipped on them and stubbed my toe pretty bad. I was saying "Ouch, ouch, that hurts" and hobbling around. Zane came up to me and said "Mom, calm down, it's okay. Take a beef breath!" I was trying not to laugh so I was looking away from him. He said, "Mom, look at me. Take a beef breath...like this!" Then he showed me how to take a "beef breath."
• After his bath one evening, Zane had to go to the bathroom. He was dripping wet from the bath, so I put a towel over him. He looked at me and said, "Why did you do that?" I told him because he was wet and probably cold. He said, "Thanks mom, you're a good girl!"
• On our way home from vacation we stopped at Sonic for supper. We asked Zane what he wanted to eat and he said, "Nothing. Just a root beer. My belly says 'I'm not hungry.'" (The last part was in a deep voice...hilarious!)
• Out of the blue one day, "I'm happy to have a baby!"
• Zane and I like to tell each other how much we love one another. I usually tell him I love him to the sky or to grandma's house, etc. His response was, "I love you all the way to God!"
• Yesterday Zane was all about protecting his baby brother. In the stroller, he put the shade up so Mason wouldn't get a sunburn. In the garage, he was worried that Mason would crawl under the van and we would smash him. He loves his brother!

Mason's Marvels

• Mason's crawling all over...and getting into everything! Yesterday he figured out how to flush the toilet!

Our Ozarks Vacation and CRAWLING!

Saturday the 11th was our 2nd annual Shane Sweeney memorial golf tournament. It was a beautiful day! I was on one of the holes collecting money and had a great time seeing everyone and catching up a little bit! Then we went to the races and Chris WON!!! It was awesome...and then his motor got claimed AGAIN! Let's just say it's been a long year with motors for the Hogan crew! Our plan was to head to Kansas City Saturday after the races to unpack/repack for vacation so we'd be loaded and ready to go by noon, but that didn't work out so well. So we had to get up early Sunday, head to KC, and take our dirty laundry with us. Everyone met at our house around noon, we had dinner, then headed south! We were ready for a break!

Our baby is growing up too fast! He is now officially crawling! He started crawling last Sunday, the day we left for vacation! I was glad to know that we'd have plenty of adults around for a week to help watch him! He's so thrilled that he can get where he wants to go, but I don't think he's going to be content with crawling for long. Over vacation he also started pulling himself up to something and trying to get over to something else (from one chair to another). Here's a video of Mason crawling...and uncle Brent in the background trying to get him not to...

Monday the weather was awesome, a little cool and sunny. Grandma brought Zane a fishing pole. He was content to just put it in the water all week and even to "fish" off of the balcony from our cabin. There were times they were fishing for squirrels during the week...crazy kids!

Catching anything Zane?
Mason checking out the water
Zane & Mason

The Baker boys

Tuesday was my birthday and I was so glad to be able to spend it at a lake with family! It was rainy that day, so we decided it'd be a good day to go to Dogpatch and check out all the stores. Zane had a great time at the arcade and I spent my time at the candy shop! After that, some of us went and had pizza while others went shopping for a wake board. Later that night we had hash (my choice), cupcakes, and homemade ice cream. YUMMY! It was a great day!

At Dogpatch

Our little fish!

On Wednesday we rented wave runners in the morning, then decided to go parasailing. Matt and I went first. I was nervous and didn't know what to expect, but LOVED it! It was so peaceful up there and I enjoyed just looking down at the lake. I'd go again!

All of us who parasailed

Our resort was the same one that Matt, Zane and I went to last year. This year we just rented a bigger cabin that could hold all of us. It was perfect! There was space enough for everyone and it was great. There is also two playgrounds, and indoor pool, and an outdoor pool. Zane preferred the indoor pool. It had a "bridge" that he could jump off of. I also think he liked staying out of the sun, he doesn't like it in his eyes! He has really become comfortable in the water this year. Early this summer he would never have jumped into the water, even to one of us. Now he loves doing it! He was even trying new things, like turning around, cannonballs, etc. I'm anxious to see how he does next summer in the water!

Mason loves the water!
Zane "diving"

It's tradition for us to go go-carting while at the Ozarks, so we headed to do that Thursday night. I don't have pictures of us carting yet, those are on Marcy's camera, so I'll post them to Flickr later. But there was a little track for kids and Zane was just barely tall enough to do them. He was so excited! The first time he went he was the only one. One time around the track he stopped, looked up at us with a huge smile, and gave us all a thumbs-up. It was priceless! The second time there was another little boy also. Zane was behind him, so in order to be first, he slowed way down for the boy to catch up. Then the boy tried to pass him and Zane cut him off. Matt thinks he's ready for real go-carting!

Think he's having fun?

Friday was the day we (Matt, Zane, Mason & I) were leaving. That morning Matt rented another wave runner. He took Zane out first, then I went out with him. It was a cool day, so when you were on it you felt very cold. The water was super warm though, so we ended up taking the boat out and hanging out in the lake for awhile before we headed out. We came back in, packed up, and headed back to Kansas City. I was sure Zane would cry when we left, but he didn't! We got home around 9:30, unpacked, did laundry, repacked, and slept!

Zane & Matt enjoying the lake

On the boat
Two of my favorite boys!
Everyone enjoying the lake

Saturday we headed back to Iowa. The races didn't go so well for us. BUT we will come back next week and show them! Sunday we celebrated my and my dad's birthdays with a great dinner at mom's house. Aaron and Michele were back also, so everyone was there. Then we went to Matt's parents to wait for them. They boys are staying at their house this week. They wanted to keep them this summer and I am really busy with school meetings this week, so it worked out nicely. It was very quiet on the way back to KC and it's very quiet at our house...I sure do miss them but know they are in great hands and loving every minute of their time with Grandma and Grandpa!

Happy Fourth of July!

Earlier this week I was in the basement looking for something and Zane was with me. We came across some of his old Halloween costumes. He saw his monkey costume and wanted to put it on. It was a little too small, but he played in it for awhile and then eventually laid down in my bed and fell asleep with it on! I'm sure it was extremely hot to sleep in!

Our little monkey...

Jason and Mary had a softball game on Wednesday, so we had their girls for a few hours. Madelyn and Zane had so much fun together! We all headed outside for most of the evening. The older kids rode around, played, and did some fireworks while the younger ones watched on...wishing they could join in!

Mason & Nora watching their siblings Zane taking Madelyn for a ride
Sparklers!

Thursday was Zane's last day of swimming lessons. He did so well this year! His report said that he was progressing well in all areas. We're so proud of him! After Matt got home from work Thursday we packed the van and went to the Parkville carnival before heading to Iowa. Zane had a blast! Then we headed to Iowa and did a few firecrackers on the farm before going to bed.

Jeep

Mason looking on...

Dumbo ride

Big slide

We woke up Friday to a rainy, dreary day. We spent the day at Matt's parents house. That night there was a tractor pull in town. Zane was really geared up for it and talked about it all day long! It looked like the weather was going to cooperate, but as soon as we got there, paid, and walked in, it let loose and poured on us! Zane was disappointed, but at least he was on the farm so he got over it!

Craig, Matt, and Zane watching the tractor pull

Saturday, the 4th, was even colder and more dreary than Friday! We were sort of hoping it would rain the races out so we could spend the 4th with our boys. We lucked out and they were canceled! So we got to go to the parade and carnival with them. It was very strange wearing sweatshirts to the 4th of July!

The boys in matching shirts

At the celebration we went to, there is always a pedal pull for the little kids. I wasn't sure if Zane would do it or not. It is the first year he was old enough. He went right up and signed up to do it! Pedal pulling is in his blood...I'll have you all know that I was really good at this as a kid! I was even in the local newspaper one year looking like I was trying so hard! Anyway, Zane tried it and I think he was surprised at how hard it actually was (he's not used to pedaling much, most of his toys are motorized). Matt said when he got off he said, "I could not do it." He tried though, so I was proud, and he even got a ribbon!

Pedal, Zane!

After riding a few rides, we went to Aunt Reeta's house and watched them let off some fireworks. Then it was time for the big fireworks show. They were awesome! I wasn't sure how Mason would do, but he sat right on my lap the whole time and just watched. Every time they would light up he would blink his eyes, it was cute! Eventually he fell asleep, I couldn't believe it!

We watched these beautiful fireworks

And Mason fell asleep!

Today we hung out on the farm and enjoyed the nice morning. Adam came out for dinner since he was alone for the weekend. He enjoyed seeing the boys and playing with them. Zane said to him, "Adam, do you want to be my best friend?" Little did Adam know that he would have to get on the lawnmower and follow Zane around on his tractor all over the place! Mason got to ride the 4-wheeler and lawnmower and had a huge smile on his face the whole time! He didn't want to get off!

Adam & Mason

Zane spent some time on the tractor with Papa today. When they got out once, Zane patted the tractor and said "I love tractors!"

Mason's really been working hard on crawling this week! He can now get back to sitting from a crawling position. He will do about two crawls and then lunges at whatever he's going for. He has been pulling himself up to chairs, tables, etc. I honestly think he'd rather stand up and walk versus crawling! He will push himself up onto his hands and feet and look like he's about to stand all the way up! He's growing up before our eyes!

One more week and then we're headed to vacation! We're very excited! Have a great week and thanks for checking in! Don't forget to check our Flickr site, there are more pictures on there!