Pedal Pull Champion!

Well, to Zane's dismay (because he told Grandma he passed preschool already and didn't have to go back), he had a full week of school and we had a full week of a "normal" schedule. Boy were we all exhausted by the end of the week! We're getting ourselves back into the swing of things and a routine, but it sure is different from our lazy summer days!

This weekend Matt's hometown had their re-scheduled Fourth of July festivities. The original event was rained out, so they decided to have it Saturday night. Matt and I were at the races, and the boys went to the carnival with Matt's parents. It ended up that we were very disappointed to not be there...Zane entered the pedal pull...AND HE WON for his age division! I think everyone was shocked...last year was his first attempt and the look on his face when he started pedaling was like, "oh, you have to work to get this to move...where's the button to start the motor..." But...he pedaled to the end and they had to stop him! He showed us his winnings first thing this morning and he said, "Mom, I've never won a trophy!" I'm so sad I wasn't there to see it, but so happy for Zane and proud of him!!

Watching the parade

Zane's winning pull...

Proud as can be!

Down, down, down!

LOVES that trophy!

Tomorrow is my Grandpa Kathol's 85th birthday, so we all went to Des. Moines today to have dinner with him. We are so lucky that everyone was able to make it! Grandpa was so happy to see all of us, but I think we wore him out! The boys entertained everyone and kept them hopping! It was so nice to see everyone and spend a little bit of time together. We always look forward to our get-togethers!

Zane found a Bingo wheel and enjoyed it

Grandpa with his girls!
Michele, Heidi, Adam, Jan, Lisa

Brian, Paul, Matt, Aaron

Zane telling Grandpa good-bye

All of us!

Zane-isms

• "I had a dream we went to Doggie Patch!" (Dogpatch is a place at the Ozarks).
• "Mom, why can't I have milk?" (This is his way of asking for milk...)
• "Oh, Mom, you are gorgeous!" (After I put on a necklace he made for me).
• "Mom, I miss Grandma Kathol."
  

Mason's Marvels

• Mason repeats/says EVERYTHING! Some of them I can think of right now are: "Ky-kle" (Motorcycle); "paper;" "ca-ker" (cracker); "Zay" (Zane); "eh-pane" (airplane); "peese" (please); "kank ew" (thank you)
• One of Mason's newest ways to relax himself is to take the edge of his blankie and rub it above his upper lip. It's too cute!
• "Macee" is what Mason calls himself...not "me" or "mine..." but "Macee." This has become his newest nickname!
• "Woah, bump!" (As we were driving and hit a bump in the road!
• "Knuckles" (When he wants to give you knuckles...then he wants you to say "ouch, hurt!"
• We are hoping Mason is going to be easy to potty train...lately he comes up to us and says "poop" when he has a dirty diaper. So then we tell him that we need to change his diaper, so he goes in his room and lays down for us. Tonight he came up to Matt, started grabbing his diaper to take it off, and said "Change." Sure enough, he needed a new diaper!
• The other night we were sitting at the dinner table, Mason started naming us..."Mama, Daddy." Then I pointed to Zane and said, "Who's that?" He said "Bubby!"
• "Buckee, buckee, buckee, buckee!" (One day in the van Mason was screaming this and pointing at Matt in the driver's seat...Matt hadn't yet buckled his seatbelt and Mason was worried about him)!

Back to School and The Iowa State Fair!

It's been a tad crazy around here the last couple of weeks...we're now back in the swing of things with school/work/daycare! We tried to soak up every last minute of our summer break that we could...we spent our last week playing, swimming, and hanging out together. It's hard to believe summer is over! I'm having a little bit of a hard time waking up and getting ready each day...I miss the lazy days of summer! But it is nice to be back in a routine (although two little bodies need to get used to it, they are exhausted)!

One of our favorite summer foods!

The same day I started back to work, Zane had his "back to school night." This is where we take his supplies and go to his classroom to meet the teacher and see the room. This year Zane is in a Pre-Kindergarten classroom with a different teacher. He had the same teachers the last 2 years, so we wondered how this year would go! His teachers are wonderful and I can tell we are going to have a great year!!! When you talk to Zane about school, he'll be sure to tell you his room number and that he is not in Preschool...he is in Pre-K!

Miss Courtney & Zane

Zane & Miss Shirley

I'm not sure Zane really knew what was coming his way! The first few days I had to work, he did not have school yet, so he got to go to Jo's house. Now he's beginning to ask "when do I get to go to Jo's house?" Um...you're in full time school buddy!

Zane's first day of Pre-K!

Zane and Mason's first days back have gone well (or at least I haven't heard otherwise). This weekend he told Grandma Farmer that he already passed Pre-K and didn't have to go back! He's quick, it had only been 4 days at that point! This weekend we headed to the Iowa State Fair. Matt has been every year since he was 10 months old, and both boys have gone every year of their lives also! We camped with Matt's parents, brother, and sister. We tried to fit as much fair fun (and food) as we could in 2 days...I think we did pretty well!

Waiting for a ride to the fair...

The butter sculpture this year was Green Eggs & Ham!
Little Farmer Boy...

Meeting Clifford

Marcy took Zane to see the snakes...YIKES!

Donig wax hands/footprints

Cotton candy...a fair favorite!

Cooling off in the fountains

Doing some spin art

Mason & Papa

The boys with Papa on the Carousel

STRONG BOY!

Mason's Marvels

• Lately Mason has been giving kisses when you ask for them and will say "luv ew!" He will also blow kisses a lot and give you a "squeeze!"
• The other day in the van I heard Mason say "knuckles." I looked back and he was giving himself knuckles! He's been wanting to give knuckles to everyone, and when he does he says "boom!" and then he wants you to say "hurt, hurt" like he hurt you! The other morning when we were saying good-bye to Dad and Zane, Mason went over to Zane, put his fist out, and said "knuckles!"
• One of Mason's newest favorite books is Green Eggs and Ham. When I read it to him, I use a deep voice, so when he sees the book, he says "NO!" in a really deep voice. He seems to be enthralled with the page in the dark and he'll say "dark, dark" while looking for the page!
• Mason will finally answer "yes" or shake his head yes to a question...not only "no!"
• Sometimes now when you tell Mason something, he'll say "oh" or "OK."

Sweet Summertime!

Oh where, oh where, has summer gone! Last week was our last full week together and then (sigh) we return back to work, school, and daycare. I know, I know, everyone is crying big crocodile tears for me...but I know you all have the same feeling...when you've been on a great vacation and have to return to work...it's a tough cookie to swallow! We've tried to make the most of our last week togehter...going to lunch with Matt, swimming, playing, making shaved ice, etc...here are the boys one day after rest time with their shaved ice!

Mason & Zane enjoying shaved ice

Mason saying "CHEESE"
Happy boy!

Zaner posing for me!

You know, when summer starts you look ahead to weeks of fun, and now all of a sudden it is almost over...I just don't know where the time went! I will definitely miss the "lazy days" of summer!

A Week At Grandma/Grandpa Farmer's and Camping!

Last week was a very quiet week at the Baker house...the boys spent the week on the farm! They have done this the last few years and everyone involved loves it! It was strange to have such a quiet house and to just have to worry about ourselves for a week! I wasn't sure what I'd do with myself, but somehow we filled up each moment! Monday was my school's annual golf tournament/fund raiser, so I was busy with it all week. The rest of the week I spent in my classroom, and am happy to report it is ready for kids! I still have a few things to do, but a majority of the work is done...a good feeling so that I can enjoy these last few days with the boys! We went out to eat with some friends, at some places we don't get to often, went to a movie, and on Friday I went shopping and had a massage...aah! Here are some photos and videos from the boys' week!

Zane taking Mason for a ride!

Zane taking Big for a ride...

Zane "crafting"

Sprinkler time!
Mason mastered the tractor last week!

Mason reading to his puppy and lion

This weekend was our annual camping trip with the Snyder family. We headed to the campground Friday and were very anxious to see the boys...we hadn't seen them since Sunday! When we got there, Keeta brought Mason over to me and he got the BIGGEST grin on his face! He came right to me, saying "Mama!" and just kept staring at me. He pushed away from me a little bit and just kept staring, smiling, touching me, and had this look like "is it really you?" Then he did the same thing with Matt. It made us feel good and was so cute! Zane...on the other hand...wouldn't stop to tell us hi! I said, "Zane, come here," and he said, "Mom, I already saw you!" We had such a great weekend with everyone...Zane (age-wise) is about right in the middle of Tate and Noah, so they all get along very well! We ate, talked, played, swam, boated, and just made some great memories together. We are already talking about when we can get together before next summer...we'd love the boys to know each other better growing up!

Tate and Zane watching a movie in the camper

Zane on the tube Tate, Zane, Marcy, Brooklyn, and Noah
Brent, Chip, and Mason hanging out in the tube

S'Mores!

Before we headed back home Sunday, we took one more trip around the lake in the boat. As we found out at the Ozarks, Mason isn't too fond of wearing a life jacket, so he hadn't been on the boat all weekend. We decided to give it one more shot Sunday, and although he hated it at first and was screaming and trying to get the life jacket off, after riding in the tube he was having fun! It was so cute...he was looking up at the boat, waving, saying, "Hi, Papa! Hi, Grandma! Hi Marcy! Hi, Brent!" And every wave we hit he said "woah!" I was glad to see him enjoying himself! He was getting really tired, and wanted his blankie in the tube with him. He kept saying, "bankie, ride." Eventually I gave in and just let him...and that thing was dripping wet!

My boys in the lake!

Mason with his blankie in the tube...

Our family!

The rest of this week we are going to try to enjoy as much as we can...it's our last full week off before returning to "the real world!" I am so appreciative of the time I have with the boys! We are making some great memories!!!