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)!