Mason Threw Away His Training Wheels!

Some pictures from Jo's:

 

Fun with playdoh

Just chillin....enjoying the nice weather...

Chatting it up with baby Avery

We got Mason's preK pictures back.  These are just the samples they printed, and just me taking photos of the photos...so that's why they're a little blurry/shadowy/crooked/etc...but darn it they are cute!

 

I love him!

Look at that grin!

Mr. Tough Guy

This is the pose we ordered.  Still that silly grin!  (Sorry the photo won't turn)!

So serious!  (Again, won't turn)

We spent lots of time outside this week.  It was so nice out!  It's still a little warmer than I like in fall, but still so so nice!  Saturday, however, it was rainy!  What to do on a rainy day?  Head to the library!  Matt and Bryce went to look for a light while I went to check out some new books with the older two boys:

Rainy day reading at the library!

 And look what else can happen on a rainy day:

My shower is done!  Thank you honey!  Am I the only one who knows the truth behind this shower?  Mason's response when it was done was "How did dad get it done that fast?  It only took one day!"  Um...a little more than that!

Mason has ridden his bike without training wheels two other times.  But each time he would fall, he would quit and want them back on.  We decided to give it a go one more time (with Marcy and Nate here to witness) and he's not turning back!  Two things I can quote from him:  "Wow.  Now I can't hear that annoying sound from my training wheels," and "I'm never going to stop riding my bike.  This is awesome.  This is easy!"  He's still a little wobbly, but we're so happy and proud!

 

Getting "coached"

You can do it!

He kept looking back to be sure Matt was still holding on...

More coaching...

Letting go!

You're doing it!

Success!

Bryce being silly and Marcy imitating!

Marcy and Nate were in town for the Chiefs game and stayed at our house.  Last night we went to Five Guys and "Frog Spit" (Yogurtini) and the boys did some entertaining while there!

 

 

All three boys dancing to the music outside of 5 Guys

 

Mason "dancing."  Silly boy!

 

Today we also got to see Papa!  He brought the boat to our house because it's going to be winterized and stored down here for the winter.  The boys were so excited to see him!  Grandma didn't come - she's in Montana with Great Grandma Beggs visiting cousin Abby and Mattaya.  We sure missed seeing her!

 

It's hard to believe October will begin this week.  October is a very busy month at school with conferences coming up, so I'm trying to gear up for all of that!  I'm sure it will go as fast, or faster, than September!

 

Jo says NO to Cancer, 11th Anniversary, and the Apple Orchard

If you're reading this then you know that I decided to make this blog private.  No problem or issue...just got to thinking that I didn't really like the fact that just anyone with our blog address could see it.  You just don't know who's out there...and I really only want people I know reading about our family!  Thanks for understanding!

 

This week at Jo's:

 

All 3 of the boys have enjoyed this horse costume at Jo's!

Outdoor fun!

Using a glue stick!  It can be done before kids enter kindergarten!  Ha!

It's the simple things...

 And we got this guy's school pictures back.  It isn't right that he's in 2nd grade already...and just growing too quickly!

2nd grader!

It's been a year ago this month that Jo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  And she beat it!  Her husband and oldest daughter orchestrated an amazing surprise get-together for this past weekend.  Joella is not one for surprises.  She's a tough one to surprise.  So everyone was nervous about it.  But...SHE WAS SURPRISED!!!  We all met at a local restaurant and waited for her to arrive with her friend Kendra (under the pretense that they were going out for Kendra's birthday).  She walked in, we all started cheering...and the tears started flowing!  What a great way to celebrate a great person!

 

We were glad to spend our anniversary (11 years) morning celebrating Jo!

Bryce hung close to Erika and Jo all morning!

Bryce with JoJo

The whole gang!  We got shirts...Jo got the only pink one!

Matt and I decided to get tickets to the Royals game Saturday night to celebrate our anniversary.  We've been wanting to go...and tried earlier this summer...but finally made it happen.  Erika watched the boys for us so we could have some adult time!  It was such a beautiful night!  Too bad the Royals didn't pull out a win for us...but either way the company couldn't be beat!

 

Way up high...but a great view!

11 years!!!

Today after church we decided to head to the apple orchard.  This is an annual thing for us.  Matt and I were talking about how funny it is that we only go there one time every year, but the second we pulled into the parking lot, the boys knew exactly where we were and exactly what to do!

 



 

I just love Mason's pose in this picture!

LOVE!!!

They got new pedal cars...hard to pedal!

"I can't move it!"

When I put the camera to my eye, Bryce started waving his arms at me!  All he wanted to do was get in this tractor!

And he loved the chickens!

Found one!

Looking for good ones!

We need to fill this basket!

Get the best one!

I got it!

Look at that smile!

Bryce looks so small on this tractor!

It was so hard to get all 3 looking...Bryce was the uncooperative one this time!

The best I got...all smiling...2/3 looking!

What a great weekend!  It went too fast!  But the weather was gorgeous so you can't ask for much more!

Grandparents Day and Boy Scout Campout





Some pictures from Jo's this week:

 

Our happy boy!

Playing with Ethan and Arthur in the sandbox!

Nicholas, Bryce, and Arthur hiding under the table

Jo says Bryce carries these ponies everywhere he goes!

Thankfully it cooled off this week so we enjoyed some time outside! 

 



Bryce running away from the camera and teasing me!

The Hubs!

Running through the sprinkler...

Hey adorable!

And pushing our little brother into the sprinkler!

Water!

Matt on the wiggle car.  He's not too big for it...right??

Lately Bryce has been carrying cars/trucks everywhere!  He even wants them to "eat" with him!

Last Sunday was Grandparent's Day.  Tuesday Mason's preschool had a program for the grandparents.  Matt's parents were able to come down for it.  They sang a couple of songs, then Mason left with them.  He got to pick lunch - McDonald's (surprise) and then stayed there and played for awhile before they went to get Bryce and Zane.  It was nice to stay at work a little bit that day since I knew the boys were being taken care of!

They said Mason cried when they got there...strange!

La la la!

Mason loves his grandparents!

 

He talked grandma into a new toy!

Was it a little hot Bryce???

 

Skills!

 

Wheelie!

 

Mason got ahold of the camera and took a selfie!  So hilarious!

Mason and I had our dental checkup.  He was so good the whole time!  He just sat and watched me for my cleaning, then did everything they asked him to for his!  Look how cute he is!

Counting his teeth!

Cool dude with those sunglasses!

 This spring we asked Matt's parents if they would mind planting some pumpkin seeds on the farm.  Of course they didn't!  The boys have been so excited to watch them and get photo updates from Grandma.  This week she sent us this picture:

Pumpkin!!!  We'll be ready to open a patch soon...haha!

Saturday was Zane's Cub Scout Campout.  Mason wasn't sure if he wanted to go.  He wanted to, but then didn't because he didn't want to sleep outside, then decided he wanted to.  So my three oldest boys packed up and headed out on Saturday morning.  That left Bryce and I alone all day and night.  We did fine on our own!  It was quiet but we got a lot of running around and cleaning done!

 

Ready to go!

Mason was the photographer for the day!  Ha!

Setting up camp (Thanks Adam for the tent!)  Good thing they had a roll of duct tape - they needed it (see the roof).

Our Cub Scout

Tyler and Zane waiting to shoot their water rockets

Here goes!  (They said it went far)!

Watching the festivities

Tanner and Zane

Kickball time

The layout

Hanging around the campfire

Smores!

 

Matt's been working crazy hours.  Thankfully this week that is going to lessen and we'll be seeing more of him.  It makes for very long weeks!