summer mowing

Plenty of rain + warm summer sun + busy schedules = an overgrown lawn. As always, Logan and Owen pitched in with their matching mowers.

dish washers

Owen has been enjoying playing in the sink lately. The other night the boys surprised us by washing the dishes. Owen washed while Logan inspected and rinsed. At this rate we won't even need to hook up our new dishwasher currently sitting in the garage while we decide how to rebuild our cabinets.

young artistry

Owen paints his masterpiece.

grandma's marathon

Grandma's Marathon was this morning. Due to a nearly complete lack of training, Tony finally came to his senses and decided to run the half marathon instead of the full. This was a good decision as the last full marathon could nicely be described in words and phrases such as "less than fun", and "miserable", and not so nicely with words and phrases that should not appear in a family blog. The weather was not quite as hot as the last couple of years and he finished with a 1:47:18.

We are currently bound for Colorado...updates will appear in a couple of weeks.

happy fathers day

Logan (at less than twelve hours old) and Tony have already figured out how to find sleep anywhere.



Early on as infants, each of our boys snuggled up to their daddy's chest and were instantly comforted by his breathing, his singing, and his arms wrapped around them, keeping them warm and secure. Even now, Logan and Owen know that Daddy is there for them any time--ready to chase away the mosquitoes and invisible ghosts, tell stories from a seemingly endless imagination, chase ball after ball after ball, and be the infatigable wrestling partner.

He is the father that every child is entitled to have and he inspires me to be a better parent through example. I am proud to be on this parenting journey together.

Happy Father's Day, Tony!

rainy day baking

The rains continue to fall so it's the perfect time to stay inside and bake. Logan and Owen both enjoy helping in the kitchen and were excited to make pumpkin cranberry muffins.



Logan cracked the eggs and measured most of the ingredients.



Owen measured the cranberries and ran the food processor.



The end result: 58 muffins of various sizes.



There were also blueberry oatmeal bars but they didn't last long enough to be captured on camera. Trust us, they were delicious.

birthday bash

Logan wanted to go bowling for his birthday so after T-ball practice the whole family headed downtown to the Incline Station for a game. The birthday boy rolled a 43 and had lots of fun.



Owen uses a little body english to guide his ball towards the pins.



Logan played with his new Mouse Trap game all morning. It of course led us to the Internet to research Rube Goldberg devices. A great one from Honda can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEF0cg1j35o.

six

Logan,

Today you are six years old. Curious and inventive, serious and focused, caring and fun--you are growing up so quickly. We can't wait to see what you'll teach us this next year. Happy Birthday, Logan!

Love, Mama & Dad


When I was One,
I had just begun.

When I was Two,
I was nearly new.

When I was Three,
I was hardly Me.

When I was Four,
I was not much more.

When I was Five,
I was just alive.

But now that I am Six, I'm as clever as clever.
So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever.

~from Now We Are Six
A.A. Milne

school's out for summer

Hard to believe it, but Logan is no longer a kindergartner. Yesterday afternoon he made his teacher and bus driver fimo clay bowls as end-of-year presents. Tomorrow, summer vacation begins!

First day of school...



and last day.

transportation night

Tonight was the annual ECFE Transportation Night. Every year there are approximately 20 different vehicles available for the kids to climb on, get their pictures taken in, and "drive". The favorites this year were the fire engine...



... the school bus...



...and the city bus.

outdoor fun

Logan had severely outgrown his old bike so Tracy took him shopping and he came home with a beautiful 20 inch, bright red, Schwinn Falcon. He was excited to point out it had both handbrakes and pedal brakes. A separately purchased bell was added to further enhance the cycling experience.



Logan loves the bike but unfortunately the training wheels we attached didn't fit the frame properly and he had trouble riding it. Enter new bike number two: a 16 inch, bright red, Quest Rocket. Logan has no trouble riding this one and is crusing up and down the street.



While Logan rides, Owen looks for worms, slugs, and bugs in the yard.



One of Owen's many vehicles.



What they say is true. It's impossible to have a bad time in a large, inflatable, donut-looking, thing-a-ma-bob.

the one and only plasmacar

Logan received an early birthday present from Grandpa and Grandma this year....a Plasmacar. This thing is really fun. There are no pedals. You drive it by moving the steering wheel back and forth, and inertia, centrifugal force, gravity, and friction do the rest. Logan immediately became an expert driver and whips around as if he's been using one for years.

day at the park

Logan, Owen, and cousin Gabriel enjoyed playing at the park during our recent trip to Appleton.

Owen takes the playground equipment for a drive...



and crawls through a tunnel.



Hanging out with Logan.



Gabriel finds something interesting in the grass.

one year ago

Mom,

Not a day goes by when we don't think about you. We remember the fun games you played with Logan and Owen and how much you enjoyed reading with them. You always took the time to listen to us and supported our dreams. Your patience and generosity were qualities that everyone wished they had themselves. You were a good teacher and friend, a caring mother, and an awesome grandma--we miss you!

t-ball game 1

Logan decided to play T-ball this year. After two practices he had his first game last night. Although a little nervous he did well and it was fun to watch. The coaches actually pitch a few to the kids and then bring out the tee if needed. Logan hit a pitch his first at bat and used the tee in the second inning. He played second base and fielded the ball once. This age group could use a smaller batting helmet...most of the kids had to hold it out of their eyes to see where they were running.

Logan waits for a pitch.



Swinging for the fences in the second inning.



Walking in from second base.

ready, set, go!

Dusted off the bike this morning to partake in National Bike-To-Work-Day. It felt nice to get a little exercise and avoid fossil fuels.

worms and the people who love them

Similar to his brother at this age, Owen is fascinated by worms. The recent rain provided multiple opportunities to observe and study these creatures in detail.

A specimen has been targeted for observation...



...and successfully captured.



These are the only flowers not eaten by the deer. Our tulips last about two days around here thanks to their nightly visits.

spring swing

The beautiful weather this afternoon prompted us to dig the swings out of the garage. Both boys enjoyed themselves immensely. Logan has improved upon the art of self-propulsion and Owen is more enthusiatic than last fall.







I was a little worried when this tough looking biker gang showed up in the driveway but there were no incidents.

two

Has it really been two years since we first met Owen? What a little boy he has become, trying to do everything big brother does, and still pretending to be mama's little baby and snugglebunny.

Sporting his new birthday crown handmade by mom.



Owen contemplates the wish he just made.



You can't even see the spinach, blueberries, and cauliflower! These cupcakes are chock full of "hidden" ingredients, making them extra delicious and surprisingly healthy.



Pieces of a dinosaur puzzle and a pile of bugs are just part of the wreakage from the "great unwrapping" of 2008.



Happy Birthday Owen! We love you!

downtown train

A mere 4.5 months after receiving a train set for Christmas, we finally picked out a table to get the track up off of the floor. Both boys were pretty excited. Owen picked out a new train with a scoop shovel on the front. Logan picked out an engine with a cattle catcher but unfortunately it was out of stock so he decided to save his money.