Fun Adventures...

Marshall...at 8 months (well next week he will be 9 months...but who's counting) He is 21.4 pounds and 29 inches...both in the 80%....which is crazy to me to think that 20% of 8 month olds are larger than him...because he is a big guy!

He is a super-speedy crawler, pulling up on everything and then lets one hand off...yesterday at the library he stood for about 2 seconds on his own...

He is still SUPER happy, as you can tell from this picture.  He likes all foods...we have yet to find one that he does not like...he would MUCH rather feed himself than have baby food or a bottle.

He said his first word...mama!  I was so excited!

Brayden at 2 1/2 is 36.4 pounds (93%) and 38 inches (82%)

He is so busy and talkative...to think that at one time I was worried about his lack of words...now sometimes I try to convince him to play the quiet game.  He is very inquisitive...he likes to figure out how things work, he loves his brother (although sometimes he shows it in a ROUGH way), he LOVES being outside, in the garage and playing with tools and diggers---he could not be any more of a boy. Lately, he has been melting my heart...he will say Mommy you are pretty....aaaawwwww...he already knows how to work it!  He cracks us up with his stories....and sometimes his pretend friends like Der...he is 2, green, and has a mow hawk...he apparently attended dinner the other night.  Here he is painting a garage (box) for his cars.

Cooling off in this HEAT....

Cooking

Cheese...

We went with 2 other families to the DuPage Children's museum....we had a great time 

Yes..he figured out how to put himself in a bubble all on his own...

A vacum thing...he is obsessed with vacums...

Playing with his buddy Griffin...

A trip to the zoo with Keira and Kiley

They LOVED the dolphins

Nothing like getting around on a wagon

Splash pad

The zoo is exhausting!

Mini-vacation at Starved Rock...we hiked

The choo-choo that took us around the property

Slide...obviously they are in motion...this was Brayden's favorite slide...he must have go down it at least 50 times...

Drinks anyone?

Marshall's first ride

Brayden riding a motorcycle arcade game

Yep..more vacuuming...

All 3 kiddos in the tub...rub a dub, dub...

Happy Fourth!!!!!

We celebrated the fourth over the last weekend/week...here are some pictures from the parade...it was fun but it sure was HOT!!!!!

Little Marshall...

peek-a-boo

A boy can never have too many trucks...

I will have to put up the pictures (from my phone) from the night of the fireworks...Brayden of course needed to get a birthday cake for America....and he sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed every LAST drop of blue icing :)  We also went to a carnival and he was quite fearless on all the kiddie rides.  Hopefully pics to come soon!

catch up

We have been enjoying the summer so much...of course it was my goal to blog at least once a week...and well that has just not been the case. We have been busy swimming, going on bike rides and walks, going to the park, the library, play dates, etc... I just love hanging out with the boys (although...I won't sugar coat it...there have been some ROUGH moments along the way too) Last week our family was in town from CA...so we got to see Dave, Nate, Gracyn, Michael and Lucy. We headed to Polo...yes, what brave grandparents---they let us ALL stay with them! And then the crew headed back to our place...we had a great time. Here are some pictures from the summer so far...

Loving the sand box

Daddy love

Sprinkler fun...

When we made it out to Polo, we went to Town and Country days...so the kids liked the carnival and later the adult went back for some much needed refreshments!

Watch out...crazy kids on their motorcycles!

Trying to catch a fish...we did not have any luck though...but Gracyn and Michael caught one

The BIG slide...

Snugglin' with a goat

Showing Papa the diggers they got from the John Deere Store...it was a BIG hit

Marshall and Gracyn

All 5 grandkids

Singing and Dancing and Playing in the rain

Lucy and Brayden splashin' in the puddles

A scavenger hunt

The Boomers game...Aunt Natalie hooked us up with some popcorn...a crowd pleaser

Handsome Dude

Boomers Game...only Gracyn was brave enough to hug the Boomer

Marshall and mommy

Group Hug

Silly Michael

2 naked boys in the pool

Smiley--little Marshall just turned 8 months.  He is a big happy boy...really he is just filled with smiles unless he is hungry or tired.  He is on the move...crawling a mile a minute, pulling up on everything and has even began to walk behind push toys.  He is ready to be on the move!  He loves to eat solids...we have not found something he does not like yet.

Too many cooks in the kitchen

A couscous mess...but he sure did love it...

Brayden headed off to school...aka Mommy's day out...he is really loving it...the 3rd time was a charm today---no tears!!!