Family Pictures

Our talented friend, Elizabeth was kind enough to take our family pictures a few weeks ago.  I am in love with how they all turned out.  The only problem now is deciding which ones to use.  If you have any opinion I would be very happy to hear it.

First up, the family ones.  We have a big 16 x 20 picture up on our wall.  I can't decide which one to use. I think the first one, Andrew thinks the second one. 

Up next, the boys together...

Then their individual pictures.  I think that I have the cutest kids ever, but of course, I am just slightly biased.  I can't get over their blue eyes, it takes my breath away.

Keagan showing his personality - 4 years old

Deker who refuses to look at the camera - 2 years old

And Bauer who doesn't really care - 4 months old.

Good Family Moments

On Sunday night we decided to make Grilled Pizza.  If you haven't ever made them, you are missing out because they are delicious.  Since we were having grilled pizza, we decided to eat outside.  After dinner and playing, we built a little fire in our firepit, roasted marshmallows and have some Smore's.  I haven't had a smore in several years and I forgot how yummy they were.  It was a great night spent with our little family and spending the evening outside.



Another fun moment is seeing all of my boys playing together.  This picture of all my boys playing together just melts my heart and helps me to remember how important it is to stop and take time to play with your kids. 

Deker Again???

Do you ever have those moments when your child gets hurt and you feel so bad and you have to keep reminding yourself that is wasn't your fault, and the bad guy in your head keeps saying, you should have been watching them better?  Last night was another of those times for me. 

After dinner, Keagan wanted to make something, so we decided to make No-Bake cookies.  They were quick and the kids would be able to have one before bed.  Keagan & Deker got chairs up to the stove and we started making cookies.  The kids were having fun taking turns stirring.  I turned off the stove, took the pan off and was stirring in the oats, when I looked over as Deker started crying and saw him take his hand off the hot burner.  I yelled for Andrew to come put his hand under cold water.  After a few minutes of holding his hand under cold water, Andrew was able to convince Deker to let him look at it.  That is when he realized that he burned the upper part of his palm and all of his fingers. 

I called our good friends Dan & Angela (we rely on them ALOT don't we?) and they let us use some good burn gel that they have.  All night, when his hand wasn't in water, he kept pointing at it saying "hot".  We finally got him to sit down with me and put his hand in a bowl of cold water and watched a cartoon to let him calm down. 

When it was time for bed, we gave him an ice pack wrapped in a washcloth and Andrew had to lay with him until he got into a deep sleep to keep it in his hand.  We were afraid that Andrew would have to sleep with him the entire night and keep putting the ice pack on.  When we checked on him a few hours later, Andrew put the ice pack back on his hand and he slept the rest of the night. 

This morning, he sas a really big blister that covers the entire upper part of his palm and small blisters up each finger.  I am very grateful that he is being really careful and not using that hand (which is gratefully his left hand).  We happened to have a Dr.'s appointment for Bauer's 4 month check-up today, so we had the Doctor look at it and he said we had done everything right and to watch to make sure the blisters didn't break.  Now to keep an active 2 year old from breaking those precious blisters, now that sounds hard.

Deker's reading spot

Wednesday was my Laundry day, but lately it has been hard to get it all done in one day.  So on Thursday morning, it was all still sitting out, waiting to get folded.  Deker found a cozy spot between Bauer's car seat and a Laundry basket, squeezed himself in with a book and started "reading" his book. 

Primary Activity

Keagan had a very busy day today.  This afternoon was a primary activity and they were told to bring a cardboard car.  On Sunday, Andrew asked Keagan what kind of cardboard car he wanted and told him a Monster Truck.  So after dinner Andrew, Keagan & Deker went out to the garage, picked out a box and started designing and cutting out Keagan's Monster Truck. 

When Andrew about half way done, he had Keagan get in the truck to see how it was fitting.  Deker then realized what was being done and was upset that he didn't have one.  So, after Keagan's truck was cut out, we put the boys in bed and Andrew when back out to the garage, found another box and made one for Deker.  Here they are the next morning, happily trying our their cardboard monster trucks. 

Monday was painting time.  Keagan, of course, choose blue because that is his favorite color and Deker/Andrew and I choose yellow for Deker because he can actually say that color.  Andrew put his painting clothes on and we got out some old shirts of ours for the boys to wear.

Here is Keagan all ready to go to the Primary activity with his Truck.  By the way, I don't know if you can see it or not, but there is even a "truck bed" in the back where they can put things.

Here is Deker's finished truck.  Deker was napping when Keagan when to the activity, so you just get a picture of Deker's finished truck.

Soccer!

For the past year, I have been wanting to put Keagan in a local soccer league.  There is one that is really close to our house and I have heard really good things about.  It is six weeks long and it is only on Saturdays.  It only lasts for 1 hour starting with a 15 minute practice.  It seems like a great way to see if it is something your kid is interested in.  I always hear about it too late to sign up.  But this time, I called to see if it was too late and to be asked to get on the mailing list for next time, but instead she said she had room for Keagan. 

Today was Keagan's first game.  He was so excited about playing soccer and every day, sometimes twice a day for the past week, he would ask if today was his soccer game.  I was a little concerned about how Keagan would do because he always gets scared and shy of new things.  I made sure I got there a little early before it got too busy.  We went up to his coach and they started kicking the ball around.  The coach had a little practice and then they started playing.  I was so proud that Keagan was out there playing. 

After about 20 minutes, he came over crying because there was so many kids.  I talked to him for a few minutes and with the help of our good friends Dan and Angela who came to watch him play, he went back out there.  Then after a couple of minutes, he got kicked in the knee and that was the end of it.  I really hope that next week he will get back out there and play again. 

Yesterday, Keagan said to me:  "Mom when I am playing Soccer you need to say Go Keagan, Go Keagan, Go Keagan".  I told him I would.  This morning at breakfast he said to me: "Mom, when I  am playing soccer you need to say Go Keagan, Go Keagan, Win Keagan, Win Keagan".  I again told him I would.  When we were driving to his Soccer game, he again told me "Mom you need to say Go Keagan, Go Keagan, Win Keagan".  I told him I would and that he told me that this morning and he said "I know, Mom, I just don't want you to forget".

Here are a couple of pictures, courtesy of Dan and Angela. 

BSU Football

Monday night (Labor Day) was BSU's first game of the season.  We decided to have some friends over to watch the game together.  We all put on our Blue & Orange.  Andrew even got out his orange pressure garments from years ago to help cheer them on. 

On Sunday Andrew, Keagan & Deker made football and helmet shaped Sugar Cookies and then I had fun decorating them with Blue & Orange frosting.

Earlier in the week, our friend Dan called Andrew to see if there was a way to hook up 2 TV's downstairs.  Andrew thought the idea was a good one and decided to try it out.  It even worked. 

Of course, our boys can't let an opportunity of having so many people over go by without convincing at least one person to read a book or two.  It is a good thing that we have such good friends that will do it. 

Everybody brought snacks and we had a great time watching football, talking, eating and playing outside during halftime.