Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Happy 6th Birthday!

Our Little Buddy turned 6 on Thursday, I can’t believe he is 6 already and heading to Kindergarten in September. We had a wonderful day celebrating with him. Here are just a few of the pictures from his birthday and birthday party on Saturday.

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Celebrating with his Birthday Buddy and our neighbor Rick. They share the same birthday, but they are only 57 years apart in age.

 

Present Time!

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A John Deere T-shirt from his sister and brothers.

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A Safari vest from Auntie and Nede.

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Showing off his new hat, backpack, and vest.

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Time for cake!

Birthday Party! Taylor chose a John Deere theme this year, to we dressed in John Deere Green, ate tractor tire mac and cheese, and enjoyed a green and yellow cake!A total of 19 kids and 15 adults. 10 of the kids were 2 years old or younger. The weather was beautiful and we had a wonderful time.

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As part of Taylor’s birthday present Trevor and I were able to take Taylor to the Minnesota Zoo on Sunday while Trevor’s parents stayed home with ASOM. The highlight of the the zoo was the Dinosaur exhibit! Of course we did take time to look at the other animals and sites too.

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Tigers and a John Deere Tractor

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Feeding the goats.

 

DINOSAURS!

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He is growing up way too fast! We love you Little Buddy!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

SIOUX YEAH, YEAH!

I felt this picture needed its own blog post altogether. Ten adults and seventeen kids together for the weekend.

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Last weekend we had our annual UND get together with some friends around the area whom we went to college with. Despite the heat, we had a wonderful time catching up and chasing kids around the Hochhalter’s backyard.

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Addi on a big girl swing.

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During supper, Oliver had to park his Cozy Coupe right behind him to guard it.

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The little ones are getting used to eating on the ground and it gives mom and dad a break from chasing kids.

Snow Cones!

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S’mores

Check out the sweet marshmallow roaster Travis is using. Four marshmallows at one time!

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Thanks for the great day Hochhalter’s!

More Summer Fun!

This summer I actually feel a little more “normal”. We have been able to get out and do so many more things with all of the kids. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a lot of work, but I think I am getting sick of being stuck at home all the time, so I am willing to do the extra work so we don’t have to be at home all of the time.

To celebrate the first days of summer we went to a friends house. I knew it was a safe place to start our summer adventures being they have a fence around their entire backyard. All of the kids had a great time, enjoyed new toys, and tons of great food and company!

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We took our kids to their first parade at the end of June. We were surprised that we didn’t have more screaming when the fire trucks came by. They all enjoyed their first suckers and seeing some fun floats in the parade.

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Check out the drool on Micah’s chin! I think he enjoyed his sucker.

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Taylor watching the drummers.

After the parade and naps we enjoyed dinner at our friends home on Lake Florida.

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Look at their dinner view.

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The Trix balls were a big hit with everyone.

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This is one of my favorite pictures of Oliver. He was definitely transfixed on his treat.

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Seth loved waving at all the boats passing by.

 

Bath Time!

It was too nice to go inside and take baths, so why not just at some soap to the baby pool? It was a hit with all the kids.

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Another wonderful reason we love our neighborhood is because we have great neighbors who let us come keep cool whenever we want. Taylor is really becoming a fish in the water and Seth love jumping into the pool!

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Thank goodness Taylor has a gator to haul all of our floaties back and forth.

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A visit to the wading pool on a Tuesday afternoon while daddy was golfing.

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Red, white, and blue pancakes to start off our 4th of July celebrations were a big hit with everyone.

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I love this picture of the kids all watching Gromit on the other side of the gate.

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As Trevor will tell you, I love Pinterest and this is one of the reasons why, a great patriotic treat. Why didn’t I think of that?

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Home Depot kids day. Typically this is a Daddy and Taylor thing, but the entire family went the beginning of July. Taylor made moving van and the other kids did a great job watching Taylor build.

 

We got a new outdoor play set for the kids from our neighbors a few weeks ago. Taylor loves his club house, where I am told “you don’t have to use manner in here Mom.” I guess I can give him that.

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Reading library books in the club house while the little kids are napping. A great way to spend the afternoon with our Little Buddy!

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Taylor earned his orange belt and broke a board with his foot in Tae Kwon Do. Proud kiddo and parents too!

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Neighbor buddies on one of the last days of T-Ball. I LOVE this picture!

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Getting ready to finger paint on an afternoon where it was too hot to be outside.

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The Cat in the Hat was visiting the Spicer Public Library.

More pics of the kids, enjoying some time at home.

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Another evening at Lake Florida to help Brett celebrate that he is “older than dirt” (His wife’s words, not mine.)

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EIGHT Two Year Olds! Need I say more?

Oliver, Mackenna, Addilyn, Micah, Seth, Joshua, Meredith, and Olivia