never gets old

Some toys never get old...

The noise-making barn on our fridge has been a hit ever since I can remember. This summer, we have "enjoyed" pushing the buttons over and over...and then dancing to the music.

I think she learned her "moves" from daddy. :)

keatin & jack

Last night, Lyle, Josh, and I had our final sand volleyball games of the summer...and Becca agreed to watch Keatin & Jack at our house while we were gone. Becca reported that it went well...but told me that I am going to need some help come December. :)

Anyways, Becca borrowed our camera to catch Keatin and Jack playing in the bean sensory tub. I like how relaxed Jack looks...I think he enjoyed it as much as Keatin does! :) And I am SURE Keatin LOVED sharing it with Jack... :)


This one is my favorite...I can just picture her talking Jack's head off and telling him all the about the beans...

babies & painting

Keatin has been VERY into her babies lately. We got a new "bed" for them over the weekend...and last night she was taking them on a "fwak" in the grocery cart...and then feeding them. :) (NOTE: For all who are concerned about the manner in which the babies are lined up, I was the one who put them that way.) :) :)

Today after nap, we busted out Keatin's paints. Hadn't used them awhile...and it is an activity she likes/sticks with for a long time. She made 5 different "pictures" and even got blue paint in her hair/ear. :) Ah - one of the MANY reasons we take a bath EVERY night at this house. :)



Keatin and I have "practiced" making circles with sidewalk chalk on the driveway many times. Today while she was painting, she started saying circles...and was actually doing a pretty good job of making them!

sensory tub

It was a dark & rainy Monday morning in Ames...what to do??? Well...when I was blog-hopping one day, I saw another mom who had created her own sensory tub. What better day to try it with Miss Keatin than today??? So, after a quick visit with daddy at work, we were off to the store to buy the supplies we needed: a big plastic tub and 2 huge bags of dried pinto beans. I put the tub on our screened-in porch, got out all the sand/water toys, and let Keatin explore! I would have to say the beans were a hit! We played together for about 30 minutes...before our tummies were hungry for lunch...but talked about how we will play with the beans again later when daddy gets home. :) And Keatin did a nice job of keeping the beans in the tub...we had a bit of a "discussion" about that before we started. :) I totally stole this idea from a more with-it mom...but Keatin loved it...and so did I. I plan on trying to change out the items in the tub every week or 2...things like dried corn kernels, rice, pasta noodles, etc... Should be a fun activity for Keatin and I to do together!



Scooping up the beans...

Filling a bucket with beans...


Using a sand shovel to add more beans to the bucket...


Getting in the tub to "hide" our feet in the beans...

mini-mommy?

Keatin wanted to play with her chalk yesterday afternoon...and this is what I found her doing with it.

Hmmm...looks like someone else in this house. :) :)

She could make her "tummy" go away...darn her. :)

1st haircut :)

This post is a bit delayed... And yes - I know my "baby" is almost 2 years old, but she just had her 1st haircut over the 4th of July in Storm Lake with Aunt Bri. :) OK - and "haircut" might be too generous of a term...it was REALLY more of a teeny-tiny trim of the longest/middle part of her "mullet." :) But, we saved the curls non-the-less...and into the baby book they go!

Minnesota - Here We Come!

I honestly can't believe how FAST the summer is slipping by...so good thing Josh and I got a trip in before it was over! With Keatin off to Storm Lake and her grandparents for 5 nights, Josh took the week off work and we headed to Ortonville, MN/Big Stone Lake. 6 hours later, we were at a wonderful home on the lake with our good friends Aaron and Trish...and Cedar (Carlson's dog) and Crimson. (Side note - when I told my mom we were going on vacation and we wanted them to watch Keatin, but we were taking Crimson...she about died laughing and said there should be a t-shirt for that...something to the effect of: MY PARENTS TOOK MY DOG ON VACATION BUT LEFT ME AT HOME.) :)

The trip started a bit rough... About 10 minutes before we were ready to leave for Fort Dodge last Saturday night to meet my parents/drop off Keatin, Josh was having one last play session with Keatin...swung her around the living room (which she typically loves)...but this time in ended in cries...and Keatin refusing to move her right arm. Long story short, her right elbow had come out of socket. SO - for all you people who have heard this can happen, but don't really believe it...it does happen. Don't swing your small children by their arms! We got Keatin to my parents in Fort Dodge, and they took her to the home of one of Paul's co-workers in Storm Lake (as Paul/Dee were out of town) and that doctor fixed her up in about 3 seconds. I am happy it was an easy fix...but it was so sad to see her lug that right arm around against her body. :(

Our time in Minnesota was WONDERFUL. We rented a lake house from this website: www.vrbo.com. Check it out if you haven't before - SO COOL! The weather was gorgeous both full days we had in Minnesota...one day we were out on a boat all day...the next, just playing in the lake/water all afternoon. All 4 of us come home with LOTS of sun...and a few sunburns. Cedar LOVED the water - he was quite the fish by the time we left (he didn't quite know how to swim when we first got there and Aaron even had to make a mid-lake rescue, with the help of a floating mat, when Cedar decided to jump off our moving boat). :) Crimson just laid in the shade. :) Speaking of fish - Josh and Aaron each caught 1 fish...2 itty-bitty fish in total. So sad. :) It was exactly what Josh and I had in mind...and so perfect...so relaxing. We missed Keatin dearly, but our time apart was just right. And we couldn't have asked for 2 better friends to spend 4 days with. :)

Enjoy the pics below. Of course there aren't very many of the girls...guess we are the ones "behind the cameras." :)

Sunday afternoon when we arrived...the boys checking out the water...and Cedar's 1st attempt at swimming.



Monday morning...the water was like glass, and Josh took the kayak out.

We spent all day Monday on the pontoon boat...with our trusty captain. :)


Monday night - roasting some smores. :)



Aaron's fish...he was so proud. :)