Going Private...

Today, out of curiousity, I decided to google our names. Um, it's kinda scary the places you find your blog on the internet! I found our blog on some random site and it got me thinking, the world is a scary place, and I really don't want everyone and anyone to be able to see and to read about my kids. So...I have decided to go private. Please email me or leave me a comment if you would like to be invited to our blog once it goes private.

Thanks!!!

24th of July...

I forgot to take pictures when we did fireworks and stuff, but earlier in the day we went to the parade in my mom's neighborhood. The kids had alot of fun diving for candies and watching all of the floats. I have to admit, I totally cried when the soldiers marched by!


The tired kids waiting for the parade (they all had a sleepover at grandma's house and I'm thinking they stayed up a little:)


Ok. These are not my kids, but I had to take a picture - Check out the mohawk!


Thomas waving his flag!

Fun at home...

I feel like this summer is racing by like a bat out of you know where. And as I look back at my blog, I can see why - we have had SO MUCH FUN! We have had parties, BBQ's, parades, swimming, and just plain old fashioned fun. So, here are some pictures of us hangin out at HOME and just being our funny selves...


Thomas's new favorite outfit - nu nu with a bath towel!


Note the look of terror on the boy's face - Sofie has recently discovered the joys of tormenting your younger brother. We just keep reminding her that pretty soon he'll be payin her back!


On the horsey with a car. We pretty much do EVERYTHING with a car these days.


Storytime.


Thomas getting a drink...


...gargling with said drink...


...and laughing at how funny the drinking and gargling are... Kids are so freakin funny!

Grandma Chris's Birthday Party (that's right, we're party animals:)

Sunday was my mom's birthday and instead of getting her gifts we decided (or I should say, Carter forced us) to work in her yard! We ended up having alot of fun! Thomas dug in the dirt for the FIRST time in his life, Sofie made an absolute mess and a fabulous work of chalk-art, and Svata and I actually did yard work (I made my mom take a picture of me, so I could look back and have proof that I really did do yard work that one time!!!) Happy Birthday Mom! We love you!


Little TomTom digging in the dirt


Sadiebug making chalk pictures


Sofie getting messy and having a blast!


Budding little artists!


Making the masterpiece


Meanwhile... Cart and I working in the yard!


And Thomas squishing more bugs - What is it with that kid???!


And the piece de resistance!


And later that night Sofie says to us, "How come you guys never kiss?!" and then she proceeded to make us pose for this picture that she took! So, Sofie, this one's for you! ;)

Thomas (Lanktree's) Birthday Party.

This last weekend we went to Tom and Jeana's house for a birthday party. And I have to tell you all, in case Sofie hasn't told you already - Sofie is going to marry Thomas (and she will be sure to clarify, "NOT my brother Thomas, but Jeana's Thomas!") She has had a crush on this kid from the day she met him (has it been 5 years now, Jeana???). Anyway, the kids had a blast, as did the adults, and here are some pictures...


Sofie going down their water slide.


Singing Happy Birthday.


Our Thomas with a big smile, because I think he thought everyone was singing to him!


Jeana cutting her BEAUTIFUL CAKE!!!


This is Sofie enjoying the cake and Thomas BEFORE he got his cake...


And this is after (so much happier, amazing what a little chocolate can do!)


My husband....TYPICAL!


Thomas being a typical boy... 1) Playing with something sharp


2) Playing with a CAR in the POOL.


and 3) Squishing bugs on the sidewalk.

Thanks Tom and Jeana! You guys are the best and we had so much fun!

Family party.

One thing my family is very good at, is throwing a party! Here are some pic's from my uncle Chad's house with most of my mom's side of the family...

This is the face of guilt. "I think my mom is about to get mad at me.." But I couldn't do it, he's just so cute. That was, um, chocolate, orange soda, and Diet Coke. I wondered why he was being so quiet on the other side of the yard...

Avery, Sofie, and Paxton (trying to escape from the "girls")

Thomas feeding his fingers to the puppies.

There are probably about 20 people missing from this picture. Yeah, it's a large family!

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree...

Thomas at the computer like his dad. SCARY how much they are alike...

More fun in the sun...

We went to a really fun pool the other day with some of our friends from the neighborhood. At first, I was a little skeptical, because the pool is very large and overwhelming, but we managed to keep track of everyone and the kids had SO MUCH FUN. There was a lap pool, a zero entry pool with a playground, a very shallow pool with a large playground, 3 slides, and a thousand gallon bucket (that dumped every 6 minutes) and a giant splash pad and water gun area. I think this was the pool of every kid's imagination! Here are some pictures to prove just how cool it was!

Sofie taking Thomas down the slide (I think this was about the 17th time!) She is such a good sister!

Sofie (almost) under the bucket as it was pouring out...

In the splash area, Thomas did not love this part. If you could see through his binky, you would see a frown!

Running from Tyler and Ethan shooting the big water guns at her!

Baiting me to chase after her... I may be a sucker, but I'm not stupid!

Tyler, Ethan, and Sofie on the big water guns. Look out below!

Trying to be like the "big" kids...

This may not look like it, but this slide has a REALLY BIG splash at the bottom.

Not really a good picture of any of us, but at least it's proof that i was actually there!

Thomas has a new ride...

Some very generous people in our neighborhood gave us this great little bike for Thomas. He loves it. His little legs are not quite long enough to reach the pedals, but give him a few weeks and I'm sure they will be! (He is growing SO FAST). For now he just scoots around on it, or pushes it around by the back of the seat. So fun!

Trying it out for the first time.

Discovering the bell. Ding, ding! Watch out here I come!

Another Milestone...

I swear to you, I have tried to teach Sofie how to ride a bike without training wheels at least 40 times. Up and down the street, back and forth and back again, breaking my back holding on to her seat and running behind her. Svata decides it's time for her to learn how to do it. He says to her, "I promise you by the end of today you will be riding your bike." I kid you not, 3 minutes later, she is riding down the street by herself. I guess dad has the magic touch - or actually I think it was the magic "don't touch" the bike and just let her do it herself approach that ended up working! Turns out I was being a little too helpful when I was trying to help her not to wobble. Apparently you need to wobble in order to learn how to ride! Anyhow, now she is a champion. She rides like crazy all day long - and she even had her first real "accident" - she hit the curb and, according to her little friend Ellie, "did a flip and landed on the road!" Ouch! She has an eight inch battle wound to prove how cool and tough she really is! Go Sofie!

Daddy explaining the "rules"

Dad running beside her. I was running with the camera and I was seriously CRYING I was so proud of her. Man, I am a sucker!

Proud little girl! And don't you love the ensemble? Swimsuit, cover-up, and knee pads! Gotta love it! That's my girl!