Growing Up too Fast!

Lately it seems that every time we turn around our boys are hitting a new milestone. Blake learned how to tie his shoes over the weekend. He has needed new shoes for a while but it was hard to find his size without laces. So we took him shopping with us and told him that if he could try really hard to learn how to tie he could get the shoes he liked. We expected it would take him a week or so to learn...NOPE, one night! They are just so smart and quick with things! We are very proud of him for learning so fast.

Also, our thoughts continue to be with our friend Amy Reid and her family as she pushes through to recover after a terrible fall down a flight of stairs. She is currently in a coma in Rochester - St Mary's Hospital. We are praying for her to make a full recovery in a short time because she has two little ones of her own that need her...Kenna, 10 & Luke 7.

It seems that our life is constantly touched by tragedy and illness. It shows a person how precious family and friends really are. So here is a big hug to all of you that we love to say how much we care! We don't say it enough.

Kiss your loved ones and your babies!

Misty

Our lives are about to change!

We just signed Blake up for hockey last night. Our lives are about to be changed forever! There will be no more winter weekends of just sitting around the house...we will be constantly busy with practice and games. I am excited about it but nervous too. He is my little boy and I don't want him to be injured but I am sure he will be just fine. He is so excited. He will start in the "Learn To Skate" program to refresh his skills in October and the practice starts November 1st. I have lots to learn about this sport and thank goodness they are giving some classes for parents on what to expect. I know the cost is going to continually be an issue but we will just have to save (or get second jobs)!

Here are some recent pictures of the boys.

These are from Labor Day weekend. My brother decided to stop by and give the boys a ride on his horse and a friends. They rode around the neighborhood...I am sure they got some funny looks. He had a 'saddle' that straps on behind the saddle so it is easier for kids to ride along. Avery was entertained with it on the ground! Then when they were getting ready to leave Avery decided that he had to go potty...in the middle of the church lawn! '

We also went to Westwood that weekend to celebrate Mike & Jamie's birthdays. We had to get some pictures while we were at the lake. Avery is the ham wanting in EVERY picture...until you want him in it! I painted our kitchen too...it is burnt orange and looks awesome! I will post pictures when I take a couple.

Happy Birthday Mike!

Well, today is Mike's 36th birthday. Hopefully he is having a good day. He told me this morning that his company might be making 12 hour days mandatory for a while because they have to much work to do...what a GREAT birthday present!

Just an update on us:

Avery - has had another heart cath and things are looking good right now. He isn't going to need surgery this year but he did have some stents put into his pulmonary arteries in order to get them to grow and relieve some pressure in his heart. He has grown an inch and three quarters since March and continues to be as active as any 2 1/2 year old. Not much keeps him down.

Avery Mini Golfing

Avery ready to go into his heart cath

Dr Burton examining Avery after his heart cath


Avery & Mommy ready to go home

Blake - is doing great riding his bike and is looking forward to his birthday in another 6 weeks or so. He already has his Christmas list going. He is ready to do some hunting with his daddy this year hopefully. Both boys got to go scouting in the boat yesterday and they loved it.

Blake Mini-golfing

Blake singing in the shower

Fun with our friends (Braeden & Emma)

Mike- is looking forward to doing lots of uninterrupted hunting this year. He hasn't had a fall without surgeries or babies being born for 3 years so hopefully this year is the year.

Misty- is still doing daycare and continues to work on the desserts too. I just finished one wedding and have two more coming up at the end of September. It is busy but fun!

Mike & I at my 10 year class reunion

Happy July

Wow I am bad at updating this again! We have had quite a month in June. We took our first camping trip of the year and Avery had his first ER visit that wasn't heart related. He took a digger off the landscaping by our house when he tipped over the big wheel. He ended up with 2 staples in his head. He was a tough little bugger too. He cried when he got the staples in but mostly because he was scared. Then going to get the taken out was scary and he got the big pouty lip and started to cry but once the dr got in and took them out he didn't cry a bit.

Blake is riding his bike all on his own - take off too. He is doing so well. We have promised him a new bike so we will have to work on that! They have been having fun taking swimming lessons from a friend of mine's sister. She does private lessons and they are so excited for them every week. They will be sad when they are done.

Well, here's to hoping that I can get better about updates and that everyone has a great 4th of July. I for one am looking forward to the long weekend!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

After attending the Moondogs first game of the season the boys learned to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". It is so cute...especially Avery. Here are videos of them both.

Until Next time...

BIG NEWS!

Well, we have been pretty boring since all the puppies left so I haven't posted anything. I have some pictures to add later but, we have some awesome news....Blake has learned to ride his bike. We are still in practice mode but he has only tried it 3 times and had already gotten it figured out! We need a little bit more use of the brakes but otherwise he is getting the hang of it!

Sorry this one is crooked!

Avery has also started to master the art of pedaling the trike. They are both getting so big it is just amazing!

5 Weeks

So we are 5 weeks in and they are getting more playful than ever. They went through a phase over the weekend when they were so LOUD I could barely stand it. They have since tamed down. They are getting used to not having mom around anymore. We have gotten them outside a few times in the last week too. They are really quick and get away easy so we have a baby play yard that we put them in. Things are going really well with them. Mom developed an infection but seems to be coming around now. Poor thing...she is back outside in her doghouse where she has wanted to be for a while now I think!

We have sold 4 of them...so 5 left. All black males. We have had 3 phone calls tonight from interested parties so hopefully we get some more! Here are some more pictures...

Little piggies at the water trough

Proud Puppy Holder


What is this thing?

All tuckered out...

Look at those faces!

Now for some pictures of my boys. We had fun taking some picture when we actually had a nice day last week. They like to pose for pictures...hope they like it as much for an actual photographer. We have a photographer coming tomorrow to take pictures of them with the puppies and also a family picture outside. Pray for good weather!

These couple pictures were taken by Blake when I had turned my back. They actually were some good pictures. From a child's point of view...