Father's Day and More

We had a fun weekend. The weather was a little cold with scattered showers but it didn't stop the kids from playing outside. We have a neighbor, Maddie, who lives across the street that the boys love spending time with, so you may see her in some of our pictures from time to time.

Cullen was allowed to join a secret club because he is now 6 years old. We were invited to a "show" they had been practicing. Here we are being greeted into the club house by the cute show host...

This was a picture I snapped mid-show.
Cullen going to visit Maddy during one of the downpours... Happy Father's Day Nick! The boys insisted on getting Nick a little Dad's Root beer.
The boys are allowed 30 minutes of screen time a day. Screen time being either, PBS Kids (we don't have cable), educational computer games, I-touch, etc. I usually set a timer otherwise it can become a fight when screen time is up. Cullen isn't really a screen lovin' kind of kid- he often goes days without any screen time. One thing he does love is a little Angry Bird's. Not the screen version of Angry Bird's so much as his own little made-up version. For Father's Day Nick got to be the pig with the helmet (pretend you see the helmet).
Cullen is usually the black or "big round red bird" and Geremu usually claims the "eagle". They have several different ways I've seen them play this game but for the most part the birds always win. On Father's Day however the "pig with the helmet" appeared to be winning...

For afternoon fun Nick took the kids, Maddie included, off to a nature center for a little hike in the rain. As you can see Cullen is CrAzY over Maddie...

Did you notice that Cullen and Maddie are rockin' the rosary look. I didn't notice it during the day but when I looked back at the pictures I noticed it:)

My parent's ended up surprising me! They stopped for the night and Geremu got to teach my father how to bike one handed.

Cullen loves to make signs for us to hang in the house. I posted Nick's Father's Day sign right next to my Mother's Day sign from last year...

For the record he told my mother yesterday that he "liked and loved her", so I'm guessing she trumps both Nick and me:)

Good at Summer!

It didn't even take me a full week to get in my summer groove. I am GOOD AT SUMMER... And it turns out so are my kids!

The roof was finished pretty fast, it was a full time job keeping Gere off the ladders and roof. One that I didn't succeed at either. When I asked him to get down he would yell something like "MOM I'M JUST READING!" So I look like the bad Mom not allowing her kid to read in the summer- AWESOME!

The kids caught a toad last night. I had no idea they put it in a "habitat" and kept it. I learn that early this morning when Cullen came running into my bedroom to let me know that "the toad was loose in the house! You've got to come quick!"

Since I am now the proud owner of a "pet toad" I learned that it also needs to be fed immediately after breakfast. So off we went to search a power line field for crickets and anything else alive that the powerlines haven't yet killed.

Geremu's magnifying-glass to his eyeball technique was shockingly unsuccessful...It's hard work chasing flying crickets down... Geremu lost interest and entertained himself...
Geremu has been perfecting his one armed bike riding this summer. I wish I could say I've been encouraging the "trick" my stunt man has been working on but I've been a bit annoyed. He is so busy riding with one arm straight in front of him or out to the side that he has gotten really slow on his bike. Geremu will be a half block behind us and he still refuses to touch the handlebar with both arms. Cullen on the other hand hasn't mastered the brakes on a bike totally so he has trouble slowing down for Gere. Today is the first time I can honestly say one armed biking came in handy! Not only did I watch him hold a net while biking but I also witnessed him eating an Icee while biking. Next up= biking on ice next winter with mittens and a hot chocolate!

This afternoon I took the kids to a local swimming hole. Mostly because "the toad needs a friend." Based off the size of the nets above I'm guessing you can imagine who caught very few tadpoles. He didn't seem to mind because he had other activities he needed help accomplishing...

Some how 10+ tadpoles made it back to my home to join the toad. The toad and tadpoles hadn't got out much today so they went for a ride around their new yard...
Before going for a walk around the block...

Tonight I caught Geremu trying to do wheelies with his bike. He saw some older boys in the neighborhood doing it and through he should give it a try. I took his bike away for fear he would kill himself only to find him practicing the wheelies on his scooter. Geremu is so persistent and strong willed, he is really giving me a run for my money.

Up on the Roof...

Tuesday was Cullen's last day of school. Here is the backpack line-up at the bus stop...

The kids loading up one last time.We have had a lot going on here this week. Our company (Belachew & Family) left on Monday. The same day a dumpster was brought to our house and the roofing began Tuesday... We are in the midst of a little exterior house make-over. I don't want to post before pictures until after everything is finished and I don't think it will be finished until the end of July... but the roofers are HOT...
and so is the weather (broke a record with 97 degrees yesterday).

Reunited and it feels so good...

Belachew and Hudson came to visit the boys this weekend!

There was no time wasted getting down to playing...

Hudson did an awesome job keeping up with the older boys.
It has been good to get the boys together again.

Water Fight

The boys LOVE our neighbor Chris.

Today they spent time taunting him...

Before they teamed up to get him...

Although the boys are convinced they won,

I'm pretty sure Chris thinks otherwise.

Today was the first of our "summer" like weather... I hope it's here to stay!

The Wedding

This past weekend my cousin, best friend and my self proclaimed "Man of Honor" Chad got married. Chad grew up a few short blocks from me and most of my favorite childhood memories include Chad.

The morning of the wedding was spent getting ready for the festivities.

Here is the bride, Huyen, with her sister (Mai) and her parents. Huyen with her two best friends; Ly and Anu.

Chad waiting for his bride.

Seriously how much happier could they be? Love them both!

Here I am with my sisters...

From left to right; Colleen, Katie, yours truly and Megan)

The kids enjoyed dancing to the band. Cullen enjoys dancing with people, especially his cousin Johnny...

Geremu has a style of his own, which is impressive and entertaining to watch.

Here is my Uncle Jack and Aunt Kathy...They sure know how to throw a party! The events of the weekend were amazing!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

For the last 30+ Springs my Dad has always be found on the baseball field...

In June my Dad is retiring... I'm not quite sure what that means for his coaching career. I just can't imagine him anywhere else in the spring.

After Geremu's concert last Thursday we headed to my home town to watch a night inter-city game. We met up with my sisters and all the cousins...
If grass stains are any indication of how much fun my kids had they really could not have enjoyed their time running around much more.

I'm really hoping this isn't a chubby-wubby I spy...