6.

So, it's been over a month, but Nathan has turned 6!    Once again we went to the Black Hills over his birthday.  This time, we drove out there on his actual birthday...which he decided was okay because his birthday was 25 hours instead of 24!

His six-year-old interests include reading, playing outside, playing Leapster, almost any movie he's allowed to watch, Star Wars (which he is not allowed to watch), and other things.

We decided cupcakes would be easiest for the party since we had to travel...but with sprinkles of course.

The Birthday Boy!

(who put a tattoo on his face)

 Nathan is a very sweet boy, full of energy and always talking.  He still remains our "passionate" child, who can fill a room with his laughter (or with his fits of rage).

Nathan, You are perfectly and wonderfully made-and We love you!

Sweet Evelyn: 3 months

Evelyn is 3 months old now and weighing in at about 12 pounds.  It's hard to believe that she has already doubled her size!

She's become quite the little sweetheart, always smiling and cooing at me, especially when I change her diaper:)  I wanted to capture her sweetness, but as soon as I pull out the big scary camera she stops the show. 

These are my attempts:

I took this last photo to try to show her big bright blues...and can you see why I call her "Bubbles"!?

Nerds.

Read!

No.  9 on Summer Fun List:

Participate in Library Reading Program!

The reading program is pretty simple...read 20 minutes a day and you get to color in a star.  After 30 days you can hand in your sheet for some prizes.  We typically read way more than 20 minutes a day, so it wasn't a challenge, but both of the kids were exited to color their stars and bring their sheets in to the library.

The prizes included a sticky hand, sun glasses, free cone at DQ, $5 coupon for a local toy store, free Pheasants tickets (local baseball team)...and probably something else that I'm forgetting.

Way to go kids!

(Next year Addie can participate:)

 Nathan has become quite the avid reader.  We think he's probably reading at about an average 2nd or 3rd grade level.  He's become a fan of Beverly Clearly and also The Magic Tree House series.  Though if you were to ask him what his favorite thing to read is, he would probably say easier reading books about Legos, Transformers, Star Wars, etc.



Berry Fun!

No. 5 on the Summer Fun List:

Pick Strawberries!

We returned to Sanderson Gardens for the 3rd straight year...This year we were joined by Nana & Papa, my sister Amy and her kids, and my sister Brenda and her family. It was also hot and very windy!  But, the kids worked hard and we came home with about 23 pounds of strawberries! 

Several were eaten, two batches of homemade strawberry ice cream were made, as well as strawberry shortcakes, and the rest were frozen!

My nephew Micah loved to eat the strawberries!  We tried to convince him to pick his own and eat them, but he ate them out of the buckets:)

Evie

Sweet Evelyn is now over 2 months old.  She's definitely doesn't seem like a newborn anymore!  Everyone comments on how little she is, which is strange for me because I'm always in awe of how big she is...or rather how quickly she is growing.

At her 2-month well child visit she was 11 lbs 6 oz (40th percentile) & 23 inches long (60th percentile)

Here she is enjoying some outdoor time with Daddy (which has been the most effective remedy for evening cry spells)

When Life Gives you Lemons...

#50 on Summer Fun List: 

Make Homemade Lemonade!

We actually did this twice, the second time making strawberry lemonade...hence the seeds and pulp on the edge of the glass.  (which by the way, we all decided we were not a fan of if you are ever making homemade strawberry lemonade).