Thankful

Its been a long stressful month for us. We  have have moved, Eric has been gone a lot for work, and life is just busy overall for us. I need to keep focused on all the little things I am thankful for...

My two wonderful, happy, healthy boys

Owen was so happy to sleep in a "big bed" all by himself while on a work trip with daddy-he let Emmett try it out too. 

 Big blue eyes and easy smiles

Emmett sitting at 5 months.

 Late night trips to the grape vines outside our new house. 

Owen getting treat for using the big boy potty.

 Window seats

Owen eating breakfast and waiting to see a school bus go by. 

 A comfortable place to call home. 

Emmett sleeping, like normal, with two feet outside of the crib.

Pacifiers

 Staying at home with my boys 

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 No carpets in our new house!

Clean up is a breeze now!

God entrusting Eric and I with these two

Our Content baby

Emmett hanging out in the wagon outside 

 Watch Owen have a ton of fun with Elmo foam soap in the tub

Owen is getting a little braver in the tub each day.

Kid's Tri

This past weekend our family volunteered at our local Y's kid's triathlon. It was an early morning, all four of us had to be at the Y by 7:15. Our post was on the bike route and our job was to help direct kids around the turn. The kids were ages 3-14, some were really into it and others, well, not so much. Next year we hope to put Owen in the race. This year both of our boys did so well.

Owen was a trooper and well behaved over all. He really enjoyed cheering all the racers on and he would yell "go go" to everyone as they went by. In between each age group there was some down time so Owen sat and  watched the airplanes in the sky, played in the grass and tried to pick up ants on the curb.

Hugs for daddy

Trying to pick up ants

Emmett spent most of his time in a carrier either on mama or daddy. He also took a nice long morning nap in the stroller. Next year he will have to help us cheer on his big bro.

Mama and Emmett

Nap time in the stroller.

Eric and I look forward to volunteering with our boys at many more events in the future. We hope to instill in them a desire to serve others and volunteer as much as possible.

A little theif

Owen has really been fighting naps and bedtime lately. We have had some 3 hour battles over bedtime in the last few weeks. The other night we hadn't heard him in his room so we went to check if he had fallen asleep but he wasn't in his room. He had sneaked into Eric and my bed and was looking at his Brown Bear, Brown Bear  book. We told him he needed to go back to his room and he did. We tucked him back into his bed and he was asleep quickly. When Eric and I went to bed that night Eric couldn't find his pillow anywhere. We didn't think much of it and went to bed. The next morning we found Owen, fast asleep, snuggled into his daddy's pillow.

Bath Time times two

Tonight when we were finishing up dinner one of Owen's best buddies ran over to our house to see if Owen could play (he was quickly followed by his mama). We went over to their back yard so all the kiddos could enjoy the nice weather. They boys played with cars, dirt, bats, balls, swords, and had snack.  Owen and the boys all had a blast and were completely filthy when it was time to go in for the night. A bath was a must!

I quickly drew the bath for Owen and Eric decided that tonight should be Emmett's first time in the big bath tub too.

Owen was very excited to have his little brother take a bath with him. 

Owen even helped wash Emmett's hair.  

Owen blew bubbles in the water to help entertain Emmett. 

Emmett in his "bath chair"

Our happy boy after his bath

 Emmett seemed rather content in the big tub tonight...although I will continue to use the regular bathtub for our little man. I do look forward to bath time once Emmett can sit up. I'm sure I will need many more towels to mom up the floor from all the fun they boys have.  

Like Father, Like Son(s)

Daddy and Own for a walk at Como Falls in Hokah, MN

Reading the Sunday paper

Emmett and Daddy taking a nap

Owen helping Daddy grocery shopping

Our Fourth of July Weekend

Well it was a busy weekend around here!

We started out on Friday going to the YMCA to go swimming with Owen. Owen has not been a big fan of the water, but has been getting better over the last month or two. We dropped Emmett off at the Y-Watch so we could swim just the three of us. Owen did much better than he has been doing. He jumped off the wall into our arms and he started putting his face in the water too. It is a big step from screaming and holding onto us for dear life like he had been doing earlier this spring. 

Saturday Owen and Daddy got up really early [for our house] at 6:30 to get ready to run in a 5k. Eric, Owen, our friend and his little girl all did the race together. Owen and the little girl rode in a stroller while the dads ran the 5k in a half hour. After the race we went to a celebratory pancake breakfast. At noon that day we participated in a "family parade" where the kids are the "floats." Our team, The Patriots, took third place and we got a trophy even. That night we went back to the park to see water ski show and we ran into some of Owen's friends there. It was a great day overall. 

Eric pushing our family "float" 

Owen got to go on a train ride. He is the driving the yellow one. 

Sunday we woke up and got ready to go to church. Just before we were ready to leave for church Eric decided we would take a day trip to Portage after church. We headed down and had lunch with Eric's family and then had dinner with my family.

Owen riding his bike down the driveway at Grandma & Grandpa's. 

Owen picking flowers for Mama

Owen working hard to dig a hole where grandma pulled up the weeds. 

Owen riding his tractor-his favorite toy at Grandma & Grandpa Becraft's. 

It was getting late so we decided to stick around for the 4th too. On the 4th Eric helped his mom and dad work on their porch with was in need of repair. Owen, Emmett, Grandma Carol, and I all went to a 4th of July parade. It was a nice long parade with lots of fire trucks, old cars, tractors, and candy!

Grandma Carol and the boys waiting for the parade to start.

Owen spotting a fire truck around the corner.

Emmett wouldn't let grandma sit the whole parade. 

Owen waving to one of the many tractors.  

After the parade it was hot out we stopped by to get Grandma Elaine and we headed to the beach to go swimming. It was Emmett's first time in the water and he seemed to like it. It was Owen's first time this year at the beach and at first he wasn't so sure of the sand-but by the time we went home he was covered in it. 

Emmett's first time at the beach. 

Owen with sand all over his hair. 

I hope your 4th of July weekend was as fun as ours!

Time to wake up...

Okay, so it has been over a year. Lots has changed in that year. We have moved to La Crosse for to help plant a church and we had another a little one. We've decided its time to "wake up" our blog for all our family and friends who we don't get to see nearly as much as we would like too. Rather than trying to play catch up we will write like we never took the year break....

I always have loved to peek in on Owen when he is sleeping. I really don't know how he sleeps in some of the ways that he does. Here are a few photos of my sleepy guy over the past few months.

And of course, Emmett is quite cute when he sleeps too. He still is sleeping well in his swaddle blankets. He has only woken up more than once a night three or four time since coming home from the hospital. He sleeps all night long about half the time now. If he wakes up it isn't before 5:30am. We are blessed to have such a great little guy!

 I couldn't resist putting this photo in too. Both Emmett and Owen asleep after a long car ride. Owen happily and comfortably rear facing at two and a half and Emmett in his infant seat.