Summer 2012

Before our summer really began we headed to Texas at the end of April to say "goodbye" to Gigi.  We miss her very much but we are forever grateful that we had such a wonderful visit with her back in February.  We were also thankful that this time brought us all together and that the kids got to enjoy their cousins!

Our list of activities has kept us busy this summer!  So far we have seen Forts & Fairyhouses exhibit at Powell Gardens, as well as a Rapunzel puppet show!  We have been to Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun, T-bones game, Science City & the Planetarium, The Nelson Atkins museum, the sprayground, had water balloon fights, gone fishing, caught fireflies, been on lots of picnics, gone to numerous story/craft times at the local bookstore, and lots of summer camps at church (Mini Chef, Fantastic Fairytales, Aloha over to the island of Hawaii, and Lego Camp!).  We have also had friends over to play and many evenings playing with our neighbor friends at the fountain! In other words we have been busy! And summer has gone by waaay too fast!
Here are some photos from our adventures below...

Gramsey & Clayton

Sam, me, and Auntie M

Cousins!

 

Having fun being silly!

Picnic!

All the cousins!

 Feeding the baby!

"Forts & Fairyhouses"

We never pass up a sample opportunity :)  These were all things grown in the garden at Powell Gardens

Then we waited for "Rapunzel" before viewing the rest of the forts and fairyhouses!

Sam was all smiles!

The "evil witch" (check out her scooter)

Picnic time!

More forts!

Then it was time to cool off!

We had a fun visit from our friend Mark from London!

Sam loves to paint!

Playing before the movie starts at the drive-in

Showing off his creative "rhino" costume

First night in his big boy bed!

We love to be outside!

Fun at the fountain!

Swinging at the fountain!

Clayton's latest artwork

Visiting an old friend :)

First day of "summer school"

CLAYTON:
- Clayton is very good at using his imagination in everyday play and amazes us with the contraptions he comes up with using just paper and a crayon
- He saw his first "drive-in" movie at the Boulevard Drive-In - Madagascar 3.  When we pulled in after having dinner at his favorite restaurant he declared it was "the best day ever!"
- His favorite show is "The Wild Kratts"
- He is enjoying his summer camps and Kids Day Out programs at church
- He enjoys playing soccer and baseball with daddy in the front yard
- He really likes to go off the high-dive at the pool, he is also tall enough this year to do the slides
- He likes playing on the playset in the backyard and using the swings as "vines" to get to the other side
- He is really liking baseball

SAM:
- Sleeping in a big boy bed now! (May 26, 2012)
- He is potty trained!(June 2012)
- Saw his first "drive-in" movie at the Boulevard Drive-In - Madagascar 3.
- Sam started Montessori school this summer and we have heard from the teachers he is "very eager to learn!"
- He loves to use sound effects when running through the house.  He will back himself up a couple of steps before "taking off"
- He likes to help in the kitchen
- He likes to play in the water, and LOVES the pool!
- His favorite show is Curious George.  Often his first words in the morning are "MONKEY!?"
- His favorite food is "yo-yo!", another first in the morning (referring to yogurt)
- He is putting 2-3 words together at a time, much improved over the last couple of months
- I close my eyes and say "where's mommy?" and he says "knock knock!"
- Really likes Worlds of Fun, talks about going to the "big boat!"
- Tells me to "GO!!" when the light turns green

Farm days

We had a busy week a few weeks ago. My computer was without power but we are back up and running and can tell you about it now! A few weeks ago we went blackberry picking at Cy & Dee's Blackberry Farm in Louisburg, Kansas. Clayton had fun (the best part was eating them!). Sam did not go with us, but we did take him back a couple of weeks later and he didn't seem too thrilled with the idea.
Later that week we went to Shatto Dairy Farm where he got to taste all their flavors of milk and milk a cow. We went with our friends Anika, Annie & Molly! You can see our photos below, as I've anxiously been trying to get this post up!

Hard at work!


The best part!


The crop!


Sam thinks he is pretty funny!


The latest craze around here is the "night night" game where they get to snuggle before bed!


Clayton loves to draw and color. This is one of his latest - "Clayton with a cookie"


Shatto Dairy Farm


Sam liked the taste testing - especially the chocolate milk!


Best buddies!




Milking a cow


Group photo!


Going for a run after our picnic


We recently bought a "Butterfly garden", sent off for the larvae and then waited for them to hatch! Clayton was mesmerized. We later let them go in our yard and there seem to be more butterflies in the vicinity since then.


Up close! (There were 5 total)


Clayton loves to build towers, he wants me to take pictures of all his towers and make a book so that when he gets older and becomes a builder he can reference them :)


Not one of the butterflies we let go, but here is one that we saw in our yard. We also have a beautiful hummingbird that likes to hang around.

New & Funny Happenings:

CLAYTON:
- He and Sam were racing their cars down the driveway and squealing with delight. At the end of the driveway Clayton looked at Sam and said "Sam - we are going to be together forever!"
- Clayton's new favorite food is Sun Butter & Jelly sandwiches!
- Still loves Spiderman!
- I taught his Vacation Bible School class last week. One funny thing he did one day was withdrew himself from the "packing peanut relay" - he told us he couldn't play because he was allergic to peanuts!
- LOVES to color. That is all he thinks about is getting back to coloring! He even wants to color in the car! We love all his pictures. Most of them are very colorful (I need to take more photos of them).
- Went off the high dive for the first time (Sunday, July 31st - 4.5 years old). Loved it!

SAM:
- Sam's new words: Cooool!, Okay, Nooooooo, Miiiiiiine!
- He shakes his finger at you and tells you "Noooooo!" (he puckers his lips up when he says no - it is pretty cute)
- Laughs when you put food in front of him
- Likes to drink mommy's iced tea
- Gives kisses and hugs all the time
- His favorite toy is anything he can stack - lately it is my silicone muffin holders

- They both love to play the "night night game" (as they call it). Daddy puts them both to bed in Clayton's bed, lights out and leaves the room. He comes right back in (they are already out of bed) and jokingly tells them to "get back in bed right this minute!". They think it is hysterical!
- LOVES to be outside - he doesn't care if it is 104 outside, he loves it!
- LOVES his big brother (when he isn't irritating him!)
- He likes to get stools to reach things
- Really likes bath time
- Likes smoothies (the only way we can get him to eat fruit)
- Also likes chips & salsa
- He really wants to go off the diving board - he sees Clayton do it and wants to go too!