Hello and Thank You!

A dear friend and next door neighbor to Debbie and Pam down in Florida loves to hear stories about the boys.  Debbie showed her my blog and I'm told she likes checking in on us.  This summer Anne decided she wanted to get the boys each an outfit.  I felt the least I could do was try to take a cute picture of the boys wearing their cute new outfits.  It was a nice thought...and then I remembered the cold hard truth that if I want a cute picture the boys will ALWAYS find a way to spoil my idea.  Oh well.

So, a big hello to my new friend, Anne (and I'm not just saying that because you got my kids cute outfits).  And, thank you, thank you for the cute outfits.  They look wonderful on the boys and they love them!

Zoo

The first Sunday my parents were here for a visit, Hans was actually still on vacation.  We decided to go to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Brookfield and then the zoo afterwards. 

 The kangaroos were catching a nap.

There are a few big playgrounds there.  I'm wondering how many animals kids actually see in each visit to the zoo.

I originally wrote here that the boys were looking at their favorite animal.  Then John read it over my shoulder and informed me that they all had different favorite animals and penguins were "not on that list."  They do like the penguins though.

 I look like I'm not happy about this kiss my little boy is giving me.  Before you think less of me as a mother, I'm probably just bracing myself for a bite as Anders has been known to switch the two.

 After seeing about two animals we came upon the splash pad.  John was the only one brave enough to get all in.

 John is a little weird.  But we love him anyway.

 Anders decided to watch his weird brother from the comfort of the wagon.

 Grandma and Grandpa decided it was time to get ice cream.  Because that is what grandparents do.

 My little bird.

 Of course, if there is a carousel, it must be ridden. 

 I think they all loved it.  I loved that I happened to capture my big goofball being a big goofball.

Gus even rode an animal that moved this time.  That was a big step for this kid.

The zoo is always fun.  The boys are excited to go each and every time.  Although, when they go with just mom and dad, they are stuck just looking at animals...the nerve.

Summer Reading

We came home from vacation just in time for the summer reading closing program.  The theme this year was Reading is so Delicious!  The closing program consisted of an edible books contest, (where the contestant makes a cake and decorates it to resemble a character or theme of his or her favorite book), a pudding eating contest, and a blind pizza taste test.

 These cones had been placed in two rows to make an isle for people to wait in line to try pizza.  Then my kids got there and decided they were better play toys than line forms.

 The pizza.

 During summer reading the kids earned book bucks by attending events and reading books.  At the end of the program they could spend their book buck in our library market.  The market even had some great books the kids could buy.  Gus is holding a Toy Story book.  He laid claim to that pretty quick.

Ms. Sarah, the adult services librarian, read the restless natives a book while we got the pudding eating contest set up.

 4 scoops of pudding per plate.  The first one to lick the plate clean won.

 Listening to the instructions....no hands.

 This age group was Pre-K through 3rd grade.

 This kid had fun.

The winner!

 This was the highschool group.

 The winner.

 Yep, even adults participated.  See that blonde head in the white and orange shirt?  That is Hans.

 When I asked Hans if he wanted to do the contest he said, "Oh, I will destroy my opponents."

And destroy he did.  I'm so proud. (Can you sense the sarcasm?)