Countdown to 3!

We went and had the boys' pictures taken today since they will be three years old in just two weeks! Some pictures need to be cropped on my computer so that they look like the prints that we actually ordered but here's a few of my favorites...

There are lots of really good individual ones of the boys as well...

Productive day overall!

Preschool?

I have to take a deep relaxing breath before I actually write this.... okay.... my babies will be going to preschool in August!!! I cannot believe that they are big enough for this, but they will be 3 next month and they could really benefit from an extra year of preschool. So maybe this is their pre-preschool...

They are ready to go check out this whole "preschool" thing...

After Daddy got home we played outside to blow off a little nervous energy... (at least that was Dad and Mom's intention!) Conner played peek-a-boo with me...

As usual Ben had to be throwing and/or kicking some kind of ball the whole time we were outside... Ben is trying to explain something about that football to Daddy!

More updates about preschool will come as I find out more information about it! But as of right now, the kids will be starting in August!

Gotta love Sturgis Falls!

This weekend was the Sturgis Falls celebration in Cedar Falls and luckily we were all able to make it over there this year! I love being outside and enjoying the music and the food! It gets a little bit more complicated with a couple of two year olds running around, but what isn't more complicated anymore?!

My brother Josh enjoying the delicious greasy chips that we all love!!!


Even the boys got to share some chips with Gramps!


I love this picture of Ben.... he actually sat still for a minute...


The snow cone was meant for the little boys, but Daddy had to help!

My niece, Marley, made it through her first Sturgis Falls!

Ben and Conner were sweaty messes all weekend... but I guess we all were! They really enjoyed running around the parks!

Aunt Jenn caught Ben for a moment and tried to get him to settle down!

Thanks to all of you who helped keep track of our boys!!! It's hard work, isn't it?! Such a fun weekend.... now it's time to scrub everybody down and get ready for another week!

Random...

Some random pictures... it's just been that kind of a week!

Don't be fooled by their cuteness... this might have been their naughtiest day ever!!!


I tried for a picnic... what I got was 2 boys who sat on the blanket for a picture and then proceeded to run around the room, throwing their food everywhere as they went...


Conner helps Ben with his snack... I like to see a little cooperation once in a while!


Bennnnn....


Conner is having a "naked" day today... won't keep his clothes on for anything....


So glad tomorrow is Friday!!!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads! Especially to my own dad, who has shown me unconditional love and support when I have needed it the most. You have shown me what being a parent is all about. And when I think of you playing with your grandchildren, I am filled with complete happiness because I know that you will always show them the same love and support that you've shown me. So thanks Dad... for being you!

Now on to my own husband...

Nick... you are a wonderful father, and I hope that you truly know that! Your children are completely in love with you and they miss you so much when you are at work. This last week has been special, not only because we were on vacation, but because the 4 of us got to spend so much time together! The boys loved it and I fully expect to hear "where's Dad" a lot this week! Our children are so happy and I have you to thank for that. Thank you for being such a good dad... Happy Father's Day, honey! We love you so much!

Here's a little look back...

The first time we saw our sons...


Our first visit with them...


The first time we got to bring them home...

Learning how to balance two babies at one time!

Remember when all they did was sleep?!


Together again!


They are finally home!


I can't believe how small they were...


A day we will never forget...


We have had so many "firsts" with them...



You are a great dad because you step up and take part in every aspect of their day... diapers, eating, etc... all the fun stuff!!!


A picture of the 3 of you a year ago!


Can you believe that they are going to be 3 this year?! Time has flown by...

They love hanging out with you... no matter what it is that you are doing!

They are going to be like you in so many ways...

Happy Father's Day 2010!!!!

We love you so much! Thank you for being a wonderful daddy and for always taking such good care of ALL of us!!!

Love... Ben, Conner, and Amy

Home!

We are home from a week of vacation in Minnesota with Nick's family! I was going to try and keep up with the blog while we were away, but the WiFi at our resort was not working... so now that the laundry is finally done and all of the totes are unpacked, I have begun to start sifting through all of our vacation pictures! There are hundreds of them!!! We all had a great time despite the rainy weather and the insect infested beach! It was so much fun to spend the week with our nieces and it was awesome to watch our boys experience some new things! They got to fish, go for boat rides, go down water slides, and so much more! I thought I would share a few of my favorite photos from the week...

Ben and Conner walked right into the lake with Nick right when we arrived at the resort!


Conner loved riding around on the car at the playground...


Ben would not stay out of the closet in our room and fell into the suitcase several times throughout the week!


Conner, Nick, and Ben enjoy the boys' first time "fishing." Really the boys just put their poles in the water and splashed them around... they did learn to say "Here fishy, fishy!"


Jennifer, Ben, and Conner enjoy one of their favorite snacks...


Conner and Ben loved carrying their fishing poles around outside! (I had to break up several sword fights...)

This family loves popcicles!


We all went to do go-karts and power wheels... the boys LOVED the power wheels. It was so much fun to watch them and then to watch the adults trying to help the kids steer!


Ben and Conner were very happy that they got to spend an entire week with Daddy!

I just thought it was too cute that the boys were trying to help Daddy carry the luggage to the car...

When we made it back to town on friday night after our 7 hour trip, we were welcomed with flooded streets! But we made it to our house and decided to do most of our unpacking on Saturday... Thanks for a great vacation Mama and Papa!!! We had a wonderful time! And now it's time to get back to "normal" around here!