Welcome Home!

The boys got home today from spending most of the week with Nana and Gramps! They had such a great time! Thanks to Nana and Gramps for showing the boys such a good time and keeping them entertained (not easy...!)

When Nick got home from work, he wanted to try something new with the guys, so Nick got their new bow and arrows out and he set everything up so that the boys could try their hands at some archery! I was so nervous, but the boys did really great! Ben went first and he had some really good shots. He even got pretty close to the bullseye on the target! Conner also did very well. He was a bit more nervous, but he also had some good shots at the target. It was pretty cool to watch our boys gain some confidence and do so well in such a short period of time! Success!!!  Nick and I also tried it, but I believe Ben had the best shot of the afternoon!

July Birthdays!

We went to Bettendorf this weekend to celebrate my sister's, brother's, mom's, and dad's birthdays! The heat kept us inside a lot, but the kids loved the water balloons that Nana and Gramps had. They had some great water balloon fights!

Nana and Gramps made a wonderful dinner for everyone and then they all opened presents and we enjoyed some cake and ice cream to celebrate!

We had a very fun time with everyone! Happy Birthday to Cari, Josh, Nana, and Gramps!!!

The boys will be staying with Nana and Gramps for several days next week, so Nick and I will be on our own until the end of the week!

Success and a Little Mess...

Conner got his picture from his swimming lesson instructor today and it is just a perfect image of Conner smiling under the water! We were very happy to learn that both Ben and Conner have passed their swimming lesson level so they will be in the big pool next year! Success!!!

Before we got our pizza and movie night going, we decided to try out the PieFace game that the boys got for their birthday! Of course, I was the first to get a face full of whipped cream! Every one of us ended up with a sticky face, but it was a lot of fun! The boys loved this game!

Soaking it up...

Plans for the rest of the summer include soaking up everything we can every single day, and everything that comes along with that! Today we are devoting our day to swimming, relaxing, and enjoying this sunshine with each other! One of the best parts was seeing Daddy running around the side of the house, surprising us, and jumping in the pool with us! 

Memories...

At birthday time, I just can't help but look back at some of my favorite photos! Our two babies, already letting us know that they have very different personalities!

The Day After...

The morning after the big party was filled with giggles from Conner, Marley, Ben, and Piper! The adults were moving slow, but these kids were ready for some more fun!

After everyone left, we tried to have a pretty lazy day. The boys did insist on trying on their new snorkels... They were very excited about these and have been asking for them for a long time! Happy boys!!!

9th Birthday Party!

Today is party day!!! The boys have been looking forward to this for a long time! They partied with all of their cousins, had a fantastic lunch, were thrilled with all of their presents, and enjoyed swimming in the backyard!

We had such a great time with the whole family! The boys loved their party! Can't believe they are 9 years old, but time doesn't stop or even slow down, even if we want it to. These 2 boys are our world! Happy 9th birthday, my loves!

Last Baseball Game...

Conner and Ben had their last baseball game tonight! They have both improved a lot this year. They are very focused out on the field, which is nice to see! They are getting more confident with themselves and I love it when they are so excited about how well they played.  Good job, guys!!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to these two amazing boys who make every single day an adventure! I cannot believe they are 9 years old...

Conner and Ben, we love you so much more than I can express here. It has been a glorious ride these past 9 years. I can't wait to see what the next year brings! As I always tell you both, you are my sunshine and my purpose. Love, love, love you...