Hunter is 7!

7 is so BIG! We started a new tradition this year - no friend parties on the "odd number" years. Just a date with mommy and daddy and a family party. We took Hunter to I-HOP for breakfast and he loved having just mom and dad's attention... even better, he was given an ice cream sundae--at breakfast! Lucky him, he got to go to 2 other parties on his birthday - there was no lack of friends or cake on his big day!

On Sunday night, we had a family dinner/party. I made the cake myself and I even surprised Hunter. He saw me throwing away the scraps and I commented that I didn't know how to make a cake and I was giving up. He was so, SO disappointed to not have a cake! Then I showed him a little square that I would decorate just for him. That evening, he convinced his cousins that there was only 1 small piece of cake for him and that he would just have to give everyone Gummy Bears instead of cake! I'm glad he was trying to find a way to make everyone happy. And we had plenty of cake for everyone!

The cousins.... lots of boys around here! And I love the cry you can SEE on Cole's face... very typical.

Someone else loved the cake too!

Danny was helping Chanin practice the piano. He LOVES to play the piano!

1st Day of School

This post is especially for Grandma and Grandpa to see!

Hunter started the 1st grade and it is a very long day for him and for me! I thought I'd be happy for the long day - and don't get me wrong - I AM enjoying it. But at the same time, there's a little part of me that keeps looking at the clock and gets shocked that he still has another 3 hours to be gone!! He is loving school and he likes to tell me that he's one of the nicest kids in the class. I think every mom wants to hear that! And I'm positive that he IS a nice kid.

Cole started preschool. He did preschool last year - but we decided to take a plunge and stay closer to home. He gets to go with 3 neighbor buddies and he is having the time of his life. I think that Cole can tell that it only takes 3 minutes to get there (rather than 20) and he thinks that school is "SO SHORT!" He keeps asking why Hunter's school isn't so short. I'm grateful that Cole has a buddy to play with all day. He and Connor wander back and forth between their houses all day, everyday! His favorite part about school is the "secret playground." It isn't very secret - you walk past it as you go into the preschool!

PS I have to post a funny story about Cole playing at his friend's house:

Cole doesn't "have" to take a nap, but usually he does fall asleep in the later afternoon since he gravitates to his blankie and the couch for some "chill out" time. He had been at Connor's all afternoon the house became very quiet. Connor's mom noticed that Cole wasn't playing with Connor so she asked, "Where's Cole?" Connor replied that he went to get something upstairs. So she started to look for Cole in the kitchen (he has snuck into her pantry before), in the bathroom, then when she tried to open her bedroom door, she could barely open it. Cole was squatting, on his knees and bum in the air, with his head into the corner behind the door FAST ASLEEP. I'm not sure how to better explain it in words, but hopefully you get the idea. How he chose that spot for a quick "power nap," we'll never know.

Yummy-licious

When we got home from Cali - look what I found in my garden! FYI - my veg. garden was an UTTER FAILURE. But, I can grow berries!


And yesterday I did a first - CANNING! Shayne thought I should put on a pioneer dress for the occassion (cause I actually have one!). I hope they taste as yummy as they look - and a big THANKS to Rach for making this happen. I wouldn't have done it without her.

It's a very DARK video, but not in the evil way! Hunter tore up the dance floor at the wedding reception. Here's a clip of him dancing with Laura-ba-dora!

No more gates!

Yeah!! Danny can manage the stairs now!

California

We went to our best friend's (LAURA) wedding in California. The amazing part about being there for her wedding was that we really got to spend time with her and her fiance (Maynrad) and it was SOOOO MUCH FUN!! PLUS, we got to be there for her INCREDIBLE and BEAUTIFUL wedding. I'm so sorry that I didn't take very good pictures of that day. Bummer. But here are a few. And FYI, Shayne added his commentary to the pictures.

The quilt made with Love for Laura and Maynrad

My mom did most of it, but I (yes, me!) did do the squares in the middle. I really helped sew something beautiful!
Our family at the wedding. Please note all the kid's shirts are clean, which may very well be the first time in our history.

"Blisters"

Laura and Maynrad - IN LOVE! (Maynrad lost his right hand during the wedding, but he was a good sport about it).

After the wedding, we had a family vacation in Sunny California. We had lots of time on the beach and we did the 3/1 pass to Sea World, Wild Animal Park, and San Diego Zoo. By the end of our "park" adventures, the kids were burned out on animals. They would have preferred Disney, or any place with rides, but it was fun to do something different. Here are more pictures to highlight our adventures.

The boys at the beach. Danny's really got to work on that tan.

"This is the worst tasting brown sugar I've ever eaten".

The boys under the sink. They are NOT coming of the closet.

I took away a shell he was trying to eat...

Hooray for disease!

It's a little funny to think that the boys enjoyed this part of the "Wild Animal Park" the best - it was an animatronic dinosaur park. Basically, our kids would rather see extinct animals.

"Our parents only had to pay $16 to see these lame dinosaurs. It just goes to show that whining pays."

Notice the dinosaur is giving the kids the same look that Hunter is giving Cole. That, "I could SO destroy you" look.

Snorkeling with Cole at La Jolla in San Diego was an absolutely highlight for me. He really did snorkel (with adult gear on!) and it was a surreal experience. I LOVED that moment in time and I will never forget the way I felt as we pointed at fish and swam hand in hand! By the way, who can make snorkeling gear look attractive?

Cole with Elmo

Funny Story - Cole ran right past Grover to get to Elmo. It cracked me up that the photographers begged him to go back claiming that Grover has feelings too! But, as you can see, Cole was thrilled to have his picture with Elmo. And it seems to be a RARE moment to have a SMILING Cole in a picture - I'm glad I got it!

Cole's the one on the left

En route to our home, we stopped in Vegas and got some play time with our cousins - who were there for the Labor Day weekend. We love family. It's so much fun to be together, anytime, anywhere.

Hunter and Carson playing together. Doesn't Carson have the bluest eyes you've ever seen?

This is my feeble attempt to show how girls would flock to Danny - at the pools, beaches, where ever we went. He is a magnet! Is this an indicator of his future?

Gotta share this one...

My good friend Kristy posted the following on her blog and I had to share it. I wish I had the cute photos she had along with it - but I'll have to share those another time! So, from Kristy:

A conversation heard in the car between Emily and friend Cole.

Em: Cole, do you think you would love me?

Cole: Ya, (dramatic pause) do you love me?

Em: Ya, do you wanna get married?

Cole: Ya, (another dramatic pause) do you wanna get married?

Em: Ya!

Cole: Do you have a princess dress?

And then the conversation took a 180 turn and they discussed important topics such as Hannah Montana and hitting heads on toilets. But back to the previous conversation, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the future Mr. and Mrs. Nelson (yes, conveniently Cole and Emily already have the same last name, and no they are not related).
Emily will make a great wife as she is fun, free spirited, and in touch with her inner child. Cole is very sweet to Emily and hopes she will make him tacos and macaroni and cheese with hot dogs every night for dinner.The wedding will take place in about 20 years as there is a little growing up that has to happen.When the time comes, we wish this couple all the happiness in the world!

Play time

We were putting dinner together on Sunday evening and I knew that Danny was pulling pots and pans out of cupboards for his own entertainment. When I turned around, I was completely surprised to see this!