Preschool Graduation- August 2011

Smiling Tots Graduates

Today was bittersweet.  We went back to Smiling Tots for graduation.  Easton graduated from preschool and is all ready to go to kindergarten!  Sutton graduated too but will have one more year of preschool at Creation Kids before going to kindergarten next year.  They have learned so much at Smiling Tots and had such a blast!  Thanks Kathy!

Easton's Preschool Graduation

Sutton graduating from Smiling Tots

Preschool Play- Easton and Sutton- July 2011

Family Vacation- July 2011

We have this goal to get the boys to all 50 states before they graduate from High School.  This year we added 7 new states, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 

We started off July 16^th for Memphis, TN. Where we stayed with my friend Sam and her family.  The next morning we visited the Memphis Zoo.

Cohen and Koller kids

Memphis Zoo

We then drove to New Orleans where we visited the aquarium due to the rain and saw an IMAX movie.  That afternoon we toured the French Quarter and had beignets at Café Du Monde.  The boys did a little dancing at dinner that night to a live band while we ate Cajun cuisine.

Boys down by the river

At the aquarium

IMAX movie

Carriage ride around the French Quarter



Beignets at Cafe du Monde



Dinner and dancing at Mulate's

The next morning we took a swamp tour and saw a ton of alligators and the boys even got to hold a baby one.

Easton and the baby gator

Mason's brave too... Easton's trying to get bit!

Sutton holding the gator

We then headed to Gulf Shores where the kids spent time on the beach and in the water.

On Wed. morning we drove to Pensacola where we watched the Blue Angels practice.  What an amazing site!

Thursday we spent time doing fun activities like riding go carts, playing laser tag and we also had dinner at a fun place called Lulu’s which had a huge beach and many activities for the kids to play while they waited for lunch.

Hot rod Harry Easton.

Mason taking the turn

Daddy and Sutton going for a ride

Mason and I riding the go cart

The big Mountain of Youth that Mason spent an hour climbing

This made me nervous to even watch him so high

Playing in the sand at Lulu's

A fun fountain at Lulu's

 

Our final stop was in Nashville where the kids found themselves on stage with the live band at Rippey’s.

They kept watching the band at Rippey's and finally they said come on up here!

2nd Annual Ozarks trip- July 2001

The boys lived in their swimtrunks!

Once again this year we had an awesome trip to the Ozarks.  We went with the same group of neighbors/friends from last year but added in The Kirchners this time as well.  We spent lots of time in the pool and cruising on the lake to fun places to eat and play like Coconuts and Frankie and Louies.  As always it was an awesome time not only for the kids but just as much fun for the adults.  We look forward to going back next year! 

And they are off...

They literally spent hours running and jumping into the pool.

Sutton playing in the sand at Coconuts

Easton jumping off the big trampoline.

Swimming in the lake

Ding and Dong pedalling around and around and around.

Sutton tried his hand at mini golf... the ball may have ended up in the lake.

Lunch time!

At the end of the day the boys were exhausted!  I found them all in a pile on the mattress.

4th of July- July 2001

We spent 4th of July at Ryan, Michelle, and Tristan's house playing with fireworks. The boys had fun playing baseball with Grandpa Bob and Tristan and then had a blast shooting fireworks with uncle Ryan.

 They also did some sparklers but that wasn't nearly as fun as holding

kids roman candles and watching fireworks shoot out the end. 

Camp Wapsie- July 2011

It was another great year at YMCA Camp Wapsie.  Mason stayed in the teepee village again for 3 nights.  John Klosterman joined him again and this year Ben Bowen also joined.  Another neighbor kid Ethan Mason was also with them (he wasn't there when I took this pic).  He had a blast and just loves the outdoors.  When I dropped him off he had no hesitation and I kind of hung around with the other moms as their kids were a little more timid and unsure, not Mason.  He kept looking at me like, "when are you going to leave already?"  At one point he did tell me I could leave.  The hightlight of Wapsie this year was that he passed the swim test so he could go in the deep end!  Overall another fun time and he's already looking forward to going back next year... with Easton.

Mason, John, and Ben in front of their teepee

The group!  Mason is on the top right... doesn't look real happy to be there!

 

Last day of 1st grade- June 2011

Mason is done with 1st grade.  Where does the time go?  Hard to believe he is old enough to be ready for second grade because I very vividly remember second grade (Mrs. Neisus my teacher was one of my FAVES).  He excelled so much this year.  He is now reading chapter books with no pictures and he's very good at math.  He had a fantastic teacher Mrs. Tafolla who did a great job this year with him and the other kids.  I am sure he is looking forward to being a big second grader... even if I am not!