Dinomite party coming up!

Sutton (and well all 3 of them) have an obsession with the show Dinosaur Train on PBS and that's fine by me because it is actually educational. So he wanted a dinosaur theme for his party so here is the invite I made him.

Here come the terrible 3's

True to form Sutton is hitting the terrible 3's!

He's been throwing fits and become stubborn and particular. It's his way or the highway! This morning when I gave him a quick drink of chocolate milk (as we were trying to leave the house 10 minutes late) he was mad that I gave him a sippy cup with no lid. He started the fit and then tried to push the cup over. Jake caught it in time luckily, I picked him up and carried him to the car where I had to wrestle him into his seat. He's so strong but I finally won (mark that down as today's workout, ha ha). We left for daycare and he screamed for a few minutes, and then became silent. I asked him a question, he ignored me. Easton started talking to him, he ignored Easton. The 3 year old gives the silent treatment now. GREAT.

Easton's on 2 wheels!

Last fall we knew Easton was ready to ride with no training wheels, but he just wasn't sure.  So this spring we told him it was time.  Jake took them off, held onto him and off he went.  In just a week he was flying all over the neighborhood as if he had been doing it for years! 

Daddy gettig him steady...

And there he goes!

Showed off his skills by turning around in the driveway!

Ice skating anyone?

After spending much time watching the winter Olympics, Jake got inspired to take the boys ice skating one afternoon.  Sutton stayed home and napped but the other two had a blast and even saw some friends while there!  And no serious injuries... much to my surprise.

Mason with his skills... and serious concentration.

Easton also has skills...

Mason and Payton (future wife?  I sure hope so.)

Winter fun!

Luckily in our neighborhood we have some GREAT sledding hills.  The boys have really gotten into sledding this winter and we have had plenty of snow to keep them busy sledding and shovelling too!  (they actually enjoy shovelling... I'm sure that will last until they are old enough to actually help out before they get sick of it).

Sutton, Chase, Mason, and Easton at the top ready to go!

And they are off!

Sutton trekking back up the hill


Even the doggies like to join in!

Windchill -30... no problem.

Mason and John after one of our first big snows of the year!

Summer fun... in the winter!

Over Christmas break we needed a little get away so we packed up the kids and went to the indoor water park in Dubuque.  They had a blast and were able to be so independent.  It was a fun and relaxing time for all! 

Christmas 2009

Christmas is a week long event in our family! So many places to go and people to see. It all began the weekend before at Grandma Karen's. This year we had a new cousin to join in the fun. He had a great time crawling all over the presents and was happy to play with wrapping paper, he didn't try to steal the boys' toys... can't say the same for Sutton trying to steal Tristan's toys though. Grandma Karen got the boys big snow plows among other things, and we all know how much those are needed this winter. The boys couldn't wait to go outside and try them out. (Sutton is hidden in this pic behind his snow plow box).

Then it was onto Kathy's (Smiling Tots Preschool) where they did a Xmas program and sang songs. Santa came to visit and brought each of them a gift.
Next up was Xmas Eve with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Patty. This year along with Ryan, Michelle, and Tristan we were also joined by Emily and her "serious" boyfriend Brian (as Patty would say, ha ha). The boys had a blast and were thrilled to recieve official gear to begin their training as future teammates on the Iowa Hawkeye football squad. We anticipate Mason (running back), Easton (receiver), and Sutton (kicker) to be All Americans with all this early practice they are getting. Nothing would make Grandpa Bob more proud than to cheer on his own Hawk grandsons!

Christmas morning the boys woke up in their matching jammies to come find out what Santa brought for them in their stockings. Then later in the day Jesse, Joc, Lana and Papa all came up for some more present opening.

This is what they do when I tell them to "look at me and be cute." Trained much?

Mason may never listen to us again.

Easton was so thrilled to get a skid loader.

Opening presents is serious work.