Ballerina Baby!

Anyone who knows Stavia, knows she loves, loves, loves to dress up. At my moms house yesterday she found a bunch of old dance costumes. She wore this one for over an hour. We didn't get pictures of the other costumes she tried on. As a dancer, its especially exciting for me to see my daughter all dressed up and ready for dancing!

Clowns!

Friday after school there was a VERY negative mood going around our house. We needed to refresh and get smiling so we painted on new faces and it made everyone happy! The boys wanted French mustaches and Stavia wanted in on the action a little too.
(Please excuse the dirty kitchen. We are almost done getting things put away and then I'll put pictures up.)

Ryker has a new bed!

We have a much bigger play area in our new house. Ryker and Stavia are having a blast with all the room. We set up the kids tent in the big open area and Ryker is currently on his third night in a row "camping." We have wood floors so I would have thought he would be ready for his real bed by now but he still wants to sleep in the tent. Stavia tried to sleep in the tent the first night but it was too different for her. She has taken to jumping in the tent, giving Ryker his good night hug and sitting there while we sing a couple lullaby's and then comes to me to put her in bed.

P.S. There are pictures of our new place coming. I need to take pictures on a non-rainy day!

State Fair Time!

This year we were able to bring our kids up to the Iowa State Fair for two days of fun. Here are some of the highlights!

Here are Ryker and Stavia at the "Little Hands On The Farm" exhibit. There is a little path that the kids go through and they get to experience all the different things that farmers do. They get to plant seeds, pick the plants, collect wool, meat, eggs, milk, ride a little tractor, and then sell all the things they collected at the farmers market. They get fake money for their products and go to a little grocery store to spend their money on a snack. It's a very cool exhibit and our kids really like it!

Of course, it wouldn't be a trip to the State Fair without corn dogs. (Side note: Every year I kinda sorta get excited about the fair to get a corn dog, and then I take a bite and remember exactly why I don't get cravings for them more than once a year...ick!)

Here are all three kids posing on the lion in the kids area of the fair.

Sparklers!

We didn't do sparklers on the 4th of July this year but we did do them in July. Here are pictures from our little Independence celebration.

First boat ride!

Over the next couple of days I'm going to try to catch up on my blogging.





Back at the end of July Ryker and Stavia were able to have their first boating experience. It was a little chilly and they were really unsure of the whole experience. I hope to get them more familiar with boating and water next summer!

Dress up day!

I have learned that somedays I just need to let my kids pick their outfits. I dress them everyday but if control every decision they won't any creativity left by the time they are school-aged. The other day when we were getting ready to go the office the kids picked out their own outfits. The results are posted below.

Rykers 3rd Birthday

Ryker had his 3rd Birthday on the 17th. We had a party at the ball park and grilled hot dogs and brats per his request. He also requested green cupcakes. Aunt Anna made them and they were delicious. She started a tradition of cupcakes laid out in the shape of his age on his first Birthday and we have continued to do it every year.

Ryker with his Birthday cupcakes.

Opening presents from Great Grandma Lyle

Giving Great Grandma Issen a "Thank You" hug.

Summer Days...

The other day we brought the kids to the farmers market. We parked right next to the kettle corn stand so they smelled it right when we got out of the car. I told them if they were good through the whole market, we would buy a bag of popcorn for an after dinner snack. They were good and they ate all their dinner so we went outside and enjoyed the last of the daylight.

Fourth of July

This July 4th was pretty rainy. We stayed inside and did family activities until the Hills parade at 5. Our kids were in the parade with Grandma and Grandpa Miller. Ryker was able to watch the parade and be in the parade. We watched the parade towards the beginning of the route and Grandpa and Grandma Miller were towards the end of the line. Ryker stood with us and watched everything go through the parade and as the grandparents were driving by we put him on the 'float.' He was so excited to be able to throw candy to the kids. Justys rode on the truck the whole time, he was also in the Kalona parade earlier this summer. He is turning into a truly professional candy tosser.

Strawberry Jam

Since so many people in the USA took July 3rd off of work so did we. Well, the ladies in my husbands family anyway. My three sister-in-laws, mother-in-law and I made strawberry freezer jam. It's handy to have around throughout the year. And it's a lot of fun to just sit around and talk and catch up with the family. It is almost that easy, with all the help it's really no work at all. I didn't get my camera out in time to get pictures of the entire process but you can use  your imagination for the first steps. So, close your eyes here we go. Imagine: You get a bunch of strawberries and take the stems off, then you chop up the fruit. No more imagination necessary, I have a pictorial for you from here.

Jodi was slaving over the hot stove (and talking to her husband on the phone)

My mother-in-law, Jan, poured the finished product into the jars.

I had the job of moving the jars around. I gave Jan empty jars as she needed them and took the full jars out of the way. Let me tell ya... it's HARD work. HAHA!

Our finished product 50+ pints of strawberry jam!

This is part of the work crew and part of the distraction crew.

Baseball Season!

Justys is about to wrap up his baseball season for 2009. He played several positions this year but mostly catcher. Here are a few action shots! (He's in the green)

Hello from Miss Stavia Trudy

Stavia wanted to be part of the web cam action the other night. Here is her contribution:

Ryker the Rock Star

Tonight Ryker would not stop singing. He was singing about anything and everything that was happening. He was playing with a model train so he started singing about the train going down the track and on the bridge. Without further adieu, I give you: Ryker the Rock Star!

Happy Birthday Stavia!

Stavia had her first birthday April 27. We went to Godfathers for pizza and cupcakes. All of her Grandparents were there and even one set of greats! Also 2 sets of aunts and uncles! We had a lot of fun. Justys and Ryker got to play arcade games because there were enough grandparents around to keep feeding them dollars.

Ready to go!

Ryker loves to get dressed up and go outside. Sometimes he's dressed appropriately and other times he is not. Have a look.

Tonka Truck

Ryker got a Tonka truck for Christmas and even though that was months ago he still plays with it daily. He uses it to transport all of his other toys from his bed room to the living room and back. He also helps me put cloths away with it, he uses it as a stepping stool to turn lights on and off, he even pushes Stavia around in it. I know that is probably not what the toy was designed for and some would say that I am being TOO trusting to let him use it in such dangerous ways. However, I like to encourage his imagination so most of the time I just supervise and don't make him stop doing these terribly dangerous activities, afterall, what is insurance for?

Don't worry, they are very gentle with their little sister.

Plus it makes her giggle like crazy!

In the middle of winter you need something to do indoors and you've got to get creative!

Bye-Bye