Oh Deer!

On Saturday morning (at our Labor Day camping trip) Brody scared Mark.   They quickly became friends teasing and scaring each other.  I don't quite know how it came about but Mark ended up making Brody some deer antlers. 

Of course, Colt wanted deer antlers too.  We made him a temporary one. 

After breakfast Mark was kind enough to make antlers for Colt.

Ollie didn't want to miss out on the action.

All three deer.

Mark, Colt & Brody

They are certainly the cutest deer I have ever seen. 

Camping Bath

We went camping over Labor Day weekend for the Smith Family Reunion (Brad's family).   We were able to give Ollie a bath in this little tub. 

His cleanliness didn't last too long. 

They were so dirty from all their playing but that is what camping is all about.  

More pictures and stories to come from our weekend. 

PEPS Potluck

I joined a PEPS group when Brody was 7 weeks old.  We have been meeting with these friends off and on since then.  It has been a long time since we have all gotten together so we organized an end of summer before preschool potluck.  We enjoyed a nice potluck at Pine Lake Park and it was wonderful to see everyone.

Silly Faces

Alexander, Katie, Owen, Brody, Colin & Ian

Colt (in the back), Eli

Ollie & Henry (in the front)

We gave the kids the camera and tried to get them to take a picture of the moms.  They turned out ok but we didn't do a very good job of looking at the cameras.   

Sunny Breakfast

The other morning we decided to have breakfast on the front porch.  It seemed really cold outside but the sun warmed up the porch very nicely.  It was a great start to the day.  

Ollie actually sat in this chair the entire time he was eating.  I think he might be growing up. 

Morning Sleep

When my world is in perfect balance I get up early and either go for a run or go to the gym.  Sometimes I use that early morning time to go to the grocery store (I know it may sound crazy but it beats going to the grocery store with 3 kids in tow).  

Often when I get back from my workout or errand I find Colt snuggled in bed with Brad.  (Colt is not our best sleeper so he wakes up and still needs to sleep some more).   I thought I would take a picture so we can remember these special moments. 

A Camping Party

We were trying to decide how to celebrate Colt's birthday and also go camping and came up with a brilliant plan to combine the two.  Our camping site wasn't terribly far away from family but it was definitely an effort for them to celebrate and we are so thankful they did.  It made the camping experience so fun and created a great memory for Colt's birthday.  We just might do it again next year. 

Colt getting ready for his birthday cupcake.

Ollie after his cupcake.

Andrew after eating his cupcake.

Here we are singing Happy Birthday.  The candle in the middle actually plays the Happy Birthday music but I forgot to turn it on.  We sang to him again and turned the candle on.  This video is our first version. 

It was truly a fun birthday celebration! 

Down by the River

Ollie and I outside the tent.

On Saturday we were joined by Papa Bob, Grandma Shari, Fafa, Grammy, Uncle Brian, Aunt Angie, Abi and Andrew.  They came to celebrate Colt's birthday.   Before his birthday festivities began we spent some time down at the river.

Papa Bob was the leader of  "let's find the biggest rock to throw into the water."  The kids loved it.  They also found boats to float down the river. 

I could have spent all day at the river.  It was so peaceful and just the perfect temperature to enjoy being outside.  But it was challenging trying to keep Ollie from wading into the freezing cold water.