SO...THERE YOU GO, MOM!

We are getting ready for church and Brooklyn comes out of her room dressed in a pink shirt, black skirt and flip-flops that are yellow, orange and blue. I suggest that she should wear her pink flip-flops or pink crocs that would go better with her outfit. As the wise almost five year old that she is...this is her comment back to me: "Mommy, don't you remember? It doesn't matter what clothes I wear or what shoes I wear because God loves me anyway". Alright, girl...you wear those yellow shoes with that pink shirt because you are right! God loves you no matter what!!!

GARDENING....I MEAN WEEDING!

I have a garden this year for the first time. There was super excitement and lots of enthusiasm once the grass was freshly tilled and new plants and seeds in the ground. Then life happened and I found out that gardening did not get my first priority. After probably 4 weeks of ignoring my garden, the results were VERY SCARY!

My good friend Stef and I planned to walk and catch up this afternoon. But, after she offered to help weed and Scott convinced me that pride was not a reason to reject the opportunity to bond with a friend and come away with much needed gardening knowledge, I made the call. And, being the great person she is...Stef came over for reinforcements!

Although, she only accepts the title "Master Weeder", Stef is actually a highly skilled gardener. So, whatever you want to be called, Stef - you are an awesome friend. Thank you for all the help today!!!

My garden after a couple hours by myself

Mandy & Stef showing off the hard work

Stef teaching Brooklyn how to take a picture of yourself

AT THE PARK WITH FRIENDS

Scott and I are part of a couples small group Bible study. And, the moms and kids from this group got together at the park yesterday (except we are missing the Currens....until next year, right Grace?) It was a beautiful day and a fun time with friends.


Still not sure how Tyler's story ended...



My little toughy...this picture is actually from a
different park earlier in the week






Brooklyn and Tyler





In trying to get the kids attention, JennVen lets out this loud whistle. And, instantly all
the moms want to know how to do this. So....

Jenn (right) gives us all a lesson and Melanie really wants to learn (sitting on left)

The lesson goes something like this...
Put your first two finger tips from each hand together, put them in your mouth to
fold your tongue backwards and blow.

When Jenn does this....very loud whistle. When Melanie does this...more of a blowing up
of a balloon noise accompanied by a shower for anyone near. Good effort though, Mel! And to be fair...I gave
up shortly after trying. It was more fun to watch :)






Apparently, the whistling lessons were just too much for Tyler!

***Disclaimer*** The bottle was found in the sand at the park. It was
NOT the beverage brought for him. At least that is the story Jenn is
sticking with ; )

HAIRCUTS

It's time to visit Ms Lori for haircuts. And, she even has a new drape with penguins on surfboards!

Alex:

We tried cutting only a small portion of bangs to start growing them out. But, 2 minutes after Ms. Lori put in an extra fancy pin trying to keep the uncut portion of bangs out of her face...she decided that was enough. So, the bangs were cut yet once again.







Brooklyn:

"I want my hair cut short this time, Mommy". Alright, Midge...




Enough with the pictures, Mom!



After the cuts.... What a couple of cuties!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Brooklyn & Alex sure love their Daddy

Still not sure how it happened...but, we got through Father's Day without many pictures...especially of the Fathers??? Very bad on my part...I'm sorry!

Our morning was spent loving on Scott...as it should be!

Then we attended the Baptism of Brooklyn and Alex's little cousin, McCoy. We went to Kevin & Stacey's church along with Den & Ellie and all of Stacey's family. Afterwards, everyone headed to Den & Ellie's. They hosted a Father's Day / McCoy's Baptism Lunch. Den manned the grill which held his "special rub/sauce" ribs (that he very graciously shared), hot dogs & hamburgers along with bunches of other yummy food.

We stayed until early evening but left once the storms started rolling into Grundy. There was a mission to get home and let Dakota inside before the rains came. On the way home the tornado sirens started blaring. That is always a reassuring sound! We stayed in the basement until 8:45pm - waiting until the tornado warning expired. We take those warnings pretty seriously since Parkersburg!

Here are a couple of the pictures from Father's Day...

Alex & McCoy (and Grandpa)


Brooklyn & McCoy



Anderson



Grandpa holding McCoy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA YODER

Yes, it was Father's Day but we also celebrated Grandma's birthday (which was yesterday - 25th) since she was going to be in Des Moines partying all weekend with her sorority sisters. The candles were almost impossible to light....yes, the candles were difficult but I also had two little wind-bags huffin' and puffin' and calling it "help"! So, Grandma came over to assist with the wind-bags.

Helping Grandma with her candles...the three that stayed lit!

THE GIRLS AND THEIR BEARS

There have been requests to actually see the final product of our special Build-a-Bear Birthday Bash that the Wegmanns so graciously gave the girls for their birthdays. Brooklyn's is a Sleeping Beauty gowned pink bear named "Aurora" and Alex went for the baseball hat, shorts and shirt sporting the Cubs logo named "Sammy"...with help from Sara. (We figure Grandma Ezby will take a liking to "Sammy" simply because of the Cubs!)

Anyway, I was trying to get a picture of the girls holding their respective bears...man, what a process! What happened to the days of "smile" and taking the picture??? The girls have gone loony!!! But, it sure is fun and we love every minute of it!

And, here we go....

FASHION DIVA

Not comprehending what I had just seen...only a flash of pink running by in the kitchen towards the door to the back yard, I followed. Brooklyn is dressed in a pink sundress, fuzzy pink hat, pink boa and pink snow boats...appropriate footwear for June. Who am I to critique???



Showing a little attitude in her posing...



Had to bring the boa in for the last shot - and Yes,
Alex is also in a dress...wanting to please her sister :)

BEING THE ONLY BOY IS HARD WORK!

This is to honor our buddy, Brad. He has to be the protector of 4 girls when the Currens are hangin' with the Yoders. Brad's big sister, Ally & baby sister Abby along with Brooklyn and Alex keep this little man busy. Luckily he practices just in case the call to action comes. Thank you, Brad!


Brad has waited patiently for his contribution
to the Curren goody bag to be opened....swords!



Finally, something a little man can play with!


Showing Scott his moves...and impressing his baby sister
in the process.



More moves....pay attention, Abby...your brother is working hard.



It looks like he "took care of" that horse pinata in the background, YIKES!

IT'S PARTY TIME!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY...CONT.

Ok, so I should have started with this one so the previous post was first. I'm still working on figuring this thing out....it may never happen...but, at least I'm trying!

Cake and Presents

Just a couple of pictures to show the cake and the generosity of our party guests....Alex, you are a very loved little girl!

The Dora Birthday Cake

Lighting the candles and singing "Happy Birthday"

What a great big sister...helping Alex blow to

make sure the wish comes true.

Opening presents...

Alex in her John Deere Birthday Hat

from Grandpa and Grandma Yoder

Along with the John Deere T-shirt

The Princess Carriage from Pop and Grandma Abblitt

Alex opening the LARGE bag of goodies from The Currens

And...Ally is making absolutely sure that it is all

going according to her plans

IT'S PARTY TIME!

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, ALEX!!!

Alex and Brooklyn have been talking about it for at least 6 months...but, it has finally happened. Alex turned 3 years old. She has been so excited for her birthday. The morning of her birthday she woke up at 6am calling for "Mommy" so I ran up to her room. She asked, "Mommy, what are you doing"? Well, it's 6am and for those that know me well...know that I have been up for at least an hour cleaning bathrooms and scrubbing floors! :)

But then she asks, "Are you making my cake"? I had to chuckle...when she went to bed I had just pulled the last cake out of the oven to cool. So there were 4 cakes out on the counters at bed time. Poor baby....guess we are lucky she slept at all. After I told her that the cake was made the night before her poor little eyes about popped out of their sockets. She jumped out of bed and headed downstairs as fast as her little legs could carry her. I hope the girls are always so excited for their birthday parties because it makes my heart happy to witness their joy!

That morning the phone calls from Pop and Grandma Abblitt and Grandma and Grandpa Yoder were very exciting for Alex... Now that I'm 3, I get my own phone calls! "Today is my Dora Party"!

At 3pm the party started. Grandma and Grandpa Yoder and our good (ok, Grace...great) friends, The Currens, made the 4 hour trip from Sheldon to help celebrate Alex's birthday party.

Describing her Dora Cake to Pop

Start of the party: Ally, Alex, Brooklyn, Brad (Abby is there, too)

Being a Dora Party, all the kids received a backpack with a map,

compass and telescope to navigate their way to designated areas.



The Birthday Girl trying to find her party

Poor Alex. The first destination was the bench to blow up a

punch balloon. And, only her balloon didn't work. It had a couple

pinholes in it and could not be blown up. So Sad!

Water balloon toss

The Daddys with their little girls...so cute!

Daddy and Grandpa setting up the pinata

Pinata time...Brooklyn must be getting the stick

Silly String at Swiper. Brooklyn aims like her Daddy.