summer

Seems as though I have titled a post this before, but am too lazy to look back and check, and to uncreative at the moment to think of anything catchier to say about this random blog of summer happenings...

I did finally take Clay to his 1 year appointment. He weighs 23.75lbs(57%) and is 30.75 inches tall(68%) Smaller than Jack and bigger than Quinn when they were one. Which is fitting because I think he looks like the perfect mix of his big brothers!

1st ride on Grandpa Stu's big mower!

Dancing!

Into everything!

We had a great 4th, some golfed, some swam,

all did sparklers on the side of the highway

and watched the Shell Rock fireworks from the roof of the van

while eating snacks-ahhh perfect day!

Scott, Jack, Quinn and I checked out Cars 2 3D.

Jack loved it and Quinn loved the snacks and hated the glasses.

And Jack wrapped up his 1st season of teeball.

He really liked it, especially hitting. They had great coaches, who taught them lots of fundamentals. I had thought that Jack was always picking to play 3rd base due to the lack of action that led to uninterupted dirt drawings, but when he got put on 2nd base he was hustling after those grounders and smiling like crazy!

We celebrated Heritage Days with the parade and fireworks.

And Scott and I went to one of the bands while Grandma and Grandpa babysat. Jack had asled Grandma where we went and she told him "on a date." He said "Oh, they did that one other time, back when they got married." And that folks is a sadly close description of Scott's and my social life :)

And picnic-ed with Grandma and Grandpa.

And a big congrats to my hubby for rocking his PAT in the 105 degree heat-on to testing and books he goes on his way to a PGA pro!

A good month.

Holstein

The boys and I traveled to Holstein last weekend to hang out with the family and throw Mariam a shower. Have any of you Holstein-ites talked to people where you live know about come-and-go showers? They think its crazy and hilarious that we put adds in the paper, and that people just show up with presents! Guess its a "really" small town thing...
Anyway, it was a themed shower. Since Mariam is a California "city" girl. We thought it would be fun to have a "down home/country" shower here in Iowa. It was fun to plan and must be a popular idea for weddings these days, because the internet was FULL of great ideas.

The Committee. Aunt Bev, Deb Krager, Ashley, Me, Mom, Aunt Colleen and Aunt Nancy.

The gift table with the committee's wedding pictures hanging above.

It was a great time!

We also got lots of playtime with Grandpa and Grandma and fell in love with Holstein's new ice cream store!

2 Wheels

Jack had been boycotting his bike all summer. He had an early spring wipeout with it and has been angry at his "yellow" bike since. He would act like he was going to ride it and then on walks would do just that-walk his bike. I didn't say much and thought it would pass. I asked him casually once if he would like to ride without training wheels, he said "Maybe when I'm 6." And so that was that. Until he overheard me talking about whether we would get him a bigger bike without training wheels or take the ones off his "little" bike for him to learn. That was apparently a brand new idea, and he asked for us to take the training wheels off no less than every 5 minutes until Scott took them off. We spent about 4 nights running him up and down the sidewalks, while he looked around and waved at the neighbors. Then I took him to the tennis courts-lots of wide open, flat space. Here too was more of the same Mommy running while Jack checked out the baseball guys practicing. I finally told him to try it on his own for a bit after showing him the "pedal up power position." And seriously 2 minutes later he was riding! I am so proud of him, and was screaming like crazy! He has done really well and rode so much and "burnt" so much rubber that he put a hole in his tire! Grandpa Stu had promised him a "big" bike once he got the hang of riding-so off they went and broght home Jack's pride and joy!

Though he loves the kick stand more than anything. He said, "look Mommy its just like your bike, it has a leg stand!" And will randomly say " I wonder how my new bike is doing out there on its leg stand?"


And not to be left behind, Quinn also got a "new" bike.

 The yellow bike got a new tire and training wheels on, and I have never seen a happier boy. Its like he had never seen this bike before and immediately took ownership. He loves riding, and being able to keep up with the big boys. He makes Jack ask before he can touch it, haha! Yes the golf clubs have taken a back seat for now-the Thorson's are bike riding machines!

Mommy and Clay are usually close behind in Clay's cool ride!