The perfect day

K couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day to celebrate turning 3! 

It was sunny and 75 degrees, with a gentle breeze. 

We spent some time chasing balloons.

That was perfect.

Aunt Joan stopped by with the perfect present, wrapped in the perfect paper!

(hint: both had to do with trucks)

We rode bikes, and took our beloved truck balloon for a ride on the p-car

Poppy came home with logs!

(perfect surprise for a 3 yr old boy)

Mickey Mouse Cupcakes were the perfect centerpiece for his biggest fan!

He was so excited when he saw them:

Gramsy found a Mickey Birthday Book: perfect!

helllooooo birthday boy!

Mousekatools are important for killing time while you're waiting to open presents

YUM-- cake time!

selecting the perfect cupcake:

mmmmmm....

a mickey toothpick duel:

a cupcake liner = the perfect homemade party hat

He was lovin the Mickey on a stick-- he tried to eat it!

can i PLEASE open this now???

Daddy got to open some presents too, since his bday was in a few hours:

It was such a joy to celebrate our once little, tiny Baby-- turning into a little boy! 

He warms our hearts more and more as the months go by, with his sweet scratchy voice and his love for life (and all things vehicular)! He impresses us constantly with his growing vocabulary, his wild imagination, his climbing and jumping skills, and his amazing ability to bounce back after an injury. 

Always been a tough one, that Koo-Bear!

We are so thankful God chose him to remain in our family-- it would not be the same without him!

Our PERFECTLY Precious Miracle!

the big 03!

 The youngest in his class, Kyren turned 3 on Thursday, and got to celebrate with all of his new friends. I had the joy of surprising him with a truck balloon(!!) and some donut holes, just as his class was finishing up circle time.
His reaction was priceless, and though i didn't get it on film, I don't think i'll ever forget it. The instant he saw me (the balloon, really) he jumped up from the circle, RAN over with arms wide open, and smile as wide as can be. He then took the balloon back over to the circle to show it off, and finish the special birthday story Mrs. G was reading....

 Then she pulled out her "3" candle from when her own daughter turned three (20 years ago!).... 

and let Kyren blow it out after everyone sang. 

He couldn't get enough donuts or grapes!

  

 And he was very proud of his special dump truck!

A good time was had by all!

so long, summer :(

we really did have the best summer you could ask for!

LOTS of swimming,

picnics by the pool,

bike riding,

visiting (great)grandparents,

exploring,

vacationing,

and general frivolity in the sun and shade of summer!

this amazing little guy basically taught himself how to swim in the last month!
he would ask me for a "swimming lesson" and then proceed to tell ME what we were going to do.
he didn't like any of my ideas.
regardless, we are SO proud of him!

Kyren and Gramma Peg taking a stroll to see the neighbor's new pool.
no matter that we had to climb through her back hedge to get there...

this beauty lit on our hydrangea toward the end of august,
while c and i were out looking for cool things to take pics of.
def. a cool thing! 

he called this one the "Nemo" bug.
totally a clownfish in a bug suit.

flags and locust shells = the approach of labor day

fascinating!!

Dr. Brown performing a "heartbeat check".
not sure it was good news.

insert caption about not letting anything seem too big to conquer!

one last bloom time in August...for these hydrangeas.

i LOVE this tree that grows right outside our door--
it is the nicest way to end summer!
...if you have to end it...

All Work. All Play.

Once the porch was rebuilt by Mr. Stein-myah, it was time for the boys to get to work with Daddy, digging trenches, laying drain "pipes", trying to keep all that rainwater out of our basement. . .

But of course there is never work without play around here--

dave taught christian how to say, "Danger, Will Robinson!"

every possible combination of this ^ went on for quite a while.

they did eventually get down to business...

well, a little.

fortunately the foreman was there to make sure we were all doing our jobs.

The only pic i didn't get was of the boys making the drain pipe into a tunnel for their monster trucks, balancing one end up on a chair and making them zoom down into the dirt. 

And now, on to the laying of the flagstone patio...

First Day of School

We've reached a milestone here -- both boys off to school, and one mommy home alone for 2 whole hours!

What EVER will I do with myself??

They have been thrilled with the idea of going to the same school, and it totally makes the whole transition easier for K, when he is already familiar with the building, teacher, and of course, his brother, whose classroom is right next door.

No hesitance on either of their parts-- just walked right in with smiles and confidence.

Kyren even led the way!

Here are some snapshots from the morning: 

A special day must start with a special breakfast

Ready to go!

Christian trying to convince Kyren that school is going to be AMAZING!

Kyren didn't need persuading. 

He just takes after his father when it comes to showing enthusiasm on the outside.

Showing off their backpacks!

Don't worry, Kyr, you are going to love school!

Ready to face the day!

Finding his hook and hanging up his things.

He got right into the action with his new teacher, Mrs. Mabie!

(we love her name!)

Same school, new classroom. He knew just what to do.

His was the very first hook!

Mrs. B welcomes him with a smile

Mrs. G helps him cut out his handprint.

It was a GREAT first day for both boys (AND Mommy)! 

They can't wait to go back!

It's going to be a fun year!!

Cast Off Cookies

August 16th finally came. 

Cast Off Day!

We decided that since we had Broken Arm Brownies to celebrate getting the cast, it would only be right to have Cast Off Cookies to celebrate its removal!

So off we went to Dr. C's office...

and waved goodbye to our fun friend, Mr. Blue Cast:

Then we took in every moment of the exciting removal:

Then we were a little upset about the itchiness of the arm...

(and mommy was a little freaked out by the crookedness)

so we scrubbed off as much of the dirty dead skin as possible:

and got distracted by the fun of an xray that, this time, didn't hurt!

Then we just had to go across the street to show Grampy, who was working at the Hospital:

Then back to Gramsy's to kill two birds with one stone... 

Cast Off Cookies for Maddy's birthday!

We couldn't wait for her to come home to eat them!

Literally.

So we made some extras--  and devoured them.

It was a monumental day with mixed emotions. Happy to get the cast off... and yet, in a way, he'd really grown accustomed to it and was sad to see it "go". 

Fortunately we got to bring it home and can play doctor/xray/hospital ANY time we want!

dental dilemmas

I had heard that you should take your child to the dentist when they turn 3. But I figured since I didn't have a cavity til I was an adult and have been told by every dentist I've ever been to that I have perfect teeth, that surely MY child would not need such early intervention! 

But then I started hearing stories from friends and family about 3 yr olds with cavities, and the trauma therein. So even though he's not yet on our Dental Plan, we thought it best to take C to get his teeth cleaned.

He got to wear sunglasses, and spit in the little round sink...and thought he was so cool:

Everything was going swimmingly... until the Dentist came in.

To my horror, and C's sense of adventure, he found not one but TWO cavities, and 5 other teeth that are showing signs of mild decay!!!!

WHAT????

Honest, Doctor, we brush his teeth everyday!

He hardly ever drinks juice.

And i'm totally the strictest mom when it comes to candy!!! 

i promise!!!

Still, they look at you like you're sugar-coating his teeth while he sleeps at night...

grrrreat.

So off we went to the "Childrens Dentist" (probably shoulda started there in the first place)...

and after 2 appointments and $600 later...

wallah! 

perfect teeth...

...with mild decay.

So, dear foolish parents who consider your child immune to the genetics of your spouses dental weaknesses... 

beware.

and learn from my prideful mistakes.

Put your kid on your Dental Plan before they turn 3.

Then actually TAKE them to the dentist.