Question for Bubba...

So, last week when Johnny headed off to school, it left me with Bubba all by himself. This was a BIG change for him, as Johnny went to school in the afternoons while he napped last year. So he really was never alone. I asked Bubba what he wanted to do to celebrate and he said, "Go to Target and just LOOK at the cars!" So, we did it...I got a coffee, and we sat looking at cars for almost an hour. He must have said 30 times..."Dis is what I want for my Birthday! Mom, can I have dis for my Birthday?" He was one very happy boy!

Does it look like this kid has ANY fun at the ball park while his brothers practice? We have to do hose downs on the DECK when we get home...as he is FULL of clay!

Last Friday night the American Red Cross was setting up in the parking lot of the baseball fields getting ready for Irene. Not the sight you want to see near your house!

Pulling up to my house...there she is...IRENE!

We really lucked out as she hit about 3 counties to the east of us!

Counting our blessings today! All we got was humid, windy, and cloudy weather.

Love this pic....Curtis and Bubba watching tennis before he takes off for practice. Bubba is sure going to miss having his brothers around this year! On the other hand, I'm really looking forward to time alone with JUST my baby!

Live, Laugh....

I had to post these videos of my Lil' Hubba Bubba! It's hard not to love him...

Back to School

Last week we started school down here!

Here is Curt-Dog on his way to 2nd Grade!

I can still remember teaching second grade, while being pregnant with him. I thought it was SO far away for him to go to second grade. Now it seems like yesterday when he was a baby!

The following day Johnny had his first day of Kindergarten.

Nothing like heading out to Kindergarten with a broken finger!

All the boys at the bus stop!

Seems like yesterday this kid was a CRYING, SCREAMING, INCONSOLABLE baby. I would have done ANYTHING for him to go to Kindergarten back then. Fast forward almost 6 years later, and he's on his way. I had a really hard time seeing him go. He was such a fun, nice kid to have at home!(Once he turned two)! I'm really going to miss him! On the other hand, he was very excited and ready to head off on the bus!

Last Weekend of Summer

This past weekend is officially the "Last Weekend of Summer" for us down south! I'm a little sad for school to be starting, so you know that's a sign of a great summer vacation! We decided to take a trip to Asheville, NC, one of the 10 most beautiful places in the US to visit according to Good Morning America and Travel Magazines! It's only a two hour trip for us, and is well into the mountains! We LOVE it there!When we got into town, we went to the North Carolina Nature Center. We heard it was a great place for the kids. They weren't lying! The boys LOVED the petting zoo, as their Mom took pics from outside the gates!

Bubba kept talking to the goats like they could hold a conversation with him!

Johnny even helped comb their hair!

If you notice, he has a splint/bandage on his right hand. He was "bob sledding" down the hallways on a pillow last week and didn't quite stick the landing. He ended up breaking the base of his pinky and his growth plate! I tell you...it's ALWAYS something with these boys!

These "Egg-Stra" Special boys "CRACK" me up!

By the turtle exhibit!

It was a very non-traditional Zoo type place!

Just beautiful!

After the Nature Center, it was off to the Asheville Tourists game where our favorite Minor Leaguer, Tony Mueller was playing. He plays for the Rome Braves, and had an away game in Asheville! We've gotten to see Tony play for EVERY team he's ever played for...something the boys think is pretty cool!
Since Asheville is a mountain town, the stadium was put into the mountain. Here is the side of the stadium. I thought it was pretty cool!

Tony is 4th from right in this picture.

Totally BUSTED looking up at us!

Here he is again!

The boys wanted to sit on the top row of the stadium.

Doing "We Will We Will ROCK YOU!"

Curtis stood up here most of the night waiting for a foul ball! He wanted one SO badly!

Getting tired towards the end of the game!

Bubba loves mascots!

After the game Tony gave all the boys a ball. Between this and the free backpack give-a-way when we got to the stadium, Bubba thought he was TOP DOG!
After the game we took Tony out to grab dinner and he came back to the hotel to swim with the boys. Here he is throwing them! Not too many kids can do cannonballs and get thrown by a Minor League Baseball Player! Then again, not too many Minor Leaguers come as nice as Tony Mueller! Was a great night and fun to catch up with Tony again!
Sunday morning we woke up and went to the North Carolina Arboretum. We visited this place last time we were up in Asheville and LOVED it so much we wanted to go back.

They have PERFECT hiking trails for kids.

It's part of the Pisgah National Forest.

We did a little over two mile hike, and the boys had fun stopping and skipping stones in creeks along the way.

And walking in the creeks as well!

Bubba kept calling this the JUNGLE!

The hike ended at the Education Center where there is a place for kids to explore and a Cafe for eating. I found this pic on my camera when I uploaded them today. Looks like the boys had a little fun stealing my phone during lunch! Makes me smile because they think they are SO funny!
It was a great way to end the summer! I'm sure we'll head up there again in the fall to see all the changing colors! For now it's time to head BACK to school! Can I get a WHOOP WHOOP!

Back into the Swing of Things!

It's been quite a while since I lasted blogged. We were gone on a 3+ week trip to the great states of MN and WI! In all the hustle and bustle while trying to get out the door with all the kids, I forgot to grab my camera. So, I'll post more pics once my sisters send me some. I took a few pics with my phone, but didn't risk taking it on the dock up north with six boys under the age of seven!

First we went to Minnesota. It's great having a sister who lives in the same town that we use to live in. We can see all our friends and her family at the same time! Since Megan is a WONDERFUL baker, we all took advantage of the wonderful goodies she baked for us every night after dinner! No one loved them more than Meredith! (OK, maybe I lied...I was in heaven!)
On this part of the trip, the temps were in the 70's and rainy. This was QUITE a treat for us, coming from the 100 degree temps in the south! One rainy day we made a trip to Kyle's school so he could beat the boys at kickball in the gym and they could draw on his white boards!

Then it was time for Auntie Katie to spoil my "GURL!"

I LOVE that Meredith LOVES to shop! My boys HATE it...it's actually torture for them to go run errands with me! Meredith was my shadow for two straight weeks. I took her to Main Street shopping and got some goodies for her. (Notice necklace and bracelet!) She even LOVED running to the grocery store with me! I'm missing my shopping buddy as I write this! The fact that she is SO darn cute adds to my homesickness as well!

After New Prague we went to La Crosse to visit the grandparents. It was a HOT HOT Week as the temps were between 113-118 with the heat indexes. We spent a LOT of time inside, but it was nice to be able to relax and spend time with the grandparents we don't get to see too often. After La Crosse, we went up north to my uncles cabin for a week. It was the FIRST time in 8 years that it was actually fun for us! Kids slept in, they were very entertained, and we weren't chasing a baby around! The boys had a blast, as did the adults! Here is Johnny eating an ice cream cone after our stop at the St. Germain Flea Market! YUMMY!
The boys played a LOT outside in the nice weather! 80's and sunny ALL week! Was such a treat! They were in heaven with ALL their cousins! I don't think I said more than two words to Johnny as he was busy playing with Cullen the whole time! I got to expose my nephew Geremu to baseball, and he seemed to like it! Fingers and toes crossed that we may have hooked him...as his mother has never been too fond of the sport! (:
Back to MN we went for a few days before we flew out again to NC. This is what happens when all your pj's are dirty from the cabin, and you are staying at your girl cousin's house! My lil' Hubba Bubba!
On Monday we hit up the Mall of America to go on a few rides, and to get school clothes and shoes where there is no sales tax! Charlie is SUCH a sweet boy! Just love him! Curtis thinks that Charlie was named after him and has taken quite a liking to him! LOL!

Meredith got to go on her first rides and it looks like we hooked her!

What fun!

Bubba got to meet one of his favorite cartoon characters!

Here's Lefty watching for Megan and Curtis on the Log Chute!

And Meredith and Charlie watching for Mama! Where's their father you ask? He was busy carrying Bubba to the bathroom for me, so I could watch Curtis on the ride. Only problem was that Bubba couldn't wait till the bathroom and went right on Uncle Kyle's shirt! Can you say "Uncle of the Year?"

Monday night we had a block party with all our old neighbors and loved EVERY minute of it! With the exception of the mosquitoes! Man they were BAD this year! Tuesday the boys friend had a Bey Blade Party for them and 12 of their friends! They had a huge tourney and ordered pizza! It was a BIG hit and a great memory for them! Wednesday, we went to the park ONE last time in the cooler temps before we got on the plane and headed back for the HOT HUMID SOUTH!

We had a GREAT time and I'm already looking forward to Christmas! Hope to post some more pics soon! (Hint Hint, Wink Wink, Nudge Nudge to my sisters!)

Taunting

My sister Megan sent me this picture of my nephew Charlie taunting his sister Meredith while she was in a time out recently! (I know, I was thinking the SAME thing you are...What on EARTH could cute, little, innocent Meredith do to make her end up in the corner?)Bubba took good notes and lessons from his cousin, as I captured him "spying" on his brother Curtis while he was in a timeout this past weekend!

Officially my FAVORITE picture of ALL my boys!