What we did

We each got to pick something to do today.
Eli decided on Dinoland and Pretzelmaker at the mall.
I chose to grab a few groceries to take to the Food Bank and find a new park.
Noah couldn't think of anything to do besides go to Grandma Cathy's and Adventureland. When we got home from our morning outing, there was a package at our house FROM GRANDMA CATHY. She had to put her dog, Duke (who Noah absolutely loved), to sleep last week, so she thought that we could pick out some items to donate to an animal shelter in his honor. What a great idea!!!!
Joel wanted to go to the Redhawks game tonight, so he and Eli went to the baseball game with Craig and Austin. I took Noah to pick out our animal shelter donation. He was so stinkin cute about it! This is what he came up with.

hmmm....

What to do on our last day of summer vacation???

quotes

I sure wish I had a journal of the funny things my kids have said over the years. Here are two that would've made the book.

A couple of weeks ago we were at my parents' lake. I'm not sure what Eli did, but he ended up with a bunch of scratches on one of his legs. He went in the house, patched himself up with 4 band aids and then came back outside to swim. Just as he was about to get in the water, he turned and started walking back to the house.
Mom: "Where are you going?"
Eli: "Um, Mom, I just remembered that I read that sharks can smell blood from 150 feet away."

Just now I was reading with Noah in his bed. I noticed some bites on his leg.
Mom: "Wow bud, it looks like you got a couple new mosquito bites."
Noah: "How do I stop from getting mosquitoes on me?..... Ah ha; My snowsuit.

This week

I finally did something with the back wall in our downstairs. We said good-bye to our blue couch, and got a new couch and chair upstairs. Joel is already talking about the new TV and TV stand that he thinks we need.

We found out that Noah needs bifocals. He's insisting that he wants to keep his current glasses, but I'm not sure I trust WalMart with 4 year old bifocals (he needs the bifocal line to split his pupil because right now he is only using one eye to focus on things up really close which means his glasses are going to need to stay put). Thoughts??? Tell me quickly because I'm planning to take him back to his eye doctor to get them tomorrow, and they'll probably cost twice as much.

Last week

we met Joel's Mom's side of the family in the cities for our annual get together.

SISTERS: Cathy, Linda, and Carol

bingo with Grandma Cathy



Off to the Broadway play WICKED at the Orpheum Theatre. It was fabulous!!

only child

Eli is having his turn at "cousin camp" with Zach. Noah informed me early this morning that he likes being the only kid. He spent the morning playing with Austin and Katelynn.

Then we went to Erin's family lake cabin for a relaxing afternoon followed by ice cream at SCOOPS.When Joel got done with work, we went out for supper, and then it was Wii time with Dad.
He really thought he was hot stuff when I let him sleep in Eli's bed tonight!!

my first attempt

Grandma Betty's potato salad

sweet boy

While Noah was napping yesterday, I was busy cooking and cleaning for his party. I told Eli that he could watch TV or play DS, but he said he wanted to help me. He cleaned up all the toys, put treat bags together, and straightened furniture. After he went to sleep last night, I taped a note to his door thanking him for being such a great helper. Today he told me that he put a note on my bedroom door, but I wasn't supposed to look at it until tomorrow (it's almost midnight). "Mom-

I love you giving me lots of things to do

from: Eli"

one more party

How old are you?

Robin plane




How do you decorate for a "Robin" party???
Grandma gets VERY creative, and
cousin Tyler paints Robin!
I see a room redecorating project in my near future!

July 22nd

birthday boy lounging in Grandma's pool

pizza picnic by the pool
(it was so humid that my camera lens was foggy)

1st present

Iowa fun

Well...it was fun until Eli decided to get car sick on the way home. Luckily, we made it to a rest stop.

DAY 1

Adventureland with Grace, Jake, and Chase
DAY 2
pool and splash park with Jake and Chase

Annual Truax Gathering

=FUN!! Austin was in charge of throwing the target ball
for the bocce players.

Eli & Austin tubing

Annual Fishing Derby

what is this???

Yesterday, Noah had a big rash on the side of his neck. Today, I found this circle on his leg (click to enlarge).

4th of July

Joel was on call for work and had to stay home all weekend. The boys and I met Craig, Jen and kids at my parents' on Friday. Saturday we all went to Krista and Brent's for Drew's 5th b-day. Eli

NoahUnfortunately after Sat., my pictures ended and so did the boys' lake activities. Not only does Eli not like bugs, he now claims that he doesn't like to get wet. Noah has decided that he should be just like his brother. They did however enjoy the 4th of July campfire and watching fireworks from the pontoon.

shark teeth

Someone is getting ready to lose a tooth, and he's pretty excited (try to ignore the food in his other teeth; we just had snack). What does the Tooth Fairy pay for teeth these days???

What have we been up to???

I took the boys to one of the neighborhood wading pools the other day, and Eli was doing all of the things he learned in swimming lessons (including the 2 things he didn't pass). I guess he needed the 2 ft deep pool for a little confidence boost.
Since I still haven't been able to run at all, I had an MRI done on my knee. My iliotibial band (tendon that runs from hip to just below the knee) is inflamed on the outside of my right knee. I had my first session of physical therapy yesterday and was told that the left side of my pelvis isn't right which could be causing the problems on the right, so she adjusted it. I have to do some exercises and go back a couple times a week. We'll see...
Last night Eli had a b-day party at the Redhawks game for one of his friends from school. Joel and I decided to take Noah to the game too. It was a beautiful night, Papa Bucky gave us GREAT seats, and the Redhawks won.
Today, we met Erin, Jack and Ella at the pool. Here are my little fish in action.

Father's Day Fun

We went to the Lake with Craig and Jen for the weekend. Yesterday, Joel went golfing and canoeing before we had a picnic at "the river" with my Dad's side of the family. The kids had fun on the new trampoline and everyone got a ride on the 4 wheeler with Grandpa.

While Joel fished and went "to town" (his favorite lake activity) on Saturday, the rest of us spent the cool morning picking strawberries and eating at Zorbaz. The afternoon was nice, and the kids went fishing with Grandma, Joel and Craig. Noah caught 4 which made a nice supper for the kiddos. They also got to help Grandma make a yummy strawberry pie.

Swimming lessons

Noah was excited that he could jump in by himself! He who loved going to lessons everyday has changed his tune now that he found out that he will be repeating level one with his little brother next year. He did however start swimming a little on his own which he certainly wasn't doing two weeks ago!

He wouldn't do the back float by himself which is one of the passing requirements.