Coloring Time

I'm pretty sure I have another "artsy-fartsy" (as Tyler calls it), child on my hands. Just like Cole, Landry takes her artwork very serious. She concentrates and will let anyone know when they are not doing it the right way!

Presley's 4th Birthday Party!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Booker's 2nd Birthday!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Landry's mini photo shoot!

I decided to take Landry up to the studio yeaterday to experiment with the studio lights. It's amazing what she will do for pretzels and a pop! Hey... Whatever it takes!

Winter 2009!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pumpkin Carving!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Trick or Treat!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

October Pics!

Another month gone by! I'm better at posting photos to Facebook, but I will try to be better keeping this up too.
The tooth fairy finally visited our house. It seems as though the tooth fairy hands out $5 bills for missing teeth these days... when did that start??? I prepped him that the 2nd tooth was not worth as much. But the tooth fairy didn't have change that night and yet again left another $5 bill. Check out the pics of the 2 missing teeth.

Make a Smilebox photobook

Catching up on weekend fun!

Weekends are always busy but more so the past month or so with family in town, heading in my photo "Christmas" season, football starting, and Cole's birthday. So I'm playing catch up again. Last weekend Grandpa Terry was in town for the long Labor day weekend. He stayed at the new indoor water park. The kids had so much fun going down all the slides, playing on the pirate ship, and eating pizza. We met the cousins there too - we had 5 kids running in all separate directions. But they all did great and we didn't lose anyone! WHEW! They were worn out that night. Which was good because Tyler headed to the Iowa Speedway for the race with neighbors that afternoon. The kids and I were in bed sleeping by 8:30! I can't remember the last time my head saw the pillow that early!
This weekend we celebrated the Iowa State butt-kicking at our neighbors house. We've been having beautiful weather these past few weeks. I'm hoping it's the new trend!
Today I had a photo shoot at Ledges State Park in Madrid. I had never been there, but had heard really great things about it. It was so pretty. The streams run right over the roadways. People park and walk through the streams instead of on the roads. Kids were splashing through the water, catching minnows, and being kids! We took a picnic lunch and hung out after my photo shoot making a day of it. It was a relaxing way to get away without having to drive very far. I'm looking forward to taking the kids back soon. Cole keeps asking when we can go back - he loves the outdoors.
The tooth fairy has not visited our house yet...Cole tooth is still wiggling! I will send an update as soon as she/he does!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Cole's 6 Year Photos!

Cole has his 1st loose tooth! So I decided it was time to get his photos done before he looses it. This might be the last time, for a while... that you'll see a perfect mouth full of teeth "smile." Just another sign that my little boy is growing up! I hate it!

Landry!

Do I have a valley girl on my hands or what? Landry came around the corner the other day with her hands on her hips and her head tipped to the side and said..."Oh, My Gosh!" I though she was going to bust into "Baby Got Back!"

Cole's 6th Birthday!

Cole's 6th Birthday was on Thursday! I went to eat lunch at school with him and took the birthday treats for that afternoon. Lunch was interesting and I wondered where "my Cole" was while I was visiting. All I will say is that, it's amazing how well behaved and how they listen when they are not at home. I hope he continues to keep up the good behavior. We had planned a big birthday bash at the I-Cubs game Saturday night. Luckily we had the most perfect weather and the boys had a great time. They all got to go down on the field while Cole threw out the 1st pitch. He had been practicing and it's a good thing because they had him throw it from the regular pitchers mound. He had no fear and marched right out on the field. He did a great job getting it to the catcher - we were all very proud. After that we took our seats - ate hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, and pop. They all got 2 hats, tickets to play the games, and got to play in the obstacle course. We celebrated with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake & presents. We had invited all the boys and their dads to come as Cole said it was a "NO GIRLS ALLOWED PARTY!" (Except I could come & Grandma's.) We bought him a new Mongoose bike. He was starting to look like he was riding a clown bike. Cole has shot up this summer, I think he got the Nelson genes for height. At least I hope! But I realized this week nothing is going to fit him from his closet. I guess I'll be out shopping soon.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Back to School!

How can this be? Cole went off to Kindergarten today! Although it was no big deal for him since he attending optional kindergarten there last year - it was for me. Now it's everyday - all day. He was most excited about eating lunch there. Imagine that - Cole thinking about food first. I think he has the lunch menu memorized for the week. As we got closer to the school he wanted me to pull into the round-about and just drop him off. I told him in a few days, that Mommy needed time to say my goodbyes the first few days, which he was irritated by. We had to do our hugs & kisses in the parking lot insuring that not too many of his friends would see...
As I snapped photos of his every move I watched him walk into his classroom without ever looking back. I got a huge lump in my throat when he and Kyle (a neighbor boy) rushed off together. Tyler started making fun of me of course so I had to swallow my lump and quickly leave the building. It seems like just yesterday these boys were one running around in their diapers. Today they are taking off on their bikes like a gang running the neighborhood.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Cherished Memories

Here are some photos from the past 2 weeks. It's been a challenging few weeks for our family. An eye opener to how lucky we are to watch our children grow, to cherish every kiss & hug, to live in the present, and to make everyday count.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A day at the ZOO!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Top 10 of Summer 2009 so far!

10. Tiffany & Sam's wedding in Minneapolis last weekend! The cousins had fun running around at the reception - making funny faces, eating wedding cake, and jamming to Rock Band!




9. Going to the Underwater Aquarium at the Mall of America, riding the rides inside the mall, meeting Dora & Spongebob, and eating at the Rain Forest Cafe!


8. Cole living at the Dallas Center-Grimes Pool this summer! He is currently taking swim lessons and swimming like a fish. He even goes down the waterslide by himself and swims to the side with no problems!

7. My business has taken off with a flying leap to say the least. I can hardly keep up. Seniors, babies, kids, families, and WEDDINGS! Whew! And LandryAnnaDesigns was published in the Johnston Register this week!


6. Landry is riding a big girl bike! My baby is growing up right before my eyes!



5. After getting into a little spat with Cole about coming inside last night. I was told... "I'm moving out and in with Carson", (as he was packing his backpack up with shoes & clothes.) I said, "Oh, really!" "Jamie already has 4 kids and I'm almost positive they don't want anymore." To which he responded - "Fine, I'll live in a tent in the backyard!"
I hope age 6 is easier than 5 is!

4. Kindergarten! Cole will be off to Kindergarten in less than a month. We are anxious to hear who his new teacher will be, and to get back into the swing of things. We'll be headed to school shop in the next few weeks.

3. Landry is obsessed with changing her clothes. She loves dresses! But it cracks us up when she flips through closet trying to figure out what will "look pretty."

2. Lemonade Stands! Cole & his friends are obsessed with selling lemonade. It all started when some older neighbor boys had a stand at the corner and Cole helped out. By helping out I mean - they made him hold the sign and paid him $1.00 for his work. Which he thought was awesome. So yesterday they (Cole, Kenna, Kyle, & Kolby) talked Michelle into setting up their own lemonade stand. They had a cash register and quite the crowd.

AND #1! LANDRY IS POTTY TRAINED! It's been about a month and she's doing wonderful. She basically was trained in 1 day. She had been wearing pull ups and using the potty whenever you sat her on it. But she would be wet if you didn't catch her. One day I had just "had it" with diapers & pull ups. And I said "that's it we're done." We took all those away - I went out and bought like 15 pairs of pretty underwear and VOILA that was that.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Your monthly update!

Again - WHERE IS THE SUMMER GOING!!!!???? I cannot believe it is July. We have been taking every advantage of the sun peaking out. We've been spending time at our favorite pool (Uncle Mike's house!) And went to an awesome summer fun party there last weekend. You'll see pics of the 150 pound pig laying in his kitchen. It was a fun filled day with endless food and drinks. When we're shriving up there we go to the Dallas Center pool in the next town. Cole & the neighbor kids are starting to look like Indians with super blond hair. He is loving every minute of this summer. Going to the Science Center, library program, Jester Park, and the pools! Landry is a little fish and not the least bit scared of the water or anything else for that matter. She managed to pop her elbow out of the socket again. I was out of town shooting a wedding and Tyler took her into the clinic. They thought they popped it back in and sent her home. She was up all night crying and saying her arm hurt - I knew something wasn't right so I took her back in the next morning. They hadn't gotten it in so they tried again (with lots of screaming...) put her arm in a sling and told us to watch it. We got home she tripped and fell in the backyard on her arm, hopped up and asked to take the sling off. She said her arm was better. She started running around - hanging from the play set and ended up spending the next 8 hours playing hard at Aunt Amber's & Uncle Kevins house. Grandpa Terry was in town helping out. I had back to back weddings that weekend and Tyler was playing in a golf tournament. I think all the grand kids wore him out - he was ready to get out of town early the next day - Father's Day! Speaking of Father's Day - Amber & I got the cousins together and I took photos and made a collage for Grandpa Terry. Here it is below!

Cole is finished with t-ball & basketball camp! He starts vacation Bible school this Sunday. And then
it will be on to the next activity - swimming lessons! Whew, this summer has been crazy! We had a big 4th of July party at our house this past weekend and had a great time with our neighbors. Watching the kids and getting a visit from the cops. Don't worry no fines, or imprisonment! Just a cop trying to ruin everyone's fireworks shows!

I have 15 photo appointments this week so I needed to squeeze in an update before the craziness starts again for the week! Enjoy this July month!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com