AirXpress

Well, here we go again. Football season.
Tyson was contacted a couple weeks ago from one of Tage's past coaches. He wanted Tage to come play on their team. They were already into their practices by 2 weeks, and registration was closed but he said that they could pull some strings and get Tage on the team. They wanted him. Tage has never played Pop Warner division before but has said that he would want to so we signed him up. What is nice for me though is that the coach picks up Tage for every practice and then Ty just goes to the practices after work so I don't even have to worry about practices! Practices are Tuesday and Thursdays from 6:00-8:30pm. Dang that's long for these boys. Pop Warner is the most intense league there is for these kids. Luckily we miss the first 2 weeks of practices that are everyday! I think that's too much for kids this age. Pop Warner is also the most expensive. I think we are totaling up to around $400 give or take for registration and gear. Man that's a lot of money for 8 weeks. Ok, enough with my complaining. First game was this morning at 7:00am. Tage had to be there at 6:00am for warm up. The kids and I arrived there around 7:30am. It was hot and humid. Not my ideal of fun trying to watch the game and entertain the kids. But we survived. Tage is playing defense. He had some good blocks and tackles. I think he could still step it up a bit, but for the first game, I think that he did well! He is the youngest and one of the smallest on the team so really I've got to give him a lot of credit for doing a great job today.
Final score
Jackrabbits: a lot
AirXpress: zero
(Pictures)

Who wants to swim?!

(Picture)
Not me.
We have had problems with our pool pump (again) and I think I need to fire our pool guy (Who is Tyson. I still love you hon....) I sometimes don't think he knows what he is doing, but I don't want to take over that responsibility of taking care of the pool so I just let him do whatever he does and I don't make a peep. Only every once in awhile I would say something like, "it sure would be nice to take the kids swimming," "wow, the pool is looking great!" When the pool isn't looking good and he gets the hint. This time he let the pool go over a week without any treatment. I guess he found out that it doesn't take long for the pool to turn green!
Gross!!

Farm-sitting

Our neighbors, Barb and John Shedler, asked if we would take care of their animals while they are on vacation. Of course we said yes, who on earth would turn down the chance to feed a donkey, 3 pigs and 2 goats two times a day for 4 days?!
 Emmry wants to go see Sammy (the donkey) all the time. She loves taking care of the animals!

She knows exactly what to do.....

First you have to unlatch the gate and undo the buckle because Sammy is so smart she knows how to lift up the latch to get out.


















Give Sammy her food



































Then get the empty bin and go fill it up of hay for the goats and pigs.

Throw the hay to the goats and pigs.

We like to bring treats for the pigs. This morning we brought watermelon. The piggies loved it!




















































I gave Trey a piece to throw, but he decided he would eat it instead.


















I love living where we do. I love that our neighbors have farm animals and that my kids can experience farm life living in the city.

Toilet Paper

Look who I caught in a toilet paper classic moment this morning......

 

 And because he is so nice, he decided to share with Emmry.....

 

Love you my trouble maker, Trey!

Homework

He knows the drill. No playing the Xbox until chores and homework is done.

At least I don't have to fight him too much to get his homework done. He's usually pretty good about doing that. He's a smart kid. School has come pretty easy for him so far. I wonder how 5th grade is going to pan out though.

No bib

They has never been a bib lover. I have ruined countless onesies and shirts due to food stains. He just hates to wear bibs. I've tried the plastic bibs, the cloth bibs, the rubber bibs, and he just doesn't like any of them. Sometimes he would keep one on for a few minutes, but I don't recall anytime he us kept it on for a whole meal time. Not once. Most of the time I just take off his shirt, but for Pete's sake dude, if you would just wear a darn bib I wouldn't feel like I'm dressing and undressing you 20 times a day. Sheesh!
(Picture)

Documenting LIfe

This is the whole reason why I journal......
(Picture)
To watch my children stare at pictures of themselves when they were babies and look at all the things they did when they were 'younger'.
I love documenting both the small things and big things in life. I feel that the yogurt covered smiles in the highchair are just as important as celebrating birthdays.
I love my life.
I love my family.
I love recording my life and family.

Property Line

We are having a little neighbor drama right now. Our neighbors say that we owe them $4,000 for the block wall that was placed on the property line almost a year ago. Ty and I have talked and do feel that it is the honest thing to do to pay him, but let me back up first. Here is the run down.
Last October our neighbor moved in. We noticed he started to do lots of 'home improvements'. One day we noticed that he had people tearing down the vinyl fence around his property. He then told us that he was building a block wall around his property. NEVER got our permission to build on the property line from us. He just did it. AFTER is was started and almost completed he TOLD us that our portion of the wall was around $3,500. Nothing was ever written or agreed upon. After a few months of the occasional 'hey, you can make payments,' 'what do you think about the wall' type comments he didn't bring it up until this past July when he put his home on the market and said that he wanted to get things settled about the wall before he moves. He came 2 days ago with an invoice that we owe him $4,000 for material and labor for the block wall on the property line.
Now the real story begins.
Like I said, Ty and I feel that it is right to pay half but do not agree the the way he went about doing it. If he would have only come to us BEFORE he even started the wall we would be in a whole other ballpark right now. Plus we think he is a shady guy all together. I have done a little research and found that here in Peoria you have to have a written agreement between the 2 residence when you build on the property line. Otherwise you have to build on your side. I contacted a lawyer yesterday and sending him 'the story' along with these pictures. We will see how this all pans out sooner than later.
(Picture)

Pre Season Cardinals Game

Cardinals game = boys night! Except Trey wanted to stay home with me.

Ty and Tage went to a pre season game last night. Cardinals played San Diego Chargers. Cardinals were loosing horribly so the boys left at 4th quarter, but still said they had a good time.

(Pictures)

Outside in the early morning

Emmry woke up at 7:30am this morning. So to keep the house quiet for everyone else to sleep in we went outside to play. We ended up staying outside for almost 2 hours! I tried to convince her to go inside for breakfast but what really got her inside is I told her I would give her a popsicle.

Looking out the window

When Trey woke up this morning he went straight to the back door window, jibber jabbered something and pointed out the window.

I know exactly what he wanted. He was saying that he wanted to go outside and swing! This little man is just as much excited about the new swing set as everyone else. He just can't speak it. But you can sure tell his excitement and love for the orange plastic airplane just by looking at the huge smile on his face as he swings back and forth. He screams when you stop it and try to take him out, but then the second you back off from taking him out and push him again he stops screaming instantly. 

This swing set is definitely the best investment we have made all year!

Little chilly

Im outside with Emmry. It's almost 8:00am,  77*, cloudy and breezy. It feel SO good! But almost a little chilly. Maybe because the sprinklers are on and the wind is blowing a mist over to me.
I love being outside when its not so stinkin' hot!

Ramen Noodles

Trey's first time with long noodles.



































He liked them and was being very mannered trying to use a spoon until he decided that it was easier to dump the bowl out and use his hands.

Swing set in MY backyard!!

Today I found a new, gigantic, over-the-top, triple awesome park for us to enjoy! (Triple because Tage calls it a three story tree house)
 It's located at 9261 W. Weeping Willow Rd. That's my backyard!!!

I have been looking on Craigslist for a swing set for months now and never did feel like it was the right one until now. And to top off my excitement it was only 10 min from our home and priced at or below all the other sets I had been looking at, but this one was sooooo much better. I looked at it last weekend and told them I was really interested but had to arrange for help to dismantle it and transport it. I got my neighbor to help me out using their trailer and their handyman guy named Ivan (who spoke limited English) to help with the process.
We took it down in sections keeping the majority of it put together. It was a bear hauling it from their backyard this way but I'm glad that we had a huge in-closed trailer to be able to do it that way.
As they were putting it back together, I could see the excitement on both Tage's and Emmry's face. It was awesome. They both were playing on it before it was completely set up and having a blast! I was enjoying every second of it watching them with gigantic smiles on their faces.
Now bring on the cooler weather and winter season so we can be outside all the time to play!!

102* fever

Poor Treyzer. He has had a slight fever off and on this whole week.

I hate it when my babies get sick, but I do love my cuddle bear.

Shower glass

Please wipe the shower glass when your done.....
(Picture)

Three in the tub

What we do for fun around here.....

Ya know, just hang out and play in the empty bath tub!

Sunglasses and cartoons

When you wake up at the crack of dawn wanting to watch cartoons, it's kind of bright on your eyes right? Well, Emmry has the solution. Wear your 'eyes'! (what she calls sunglasses)
(Picture)

Rita's

I have had coupons for two free small cups of Italian ice from Rita's since March! I finally decided that I would take the kids to go get one today.
We pull up in the parking lot around 11:35am. I thought they would for sure be open by now. I unload both kids from the car and walk up to the door just to find out that they don't open until noon. Seriously?! Dang! Emmry was whining because she wanted a blue one just like the cup of Italian ice on the window. I had to put both kids back in the car and try and figure out what to do for 30 minutes until they open because now Emmry for sure wants her blue treat and I just wanted to stop her whining and crying.
I decided to drive back home to get my camera I forgot. She crying/whined for that 15 minutes back home even though I told her we would go right back as soon as i got my camera and it was open. So smart chick that she is, she stopped crying as soon as I was driving back in the direction to the store.
I then unloaded both kids again and we all enjoyed our Italian ice treat.
Emmry had cotton candy and chocolate brownie. Although I should have just done the cotton candy. She didn't like the chocolate and wanted just blue.
I had pineapple mango and lemonade. Oh boy was it yummy! I totally enjoyed it down to the last drop. 
Trey enjoyed a little bit of all of ours.

Safari Girl

How come whenever I see khaki shorts and shoes together I think of hiking? Really I do.
I was going through a bag of hand-me-downs (oh how I love hand-me-downs!!!) a friend gave to me and Emmry saw and wanted to wear these shoes.....
(Picture)
And then she practiced her running skills and jumping skills because you know shoes are at there best    performance when they are 'new' and put on for the first time. (When I was little I used to call my new shoes my 'run fast, jump high shoes'. You betcha I still say that. And my kids say the same thing. I'm just teaching and passing on the truth. Hahaha)
Then a little while later she comes walking out of the play room with binoculars around her neck. (No, I did NOT tell her to go get them. Promise!) So see.....what did I tell you?! That right there folks just confirmed that khakis and shoes are always paired with the outdoors in some way. Period. 
I asked her if she was going on a hunt to look for animals. She said she was looking for hoppies (bunnies) oh, ok Emmry, have fun! 
(Pictures)
And then after I put in the pictures I realized that she is wearing her zebra shirt! She totally is on a safari hunt! Hahaha

Dads Special Touch

Walked into the room last night and saw this....

 

Melted my heart.

Slide

He figured it out. Trey made it to the top of the slide completely by himself.

 

 



































Why are kids like monkeys? They climb and learn things so fast!