A is one--ALMOST!!

We celebrate A's bday a little early in Dubuque because we wouldn't get to see the family on his actual big day. Here are a few pics of the big event. We had a 'Very Hungry Caterpillar' theme complete with a caterpillar cake, caterpillar craft (thanks Jenna girl), and caterpillar decorations. And of course, A got eat his cake all by himself if Aunt Sue promised to clean up the mess!

Our Tropical Iowan Vacation!!!

We just returned home from our annual trip to Okoboji! We had a great time and the boys LOVE 'camping'. We made sure to take them to their favorite Okoboji hot spot--Arnold's Park--Iowa's Oldest Amusement Park, you know!

The summer of swimming

We are so blessed to have a great pool right here in our new neighborhood and so this has been THE summer of swimming. They have made so much progress this summer. They have gone from being very afraid of the 'blue' water (aka deep end) to relishing in it. B and C can't get enough of it. B is mastering the front float and C is doing amazing at putting his head underwater and blowing bubbles! We are so excited to spend a few more days cooling down in the hot KC summer and learning even more skills next summer!

Wow! You really can grow watermelon if you plant their seeds!

I am so impressed by budding scientists! We have collected lots of bugs this summer with our bug vacuum and we have actually grown something with the seeds we have planted! Aunt JoJo and Uncle Jim didn't think we could do it--but we did! The cutest, tiniest little watermelon appeared the other day. Wow! Isn't SCIENCE amazing?!

Babyhood

A is leaving his baby days all too quickly, so we thought we would capture a few of my favorite things about being a baby. Greeting him in the morning in that crib and watching him take the bottle on his own. Oh--his beloved bottle--it is going to be a sad day for him when they are put away for good, but for now we will enjoy these last few months with them! And I woke up to the sweetest sound the other morning. B playing quietly in A's crib with him. He is in love with his baby and I just had to capture this moment because it won't be long before B is wrestling him just like he does C! Gotta love my babies!

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C is going to SCHOOL!

It's a big day! C's BACKPACK is here! It is sort of a rite of passage at the George house. When you are big enough to go to school, you get to have a backpack. We WAITED and WAITED and WAITED for that mailman to bring it to us and it finally arrived. Poor baby thought maybe the mailman would bring it the instant we placed the order online, so it has really been a long wait. The minute he received it, he started packing it. The Shrek innertube that we take to the pool didn't quite fit, so we stuffed it full of other odds and ends and at long last, every nook, cranny, and pocket in that thing is FULL! Hmm, I wonder where we will put his school supplies? Oh--and the best part of this whole adventure---C handed over his beloved paci to be able to earn the backpack. We are now going on 3 nights and naps--PACI FREE. It is indeed a big day here!

Trouble with a capital T

We just wanted to have a record of all of the things our little terror has broken, destroyed, caused a ruckus, etc. etc....Our sweet little Mr. 3 has 4 incidents on his record since May. Here they are...

1. Locked baby A in the house while he, B, and I were in the garage. My cell phone and house keys were also in the house, so we had to call the police to attempt to pick the lock. After about 45 minutes of attempting to break in, Matt finally arrived with the key to let open the door and save a hysterical baby A.

2. Pulled the chain to lock the door out of the frame. He wanted so badly to get outside by Daddy, that he pulled, and he pulled, and he pulled until it well...came flying out of the door frame. Nice--I feel safe now!

3. Got us called to the front of the store at Hy-Vee because he was messing with my car keys and managed to unlock the door and open the doors with the remote keyless entry. I am pretty sure all of the employees know to be prepared each Monday morning when the George boys arrive!

4. Crashed into mommy's pretties in the bathroom and caused lavendar infused oil to drip down the vent. Glass was everywhere and did I mention all of this occurred with his pants around his ankles and an unwiped bottom?