Happy July!

The last three evenings Jeff and I have been staying-up late painting our front porch and back steps. It's time consuming, especially with our fancy spindles but well worth the effort. It already looks so much nicer. Walter is still pumped about the fourth of July! For more than a month just about every day he has been saying is today July? He was thrilled when I told him today that it was the last day of June. He's been spending a lot of time outside and has discovered moths. He found a dead one and said "Mama who died that moth?" Today he was also touching a butterfly and said "I'm tickling the butterfly." Lately too he has been coming-up with words for those who can't talk like the dog, Rose E or his toys. To keep him occupied while we where working on painting I brought out some trucks and a train he hasn't played with in a while. Anyway he took one of them with him to Sherwin Williams to buy some paint and forgot it in the van. When he remembered it was in there he said dramatically "Mama the fire truck is in the van and it is saying I'm lonely I miss Walter and Mama." Such a character! When Chevy watches him eat too he'll say "Mama Chevy is saying I want some of Walter's food."
Rose E has been doing lots of singing. The other day she sang parts to "Jesus loves me" and has been keeping herself occupied by singing "Ring around the Rosie" and then falling down. She's also been singing a song she heard on the radio and the alphabet. Today it was funny because Walter said "mama we need to get Rose E her own potty" so I said she is too little she has to be able to tell us when she has to go potty before we start potty training her and then she blurted out "potty." Doesn't miss a beat! She has also been saying Walter's name on a regular basis. The other day Walter was playing with his puzzles on the floor and walked a way for a few minutes and when Chevy walked by she said "Walter?" Her other new expressions have been "see t.v", "down" (as I carry her down the stairs), and "froggy" (we where reading a froggy book today, there are certain words in it that Walter recognizes and says and one of them is froggy so I would let him say that part and before I knew it she was saying it too).

Jesus miss us?

Rose E has definitely been a little copy cat lately! Today we blew bubbles outside and every time Walter would laugh she would laugh and when he would blow bubbles she would blow torwards the wand too, it is so much fun to watch. She is going to be our little chatter box too, today her new words where "sheep," "house,"and "thirsty. " For a while now she has been singing "Daddy addy laddy" to the tune of Ring around the Roses, so today I sang it and she sat down when ever I would say "all fall down". She is taking several steps at a time now too which has been exciting for us all. Walter never keeps it boring around here either of course. Yesterday he said again "mama Jesus in the sky?" I said "Jesus is in heaven" then he said "why Jesus in heaven?" I said "because he died" then he said "Mama Jesus miss us?" I said "Jesus can see us from heaven." He has been scraping his knees up lately on our driveway when he plays with his cars and trucks, anyway, earlier today he was so fascinated with the fact that his "owie was disappearing" he just couldn't get over how it was like magic. I just love watching all these little discoveries. Both kids have been playing a lot with a toy telephone too, Rose E holds it up to her ear and some of Walter's conversations are getting longer and more creative. I had to laugh today as I heard him pretend to call his friend Cyrus he said "uh huh uh huh okay Cyrus you going to bed, sweet dreams, don't forget to pick-up all your toys, okay bye-bye."

The Skies the limit!

Well we are making it official, at our home tour meeting it was suggested that we make a sign for our yards to let people know that we will be on the home tour and this is what Jeff came-up with. He made the letters a copper color and the background a green color with a green copper tarnished look. It turned out nice and we have seen people looking at it already.

Last night the kids where asleep at 8:00 and we worked until 10:30 on our yard. I weeded our flower beds and even though it is kinda late in the season I think that I am going to drag the kids to the green house again today and get a few more plants. Speaking of flowers, Walter has been quite impressive with his plant lingo this summer! Lately if we are playing outside when Jeff comes home, Walter will show him the new flowers that opened up and say "look Daddy a Poppy" or "look a bleeding heart" and then he remembers the name later. When ever we see any kind of flower he has to know what it is. It is funny taking him to a green house because I end-up reading a lot more of those little inserts than ever before. A couple of days ago he was outside and he looked up in the sky and said "mama what the sky made of" I said "well I can tell you what the clouds are made of." Then I briefly told him about the water cycle. So yesterday we stepped outside and I said "wow is it ever humid out here." He said "what humid mean" I said it means "there is lots of water in the air that we can't see" then he said "mama the clouds are opening up?" What a cutie! Yesterday he bumped his head on something and he said "Mama I don't like the hurt." Rose E been lots of fun too of course. Lately when Walter is done eating she will say "the end" or "all done." Also, when we go somewhere with out Jeff and when we are pulling up to our driveway she will look out the window and excitedly "Hi Daddy, Hi Daddy." Yesterdays new word was sandal and speaking of sandal Walter got a pair of Thomas sandals and the first time we put them on he said "Mama why me not wearing socks" he has something with socks, they must be on at all times.

Fun in the sun!

Boy are these days ever flying by! Sorry to all of you who have been checking my blog with no recent updates. This past weekend I ventured out for a trip to Tomahawk by myself and of course with my two little munchkins. My sister's baby, Colton, was baptized. I posted a picture of him and Rose E posing with their sun hats in her yard. It was a nice trip, we got to visit,the weather was great, and I got in some antiquing too. Little by little this place is coming together for our home tour, the past two weeks we have bought a large old mirror for our entry way and 4 old prints. They seem to add a lot to a house like this. It's been fun having an excuse to finish things up. Walter was of course thrilled to see train tracks and other train things in Tomahawk too. I had to laugh because while we where there the wind was blowing and Walter said "mama turn it off, I said turn what off?" He said "the wind." At this age they think that we are capable of just about anything, I guess. On Sunday after church we went out to the camp with Jeff's brother and his family, Jeff's parents, and his grandparents. The kids loved being with those cousins too. Rose E said "Kirten" for Kirsten and when Brady was going to sleep in his car seat she went up to it and started to rock it, what a little mother hen already! Some of her other new words lately too have been "mamamum" for museum, "playground" and "swing." Last but not least, today I splurged on a dress for the home tour. I have been looking in all of the antique stores and on the internet and have had a hard time finding what I want so I went into the bridal store and purchased this one. I think now I am going to look for an old hat. I have some old pearls, and gloves to go with it too.

Lots of fun!

It's been a fun and eventful couple of days! My mom stayed with us until this morning and after she left Walter said "I'm lonely for Grandma I want her to come back." We did some shopping, dinning out and even got to ride in a trolley! On Wednesday Jeff and I where invited to a luncheon at the museum (as some of you may have seen our picture from that event made the front page of the paper) anyway at the luncheon they had a guy from church transporting with his trolley and afterwards he came over to our house and gave Walter a ride on it! At first when Walter got on it he put his hands over his eyes (he is going through a little shy phase right now) but then once he got into it he loved it. Plus all of Walter's caterpillars turned into beautiful butterflies while Grandma was here, in the picture we are sending them off (the picture is too small to see the butterfly but if you click on it you can see one of them). Of course the kids where entertaining as usual! Walter said a few cute things. First he said "I don't like my body anymore and when Grandma said why he said "because it saying it hungry." Then he was trying to tell us something and his words where getting jumbled and he said "oh come on mouth." By the end of the night he was exhausted but still going strong and pretending to be a frog and he said "my body saying no more work, tomorrow, but I say we jump." My mom said "you better connect with your body" and he pointedto his thighs and said "this body not connect, this body not connect." What a goof! Rose E did lots and lots of practicing for walking. She proudly played with a toy snake and said "sss." She is imitating everything Walter does including counting and singing the abc's (she sings them too when she see the letters) oh and she imitated him saying Ah choo. Today she learned how to sign ant and said "ney" for horse.
This evening then we had Cyrus over and the boys had lots of fun playing outside. ThenTomorrow I am off to Tomahawk to go to my nephews baptism.

Entertainment plus!

What a nice week it has been indeed. Last Thursday very spur of the moment we decided to take a trip. At first we where going to go to Green Bay but then we decided to focus on our house because of our house tour and go antiquing so we ended-up going to Duluth, Minnesota. It was a fun and fast trip. We found a few treasures for our house including a nice old print for Rose E's room. We also went to a boat museum and Walter and Jeff toured the train museum (and rode on a train) while Rose E and I hit the mall. We stayed in Canal Park, which is beautiful. The first day it was foggy so the next morning there was lots of ship action in the bay. I had to laugh because at one point Walter could see a big ship, a helicopter and a train all at the same time. I said for him it doesn't get any better than that! A cute thing he said was "mama those boats swimming?" It was also cute because when we where driving over a big bridge Jeff was teasing and said "uh oh I think the bridge is moving and Walter replied "no Daddy it's the van moving." That night too he shared some cheerios with Rose E and said "mama I'm getting Rose E healthy."

Then we got back on Friday and my mom came to visit on Saturday. The kids have had a lot of fun with her and she has been helping me catch-up on our never ending laundry pile. Walter of course showed her our cocoons and said look Grandma they are raccoons (it has been exciting to watch, four out of the five so far have turned into butterflies already). They where also eating popcorn together and he said "me don't like pine cones (kernels) in my popcorn." He made us laugh too as he was making some cards he said "I am out of breath (tired of drawing). Then yesterday he said "mama who put me together?" I said who do you think he said "Jesus?" Oh is he ever entertaining! Little miss Rose E has been entertaining too! On Saturday she took her first steps for my mom(: She has been on a roll ever since taking 3-4 steps at a time. Oh and speaking of steps she now has a new passion for shoes. When we go places she is as content as can be as long as she has a shoe in her hand. Must be a girl thing I guess. She has been experimenting with a lot of new sounds and a few of her new words have been "door" and "floor."

Walter and his questions!

A busy week for us indeed. Walter has had vacation bible school every night this week and tomorrow we are hoping to go antiquing. Then this weekend my mom is coming to visit until next Thursday. Tonight on our way to church Rose E kept saying "see ya Daddy" and I said "bye bye Daddy" then Walter said "mama there no Daddy's in this van. "It was also cute because Walter has had little assignments to do for vacation bible school, anyway the other day we took a walk and thanked God for five things and then he turned to me and said "mama why God not talk back to me?" Some of his questions are getting hard to answer! He is asking about everything too! He wants to know what company makes everything and recognizes some of the names. He even had me searching one of our strollers to find the brand, Curious George. Speaking of the stroller the other day I got Rose E out of it and she turned to it and said "bye, bye." She also has said "pop" and the letter "g." At vacation bible school too she kept looking around and saying "kid." Also, when the lesson of the day was said in unison the kids would yell out "aha!" It was cute because she started to say it with them too. It's been cold but we still got out the other day to admire our lilacs. The wind had blown some onto the ground and Walter said those one where "resting" then he picked one up and "tickled" the other ones with it. What a couple of goofs!

A visit back in time!

Today after church and lunch Jeff's parents watched the kids and we went for a tour of the Laurium Manor Inn, The Victorian Hall and another house (all owned by the same couple). It was a fundraiser for the Humane Society. All I can say is WOW! Very gorgeous especially the Manor Inn. Many of the rooms have murals on the walls and ceilings. The furnishings are just beautiful too. They are currently bed and breakfasts. Of course the pictures don't do justice. All we could think about afterwards is our own home tour. We are really itching to go antiquing now. Hopefully soon we will be able to go.
On another note, Walter and Rose E went to their first vacation bible school tonight (it is every night this week until Wednesday). It was cute because Rose E was bopping to the music. She loved seeing all the kids and kept saying "kids." Poor Walter woke-up this morning with a swollen eye. He must have gotten bit by a bug and could barely open it. It eventually started to go down but he looked like he was in a brawl but he survived.

Ahh that Lake Superior sand!

Today we went to the camp (cabin) and opened it back-up for the summer. I kept thinking about how late it seems to be opening it up but then we looked in the guest book and last year on this same day they had opened it up (it was late then too because of Rose E's birth). Then I just kept thinking about last summer and how much Rose E has changed since then (and Walter too of course). We had a beautiful hot day here today and Lake Superior looked enticing but we didn't go in. I had to laugh because Walter got reacquainted with the toys there as we cleaned and he was playing with a toy car that had a piece come off of it and he said "mama my car died." So dramatic! This morning he wore a shirt that had the United States of America on it and he kept asking me to find where people live on it. First I had to point out where we live, then where his friend Cyrus lives and then where Papa A.J and Grandma lives. Then he said Papa A.J and Grandma live far away. Later some other day we will see them again. Rose E's new words today where "pager" (she asked what Jeff had on his pants and then repeated it) and "lady" for lady bug. I also got a little chuckle out of this little lady at supper. After supper Walter and Jeff went for another ride on the ranger four wheeler (I included a video of them seeing a peacock down below) and I was doing things while she was still eating. Anyway, I turned away for a few seconds and all of her food was gone. I thought how in the world did she eat all of that so fast. Then I looked and she had thrown it all into Walter's chair. Little stinker. A couple of days ago too she started to discover that Chevy would eat her food if she threw it on the floor so it started out to be a little game. Anyway, then I discovered that Chevy had patches of red hair, courtesy of her raspberries.

Jeff and his new munchache

The kids had fun today playing with a magna doodle. Walter drew his first real picture of a person, it was of Jeff. He drew a big head with hair, eyes, a nose, a mouth and then a "munchache"((mustache)since Jeff doesn't have one he asked who he knows that does and he said Papa A.J) then the legs where on the side of his head. It was cute and I wanted to take a picture but he erased it before I could. Rose E made her first drawing on a magna doodle too she also learned how to make shapes with little magnets. She isn't missing a beat now! The other day Jeff's work phone rang and Rose E said "get it" then I commented on the phone ringing and she said "Daddy?" I said yes Daddy will get it. She is also calling bananas "ba's" now. She has been tickled pink that I have been sharing them with her and letting her take bites off. Speaking of food I had to laugh because lately when Walter will have a sweet and want more I will say I don't want you to eat too much because he might get a belly ache. Anyway today at supper when Jeff went to take seconds Walter said "daddy not eat anymore you might get sick." Little chief of police we have here! He also gave me a chuckle in his bedroom today he was looking up at one of the airplanes hanging from his ceiling and he said "mama is that where the air comes out?" I said that is where the fuel comes out. Then he said where does the air come out? I said air doesn't come out just fuel and he said "but it's called an airplane."

Is today July?

Well, the Ranger has been a huge hit in Walter's book! He got the first ride in it yesterday after getting it from the dealership. He was so cute showing it to me when they pulled-up in the driveway. He walked me around the machine and in detail told me about every part. Tonight they also went for a ride and he couldn't wait to tell me about everything they saw. I also took this picture of the kids standing by our tree in bloom , it looks so pretty right now(Rose E's been saying "tree"). You can see our little vegetable garden to the left too. Walter has been helping me water it and checking on it's progress. When Rose E sees it she says "plant?" You can't really see, but the poles in the background on the street have American flags on them. As soon as they where put up last week Walter noticed and now everyday he has been saying "is today July?" He's anxious about the 4th I guess! They are starting construction on our road tomorrow. Tonight on our walk Rose E noticed all of the cones, barrels and words spray painted on the road. I had to laugh because she kept pointing to them and saying "Uh oh" "no, no, no." Such a character! She has been saying "see" for everything lately too. Yesterday we where driving and her hat went down over her eyes she started to protest so I said "push it back up" she then pushed it out of her eyes and then excitedly said "see." Yesterday she also took her first step without holding on at Papa and Grandma's house (she has been standing on her own for a long time and walks holding onto things but hasn't yet got daring enough to take steps on her own). Watch out now! Today she had fun too playing with a magnetic farm leap frog toy. Before putting the sheep and pig in it she pointed to them and said "sheep", "pig." Then Walter asked me how to spell those words with his letter leap frog toy. We spelled out several. Earlier today it was cute because out of the blue Walter said "look Mama I'm praying " I said "what are you saying in your prayer?" He said "I love you Jesus and God." Lately at night when he prays his list of people to pray for has been getting pretty long, I love it. I didn't mention it but the other day Walter broke out in hives again and he hadn't had strawberries. Both times where outside after picking a dandelion so I am wondering if that is the culprit. Anyway, yesterday we had playgroup in the park and after seeing every dandelion Rose E would tell Walter "No, no" (don't touch)! Oh we also have had our caterpillars that we ordered for a few days. Walter has been having fun watching there progress everyday. They have tripled in size since they arrived.

Sweet!!!!

We are all very excited that the Ranger that we have been waiting for has finally arrived! In the picture it isn't fully assembled yet. It will be a fun family thing that we can all do (well Rose E when she gets a little older). They plan to get a back seat, windshield, and a roll cage too. Walter has been pumped, every time we would go to the Polaris shop he would say, I don't want to wait lets just take this one home (the ones at the shop). He is looking forward to seeing where the old railroad tracks where, train bridges, mining buildings, etc. Plus we have such beautiful territory to explore around here!

This other picture is of some train cookies that Walter and I made the other day (it was a late night snack so he is wearing his p.j's). It was funny because for his Birthday 5 months ago Jeff's mom made train cookies and just out of the blue he said "mama I want those train cookies again." He was thrilled to discover that I also had train cookie cutters and a railroad crossing one too. Speaking of food, yesterday he made me laugh, he was sitting in his booster chair banging his knee on the tray and I said "Walter what are you doing? He said making the sky move" I said what sky? He said the milk in my cup is the sky. Imagination plus this boy has! He has been configuring his food in different ways and saying "Mama what letter is this?" Also, as long as we are on the topic of food we had some very exciting news from the doctor! Rose E is allergy free from wheat and milk! Yahoo, that sure does open a lot of doors (which reminds me she has started to sign open for doors and her shades) to what she can eat(: I am positive that she was allergic to milk and has overcome it. How I know is that wherever the product with milk in it would just even hit her face she would break-out in welts. As for the other things it seemed as though her skin would be clear and then she would eat something and break-out with eczema (Walter had eczema too as a baby but not nearly as much). She hadn't broken out in a few months so I thought it was related to her diet, but who knows. Anyway, she is loving being able to eat a greater variety and it is much easier on me too. She is now drinking whole milk out of a cup (I can't believe my baby is no longer a baby). She is growing-up way too fast! Today I was astonished as we read a book and I would say where is something and she knew where everything was! She has been keeping herself busy the past couple of days with stacking cups, she loves them and a shape sorter ball (she can now push the shapes through). Oh and she has been digging the "oopsie" game (I only had to say it once when she dropped a toy). All the way through the grocery store today she would turn around, dig through the cart, find some food and send it sailing to the ground laughing and saying "oopsie." Mama wasn't as amuzed!
Last but not least. I added some pictures of our lunch today at the Loading Zone restaraunt. Sarah came into town with her daughter and Annie's (Sarah and Annie are Jeff's Grandpa's brother's daughters) little boy was there too. The little girl, Koral, is only three and a half weeks younger than Rose E and the little boy, Trey is almost 20 months. It was a fun lunch.

Look who had a Birthday this weekend!

Here are some pictures of my hubby and his grandfather (who both share the same Birthday). To celebrate the occasion we went out to eat at the Ramada restaurant and then had cake at Jeff's parents house. It was nice. Happy Birthday to both!!!!

News and views from the kiddos:

This morning when Walter woke-up I said it is Sunday "where do we go on Sunday?" He said "to church, Mama we gonna pray and sing at church?" I said "yes, why else do we go to church?" He said "to learn about Jesus and God." Then he said "Mama Jesus and God in the sky? Why can't we see them?" Then we talked about heaven and he said "mama there's dead people at the funeral home."
Then as we where driving out of our town on the way to church Rose E was staring out the window and said "see ya" as she watched to world passs by. I had to chuckle to myself a little too during church, I carried her with me while I took communion and she looked at the bread and said "eat!" These kids sure do make us smile!