sunshine and summertime...

FINALLY

it's looking & feeling like summer!

This week is gorgeous out & we have been taking full advantage of it.

Hitting up the parks in the morning in between summer rec activities!

And today a trip to the beach to play in the sand,

he giggled when I took off his shoes and let the sand squish between his toes!

then dipped our toes in the water!

He would have preferred to dip his whole body in the water.

He managed to attempt to sit down in the water so he had a wet bottom & squishy diaper!

We got home & I needed to water flowers & our newly seeded grass.

Breck decided to jump in front of the hose {many times}

& managed to be soaked from head to toe!

Breck, wore out from our morning to the beach, water, park, biking, "helping" me water flowers, lunch, playtime...is sound asleep in bed for his afternoon snooze.

The big kids, are using the pool to cool off, now that the temp is finally above 70 degrees!

EVERYDAY could be like this day!

Unfortunately tomorrow is suppose to be a whopping 100 degrees {a little to warm for this girl}

Fortunately the weekend is suppose to be mid 80's which I can handle & should be nice for our 4th of July kayak/canoe trip down the Crow River.

Me, I'm outside blogging & about to "try" to finish my book

Emily Giffin Heart of the Matter, definitely

 not as good as her first four books & I'm having a hard time getting in to it.

Baby boy Smith..

This is the new addition to our family growing family tree:

Mason Michael Smith

born June 24th

9lb's

I can't wait to meet him and kiss those chubby cheekers!

Congrats Zach, Patty, and big sis Maizy

14 months...."ONE" year pictures

Breck just turned fourteen months old yesterday

and

we just did his ONE year photos on Friday. oops, a bit behind!

But so worth the wait bc

I LOVE them all! 
Not sure how I'm going to choose a favorite for the wall!

 

We went out to my grandparent's old "farm"

now owned by a good family friends son, who told us we could come out anytime to take pictures.

He came outside while we took pictures and showed the kids his fainting goats, ducks, dog, cats...he has himself a small funny farm!

But, It kept Breck buys & smiling throughout the pictures!

fourteen months of:

• walking, running, jumping {a bit pegion toed of course...like his mom & g'pa Tom were as kids}
• talking, screetching, repeating everything {even things he shouldn't say like when g'ma Shirley said "Oh, Crap"..."Crapp" Breck}
• Eats everything..an endless pit.
• Personality that keeps us laughing {very stubborn, independent, determined}
• A new deep funny laugh {like his mom did as a kid...everyone said I sounded like woody wood pecker..awesome trait to pass to my child}
• LOVES water {spent the weekend at the lake jet skiing & playing at sandy beach}
• Just started getting scared of people, turning into a BIG mamma's boy {doesn't help we spend all day, everyday together for the summer months...oh well, I like it}
• Loves his rocking horse and says "haaaaaaa haaaaaaaa" for heee haww!
• Loves playing cars, Little People, and reading books
• Still a wonderful sleeper! calls his blanket with silk his "ni, ni" just like his mom did & cousin's do!
• Big smile, cute dimples, friendly as can be!

AND we are officially DONE!

he had enough.

but, that is what happens when we snap 204 pictures of the boy!

Stinky boys....

need a bath EVERY night!

Especially after going to the softball fields to watch dad & grandpa play!

last night:

we were at the fields and Breck was running around like a crazy man
and older ladies {with grown up kids of their own} were laughing as I'm sweating in 60 degree weather,
telling me they laugh because they are happy to be done chasing kids of Thieu own!

Breck likes to put EVERYTHING in his mouth at the fields.
rocks.
used sunflower seeds.
and even cig butts....
uggggggggggggg. grossssssssss.

Yup. mom of the year once again.

And this was the first time with lots and lots and lots of bubbles!

And boy, did we have fun!

And I just drool over those big blue eyes!

Happy boy, that smells yummy

makes for fun snuggle time with mom at the end of the night!

Family update: because you want to know :)

First officially day of summer is TODAY,

but we have already been busy busy bees.

We finally got our bike & bike seat attached

and we are enjoying the ride while I enjoy some much needed exercise.

Breck has been up and down this week.

happy

sad

laughing

crying

drooling

dripping

teething much?

yup, we are in the process of getting our 9th & 10th teeth (canine teeth i think they call it)

Not fun. Please come in soon so his poor swollen gums can stop keeping him up all night long,

and his drool & runny nose can save me from doing an overload of laundry!

I have been staying VERY busy keeping the kids busy.

It doesn't help when we have rainy weather, keeping us indoors.

Today we went to the dollar store {best store ever for my checkbook}

we got two stain glass painting kits, two painting poster kits, an activity pad, and giant coloring book for the big kids, and a new board book & fire mans hat for the little boy...all under ten dollars!

Well, that's what I do during the day.

In the evening I need a little ME time so last night my mom, sister, Ellery, & I went to a stamping class put on by Margi Gilbertson and made these lovely, awesome calendars!

It was fun, easy, and I got some much needed time out of the house and Jerod and Breck got some "boys time".

The best thing is: when I got home, Breck was still up! {9:00pm way past his bedtime} 

Jerod said he couldn't get him to lay down {probably bc he isn't feeling the best}

But I would like to think it's bc he needed his MOM :)

p.s I got him to bed shortly after I got home...no problem! magic touch.

Jerod has been crazy busy at his new'ish job at 3M,

sometimes keeping him there till after six...boo.

When he comes home I usually have the grill on ready for dinner,

then I don't see him till he comes to bed.

He is so busy beautifying the yard!

Going to the compost,

planting,

seeding,

watering,

fixing.

I'm kind of glad he likes doing that sort of thing.

Because this girl, doesn't so much!

Celebrate daddies!

Father's Day

started with daddy being able to sleep in....

then snuggling with him to wake him up!

{Breck is a great snuggler...he nuzzles his little head into your neck..simply the best}

Then time for our home made card made with lots of love

and a BIG green mess!

{he was clapping his hands together, touching his face, and his momma}

but totally worth it.

He even wrote his name in the card {wink, wink} smart boy.

We spent most of our day outside enjoying the peaks of sunshine on a not so sunny day!

It was a day of exploring for Mr. B

We found baby bunnies in one of our bushes.

They are so cute and tiny, but because they keep moving from one of my plants to another,

they tend to get a bath when I'm watering flowers!

poor things :)

We celebrated father's day at g'pa Tom's with fajitas..mmm..mm.m

g'pa gave Mr. B a worm

and he played, poked, stretched that sucker out...

then he tried to eat it!

I screamed and grabbed it from him,

then I realized I was holding a worm,

screamed and threw it! ick. dang boys. I better get used to this huh!

Then we went to g'pa Jerry's for a  BBQ to celebrate a family wedding {the day before Gloria & Al} a birthday {Jerod's Aunt Julia} family visiting for the week from Texas AND father's day!

Uncle Goofy {Jonny}  found a turtle that Breck chased around for 15 minutes.

Every time he would bend down to pick him up, it would move,

and he just couldn't catch it!

So funny!

Besides our weekend was bummed out by

rainy, gloomy, humid, weather,

me being sick in bed most of the weekend,

and Mr. B on the brink of getting sick

It

was

a

great

celebration

for

our

wonderful

FATHER'S!

love you.

another busy weekend of fun...

Our weekend was fun filled.

We attended a wedding in Benson.

A family friend got married {we lived in Benson before moving to Litchfield}

and Ty was a groomsmen.

Here is the a picture of Ty and Zarie practicing for their BIG day coming up in August...keep practicing  that smile Ty!

We had a wonderful time.

It was a nice wedding with amazing food, fun dance, and great family and friends!

It was so pretty. Simple and pretty.

We got  night to relax and have fun while Breck hung out with g'ma Barrick for the night.

He had fun. We had fun. 

Jerod and Patsy {mother of the bride and the best lady I know} showed their moves on the dance floor!

The night was great..CONGRATs to the happy couple Alex and Alica!

The next morning we picked up Breck from the lake and headed to the zoo with the Huntley's and Baalsons.

First time at the zoo for Breck!

He laughed at the zebras,

roared at the lions,

and peeked at the polar bears doing flips in the water!

IT was a fun day!

Even I enjoyed the day...

this made me laugh

gorillas taking a nap!

Breck and I took a ride on the Como Train!

Breck laughed at the little girl yelling "choo choo" on the whole ride!

We ended the day meeting Kelsey and Jon for lunch at Pizza Luce {yummo}

and see there lovely apartment.

Jerod and I guessed what time Breck would be fast asleep on the way home.

It was 2:56.

I said 2:58

Jerod said 3:04

we turned around and he was fast asleep {2:57}

It was an awesome family funday!

playtime before bed...

Every night this week,

we have needed a bath because

we needed to cool off after a hot day,

or we had to rinse off the sunscreen from a day in the pool.

Either way,

I LOVE the way he smells after a bath....mmmm!

Then it's time to play!

Dad get home after a long day

and Breck thinks he is the BEST!

I did this to him:

and he laughed and hammed it up

so funny!

Then he walked his dog!

This is the closest thing to a furry friend we will ever have

{to much work and Jerod, and I think Breck too, have wicked allergies}

plus, the poor thing probably wouldn't survive these little hands :)

Anyone see Toy Story 3?

way cute movie...

and it's true, you think...these poor toys handled by these crazy toddlers :) ha!

Breck goes to bed every night around 8 o'clock...

lays down so nice,

and sleeps ALL night!

Love this boy!