The Photo Shoot

We took a trip up the Northshore this weekend. It pretty much rained the entire time. I was hoping to get some nice fall pictures of the boys. Not so much. Here's how the "photo session" unfolded.......
Me: Colton, can you please change your shirt and put your vest on so I can take some pictures of you and your brother outside?
Colton: Mom, I DON"T like that vest.
Me: Please?!
Colton: No.
Me: I'm not asking you. Put it on. You'll never have to wear it again. Ever.
Colton: Fine.
Me: Colton, you can't just button the top button and leave the rest unzipped. It looks a little goofy. (Now as I'm attempting to zip it up, the fabric gets stuck in the zipper and I can't get it fixed.)
Colton: Good. (At this time Grandma is trying to keep Brett entertained and trying to get Colton's mind off the vest that he hates oh so much.....Grandma points out a worm on the ground. Colton picks it up and it poops on him - do worms really poop? - anyway - Colton gets all bent out of shape because we are laughing at him. He goes into pout mode and we continue the "photo session" with Brett.)

Here's some proof of Mister Poutypants.....
After a while, Colton came around as did the rain. However, Brett had had enough pictures, so here's the only one with the two of them that turned out half way decent.......

Test Drive

Here we are....out for a test drive in our new boat. We had a beautiful Sunday afternoon....lots of sun and minimal wind. Everything worked great which is always a plus! The boys (all 3 of them) enjoyed themselves. Colton kept wanting to go faster. We had to explain that a 25 horse motor doesn't go as fast as grandpa's boat! Brett just wanted to eat and help steer. Mike had a smile from ear to ear the entire time and I was just happy to be spending a gorgeous day with my boys.

Our Newest Family Member

Meet the newest addition to our family.....a used 1997 Smoker Craft boat. Mike's dad heard about this from one of his clients. According to everybody that looked at the flier we received, this deal was too good to pass up. So last Monday we took a trip to Eagan to check it out and we came home with a boat. Mike and Colton were just giddy. There's no other word to describe it - giddy! So, here it sat in our driveway as we waited for a warm day to go test it out.

Fish Tales

Just incase you ever wanted to know what the inside of a Crappie's mouth looks like......(Colton made me do it!)

Here's my mighty fishermen up at Dave & Claudia's.

A Day In The Life......

For those of my site visitors have requested that I write what a day in my life is really like, your wish has been granted.
5:00am - my alarm goes off (keep in mind this is only on the weekdays)
Time to hop in the shower.
Here's where multi-tasking comes in handy. As I lather on the shampo, I think about what I'm going to wear today. I think to myself - what's clean, what doesn't need ironing and what shoes will I have to wear.
Approximately 5:12am I'm down in my room trying to find my invisioned outfit only to be disappointed that there is some sort of food item (thanks Brett) crusted onto my pants, so back to square one. Starting to stress I just grab something and head up stairs.
Hopefully it's only about 5:22 as I head up the stairs to put together lunches for the boys. Oh and no, this doesn't include Mike's lunch. He's a big boy and can fend for himself.
Typically at about 5:35 Brett wakes up as he hears Mike and I running around trying to be quiet. Mike and I fight over who gets to go get our little man out of his crib as this time of day he is just so darn cute. Time to give Brett his morning cup of water - he doesn't care for juice- and his daily banana. If you don't give him a banana or oatmeal, you'll be sorry. Don't try to trick him with some strawberries or pancakes. He'll have none of it.
While Mike is eating breakfast with Brett, I'm in the bathroom attempting to do my hair and throw on a little make-up. While doing this, I'm thinking to myself....I really, really need somebody to teach me what shades of eyeshadow I should be using.
Oh it's 5:50, time to go wake up Colton.
I turn on his light, rub his back and ask him what he wants for breakfast. His typical answer is french toast sticks. My typical answer is we don't have any. What else do you want? So as I get that ready with his cup of juice (see they really are opposite kids) he attempts to wake himself up.
I'm back in the bathroom finishing up...Mike heads out the door.
I get the kids dressed, teeth brushed and my lunch packed and we're out the door.
Off to daycare. Give kisses and off to work.
Ah, work......I don't share about work.....never know who's reading this.
Get home. Give all 3 boys kisses and see how everybody's days went. TRY to get Colton to tell me about his day at school. TRY to come up with some tasty idea for dinner. TRY to cook dinner while Mike and I entertain the kids. TRY to talk Colton into eating everything. Mike cleans up the kitchen and does the dishes (I hate doing dishes) and the boys and I go play for a bit.
Brett's in bed by 7, Colton by 7:30. Time to throw in some laundry, go through the backpack, pick up the house, work out (honestly, it's pretty easy to talk myself out of doing that....) catch up on the blog world and off to bed in time to catch the weather at 9:32 on Fox 9 news.
Whew. A day in the life.
What's your's like?

He's Got His New Shoes On

We went school shopping for new shoes a few weeks ago. There were so many pairs to choose from! We gave Colton a few options and here's what he picked!

A pair of white, navy and orange Avia's (yes, Rick and Colin you read that right!). Why these? Well duh, "they have a cool design on the bottom that makes kids run faster," Colton says.

Now we need to work on learning how to tie them. Any tips?

The First Day

Here he is! The big Kindergartner!

Yes, it's dark out still, but he's not headed to school quite yet. First to daycare, then to school. He was pretty excited when I left him this morning!

Here comes the bus. I was able to leave work early to meet Colton at the bus stop. I don't think he even realized I was there. He was too busy chatting with his buds. Carter, Colton and Jarod.....
How did it go you ask? Still working on that one. Here's how the conversation went on our way home today:

Colton: I wish it was tomorrow.

Me: Why?

Colton: So I can go back to school.

Me: Did you have fun today?

Colton: Yes.

Me: What did you do?

Colton: I don't know.

Me: Did you write letters?

Colton: No

Me: Did you sing a song?

Colton: No.

Me: Did you use glue sticks (Seriously, they had to bring 6 large glue sticks to start the year with...really? How much glue can you use in 2 1/2 hours a day?)

Colton: No.

Me: Did you know anybody in your class?

Colton: Yes, Brandon that used to live across the street from us.

Me: (thinking to myself...now we're getting somewhere) Cool. Did you sit by him?

Colton: No, I'm at the green star table and he's at the purple star table.

Me: Oh. (How can he not remember what he did today, but he can remember that Brandon sits at the purple star table?)

Colton: That's enough questions mom.

Me: Oh, okay.

Two hours later at dinner I discover that he sits at a table with 3 other kids. One other boy and two other girls.

That's all I know about the first day of school!

Counting Crows

When Mike and I were in college we would listen to the Counting Crows and have contests to see who knew more of the words to each song. So, when Mike heard they were coming to town, he ordered tickets for an early anniversary gift. Perfect! The kids went to Grandpa & Grandma Ward's house and Mike and I headed out for some pre-concert dinner and drinks. The tickets were General Admission so we were thinking we'd be about half way back since we didn't get there right away. Boy were we wrong. I've never been so close to the stage before. The concert was great!!