Trip to the Beach!

We started our week out with a trip to the beach and Grandma came up with Finley while Auntie worked. This was our first trip to the beach all summer and it may have been our last trip for a while. I remembered while we were there how much I dislike sand! It took a bit for Finley to warm up to the beach but Spencer was super excited to start digging and splashing around in the water. Both boys loved digging in the sand. Even Easton got to sit in the sand. It's a lot of work going to the beach with all of the stuff you have to bring and making sure you don't bring all of the sand home with you! I think until the boys are a little bit older we might stick to going to the pool!

While we were waiting for Grandma and Finley to come both boys tried on snowsuits that we had just bought. Spencer was a little confused and thought he was going to wear his snowsuit to the beach. While I was getting something in the kitchen he came running in and told me he was ready to go...

Spencer loves playing with Easton. I'm still waiting for the day though that Easton starts making his wants and feelings known. Spencer might be in for a shock that he can't always take things from Easton and get away with it. Currently if Spencer tries to take something from Easton he will start to cry. Spencer will quickly find something else to give to him instead and then he's happy again. I know there will be a day though that Easton won't allow Spencer to take things from him.

Spencer loves his baby brother so much that he has started to take care of his babies like I do with Easton. He uses the baby doll Auntie gave him in the hospital (he's renamed him from Bou to Easton) or he will use Handy Manny. He loves to put them to bed in the swing with a nuk, feed his babies in the high chair or even take them outside and push them in the swing.

On Thursday night we took the boys to see a movie in the park. We got there early and heard a few bands play. Once it got dark the movie started. We brought our chairs and blanket and Easton was in his pj's. Spencer had fun watching Madagascar on the big screen outside. We only made it through the first 45 minutes of the movie as it was getting way past both boy's bed times. I'm sure we will be going again next year.

This weekend Ryan golfed with guys in the Labor Day Golf Outing. Grandma offered to watch Easton so that I could have a Spencer and mommy day. It's been a long time since just Spencer and I hung out. We had such a great day. We went on a walk in the morning with Jill, Maddie, Kristi and Liam. We later met Liam and Kristi at the park. Spencer was so worn out he took a 3 hour nap!

We've been able to spend the rest of the weekend around the house getting some much needed projects done. I can't believe summer is coming to an end. I know the cold weather is just around the corner so I feel that we need to take advantage of the nice weather and get outside as much as we can!

To say that I'm picture obessed would be an understatement. I don't think there is a word that describes how much I love pictures of my boys. My neighbor that has taken pictures of the boys before offered to take some of Easton one night this week. Normally have at least a week to plan what they will wear and where we will go. This time I only had 30 mintues! Good thing Auntie had sent some of Finleys outfits as Easton is starting to out grow his summer clothes! Here are some of the pictures she took:

I will end this post with some of my new favorite things Spencer is saying:

"Ryan, where are you?!?"

"I burped out my mouth"

"Just a sec momma"

"Sorry Easton, I'm not bugging him"

"Stop on Red, Go on Green"

"Da, da, da, Go Pack Go!"

Parent Teacher Conference

Here are a few pictures from last weekend......

Feeding the ducks or "babies" as Grandma and the boys call them. We can't use old bread when feeding them because the boys tend to eat what they are throwing.

We had a very busy week and had parent teacher conferences for both boys. Tuesday we met with Easton's teachers. It's a nice chance to sit down with the main teacher's to talk about all of the different things our little boy is doing. Here is a recap from Easton's conference......

He scored high on:
*Recognizing his name when someone speaks to him
*Smiling
*Grasping for objects and bringing them to his mouth
*Rolling over both ways (he can do it, he's just not a big roller)
*Differentiate between shades of color (how they know this I'm not sure?!)
*Coos, giggles and blows bubbles
*Plays with his feet (only when you have him undressed or changing his diaper, very odd I know)

Things he needs to work on:
*Sitting for longer periods of time (He's up to about 10 minutes before tipping over)
*Getting into the crawling position
*Working on the sippy cup
*Working on his pincher grasp. He can pick puffs up but not every time.

We talked about all of his little personality traits. He is a very smiley, happy baby. He's also very jumpy and can get very distracted. If he is eating his bottle and there is something else going on in the room he will stop eating to watch. They've even started turning their chairs around when feeding him so that he will eat more of his bottles. Easton has a little girlfriend already and her name is Olivia. She actually lives in our neighborhood. They are always telling me how he is all smiles and loves sitting by her. Of course they told me how much they love having Easton in their room and what a cute little boy he is. I know they must say this to all of the parents but it makes me feel better to hear it about my child.

Here is the recap from Spencer's conference:

He got high marks on:
*Climbing play equipment
*Holds crayons with fingers
*Able to draw vertical lines
*Can talk in 2-3 word phrases or sentences
*Understands in, on, under or beside.
*Talks clearly most of the time.
*Eats with spoon, spilling little
*Dresses self with help
*Plays with other children
*Imitates parents activities "cooking, cleaning, shaving"
*Says "look, watch me do..." I personally think this one is over done!

Things he needs to work on:
*Unbutton buttons

Still working on the potty training.

Whatever will work to get him to go on the potty will work for me at this point.

We learned he dominates at muscial chairs and he won 3 out of 4 times. Apparently though we are going to need to work on good sportmanship because he got a little upset when he lost. He's doing really well in his new room and she said he gets a long with everyone. She said he's quick to follow along with what the other kids are doing. It's always nice to hear that your boys are having fun and doing well.

Maddie and Gavin along with their mom Jill came over to our house for a play date on Friday. Jill needed to run some errands so I told her to just leave Gavin with me. Spencer and Gavin play really well together. While those two entertained each other playing with play-doh, I was able to get Easton down for a nap and make lunch. After the two boys ate they got to lay in our bed a watch a movie since it was nap time. After awhile I went in the room and told the boys to close their eyes because it was nap time. Both boys closed their eyes but after a minute Spencer opened his. Not Gavin though, the trick worked and he fell asleep! So I moved him to Spencer's bed and Spencer napped in ours. Spencer now wishes Gavin could sleep at his house all the time!

Helping Gavin wash his hands. They insisted on going potty together.

 Good thing we have a potty chair and a toilet ring. They had so much fun!

Friday evening we went over to Jill and Cary's for a get together. It's been a long time since we've all gotten together. The kids had fun playing together again. Spencer and Gavin swam naked together in the pool! All of the kids had fun playing in the playroom and dancing to music. Thanks Jill and Cary for having us all over!

Saturday we went to Eau Claire for the evening. Miss Courtney one of the teacher's from Spencer and Easton's school came to watch all three boys at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We figured if there was anyone that can handle our boys together it would be someone who does it on a daily basis. While the boys played we were able to enjoy some kid free time.

Here are the pictures Miss Courtney took......

Spencer fell asleep playing. This is what happens when you don't take a nap!

Saturday was the Dan vs Lynn golf outing. A while back my dad made a bet with Lynn as to when Tiger Woods would return to the golf course. Lynn thought for sure he would take some much needed time off for his family while my dad knew he would be back sooner rather then later. If my dad lost he was going to buy Lynn dinner at her choice of resturant and if she lost then she would have to play her first round of golf against my dad. Well Lynn lost.... so my dad decided to turn their round of golf into a golf outing. He made signs a score board and they even had a gallery of people along to watch. They played 5 holes and with some changes to the rules Lynn was the winner.

Her shirt said.....

Who Knew?

I was screwed by Tiger Too!

This week Uncle JB returns from being gone all summer. We are looking forward to having him close again and going to hockey games in the winter.