Father's day.

This is how Father's Day went down.

The boys woke up & gave dad a few gifts.

Chain saw oil,

ear protection,

eye protection,

gloves 

& homemade cards.

It was a good start to the day!

(I just noticed it looks like Daddy is not wearing anything,

but he really has shorts on!!! haha) 

I asked Luke what he would like for breakfast.

And I gave him the wonderful choice of toast, eggo, or cereal! haha

(Can you tell that Luke typically cooks the breakfast around this place).

I don't think he chose any of those choices,

but he did want to run around the lake.

So that's what we did.

In the meantime, Vance decided to get some practice climbing the steps too!   

We ran around the lake & stopped by a friends house.

This particular stop was a big changer for Adler because his friend

was riding her bike without training wheels (more to come on that subject)!

After our run we played at the lake. 

Dad with his little pal.

Did I mention that Vance is addicted to his daddy.

Luke walks in the door & Vance will whine until dad picks him up.

Then when dad puts him down,

he'll whine until dad picks him up again!

What a character. 

Okay, onto the training wheels story...

when we drove home from the beach Adler told Luke to take his training wheels off.

I think he was upset that his younger friend had her wheels off & he didn't yet!

We started with the little bike first (since that's what Abriana did with her bike)

& when Luke had the wheels off, Adler took off from the garage & NEVER STOPPED!

No help, no falls, nothing...he just could instantly bike without training wheels.

I think he was ready, and determined!

He wants to ride his bike ALL the time now.

How fun life can be when you can ride a bike without training wheels!

Brock was so happy for his big brother that he ran along side of him 

and encouraged him to keep biking!

It was so darn funny. 

Our friends invited us to go boatin that afternoon.

So that's just what we did. 

We LOVE boating!

And that made for a happy dad on Father's Day.

Adler & Abriana hoped in the tube & stayed there for over 2 hours!

They loved it.

It's great to have friends in town on the lake.

The boys must have had a lot of fun because this was our backseat view 

on the way home! 

Later that night Luke started building the deck from our new addition to our patio.

And Adler helped dad get the foundation for the deck filled. 

Here's where the deck is going,

& hopefully it will be finished in a week or so. 

Happy Father's Day to the best dad 3 boys could ever ask for! 

Happy birthday to my wonderful dad too!

Trip to Le Mars, IA.

On Father's Day weekend our family, along with my parents

took off for the most fabulous little town in Iowa.

Le Mars.  

It was Ice Cream Days & Wells Blue Bunny (home of Blue Bunny ice cream)

was celebrating 100 years!

I had to go.

And it was a lot of fun.

Our first stop was at the famous Bob's Drive Inn.

Luke had been dreaming of getting a bob's dog with the fixin's for a couple weeks prior!

And I loved having my usual order of tavern & fries!

Since we visited last Bob's added another seating area in their backyard

along with the head shot in the hotdog!

G & G Johnson with their grandsons.

Nice wiener dad!!!

After Bob's we took of for Good Samaritan for their annual Smile Contest.

I had a good time seeing the senior campus again & many of my old co-workers.

Here's Adler smiling & Brock not smiling!

After the contest we went downtown to celebrate 100 years of some good ice cream.

The boys did face painting, riding on the train, a bunch of jumping inflatables

freebies from local businesses & of course FREE ICE CREAM!

Enjoying our old hometown.

Downtown Wells Ice Cream Parlor.

Taste of Wells outside the parlor.

Tons of free ice cream novelties.

Brock enjoying his bomb pop!

Grandpa & Vance watching Tonic Sol-fa.

Grandma took the boys to the pool at the hotel.

While the boys stayed at the hotel, Luke & I went to Mr. P's for a night out with friends.

We had a lot of fun!!!

Just as we settled in to watch the parade...

shortly after it started to down pour...REALLY HARD!!!

absolutely everyone had to leave their posts & the parade had to end.

It was crazy.  But shortly after we dried off (a little) & went to art in the park.

Blue Bunny float.

Finally we got to see some tractors in a parade!

When the BIG storm came threw town, we drove down central ave. 

& found all these characters swimming & having a great time 

in the water piling up along the curbs.

No one was around & they took advantage of the water

(with their outfits on!!!haha).

On our way home we stopped by Danube to say hi to G & G Herdina.

We spent a relaxing afternoon on the porch.

Vance's 1st Birthday!

I can't believe Vance is already ONE!

Which means no little baby anymore.

It's time for walking, sippy cups, facing forward in his carseat

& ohh so much more.

He knows he's 1 too!

He looks at me like he's a big guy now,

like he's just one of the boys,

It's funny to me...he really does know he's older somehow!

We had a family birthday party for him the weekend before his birthday.

He had a great time,

along with all of his brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, & grandparents.

The go-cart was the main 'hit' of the party. 

Vance & aunt Erin. 

Abby, grandpa Ed & Vance, & grandma Glad. 

Of course the bounce house had to make an appearance. 

The girls gave stroller rides to the babies.

(I used to love doing that when I was their age too!) 

Relaxing outside. 

Sweet Aubrea. 

Getting the go-cart going!

The brothers got it all fixed up & ready to go.

(That is, after my dad brought it to his friend Gordy's to give it it's first fix!) 

It's up & running for good this time.  

It was also Nate's birthday that day so he got included on the cake! 

(Yes I just noticed I plopped the #1 on backwards! haha)

All the kids chased after the go-cart,

but shortly after the first few rides we turned it up

& it went VERY FAST!  Too fast to chase.

We also had kids climbing trees! 

Brock had a grand time doing his own thing & chalking up his cozy coupe.

This kid sometimes just enjoys being with himself 

& could care less that there's cousins all over to play with! 

Hanging out on the swing. 

Aunt Tracy came in with a cupcake in hand for Vance.

Poor guy missed a good chunk of his party because he was napping,

but he woke up to a cupcake & ate it like crazy! 

He truly sat in his highchair until every last bit was in his mouth! 

Happy birthday my sweet boy. 

A few days later on Vance's real birthdate we celebrated again.

We gave him his gifts, the boys made him cards, we made brownies

& sang birthday wishes. 

He had a great day.

Love you Vance.

Here's to now having a 1 year old, 3 year old, & 5 year old!