A Mouse In The House

Sam decided he wanted to put mouse holes around the house and make a mouse to live in the holes!

He and Zak had a great time moving the mouse holes around and "helping" the mouse to find it's new home.


Sam has a book on drawing animals -- didn't he do a great job?

Big Test

Zak's shorts might be my biggest laundry test to date.

It's not looking good!

Family Fun Day!

Saturday was family day -- we worked a little in the yard, ran some errands and then headed off for some fun!

The boys picked up sprinkle doughnuts while we ran errands in the morning -- they were lucky there were just two left!

Sam is a lover of sprinkles!


Zak's first sprinkle doughnut -- pretty sure
he won't be going back to plain, old glazed!

We worked in the yard pulling out the summer annuals and putting in plants for the fall and did a little clean-up outside. It was a gorgeous day to be outside -- close to 80 degrees.

After Zak's nap we cleaned up and headed out for a friendly game of miniature golf. The boys loved it and can't wait to go back again. Matthew got the only hole-in-one. Sam did a 2-putt for a couple of the holes. Zak was not a great rule follower -- but had fun anyway. Mom was the most consistent. We did not keep score -- we kept track of Zak instead!

Sam tees off!

Nice shot -- with a little help from Dad.

Zak preferred to carry the ball...

...and put it in the hole. Much easier
than using the golf club!

Nice putt, Sam!

The putt-putt course is behind The Steakburger, a little hambuger place that has been around since the 1960's -- not much has been done to it since then -- but it had great food and we could eat outside and watch people golf. We will definitely go back!

Fun, fun day!

Mr. Independent

Zak wants to do things all by himself. It's not always done correctly -- but that doesn't seem to bother him!

Lately, he wants to put his bike helmet on by himself and throws a fit if anyone tries to help him.

Backwards is another option...not the
correct option...but another option!

Not quite right -- but he is very cute!

After he has a chance to do it all by himself, then he will let one of us fix it for him.

A Dog's Life

Zak loves anything dog-related. He has dog pajamas, he has books about dogs, he thinks every dog he sees wants to be petted, he has six stuffed dogs, five of which sleep with him every day. He just has a thing for dogs.

Zak has a little dog that Sam gave him for his 1st birthday. He loves this dog, which he calls "Dog" -- it goes everywhere with him.

Every morning Zak gets out a placemat, a bowl and a
spoon for Dog. He always shares a little bit of his cereal.

He goes in the car when we take Sam to school, running
errands, going to church. Sometimes Dog even wears a seatbelt.

Zak always shares his food with Dog.

Naptime for Zak and Dog!
They both get a blanky and a binky.

They both love to sit with Mom
on the couch and read books.

Dog is often a part of whatever Zak is doing.

Such good little buddies!

Our Lazy, Rainy Saturday

After our first full week of school, it seemed like a great idea to just stay at home and hang out. Matthew was at work, it was rainy outside -- the perfect day to stay home and play.

It all started with our traditional "Saturday cereal" for breakfast. The boys get to pick whatever they want...Peanut Butter Captain Crunch and Fruity Cheerios are real favorites around here.

Yeah for Saturday cereal!

Sam's been begging to paint -- so today was the day! He churned out three works of art -- one was what happened when he mixed colors; one was a picture of all the things God made and one was a picture of a house with a garage.

Mixing colors -- yellow and blue make green!

Zak had fun painting too! Why is he so sweaty, you ask?
Oh, that's because he had just wrapped up throwing a
15 minute fit. It was his first of three for the day.
Yes, he's firmly in the two's!

Sam and I watched 101 Dalmations while Zak napped. He thought it was great! Then the boys played cars and made their own noise shakers and had a parade up and down the hallway.

We made a Kleenex box tunnel -- worked great!

The cars went round and round the roads!

Lots of books were read and grilled cheese sandwiches were gobbled up for dinner.

A great rainy day!

A Quick Trip

We made a quick trip to visit Poppy and Grammie this weekend -- and even though Sam was sick for part of it -- it was fun!

Our first stop was Squak Mountain Nursery, where Matthew used to work. It's great to be able to visit with everyone and they love to see how the boys have grown.

Zak's favorite thing to do is search for Daisy.
This is where he spent most of his time!
Sam said, "She likes me -- she wagged her tail at me!"

Then it was on to Poppy and Grammie's house. Grammie and Sam worked on a new fleece blanket for Zak -- he needed one that was big enough to hide under to play "Monsters" and would be good for fort building. Sam already had one -- so of course, Zak needed one too!

Sam working on Zak's new blanket.

Then Sam and Zak made blankets for their dogs with some left over fleece -- they sewed their initials on them so they could tell them apart.

Zak working on his "Z".

It was all over too soon!

Sam's Wish

Sam can take a shower all by himself now -- he just needs a little help getting his back.

Matthew was helping him out the other day and Sam declared, "I wish I had a third arm coming out of the middle of my back. Then I could do this all by myself!"

Don't we all wish that sometimes?

Laboring on Labor Day

Matthew worked on Labor Day -- so Sam thought that would be a perfect time to go visit the Fire Station. He really wanted to go work out in the exercise room! The exercise room is usually our first stop -- Sam and Zak think the treadmill is really fun.

Sam and Zak going for a little walk!

Sam learned how to bench press using the bar -- no weights.
He was impressed when Matthew told him the he
adds weights to the bar when he works out!

Hanging out in the back seat of the engine. What impressed
them the most were the crank handles for the windows!

All too soon, it was time to head home, but not before Sam gave a quick message on the loudspeaker and the boys had a chance to pet Captain Jesse's dog, Josie.

Fun times!

Little Bakers

Matthew asked me yesterday if I knew about the "situation" in the kitchen. No, it wasn't a bug infestation or a sink full of dishes -- his cookie jar was almost empty and he wanted to be sure I knew it!

Sam was my helper -- and Zak (in Grandma Ro's apron)
wasn't about to be left out!

They played a little before we got down to business.

Sam took care of making the cookie
dough and Zak poured in the chips.

My scooper!


Oooh, they are good!

Poor Zak -- he didn't get any cookies after dinner because he chose to only eat watermelon balls. Hopefully he'll get one tomorrow!

He doesn't look like he's suffering!

It won't be long until I can turn this job over to the boys and just supervise!

Going Home -- 5 Years Ago

September 4th is a special day in our family. Almost as important as Sam's birthday is the day he came home from the hospital. After 68 days in the hospital, Sam was finally released to come home with us!

It was the first day we ever held him
without any tubes or wires -- it was strange
to be able to walk around the room with him.

Shortly after he was born, they told us one of the requirements for going home was to be able to go for seven days without him stopping breathing. At that time, it seemed like he might be going to Kindergarten in the NICU -- it just didn't seem like that was going to happen!

He looks so small in this carseat -- but we
thought he was huge at 6 pounds 13 ounces!

We are so grateful to have this anniversary to celebrate!

The First Day

Sam's much anticipated first day of kindergarten was today -- and he was ready to go!

Worn out from last weekend, he has slept in the last two days until the unheard of hour of 7:00am -- so 6:15am came a little early for him this morning! (When he slept in so long on Monday morning, he came out of his room and said, 'Mom, I was amazed to see it was 7:04am!').

A little sleepy at the breakfast table -- but ready to go!


It was a bit too drippy outside to do
pictures on the front porch this morning!

He wanted to make sure he
had a goofy pose -- he succeeded!

Excited about his first day -- but disappointed
that he doesn't get to ride the bus!

Sam waiting his turn at his classroom door.

Ms. Schoenborn escorted each child to their desk.
The only one with tears this morning was Zak!

Don't tell Sam, but then we headed to Panera!

Zak played while Matthew and I talked about how
in no time Sam will be graduating from high school!

Waiting at the wall to be
picked up at the end of the day.

Corn dogs at Red Robin -- Sam's favorite place!

Zak had a corn dog too!

Sam had homework -- it was in this bag that
he was to open when he got home.

A cookie! A tough assignment!
They have to report back what color their
cookie was for a math exercise tomorrow.

Sam had a great first day and is looking forward to going back tomorrow!