I was even sick of my blog....

so here are some new colors and music for you! Here is our first painting project - this is Linc's room and will coordinate with his big boy room when we are ready to ditch the crib which we are so not ready for just yet! When Sean got home on Monday, Lincoln took him into his room & said "Ta-da" - Carter then displayed such for the camera! Much, much painting to do to make this mama happy but our first project was a success!

A few pictures from our Omni adventure on Sunday - it was the coolest place we could think of (literally) to go - it did the trick and the boys always love it - but they weren't into Science Live just yet - the noise was a bit much for Lincoln and Carter thought well if he doesn't have to watch the things explode neither will I - I'll go check out my friends the trains that I've seen 1 million times - in an effort to not interrupt the show for anyone else, Sean did endure the rest of the show!

The blogging world and mine are not coinciding this week! I've tried and tried to upload Iowa adventure pictures and keep getting denied - so I guess I'll write the stories and THEN try to upload yet again - part of the problem is that I have so many pictures to share as we had lots of adventures!

We started our days in Iowa with Marti-Graf - every member of the Graf family except my dear husband was in attendance (I told him he needs to be super nice to Patty as a result of his absence) - it was great to see everyone, it had been almost 3 years since I'd seen the California branches of the family! The boys had a great time, but what little boy doesn't have a great time at the Peterson farm - there is so much to do, trampoline, golf carts, food & dirt! Much to keep us busy. They had a good time playing with all of their cousins and between Mimi and Papa and my younger cousins - I got a serious break from childcare! Carter took to Jada, my Aunt Lisa's 9 year-old and she was a huge help in keeping him busy and having fun. Ms. Jada may visit us in November when she is off of school and Carter kept saying "yes for 2 weeks!" We had cold and rainy weather but this Oklahoman would take 60's & rain over 100 & heat any day right now - just wish we'd prepared a bit better for it, I thought Mimi was being crazy thinking we needed jackets - guess she wasn't!

Sean drove up on Sunday to bring Grampie's truck - our driveway is a bit empty now and we have little to talk about when we are outside but Carter did inquire yesterday whether or not Grampie was keeping his truck clean and wanted to call and check in on it. Note to Richie - better keep it clean at least when we come to town! The boys were awfully excited to see daddy since we didn't tell them he was coming too. We got to go to Lindsey, Michael & Cael's for dinner & some almost too exciting (underneath the cars) fireworks. The boys would love to be country boys like their cousin Cael - & went of to play on his tractors & swing set.

Carter got to go fishing which was a big treat for him, Papa took him to the pond and even backed the Kabota up to the edge so he didn't have to get his shoes wet (Amen, we know how he feels about wet shoes!). He got 6 fish - 2 bass & 4 croppies & was elated with his expedition. Linc was not included in the fishing trip since the last time we went to our pond to learn how to cast he got in the pond instead - he's got a little bit of time until he will be able to be a big boy & fish. We also got to go on the boat which this family loves! Sean says that it is the "perfect" boat - we worked on wearing our life jackets which is always the first step for little ones to get used to - when we go to the Ozarks we will work on getting into the water. We also got to check out Corning's new pool - it is awesome, I can't wait to go back and go down the slides since I didn't want to get my hair wet this time, but I will so get wet next time! It is perfect for the little kids with it's zero entrance.

Baby Doodle is working on teeth & words these days - he's getting 4 incisors, ouch and has since been a smidge cranky lately - Motrin does the trick when it is at it's worst! His words are funny - he only bothers to talk when it benefits him - like "key" - as in - Mimi take me on the Kabota - get the "key" or I locked the bathroom door or I locked Carter in your room "key". He also says "Ta-da" a lot to show you his tricks - like standing on the table - surprisingly this morning when he found a lipstick and smeared it all over his face, he didn't say "Ta-da" but I think he already knew he was in trouble! He also asks for "sicle" as in Popsicle & his "bebe" all the time.

This week we've been recuperating with about 20 loads of laundry (although Mimi kept all of our clothes clean while we were there we still somehow produced more) and taking good naps (Yippee for the Hogan house!). We are now on to our next projects of painting - I figure it is entirely too hot to go outside we might as well be inside and be productive - Linc's room is up first and then the rest of the house - this flat, un-kid-friendly, & slightly boring paint has got to go! Wish us luck on the paint projects it might be an awfully long adventure.

Just like Daddy

The boys got into the shaving kit last week & had a really good time - they are such big boys aren't they?

Here are some pictures - no time to give details as Carter "NEEDS ME" so I'll just post pictures now and hopefully will remember to write later!

Father's Day fun!

This is our mad face - made because he had to get off Carter's bike - he pouted all the way home

He only got into the pond once or twice, during our trip

We really let him leave the house like this...

Scuba Steve's little brother

Ready for the Ozarks & Icaria

So I am playing with my new camera and took about 75 pictures today so I thought I'd share - plus my Grandma Sims (that is Yellow Grandma to you, Katie) is starving for blog writing and pictures of the boys! We took Sean out for breakfast this morning - even though we went at 9 and had to wait the boys did pretty well - I had some Sweet Potato Pancakes that were so called YUMM-O! If they had marshmallows on them I'd have to take Grandma Dandy for some on her next visit, I'll have to see if she wants to try them without since marshmallow topping wasn't an option but otherwise they have all the makings of sweet potato casserole (sweet potato, brown sugar & butter). We then took a trip downtown to Bass Pro - not on our normal shopping circuit but something fun for the boys - they climbed in a few boats and looked at the fish & Carter convinced Sean to buy him a fishing pole - let's just say that Carter is going to have to rely on Papa & Uncle Timmy to take him fishing because I heard Sean say many times today - "this is why I hate fishing, always have, always will" when Carter got the line twisted. We did venture down to the pond and Carter practiced casting with the little anchor type thing on there (he said he needed the hook but Sean thought he needed some practice before having one especially with little brother around). Linc had a great day of painting - as the pictures will show, we have one clean artist and one who eats paint! Sean says he has a future of glue sniffing ahead of him due to his love of product testing including the pink and blue paints today. It was in his hair, on his back, on the floor - guess we won't be painting again soon. That is about all for our day - hope all of you father's out there had a great day!

Back to Blogging!

Carter's first swim lesson

Carter's first movie - UP!

We've had a busy, busy week - yet again! Last week I got a major surprise with the arrival of Katie & Kara - thanks so much for coming girls, it was great to see you. I think I've been speechless surprised twice in my life now - once when my dad arrived in San Antonio in September of 2001 - we'd moved there in May and if I wasn't homesick enough 9/11 hit and made me want to move back into my parents basement & then waalaa - my dad arrived at Hills & Dales! Well K & K being here last Friday was about as shocking - as I turned to say hello to Sean and had friends too! We had a great weekend of doing mostly girl stuff & went out and stayed at Bricktown on Sat. night - such a nice treat for us to get out & leave the boys with their Mimi, and Sunday brought pedicures. Thanks, Mimi!

They were spoiled by Mimi - we went to Toys R Us (enough said, right?) we took Carter to his first movie - we saw UP! - he was a bit frightened and said a few times that he was scared and that we should leave but once he sat down on my lap he seemed a little better - I think the noise and the dogs in the movie were a bit much for him. He told Sean yesterday that he wants to go see Ice Age with him - so I think we will be sending them on that adventure soon. Carter also started swimming lessons last week - I'm not sure why his class isn't called something like "getting into the water" because that is most of what they do but I guess it is a start. He did wonderfully on Monday, horribly on Tuesday and better on Wednesday and Thursday - we will see what next week brings.

Linc of course would really like to be in swimming lessons as well - it is a bit of a challenge to keep him out of the water so I've been the mean mommy and put him in the stroller to keep him contained. He has recently figured out how to hide in our bathroom cabinets - he and Carter thought this was amazingly fun last week and spent a lot of time in and out of them - which is fine when my makeup isn't in there but is strictly prohibited when it is - because Mr. Helpful (Lincoln) has a tendency to make a mess with makeup - he's tried on mascara many times, loves to get his hands in lipstick and my personal fav - opens the mineral blush and spills it all over (we had a jammie fatality this week due to that little move). They boys were also helpful enough yesterday to turn on the lights in my car & now I have a dead battery so we are STUCK at home this morning! Really, stuck. They were also up at 5:30 so we are going to have a long morning.

Yesterday the boys painted alligators for daddy for Father's day - Linc got more paint on himself than the actual gator but Carter was meticulous in getting every inch (except the belly, which I had to convince him was supposed to be white) painted red. We then wrapped them up to give to daddy - when Sean got home, however, Carter opened the package and took his alligator back to play with so of course Linc did the same - guess they aren't yet schooled in the art of gift giving? That is about all from here, just your typical busy raising boys kind of week with some unexpected visitors & a Mimi!

We are still here!

Linc's slam dunk - with a tennis ball of course Foosball

First time on roller skates

First time being the driver (watch out Grandpa's truck!)

My handy-girl skills - putting together shelving for C's closet, I did have to take it apart 1 time but it is together the right way now!

I guess we've been busy - it has been 2 weeks since I've blogged or even blog surfed! We've been keeping plenty busy with lots of trips to the park, some swim dates and playing outside of course. The boys are LOVING having Grandpa's truck in our driveway and go to check on it from time to time, Carter told Sean last week that maybe Grandpa would want to just leave it here and use it from time to time, I think Sean would be ok with that too! Carter is also quick to tell everyone that his Grandpa needed a new truck because his old one is DISGUSTING or sometimes he says 'sgusting.

We had a fun birthday party to attend last night, they had all sorts of fun toys for the boys (and Sean) to enjoy, Carter tried to skate for the first time, I of course had to tell Sean how I used to be so good and he of course had to doubt this - but really I was good - I had a whole basement to skate in when I was younger and spent many, many hours skating around listening to music. Happy 5th Birthday to Carson!

I've nearly wrapped up my MOMS Club presidency, and have been spending lots of time trying to make sure everything is in order to turn over the the new board. It feels good to be almost done (all except the finishing touches on the annual report) and thus may have more time to blog soon!