Cora's 1st Real Hair Cut

A while back - like when she was 15 months (I think) - Lacey trimmed up the back of Cora's hair.  It was looking like a 'mullet' so she literally pulled it down in the back and cut.  Simple. 

Since then, Cora's hair has really grown in nicely.  She's got a good head of hair!   Over the past couple weeks, we've been complaining that the front lays in her eyes (when not in piggies or a whale), so I finally called Abby (Ryan's cousin).  (We didn't go with Lacey just because she's so darn busy...  Abby could get us in right away).  

Cora did well.  At first, she sat on the little booster seat really well.  Looked around...  then Abby started playing with her hair, and the whining started.  ha.  Quick.  So I just had Cora sit on my lap...  which is fine, however, Cora didn't want to wear the smock.  SO...  we were COVERED in hair.  Yuk.  But she sat, she watched, she listened.  Success.  Abby did great - she basically cut it so it's all one length.  It should continue to grow really nice.

:)

Before!

Before!  (including some food and sunscreen in her hair!)

After (All clean!)

After!  Bangs look nice.

More Backyard stuff... and Weekend

Ok, so I had said that our backyard was complete... with the trees.  Well - I lied.  :)  We had ordered some landscaping lights from our friend Mike (which I forgot about - ugh)...  but they came in Friday.  Friday night we went out to El Rodeo (yummo - hadn't been there in over a month!), then we came home and thought we'd try to start on the lighting.  Kayson was a great help.  We all were sweating (minus Cora).  We worked until it was dark...  and then the lights (only one worked) didn't work.  EEK.  Ryan has done these wired lights before, and knew it wouldn't happen the first go around...  so we stepped away, and went to bed.  

Digging for the wire... yes, I did help! :)

Kayson helping dig!

The 1 that worked.  ha.

Finished product.  We LOVE it!!!

Saturday morning Ryan and Cora hung out...  and finished the lights - they work!!  :)  Kayson and I went and got his hair cut.  Then he had his last swim lesson.  (He did his 2nd week of lessons this week... and he did great - he's really getting the hang of it).  Friday's had to be cancelled, so we finished up Saturday morning.  I'm bummed that we are done... only because I think he was really enjoying it and realizing that he CAN do it.  It's just going to take some time.  He really liked this teacher this time too. 

Anyway, we got home... had lunch and just played around the rest of the day.  Cora took a rest, then we headed out to the mall.  We got Kayson some pants and a few long sleeved tops to start off.  We realized that he didn't really need a bunch of new short sleeved stuff or shorts... so we just did a few things.  More shopping will happen this fall when it gets cooler.  We picked up a cool pair of shoes too.  He loves them!  

Saturday night we got Cora to bed early... she's been fighting a terrible snotty nose, and awful whiny.   Kayson and us hung out outside for awhile... enjoying our lights on the patio!  :)  It was a beautiful evening.  

And then today was another great day - minus Cora being up at 5:45.  :(  Again - snotty nose and super whiny.  I'm really hoping we can get over this by the end of the week.  I don't want her sick with other people and not her Mommy and Daddy.  She actually ended up taking a snooze at 9:30 this morning.  Around 11:00, we headed out to a park nearby and met up with a bunch of Kayson's daycare friends and parents.  We let the kids play and play, then we grilled out.  It was so much fun for the kids, and us adults.  We had such a nice time.  

We were home around 2:30 - Cora took ANOTHER rest... Kayson watched a movie... Ryan mowed... and I cleaned.  

Both kids were asleep by 8:10 tonight.  TIRED kids.  

Hoping for a quick and smooth week.  Ryan will be gone...  then we leave early Saturday morning for San Diego.  I'm a little nervous, but excited too. 

Trees

Our backyard is finally complete!!!!

Two trees were purchased and planted today!  They are awesome and I hope they live!! :)

River Burch

Canada Red Chokecherry

Kindergarten in 3 Weeks

Yes, you read it right...  our son will be in Kindergarten in 3 weeks.  THREE WEEKS.  EEEEEk.  I remember thinking about all of this about a year ago...  then more when he 'graduated' from Pre School...  and now even more - like every evening!  

We ordered school supplies through the school...  they offer this, so we actually don't have to go out and buy all the random stuff (and ensure that we get exactly what they expect).  I thought this was a great idea - with a click of a button, it was done...  I don't have to worry about it.  But now I'm thinking - maybe we should have went school supply shopping so Kayson would have known what it was like and all that...!??!!  Uh, bad parents moment?!  I don't know?  

He needs some new clothes...  or at least some for the fall.  He definitely needs new shoes (this kid tears up shoes!)  So this weekend we are going to do a little shopping.   Along with that, I think we just need to sit down with him and explain some more to him.  Gosh I hope this goes well!  

Along with those thoughts tonight, we go to San Diego in a week.  I am really excited about it, now that it's closer, but I also have lots to do/prep for.  I want to make sure everything is handled and organized for the kids (and for my sister and Ryan's parents).  I'm a planner, and you can't take that away from me!  ha.  :) 

So...  we have this weekend somewhat 'free', next weekend we'll be in San Diego, then the following weekend we'll be wrapping stuff up for a big week for Kayson... and planning for Cora's birthday party... and probably just snuggling with our kids!  Why does the time go so fast?!

She's ALMOST 2

I'm finding tonight to be a rough night...  1) I'm exhausted... my neck and back are tired!!  and 2) my beautiful, feisty, loving, and ORNERY little girl will be 2 in less than a month.

She's really changing...  I think I say this every month, but it's really true.  She's talking more and more every day.  (Still won't say much when we are around others, but when we are home - in her comfort zone - this girl talks!)  I can't even list out all the words she says... it's a lot!

Cora is showing a lot of interest in the potty.  Daycare introduced this about 2 months ago...  at the same time, I told them that we wouldn't be doing anything at home...  so we'd just go with the flow.  Over the past 2 weeks, she's been telling us when she needs to potty.  She'll go to the potty chair and she goes.  She wipes herself and claps when done.  Daycare totally gets props for this!!  :)  It's pretty exciting.

Cora definitely is a Momma's girl.  She loves me, she wants me to hold her and be with her.  From time to time, this is hard - and I realize it's just a phase (as Kayson did the same thing).  I also really try to soak this in as well...  she's almost 2, then she'll be almost 4 and then 10 before I know it.  I'm really having a hard time seeing her grow up so quickly.  She's my baby. 

She's a little over 30 pounds.

She loves shoes.  She loves her shoes, she loves mine, and she loves brothers.  It's pretty funny.   And her feet STINK!!!

We've decided to have a Princess birthday party.  It makes me laugh, cuz she's really not a princess at all...  but she LOVES Princess'!  I'm anxious to see what she thinks of the few things we have for decorations.  

I love this little girl so much.  It's so hard to believe that 2 years ago I was huge and hot!!  I'm so thankful for her in our lives and bringing so much joy to our family.

2 weeks old

Almost 2

Long Family Reunion

My family - My Mom's side (her maiden name is Long), had a week long family gathering this past week.  Why a week?!  Well - my Mom's twin sister and all of her family live in Arizona, so they made the trip worth their while - not just coming for a couple days.  Some of them arrived in Iowa Monday, the rest on Tuesday.  The 'gathering' started in Cedar Rapids, where my Mom's other sister lives.  They had a good time there - hanging out - doing a trampoline place for the kids - and canoeing at a lake.  

Ryan, the kids and I headed up to Clarion - as everyone was meeting there on Thursday.  We got settled, then the Arizona folks came out to the farm...  we played and played for about 4 hours straight!!  Tractors - 4 wheeler - running - and skipping rocks at the river.  NON STOP!  :)

Thursday night we all met up for pizza... then we let the kids play at the park for a couple hours.  Again, they all played so hard!!    We eventually got the kiddos home...  a late night (which ended up being the 'routine' for the couple nights we were home).  Cora was already all out of sorts!!!  :(

4 Wheeler rides!

Kayson & Luke became buddies!

Tractor pic!

Cora LOVES Cocoa!

The boys... and Cora...  skipping rocks.

We found this funny...  Hope & Eden matched Ryan.  Cora & I matched Greg.

The adults... playing.  :)

Friday was the official reunion.  We all met at the lake outside of Clarion - food, fun and just a day of being outside.  We had a shelter for a cooler place... and we could eat in there.  Ryan helped grill and he did great.  It was a beautiful day.

Kayson biffed it shortly after taking this picture...

Hope & me

Yes...  flexing our muscles.  :)

The Hardy's.  (Minus Jeff & Greg)

All the 2nd Cousins - with me (cuz Cora wouldn't let me put her down)

A little rock throwing... and fishing happened as well.

K and Ryan

Cora looks a lot like Jill (Jill was almost 2 1/2)

Ash and her favorite Aunts.  :)

Kayson did amazing all day long...  we barely saw him all day - he really had fun with his cousins, and 2nd cousins.  They just played all day.  He was filthy!   Cora had a rough day...  it was a lot of people she wasn't familiar with (who all wanted to talk and play with her) and she wasn't having it!  :)  We did get her to sleep for about 20 minutes, which obviously was not enough.  But as long as she was with me or Ryan, she really was happy...  but definitely a VERY long day for her.  I felt bad.  

We took a small break around 5 pm - went back to the farm and got cleaned up a little.  Then back to the park...  we had left overs, and then we went to Monette & Gary's (cousins) camper at the lake.  We just relaxed and hung out.  It was a beautiful night. 

Saturday we met up with everyone again...  had lunch, then took the kids swimming.  It was a chilly day (sun only popped out a couple times!).  All the Arizona folks were FREEZING!  Funny.  Following swimming, we all had some quiet time.  We finally got Cora to take a nap that lasted longer than 20 minutes!  Kayson had some quiet time as well.  Saturday night we had Ashley, Lindsay, Ryan and Eden watch all the kids at the park...  while the adults went out for pizza and beer.  It was nice to not have to 'deal' with Cora being on my hip and just being able to talk.  We had such a great time.  We got the kids... then all had ice cream, and we finally pulled out of Clarion around 8:30.  

Ethan, Ryan & K

Cora with my cousin's husband, Scott.  He has two boys... and I believe he would love to have a little girl.  :)

Most of the kiddos at the frozen yogurt shop!

We really had a great time.  I'm very lucky to have the family I do...  and blessed to have Ryan enjoy himself as well.   There was talk of getting the adult cousins together for a Vegas trip next year.  So we'll see if that gets planned!  I hate Vegas, but if I'm going to see my cousins from Arizona, I'll be there.  :)

We all got back to 'normal' today.  The kids slept til after 9 today (proven fact that they sleep best in their own beds!)  :)  And so do Ryan and I!  We've done this and that all day today - Kayson had a birthday party to attend, laundry was done, cleaned a little, picked up the dogs from the kennel... and finally bed for the kids.  I am hoping for a quick week!  :)  I'm already thinking about next weekend!

T-Ball 2014 (Last Game)

We are officially finished with T-Ball.  Last night was our last game -- and it was a COLD one!  The wind was brutal.  All the Mom's were freezing!  :)  Anyway, it was a longer season than expected, due to a few rainouts/postponed games.  We made up a few of them, but I still don't think we made them all up.  And that's ok!  ha.  It really was fun... and Kayson really did enjoy himself.  We are super pleased with how he did - paying attention, having fun (still being a 5 year old kid!), being a pretty quick runner, improving with his throwing and even caught some!, and doing pretty well hitting.  (Still that non aggressive part of him comes out - and he just doesn't go after it!)  :)

Anyway, it was fun... and we are done!  I anticipate doing this next year for sure.  

Ready to run!!

at 1st Base

Our "Giant"

This & That

I can't believe it's Sunday afternoon already...  
We've had a nice weekend...  Friday was Ryan's 35th birthday.  Kayson wanted to take him to Cherry Berry.  ha.  We got pizza at Gusto, where both kids didn't eat all that well (Cora - ate nothing actually), then we were off to Cherry Berry.  Good parents right here!

I think Ryan had a nice birthday...  always seems like it's just another day...  but we tried to spoil him.  Not sure if he agreed!  :)

Saturday we slept in - 8:20 for everyone!!  I'm thrilled how well the kids have been sleeping lately, but sure makes the weekdays hard to get them up at 6:30!  That morning we went and picked out a couple trees for our backyard.  Done - and they'll be delivered and planted in a week or so!  We are really looking forward to having our backyard DONE!  :)  Ryan and Kayson did an errand... I put Cora down for a nap... and I cleaned like crazy.  (I look at the house now, and it doesn't look like I cleaned, but I did!)  Ryan mowed in the terrible heat and humidity...  boo!  Saturday evening we went and got groceries and then hung out in the backyard with Jess and Lex.  It was a great little evening!

Today Ryan and Kayson went with Mike and JeanAnn to help move Blair and Martina...  they have everything packed, so they were loading the trucks!  Hot, busy day for them!  Cora and I did some errands this morning, she was pretty darn good for me too.  She just layed down for a nap, and I'm going to sit on the deck!  :)

Our super strong boy!

Piggy tails!!

My little shopper!

Sunday and the Rest of the Week

The last few days have just flown by... I've been busy on my own at home and lots going on at work. 

First things first - Sunday, our beautiful niece, Landry, was baptized.  It was a great service, and then we enjoyed some time (actually the LAST time) at Blair and Martina's home in Nevada.  (They move NEXT WEEK!)  It was a nice day... Landry is very blessed!  And if you can't tell by the next picture - she's not loved at all.  ha.  The big cousins and brother ALL wanted to hold her.  This was our attempt to get her in the picture - all kids touching her - and her not being dropped!! 

She wore Martina's baptismal dress - so special.

So that was our Sunday... 
Monday Ryan headed to Illinois...  and we were back to our normal routine.  I think we were all ready!  My Monday turned 'south' nearly the instant I got to work.  A teammate of mine was fired Monday morning...  leaving us in some surprise, but also not (bad performance)...  and then leaving us in some panic of knowing how much work myself and my other teammate will be taking on until the position is filled.  It's been a very crazy week thus far...  my brain hurts!  :)

Tuesday evening was Kindergarten Event Night!!  It was a night for the parents and kiddos to go to the school and get acquainted and learn some more information.  With Ryan out of town, I asked Nicky and Avery to stay with Cora...  and it's a good thing.  There's no way I would have been able to concentrate with her with me!  The kids were taken to a couple classrooms for reading, and some fun... and the parents met in the Library with the Principal, Asst. Principal and a few teachers.  For about 50 minutes, we were thrown A LOT of information!  I tried to write stuff down!!!  But figured - "we'll figure it out - he's registered - we know when to go - we'll be good!!"  I hope!  It's exciting.  

From the Event Night, they provided us with 75 words (basic/sight words) saying that these words would be words that the kids will learn within the first couple weeks/months of being in school.  Tonight, I wanted to see how many Kayson knew.  He knew about 90% of them!!  I was thrilled - so proud... and truly amazed and so thankful for his teachers.  

It's been a pretty good week.  Ryan should be home tomorrow night... then he's got a birthday Friday!!

See his tiny mo-hawk?  ah.

at Maple Grove Elementary - Waukee

He's OUT - but what the heck is that position?!?!

No pictures of Cora - all of the recent ones are her looking SO dirty.  ha. 

Happy 4th of July!

We had a great 4th of July...  going to the zoo in the morning...  naps were taken, then we packed up and headed to Centennial Park in Waukee.  The plan had been for about 5 families to show up for food, fun and playing, but it ended up only being 2 families!  Jess, Lex, Presley and Dax joined us, and we had a very nice time...  We found a great little spot in the shade (which ended up being chilly after awhile!!!)...  the kids played on the playground right next to us, and we just enjoyed ourselves.  Such a nice night.  The park has live music, food, and inflatables for the kids...  so the kids had a blast for sure!  

We grilled out and then close to 8:30 we decided to pack up and just take it back to our house...  Jess and Lex got their kiddos to bed...  we kept our monsters up, which was fine...  especially since it's 8:45 this morning and they are BOTH still sleeping!  :)  Late night for those kiddos!  Anyway, we were able to see the fireworks from Des Moines Golf... we sat in Jess and Lex's driveway, and it was perfect.  Bed happened directly after!  It was a great end to the afternoon/evening.  A great little day!

My little firecrackers!

I love how Cora is constantly looking at her brother.

Some sparkler fun!