First Day of School

Nolan and Nash were both scheduled to start school on Wednesday.  Sunday night we went to Nolan's meet and greet and the preschool.  Monday night, we went to Nash's meet and greet for first grade.

Unable to contain their excitement with the Youngs

Nolan did great when I dropped him off for his second year of pre school on Wednesday morning.  A little apprehensive but no tears, from either of us.  Hooray for us.  

Nash's first day looked like this...

Stomach bug

But he was back in action for day 2!!!

Praying for an awesome year for these guys!

TUG FEST

Fun times at Tug Fest this year.  The boys are all getting old enough to enjoy the rides now so we got wrist bands on Thursday night.  They ran into so many of their friends and had such a great time.  The weather was perfect.

Friday evening was the parade and fireworks.  Nyle and I watched the parade with friends.   Jason, Nash and Nolan were in the parade this year!  We grilled out with friends before taking in the fireworks.  Another great night.

Nyle Steven is TWO!

Goo Goo on his birthday

Birthday dinner selfie

Birthday Face Time with Annika Phi and Grama Jo

My baby is officially 2 years old.  We celebrated a few days later with a "big truck" birthday party with family.  We have construction going on in our neighborhood so all summer we have been watching the dump trucks drive by.  Nyle gets pretty excited when he sees them so we thought a truck party would be perfect.  He loved it.

Lets get this party started!

birthday boy

Nyle and Claire

He is settling into his role of being two quite nicely.  He has a ton of energy and wants to do everything his big brothers do.  This has led to me carrying his 30 pound self kicking and screaming on several occasions and likely a few years off of my life I'm sure.  He has an amazing laugh.  He is a picky eater and will probably turn into a hot dog one of these days.  Or a bowl of mac n cheese.  He loves to ride his tricycle and play with bubbles.  I think he also loves to bounce the basketball into the street and watch me chase after it.  My little sweetheart.  Social.  Fearless.  Fun.  Love him.  One of my favorite things is when he looks up at me with his arms outstretched saying, "Carry you."  I will, as long as you will let me Buddy.  Or until my biceps give out.  You are so loved and such a blessing to this family.

River Rats for the Day

Our new neighbors, the Deines family, invited us out on the river for the day.  The Schlicksups also joined us.  10 kids in these three families so it was sure to be an adventure!

Nyle soaking up the sun

Nolan ready for a sneak attack

Buddies:  Noah, Kaleb and Nash

Mya, Tony and Nyle

Kaleb and Nash

Mia, Nyle and Rose

Jason and Nolan (and the best corn on the cob!)

Such a great time!

Chicagoland Getaway

We took off Saturday morning for Chicagoland to hang out with my college roommate and her family.  Erin and Fred had their second boy a few weeks before we had Nyle and we had not met him yet.  We had so much fun playing outside, grilling out, visiting Legoland, and having scones at the park.  I can't wait until our next adventure.

Nash

Cal and Nolan

Erin and me

Nolan, Nash, Cal, Sam, and Nyle

4th of July Weekend

Traditions continue..

Parade number 1

Noah, Nash, Nolan

Nolan ready for the water fight

Nash

Will, Claire, Jason and Papa Rick loading up balloons

water parade

water parade

Nyle and Nini

Wentland boys and Toohey girls

Papa and Nana ready for the fireworks

Nash, Toohey girls, Maddox and Kennon

Another fun weekend of parades, fireworks, food, friends and family.

MS Walk 2014

This year was our second year supporting the National MS Society through Walk MS.  Our team, MS Avengers was even bigger this year and it was a great day for a walk.  I had the privilege of being selected as a co-ambassador to raise awareness with Sam.  She is a nurse who was diagnosed shortly before I was.  We got to scoop ice cream at Maggie Moos on celebrity night and Sam did an interview early one morning on TV.  We had photo shoots and interviews with some local newspapers and I did a short interview the morning of the walk for a news station.



I'm not great at being in the spot light, but it was for a great cause and I'm so thankful we were able to help surpass our goal for money raised at the walk.  I'm looking forward to helping on the walk committee next year.