Catch-up

Catch-up post! Instead of making tons of small posts, I figured I'd just cram all the miscellaneous pictures from the last month into one. Here we go!

Lance found a fuzzy caterpillar one day in August that served as good entertainment for both him and Jude. 

We finally found a good tree for him to live in and let him go.

The weekend before school started in August, the Elmers invited us over for some s'mores in the backyard.

Aric and George nursing the fire.

George was "no-nonsense" and got out his blow torch.

It worked.

The Glasses and the Elmers. The Petersons came a little later.

Jayden helping Jude with his marshmallow.

Me and Jude

It was a lot of fun. It's nice to have such great neighbors!

Lance started school August 24th. That same day was playgroup at a local park. I'm supposed to walk a dog named Rockne every Monday and Wednesday, so instead of our walk, I brought him along to the park.

As you can tell, he was a huge hit with the kids. They all wanted to feed him their lunches--Rockne was in heaven.

We went to the Mall one day to kill some afternoon time.

We of course HAD to stop at the "horsey ride". What goofs!

Jude being silly. 

Best buddies! Bennett, Cameron, and Jude all hung out one day at Jamie's house. We love having our friends so close!

Our hammock is always a favorite with the kids and on any sunny day when it's out, there are bound to be multiple children swinging.

In the mornings after Jude wakes up, he likes to get into bed with me and George. It's NOT snuggle time in the least--more like "let's turn Mom and Dad into a jungle gym" time. 

It's a great way to wake up every morning.

Labor Day rolled around and Scott came into town to spend time with Lance. It looked like rain, but they still got out their bikes and not only went for a ride around our neighborhood, but went trail riding as well!

Riding around the parking lot. Nice helmet, Lance!

Scott showing Lance how to corner.

Father and son.

After their trail ride, they came back to our house, Lance bathed, and then they went out to eat and bowl. Lance LOVES to go bowling and had a great time!

 

 Strike!

Jude and Bennett have a new favorite thing: trains! They both love their "choo choos" and I introduced Jude to the world of "Thomas the Tank Engine" a couple weeks ago. He was hooked.

Enjoying a snack while watching Thomas.

Jude trying to straighten his hair--just like Mommy!

Jude just being silly one day. He was rubbing a grape all over his head. I think he was tired...

The weekend before Lance's Birthday, we were all up in Ashburn and got to spend some good time with our families.

Jude and Mason making as much noise as they could with wooden spoons.

Cousins.

Mason is cutting teeth, but the funny thing is that his "fangs" or eye teeth came in before his front teeth did, so for a while he looked like a little vampire. I'm kind of sad his front teeth have made an appearance. He would have made a cute vampire for Halloween.

Jude's favorite person has got to be Pop Pop. It was a real treat for him to get a ride on the lawn mower with Pop Pop while we were visiting.

You can't really tell, but Jude was happy.

That weekend Lance also got his birthday present from his dad--a new bike! This one has hand brakes and even gears! The took it for a test run on some trails.

I can't believe how grown up he is!

While they were riding, Lance spotted a tortoise they helped off the main path.

 Stud. 

And finally, I took these pictures about a week ago at Church. Sacrament meeting was almost over (I think they were singing the closing song) and I was, as usual, out in the hallway with Jude who just could not sit still. I feel almost guilty posting these pictures because not only were the kids not being reverent, their mother was taking their picture while they misbehaved. You know, sometime you just need to have some fun, right?

Jude and Bennett.

Lance setting a bad example. :)

Crazy boys. Crazy, crazy boys.

Looking at these pictures, it reminds me just how wonderful life really is. I cannot imagine a better place to be than in my home with my own family. Each day that goes by really is another day in Paradise.