Father's Day

We had a very fun and busy day on Father's Day this year! We went over to Grandma Cruise's house and played with Daddy. Andrew came over too! We are very lucky to have such a good Daddy in our family.

After we played and ate some pizza, it was time for church. Daddy got to go home on watch the race since it was Father's Day. After church, we headed to the cemetery to visit Grandpa Cruise. June 21 is also his birthday. Grandma, Aunt Cassie, and Aunt Shelley had his grave all decorated with balloons and flowers. It looked awesome. Each of the children colored a rock to leave at grandpa's grave. They worked hard and made some really nice rocks.

As you can see, Nolan didn't limit his coloring to only the rock...he colored himself pretty well too!

We had a very nice visit.

When we returned home, it was pretty late. Natalie made Daddy a very nice card. My favorite part was where it said "thank you daddy for teaching me to make a peanut butter open in the palm of my hand"...and "remember when we rode the 4 wheeler together"...so stinkin' sweet!


Kendall learned and sang daddy a Father's Day song. She is singing it to him in this picture.


Nolan gave Daddy big snuggles. He is the best Daddy ever, we love you.
Happy Father's Day!!!

Hillbilly Teeth

Check these goofball out!!!

They're somehow still adorable even with hillbilly teeth!!!

Nolan's Final Birthday Bash

Now that June is coming to an end, we finally are finished celebrating Nolan's 3rd birthday (1 party is just never enough). We went over to Gammy's house for pizza and presents. Aunt Dani and Uncle Chris came, too.

Nolan got many nice gift from Gammy, Great-Grandma, and Gree. He got a big bubble maker, a puzzle, rocket balloons, a rocket launcher, and his favorite: a remote control ATV (4 wheeler). What a hit that present was, I have recharged the batteries 3 times already!

After he opened his gifts, it was time to check some of his new toys out!!! First toy: the ATV!

Everyone had a chance to play with the ATV. It was a really fun toy ( even for the adults).

Next, we tried out Nolan's new rocket launcher (compliments of Gree). What a great toy the rocket launcher was, too! Everyone had a nice time making the rocket blast off. It went really high. You can see it in the picture, it's the blue and red blur in the tree above Dani's head.

Gammy also bought each of the children washcloths. In order to turn them into washcloths, you have to soak them in water.

Ta-Dah! It was a really fun project, thanks Gam!

Time for brownies (still warm)!!!

Happy Birthday Nolan(and yes, now it's really over until next year)!!!

Random Pics

I'm due for a random pics blog, and so...here it is. I figured I better empty my hard drive since Community Days, camping, and Mom and Dad's vacation are right around the corner!

Pudding Face

Wii Sing-it American Idol Edition: Look out Simon, I've got some stars up in here!

Gammy and Gampy at the softball game

Aunt Dani posing for a picture

Happy Faces!!!

Trying out the 4-wheeler...I think we should start him on something smaller perhaps.

Natalie playing with her cousins

Another Happy Face (I have to say this one is a little scary)

A paper bag puppet show called "Gramma Mustache and The Little Girl Who Lived Alone" performed by Natalie, Kendall, and Nolan...it was somewhat ridiculous, but fun none the less. I am mildly concerned about their choice of title, too.


Nolan seems to think he can climb this HUGE tree...he tried for about 30 minutes. I have to respect his determination.

A BBQ With Friends

This Sunday, we enjoyed an awesome cookout with out friends Jenn, Sam, Grace, and Alex. The weather was perfect and the company was great!!!

Jenn and Sam

Grace

Jenn and Alex

The men cooked the food while the children waited (impatiently) to swim...look at Nolan trying to sneak in the pool.

We ate hotdogs, hamburgers, salad, fruit, chips, and juice...yummy, yummy!!! The men did a nice job on the grill.

Finally, it was time to swim...can you tell by this pic that the water was a little cold? That never seems to stop my kids, eventually, they adjusted and had a ton of fun!

The ladies sat by the pool and chatted...

The men sat by the other side of the pool and chatted (they also helped a lot with the kids).

The kids hung out in the backyard and played...it was really great!

When Alex woke up from his nap, it was time for dessert.

We had cookies and brownies...then it was time to go home. It was so fun that we decided that we would go camping together soon...can't wait!
Thanks Sam and Jenn!!!

A Recorder Concert

On Thursday, the entire 3rd grade class at Big Flats Elementary School put on a recorder concert. It was really good!!! The school has a recorder Karate program. The children earn "karate belts" (a piece of embroidery floss tied to the end of their recorders). Each song they conquer (they are individually tested) they earn a different colored belt.

Natalie has a purple belt...here is how she earned it:
White Belt: Hot Cross Buns
Yellow Belt: Gently Sleep
Orange Belt: Merrily We Roll Along
Green Belt: It's Raining
Purple Belt (she passed her test the day of the concert): Old McDonald

The concert was great and I was so proud!!!

After the concert, I took the opportunity to get some photos of Natalie and her favorite teachers.
This is Miss Williams, she is Natalie's 3rd grade teacher. She's amazing, I hope Kendall and Nolan have her too!

This is Mrs Felli, she has helped Natalie with reading throughout several grades.

This is Mrs. Decker. She helped Natalie last year, she's awesome!!!