Fun times in IOWA!

This past weekend we took a little road trip to Iowa for some fun times with grandparents, great grandmas, aunts, uncles, and friends! Here's a pic with Wyatt and his Grandma and Papa roasting marshmallows at the fire pit and enjoying some s'mores! Surprisingly, we had a short break from the 110 degree summer heat wave and finally got some cooler evenings to actually sit by a fire!

Wyatt loved roasting (or should I say charring!) marshmallows for everyone! Oopsies--I think this one caught fire. Papa was quick to the rescue!

Guess who got to eat the BLACK marshmallow??? Me, of course! How could I resist...it was toasted with love!

We tried to keep our rowdy boys OUTSIDE in hopes of not destroying Grandma's 'pretties'!!! So the boys had fun playing football..

I think he's a LEFTY!

and playing with the new stomp rocket... a fav at Grandma and Papa's house!

and pulling things out of Grandma's flower garden! Isaac LOVES ducks. It's so cute to hear him say quack-quack.

Wyatt cleared the chocolate icing off of his donut!

Here's a couple new of my favorites of Isaac!

Saturday we got to spend the day with Uncle John and Aunt Sandy! We had not seen them since last May when Isaac was just 4 months old... this trip we got to introduce them to our newest four-month-old, Micah Jay!

Uncle John and Isaac were very good buddies!

Uncle John is pretty hands on and loves to wrestle so he completely won Isaac over!

A little lovin' from Grandma!

Meeting the great grandmas--Grandma Barb!

and Grandma Surber!

Sunday we got to celebrate Grandpa's Birthday with him!!!!!

And here are a few 'candid' shots of our sweet little fellas!

Lastly, here's Ike man playing peek-a-boo!

I think this might have been the only time we saw Isaac smiling on the trip home. The trip to Iowa was fabulous, but this little man wanted nothing to do with being in his carseat on the way back to KC. I think I still have some ringing in my ears from all of the high pitched screaming. His poor brothers were troopers and somehow were able to just tune him OUT! : ) We might not be taking another road trip until Isaac can communicate with words. But wait, then Micah will be filling in his spot with screaming!

Newborn Favs!

I think we'll be staying put in this house long enough to make it worth my effort in getting a picture wall put together! So as I've been filtering through all the photos to decide which to order, I had to post a few of my newborn favs! These photos bring back many sweet memories! I'm so glad we made the investment to have these photos taken... Now I'll have them on my wall to look at every day as my boys continue to grow!!! Enjoy..

March, 2008 Fam of 3 January, 2010 Fam of FOUR April, 2011 My 3 little fellas Fam of 5

Three short years, three amazing blessings! My cup runneth over...

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Sleepy little Hawkeye...

...But not for long!

Happy 33rd Birthday, Joe! Our boys thought their Hawkeye gear would bring you a smile today. We can't wait to see you this weekend. We'll be sure to eat some 'pupcakes' in your honor today!!! : ) Your lil Hawkeyes miss you and send lots of love your way...

Thanks for our DARLING outfits, Crile Clan!!!!

Isaac is 18 Months!

Here's my little sunbeam at 18 months! Isaac is really turning into a toddler now! He's lost the chubby cheeks and most of his baby fat and is turning into such a handsome young man. I call him my 'pretty boy' only because I could see him being quite a pretty little girl with those baby blues and and a bright pink bow in that blonde hair! : ) But this little man loves to get DIRTY and knows how to hold his own... there's certainly nothing girly about him!

There's just something about this face that lights up my days! Isaac is so affectionate--he gives the best hugs and sweet love pats (and loves to pull hair too!). He loves to play and smile, laugh and be silly. He loves people and is Mr. Friendly.

I'm having a hard time initiating consistent discipline with this boy! I just find him to be so funny! He does (almost) everything with a happy heart and a great big smile! But as the saying goes, "When they are old enough to defy then they are old enough to comply!" Even though his vacab is very minimal, he understands EVERYTHING, so I know it's time to start enforcing some rules! I might just have to close my eyes while trying to correct him so I'm not tempted to laugh and totally nullify a teachable moment! : )

When Wyatt is at school or temporarily out of the house there are 2 things Isaac LOVES to play with... Wyatt's 'star wars' hat and his pop gun from Bass Pro. I'm learning to start buying things in 2's so everyone can play together...but for now, Isaac is pretty proud of his time with big bro's favorite items.

Isaac is learning to be reverent. It is the SWEETEST image ever when I open my eyes during a bedtime prayer or before a meal to see him with his hands together and head down. He is so precious!

My boys are finally becoming buddies! It seems like it has taken forever for them to actually be able to play. They are beginning (emphasis on beginning!) how to share with one another and control their strength and emotions, BUT we're seeing a friendship develop between Wyatt and Isaac! There are 3 ultimate goal we have for our boys... Salvation being #1, Friendship among them#2, and respect for others! It is definitely a celebration of grace when we see them moving towards any one of the three!

Isaac has a pretty strong affection for little miss Macy Hope! He just can't take his eyes (or hands for that matter!) off of her... it is the cutest to see them together. But Macy holds her own and lets him know when enough is enough. I love to see their interaction!

So fun for them to get to be in the same church and grow up together. If this mama has any say in the matchmaking process... I vote for Macy (I've always thought Macy McCulley had a nice ring!) A match made in heaven. Look at those CURLS!

Isaac is now 26.5 lbs (58%) and 33.75 in tall (85%)