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I found this really cool blog that has different blog layouts you can use for FREE! It is awsome and was really easy, even for a computer spaz like me. Here is the link http://matiekay.blogspot.com/

She has some really cute stuff. Enjoy!

Something to post

Just thought I should post something. I was looking through some pictures of my cute kids. I will have Jeff bring home his work camera and get the pictures off it so I will have something new soon.

Tyler and cousins, Emilie who is 7 and McKenzie who is 4. Notice how white my kid is?

Grandpa and Dylan

Doesn't that smile just crack ya up?

It's been a while so it's long! Sorry!

So I know it has been a while, but a three year old who will remain nameless, got a hold of the camera and it is beyond repair. I think he setting in motion my good excuse for not having very many pictures of any child after the first. I have managed to take a few pictures with Jeff's work camera when he left it at home one day, but of course I didn't download them quick enough and the camera hasn't been brought back yet. So for now, a quick word update will have to do.

The best thing that has happened at our house over the last couple of weeks has been that my little man Dylan is pulling himself up and standing! He is even finally mobile and doing the speedy army crawl and the back and forth on all fours. I am so proud and just have to remember that he will do everything in his own time (just like his dad) and not compare him, especially to Tyler. He is still the cutest little thing, with a massive amount of hair that sticks straight up. Everywhere we go people say "Oh wow! Look how cute he is and look at that hair!" They all then proceed to pet him, and I am almost surprised that it all hasn't fallen out because so many people (strangers) touch it. Another great thing is that him and Tyler are really starting to interact. Tyler is getting a little better at sharing and even being gentle. They laugh back and forth at each other and it is a lot of fun to watch.

Another great thing is that Tyler is back to school. Tuesdays and Thursdays are finally a little more peaceful between 9 and 2. He couldn't have started back any sooner. There were some days that I was starting to think it was either going to be me or him. Don't get me wrong those days are still happening, but a little less often now. Can anyone tell me when he might start listening to me? It is funny because when he is with other people and I pick him up they tell me how wonderful he is and listens and how he is so good and even took a nap for them. Then we get home and it is the crazy whatever I want goes Tyler. He definitely won't nap for me anymore unless he is so worn out he can't stand, and the only trade off for this is that he will go to bed before 8 and then we get a quiet night. Oh well, I have learned to pick my battles and he really can be a sweet boy. I know he loves his mommy, of course more than daddy, so I guess I won't complain to much.

Well... what else do I got for you... Oh, volleyball at church has started and I am doing that. I haven't done any church sports since being a youth. Now, since I am in young womens and no one else knew anything about sports, I have been asked to be the coach. It is pretty interesting to be on the grown up coaching end. Telling them that everyone needs a chance to play and that it doesn't matter if you win or lose we are all there just to have fun and build friendships. I guess I feel bad now for all those rolled eyes I use to give my YW leaders when they use to say all that stuff or maybe I just feel old. I am also playing on the adult co-ed team and remembering how much I miss playing so it has been fun.

Okay, I have rambled on enough, Jeff is gone for the night, somewhere in south Texas dove hunting with buddies, but I do need to go to bed sometime. Hopefully I will get a new camera soon or Jeff will bring his home so we will have something to show you. Oh yeah, I did say dove hunting. Lets just say we live in Texas and I don't know... Yep.

So I have really enjoyed blogging and seeing everyone. I can't believe how everyone is growing up :) I will try to be better with ours. Love to you all!!!

SeaWorld

We went to SeaWorld in San Antonio. We road rides, played in the water, and of course saw Shamu. It was very hot, but we had a great time and by the time we went to dinner everyone was exausted.

Zilker Park

We went to Zilker Park. It is a large park in Austin with a great playscape and a small train, the Zilker Zepher, that takes a 30 minute ride through the park. We played on the playground for a while then got snowcones and road the train. We all had colored mouths and tongues that grandma thought was so funny. Even Dylan, my little heater, enjoyed cooling off with some blue flavored ice.

The Lake and Jet Skiing

We went out to Lake Travis to go jet skiing. We have had so much rain these past few months the lake is about 20+ feet above average (last year it was 20+ below average). Everyone was very safe and no one got hurt. WOOHOO!!! :)

The Dicksons Visit

The Dickson family came to Texas to visit. Julie didn't make it because she had an unexpected surgery, but she sent her family on down to have fun without her. Hopefully she got some good rest while they were away, but I know they were excited to get home to her after the long week. We did a ton of stuff, most of it included water. The weather was great for us to be outside getting wet and we all got plenty of sun. Grandpa and Grandma had a blast with all the grandkids and hopefully we can all get together again next year.

We live with a superhero, how about you?

Tyler loves putting on his superman costume. He runs around the house yelling "SUPERMAN!!!" It is hard getting him to hold still to take a picture.

Summer Fun!

It has been hot hot hot lately with 100% humidity. We are spending most of our time out back in the pool and sprinkler. Tyler's favorite thing is that whenever we use the pool we get to have a popsicle. My camera died before I could get a shot of it melted all down the front of him, maybe next time. Dylan loves the water. He likes to splash, which then encourages Tyler to splash and then Dylan doesn't like it so much. They have a lot of fun though, and it is keeping us cool. Hope you all are having a great summer too!

Did I mention I have the cutest boys ever!!!

Jumping Dylan

Dylan is 8 months now. He is a funny little guy. He actually doesn't care to do a whole lot, sitting up, reaching for toys, and maybe rolling around if he feels up to it, is about his extent. He is very observant. So, I have been trying to motivate him to do more, setting toys out of his reach, things like that, trying to get him to move around some more, like crawling. Unfortunatly he doesn't care. He will sit there for 15 plus minutes just looking around, without a budge to do anything else. Well, the other day I busted out the Johny Jumper, and he loves it. Tyler, absolutely hated it, so I didn't have very high hopes, but he really liked it. He jumps and laughs and loves being in it. My little boy that doesn't care if he does anything actually likes doing something. So it is probably silly that I am so excited that he is finally doing more than just sitting around, but Tyler was a very active baby. He stood up at eight months, walked at ten months and ran at twelve months, so this for Dylan is very exciting. Anyway, he is the cutest baby ever and I am glad we have finally found something active for him to do that he likes. Did I mention he is the cutest baby.

The last of our trip

Sorry it has taken me forever to post the last part of our trip. After this I will finally be moving on to other things in our life.

Our last few days in Michigan we went north. Mackinaw City, Mackinaw Island and the Upper Peninsula. The ride up along the coast was beautiful, we even stopped and got fresh picked cherries from a road side stand were they pointed out the exact tree that my cherries came from.

We road the boat over to Mackinaw Island. For those of you who don't know this island, let me explain a little.

No cars are allowed on the island. It is all old fashion. To get around you walk, bike, ride a horse, or take a carriage pulled by horses. We did a carriage tour, and saw everything. It is a really neat place and would be even nicer to go back to in about 20 some years, kid free. Tyler did like the boat ride, the horses, and the ice cream, but it is a lot of walking or sitting (stroller, and carriage) with not a whole lot for young kids.

One part of the island Tyler did like was the butterfly conservatory. They were all over and would land on you. They really liked Tyler and I, we had a lot of fun.

The final thing to see is the Mackinaw Bridge. This bridge is what connects the main part of Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. Pretty cool to see and drive over. Tyler applauded when we reached the other side, and said "way to go, we made it!"

These are the same words that I used when we finally made it home, after two weeks. "Way to go, we made it!" The drive home was a little rough on the kids, we spent a lot of time in car seats on this trip. The two days after we got back we didn't leave the house, just lounged around and played in the back yard.

2007 July 4th Family Photo

The Carnival

After the parade we went to the carnival down by the beach. Tyler road this motorcycle ride over and over again. He is with our friend Mandy and her baby girl Sophia. He loved going round and round making motorcyle noises. I think we have a future biker.

Jeff and I road the ferris wheel. This is Jeff's favorite ride.

We convinced Tyler that he should ride this mini rollercoaster. He had to go by himself. Lets just say we are bad parents, but he didn't cry. He looked terrified, but did not cry. What a brave little man. He then went right back to his motorcycle ride.

We stopped and got ice cream on the way home. He was so worn out he fell asleep eating it.