"Big boy" mommy-daddy date night

With all the rain we had today, 

both Ben's baseball games and my golf night were cancelled.

We decided to keep Jess (aka best babysitter ever!) to watch Brady so that 

Ben and I could take Carson to his first movie. 

We went to Shrek: The Final Chapter.

Best dinner ever for Carson!

He LOVES popcorn...and M&M's!

Some funny previews!

I wish I could say that he was this entertained by the whole movie, 

but he is TWO.

Which means free admission to a movie he will watch 15 minutes tops.

The remaining time was spent climbing rails, chairs, wandering the theater, and generally doing the opposite of what mom and dad asked. Thank goodness there were only six other people in the theater! Very glad we didn't go to the packed Toy Story movie!

After the movie we did a little shopping.

Carson modeled some different purses and hats for us 

and our friends Darcy and Teagan that we ran into at Target.

All in all, it was a very fun mommy-daddy-Carson date 

that I am VERY glad we had the chance to enjoy some time together!

Carson's growing up so much! He has such a funny personality!  

We sometimes get caught up in the hustle of life, schedules, and caring for baby brother

 that I want to stop and enjoy this adventurous toddler!

My boys

Here's some pics from Father's Day!

We enjoyed a lazy morning, said good-bye to Grandpa Jim (enjoyed the 4-day visit!), 

went golfing, and then to Iowa City for some shopping (WalMart kids supplies) and dinner. 

Enjoyed dinner at Quinton's. HUGE portions. 

Tip: Share a meal and an appetizer. PLENTY!

Mom and Carson playing with the computer's Photo Booth.

Whoa!

Tonight: My happy boys, before their haircuts.

Yes, I did cut the sides and back of Brady's hair just a few days after my Hair blog, 

but I left the top long. With these hot days, my sweaty baby's hair has been so tangled. 

Goodbye, sweet baby hair.

Just a trim for both, not ready for the summer buzz.

Aw...it looks like a heart....or maybe a wookie face?

You can see the two shades of haircolor!

No "after" pics yet, it was bath and bedtime for both!

Happy Father's Day, Ben and all Dads!

First a Dad to Carson

And then came Brady

For many years ahead, these boys will enjoy learning from you and playing with you!

We love you, Daddy!

Happy Father's Day, Grandpa Dave!

Happy Father's Day, Grandpa Jim!

Happy Father's Day, Great-Grandpa Bob!

Happy Father's Day, Great-Grandpa Phil!

Happy Father's Day, Uncle Bob!

Happy Father's Day, Uncle Dan!

We love all the Dads in our family!

Happy Father's Day to all Dads!!

Pre-Father's Day BBQ

We planned to have a day filled watching Ben's Raiders' baseball games and then a family BBQ. 

Well, all that rain squashed the baseball part. 

Hopefully, the field can recover for games next week!

We kept the BBQ on, and in worry that family may not come w/out baseball, 

extended the invite to some coaches and friends.

 2nd cousins Michael and Carson, and Cousins Chase and MacKenzie (with friends),
playing in the backyard, aka Grier Wetlands.

Thanks, Aunt Dixie, for being my photographer again!
We had a great turnout of family and friends (~40-50ppl??) invade the Knolls.
Thank you all for a fun day!

Best toys ever (yet)

Ben found this awesome set at Bass Pro Shop on our post-wedding day shopping stop.

It has a truck, trailer, 2 horses, a colt, a 4-wheeler, a wench, and a lil' farmer man ("pa").

Carson had love at first site.

He has been attached to it ever since. 

We compromise and just the 4-wheeler goes with him to daycare and everywhere.

Our other new fave is a sprinkler from WalMart.

At first he was intimidated by the sprays of the sprinkler.

But once he saw the balls and how it worked,

he was hooked!

We love summer!:)

Chelsey and Luke's Wedding--June 13

Congrats, Luke and Chelsey Bogaards!!

We had a lot of fun at your wedding!

I didn't find my camera in the diaper bag until the reception,

So I'm sad that I don't have a pic of the happy couple.

Thanks, Aunt Dixie, for taking some of these pictures for me!

Carson pulled out some moves we've never seen!

Carson and Cael were dancin' buddies.

Carson must've had a premonition of how funny mom would look in this shot.
The extended arm photo was much cuter in the high school and college years! lol

Aw, I cornered Ben into a dance.

Other Family dancing are Bill and Tammy Sutfin (left) and Julie with Cael Cheney.

The beautiful bride had a fun night!

Above, the Monte wedding tradition of 

the Cotton Eyed Joe dance.

Brady slept through a lot of the party.

Thanks, "pa"!

The Sutfin Aunts

(L-R: Rochell, Kathy, Tammy, Julie, Brenda and Cousin Mary)

(Kathy blinks again!)

Uncle Bill and Carson had lots of fun with the broom.

No pics, but hilarious watching Carson stand on the broom

 and squat sit on the handle to ride around the room!

Lake Iowa family day (2 wks ago?)

Carson had so much fun playing in the sand!

He wasn't too big a fan of swimming in the lake.

It was a little chilly, but not too bad.

We were the only family on the beach! 

So, who needs to mess with wet trunks when you can leave the wet swim diaper behind!

We also enjoyed a picnic and broke out Carson's kiddie fishing pole for fun!

Camera hog Carson!

He kept moving to block out bro from photos! 

Hello, farmer Ben! ;)

My shrinking hubby! 

He's lost a lot of weight with all his baseball activities.

I did use the umbrella to shade Brady, despite this sunny pic! 

It was a bit windy and hard to keep the umbrella in the ground!

Yay, for family fun days!

May Review

Oops! I've gotten WAY behind on blogging!  We've had a very busy spring with Baseball season getting started, school wrapping up, and lots of family activities!

MacKenzie's Christmas Gift of Taylor Swift Tickets finally became a reality on May 6th. Of course, right after this picture my camera battery died!  I have pics on my cell phone that I haven't gotten emailed over yet. This was our original view from our seats that we watched the opening acts of Gloriana and Kelly Pickler. Then a special person hooked up us with Row 2 tickets for Taylor's awesome concert. THANK YOU!!!:) You rocked our world that night! 

 Carson met Ben's cousin, Kevin, for the first time. He warmed up to him really quick with a "ride" on the dirt bike!

Grandpa Grier's lap is often filled with both boys! Carson even shares his "Eye" blanket...sometimes.

We had a fun night with lots of friends, kiddos, and pups celebrating Casey Wetjen's 30th birthday.

The boys played hard all night, but one thing could make them slow down...for a little while...LIGHTNING McQUEEN! (L-R: Bryson, Braylon, Grady Wetjen, Carson)

Even the big boys were big fans of the movie. (L-R: Clayton Steckly, Kaden Wetjen, Grant Hocker)

Happy Mothers' Day!

Mommy's gift was getting to sleep in and a day with no agenda.

We went for a drive thru the Coralville Reservoir, shopping, out for ice cream, and golfing.

Ben got me a really cute Lisa Leonard stamped charm necklace that arrived a few weeks later, with a charm for each boy, one for our dating anniversary, and one with our wedding date. Awww.

I LOVE MY BOYS!!!

Lily Andrews birthday Party at Gym Nest in Iowa City, May 23.

Blurry action shot of the birthday girl getting ready to take a leap, with Macey watching.

Above, Macey Kent and Clayton Steckly trying to move around in the foam pit, Rich helping Lily climb the rope ladder, and Ben (buried, see arm) holding Carson (center) when they took the plunge in!

Mandy and Cael Steckly entertaining Brady

Carson with Nolan, Kelly, and Macey Kent on the trampoline.

Brady was showing off his rolling over skills! He rolled over for the first time on May 22nd!

The Dads had plenty of fun at the Gym Nest, too. Ben led the way of their tumbling antics, daring all to try to springboard flip onto the big mat. Above, Rich didn't quite make it. Sorry to share, but it was a fun action shot!

After all that playing, Carson devoured a bag of Cheetos

whoa!

Again, I need to get the photos from my phone. Macey and Nolan joined us at the Baseball field and the three had SO much fun playing in the dirt pile, they were caked in red mud! First stop at our house was a quick change into swim diapers and a run through the sprinklers!  Then, into the tub! I cropped out the bodies, but you could hardly see them anyways with how dirty that bathwater was! Nothing proves summer fun like a black line around the tub!

Still blogging on May....Memorial Day weekend!!

Brady's first backyard water fun on the playmat!  

He was not too big a fan, a little too cold of water!

Carson trying to lend cousin Ella a hand.

We're going to need a bigger wagon for Carson to hold Brady and more...