Jokes & Hoola Hoops

Braxton started joking this week.  His first joke goes like this...Braxton walks up to Diane and says, "Hi daddy!"  Diane responds (looking shocked!) and says, "I'm not daddy!  I'm mommy!"  Braxton laughs.  Then Braxton walks up to Brock and says, "Hi mommy!"  Brock responds (looking shocked!) and says, "I'm not mommy!  I'm daddy!"  Braxton laughs.

Brock and I started teasing him too, saying to Braxton "Hi grandma!" or "Hi Avery!"  When you do this he gets very serious and says,

"No.  I not Grandma.  I Braxton!"  Super cute!

Last night Brock and I took Braxton to a free music-in-the-park event in Apple Valley.  It was a Beach Boys style band that put hoola hoops out on the grass for all the kids to play with.  Braxton loved it. He said "I play circles" and ran around with the other kids playing with the hoola hoops.   

Avery's Birthday Party

Yesterday we went to Avery's house to celebrate her 3rd birthday.  First we sang happy birthday and Avery blew out the candles, then Avery and Braxton ate cake and played with their fun prizes (bendy straws, stickers, and star shaped glasses).

 

 

Next Avery opened her presents...which led to going outside to see the biggest present from her mom and dad...a new water/sand play table (complete with boats, sand shovels, and buckets).  Braxton and Avery had lots of fun playing with it (and both got soaking wet).

Then the outdoor play continued... 

 

The birthday girl wore her favorite pink boots...and it was a very happy birthday!

A park playdate

Today Brax and I went to the park to meet my friend Liberty & her two boys Lavont (in yellow) and Cash (in orange).  The younger boys are close in age and had fun playing together (Cash is just 3 weeks younger than Braxton).

 

  

Brock's Day

This year Brock's 40th birthday and Father's Day fell on the same day! We are so thankful for Brock!  He is such a blessing to me and such a great daddy for Braxton!  Here's my favorite photo of the boys from this weekend (at the Family Picnic put on by Braxton's daycare...and the first time Brax ate a popsicle).

 

Braxton and I gave Brock three special gifts this weekend...

1) a garden stone that says "Fathers Day 2011" with Braxton's hand prints on it.

2. A canvas print of Brock and Brax at the beach.

3.  Long wind-chimes for the front entry. 

Happy Birthday and Happy Father's Day!

North Shore Trip 2011

We had a blast at the North Shore of Lake Superior this week. First we visited the Rose Gardens in Duluth...

 

Then we hiked at Gooseberry Falls...

 

Then we spent the next two days at our cabin on the rocky shores of Lake Superior, hiked at Temperance River State Park, threw lots of rocks into the lake, fed seagulls, flew kites, and hung out.    

 

We also have two videos...one of Braxton and Brock climbing on the rocks at the North Shore and another video of Dor singing Braxton to sleep.

Trip to Como Zoo

Last weekend Aunt Dor flew in from California & cousins Erin & Patrick drove up from Iowa with Aunt De.  We all got together with Avery & her family and went to Como Zoo.  First we went to the Plant Conservatory...

 

...and then we went to the zoo.  Here we are with the tiger:

...the giraffes:

...and outside the polar bear den.