Father of the Year Award goes to...

Beau's daddy!  For breakfast the other morning Joe woke up extra early to cook Beau and I an amazing breakfast.  However, I think Beau's breakfast had a little more thought put into it ;)  I don't know of many (or any for that fact) dads out there that would make Mickey pancakes for their son who just adores Mickey Mouse.  Seeing Beau's breakfast plate that morning made me tear up and feel so proud of Joe.  Beau, you are one spoiled little dude!

First Day of School 2013

Tuesday was the start of the 2013-2014 year.   I am so excited to be back at work and definitely missed the students and my co-workers.  We are going to have an awesome year at OMS this year and cannot wait to dive into it!

Sunday Funday at the Lake

The Sunday before school started, we decided to go the lake to enjoy one more "Sunday Funday" before I went back to work.  It was the perfect day.  Sunny and relaxing!  Beau has become more fearless everyday when it comes to the water, and he proved that by jumping off the boat and water mat.  I seem to have a little fish on my hands! :)

State Fair 2013

This year Joe and I were hoping Beau would love going to the State Fair to see all of the animals and baby animal barn.  Needless to say, Beau was not impressed and only wanted to ride the "trackers" (tractors) or slide.  Fortunately, Nana and Den-Den camp at the fair and we were able to spend two fun days with them just lounging at the campgrounds and trying to keep Beau entertained :)  Next year, we'll just take Beau to look at the machinery and slide because that is all he is interested in!

Beau loved playing in the tractor cab at the kiddy barn!

And he would not get out when his turn was over...

Ready to enjoy the fair!

Loving the slide!

Beau kept saying "side mommy!"  I think we'll make going down the slide a tradition from now on :)

Waiting in line with Nana to play in the tractor

Ready, Set, Go!

Lately Beau has been in a "racing" mood.  He will run to one wall, wait to run until you say "Ready, set, go!".  He LOVES doing this.  One afternoon he did it for over an hour!  Oh Beau-man, you're so fast! :)

Getting Ready For Another School Year!

Last week Monday I had a little helper in my classroom :)  I needed to start working on my room and organizing it (even though I didn't start school until a few days later).  Beau tagged along with me and actually did a great job keeping himself entertained!  He didn't want to watch TV in my room, he just wanted to "cubber" with markers.

Of course we needed to take a mid- morning break for Jaarsma donuts :)

Zoo Videos

 

 Beau and Banx absolutely loved feeding the goats.  Their reactions here are priceless!

 

Bless you Dena for trying to work the video recorder on my phone :)

First Trip to the Zoo!

Last Thursday was my last day having Banx for the summer.  Since I go back to work this week, I wanted to do something special and fun for Beau and Banx---make our first trip to the Blank Park Zoo.  Luckily, my best friend Dena offered to tag along and help me with the kids (thank you Dena Kay!).  We arrived right when the zoo opened that morning at 9, and it could not have been a more perfect day for the zoo.  It wasn't very busy yet and the weather was amazing. 

As soon as we walked into the zoo, we saw flamingos and Beau yelled "Hi duckies!  Here duckies!".  I didn't understand at first why he kept calling all of the water animals "duckies" until I realized that the only animals we've ever taken Beau to see are the ducks at the cemetery.  Banx and Beau did so good at the zoo.  Thanks to Dena's help, we had an amazing morning at the zoo and can't wait to go back next year!

They loved pushing the buttons to hear the different animal sounds

Favorite animal = monkeys!!

Banx was amazed at the Rhino

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Beau and Banx kept thinking the otters were going to swim through the glass right to them!

Beau learned a new word that day: "Tuttle"

We were at a zoo, and they only wanted to play at the park, go figure!

They didn't know what to think of the giraffe

They loved the camel ride!  When we first started walking, Beau said "whoa, whoa, whoa!"

He loved getting sprayed by the elephant water hose

When it quit spraying water Beau said "Ut oh mommy, it boke.  Fid it mommy!"

There was a baby kangaroo that was roaming around, and Banx kept chasing it to pet it.  Cutest thing ever!

LOVED all the fishies

He kept trying to grab the fish through the glass

Spoiled with Grandparents

I know I have said this several times, but I feel so incredibly blessed to live next to all of our parents (mine and Joe's).  This is so special for Beau that in a drop of a hat, any of the grandparents can quickly come over to help with something, or go take Beau for ice-cream.  Prime example has been the past week.  Joe and I have been overwhelmed and busy with several things and just needed help with Beau for a little while.  First Beau was able to go spend time with Grandpa and Chelle, then go up to the State Fairgrounds to hang out with Nana and Den-Den, and finally spent a couple of days with Papa and She-She.  It is so comforting to know how much Beau loves all of his grandparents and is so excited to go see them.  This definitely allowed Joe and I to get a lot of things done over a few days and just take a breather.  So a huge THANK YOU to our parents for always wanting to help out and spoil our son! :)

Beau and Aiden taking a cruise at the farm

Hanging out with Den Den at the fair

Chelle spoiling Beau with chips at the store :)

Hanging out in Papa's car