While we were eating our picnic I began entertaining the boys with my never-before-seen (by them) mad burping skills. They were quite thrilled and suprised to find out that boys are not the only ones that can burp! Now whenever I drink a soda they want a show. I save it for special occasions.

Fun at Darien Lake

A few weeks ago our friend, Bob, gave us tickets to Darien Lake (used to be Six Flags Darien Lake but Six Flags sold it last year so now it is just plain ol' Darien Lake) during Kingdom Bound (a 4-day festival that features tons of "Christian" recording artists). We weren't quite sure if we were brave enough to take the boys, but we did and we had so much fun! It rained part of the time, but we still had a blast. Isaac turns out to be quite the thrillseeker! He not only went on every "kiddie" ride, but went on several "grown-up" rides as well. Timmy stuck to the slower kiddie rides. At one point it downpoured, so we went back to the car and ate our picnic dinner. We went to a couple of concerts during which the boys kept themselves busy "fixing" our stroller and ended the evening with a fireworks and laser show.

Timmy and Mommy in the teacups.


Timmy loved these little trains that they power themselves by turning the wheel.

One of Isaac's favorite rides....the motorcycles. We had to stop this one to get Timmy off. He wasn't nearly as thrilled as Isaac was.
Timmy did love the Merry-Go-Round. I almost had to beat up a little girl because she wanted this black horse that he had already picked out (and was trying to get on). Crisis was averted when I was able to convince her to pick out a different horse because the black ones were really slow. It could've gotten pretty ugly!

We're starting to see how much fun it is to take the boys out to different events. My company's summer outing was a Rochester Redwings game. It was the boys' first real baseball game. It was perfect, because the ball field is right beside the main train tracks running through downtown. So just about the time the boys would get a little bored, a train would go by. "Train!!" We've had such a fun summer. It's been rather cool and rainy this week, and the leaves are beginning to turn. I'm not ready for summer to be over yet! Hopefully we will get one more hot spell. At least I get to go to Florida next weekend for Shelli's bridal shower. I know I'll have a warm weekend then!

We stopeed in our way back from the reunion to visit our friends Tadd, Erica and their daughter Emma Kate in Virginia. Tadd is a Professor of Music at Virginia Tech. We hadn't seen them since before Emma and Timmy were born, so it was fun for them to meet. Emma is 2 years old and such a cutie!
Tadd is a very "hands on" dad. Here he is putting pig-tails in Emma's hair. We had so much fun with them! On our last leg of the trip, we stopped overnight in West Virginia. The boys thought it was a very special treat to stay in a hotel. They cuddled right up with their teddy bears, dog , and "baby jaguar". They were great the whole trip....we're starting to see how much fun we can have as a family!

Timmyand Grandpa at the reunion

Reunion Photos

Here we are at the very beginning of our journey. Thanks, Mom, for the portable DVD player! I had no idea when you gave it to us how much we would use it. The boys watched a DVD until bedtime, then slept while we drove through the night.

We were the first to arrive at the reunion, so the boys had time to set up their "special corner" before anyone else got there. It turned out to be a popular place amongst the kids. Isaac and Timmy had brought crayons, coloring books, toys and books. Since it rained all weekend, they had plenty of things to keep them entertained.

It was great getting caught up with the cousins! This is Shelli and Loleeta. It was the first time we got to meet Gavin (in Shelli's lap). Such a cutie! I'm glad we will see them again next month at Shelli's wedding. Loleeta and I are bridesmaids. :)

A nice photo of all the aunts and uncles.
Timmy absolutely adores Grandpa! They had quite a time goofin around.

Isaac loves Grandpa, too, but is much more reserved in showing his affection. He is now a "big boy" and doesn't understand yet that it's perfectly okay to hug and kiss and still be a man.

Grandma and Jamie, Mat and Mary's little boy. He is the cutest thing! He's got such a wonderful little personality already, and you can't help but cheer up when he smiles.
We threw Shelli and Collin a suprise wedding shower. I thought they might have known about it, but they were completely suprised! They got a lot of practical household gifts.
Isaac and Timmy waited patiently for their night for Grandma to read to them at bedtime. Grandma is very popular and sometimes there's not quite enough of her to go around! But everyone gets their tunr eventually.

No More Pacifier!!!!!

In Timmy news.....we have successfully weaned him of his pacifier! I am so thrilled. Isaac was 3 1/2 before he gave it up entirely. He only used it at bedtime, though. Timmy wouldn't give it up and would start biting if we took it away. I decided that it would have to seem to be his idea if we were to be successful. So a couple of weeks ago, I took the bowl of pacifiers down from the cupboard and told him to pick one out and throw the rest away. I then informed him that it was his last pacifier and if he lost it he was done. He did lose it a few times but always managed to find it. One day I noticed that the plastic part was starting to tear, so every day I ripped it a little more when he wasn't looking. After a week, the whole tip fell off. He realized it was "broken" and threw it away. He only asks for it every now and then, and when he does we just ask him "What happened to it?" He replies"It broke". Then we ask "Where is it?" and he replies "In the trash" and that is the end of it. It's been 3 weeks now, so it is definitely final. Yay!

Okay, so I know I haven't blogged in a while. I love summer, and since it's so short here in Rochester, I tend to spend every free minute playing. We've also been spending quite a lot of time with our friends Mike and Pam and their girls. They just had a beautiful little girl on June 25. Her name is Haylie Noel and I love her! Ain't she cute? I just adore her. It's as close as I will ever get to having my own daughter, and I'm just fine with that! hee hee
Pam and I took the kids to the zoo the other day. It was our first outing with all 5 kids. They love to climb on this tree outside the tiger exhibit.

The tiger cubs have gotten so big! They're practically full grown now. Some days we get to watch them run around and play with each other, but they were feeling a bit lazy this day.
Maddie and Chloe posed for me. Since the boys don't really like having their picture taken, I just took one of the girls instead.

Timmy loves the Orangutans. He will sit and watch them for as long as I let him.

Maurice and Timmy asleep in the recliner. I came up from the basement and found them asleep. So cute!

Here Timmy and Chloe are investigating our neighbor's little girl Evalyn. This was right before Pam had her baby so we were both thrilled that Chloe was so great with Eva.

"Quiet time" at Pam's house. We've been going out to Mike and Pam's at least once a week to help out with the baby and the other kids. The boys love playing with Maddie and Chloe, and it gives them plenty of space to run around in. They have a huge back yard, so they're always having fun!
The kids decided to eat their popcorn snack under the table. Timmy started it and the rest soon followed.