Our little farmer is 3!

Can't believe my "baby' is 3 today! He is playing with cousins right now, but had a chance to ride on the tractor with Grandpa last week. Obviously he was a little pumped!

















Its crazy how fast time is going!















How did we go from this.

















To this? Can't sit still long enough to take a picture!
















Showing of his form with a new golf club from Mom and Dad.

Some things never change! Have a great weekend!

July Recap

We have been crazy busy for the past couple of weeks and I have a ton to share. Its only fitting that I just noticed this will be my 200th post - pretty exciting!!
So, here it goes:

Teagan and Tate started swim lessons after the 4th of July. They were late in the morning, so by the time we got done ended up hanging out at home for the rest of the day.

By the last day Teagan was attempting dives off the side of the pool - a huge step for her! She also did the diving board once and the big slide. She probably won't be going near the diving board for awhile, but is a constant at the slide everytime we are at the pool.

Tate and I did a parent/child class for a week. Here he is patiently waiting with his new BFF Mia. It was all we could do to keep them out of the pool until it was their turn!

So at the end of that week I made an independent trip out to Denver to see my sister who was there for a summer internship. We had a blast! I flew out by myself, got a chance to read a really good book (Eat, Pray, Love if anyone is interested) and just relax a bit. We did a little shopping when I got there and headed out with some of the other students who are staying there also. It was a great time and I would like to think I hung pretty well with those young kids!

We did a little hiking in the mountains and then took a break at the Coors brewery. That night we went out with our cousin and his wife who live near Denver. We had a great time, but somewhere along the way I lost my camera. Luckily I had downloaded all the pictures of the kids before I left, but lost a couple of really good pics of Beth and I. Oh well, good excuse for a new camera!

We also did some rafting down the Royal Gorge, which was a blast!! The morning I left we went to the Red Rock Ampitheater and took in some amazing views. It was a great getaway and I am so glad I decided to go.

A couple days after I got back I had a tooth pulled and it wiped me out! They hit a nerve or something because part of my lip and jaw are still numb. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make the trek to the Ozarks for our family vacation, but after some heavy doses of ALEVE I was ready to go.

Brad's co-captains.

Remember how I said earlier that jumping off the side of the pool was a big step for Teagan? Well, all you have to do is throw a life jacket on her and she does this all day into a 30 foot deep lake!! She was a total fish all vacation!

And not to be outdone by his big sister! It took me a little while to be ok with this, but once I realized the kids were good and we were close to help if needed it was a little better.

What I was not ok with, but had to pretend to be because my kids were all about it, was this:

Yep - they both went tubbing for the first time. Slowly, yes, but this water-hesitant Momma was a little tense! The kids loved it and Brad did a good job keeping them tightly pressed to the tube.

So, there it is. The last 3 weeks for the Schaefers. It won't get any less crazy either. This weekend Brad and I head to Chicago for a Bon Jovi concert with friends. The kids are going to Adventureland with a couple of their aunts while we are gone and I am sure they will have a blast. After that brings the kids' birthdays and then school. Lets just hope time slows down just a bit so we can all enjoy it!

4th Fun!

Wow, what a fun filled weekend with family and friends! Thanks for local festivities we had the chance to do a ton of stuff.















Saturday started with Kids Day and some fun and games for the kids.
















Brad and I had a chance to hear some live music Friday night, so we took the kids out Saturday night for a local teen band and then some dancing in the street. Tate and his friend Carson were all about it and once they started dancing we had to drag them out!















There was an electric bull there for riding that night and Tate was obsessed with it. Brad finally gave in and let him ride. He did awesome!! He loved it and the crowd loved him and..















so did the operator of the bull. He put his hat on Tate during his ride. I guess if a cowboy thinks you are worth his hat then you are a true cowboy! When Tate got off the first thing he said was "Mom, next time I ride I am going to put my hand up, promise." Needless to say he didn't ride again that night, but if we ever meet that bull again watch out!!















Sunday brought a parent-child look-a-like contest for Teagan and I. We didn't win - although we had plenty of comments that disagreed with the decision :), but it was fun and a little bit of bonding time.














Parade fun with our friends Luke and Ella. Tate has ginourmous shoes on because his feet hurt from wearing flip-flops. And so begins the fashion statements of a 3 year old!
















Teagan had the chance to ride in the parade and had a really good time!






























The rain took a break for long enough for us to get outside and do some sparklers before watching the fireworks.

We had a really good weekend and are still kind of recovering from all the activities. We started swim lessons this week and I take off Friday to see my sister. July is crazy at the Schaefers!! Have a good rest of the week!

Summer Math

2 crazy kids

+ 1 day at the zoo

+ 1 last week of tball

+ 1 practice run for the 4th of July parade

AND trips to the library, pool, and a day with Aunt Jill = a great first week off for Mom!! Have a great Friday everyone!

Bubbles, Spitterballs, & a Homecoming

What you might ask do these 3 things have in common? Well, first of all congrats for knowing what a spitterball is! For those who don't know (and nobody should) it is Tate's word for the gunk you get in your eyes after sleeping. I know, who thinks of stuff like that? I just had to share because he comes up with this stuff daily and I need to get some of it in writing.





On to the bubbles. I seriously debated telling this story publically, but for those of you who know me you will appreciate it. So, here it goes: 2 Sundays ago we were at church for Teagan's VBS program. I was holding Tate and like he usually does he had his hand on my chest - again for those who know me you know how it is! Anyway Tate turns to me and says, "Momma, why you got bubbles in there?" All I could think was, "Crap, I hope nobody heard that." Well, they did! Because they next thing I knew Brad was poking me in the shoulder barely able to hold back laughter! Awesome, pretty sure everyone else around me is now thinking about my chest and my bubbles during church!! 2 year olds - Gotta love 'em!














Onto the homecoming part. Jill is home and we are all so glad she is here!! She arrived safely in Cedar Rapids last night and pulled into Williamsburg shortly after. We had a little pizza before she needed to crash and get some much needed rest. This afternoon we did lunch together and then Grandpa and Grandma broke out the good ol' waterslide. We are looking forward to spending some quality time with her before she heads off to grad school at Colombia in New York City. I forsee some amazing trips in my future!!

































If that didn't make for a crazy enough day we headed to my nephew Jackson's birhtday party later in the afternoon. Both kids crashed on the way there and got a good powernap in. After presents, walking tacos, and even more swimming the kids all got their chance at pinatas.














The look on my brother's face says it all!



























Happy Birthday Jack and welcome home Jill - we had a great day!

Slow down girlfriend!

Why does she want to grow up so fast? (The keys were pulled just in case you were wondering) Right now I am "babysitting" while she takes care of all her "kids". Better get off the computer before she catches me slacking!

A Week of Lasts and Firsts

These past couple of weeks have been crazy busy, but in a good way. We got the chance to watch Brad's golf team play at the state tournament last weekend. Way to go Raiders! Teagan and I had our last days of school and the kids had their last official day at daycare. If you don't know, we are switching daycares in the fall -not because there was anything wrong, just time to change. So, that was a little sad, but we are moving on to new things. The kids will have a "nanny" for a couple weeks this summer while I am working, but after that we will have some time to enjoy time together.
On to the firsts:
















Teagan had her first couple of t-ball games. They are getting better each game. Could it be the coaching?

Check out that form!

Teagan also lost her first tooth on Friday. She was getting pretty worried because she was "the only kid in her class who hadn't lost a tooth yet!" I am not sure I believe it, but just glancing at some of her classmates it might be true! So, after a little drama and a quick yank by this Momma it was out. That wasn't the last of the drama though - she lost the tooth again - literally! We have no idea where that little tooth is, so after a couple of breakdowns we wrote a note for the tooth fairy explaining the situation. She was very gracious and left us a note back saying it happens all the time and Teagan could have her money and just put the tooth under her pillow when she finds it.




















Check out the booty on this guy! Every morning this week he has kept his underwear dry. Just all of a sudden he was ready.




















We are in no way close to wearing them out or even all day, but it is a step in the right direction and makes this Momma a little less worried that she would have to send a 5 year old to Kindergarten in diapers!















The lillies we transplanted are in full bloom and then majority of the plants are doing well.

We love our deck and was more than just an investment in our house. It was an investment for my sanity!

With a sitter and the kids at my house during the day my planning side kicked into high gear. I used this frame I got at Gordmans clearance for about $2 and wrote the main ideas on the yellow paper and put it under the glass. Everyday I use a dry erase marker to change any information I need to leave for the day. So much better than filling up my calendar on the fridge or having paper notes floating around. Super easy project moms and doesn't look too bad in my kitchen either. Have a great rest of the week!