Gearing up for Halloween

After our recent trip to the Pumpkin Patch we have been gearing up for Halloween in full force. Last week we carved and painted our pumpkins and we got out our Halloween decorations. Mason found the scary masks and gloves and went about trying to scare everyone in the house. At one point I caught him wearing the gloves on his feet as "monster feet." Ian even got in on the scaring action! We can't wait for Halloween this year!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Last weekend we decided to take the boys to the pumpkin patch at TGR Exotics. It's a quiet little animal sanctuary set up in a residential area. The boys had a blast. It amazes me how much they have playing in a trough of corn. We did get to see several exotic animals - they even pet the small grey kangaroo. After checking out all the sites the boys made a couple of pinecone bird feeders and picked out some small pumpkins to bring home and pain.

Swim Lessons

I'm not sure how I could have forgotten to mention swim lessons before now because it was a huge thing for us this summer. Both took swim lessons from Amber K. and she was awesome with them (far more patient that I would have been). I highly recommend her to anyone looking for someone to come to your house or subdivision pool for private lessons. By the end of their 8 lessons she had both boys swimming at least 10 feet to the pool wall, "monkey walking" around the pool until they could get to a ladder, and pulling themselves out. Both boys also learned that if we every fall into the water "go to our backs," which Mason practices frequently in the tub! We started the summer in floaties, but by the end they didn't even want to wear them. They really exceeded my expectations!

Ian swimming to Mrs. Amber

So proud of himself

Mason swimming to Mrs. Amber

He made it!

First Day of School - August

Both boys had their first day of school on August 24th. Mason is attending the 3 yr. old half day program on T & Th, and Ian is attending the 2 yr. old half day program on Tues. They're both in school from 9:00am to 1:00pm which gives me at least one day each week to try to run as many errands as I can without kiddos. I've finally gotten caught up on doctor and dentist appointments! Both boys are loving school. Today (Oct. 19th) was the first day (with the exception of the first day of school) that I was able to drop Ian off without him crying. I'm sure it had something to do with the pancake breakfast they were having this morning, but I'll take it!

Ian's 2nd Birthday

Ian turned 2 on July 5th this year. We celebrated his 2nd birthday in Carthage with family on July 3rd. He had a tractor/farm themed party and after presents and cake we went swimming in my mother's FABULOUS pool! At this point Ian was very much into "MOOOOOO" cows and tractors, especially John Deere tractors or as he calls them "Deere Tractors."

His "Deere Tractor" cake

His "Deere Tractor" cupcakes and farm animals "ducks"

Opening his gifts while Bella and Ashlynn look on

Blowing out his candles! He is getting so big!

Lake Hamilton - June

In late June, Drew and I went on our 2nd annual trip with his former high school classmates. This year we went to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We stayed at the Lazy Lane Lodge and it was fabulous. There were seven couples and no children! It was wonderful to be able to spend the weekend with such good friends. We spent the days sleeping in and relaxing on the water. Good times!

Father's Day Weekend 2010

Drew spent most of Father's Day weekend fishing with friends in Port O'Connor.

While they were out on the water he was accidentally hooked in the palm of his hand. The were nearly a half hour from shore and no telling how far from the closest emergency room so they decided to remove it on the boat.

They couldn't pull it out because of the barb on the hook so Stephen P. cut it and they just pushed it on through. OUCH! This happened Sunday morning, and the boys and I didn't find out until after he got home that afternoon. He came in, loved on the boys, opened his Father's Day gifts, and then told me he probably needed to head to the ER to get a tetanus shot. It was only when I asked why that he told me what happened!

Upon hearing how disappointed he was as a child for never getting a Snoopy Sno-Cone machine the boys and I decided that he deserved one for Father's Day so here he is with his very own Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine! He left for the ER about an hour after this pic was taken.

Sand Castle Competition - June 2010

In early June we drove down to Galveston for a day to check out the AIA Sand Castle Competition. It was very crowded when we got there and so we only got to take in a few of the sand castles, but here are some of our faves of the ones that we saw. The artwork was amazing.

Spring Program - May 2010

In May, Mason participated in the end of the school year program with his preschool class. They started out with 10 kids in his class (9 boys and 1 little girl) and ended the year with only 6 (5 boys and 1 girl). During the school program the kids sang a few songs as an entire group and then as individual classes. He wasn't so much into singing with the whole school, but he did well when it was just his class. Drew and I both agreed that we had never seen him pout quite like this at home! He was front and center for most of the program though and my guess is that it was just a bit too intimidating for him.

Singing with the entire preschool


"Singing" with just his class

Fishing at Gran C's

While we were home in April we thought it would be a good time to take the boys fishing at my parent's pond. The Easter bunny had apparently left a couple of kid-sized fishing rods at their house! We probably ruined them on fishing. My folks' pond is stocked and they caught a fish with every single cast, which was great for them!

Mason got the hang of it quickly

Mason's first fish

(PeePaw helped him get them off the hooks and throw them back)

Ian caught only one fish and we had to cut his hook off - it was best for everyone!

Notice in this pic he isn't even facing the water.

He kept flailing his rod everywhere, slinging mud on everyone and everything within a half-mile radius! But he was having fun!

Fishing Trip 2010

In April the Dyer men held their annual fishing trip on the Sabine River. This was Ian's first time in a boat and while I was very hesitant to get him out on the water - he had a wonderful time. It was a beautiful weekend. Here's another lazy slide show with some pics.

American Rose Garden - April 2010

On a trip back to East Texas in April, the boys and I spent the day with my Granny Shirley and mom. We went to lunch and then spent a couple of hours walking around the American Rose Garden in Shreveport. It was a beautiful day, and the boys had so much fun spending time with their great-grandmother.

The Leaning Tower of Death

Several days after Easter I discovered that we have a major candy issue in our house. If it is in the house, my children will go to any lengths to get it. On this particular day I was working on the computer during naptime when Mason walked into the office and asked me if I would open and M&M egg for him.

Me: "Where did this come from?"
Mason: "My basket."
Me: "But your basket is on top of the refridgerator."
Mason: "I know."

I came downstairs to find this - The Leaning Tower of Death! That is a toy drum on top of wooden stool on top of a plastic picnic table.

I don't know what was more frightening - the fact that he could've really hurt himself or his ninja-like skills in building it. I never knew that he was even up and out of bed!

Easter 2010

We spent Easter weekend at home in Houston. After we attended the egg hunt at Trinity we came home to dye our own eggs that we hid in the backyard. Unfortunately, we weren't able to use them later because they were left out on top of the fridge for about 6 hours before anyone realized it. The Easter Bunny stopped by our house on Easter morning and the boys were a little too hopped up on sugar to be very cooperative for pictures before church.

Dying eggs

Hunting eggs in the backyard

Chillin' in the front yard

Checking out all the loot left behind by the Easter Bunny


Enjoying a fabulous chocolate covered marshmallow bunny

I tried to get a picture of the boys before we headed to church that morning, but Drew had the only cooperative spirit.
The boys made quite a mess with the "grass" from their baskets. Drew thought it would be easiest to just rake it with a yard rake! I later got the carpet broom and gathered up quickly.

Trinity Easter Egg Hunter

So I recognize that it's really lazy of me to put all these pics into slideshows, but it's the easiest way to share them - there's just so many of them! These are pictures from the Easter Egg Hunt at our church, Trinity Klein Lutheran. The boys had a BLAST! The got to hunt eggs, do some crafts, and play some games, but the highlight was the monster truck, Grave Digger. All the males in my house were fascinated by it. Drew took my camera while I was volunteering at the the concession booth, and when I downloaded the pics from the camera I found almost 100 pics of Grave Digger!!