500 Festival Parade

Today we got to go to the 500 Festival Parade. Pete finally had a chance to work on the deck and do some finishing touches. I knew I had to take the kids away so that we'd be out of his way. My dad suggested going to the parade and he went with us or else I never would have been brave enough to go. It was so much fun. I had a blast and I think the boys like it too!

The was the first balloon that we saw and the boys were so impressed.

Jordon liked waving.

We got to see the Purdue band and I proudly showed the world's largest drum. They weren't as impressed as I thought they should be, but it was still fun for me to be able to point it out and feel proud about the school I attended. It's funny that that big drum stirred up such feelings!

Happy Birthday Sesame Street.

They got to experience it all!

A tribute to the tradition of the race winner drinking a bottle of buttermilk!

I missed the explanation of the tradition and when it started, but it's still a cute float.

The highlight for us was getting to see the Butler Bulldogs. When we went down there we did not know that the Bulldogs would be part of the parade. Even though my picture didn't turn out that great, we did get to see Cousin Andrew and he waved at us. The boys thought it was great!!

On the way home we asked the boys what their favorite things were. Brandon said seeing Butler and the Chinese dragon. Jordon's favorite was Mickey Mouse. That is such a classic response because there was no Mickey Mouse in the parade. We had a great time!

Gideon found some mud.

Well, Gideon found a very small patch of mud and certainly made the most of it!!

He loved every minute of this. I even hosed him off with the hose afterwards and the water was freezing, but he still thought that was fun. I'm pretty sure his leather shoes are ruined and his socks will probably never be white again. But he sure had some fun!! Even the workers that are building the house across the street came over to see him and laugh at him!

Summer has begun!

We celebrated the last day of school with some summer fun.

Abby is Carter's little sister. She's several months younger than Jordon.

Carter LOVES his watermelon. The funny thing is Gideon looking out the window in the background. He just wants to be part of the fun outside!

We have a Pre School Graduate!

Brandon had a chance to show us his classroom before his graduation program.

Brandon and Carter. They've been in "school" together for the last three years.

Brandon had lots of fans. Rob was in town from NY and Mama & Papa were able to come too. Of course Jordon and Gideon were very impressed!

Brandon is on the top row and the second one in from the left.

Nothing says celebration like a cake!!

Rob and Jordon sporting their Butler shirts.

Our Sunday afternoon hike.

Brandon has become a world-class poser. Just as if he was getting his Senior pictures done.

So similar, yet oh so different.

They did great! It was a long hike and very hot outside. But we got to see a dog swim, lots of other dogs and walkers and runners. We ate a picnic lunch and got to drink some Gatorade. What more could any of ask for...except a shower and nap!

Visit to the Children's Museum

We had a chance to go to the Children's Museum with our friends Max & Lucy (and mom, Natalie).

Gideon and his water smock.

Gideon loved the water!

Gideon and Lucy "eating" some lunch.

Max and Jordon picking flowers.

Max & J at the train table.

As we watched them play like this I thought about how nice it would be if Jordon always had a hole to stand up through and could only touch exactly what he was supposed to at that given time. What a genius invention to have a table with holes in it to stand in and play!

Jordon the Builder.

Rub a dub. Having fun in the tub!

Brandon is quite into camo right now. He wore this outfit to school last week. Camo t-shirt, pants and shoes. He whispered to me that he was also wearing his camo underwear. Hilarious!

One day while I was trying to catch up on email I noticed that things were way too quiet. And then I found out why. Jordon and Gideon had found a piece of styrofoam. Somehow they also found popsicle sticks in which they were able to use as tools to scrape the styrofoam releasing the millions of tiny balls that make sytrofoam what it is. The static electricity that was produced made these millions of balls quite tricky to clean up.

The balls were everywhere and we had to leave to pick up in about 3 minutes. So I literally vacuumed them--them being my children. I thought it would be a little scary for them and double as a negative natural consequence. However, instead, they thought be vacuumed was totally hilarious. Oh well. It was pretty funny!