We...played in the back-yard!

We love, love our back-yard and spend most of our waking hours out back when it is nice out. In the summer you can find us any where from the kiddie pool to the swing-set to the sand-box to the back-porch to just making up stuff in the grass. I am so thankful for this little piece of land for our kids. Even with the heat this last summer, we still took advantage of sunny days and soaked up the sun and plenty of fun!

 Back-porch checkers...

 oh yes, Jaxon had been counting down to his 100th month...this summer it arrived :)

 Plenty of pool time!

 Our neighbors have a little friend who we love to have visit... and I think she loves Baby Carson a little too :)

 Carson mastered his crawling...and then walking!

The sand-box kept everybody busy many days...

And we got creative with drawings, story tellings, and pictures...

 We played in our new tree-fort...thanks Dad!

 And had some fun play-dates!

Back-yard and summer around here makes for some pretty great simple days. It's the little things!

We...learned new chores!

This summer we learned some new chores as we moved the chicks back to their coop and let them settle into their new home. Like every other animal, with pets come poop :) I'd done some research on best ways to clean coops and what to do with their waste and we had our first chances at practicing those new skills mid to late summer. Being in town I am very cautious about keeping our neighbors happy with the smells blowing over from our yard. So far, so good!  The boys were troopers and helped with their part and together we have managed to keep our neighbors and our chickens happy!

 My little pooper scooper!

 He does a great job, really!

 Reminds me of my 4-H days at the fair and cleaning out stalls...only chicken poop is much more pleasant then cow poop :)

 Jaxon was our photographer this day...he's becoming a little story teller of his own.

 And our happy hens can head back in...

Ain't that the truth!

We...learned to swim!

Looking back, I skipped a lot of blogging late summer. Lets just say I took a little break from a lot of things the end of this last summer. But I don't want to forget some of our summer days, so bear with me for a few days while I catch up my photos or just check back in a week after I'm done and back to present day posts. Thanks for joining us over at the Hansen's house!

We always get a pool pass and more then use it up with all our trips. Both boys were in lessons this year too and luckily it was HOT for them first thing in the morning (not so much for us lesson watchers :).

 Austin grew leaps and bounds compared to last year. He was eager and willing and soaked in everything Miss Jen taught him. What a champ!

 A friend of mine and I have been coordinating swim lessons together for 6 years. Between all our kids and the big ones actually in lessons we almost always manage to have a set of adult eyes on each kid as some point through-out the hour long session and each have a back-up in case one of us can't be there one day.
So thankful for our operation!!

 Carson spent his time mastering his climbing skills...he has the moves to prove it today as he climbs on kitchen counters and out of cribs! (Really, this child might be the end of me :)

 Happy swimmer boy!

 Miss Jen teaches the 3-5 year old group. Can you guess how old she is? You'd be shocked. She has done this for over 50 years. We love her!

 Miss Jen tells all our kids they will be a champion when they are done learning to swim. And they almost always earn themselves a colored nose for all their hard-work.

 Learning to swim better, means more freedom in the pool. Austin loved it!

 Jaxon is moving along in his levels and spent a lot of his time learning life-saving skills, mastering swim stokes, and the diving boards!

 He learned to flip off the board too...so old!

 He has been a little fish from day one...

 And thanks to 90 mornings, this boy just couldn't help himself. I don't blame him. Did I mention it was HOT?

Austin loved having buddies in his class and these two never disappoint together. Little champions! Proud of all the kids hard-work once again spent in the water!

Carson Baby is 1

I know, our baby turned one almost 3 months ago... apparently those myths about 3rd children are true :) Sorry Baby Boy! In all fairness we were on vacation on his actual birthday and I think his Aunt Holly snapped a few. But here was my attempt to get his one year old pictures before he turned two! He is busy and a mover and a climber and curious. These pics were us on the move, but thats my boy :) Between our rommie, Natalie, and the big brothers, we managed to get a few of him looking for a couple shots. The rest...well, that's just him all wrapped up in a few frames! Happy 1st year baby boy!!