Say please.....

The other morning I fixed eggs for the boys.  Kade was eating (and making a mess) and had already finished most of his.  Keagan was asking for something and I kept telling Keagan (at the other end of the table) to say "please." I think Kade thought I was saying "say cheese."  He kept making his funny "cheese" face so I had to capture some pictures. 

Oh and of course all of the eggs all over his face and head. (and do you see the ones in his eyelashes?)

Why is it that they must rub things all over their faces?  Does it feel good?  Aaaahh...cleaning up hands and high-chairs is a full time job!

Summertime.....

I've been harboring these random pictures for some time now and didn't know what to write about - or how to organize them. So - here's to some various summertime pics from our many trips to the park, pool time and other summertime fun.

I love his little fat knees with his front wedgie...

"Hey Kellen...how did you do dat?"

I love this picture.  It was taken at Washington Park in Sprinfield. 

Kade loves the water.

I'm sure I will have some more summertime random pictures with no stories....so check in again!!

Brusha Brusha Brusha

This kid LOVES to brush his teeth

Or maybe he's just sucking off the toothpaste.

But you better not try to help him or take it from him.  He actually prefers to rip the bristles out of the toothbrush.  I do intervene at this point but man - bedtime brushing is a battle every night! I guess I should be thankful he wants to brush his teeth.  He's such a little stinker!

Our new ride

This year for Karsten's birthday and Father's Day the boys and I got him a bike trailer.  He/we have been eye-balling these things for actually a couple of years now.  Awhile back we had borrowed one from his brother but then never ended up buying one.  Now that we have multiple small children I thought we could really use this. 

On afternoon Kade was still sleeping so Daddy gave the big boys a ride first.  There is actually quite a lot of room in there!

One of the best things about this trailer is that it also converts to a double jogging stroller.  We really don't need another one - but hey you never know when you might!

Kade got his chance....and got attacked while he was in it.  I don't remember what the situation was but it didn't last long and hey - it's just another day in the Slater household.

There - that's better.....

My idea was for all of us to go on bike rides together.  Kellen would ride his bike, Daddy would pull the youger two... and oh - I totally forgot that I don't even HAVE A BIKE.  I guess that's what I'm going to get for Christmas! Ha! For now I just walk - really fast.

Beating the heat

Oh how I wish I had a pool. A real pool.  A really big pool!  But I guess soaking my feet and letting the boys soak me with their water guns will have to suffice for now. 

This is the pool we started out with earlier this summer.....

Then we had to advance to a little larger one - at least one where all of us could get in.  The small baby pool died so of course Daddy went and bought another one for them.  Honestly though it was so hot out I would have given a kidney for something cool to do outside!

I couldn't fill the pool all the way up because Kade really loved to be able to sit in the pool and play.  When the pool is filled all the way he has to be in the floatie or one of us has to be in with him.  I don't trust him one bit!

This is one of my favorite pics of the summer

Trying to escape

Look at me mommy! I cool!

Oh these silly things.....I can't get them back on!

My little water baby.  He absolutely loves the water.  Actually he loves any water - especially the dog bowl these days. At the rate he's going Kade will be the first one to swim without water wings!

Wanna go muddin'?

When we first arrived in Carterville our house was not completed - therefore neither was our yard (and still isn't).  It had been raining quite a bit and there was 3 tempting dirt piles and a whole lot of mud.

Kellen had been asking for several days to play in the mud and I kept putting it off.  I wanted them to have fun but I also wanted it to be the easiest clean up for me as well! So of course I waited until Daddy got home.

So we stripped them down to their undies and let them have at it.

Kellen was smearing mud all over Keagan and throwing mud balls at him - he didn't seem to mind though

I can't believe that Kellen was this brave - to actually roll around in the mud - just like a pig.

He looks mad but he was trying to squeeze the mud out of his hands and in between his fingers.

After they tired of the mud Daddy hosed them off and we whisked them straight into the bath.  They had a blast and we had a blast watching them!  Nothing a little soap and water can't take care of.

Kade at 13 months

Dear Kade, another month gone by.  This past month has been one of more mobility and a few extra words.

You love to "smile" when the camera comes out.  It's actually a really funny face.  Pa calls you a "cling-on."  And when I really think about it - you actually do kind of look like one when you scrunch up your nose.

You have been walking all over - you still fall a lot though.

You also can stand up from the floor.  It looks like you are getting ready to hike a football.

You are so precious to me in a diaper.  You're precious anyway but I just can't resist all that chubbiness.

Whoa! Are you hula dancing? Actually I think you were trying to balance yourself to keep from falling.

You also got another tooth this month.  You have 7 now.  You are eating anything and everything we give you.  You also have started screaming and showing your dislike when something doesn't go your way.  The screaming I will not tolerate - so we're going to have to work on that one!

We went to the Dr. this past month for your well baby check ups and shots.  You weighed in at a whopping 27 lbs and 31 inches.

We love you dear one and look forward to watching you grow.