Mount Olympus Bday Fun

The ladies arrived for our weekend of fun, but that started with some tablet time.

We headed to Mount Olympus for the day.

GoKarts, rollercoasters and waterpark fun, it was going to be a big day! Peter was super nervous about driving the gokarts. And after a lot of talking and nearly begging...he agreed to try it. There was a smile from ear to ear! I think he likes them.

It took Jamison no convincing to give them a try. I think he would have driven them all day long.

Lily and Lucy wanted to try the little rollercoaster first before going on the biggerones. Smart move. It took no convincing for either of my boys to try the little one first. There were smiles all around here...but no way you were getting them on the bigger ones. I thought Jamison would give them a shot, but he said no too.

While Pat was on the bigger rollercoasters, we tried our hand at the evil carnival game like things. Way over priced and they had 15 seconds of fun and won a cuddle friend. We spent the afternoon in the waterpark area...no camera but you can imagine all the fun we had!

We made it home for pizza and presents.

The girls gave the boys the most awesome present ever...a bucket/pulley system for their tree house! Thanks girls!!!

It was a good weekend...and saturday morning we still have some really tired kiddos!

After the boys baseball game we enjoyed our bday cupcakes. Although...when you try to put 30 candles (7+7+8+8) on cupcakes with little umbrellas there would be sure a fire! This bear nearly escaped! But his fate was ultimately determined...inside of one of our bellies!

Pat installed the pulley, this will see many hours of enjoyment! (as long as noone thinks they can ride up in it)

The standard bday shot! Happy Birthday!!!

and for a little blast from the past!

Week in review

Second week of summer vacation, more basketball camp, swimming lessons and hanging out with friends.

The first picnic in the tree house. It was super hot up there...so we have to look at making the roof sooner than expected.

Level Three...diving off the edge. The boys are getting pretty good! Peter does his best when he is in deeper water...but it takes him a lot to get him there and once Jamison gets the hang of rotary breathing he is going to take off!

It is a little early to use the saying "Dog Days of Summer" but is has been so stinking hot outside this is how we all feel! Wini may have found the coolest part of the house, but she wont share.

Annual library Lego contest. The theme "Dream Big, Read" Jamison was interested in joining this year, previous year he wanted nothing of it.

Peter got started right away with his newly invented (dreamed) person transporter...mix between a car and a plane that was parked right by his house.

Here the judge is talking to all of the contestants....this must have been fun...listening to 20 kids talk about their crazy dreams! And the results....for the third year in a row....a Cullen takes a prize. But Surprise! It was Jamison! He took 3rd place in the 7-8yo age group. He built YooHoo (the library summer reading program's mascot) in a rainbow tree. Congratulations Jamison!

The rest of the week we were getting ready for our crazy fun weekend with Lily and Lucy! We were in charge of the cupcakes...so we made a teddy graham water park scene!

Included was a lazy river, sand (german chocolate frosting), beach towels (fruit rollups), lifeguards and beach umbrellas! House clean, treats made, presents wrapped. Come on down ladies! We are ready for a weekend of fun!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! The boys picked out dad's favorite things....

"That brown beer that he really likes" Peter says and "That liquor that is my name but spelled with an "E" says Jamison. No more Miller Highlife, at least for a couple days!

Jamison was curious what his namesake smelled like. After a whiff he said it smelled like "cat urine soaked in aluminum for 5 weeks." I dont think that Jameson Whiskey Co will hire him as a sales guy.

For Father's Days Pat asked for "mans food"- pizza doughnuts beer and bacon. I provided three of the four...i couldnt get myself to make bacon sprinkles for the pizza or doughnuts.

The rest of the weekend was used to put the rest of the tree house together to get that operational, final wall and ladder.

The official "no girls allowed" sign was hung and it is open for business. The roof design is in the making...it does get a little hot out there.

Baseball season started. Jamison is up to bat....he hit the ball and almost took out the pitcher. He evern assisted in an out. Great Job Jamison! Peter hit the ball on the first try, i was not ready with the camera. I will have to get him next time.

The boys have been spent a lot of time up their tree house. Most of that time has been used painting and decorating. We even will use walkie talkies to communicate. "Mom, can you bring us some water and freezie pops?" Now I think we need to build a zipline from the house to the tree house so I can just send all of their special requests.

There are snakes everywhere....It has been named Snake Tower, because they found a snake in the tree when they were building it.

"I'm sexy and I know it" Poor Peter, was diagnosed with Lymes. We thought we were diligent with tick checks but I guess we missed one. The doctor was a little stumped with how he presented so she asked if we would mind waiting while she did a little research. We said no problem. She suggested that Peter could "play some games on mom's phone" while we waited. Sorry lady, mom does not have one of those fancy phones. Mine only makes phonecalls. So instead we pulled out a pen and paper and played "hangman". I am sure there is an apt for that but paper and pen works well too. Anyway, I am grateful we caught it early.! A few weeks with antibiotics and he should be good as new. Now all that boy needs is a tan....man he is white!

Schoooools Out for Summer!

This is the last picture of my 2nd graders the morning of their last day of school.

The next ones you will see are my 3rd graderss (that is if the report card says they passed). They have grown so much this past year, learned a thing or two and are ready for some rest and relaxation!

 Wini thought this would be a great place to start her summer vacation. I guess she really wanted to be in the sun.

Summer vacation started early monday morning with basketball camp, 8am. Who does that to a kid, their first day of summer vacation and they have to get up just as early as they did when they were in school. Both Jamison and Peter did bb camp. Jamison has some pretty good ball handling skills while Peter still have a wicked left hook. Peter usually wins our home games of HORSE, PIG or CHAMELEON, what ever animal tickles their fancy.

This week was the last week of spring soccer. We celebrated with a potluck and a parents vs kids game. One dad brought tennis shoes and played with his business attire. I played two seperate games...and even scored a goal on Peter. I dont think he was all that happy that that happened but he got his revenge when a buddy of his kicked a ball into my stomach, not once, but twice. Good thing I have a lot of padding.

 Soccer cake is good!

 Thanks Coach Cheryl. U9 Boys will do great!

 June is Dairy Month in WI and the coop hosted a building project for the kids. When you are done you get milk and icecream! I felt bad for the guy running it, first he called Peter a maam, then his nails were too big and the smaller ones were not going in. So he had his helper get the nail gun/air compressor. Man, he was working hard.

Yup this is Jamison, his tongue still comes out when he concentrates.

Peter adding a lot of color....man that kid needs to get control of that hair.

The finished product. Picture frames for dad...but both boys declared they are going to keep them for themselves.

One week down, how many days til school starts?

End of School BBQ

 Wow, that is right. It is that time of year where we celebrate the kids finishing another year of school. 2nd grade went way too fast.

 Potluck style BBQ including the fantastic snow cones! They were a hit with all the kids!

And another favorite....waterballoon fight. The boys decided they did not want to waste their time with a water balloon toss and go straight to the fight. Same rules apply...no direct throws to the head....and only two at a time. It is still amazing how fast the kids go through 525 water balloons.

Treasures in the sandbox, kickball and dodgeball.

What are we going to do in a few years? I think we might have to rent out a park shelter!.

 We had a few hands to help us pick up the debris. Some kids even came in swim suits, now they were prepared! Congrats 2nd graders! We are looking forward to another year!

But before the boys can truely embrace summer vacation, they have to finish their habitat research project! At least they are on the fun part.

 Pat continued to work on the treehouse....sides are up (pics to come soon). A little more work and it will be ready to go!

Pat made a new friend when he was working on the tree house. creepy! I think it might be the mascot for the tree house or the caretaker.

 Pat's oldest friend found a new friend. Jamison has welcomed "Munco" to his cuddle friend collection by rescuing him from the barn attic.

Three more days of school until summer vacation....the boys and are are counting down but for completely different reasons!