Our barn has four new residents!

 

 

We've known for awhile that "Kitty-Mow-Mow" had babies...we just didn't know where they were!

 

When we got back from Des Moines we found a few new friends playing in the barn.

 

Peighton was so excited!

 

 

 

She has spent A LOT of time out there playing with them and watching them "wrastle" as Preston says!

 

There are 3 yellow ones, "the triplets" and one little black/grey one, "Skunk."

 

They are super cute and Peighton is in love with them.

 

Preston was impressed with them for about 5 minutes.

Then he went off to get his car stuck.



Adventureland, Omaha Zoo and THE TRAIN!!!!!!

Last week, we took a quick trip to Des Moines and Omaha.

 

Adventureland is currently a "Must do" for Peighton in the summer.

They see the commercials ALL THE TIME.

Peighton would start hopping up and down when she saw it and heard the song....Preston didn't really know what he was getting excited for but he still got excited!

 

Our first stop on our little road trip was Adventureland.

 

 

The teacups are good...but not as good as the ones at Disney.

Peighton made sure she pointed that out to me.

We did get Dustin on them the second time...but he said never again!

 

Preston remembered the semi trucks from last year!

 

 

 

 

The next day we got up and hit the road for Omaha.

 

 

Peighton is an AWESOME traveler.

We hardly heard anything out of her most of the trip.

She had her own movie player, some snacks and her princesses.

 

This one, on the other hand, is the complete opposite.

Normally, he's a very content kid as long as he has his tractors.

NOT IN THE CAR THOUGH!!!!!!

He is such a needy little thing in the car.

He needs a new movie about every 10 minutes, a snack about as often and he throws his tractors on the floor so no one can reach them!

Oh and he insisted on headphones, like "Issy," but he doesn't keep them on his head!!!!

 

 

But the Omaha Zoo was completely worth the trip!

 

 

They loved seeing all the fish.

 

The butterfly building was really fun.

They got so excited when they spotted one!

 

Preston doesn't really hold still...

 

We did A LOT of inside stuff at the zoo because it rained most of the morning.

 

But we still had a great time!

 

I think Preston was worn out....he slept most of the way back to Des Moines!!!!!!!

 

 

 

The next day we went on to Boone to ride the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad.

Preston is LOVING trains right now.

 

We had a picnic and played on one of the old train cars outside.

 

I'm not sure why his tongue is always out lately...

 

The train was really fun.

Preston did sleep through part of it but he REALLY needed a nap and was much happier when he woke up for the rest of the ride!

 

We had a great little road trip and the kids had lots of fun!



The many faces of Preston

Little Preston has some of the best faces!

 

 

 

Mr. Mischievous thinking about what he's going to do next.

 

My sweet boy.

 

"Me counting cows, Mommy!!!!!"

 

I am not sure what this face is!

 

Trying to pose like his sister does...

 

Stinker.

 

For sure getting tired of me taking his picture...

 

He is almost THREE!

Can't wait to see what he comes up with next!



Sidewalk "Squeezy" Paint

Another Pinterest summer "Must-Do."

 

 

We have made sidewalk paint a bunch of times and we love it.

 

I saw the idea on Pinterest to put it in SQUEEZE BOTTLES though and it has taken it to a whole new level of fun!!!!!

I only had 4 squeeze bottles-we need more for next time!

 

 

I mixed up a bowl of cornstarch, baking soda, water and food coloring.

I put roughly equal amounts of the cornstarch and baking soda, then added water.

I kinda just dumped it in. ;-)

 

I poured the white mixture into the squeeze bottles before I added the food coloring.

 

 

 

 

Peighton did a lot of large paintings that turned out really great!

 

Preston was more into squeezing his into a circle around him and making puddles.

 

 

I think I could have made a few gallons of this and they still would have wanted more!

Good thing cornstarch and baking soda is cheap!!!!

 

 

We ended our morning of painting and playing outside with some fun kabobs for lunch!

 

We will be getting more squeeze bottles and doing this again very soon!

 

 



Monday morning "Spear-mints"

We're having a great summer so far!
The kids and I have been working our way through my pins on Pinterest and having a GREAT time doing it!

So many great ideas.

 

 

We tried a little baking soda, vinegar and food coloring "Spear-mint" one morning.

 

HUGE success.

 

Preston felt like such a big kid...he got his own dropper and supplies.

 

We practiced a bit with plain water and the droppers first...I didn't really know how crazy Preston would get with them!

 

He did so well though!

And he loved all the fizzing!

 

He was very serious with his project.

 

He giggled almost every time it fizzed up!

 

We decided next time we need bigger pans and more colors!!!

 

 



A little "Kalona Days" F-U-N!

We decided to try out Kalona Days this weekend.

We weren't sure what the weather was going to be like Saturday so we made a quick trip over Friday night just to ride the train.

 

 

 

Preston was so excited!

He loved that they got to ride in the caboose.



 

He listened very intently to the conductor giving instructions to stay in his seat!

 

An evening trip to Kalona in not complete without a stop at Yotty's Ice Cream!

It started to rain after we got our ice cream so we headed back home.

And Preston did not stop talking about the train all night!!!!!

 

 

Saturday morning the weather looked pretty good (no rain) so we went back for the parade.

 

Preston's favorite part was the John Deere tractor and grain cart that went through.

Peighton's? The Jolly Ranchers!

 

After the parade we stuck around for the kid's Pedal Pull competition.

 

Peighton was going for the "Most accessorized Pedal Puller" award.

She was all business as she watched the other kids!

 

She did AWESOME and pulled 23 feet!

She'll be making another appearance at the fair in a few weeks.

She loves a good pedal pull. 

 

Before the rain moved in we got one more ride on the train.

 

 

The kids had a great time at Kalona Days!

Preston has been "Choo-Chooing" around the house ever since!!!!!

We are onto FIRST GRADE!

Peighton finished up kindergarten last week.

 

She had a fun day of playing and a picnic at school that Daddy and Grandma Sue even got to come to!

 

 

First day!

 

                    

    Last day!

 

Preston needed in the pictures too.

 

He was "looting" things here.

He will be ready for "Deer Camp" soon.

 

Peighton had a fabulous time in kindergarten and learned so much!

She can read (very well!), add and subtract, spell like a champ and so many more things!!

 

We can't wait for first grade!