4th OF JULY, 2012

Well, I've got to start by saying how different it was to be home on the fourth of July, rather than in St. Charles with the McCabes!  With the Fourth being on a Wednesday this year, we were unable to take our annual trip to St. Charles and we really missed it and the fun time that we usually have with our friends there!

We started off the morning with red, white, and blue, fruit and yogurt parfaits.  Yummy!

Next, we met up with some friends at the parade downtown.  It was an extremely long and very hot parade!  But, the kids ended up with tons of candy and had a blast!

Happy 4th of July, 2012!

Brady waving his flag.

After the parade, we headed home to cool off in the air condition, eat lunch, and put the boys down for a nap.  Corn on the cob on the 4th--can't beat it!

Last summer, Brady loved to eat corn on the cob......

this summer, his two-year-old stubborn attitude has him thinking differently. 
This was the look that we got when we were telling him that he had to at least take a bite of his corn on the cob before he could leave the table.

Then he turned into being silly and fake laughing.

...and making silly faces.

Tyler joined into the silly face act.

And still with a smile on his face, we made him take a bite of his corn.  The corn that we know he likes, but his stubbornness is getting the best of him.

He took a bite and then the tears started flowing.  Boy, was he mad!

And then this look.  :)

Maybe he will like corn on the cob the next time we have it!

After the evening cooled down a bit, we spent time outside playing while we waited to leave for the fireworks.  The motorcycle is always a good way to pass time.

I really love this!

They look like they are best buds, however, I think they scream at each other more than anything.

This was the first year that we actually went to see fireworks and the first year that the boys have tried sparklers.  They didn't really like the sparklers much, but they did love to watch the fireworks!

Tyler enjoying the fireworks on the hot fourth of July night.

Brady cuddled up with Dad on the blanket to watch the fireworks.

It was such a hot 4th of July, but we made the most of it and got to take the boys to see their first ever fireworks on the 4th!

OMAHA ZOO

We decided to break up the drive on the way home from Colorado and made a stop in Omaha to visit the zoo.  We left Colorado on Sunday morning, arrived in Omaha Sunday evening, swam at the hotel pool, and got a good night sleep.  After breakfast Monday morning, we headed to the Omaha zoo for a day of fun!

Walk, stroller, walk, stroller, walk, stroller.

At least they got some exercise!

This big guy and I were giving each other kisses.  It was so funny!  He kept kissing the glass when I put my face up to the window.  He did it probably 5 different times.  Too funny!

Snack time in the shade.

We saved the train ride for the end of the day.  They absolutely loved it!  They always love train rides!  Brady started to get pretty sleeping on the ride, but never did fall asleep.  We sat right behind the engine (boys' choice), so I'm sure the loud whistle and the engine kept him awake.  Apparently he was so tired that he couldn't even give us a full smile after the ride.  All we got was this one side lift thing.  :)

Again with the half-smile.  But Tyler sure does look happy and awake!

Checking out the penguins from below.

The aquarium.  We spent a lot of time in here looking at all the sharks, sting rays, fish, sea turtles, etc.  I think we all loved this part.  And it was a plus that we were in air condition!

It was a great day at the Zoo!

COLORADO TRIP--JOSH AND LIZ'S WEDDING!

We took the long trip to Fort Collins, CO last week for a very special occasion--Josh and Liz's wedding!

Lee was unable to drive out with us, due to work issues, so my mom, the boys and I left in the van last Wednesday morning and arrived to Fort Collins 12 hours later on Wednesday evening.  It's a ten hour drive, but with two kids, it easily turns into a 12 hour trip.  The boys, however, traveled very well!

Josh met us at our hotel shortly after we arrived to go swimming with the kids.  The boys swam many times a day at our hotel and loved every second of it! 

Josh, Tyler, and Brady in the pool.

Tyler swimming.

Brady swimming.

Thursday morning after breakfast at the hotel, we headed out to an awesome park!  Liz and her mom met us at the park for some play time.  This park was great!  It included a large park with awesome equipment, tunnels, bridges, etc. for the kids to run around and play on.  It also had a splash park for them to cool off in and it also included a large sand box area.  The boys loved it!

Brady coming down the tunnel slide that was built inside a rock wall.

Tyler cooling off in the splash park.

Spring Canyon Park in Fort Collins.  Great!

There was a little creek down below outside our hotel room window.  The boys enjoyed watching the ducks swim by.

Quiet time before nap.  Watching a movie on the little DVD player.

Friday evening was the rehearsal.  The boys weren't quite sure of what to think about everything and everyone.  They were pretty quiet, but they DID walk down together and even holding hands! 

Me and my little handsome boys.

Brady, Mom, Tyler, and Uncle Josh.

Walking down together and holding hands!

Of course Liz, being the awesome person that she is, thought about the kids and bought a bag full of fun toys to play with at dinner on Friday night.  These glasses were in the bag of goodies.  Tyler got a kick out of them!

Lee flew into town on Saturday morning for the wedding.  Their wedding was outside at a bed and breakfast in Fort Collins.  It was beautiful!  I didn't take many pictures of the actual wedding.  I was more focused on the wedding itself and making sure the boys stayed partly quiet.  I'm hoping to see some great photos from the photographer of the wedding.  The boys walked down the "aisle" on Saturday, but did not hold hands.  Brady was a good 2 feet in front of Tyler, actually!  It was still cute!

Our family before the wedding.

The boys with Lauryn, who was also in the wedding with her big brother, Dylan.  Lauryn is Tyler's age, but was just a smidge taller than Brady!  They all looked so cute!

Handsome Brady.

I love this picture!  Grandma with her boys.

Before the ceremony, Liz and the kids took a horse and carriage ride to the other side of the building before walking down.  The boys had fun with this!

The groom with his nephews.

Josh and Liz Freese!

Tyler can't quite get enough of his Uncle Josh.

Pretty sure one of the boys took this picture of my mom and I.  It turned out pretty good, though!

Looks like these two are about ready to kiss, but really they are just checking to see how much taller Lauryn is than Brady.  Again, Lauryn is 4 and Brady is 2.

My new sis and I!  Doesn't she look beautiful!

Bride and Groom doing their first dance.

Josh and Liz dancing with Brady and Tyler.

Tyler danced with Lauryn for just a few seconds!  :)

There was a basement with a pool table and dart board.  It was a perfectly cool place to cool off from the heat upstairs for a little bit.

Josh dancing and swinging with Tyler and Me dancing and swinging with Brady.  We did A LOT of this!

I even got to dance with my hubby for one dance!

CONGRATULATIONS to Josh and Liz!

We are so happy for them and there future together!

It was such a great vacation and fun wedding!