Quad City Balloon Festival 2012

Kennon getting his first glimpse at the balloons...he looks thrilled doesn't he??

Maddox 'posing'...Nash and Nolan Wentland in the background checking out the balloons. 

So pretty

Nash checking out Kennon...

Nolan checking out Kennon...the Wentlands are a very touchy feely family :) 

Maddox decided to crash the Wentland's family picture....sorry Wentlands!! 

Nash, Maddox, Kennon, Nolan, and Jason Wentland

Maddie  Millage and Maddox 

Maddie almost always has a pretty skirt on....

The balloon glow on the 'night' setting on my camera

So we made our annual trip over to East Moline last night to join the Wentland family for the Quad City balloon festival. Unlike last year the weather was perfect for balloons. Our neighbors, the Millage family, joined us too. We even stayed long enough to catch the balloon glow because the weather was so comfortable.  The kids had a great time and so did Eric and I. It was nice to see everyone and let the kids run around like hooligans playing football with the dad's in between the balloon launch and balloon glow. Maddox and Kennon were tired pups when we got home. Thanks for joining us Wentlands and Millages.  I love a good tradition.  The other pictures are just random shots from my iPhone.  We are certainly enjoying the fabulous weather and have been spending a lot of time outside playing and getting little outdoor house projects done before it gets too cold.  Quick health update. I forgot to mention that I took Kennon for his ear tube check up a couple of weeks ago.  The Dr said his tubes look good thus far and are still in place but they will likely fall out on their own in the next few months. At that point, if he starts getting ear infections again they will likely put a second set of tubes in as well as takes his adenoids out while they are in there.  Dr. Dvorak was happy with how they looked and said we are just in the waiting game at this point in time.  BUT>>>>>the big news we don't have to use those darn ear plugs in the bathtub anymore.  Just have to keep his ears dry if he submerges his head for more than 4 seconds....I don't see that happening anytime soon so we'll keep the earplugs in the drawer for now.  I also took  Kennon for his 15 month check up a couple of weeks ago and he is doing well.  He is up to 22  or 23 pounds ( if I remember right) and received a good check up from Dr Anderson. I talked to him about Kennon's almost constant cold ( although knock on wood, he seems fine right now) and that I thought it was allergies and he said I could give him a daily dose of OTC allergy medicine like Zyrtec during allergy seasons. I haven't even had a chance to pick it up but we'll see how we fair the rest of the season. Dr. Anderson recommended continuing with the Lactaid milk until he was 2 years old but to go ahead and give him regular cheese and yogurt.  Unfortunately with the colder weather his eczema seems to be coming back a bit.... But, otherwise he is doing well. He is officially in the TODDLER room at Kindercare now and doing well. He actually took a 2.5 hour nap on Friday on a cot.  AMAZING!!  He is eating well and is very enthusiastic about using his utensils although not all that efficient :)  Keep trying Kennon!!  He is a happy boy but definitely has a temper...look out if he doesn't get his way. The neighbors can attest to that.... plenty o' screaming coming out of the Kies' windows . Maddox is doing well at Kindercare and at Our Savior Church school. She generally comes home all smiles from both schools and hasn't had any potty accidents.  The 3's classroom at Kindercare seems much more structured  compared to the 2's which is good for Maddox and I love the BIBLE stories she is learning at Our Savior.  We take her for her 3 year old check up in a few weeks. Well ta ta for now!!  Off to bed ( or well back to the Nebraska:Wisconsin football game) Way to go Hawkeyes ...!! Finally looked good out there. Sorry to Aaron Stegemann...better luck next year Gopher!!!

Maddox playing with her Cinderella doll from Aunt Brooke

Maddox sporting her new 'Maddox' backpack....from where else....but....Pottery Barn...my nemesis!!  

Eric 'helped' the kids make a Get Well sign for Grammy!! 

Maddox reading to Kennon.  

Getting in some outdoor time....beautiful 75 degree weather 

Maddox painting the rocks.  

My happy boy

Snack time after school....a bit chilly in the shade

Balloon glow....on my iPhone.  Much better shot....gotta love the iphone.  

September Birthday Celebrations....3, 36, 65!!

Aunt Brooke flying on of Grandpa Jim's toys with Maddox and Carter

So most of you know that we had a fabulous birthday celebration last week for Dad's 65th birthday.  We also celebrated my birthday  and Maddox's 3rd birthday. It was a beautiful weekend, weather wise, and we really had just a fabulous time.  Dad wanted to do a Buffalo Troll for his party and luckily he was willing to dig the ditch for the fire pit to roast the steaks.  The steaks marinated in a speacial sauce from Thursday until Saturday afternoon and then after the fire burned down to just coals you put the steak right on the coals themselves.  A pretty cool trick.  They call it a Buffalo Troll because in the 'olden days' the settlers actually used buffalo chips in the fire intead of wood :)  We opted not to do that...thank you for not making us be too authentic Dad.  The kids had a GRAND time playing on all of Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean's 'toys'....golf cart, John Deere tractor, 4 wheeler.  Kenno was happy just running about the HUGE yard and playing with all the cool kites, airplanes, and yard games that Dad and Jean had so graciously collected for party fun. NO party is complete without a cake so of course we had birthday cake for Dad and then icecream cake on Sunday for Maddox....and ice cream sundaes for me on Friday night. Grandma Jean got the kids matching shirts to wear to the party and the Hawkeyes won so it was a GREAT day. Thanks to Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean for all the great party preparations and to Uncle Tyler, Aunt Brooke and Carter for getting the marinade and the steaks going before

Maddox playing the golf ball game

Carter getting Grandpa Jim's lawn ready for the party

Go Hawks!

Maddox and Carter checking out the baby boxelder bugs on the tree.

Maddox meeting 'Teddy' Aunt Kathy and Uncle Dave's new yellow lab puppy from Colorado

The 'Buffalo Troll' fire burning down to coals getting ready for the steak

Grandma Jean reading to the grandkids

Carter and Maddox 'snack time'

Time for a golf cart ride on Grandma Reta's old golf cart!!  It gots lots of miles in over the weekend

Kennon getting Grandpa Jim's yard ready for the party.

Aunt Brooke and Aunt Kathy playing the golf ball game with Uncle Tyler and Uncle Dave

The Crew

We listened to the Hawkeye game on the radio of Darryl and Mary's bike.

Kenno taking up chochette

Tyler, Bret, Dad and Mark conferring on how the Buffalo Troll cooking process is going to go. The marinade is already cooking in the pot.

Kennon playing a little Bags game against himself :)

Carter and Maddox using the golf game bars as gynmnastics bars

The FIRST steak....a trial run!1

Uncle Tyler keeping watch on the 'trial run' steak

Ol' Deuce and Maddox

Jaci playing sidewalk chalk with Maddox.  Aunt Veta and Great Grandma Reta look on

Why are these golf balls stuck together??...... on strings

Thanks for the matching shirts Grandma Jean

Carter capitalized on the motorcycle, or 'Mo Mo' as he calls them, from the top of Grandpa Jim's cake

Kennon in cake action...he ate more and made a bigger mess of this cake than he did at his 1st birthday

Grandpa Jim getting out Maddox's big birthday present....a BIKE.  We had her close her eyes for the big surprise.

'A BIKE' she exclaimed before she even opened the bag...she kinda knew she was getting one.

'Like this Dad??'

Carter was not too happy that the bike was for Maddox and not him.  But, they soon started sharing.

Kennon even got in on the action. I'm pretty certain he is going to grab the 'pedal free' bike when Maddox isn't looking and take off with it.  He loves outdoors toys and is all boy.

'Now I'm getting the hang of it...gotta work my balance'.

Carter's turn. Carter has a STRIDER bike so he knew right how to get on and get it going.

Another golf cart ride

Now that's how you fingerpaint CJK!!

Maddox with paint on her hands...??  I can't belive it either.  Monkey see monkey do :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Maddox