A couple Fridays ago we met the Wentlands (Nolan, Nyle and Megan) at the John Deere Pavillion on a rainy day. The kids had a blast running from tractor to tractor. Maddox mothered Nyle, who is one, and I think I only lost Kennon in the building a couple of times…which is pretty good!
They are sitting on the tire/wheel of the huge combine in the building. Kennon was really struggling with his allergies this day, despite the rain driving the pollen out of the air, so he kinda has his allergy smile on. He has been on allergy medication daily since about Mother's Day. I'm hoping, here as the blooming season ends, that we can taper off the medications as they seem to affect his mood….although could be just the terrible 2's working their way out. Maddox has become so 'posed' in her pictures. She will sit nicely and actually smile well!! I love it.
Kennon, Nyle and Maddox…another pretty smile.
The weekend before Memorial Day weekend the City of Bettendorf hosted a public works day. We attended with Papa Dick after the kid's last soccer game for the season (which Kennon didn't participate in after a raging temper tantrum at the start….I whisked him away to the MS walk that I was participating in and he walked along with me happy as a lark. Maddox had a great last game and in general a really good season) . The City had all their large equipment out for the kids to get on and operate as well as face painting, a flower planting station, pop corn hot dogs chips and drinks… all for free!! It was a great day….so much fun….we were happy to share it with Papa Dick. The kids both got to operate the backhoe TWO TIMES…. I think this event isn't quite known about yet so the line wasn't too long for the kids to get to enjoy the ride two times. They even got to operate the scoop itself… PRETTY COOL. KTK was in heaven. We also got to ride the Loop Bus which is a bus that goes between all 4 cities of the Quad Cities (Bettendorf Davenport Moline and Rock Island) It is different from the city bus as it's ceiling is all glass…so you can look up and see the clouds as well as the Quad City landmarks go by. It was so fun…we did that two times too!! We are so blessed to be living in such a fabulous community.
Papa Dick , Maddox and Kennon on The Loop Bus (in their soccer shirts still!!!)
Maddox in the city loader above and the snow plow below.
May 19th was the kids' last day of Church School. It was a sad day as they both love to go and I certainly love the 'free' time at home. They put on a great program with lots of cute songs, hand motions, and props and then we had brownies in the gym. I was AMAZED at how animated both Kennon and Maddox were during the singing portion. They both belted out the songs word for word…much improved compared to their program at Christmas time. Kennon didn't really sing much at that event but this one he was a movin' his mouth for all the songs. The director had told me a couple weeks before the event that Kennon 'has just been a practicing his songs all morning long…belting them out'. They have both grown in Christ through Our Savior Lutheran Preschool. I am so pleased. In fact Maddox has even started doing the prayer at night before dinner, and even sometimes lunch. And I don't mean the 'singing prayer that they learn at school' this is a full fledged prayer where she thanks God for what she is thankful for. Really special. Both Maddox and Kennon are signed up for several summer camps at Church School as well as Vacation Bible School which is the week of June 9th. I'll be happy for them to get back into the school routine, as will they.
Kennon is on the bottom right…I love the kid top right doing the big yawn!! Classic.
Maddox is second from the left in the yellow. She has her hair braided and is not that gal with the white pig tail holders…that is her friend Loretta.
Kennon, Eliana (one of Maddox's 'friends' from her class at OSL) and Maddox
I love this picture!
Last Friday was beautiful out and I took the kids over to Davenport to see Eric and I's Myrtle street house…. It actually looks pretty good with nice flowers and they re-did the back deck. I don't know what it is, but something about seeing your FIRST home being kept up makes ya feel good. Anyhow I think it was confusing to Maddox and Kennon to see 'another' house as they as kids only really know the Judge Road house so we just drove by quick and then headed to good ol' Vandeveer Park and Conservatory. We had a picnic lunch of TB (Taco Bell…I exposed Maddox to Taco Bell burritos and she is hooked…asking for one now every time we drive by…hey what can I say..she IS my daughter :) and then played at the park, took a quick tour of the conservatory and then sat and watched the HUGE fountain. It is such a beautiful green park and I have lots of fond memories running around the outside sidewalk for miles and miles and just always seeing the park going to and from 2113 Myrtle. Good memories in that neck of the woods.
There's that pretty smile again…..
We sat and watched the fountain for quite a long time….especially KTK, MLK just really wanted to get into the fountain…..!! I could have sat there all afternoon as well. So pretty, the sounds and the beautiful flowers and the beautiful blue sky… So glad to NOT be working this particular day :) !! I imagine I'm going to get the look Maddox has on her face in the picture below many a times between now and the time that she is 18!!
Memorial Day afternoon we headed down to the Quad City Criterium. Eric and I have been attending the Critierium together I'd say almost yearly since we met in 2003 and I remember going to the Criterium with Mom many moons ago. It is a tradition and most of you know I LOVE my traditions. We signed Maddox and Kennon up for the FREE kid's race and they did sooooo good!! Any time Eric and I decide to do something 'different' with the kids we prepare ourselves for meltdowns and frustration but with this event the kids both had a blast!! They are both sooo good on their bikes and it's a good thing because the race was uphill the entire way…. Their 3:30 start was delayed by a thunderstorm and a crash in the women's race but both kids did well waiting their turn. It did help that all the kids waiting to race cycled around on this basketball court getting their legs warmed up together. Imagine like 20 kids ages 3-10 all ridding around in an uncontrolled environment….. yikes!!…I only witnessed a couple of collisions. We were so proud of the kids when their race finally started at like 4:45. . Maddox took off like a shot as did Kennon. Their only complaint was that the race was 'too short'. Eric has been taking the kids, almost nightly, on epic rides. They ride to the fire station on Crow Creek Drive which is about 2.5 miles however they are amping up to ride the big hill down to the base of Middle road which would add another mile or so. Won't Kennon be happy to see his pedal bike from Grandpa Jim and Grandma Jean on Saturday!!
Kennon and Maddox listening to some instructions from one of the race directors in the above picture…. This guy, who is named Moon…for real... (as you'll see in the next picture) is a bit alternative and has a ton of tattoos and those huge holes in his ears from rings…. (I don't know what they are called). I'm pretty sure Kennon's eyes are locked on those ear holes rather than listening to directions. However in the below pictures he is getting the inside scoop from one of the pro women riders that had just finished her race. She was super fun, interactive and really seemed to be giving Kennon all the inside information. I think all she really needed to say to him was 'go fast'….!! When you are 3 that's all that really counts right?
And they're off…. I was too busy trying to take pictures I totally forgot to get a great video. You can't see it but it is totally uphill from the start! Maddox and Kennon are on the right side during the video.
Each race participant got a free ice cream from the local candy/ice cream shop, Lagomarcino's. So fun!
Just a few tidbits….
There is still lots of action behind our house…well earth moving action. They are still working on changing the grade which actually the kids have lost a bit of interest in. Kennon still loves to see the diggers but Maddox not so much. I could set my watch by them. They start at 7am ( sometimes on Saturday too!!) go in for lunch at noon, back out at 12.30 and then quittin' time anytime between 3:30 and 5. We are excited to see the next phase.
The kids spend most of their days outside now. We have the yard and flowers really looking pretty good. Kennon LOVES to water as I mentioned and Priya ( the girl next door) got a swing set last week… plus then all the usuals…bike ridding, chalk etc. Kennon has REALLY been into his little green Little Tikes mower lately. He loves to push that around. His other favorite is playing baseball or basketball. He is often found hitting balls off the tee and even is pretty good with Eric tossing him the ball. He loves to go next door to try to shoot hoops in Priya's tall basketball hoop. Maddox is pretty good at T ball herself but more often would rather ride her bike or play with the neighbor girls. We have had to do a bit of counseling about NOT just running down to the neighbors house without telling us as well as NOT crossing the street by herself. She has been doing better the last week or so. She wants to be so independent…. and just doesn't quite have the skills to make the best decisions as of yet.
Today I was making bacon ( which is a rarity) for a new salad I"m trying for dinner. I said to Maddox and Eric ( not really thinking anyone was listening) 'mmmmm this bacon is so good…we should have bacon more often….' and Maddox said with this huge grin and with this completely animated voice ' yah…!!!….I LOVE bacon' Eric and I looked at each other like….?? what??? where have you had bacon? It was so funny!!
Last night we went to Chipotle after church and then through the drive through at McD's for ice cream sundaes. It was beautiful out last night so we thought we'd eat them on our back deck. I was feeling rather sugary and ordered 4 chocolate chip cookies in the drive through to go with our ice cream. Maddox was shocked and said ' Mom…..did you just order cookies?' I said 'Yes I did' and she said ' even with the ice cream???' and I said 'Yes' . She sat for just a split second and then said with the same animated voice ' YES…this is the best day ever!!' So funny!! McD's has the best chocolate chip cookies if anyone cares to know. YUMMY! Have a GGGRRRREEEAT week!! Birthday week for KTK.
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