Gma noticed a tree partially down, so the men came to the rescue. The cabin was not damaged and no one was hurt, so it was a very successful completed task! 
Torrie loves sticks. Peter loves dogs. A great combination for some fun! 
Momma water torture! Now it looks like Jamison is scared...but that is not at all the case! It started out as a playful threat in hopes to ward off the upcoming water fight but then is seemed exciting and fun. 
If you dont believe me, check out the smile afterwards! 
Another sign that the boys are growing up. I looked out the window and this is what I saw. Take notice, Pats hands are not on the steering wheel. 
Look at that smile on Jamison...and I think at that same time Pat is saying "TURN!"
Now Peter's turn. Good think he had a lot of practice with the pink jeep. 
Also this week, Jamison started his martial arts class again. He is VERY excited to get his gear package including his muay thai clothes and assorted pads. he started class with leg lifts, push ups and laps with a heavy ball. That kid is going to have a 6-pack in no time. 
Dear Santa, The boys do not need fancy toys for Christmas, just send them the boxes from all the other kids toys and they will have a blast. Sincerly, Mom
Also this week, Jamison started his martial arts class again. He is VERY excited to get his gear package including his muay thai clothes and assorted pads. he started class with leg lifts, push ups and laps with a heavy ball. That kid is going to have a 6-pack in no time. Dear Santa, The boys do not need fancy toys for Christmas, just send them the boxes from all the other kids toys and they will have a blast. Sincerly, Mom
So earlier in the week i asked the boys who wanted to go to the game. Both said no. Then when I explained to them what happens at a game, and it usually involves soda, popcorn and a brat they both wanted to go. So I left it up to chance, a coin toss. Peter won the toss. I assured Jamison that he and dad would have a great time together doing really fun things at home. Peter's behavior was very quiet and reserved. I think he was WAY overwhelmed by all that was going on, or a little scared, I am not sure.
I was happy to see Big City Ray in his seats (the guy by Peter). There were also a lot of kids at the game, including an 11yo chatty boy who it was also his first game too. Even 4-F16's flew by! That was really cool and really loud!
There was a lot of action on our end of the field, I could not ask for more!
This was the Lambeau Leap for one of the touchdowns on our end.
And as promised, a bowl of popcorn...... And a soda. He picked out rootbeer, i dont like rootbeer. 
So i did not sneak any sips. While walking back down to our seats a man asked Peter if he could have some of his popcorn. And in a very loud voice (for even Lambeau) Peter shouted "no!" The man was a little startled and then assured him that he was only joking....Peter hovered over his popcorn not convinced. 
Final score 34-7. Packers came away with a victory! and Peter had a good time! He asked when he could go to another one. Hopefully I have steered him clear of the "purple side" 
Earlier in the weekend we went out to the farm! A little muddy but we were able to pick some yummy tomatoes, potatoes and broccoli!!! 
Jamison is ready for the new season of Survivor!!!! He has been wearing his buff every day since the first show! I am telling ya, he will be on season 42!
Pat promised the boys that when we got the couch and the tv our first movie we would watch would be StarWars IV, which is really the first. A little confusing for the 6yo but they are catching on. There was no talk of the CloneWars, JarJar Binks. This was the real thing. I guess we are featuring one a month so in six months they will be up to speed and know it all! Let the force be with you. 
The rest of the weekend was spent with our cousins Grayson and Zachary...oh, and their parents too. Jamison actually took a liking to little baby Zachary, fed him and was pretty proud that he was able to get him to stop crying at times. Couldnt get him to change a diaper. Peter, still not into babies. 
While Matt is off taking pictures at a wedding, we took the kids to the apple orchard. I was told that they had a bad pollination year...bummer because I am all ready to make apple sauce, apple cake, apple muffins and apple pie! 
There were enough to fill a couple bags and snack on a few but that was about it but we still had fun!, Zachary had so much fun he fell asleep.
A trip to the apple farm would not be complete without carmel apples, cider and apple doughnuts. 
After a well needed rest we took the Van boys to Stewart Park. It was a little chilly and i THOUGHT that bringing buckets and shovels would distract the boys from the lake and just play in the sand. I thought wrong. 
Rain boots were filled with water....pants were soaked...so we took it all off! 
Then we had to take it really all off! They were not getting into my car as sandy as they were. 
The IronMan event was on sunday so we spent some time on the front porch cheering the riders on!.They had the most beautiful day for this event, but I still think they are all crazy to swim 2miles, ride 112 miles and run a marathon. Good Gravy! The kids picked their favorite color and cheered for the riders with that color bike and/or jerseys. I felt bad for the riders in pink, so that was the color I chose. 
On sunday we took the whole crew on a hike through Blue Mounds State Park. Matt and Kim decided that they can shoot for the medium hike...i think Matt would have reconsidered if he know he was going to have Grayson on his sholders for half of it. 
We made it to the tower! And we all climbed up top! Peter was still a little nervous about the heights but he made it to the top! 
I dont know, which way did he go??? Thanks Matt Kim Grayson and Zachary for coming we had a great time!
As you can see the boys were not all that excited about the climb up (500ft elevation). 
They either needed a cup of coffee or a kick in the pants. 
We ignored the complaints and pushed forward to make it to the top. 
Peter was initially scared about going to the top. He is convinced that he is scared of heights. But when we reached the top he was brave enought to stand near the edge for the photo. 
The boys were pretty excited to be above the turkey vultures. Say "Devils LAke!" 
School has been going really well. Last year when the boys got off the bus, ate a snack they immediately asked for a TV show. So far this year they have asked for time on Animal Jam or Webkins. Peter enjoys earning "gems" to quickly spend on swag for his den and making friends. Jamison enjoys changing the looks of his creations "Little Goofy Monster" and "Fuzzy SmartyGhost". I have to admit, i am a little addicted to some of the games too. 
Phil, our son, has declared that he like Uncle Tim's pancake recipe. Pancakes with peanut butter and syrup. Sounds a bit too sweet for me! You think this is Jamison? well, last night be told us that he wished we named him Phil, he likes the name Phil. So we called him Phil for the rest of the night. Peter decided that he wanted to be called "Cinnamon roll".
They spent a long time in the golf ball rolling area. The Loop the loop would be the favorite. 
The next favorite was the eco-friendly constuction project. Surprisingly Peter took to the plumbing area. Pat thought Jamison would have been the plumber. Jamison actually stepped into the manager roll, instructing all the other kids what they need to do. A sign of a good manager is when he gets his hands dirty himself. Jamison picked up the slack working with the insulation, roofing and brick laying. 
Next, mechanic. Although they gave their best effort, they could not find the place where the muffler goes. I guess those swedish cars are hard to work on. 
At the news station they provided an entertaining news program. My favorite was when Jamison was doing the weather in front of the green screen, Peter replaced the map with a picture of a giant cow. 
The Milwaukee Art Museum was designed by Santiago Calatrava. Impressed that I know that? I learned that when my sister took me to MOMA to see a whole Calatrava exhibit! The Art Museum was right across the street from the childrens museum so we had to stop for a photo. 
Inside was really cool...Katie could go on about the structure....but i did not retain most of the stuff that she told me. I am pretty excited that I remembered who made it. 
Jamison really liked the blown glass structure that looked like "an octopus with thousands of legs". Well, there it is was, the last day of summer vacation! Or was it? 
The boys picked out their school clothes, packed their backpacks and stood for the obligatory first day photo.! Waited for the bus to arrive. And when it did, the bus driver said that there was a fire at the Primary Center (1st and 2nd grades) and that they closed the school. No school. 2 VERY SAD boys, in tears and one sad mom because I was looking forward to a day off. 
We ran some errands that I needed to do and then stopped at the grocery store for the makings of Tony's meatball subs and ice cream. Ice cream makes everything better. We watched a movie, played some video games and relaxed. The boys were still sad. The 5th and 8th grader that we share the bus stop with did not understand why the boys were sad, they would have loved that their school would burn. So, we learned that a fan in one of the storage rooms stopped working but the electrical current was still flowing, and ignited a cart of books/instructional materials that were close by. 
Later in the day it was announced that the school would open 2 Sept, but 2 offices and 1 classroom would not be open until later in the week. That one classroom was Peter's, so it will be interesting to hear where he will spend his day. So this morning....we picked out our clothes, packed our backpacks and took the "second-first day" of school picture. 
And I pushed them onto the bus. Please take them.! I havent received a call...so they must be there! Now it is time for some coffee!