Backyard Fun

...some of the many benefits of living outside of town...

Ready...    Aim...

FIRE!

What a fun dad :)

Ryan brought a skid home the other night to
do some work around the yard...Jack got to help!

As you can imagine, someone was NOT happy when bedtime came!

State Fair

What a great way to spend the evening as a family...at the Iowa State Fair...Ryan's idea!

"See that pile of ducks?  When they get bigger..."

This one's for Grandpa Gus
(This is just prior to eating supper at the Pork Producers booth)

Sneaking a peak at the horse show

Watching more horses
Mom, Lane, and...ewww!

Can't forget the John Deere exhibit...
we could've spent the entire day here!

Marcie & Taylor's

Ryan went to a Cards game last weekend w/ some friends and was nice enough to drop the boys and I off in Iowa City  on the way through so we could spend the weekend with Marcie and Taylor.  (Don't worry, if M&T weren't there, Ryan would NEVER do such a thing as to drop his wife and kids off in Iowa City!)  What a fun weekend with these two--they're great with the boys!

These two were buddies!

Aunt Date with Jana

Jack got to go on a little date with Aunt Jana the other night.  We really value the boys' relationships with all their aunts and uncles so we like to encourage time with them without us around.  Thanks for taking him out, Jana!

First ice cream...

 

Happy little guy with his treat!

 Then the pet store or "zoo", as Jack told us, to see some animals.

EVERYONE getting in on the fun!

A friend loaned us some riding toys that her son has out grown and her daughter is still too small for.  One of these made it into the house because, well, it is awesome and because Ryan and I believe in having fun...and Ryan at least is still very much a kid at heart! 

Lane was a bit heavier than Jack expected
when he asked to give him a ride in his
trailer so I had to help out a bit.

Ryan taking his turn...

Pile on!

When I asked my friend the weight limit on this thing she said "You break it, you buy it!" :)  I would have no problem buying her a new one...it's well worth the fun...and then I could pick up one for us while I'm at it!

Grandma's Photo Shoot

Thought some of these were too good not to share.  Thanks for taking these of the boys, mom!

Sweet Boy

Donkey Pile!

I have a feeling this is the first of many similar shots!

Brothers

Lately...

Here's some of what we've been up to lately...

Jack holding up his end of the "I push you-you push me" deal.
(They were actually moving quite quickly!)

Picking black raspberries with mom 

Reading with Jana during our fun stay at she and Billy's last week

Laner Baner

We went to the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum today.  I'd been wanting to take Jack for awhile, and today the AC I knew the museum would have was enough to finally get me there!  Should'a packed a picnic lunch and some nap mats! :)

Inside an armored tank 

Mom & Lane

Checking out some model planes

Carousel ride at Ankeny Summer Fest

Doesn't get much better than that!