May 2017

Jack is a good big brother :)

There's a first for everything...

A little fun in the creek

Backyard wildlife to add to the list: wood ducks

We got to host some new friends from Bosnia and Albania
for supper.  We really enjoyed them and wished it would
have been a longer stay!

 Our friend Donna, the boys, and I kicked off the summer with the Tulip Festival Parade.

The floats are amazing and I love all the Dutch costumes.

It was a beautiful day and great way to start our sumer!

Workin' it with a wave for some candy

Brinkman Family trip to The Wisconsin Dells

(Upper Dells Boat Tour, Lost Canyon wagon ride, mini golf and go-karts, Dells photography museum, Cave of the Mounds, and House on the Rock)

Cookout the first night

Comparing height :)

Upper Dells boat tour and hikes

Jack is always up for adventures. He's fun to have along!

Grandma planned everything...down to activities for the kids.
THANKS MOM!

Hanging out at the house

All tuckered out after a great trip!

What a great trip! Hope we get to do it again somewhere else!

April 2017

April Fools Day

The boys LOVE April Fools.  In fact we've been hearing "April Fools, got ya' real good" since last April Fools day anytime they play a trick.  I was gone at a conference all day, which I was thankful for at first...until I realized they had all day to plan. :)  They (Ryan obviously included) rigged up shredded paper to dump on my head and the creepy fake kids hiding in our bed.  I surprised them with an empty pizza box for supper.  I think they won.  There's always next year...

Ryan told me they were hiding from me and I had to find them.
This is what I found under the sheet.  Super creepy...way to realistic

Helping make bread

Helping clean a bowl...

Ryan's ditch burn definitely impressed three little boys

The hero of the night

RIP
Chacos
2005-2016
(Gotta know when to say good-bye :P)

March 2017

Getting some warmer days...or is this from April or May and
I just organized my pictures wrong?
The woods get a lot of traffic from these guys.

 These guys love their little cousin!

All out war in the living room...

I don't think they realize what a fun dad they have! ;)

February 2017

Lane turned 4!  It's hard to wait for your birthday when you're the last of your brothers to have one, but it finally arrived!  He wanted an army birthday, so we went with a tank and got to celebrate with the Dreesmans.

Happy Birthday to this FUN guy!

Cousins :)

Birthday LEGOS from Grandma Nan & Bopa.
Grandma Nan's turn to get to help with the building!

Taking Goofy and Stewart out for an adventure

The big guys do a great job of including and looking out for Jesse.

January 2017

"Super Pup" helping Alisa with dishes

Lane did a great job training Jesse to do "the chore" after I
explained to him how the time spent training would benefit him later. :)

Pretending to be angels I believe...don't let them fool you ;)

Jack turned SIX!

He picked a LEGO theme for his party.  Grandpa Gus and Grandma Nan were down to help with trim for the new windows, so we had Jack's party while they were here.  Aunt Alisa, Aunt Erin, and our friend Donna also came to help celebrate.

This guy LOVES his Birthday! 

Lane sneaking in a blow at the candles :)

Working on a new LEGO set with Grandpa

We flew down to see Grammi & Papa on Jack's actual birthday.  He got quite the royal treatment from the flight attendants and pilots.  He got announced as he walked down the aisle to his seat, got to help the flight attendant pick up trash, deliver a coffee, and give an announcement over the intercom, and sat in the pilot's seat as we got off the plane.  Then he got a party with Grammi and Papa, complete with the Spiderman cake Grammi made for him.  He was sad to see his Birthday go.  A year IS a long time to wait for another one!

Instant family classics--my new favorites

Safety First...

December 2016

The best gift this December:

BLAKE AUGUST

Perfect little guy!

Monkey w/ his cymbals :)

Monkey see, monkey do

Snowman hot tubs
Jack saw this idea somewhere and we couldn't pass up doing it!

Alisa's back!!

Our latest discovery: Creek Hockey

We discovered the back side of the creek was frozen when Jana and the kids were here, and Jana had the idea to play hockey on it.  (...and she's even on the other side of the family!)