Bar-B-Q Days 2014

If any of you know anyone who lives in Belle Plaine,

there is a good chance you know what Bar-B-Q days are.

 

It's the annual festival thrown in Belle Plaine every year, usually at the half-way point of the summer.  They are famous for their Bar-B-Q sandwiches and awesome fireworks.

 

The past few years we have missed out on most of the BBQ days festivities.  The only one we have regularly done has been the parade.  M had yet to experience his first carnival ride and BBQ days fireworks show...the first year he was too little, the second year he had hand, foot and mouth and last year, I was a wimp and had to work the next day, so we all missed out.

But this year...This year we were going!!! 
I was very nervous about his getting upset or scared with the loud booms, but he did really well.  He actually got up and did a little dancing during "Roar" (did I mention the fireworks are choreographed to music?)

He also loved going on a couple rides, but a couple rides were all he really wanted to do.  I think I have pictures of myself on a couple of the EXACT SAME rides when I was his age.

Now the BBQs, on the other hand, have lost their magic.  My mom's cousin Maynard would not be pleased.  He came up with the original recipe and they have been sorely lacking the past couple of years.  Hope they get it straightened out soon!

Hope you're ready for a surge of pics from that weekend, cause here they are!!!

Waiting for the ride to start! (We don't know the little boy behind him)

Driving safely!

That smile makes me cringe when I think of the coming teen years :)

 

 

My Dad, Grandpa and aunt Mary

 

 

M had lots of friends and cousins to sit by during the parade.
Sharing was difficult at times :/

 

 

Last float of the parade

 

 

My spunky Grandpa!

 

 

Daddy and M getting ready for fireworks

 

Mommy and M being silly

Claiming his spot :)  You gotta do it early if you want a good seat!

Enjoying his corn dog!
 

Gorgeous!

M did very well.  He loved the fireworks and keeps asking to see them again.
 

Until next year!

"Plastics"

My sisters have taken their daughters to an open gym hour at a local gymnastics place several times.

 

I'll admit...when Kate asked me to go one Friday, I was hesitant, but also desperate to get out of the house.  I explained to M that we would be going to Gymnastics.  He had no idea what that meant.  We'd be jumping in with our eyes closed.

 

And that's what he did.  Well, maybe not with his eyes closed, but he definitely jumped!

 

It was wonderful and he LOVED it!!!

 

Jumping on the trampoline!

 

Jayde on trampoline

 

 

Love the face!

 

 

 

Miss Brooklyn - love the arms!

How can you NOT smile in the block pit?

 

 

Oh so sweaty!

Afterwards, we went to McD's in hopes the littles would fall asleep on the way home.

No such luck!

 

All I heard was "Mom, I want to go back to plastics."

 

"Michael, can you say 'Gym'?"

"Gym"

"Nastics?"

"Nastics"

 

"Gym-nastics"

 

"Plastics"

 

I felt like I was in the friends episode where Joey tries to learn French.

 

We have been back to "plastics" one time since then, but it's only a winter/spring thing, so it is now done til next year.

Good thing Papa and Nanny have a trampoline!



Michael turns 3 (almost 2 months ago)

Hello, all!

 

As is my usual fashion, I am terribly behind in updating this blog.

So much has happened in the past 9 months!

 

We are finally homeowners again!

We closed on our new home on December 20, 2013.

What we assumed would be a nice, easy December turned into drama when there were issues with our appraisal that was needed in order for the bank to fund our mortgage.

I am not exaggerating when I say it was down to the wire (literally, the papers came 45 minutes late for closing)!

Finally all the stress of our "homeless" 6 months came to an end!

We took a couple days to move our stuff in and spent our first night at the house on Sunday, December 22nd.

We had lots of helpers, between use of trucks and trailers, heavy lifting and watchers of the little man, we hope they all know how appreciated their help was!

 

The new house!

 

 

 



Believe it or not, this was after I had been cleaning and organizing for several hours!
Looking into living room from dining room/kitchen.

 

Even though we moved in just a few days before Christmas, we wanted to celebrate our First Christmas in our new home.

That meant putting up the Christmas Tree!

 

 

 

Shortly after, and by that I mean a couple months, we had the families over to celebrate Michael's Third Birthday on February 15th!

He is completely into Mickey this year and that was his requested theme!

 

His Mickey cake made by Mommy

Mickey Cookies

Mickey Centerpiece

Michael with Mom and Dad

Blowing out the candle!

M and Godfather Andy

M and Godmother "Jo Jo"

M with Grandma and Grandpa Polingo

M and Godfather Joey

M with Papa and Nanny

After a busy day with no nap, M fell asleep at 5:45.  Awake again at 8:45 :(
It was a late night after that!

 

 

We finally got around to having M's Third Birthday Pictures taken today!

He did awesome!

I must have been telling him he was very handsome a little too much, cause when someone asked him if he was getting his pictures taken, he said, "Yes.  I am very handsome."

 

 

 

I happen to think he's right.

 

Happy Third Birthday,

my Handsome Michael!