Family

We hadn't taken a family picture in a while...mainly because when we are with people I forget! Well, this week Landon needed a family picture for a poster he was doing for school...and then on Wednesday we found out Austin and Aiden needed one as well! Then I started looking through our files and realized the last time we had a picture with ALL 5 of us in it was.......February 2009. Yes, that is right...over a year and a half ago. Not good!!! So - it was time to take a new one. I think it turned out pretty good for a Thursday morning before school using our timer on the camera!

I love my family!

Sandbox fun!

There's nothing like boys and dirt! Whether it be sand in a sand box, a mud pile out back, rocks in the driveway or mulch around the plants...they love dirt! Considering I have 3 boys, they've always stayed pretty clean. Maybe I've said no to things to often but since they are getting older, I've noticed a lot more dirt in the bath tub at night!! And I'm loving it! I love seeing their dirty knees and knowing they had fun outside!!!

Lately, they love to fill their buckets with sand, then walk over to our shed and get real dirt from over there, then back for more sand, more dirt...etc...back and forth across the yard. Landon loves to make "cake" in his buckets...then they all gather under the play set so Austin can "drive" them somewhere. Usually they get me under there with them (which is fine - there' a bench - LOL) and Austin will be driving the play steering wheel, saying "we're going that way" while Aiden and Landon sit on the little table part with their buckets of sand and dirt. Fun times!

Here are some fun shots of the boys enjoying their sandbox!!!

This was one morning on a hot day in July...



Evening time with the shade of the playset...



Landon and Austin working hard...


Fun!!

Yes, they are twins!

We never forget that we have twins...there are definitely two boys at the same age, needing the same things...and double diapers (someday...maybe...potty trained...maybe???)! And sometimes I catch myself always referring to them as "the twins" instead of Austin and Aiden. But because they look so different...and act different in many ways, I never forget that they are individuals and a lot of times have to say "yes, they are twins!"

I thought I would share some pictures of the boys together...they are so darn cute!!!

Here is a collage of some pictures from before school one morning! These are some of my favorite shirts on them and make them look so grown up. We had their 2 year old pictures taken in these back in February and it's crazy to see how they are fitting them differently now! Aren't they cute and silly? I love the one of them hugging!

Here are a few shots I got back on the Fourth of July! I think they look more alike in a couple of these than they usually do...and it was fun to get some pictures of them just being silly together!

There are some things they do alike...like reading. Here are two different times this summer I found them sitting on the couch next to each other, reading books. I love the first one - both of them have one sock off and one sock on. Cute!

They love, love, love to read books...just like Landon!!


They also decided this summer that even though we got them brand new big boy beds, that they didn't need to nap in them any more! Aiden started napping in his again at the end of summer, but I honestly don't think Austin has taken one nap in his big boy bed! I have multiple shots from summer of the different places they fell asleep - couch, chair, floor - but here are two...

Aiden on the chair...

Austin on the floor among all the toys!

And I found these cute shots of Landon I had to include...this was Landon the morning I took the first pictures of the twins above (in the green and blue shirts). He was being silly!!!

Other Firsts!

Since I'm not a very good blogger lately, things are never in the order that they happen! Back before Landon started kindergarten last month, we had some other firsts. The first day of the twins going back to daycare...and Dave's first official day back to school. I wanted to be sure and include those memories here as well! :)

August 6, 2010:
This was a Friday and Austin and Aiden's first day back at TOTS, their daycare. We have a wonderful daycare through Dave's school system. It is located in an elementary school and the providers have been great for all of our boys! They all miss Landon as a lot of the teachers had him at one point. The only thing that would make the daycare better (other than being at home wtih one of us of course) is if it were at Dave's actual elementary!

I was actually out of town overnight for a health screening, so I missed this morning for Austin and Aiden, but Dave was great and took some pictures! I will start with the best one...here are Landon, Austin and Aiden all ready to go! (Landon got to spend this day with Dave at school!)


I had to include the bloopers...apparently Landon was NOT excited to have his picture taken. Notice how Austin and Aiden just keep smiling! They were excited to get back to see their friends!


Another one where Landon is unhappy...But Austin and Aiden smile! They didn't have any of the same teachers from last year in their new room, but they had a lot of friends from their group last year, so that is fun!


Landon totally distracted, Austin is thinking....and Aiden just keep smiling! :)


Now they are all starting to think..."really Dad, more pictures?"


And of course...just for memory's sake...Landon picking his nose! I agree Austin and Aiden..."Nice! NOT!"


I'm so proud of Austin and Aiden - they really have had a great first month at daycare. They are already learning about the letter E, they are excited to leave each day and excited to see Dave when he gets there to pick them up. I can't believe they are two and a half. Growing up so fast!!! Some things that they know pretty well now:
*Numbers one to three, sometimes more but always can count one, two, three.
*All their colors. Aiden has known them for a while and Austin always confused pink and purple. I was quizzing him this weekend and he seems to have those straightened out.
*Some sight recognition for letters, especially that their names start with A, L is for Landon, D is for Daddy and M is for Mommy.
*They also know all of their friends and teachers very well and tell us about them each evening. It's cute to see how they respond in their little "community." They are very comfortable there and for that I am grateful!

August 9, 2010:
Now, on the following Monday was Dave's first "teacher" day. So of course, I had to get some pictures of all the boys on this day! This marks the start of Dave's 13th year of teaching...wow!!! So proud of you!

Here is the best shot of my boys...Landon, Austin, Aiden and Dave! Aren't they all so handsome? They definitely take after Dave! :)


Dave smiled about the same in all 3 pictures...here's a blooper shot! Landon and Aiden being silly..and Austin was done!

Landon with his little panda bear (that was his favorite thing for about 3 weeks - not sure why), Austin kind of smiling and Aiden with his piggy (in his hands - again, this was his favorite for a while this summer and still sleeps in his bed!). And again - Dave smiling great! Good job, honey! :)