A F Y P camp

The boys spent a really fun week at camp with Acting for Young People.  They were asking after the first day if they could sign up for the rest of the summer.  Keaton was one of the youngest in the youngest group, but man did his group deliver a fun show.  He was a fox in the Gruffalo which is one of his favorite stories.  He also picked the musical theater elective, and they performed a really fun version of Gloria Estefan's Get on Your Feet!  Keaton was on fire.  He seriously loved it.  He also picked on camera work, and they made commercials of their favorite superhero (3:48 below - Man, that kid knows how to be sweet, the only kid that picked his mom as his superhero)  Aiden picked Improv and his "cookie machine" was plopped in the middle of this play.  He was a Peddler in story town. He also picked playwriting and wrote a fun play about a president that likes to say 'Meh' a lot.

A F Y P Camp from LB on Vimeo.

cousins

I came back from fun little cousin time to some big cousin time with a visit from my cousin Pete.  They are expecting a new baby girl soon, and I was happy to make a little miniature version of sweater I think Jamie would like ;)

zip city

Zip City!  Trampolines, rock walls, and zip lines, oh my!  Ohio houses this big warehouse full of this serious fun.

interview with KC

nature center

We were lucky to get time with the soon-to-be big brother and his mom in their new house and area before the baby arrived.  We even found a geocache near the nice new nature center with my old high school friend and her son.  The cicadas were out and got plenty of attention from this band of boys.

splash

Wish we lived next door for more of this action all summer long!

o-hi-o

Some tidbits from hanging out in Ohio- all three boys made blue fireworks shirts ;)

The Farmer's Market was hopping - thanks to my mom for getting me one of these "garden mandalas" for inspiration for my next project.

pizza day

The Thursday tradition of pizza day switched days to keep the brand new big bro occupied and happy ;). Riding stuffed elephants/pigs/blue dogs, pineapple pizza, and picking out a big bag for mommy delivered lotsa smiles.

first visit

Flashback to meeting Austin for the first time when he wasn't even a full day old yet... Cam was giddy excited and just so sweet.  He delivered his big brother elephant with a blanket present and received one of the big waffle blocks (his big brother present from Austin).  I made Cam and Austin matching orange hats and it's pretty stretchy so Cam's fit David - hmm fit issues?! Ha!

pen glen

Peneteniary Glen was hosting a photography exhibit along with opening their forest trains. Does it get any better?

Bottom left is the cute excited face Cammy made when I told him he gets to ride on those trains through the forest ;)

kiddie park

After meeting the new baby on July 4th, big brother and the cousin buddies enjoyed the over 50 year old Memphis Kiddie Park on the west side of Cle.  Check out that tiger and skelton half face!

mall rats

I'm not sure the boys went a day without ice cream when we were in Ohio, but Mitchell's wins the prize for the most delicious ;) We went to the mall for the grandparents to spoil the boys with Build-a-bear - thanks!

big bro

So many smiles buried in hundreds of photos of this new big brother and his giggles with cousin buddies... Check out that family resemblance on the right ;)

His big brother gift were these giant waffle blocks. He will tell you he got some new "pancake blocks!"

baby!

I'm swimming in a sea of photos and good memories over here... Now I just need to start throwing them up here, so get ready for some cute business:::

happy bday Austin!

My new nephew, Austin Douglas Krpata!  Born 7/3/16 at 2:45pm - 8 lbs. 12 oz, 19.75"

Born on chocolate wafer day 🍫, the day the Statue of Liberty was dedicated 🗽, the World's Greatest Lizard Race runs in NM 🏜, National BBQ Sparerib day 🍖, Koko, the sign language speaking gorilla's birthday 🐵 along with Tom Cruise, Dave Barry, and Montel Williams 

happy 4th

Happy 4th of July!  Freedom to eat cake and so much more!

goodbyes

Man, the past few weeks, as school ended, there seemed to be a big shift as so many friends prepared to say goodbye to our neighborhood (most were reassigned military/govt contracts which I guess I common in an election year) and also our preschool.  There's at least nine families moving and it makes my heart hurt just thinking about it.  There were so many goodbye moments and farewell parties that I think the boys were getting used to it.  Probably the biggest for Keaton was our carpool buddy and his favorite preschool friend, Sydney... They shared their last swim class with Ms. Caroline and a really fun pool farewell party... They were such a good match and we will miss them so much.

My good friend who was on her way to Scotland had that little plaque on her doorway. It struck me as a little bit funny but also sad because I don't want to see any of these friends go.

Keaton's last day as just a tag along at the bus stop, next year he can get on with his brother and he is pumped!

TV Bear I

kitten school

One of the first comics of the summer from Aiden:

school's out

School's been out for just one week, and time is already flying this summer.  Aiden came running off the bus with his newest favorite comic drawing book and his new yearbook.  His backpack was bursting with leftovers from a great year.  His second year with a teacher that helped bring out the best in him. He made her a weaving that he designed and I actually taught him how to weave. He described it as an island with waves that roll in, and said his teacher is like the island and he is the wave that can always come back to visit her. It was sweet to see him so excited to give it to her. He is lucky to be at a great school where there is a sweet tradition where all the teachers gather to wave the kids home for the summer as the buses pull out on the last day. 

Not sure if this link will work, but this enthusiastic third grader ran straight off the bus:

https://instagram.com/p/BHFHzOghzMSRM0DkQWnLZDxMlxwTNBjtqzQ_8Y0/