Devin -- September 2017

This little nugget just keeps us hoping! It is hard to believe that he will be starting his second year in preschool with Mrs. M! It is always sad to have the summer end and the school year begin but I think that Devin loves a routine and will enjoy being back with teachers that are so loving and caring. Here are a few of the highlights from the month: 

• Devin now knows how to unlock the slider and loves to go in and out as he pleases, which is not the best for his parent's nerves but now we have stop signs on all the house exits
• Daddy was happy to have this little guy sit and watch some football with him
• Doors are a wonderful obsession and will often wait to leave any area until the doors are fully shut
• Every time we go to Grandpa and Grandma's pool, he brings the puddle jumper right away to get into the water, he takes after his mommy!
• After a long bike ride, Devin likes to sit on my back to make sure that I can fully stretch out
• Devin still does not like things that are too hot or cold so when we get ice cream he eats the sprinkles
• Now riding the bus to school! When the bus is late we walk around in a very small loop to keep him busy and ready to go
• At one point we thought that Dev had said his name, but at least a few "d" sounds are great
• Trying to visit the Calvin volleyball game, Devin did not want to leave the lobby because he loved getting to watch the elevator doors open and shut
• Devin continues to love to ride in the Burley during bike rides, but the problem is that he never wants to stop! 
• He still loves his daddy nose buzzes
• Has mastered saying the word "ball" and can sign for it!
• While shopping was able to get a sucker with gum and seemed to really enjoy chewing
• Visited the ENT early in the morning to see that the tubes are out and that wax has been cleared out
• working on cutting up pieces of food and did really well with cutting up bananas
• Devin has a new fun job at the store, helping to return cans!
• Taking walks is still a favorite but lately he likes to stay inside cud-a-sacs over and over
• He might not like to write but he does like to trace letters with his finger
• Whenever he is hungry he loves to go get apples and veggie pouches for snacks on his own
• Dev is my favorite slow dance partner and he often lays his head on my shoulder during it
• After a full month of school, he had to stay home with an upset tummy. 

Peek-a-boo!

Pop-eye?

This is how he likes to play his tablet

Trying to be like brother...no shirt

He loves being at the park

Going right for the frosting, bit surprise

He loves to decorate the window

This is how we read books for bed

He likes to take his wagon for a walk

Always want to be with brother

You coming mom? 

Checking out the map

I love my hiking buddy

Something sure is funny

Love that smile of his

I always get the best snuggles form him

He loves to read...and in boots

My snuggler...in monkey jammies

Not hard to want to stay in bed with him

Devin -- August 2017

Another summer has flown by and with both Devin and Kyler in full days this fall I am not sure how I am going to be spending my time, but my guess is that I will fill it with not problems. We spent the end of the summer together enjoying time at the pool, outside and just being together. Devin had summer school, which of course he LOVED and LOVES his teachers. I am so grateful for all those wonderful people who love on my kiddos while I am not with them. Here are just a few highlights from this month.

• Whatever is offered for a snack, Devin will almost ALWAYS pick apples first
• After almost a year in Miss M's class, it is great to hear how he is being such a good leader
• Picking blueberries meant lots of walking and eating
• He loves to take the yoga mat to me and have me roll him up in it
• "Da" has become so much clearer!
• Will sometimes wake up so upset and just cannot calm himself down. 
• Giggles at certain phrases in books like "tip-top" in Mr Seahorse
• He loves to wake up early and takes all the decals off the walls in his room. 
• During church he will often open and close doors but also try to escape so the times of nursery are at an end
• Had a great time with water day at school
• After getting bored with taking the decals off his walls, he started to unzip his bed rail!
• We explored Rush Creek park and he loved to walk around in the creek
• Most kids like playdoh but Devin just likes to stack the containers
• We visited Binder Park zoo and loved going on the train, he even pet a goat
• Has learned to take his shirt off over and over again
• At the pool he knows just what to do and he will often go over and get his swimmie himself!
• He loved the Hudsonville Fair again, and this time he wanted to ride on the ferris wheel as well as giggled with his brother when doing the cars that wipe around
• Continues to push or ride his tricycle but does not seem interested in doing the balance bike or the big wheel
• He helped me to decorate cupcakes and later it was fun to snuggle UNDER the blankets
• Dev loves to bring things onto the deck with him, like blankets and remotes
• School started and I had to bring your brother to his bus stop which meant you stayed home in your room, making Duncan very upset
• We visited your classroom and it was great to see you go and hug all your teachers right away. 
• Your second year of school started and this year you ride the bus with Mr Greg who is such a sweet man! We just have to learn to wait for the bus now
• 
  

Blueberry Picking 

Snuggling with Daddy

Playing in the water at summer school!

We love a slinky

This kiddo, melts my heart

Hiking always

He loves to be near his brother

Keeping mommy safe on the Ferris Wheel

His favorite ride with his favorite brother

They all love pokemon...

...and each other!

Just hanging out like a gentleman

Does not want a picture of the first day back at school

Popping bubbles waiting for the bus

So ready to get going to school!

Kyler -- August 2017

The end of the summer is coming and I cannot believe that this kiddo is going to be starting Kindergarten! He is so excited and so ready for this. We tried to soak up as much of the time as we could, so we did the zoo, donuts, parks and of course the pool! What a great summer we have had but here is the start of a new season! What a great kiddo!

• Had fun playing with kittens at the vet after park time with cousin and of course donuts from spinkles
• I had a headache so he came in to say "sorry that you are not feeling mommy" and kissed my head
• We had a great time going out to pick out school things, especially a pokemon lunch box!
• His reading skills have been wonderful while reading "The Gingerbread Man lost in the Zoo"
• Every time we go to the pool, he loves to make his little cousins laugh
• We went blueberry picking and Ky loved to pick his own, a whole 4.3 lbs!
• Growing up so much, he has start doing his seat belt!
• The time in the kitchen with me has been awesome, he has been prepping green beans and cracking eggs!
• For a fun daddy day, it was off to IHOP and trying all the syrup flavors
• Explored the Grandville Christian playground "working on upper-body"
• Of course the whole month was not perfect, we had to bout of stomach flu and had to cancel a play date
• To keep challenging Kyler, we worked on playing some more adult games like Blockus
• This kid was willing to get up really early to make sure to cheer me on and then run with me into the end of my Triathlon!
• Going out to breakfast at Anna's House, he kept asking "who is Anna?"
• My little boy is a great book lover and had so much fun requesting things form the library
• We had a fun time going to the park and it was so much fun to see him splashing and exploring a creek like I did as a child
• His swimming is getting better and better, swimming easily to the bottom of the pool
• Explored Binder Park Zoo and it was great to have fun seeing the Kangaroos and how close the peacocks would come!
• The Eclipse was a lot of fun and he loved checking it out
• The Hudsonville fair is always a high of the summer and this year the boys were able to get me on the Ferris wheel, even though I was the adult, Kyler was calming me down!
• Now that he is older, we are trying to only do rest times but sometimes he still needs a nap.
• It was a lot of fun to take him to see his class and figure out the bus route too!
• When it was his first day of school, he of course talked to everyone and didn't look back as he got on the bus. 

Focused climber

These two monkeys!

Donuts are so yummy!

yep, he likes donuts

Picking our fill of blueberries again!

Making some fun playdough food

Zoo adventures...the Tortoise

Always climbing this one

Hanging out on an ant

Feeding some giraffes! So tall!

Awe he loves to pet animlas

Our type of camel rides

Look I can pick it's nose!

Little guy =)

Trying to shave already? 

Made a ball mom!

My best cheerleader!

He is not afraid of the Ferris wheel like his mom

Fun at the fair

Driving a tractor!

That is one way to keep your brother safe

How is he going to kindergarten already??

Cannot believe this!

This kid...and his faces!

All decked out to go to a game with Daddy

Working hard in class

Still some of his best buddies!