Conversations

Highlights of a few recent conversations:

Mom: Will how about if you go to work for me and I will go to Chrissy's house.
Will: I don't think that would work. I can't drive to your work.
Mom: Oh, well I could drop you off.
Will: No Mommy those big guys are your work would squish me.

Madelyn: Mommy's the best.
Mom: What is Daddy?
Madelyn: Strong like Daddy.
Mom: What about Will?
Madelyn Will nice pants.

Grandma Linda's Birthday

Last Thursday was Grandma Linda's birthday.  We invited them into the city for supper Sunday night.

The kids were very excited to have a birthday party. We decorate, made party hats and of course cake.  Will was showing them how he can ride his bike.  Madelyn sang "Happy Birthday to you.... Grandma".

Here are a few picture for the day.

Some decoration!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Madelyn and Grandma Linda!

A Friday Off

I took a well deserved EDO this Friday! The day was two-fold.  The first just to take a day off to spend with kids and second to see how Madelyn would do potty training.  She has been telling us fairly regularly since the last week of July when she has to go so we though why not give big girl panties a try. 

Day 1 in the morning was great, the afternoon we fell off the waggon a bit but it is a process, and we understand that.
Day 2 only one accident all day! Yes one,  is it possible that she may just get it.  I guess time will tell...

We made balloon animals

Did crafts!

Will informed me he was too busy to look up!

Had an evening bonfire

With banana boats and smores

Madelyn loved the chocolate and marshmallows out of the banana boat

Played oooohhh, aaahhhh, ouch.

Madelyn's turn to get fixed

Had sparklers in the dark

A bit blurry but hard to get pictures in the dark

Put kids to bed and enjoyed the last bit of the night by the fire!

A full weekend

We had a great weekend visiting with friends and family.  I will not go into detail but here are a few highlights of the weekend.

Madelyn accessorized herself

Great time visiting with Nana, Jon, Cindy and Ella

Kids enjoyed entertaining Ella

Finally Will mastered riding his bike. He has been riding his tricycle for over a year, but the bike is new!

Quick Mid August Update

Just a few notes on the latest and greatest from the Bettschen kids!

Will:

• Has mastered climbing up the slide. I know this may not be the best practise but I guess every kid masters it at some point.
• He is big into the phrase "just joking" when doing something he knows he should not be doing.
• Best bedtime excuses of the week: I forgot to floss my teeth and I bit my thumb and it hurts.
• He has mastered riding his bike with training wheels although still prefers the tricycle for longer rides.
• Goes down big slide at pool. Wants to swim in the deep water with no floaty or life jacket. He actually did keep his head above water and did not want me to help him at all or be near him. 

Madelyn

• Is peeing and pooping on the potty about fifty percent of the time maybe more.
• Talking a lot more and becoming a comedian. Exhibit 1: anyone who knows Madelyn knows about her blankey obsession, they should also note blankey is not allowed outside or at meal times. Heading out to the park. Madelyn says "Madelyn blankey park " response from me " no" her response laughing "mommy no blankey park, haha".
• I could listen to Madelyn say boots all day more like boothz.
• Most things she says is in 2-4 word phrases.

I am sure there are several more things I could add but this was meant to be short! Happy mid August.  Crazy to think fall is just around the corner.

Summer days are numbered

Hard to believe it is the middle of August already! Our summer days are soon to be numbered.  We decided to take advantage of the beautiful summer evening and hit up the spray park after supper.  The kids loved it! 

Cheers to a great Monday evening!

Love Madelyn's expression here!

Will was a firefighter!

Running through

As Madelyn says "On your mark, get set, go"

Action shot

Not sure why I have not thought of this before.  Seen it on another website. Best part is no mess applesauce!

Don't tell will it was peach, apple carrot applesauce.

Backyard Bricks

Another weekend another project.

Before. Removed the old landscaping ties...

Replaced with bricks, straighten out lines. Does not look like that big of a difference in the pictures but looks way better in person.  You can also see my out of control garden here.  Cucumbers, pumpkins and tomatoes have taken over....

 Of course the kids were out 'helping'.  Madelyn favorite new phrase is "I'll hold it".  She wanted to hold the bricks.  We compromised for her 'help' me carry bricks to Chris. I will add this was not necessarily a lot of help.

Will helped move rocks and rake them back into place.  They also played in the pool, ate watermelon and generally just ran around the yard.

Why do we have toys? Kids spend 20 minutes running around with rags on their faces...

I am not sure what they were doing... Must be Chris' kids tonight!

Ended the night with a water fight, Maddie is behind the  slide and swing with the water hose getting Will.

Cheese, someone just about needs another haircut.

Safety first when gardening.

Swimming

It should come as no surprise, our kids love to swim.  A favourite way to spend a summer afternoon.

At end you can hear Madelyn yelling and signing "More"! Love it!

Vacation

We had a great summer vacation out at Grandpa Peter and Grandma Marie's house.

The kids were in swimming lessons over at Luseland and had an absolute blast.  They do one week lessons there, which was perfect.  Cousins Emma, Josh, Grace and Cameron were also in swimming lessons at the same time so it was fun for the cousins to be together for the week.  The first 3 days were beautiful swimming weather, Thursday and Friday were a bit cool and rainy but did not seem to phase the kids, except of Madelyn on the last day.  All the kids did great in their lessons and all move onto the next level!

Will loved jumping off the diving board! I have to say I was a bit surprised when they took them off the diving board, but at public swimming we could not keep him off of it.  They also had a little slide which was a huge hit as well.

Loving the slide

Jumping off the diving board!

Madelyn jumping in, she so wanted to go off the diving board, but I told her if she could not walk with a life jacket on without falling down she was too small for a diving board. Next year....

Will on the slide

Just being cute after swimming lessons

kicking while on noodle

Yes that is our son with his head under water.

Report Card!

I could probably go on for hours about the week. However, I will just highlight a couple of fun times:
1) tie-dying shirts
2) driving Grandpa's battery operated John Deer Tractor
3) quadding
4) golf cart riding
5) jumping on the trampoline
6) being outside enjoying the nice weather
7) being with family and watching the cousins play together
8) freezies in the shop
9) jelly straws

One of my favorite Will moments was when he was driving the tractor around the yard, Madelyn wanted to drive it but is still a bit small so we put her in the wagon and told Will only #1 with Madelyn in the wagon.  This was fine for a minute or two but was kind of slow, so he stops and tells me "Its okay Mommy, I can drive in number two with Madelyn, because I am a paramedic."  Of course I responded "No, only #1".  He said but I am a paramedic and could drive super fast to the hospital if she got hurt." Good try buddy #1.  A few minutes later he stops at the shop and jumps off (Madelyn still in the wagon behind).  "Will what are you doing?" "Just a minute I have to do something."  He proceeds to attempt to unhook the wagon and ditch his little sister. 

Loving the shirts!

Rides on the tractor.

We ended the week celebrating my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary in Wilkie.  Was great to see so many cousins, aunts and uncles.  My grandparents have 6 children, 29 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren (with 4 more on the way) and most made it to the celebration.  It really was like a mini family reunion.  I have to say that the organizers did a great job!  Will had to take after big cousin Grace at the party.  Grace got up and sang "Amazing Grace" for Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.  I have to say probably one of the cutest things ever, she is a good little singer.  Will, not to be out done, follow right behind singing "Twinkle, twinkle little star".  It was also very cute and I was surprised he did not chicken out. I only wish we would have had the camera along to get a few pictures. 

Overall it was a great week.  The kids had fun and so did the adults.  I hope we can continue making swimming lessons at Grandma and Grandpa's an annual event.