Mark at Dad's

Alex, Dad and I went down on Friday night for a weekend at the River. Sat morning Dad powerwashed the windows on the outside of the house and I continued to clean/declutter the house. Mark pulled into the driveway just after lunch and right away started on the driveway. It was a joint effort. Mark and Dad both were swinging the hammer. Alex and I would fill the wheelbarrel and haul away the big chunks. We then filled the empty space with rocks. I think it looks pretty good. After a dinner of Pizza we all took turns powerwashing the back deck. Sunday morning Mark and Dad fixed the toilet in the room off the family room. Sunday while Dad and I were at church, Mark went up on the roof and swept it clean. After Alex fell asleep on Sat night, Dad, Mark , & I sat up talking. After Dad went to bed, Mark and I stayed up talking till around 3. I think it was like that when Ron was down and Randy also. Alot of work and a late night of chit chat.

Weekend with the Brown's

The Brown's came up for a short visit. Happy to report that everyone had a good time. We tried to pack a lot of things in a short amount of time. We had silly string, water balloons, went to a lake, dug in the dirt, a cookout, icecream and played with the Wii. It was the first time Alex had a friend sleep over in his room. The plan was to tire the boys out so they would fall right asleep and no silly business at night. IT WORKED !! Alex and Jared are not aware of it but they have know each other almost all their lives. The first time they met was in Russia five years ago. They are about 3 weeks apart in age. Evie was to cute for words. "Hi everybody" was heard every time she entered the room. Even Dad said it was fun have so many little ones around for the day.

July 4th Holiday

Alex and Todd doing some pre July 4th fireworks.

Alex and I went to Uncle Tony and Aunt Chris' in W. V. for the fourth. They had rain all day on the 3rd and the morning of the 4th. For 24 hours after the rain stopped it was still coming down the mountain and up from the springs. Alex had a blast splashing in the rushing water.

The water flowed down the driveway,

across the road and down the dock before it hit the lake. At one point his shoe came off and was floating down the driveway of the club.

Alex tried to stop the water by building a dam before it got to the dock.

Alex had fun lighting sparklers and running up and down Uncle Tony's driveway.

We went down to the lake in the evening and sat on the dock to watch the show. Alex did really good and even laughed some. You can not tell it by his hands. Yep they were over his ears the whole time. But he never asked to go home.

aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

wow

Tony and Chris on the deck in there back yard.

Aunt Chris, Uncle Tony and Alex

Media night - Balloons

June 18th was Media night. Howell every year has a Balloon festival. It is really cool to see. But I think I almost like media night better. It is the night about 2 weeks before the festival that some of the balloons lauch from the local park. They have a big party for the pilots and crew, sponsers and such. They do not advertise it but since I know one of the pilots I find out when it is. You get to get really close to the balloons as they are being inflated. Not as many go up that night but you are really close. Alex has a blast.

This is Alex and August waiting for the fun to begin.
The boys are playing in the sand waiting for the balloons to inflate. Yes we are that close to one.

This is my friends balloon.

This one went up over the trees and then down and floated over the lake.

Visit with Uncle Randy at Grandpa's

Alex and mom went down and met Uncle Randy and Grandpa in South Bend. We did some yard work and had a nice vist. Alex was a big help with the tubes and picking up the fallen branches so Uncle Randy could mow the lawn.

"Lake Alex"

Alex has a new past time. He likes to make a lake in the walk way and get real dirty.

Fieldtrip to the Zoo

Alex's Begindergarten class went to the Potter Park Zoo on 5-29-08 for a field trip. All had a great time. The week before the class made matching T-shirts.