Back to Preschool

When August comes, summer days begin to fade and school comes into focus.  Luke is going to preschool again this year three mornings a week.  He is unsure why he doesn't get to go all day like some of the other kids at school.  I had to explain to him my heart isn't ready to let him go yet :)

It has been a great first couple of weeks.  I always like to hear what he did.  He is one that is very interested in what he missed out on while he was away.  One of the first questions in the car is directed to Lawson about what he has been doing all morning.  Their conversations just crack me up.

My Top 10 Thoughts of Game Night with Toddlers

As my husband has been preparing for week 1 of the season, it has made me think about getting ready for the games as well.  Our preparations are a little different.  It changes every year as the ages of the kids change, and we continue to add to the line up, but ready or not game night here we come!

My Top 10 Thoughts for the Game:

1. We made it to the stadium just before kick off.... success (Not a lot of extra time to entertain, but yet there for the beginning)
2. We made it with "the bag".  It has to hold everything we could possibly need, prepared for all different kinds of weather, and many different forms of entertainment.
3. I have a whole new outlook on bleachers.  It is great when we get there and I notice that my kids AND their toys are safe from falling down under them.
4. Ultimate fail when the boys find the snack bag and we just finished the National Anthem.
5. Thank you to the person in front of us bringing the whole concession stand back with them.  You are like the candy lining the checkout aisle at the grocery store.  I'm sure my children won't notice your big tub of popcorn or your nachos.  Please make another trip back for candy.
6. When Coach (my husband) asks if I saw that one play..... O yes honey, I just sat and watched the game.  I'm good if I know if we are ahead.  I'll catch that play when we watch film later at home.
7. We may not play the part of knowing what is going on, but man do we look the part.  I am all about team coordinating our clothes and now bows even.
8. I thought about potty training my almost 3 year old, but that means 10+ more trips to the bathroom during a game.  Whats the rush right?
9. It takes an army to survive, and man am I glad I always have my support there to help.
10. Thankful that we play one game a week (poor basketball wives that could do this multiple times a week).

I write this all in fun.  I love the fact that my husband coaches high school football and wouldn't want to miss it for anything.  I know we don't have to attend, but it is our way of supporting him and another thing he loves.  We look forward to the Friday Night Lights and all the fun that comes with it!  

Good Luck Patriots!!

Summer Fun in Pictures

I've covered a lot of our summer in other posts, but thought I would add a few pictures that I may have missed.  We had a great summer with all sorts of activities and visitors all summer long.

When we need out and its hot we like to walk the aisles of Target.  This day we were sporting our "Striding with the Strubes" shirts to support Erin's cousins with Cystic Fibrosis.  They are such an inspiration to others for the fight they battle everyday.

Fun at Paradise Park with cousins 

Visits back to Great Bend and Claflin

This was Erin's Halloween costume as a kid.  I think it is just awesome, especially from the back :)

Lawson checking out the baby gorilla.

Laney 9 Months

It is hard to believe we are 3 months from Laney being a year old.  She is as happy as ever and enjoying this new freedom of moving through the house on her own.  I'm sure it won't be long before that movement becomes little patters of footsteps trying to keep up with her brothers, but for now we will enjoy the moment.

9 Month Pics:

Change it up a bit

Update:

• Laney is wearing 6-9 month clothes.  I need to clean out her drawers a little though and try to reorganize and see what we have/need for 9-12.  Her diapers are size 3.
• Eating is going great!  She eats 3 meals a day along with her 5oz bottles.  I try to feed Laney as much table food as possible, obviously that is baby friendly, but she likes to join us for meals.  She hasn't found much she doesn't like.  We have also been working on the sippy cup more this month.
• Teeth.....yeah its been funny seeing people's reactions to her mouth.  They ask how old she is with a bit of confusion.  She has only gained one tooth in the last month (making it a total of 7), but all four on top have come in more so when she smiles you notice them all.  Not sure when I will get used to that adorable toothy grin.
• The girls crawls all over and into everything.  She gets her self stuck in interesting places.
• Big thing this month is her pulling herself up on EVERYTHING.  She loves to stand and be involved in everything around her.  She has even been found standing in her crib a couple of times.
• Laney has started to struggle with some Mommy issues. She is fine with me leaving, but then when I return either to the house or room she realizes I was gone and needs my attention.
• She is a little bit dramatic, especially when it comes to her head.  If you just slightly brush her head when stepping over her or moving something around her she gives you the saddest face and just bursts into tears.  Once you pick her up she is fine.
• Laney likes to dance now.  It is so funny to watch her bounce up and down.
• She likes to check up on her brothers and get right in with them to play.
• Lawson loves to lay down by her and she just grabs and pats at his face.  They both just laugh at each other.  It is pretty cute :)
• Daddy walking into her sight lights up her world.  She looks for him and just beams a smile.  She will act shy and turn into my shoulder but peak out to make sure he is still looking at her.  It is adorable.
• Laney is still a very continent and happy little girl.  She goes with the flow and smiles at everyone around her.

See a theme here..... Laney stands on anything.

Branson Vacation

For the past two years since moving here I have heard from multiple people about their weekend getaways in Branson.  Its close, but can still feel like a vacation.  We hadn't had a chance to travel much so we were excited to go.  Erin wrapped up summer football on Friday so we headed out to meet my family for a mini vacation.

Everyone was able to be there for the weekend so we decided to try out Silver Dollar City for the first time.  The kids were all excited about the roller coasters and rides and the adults had some fun as well.  I was surprised how kid friendly it was.  There wasn't just the one token kid section that they had to stay in.  The older boys were able to ride a lot and then Lawson and Reese were able to do quite a bit as well.  Then there were the adult roller coasters which from what I hear were really good.

We got this 3 kid thing under control.

Love this picture :)

It was HOT!!!

We did a lot of swimming at the hotel and even just hanging out.  Sunday we were crazy and thought mini golf would be a good idea.  Lets just say we survived.  It was again HOT.  Not big break downs from the little ones or the big ones so its a success.  Luke and I both got a hole in one.  Erin got three, show off.  Atleast I know all that golfing this summer has paid off :)

Cade loves to hold Laney and always tells me how cute she is.  What a sweety :)

Erin drew the short straw and got to hang out with kids while some of us were playing cards. 

Monday we did the touristy thing and Rode the Ducks.  I had no idea what this was, but multiple people asked me if we were going to do it.  Our tour guy did a good job and made it enjoyable.  Not sure I will ever do it again, but glad to say we have done it.

Luke got to drive and was pretty excited about it.

Too much excitement for him to handle I guess.

Tuesday morning it was just down to my parents and our crew so we got out on the lake and had some water fun.  We did some tubing, swimming, fishing, and even cliff jumping.  Luke and Lawson were all about cliff jumping and to my surprise both did it without any hesitation.  It wasn't crazy high, but for two kids that haven't been off a diving board this summer I wasn't sure.  They loved it and would have done it for hours.

Lawson pretty content with just snacking all morning.

Giving us the thumbs up before they jump.

We had to stop for lunch at Lamberts on our way back.  I remember eating here with my grandparents when I was younger.  It made me so nervous when they throw the rolls at you then, still makes me nervous as an adult as well.  Everyone enjoyed it though and was a great end to the vacation.