I'm a few weeks behind in documenting our "August Month of Fun" but that's because we've been too busy having fun!!  We just got back from a week and a half vacation but that's for another post or 2.  I need to get caught up on pictures from the beginning of the month!

Look at this handsome fella rockin' the mohawk like his big brother!

Can't get enough of that smile…and those cheeks…and those ears…and those muscles!

Kade loves having Charlie come over to play.  

They are one-in-the-same with their love of sports, building, hunting, trapping, etc. etc. etc.  The only problem…Charlie is *gasp* a wrestler!  No worries, the more he's over at our playing, the more chances we have to get a basketball in his hands!

Kade has been begging to go on a canoe ride all summer.  I've been hesitant because:  1.   I couldn't imagine either boy sitting still long enough to make the effort worth it.  and 2.  Let's be honest, a 2 year old in a canoe is pretty much a guarantee that he, and at least 1 other person, will end up in the big drink.
I finally gave in on a beautiful day when we had no plans.  It went fairly well!  We managed to use the full 2 hours we rented the canoe for.  Want to guess who wasn't a fan and never wants to go again?  Wait for it…..yep, Kade.  Mason did amazing, he loved it!!  Kade freaked out and thought we were all going to die anytime anyone moved an inch.  We were too slow, too tippy and too close to the water for his liking.  Although, now that a couple weeks have passed, he's talking about how he wants to go again and even go with Grandpa to the Boundary Waters.  One step at a time, Kado.  One step at a time.

Look at those handsome fellas!!  

I'm seriously one lucky girl that I get to kiss all 3 of those faces anytime I want!

Makes me laugh every time I look at Kade's face in these pictures.  Mason was way too close to the edge for his liking.  Obviously Mason was oblivious--that pretty much sums up each of their personalities!

The Olympics were on in full force at our house!  

I can't remember if these 2 were swimming or doing gymnastics in this picture.  Either way, they decided their underwear/diaper were perfect uniforms to match the Olympians.

Oh…my little country boys.  

A tractor, a wagon, rain, mud and rubber boots = the perfect playground.

August is our month of fun!  It started the first week with our annual trip to Lady A's hometown to visit the giant farm show and have an early celebration of the Kade Man's birthday.

We spent 3 hours sitting in tractors, on 4 wheelers, gators and any other farm or construction equipment you can imagine.  Of course Mason wanted the key for each and every machine he sat on--this kid's key obsession is still going stronger than ever!  Kade had fun too but he was a bit disappointed that his all time favorite machine, the excavator, wasn't there this year.  We made up for the lack of excavator by spoiling him with cheese curds, french fries and root beer floats--that's an even trade, right?

After a day at the farm show we went back to Lady A's parent's farm where the boys rode the gator and sat on every piece of John Deere farm equipment imaginable, not to mention played with farm toys galore.  These boys were literally in farm heaven for 3 days!

Tattoo time!

Kade's birthday theme was baseball and every good baseball player needs eye black!!

Thanks for the fun, K, S and A!!!

Kado the Tornado Turns 6!

Yesterday was Kade's 6th birthday!!  Thank goodness it fell on a Wednesday so I had the day off from work.  Erik took a half day and was able to participate in the fun too!

We gave Kade a bunch of ideas of what we could do for his day…fishing, swimming, biking, anything BESIDES Chuck E. Cheese.  Guess what we did…that's right, we visited good ol' Chuck E. on a warm, sunny summer day.  Luckily, cousins Violet and Isaac were available to celebrate with Chuck as well!

After Chuck, we went home.  The plan was that Erik and Kade would go fishing while Mason and I stayed home so he could nap.  Instead Kade talked us into opening presents, which was either a HUGE mistake or a blessing in disguise (I'm going with option 2).  

We got him a bunch of stuff for building and construction--wood stakes (he asked for them!), a rubber mallet, safety glasses, bungee cords…you know, all stuff a 6 year old wants, right?  And yes, all of those things were on his list!  Also on his list was a toy crane truck, which he would never play with, so we didn't bother getting it.  And that's where things got a bit dicey.  In true 6 year old fashion, his birthday was ruined, he hated everything and the world ended…and he got sent to bed.  Had himself a good cry and an even better nap!  When he woke up, our Sweet Baby Kade was back.  So, I'm going with blessing in disguise.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the meltdown.

Since he slept through the fishing excursion, and Mason was still napping, Erik and Kade took a long 4 wheeler ride over to the farm and picked up some garden goodies.  He thought that was even better because he never gets to take the 4 wheeler that far.  Whew!

To cap off the Big 6, we surprised them with an evening trip to the pool where a bunch of friends were meeting us.  It was completely random and totally impromptu but we went ahead and let Kade think everyone came just for his birthday--luckily everyone played along perfectly.  Except for at the end, when we were leaving and Kade's friend Tucker realized it was Kade's actual birthday. 

Tucker: WAIT.  Kade's actual, for real birthday is right now?!?!  Today?!?!

Me: Yep!

Tucker: THEN WHERE'S THE CAKE?!?!?

Whoops, kind of dropped the ball on that one!

Kade,

Happy birthday to my big big boy, Kade William!!  You are growing and maturing at a rate far faster than I am prepared for.  You are responsible beyond your years, funny, goofy and busy (still so busy).  

Unfortunately, with 6 comes the attitude of a 13 year old, which is wearing your mom and dad down!  Thankfully you save it for when you are at home, so the rest of the world gets to see your beautiful, charming self :-)  It's ok though, because you also save your goofiest self for the privacy of your own home too--and we love "Goofy Kade".  We're just holding out hope that when you are actually 13 you have the attitude of a 25 year old!  A parent can dream, right?

I snuck into your room last night at 11:45, which was the time of day on August 10, 2010 when I first laid eyes on you.  You are still as beautiful now as you were then--even more so.  I'm a lucky gal.  Love you Big Boy.

I can't believe it's August already!!  Last week I realized it was mine and Kade's last Wednesday together just hanging out at home.  I've been off every Wednesday since Tuesday, August 10, 2010…312 Wednesday's (I think).  We have plans for every week in August and then he starts school full time.  I can't believe how fast those 6 years of Wednesday's (and Thursday's for 5 years) off went!  I'm going to be a snotty, crying mess when Kade starts school.  Good thing I still have my little man, Mason, to keep me company!!!  

I was looking back at July pictures and realized I left out a whole bunch of good ones from a couple visits to Chester Woods!!

I can't decide what I love more about this picture:

the Dad's posing for a picture.  On swings, no less.

Or the cute little girl behind them looking none too pleased at their antics! 

They were playing Cops and Robbers.

Should come as no surprise that Mr. Rule Follower (Kade) was a cop :-)

There's a nature playground at the park where they have giant Lincoln Logs.  These 5 built that structure they are sitting on!!

mmmmm….smores

Also in the natural playground is a garden, with a hose and watering can so anyone walking by can water the plants.  Mason decided to water himself instead.  That's why he's looking a little rough around the edges in this cute picture with Nolan.

All of the kids we met up with during this visit to Chester Woods!

Should also come as no surprise that Tucker is the robber.

One time a police officer stopped at Tucker's house to hand out stickers to a bunch of kids.  Tucker told that officer that they would meet again because he plans on being a robber when he grows up!

Love this picture!

Porter, Tucker, Trey, Kade, Nolan

Ha!  Such a serious pose, Trey!!  Looks like Kade's taking lessons.

Erik had a couple days off a few weeks ago while our daycare was on vacation.

Not sure how he did it, but he managed to wrangle the boys into swim suits and sunscreen.  While remembering to pack sand toys and a lunch!!  He said he was a sweaty mess by the time they got on the road ;-)

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of my boys!!

Oh Mason!  My little bucket head.

We went to the fair last week too!  

We ran into my cousin Lauren who was showing her horse, Taz.

Lauren was the flower girl in my wedding, and now she's a head taller than me and protecting me from scary wild animals (who is in a halter, behind bars and is not at all wild).  Ugh…horses.