Daddy is the Birthday Boy!

Happy Birthday to the best husband a girl could ask for and the best Daddy ever!!  We love you, Sean!

On the way home from picking up Sean's cake at the bakery, Carter asked if Daddy was really turning 34 years old.  I told him "yes", then Carter asked "Well, how old are you Mommy?".  I told Carter that I was 37 and Carter said "What?!  You mean you're older than Daddy?  Does Daddy know how old you are?"  I was cracking up, but I told Carter that Daddy has always known I was older and I assured Carter that Sean didn't mind.  Carter still wasn't convinced.  He told me "Well, I think we'd better go home & tell Dad right away."  Seriously, he acted like I've been fooling Sean all these years...guess I know where HIS loyalties are!

The boys were more than happy to help Daddy eat his cake!  Carter kept referring to Sean as "the birthday boy"...it was pretty cute.  This is almost the same pose we got on my birthday--Davis smiling from ear to ear and Carter looking longingly at the cake.  

What a Bunch of Animals!

This afternoon, we had our hardwoods resealed for the second time, so that meant we needed to be out of the house for several hours.  What better place to kill some time but at the zoo!  We met our friends there and the kids had a blast seeing all the animals, sharing snacks and trying to stay cool on this hot day.  

  

 The Lions were napping in the shade & that gave us an opportunity to see these cats up close & personal.

 Amelia & Carter posing by a lizard.  

 These two first-borns were adamant about having maps to "see where we were going".

 Riding in an authentic Tuk Tuk--so cool!

 (And for those of you who are keeping track, this is officially date #2 for Davis & Avery.)

 Learning about elephants with fake elephant trunks (dryer vents) on their arms. 

 Watching this monkey eat a banana with his feet...

 Having fun on the Carousel (Sadly, the train was out-of-service for the day).

 Davis insisted on riding the hippo.  

Davis, Amelia & Carter in the penguin house.

Making Ice Cream

I am not super big into gimmicky type items, but this ice cream ball looked like the perfect fun Summer activity to do with the boys.  So...$20 later, here we are making homemade ice cream!

 Carter reading the directions to see what ingredients were needed:

Ice

Rock Salt

Cream

Sugar

Vanilla Extract

 Davis wanted to help, too!

 Once the ingredients are in you shake, roll, kick or toss the ball for about 20 minutes until you get the ice cream consistency you want.  Super easy!!  This was by far the boys' favorite part of the process.  

 Keep that ice cream rollin'!

 The consistency was perfect & such a yummy treat!

 Carter & Davis gave it two thumbs up!

Pool Time!

Our neighborhood pool opened Memorial Day weekend & we have been SO excited to check it out!  It is really nice to load the boys up in the wagon, walk to the pool, cool off, head home for lunch and then go down for nap...I think I have found the perfect Summer routine!  

Do they look excited?!

Our view from the splash pool...

 That crazy bucket fills with water then tips over splashing everyone within a 10-foot radius.  

At this point, Davis was ready for a PB&J, then nap.  Sounds good to me!

School's Out for the Summer!

Carter's last day of Preschool was Thursday.  They celebrated by having a ceremony for all the kids going on to Kindergarten next year, followed by Field Day for all of the Preschoolers!  Even though Carter has one more year of Preschool next year, I still got a little teary at the thought of my big boy growing up so fast.  

He actually is only 10 days shy of making the cut off for Kindergarten next year, but we decided that another year of Preschool would be good for him socially.  So--we are going to have a chill out Summer and look forward to going back to our AWESOME teachers and school next year.  We love, love, love this school and can't wait until Davis is old enough to go!   

 Carter with some of his best buddies.

 Getting his "rolled up piece of paper" (aka: diploma).  

 Our amazing teachers, Ms Glo & Ms LaDonna!!  

 Showing off his bracelet of "UVBeads"...they change color in sunlight to remind you it's bright enough that you need sunscreen.  Genius idea & great "end of school gift" from his teachers.

 Mimi got to come to Field Day, too!  What a treat!

 The three-legged race.

 Chasing Ms Glo.

 Enjoying snacks after all that running around!

Saying good-bye to Ms. LaDonna. See you next year!

Just for the record...

(Feel free to skip this post, it's just me reorganizing the blog space.)  

Here is a running list of the boys' stats from birth until now.  Since neither one has a baby book, I need to keep this somewhere & the blog seemed like the most logical place.  

Davis Henry Beilman

Born: November 22, 2009 

-----------------------------------

Birth: 8 lbs 14 oz, 20 inches
2 months: 11 lbs 10.5 oz, 22 1/4 in.
4 months: 14 lbs 11 oz, 25 in.
4 months, 3 weeks: 15 lbs 6 oz
6 months: 16 lbs 3 oz, 26 1/4 in.
9 months: 18 lbs 1 oz, 28 1/2 in.
10 months: 18 lbs 15 oz
1 year: 19 lbs 13 oz, 30 1/2 in.
15 months: 22 lbs
16 months: 22 lbs 3 oz, 32 in.
18 months: 24 lbs 3 oz, 32 in.

2 Years: 27 lbs 2 oz, 34 1/2 in.

2 1/2 Years: 36 in.

Carter David Beilman
Born: October 11, 2007 
----------------------------------
Birth: 8 lbs 8 oz, 19 3/4 in.
2 months: 12 lbs, 4.5 oz, 23.5 in.
4 months: 15 lbs 1.5 oz, 25 in.
6 months: 17 lbs 7 oz, 26 3/4 in.
9 months: 20 lbs 10 oz, 29.5 in.
1 Year: 22 lbs 6 oz, 29.5 in.
2 Years: 26 lbs 4 oz, 34 3/4 in.
2 1/2 Years: 30lbs 2 oz, 36 3/4 in.
3 Years: 29 lbs 2 oz, 37 in.
4 Years: 33 lbs, 39 in.

4 1/2 Years: 41 in.
5 Years: 36 lbs, 42 in.

Birthday BBQ

We had a fun Memorial Day weekend with a neighborhood BBQ on Monday in which we had a wonderful group of friends and neighbors over to grill and watch our kids play.  I've said it before & I'll say it again--we are so blessed to have amazing friends in our lives.  It is always nice to socialize with other parents of young kids who "get it" and who can share in the trials and tribulations of parenthood...we laughed, we drank beer, we swapped stories.  I am just bummed that I got ZERO photos of that day.  

On Tuesday, we had family over for a birthday celebration for Taylor and me, since we share May birthdays.  It was great since my mom is in town this week and could help us get our party on!  

Mom & Kelsie in their fun summer colors.

Just the girls...

Davis standing in a gravel/mud puddle of Easy Street Wheat from the keg.  He knew he was in trouble, but used his super-cuteness to distract me from disciplining him.  Dang it!

The birthday cousins!

Tyler helping Davis with the pink sand (long story).

Carter showing off his sticker skills.  

Mom with her favorite nephew.  :-)

Kelsie Rae & Carter busting a move.

Most of the gang...

Sean: Grill Master

Cousins with Carrot Cake.  Happy Birthday Tay Tay!!

The boys were very ready for cake!

My favorite Aunt and her son.  Love this!