Our tree...

Over the weekend we went and cut down a Christmas tree, it almost didn't feel right because there was no snow! We had a good time searching for the "perfect tree" with the boys and my parents. We got a really big tree this year...the boys said it had to be taller than Kevin and it is! Caleb and Ethan really had fun and got into hanging the ornaments on the tree. Levi loves to point at all the ball ornaments and say "bubbles". The boys also collected trains and train tracks to put around the bottom of the tree. We sure are having fun enjoying the season already! Here are a some pictures of us getting and decorating our tree!

Outside...

We have really been enjoying the wonderful weather this month! The boys have been able to be outside a lot, which is good...they love to play with their neighborhood friends, skateboard, ride bikes, play by the creek, and the list goes on. Here are a few pictures of the boys playing Hockey with Kevin a couple of Sundays ago. Even little Levi likes to join in on the fun!

Notice Caleb's "high waters"...in the last month he has just gotten SO tall, yikes!!

When you ask Ethan what he wants to be when he grows up? His answer is always..."A Hockey Player!"

Levi is sporting a new hair-do...he looks so much older now!!

the Wii...

One of Ethan's most favorite things to do is play the Wii...yes our boys were lucky enough to get one last year for Christmas from their Papa and Grandma Fishy! And I must say it was a great gift, for the whole family! :) So yesterday Ethan, Levi, and I are downstairs playing the Wii and the boys decide to take a break and play trains. Well I thought I would take a minute to practice my hitting/swing. Ethan ALWAYS beats me in Wii Baseball and it's not by a little, were talking like 10 point difference. So I am "practicing" and all of the sudden Ethan walks up and says

"Let me show you how it's done!"

Halloween

The boys had fun carving pumpkins and trick or treating this year...Caleb's pumpkin was the only one out of our "backyard pumpkin patch" that we were able to carve. Hopefully next year we can grow some bigger pumpkins!! Ethan didn't like the mustache Kevin painted on his face, so Kev washed "some" of it off. Later on in the night when E figured out he still had some of it on it was quite funny! Levi loves wearing his horse costume around the house and saying "giddy up", however tonight he really didn't want it on. So that was kinda of bummer trying to get pictures, but I got a few...enjoy!

Grandma Great...

This month we celebrated my Grandma's 88th Birthday! We praise God for her and His faithfulness!! She has such a strong love and commitment to God and her family! Here she is with her 6 great grandchildren...

We love you Grandma and thank you for all your love and support!

Peek-a-boo and Oreos...

and it isn't just a normal Oreo...double stuff orange filling for Halloween of course! :)

I got invited...

A couple weekends ago we *ALL* went up to the Fish Ladder to see the Salmon. This is something that Kevin usually does with the boys every year, but this year they let mom come along too! So of course with me along, comes pictures!!

Hip-Hip-Horray!!

K-man lost his FIRST tooth tonight!! It was quite an exciting night here at the Hart house!! We have really been wanting it to come out, since his "big tooth" was already coming in. The big tooth honestly is halfway in so he doesn't have too much of a hole. K has been waiting a LONG time for this! Last year the kids in his Kindergarten class got to put their name up on a board when they lost a tooth and he SO badly wanted to be a part of that. But tonight was HIS night!! He is looking forward to showing his friends and teacher at school on Monday!
It's kind of hard to see in the pictures, but my mom made this super cute "Tooth Fairy Pillow" with a special pocket for his tooth...he can't wait to see what the Tooth Fairy leaves him tonight!! Poor E-bugs, he's not so sure about the Tooth Fairy visiting our house tonight while we are all sleeping! However Caleb is "on" to the Tooth Fairy...just before bed he says, "I know Mom is the Tooth Fairy!"

ARTPRIZE

The other night we took the boys downtown GR to see ARTPRIZE...it was a fun night walking around downtown checking out the different art pieces. Besides the "art" the boys really enjoyed seeing the people fly fishing and kayaking in the Grand River.
It is definitely something to check out if you haven't yet. Here are a few pictures from our night...

Wuv you..

Levi is at the fun age when your vocab just explodes...he repeats EVERYTHING you say, but also is able to understand and answer some questions. Some of my favorites: "Hello-o-o-o"..."Oh my"..."Hungry"...His favorite I think is "Here". He is ALWAYS saying "Here" to one of us and then handing us something! :) Levi can say Caleb and E, but most of the time you hear him say "Boys". This morning he was walking around the house saying "Daddy, where are you?" Too cute! He still LOVES our neighbor's dog...so we hear "Myah" and "Woof Woof" a lot. With two older brothers it didn't take him long to learn this trick...fake burp and then say "Excuse me". He also will say "Stinky" and then you know he needs a dipe change. Caleb and Ethan find it quite funny though, because his excuse me and stinky sound about the same. Of course there is nothing better then when he says love you. Yesterday when I dropped him off at his class for church he says "Bye Mom, Wuv you!"

And we sure love our Levi, he adds SO MUCH joy and laughter to our home!

The boys on their bikes...

Go Lightning Chargers!!

It's SOCCER time again and boy is Caleb having fun! This year he is in the U-8 level so they have goalies and Caleb LOVES to be goalie! He does a really good job at it too...diving for the ball or drop kicks he has it under control! Kevin and my brother Nate are coaching again this year and are doing a great job with the boys. The boys on the team were divided on two different ideas for the "team name", so Kevin took part of each of their ideas and came up with LIGHTNING CHARGERS!

We are enjoying another season of SOCCER here at the Hart home!

Ethan's turn...

He has been waiting a long time for this...first day of PRESCHOOL!

Labor Day Weekend...

We had such great time camping in Ludington this year! The weather was perfect...we went to the beach, bike rides, hikes, campfires, fishing, and of course ice cream and supper at House of Flavors!! The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins...yes all 10 of them! :) We had lots of laughs and many great memories were made...

Watermelon...

Mr. First Grader

Today we celebrate...

Our Grandpa's 95th Birthday!! Over the weekend we had a party for him at our house...

Our Grandpa or Great Papa as our boys call him is very special to us. We are so thankful for him and the blessing he is to our family! Our boys think the world of him...just the other night Caleb asked me a question and I told him I really wasn't sure about the answer and Caleb says "I bet Great Papa would know".
When we think of our Grandpa we think of commitment...to God, his wife for 61 years, his 3 children, 8 grandchildren, & 12 great grandchildren, his country (WWII vet), his job, and the list goes on. We so appreciate all the words of wisdom from him and the wonderful example he is to our boys.
We praise God for our Grandpa and Blessing him with 95 years of life!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! WE LOVE YOU!!

End of August already!?!

It's hard to believe that summer is coming to an end...since this is Caleb's last full week of summer vacation we have been trying to do a "fun event" each day. Monday we went to Meijer Gardens with my mom. The boys just love the children's area...searching for fossils, playing with the boats in the Great Lakes, and so on. Here are a few pictures from our day!


Levi just loved the sculptures...he would just stand for the longest time pointing up at things!!

Poor E got stung twice on the neck!! He cried when it happened, but after that was totally fine!

Caleb always likes to make a friend or two for him and Ethan to play with...met a boy to play hide and seek with them today!

We had to do an outfit change after playing with the boats!

squished...

Monday night Caleb caught a fire fly and was quite proud of it. He put it in a container and Ethan helped him find some flowers and leaves for it to eat. The boys have enjoyed the little bug...watching his "bootie glow" and showing neighborhood friends. However Kevin told them they better let it go tonight. So they open the lid and it lethargically walked out of the container. It falls onto the deck and is lost. Ethan said he thought he saw it fall through the crack in the deck but... it didn't... Levi found it. The next thing we know Levi is squatting down squishing the glowing bug into the deck boards with his finger. Poor bug...stuck in a container for a few days, finally free and then squished...

Cottage 2009