Swim Lessons

Well we've been putting this off for 2 years now for a variety of reasons and we decided that we can no longer put it off.....It's time for swimming lessons. Maybe I should start off by saying that the boys typically hate the pool. After 10 days in Hawaii they still didn't want to have anything to do with the pool. With that being said Mason is actually doing quite well in the pool Brock however is still a challenge. He spends the entire half hour crying "maaaamaaaa" and "mama all done, mama all done!" Our current plan is to keep going until he likes it. I was surprised to see that their teacher is the same lady that taught my swimming lessons many moons ago. The first two lessons James was able to go with us but since then he has started school again so pool time has fallen into Nana's lap. Just what she wants to do on a Tuesday night is get in the pool with a bunch of toddlers but hey at least I let her have Mason :)

Clear Lake September 2010

This year we decided to make our annual trek to Clear Lake in September instead of June. Granted it was much warmer this time we also got the first of the big fall rain. I don't think we've ever had it rain so much during a camping trip but we had a blast any way. Jen and I took advantage of the only decent weather Saturday morning and ran/walked from our camp down to Clear Lake around the lake and back to camp. It drizzled all day but that evening is when the rain really picked up. After long we had our own "lake" right in the middle of camp. It was useless to try to keep the kids dry so we just let them all have fun getting totally wet and muddy. They loved it! They had sword fights, played football, drove their trucks and rode their bikes all through the water.It was a total mess trying to get everyone clean and dry but it was worth it. I just wish I had brought my video camera. Of course there was also the traditional card games, potluck and great times with friends and family.

Labor Day Weekend 2010

Another pleasant weekend in the Dodge house. We BBQ'd with friends, played at the park and got one last boating trip up to the lake with Niki and Mike. Oh and lets not forget the excitement over all the money Uncle Mike gave us.

Corn On The Cob

Well the boys had their first experience with corn on the cob this weekend and they loved it! I know it sounds pretty ridiculous but I just haven't made it out to the farmers market and it looks so terrible at the store that this is the first time we've bought any this year. The boys tried out all sorts of new techniques for corn eating....sideways, end first, in the bowl. They thought this was the best new activity that they've tried in a long time. Remember that they are two so it's the simple things that get them all excited.

State Fair 2010

The boys got their first taste of the state fair today. James's work had their summer picnic at the state fair so it was a great opportunity to take the boys. They got to pet a wallaby in the petting zoo not to mention deer and a pig too. They got to go on their first ride. (There was only one that they were tall enough to ride.) Brock was fairly indifferent while Mason loved the first half and was scared the second half. I think their favorite part was what daddy called the foot jiggle ride. That would be the 25 cent foot massage machine. They got to see livestock, reptiles, a monster truck and Mason caught his first fish. Brock had four fish take bites but it's hard to set the hook with mommy taking pictures. Fish fear us! The boys had the most fun running amok at the picnic and impressing everyone with their very loud 2-stroke motor noises.

Fun At Lone Pine Farms??

I'm not sure that it could be considered fun but we were at Lone Pine Farms. It is official though I am never taking the boys down there by myself again. I was totally outnumbered. Here was the plan: Let the boys feed the goats, play on the playground, buy produce and have a picnic lunch. Sounds fun right? This is what happened: Brock paid attention to the goats for 30 seconds while Mason wanted nothing to do with the goats, both boys fought over the old Case tractor, neither wanted to play on the playground, both ran screaming in opposite directions and were strapped back into the stroller while screaming, hastily picked out produce and went home for lunch. The picture of Mason screaming is because he didn't want to play at the playground, he wanted to go back to the tractor. Super duper fun times!

Chapter 3-Why It's Sucks Having A Cousin

Yep that crazy cousin Kiley is back. Sometimes it sucks having a cousin especially when she won't quit messing with your s#*@. Let's not mention that it's her dad's truck we're playing and in not ours. All we're trying to do is get the beast backed in straight and she's messing with the door handle, touching the steering wheel, adjusting the mirror and yes sharing the drivers seat.