Colby 4 year Well-Child

Colby had his 4 year old Well-child visit today. Height and eyesight identical to Quinn (go figure), so 42 inches, and 20/30 vision. Weight is 2 pounds lighter, at 33 pounds. So he's in the 83rd percentile for height, and 23rd for weight. Do we ALL now understand why his mother CANNOT keep his pants up????? They ALWAYS fall down. If those Mork from Ork suspender things ever come back in style, I will cheer loud and long. I was so impressed with how well he behaved. Actually, both boys, since I couldn't find a sitter for Quinn. This takes some getting used to, these well-behaved, more mature children that hold actual conversations with unfamiliar adults (like the doctor). I think I'm going to like the age of 4.

The Model T Trip

Well, the boys and I just got back from a week-long trip to Southern Indiana, celebrating the 100th birthday of the Model T Ford with my mom, dad, and nephew. What ALOT of driving!!! This is a big country. But the weather was fabulous, the cars fun, and the boys only somewhat manic from lack of sleep, so a great time was had by all :). Hang on to your hats... here's the low-down....

The boys and I drove to Sartell, MN on Saturday morning, for a short, over-night visit Rob's sister and brother-in-law. Quinn and Colby did GREAT in the car, but as soon as they got OUT of the car.... WHOA! Wired city. It took a long walk around the block, and some vigorous swimming in the hot tub to even remotely calm them down enough to sleep. My parents arrived the next morning, and we started our LLLLOOOONNGGGG, 765 mile drive to Indiana. Somewhere after the 12th hour of consecutive driving, we decided that 765 miles was too much for one day with three little boys, and we stopped to spend the night in Champaign, IL. We got into Indiana on Monday, and drove by the Indianapolis Speedway on our way to Richmond, IN.

Those Model T's are LOUD!

Dad, unloading the T....

Tuesday, after a leisurely morning swimming in the hotel pool, and getting haircuts all around, we went to a vintage airshow in Hagerstown, IN. There were several hundred Model T's lined up along the runway, watching these old airplanes. Quite a sight!

Mom took the boys to Build a Bear in Dayton, OH to make stuffed animals for their birthday presents. They both picked out identical black labs with white poodle puppies. They would've named them the same ("Morgan", the name of our black lab back home) if we hadn't insisted on SOME individuality. Colby's turned into "Poodle", with some prompting.

Then it was back to the fairgrounds for Model T games and kids activities. Landon and Dad won the potato stabbing competition, and Dad won the stopping-as-close-as-you-can-to-a-pole competition. Since this was an officially international gathering of Model T's, we've decided that Dad is the World Champion of Model T parkers. Take THAT Olympics!

Building a pinewood Derby Model T Speedster

Thursday we went on a "Covered Bridges of Preble County, Ohio" tour. Very nice. We had to miss a few bridges in order to make it back to Richmond in time for the World-Record setting Model T Parade! Check us out in the next edition of the Guinness Book.... longest parade consisting solely of one type of vehicle. Don't think there was alot of competition in that category, but... still!

Friday saw another leisurely day, and then the closing banquet. We headed out towards Champagin, IL that evening, and got back to Sartell late Saturday night. Home Sunday. WHEW! Cars cars and more cars. What a fun trip!

Quinn's Wellchild Visit

Four Year Well-Child Visit for Quinn- he did very well, I was proud of him. He is now 35 pounds and 42 inches tall -- 83rd percentile for height, 41st for weight. That's the highest percentile he's been for weight since birth! Yeah, Quinn! Vision is 20/30.... hearing gets checked out by the audiologist in a few weeks. FOUR shots. Yuck. But a little boy must get ready for pre-school, ya know.

Quinn and Colby's first Dental Visit

It's official -- no cavities! Quinn and Colby visited the dentist for the first time today. They were very excited about the prospect UNTIL they actually got there. Quinn did well, but did not smile or say a single word the entire 45 minutes, despite vigorous attempts at conversation by the hygenist. Colby was terrified of the xray camera, and took... literally.... TWELVE attempts before we could get him to hold still enough for a decent take. He then squirmed, hid under his dental bib, and generally resisted the rest of the treatment. Teeth eventually got cleaned, however, and the report was good from the dentist. WHEW! We celebrated their good oral hygeine by purchasing new "Lightning McQueen" crocs for our trip next week. Clean teeth, new shoes... now if we could just talk Grandma Betty into cutting their hair, we'd be in good shape!

Another Summer Day, Another Parade

If there's one thing we Yoopers do well, it's have a parade. There have been NUMEROUS parades so far this summer, with many more to come. It's actually becoming nearly a weekly event here, these parades. This one was for the Strawberry Festival, and it was a little short on candy, which was fine but disappointing for over-tired short people. Both Dad AND Grandpa Al came to this parade, which is an astounding event, as both admit that they "don't do parades". Of course, one left early, and one WANTED to leave early, but his mean wife wouldn't let him, as she felt one parade a year with the familyi was a fair request. Both boys were again afraid of fire engines, which is weird, since they love pointing at them and talking about them all the time

... from a distance.

Waiting for the parade to begin with cousins Andy and Jennie

Enjoying the park before the parade

AAAHHHH!! A Fire Engine!!

Dad, parade-present and it's documented!!

Dancing to the drums

Tiger Woods, he's NOT.

Today has been a day of trying out all the new birthday gifts. So here's Quinn, in new birthday Crocs, wearing a new birthday outfit, using his new birthday golf clubs. The athletic prowess is staggering. You've got to give him points for creativity, though... combining baton twirling, baseball, golf and soccer. It's a new sport! Quinn-ball!

Superheros

Aunt Kelli and Uncle Larry got the boys Spiderman masks for their birthday, and they have worn them alllllll dayyyyyy. Colby uses the "webslinger" to pretend shoot people. I keep having to say "No, Spiderman HELPS people. He saves the day! He doesn't 'fire people' (as it's called in Colby-ese)". What IS it with boys, and turning everything into weapons????? Bet you've never seen the REAL Spiderman wear a cute little bee bib whlie eating lunch, though.... soon after lunch those were turned around backwards to make cute little bee and flower superhero capes....

Birthday Bash

Well, we all survived the big birthday bash last night. The weather held, and we had a great time! Thanks to all the family and friends who came to help us celebrate.... Here's the pics....