Working at the carwash

I finally took Tyler to the Dr. today. He would seem better during the day, and then get a fever and feel bad every night. It turns out he has pneumonia. Yes, you can nominate me for mother of the year. I've been having him go to the park, play with friends, make his bed all being sick. He just wasn't acting THAT sick. Here are some of the kids helping wash the car. Does Tyler look sick to you?

Our little neighbor got a hold of the hose and sprayed Tyler

Helping Daddy

Not helping Daddy
Austin wanted control of the hose

Germs, germs go away

My poor little guys. They haven't been sick since we moved, but it finally followed us from Peoria- the sick train. They'll live, but it's not a lot of fun at the King house today. Mike went to church while I stayed home with the sickies. All Tyler wants to do is play wii.

This picture of Austin was when he was well the other day. We thought California had cured his asthma; we were wrong. At least we only had to go to Urgent Care and not the ER this time.

Happy Anniversary to me

After a long 6 days Mike is finally home from Chicago. The days when he is gone are so long. The boys just need to be thrown around and wrestled, or they start to take it out on me. Mike returned home just before the kids went to bed. It was our anniversary. I had bought myself some flowers to celebrate. We'll do something this weekend to clebrate our 9 years of marriage. Let's hope something big is in the works for next year (hint hint)...

Austin, you're an Arthur!

Tyler was working on his homework tonight and Austin was scribbling on some paper beside him. I hear Tyler say, "Austin, good job. You're becoming an Arthur." I asked what an Arthur was. Tyler informed me it was someone who writes stories. I should have known that one.

Shhh, don't tell Tyler

This is where we went today.

I feel kind of bad that Tyler had to miss out, so I just won't tell him we went. My cousin Laura was nice enough to get us in with her guest pass. Austin had so much fun with his cousins looking at the animals. I need to take him again.

Austin and all the fish

Just happy to be at the zoo

Climbing up to view the giraffes

See the cute hippo bum in the background?
Austin looking at all the cute orangatangs (spelling?)
It was a great day- topped off by nuggets at mickey d's on the way home

Lost little boy

Yesterday I was on the front porch flipping through mail, and when I looked up Austin was gone. Austin is not a child to leave our side, so when he does we usually don't make him come back right away (we try to encourage a little bit of self entertainment with this one). I assumed he had followed Tyler down to our next door neighbors so I casually sauntered down to their house. Usually, I would find Austin at their doorstep; he wasn't there, so I rang the bell. When I discoverd Austin wasn't inside their house I went into full fledged panic. Tyler and I ran down to the park with Tyler screaming over and over, "he could die!". Poor Tyler was just as upset as me. Our neighbors searched their house and backyard while I checked the park - no Austin. I ran up the hill and decided to check inside our house. I didn't think he would be inside because I was sitting by the front door and he hadn't gone in that door and he can't open the garage door by himself. Luckily, there he was inside the house, screaming away for me. I don't know how he got in, but he was safe and sound. I'm telling this story because I have honestly never been so scared in my life. My hands went numb and I was sure I was going to be calling the police any second. Tyler keeps thinking about it too. He keeps telling me how scared he was. We love our little cling-on a whole bunch!

Swimming

Another thing I needed to post pictures of was swimming. Luckily, our neighbors invited us to go the other night so I could post some swimming pictures. What is Summer without the requisite swim pictures? Austin LOVES to swim. He brings me his swimsuit from his room on a daily basis. Poor kid can't get enough. Tyler needs some more lessons. He can swim, but lacks form and confidence. I think we need to start lessons in Jan. so that next Summer he is ready for swim season.

Beach Baby, Beach Baby...

Do you know that song? My Dad used to sing it to Jenni and me when we went to the beach every summer. It is probably the best memories I have of my Dad. The beach makes me miss him, and it is my favorite place on the planet. We spent loads of time there this summer, but have few pictures to show for it (I'm a little scared to take my camera, especially if we stay the whole day). It took Austin a while to warm up to the beach, but he loves it now. Tyler loved the beach the second he stepped foot on the sand. So without further ado, here are my beach babies.

Whoopsie

I take the kids to the library every week where Tyler picks out 3 videos and 3 books. His teacher told them that when a book has a gold circle on it that it means other people liked the book (a Newbury award winner etc.). Tyler saw the above book with a gold circle on it. He chose this book to read before bed tonight. I am reading along about penguin families when all of the sudden I realize the book is taking us on a little detour. It is about 2 gay penguins. I made up a story to go along with the rest of the book. Come on people- this book needs to have a warning for parents saying "Beware these are 2 BOY penguins, not your normal penguin family. " Unless you want to do some explaining do not get this book. When I googled this book to get a picture of the cover, I discovered that it was a hotly contested book. Silly me, I thought we were just picking out an innocent little penguin book.