Here are a few things I haven't blogged about yet...

• Blake has added "nevermind" and "I have a great idea" to his vocabulary.
• Samantha started Eager Beavers at Church today and was so excited she woke up during the night to ask me questions about it.  It's once a month and only during the school year.
• Blake has been working on using his fingers to show you numbers.  He has it mastered with a bit of work on number 4:)
• Samantha wrote "mama" all by herself one day and knew what it said.
• Blake often tells me, "mama, you're so cute." 
• We played at Monkey Buziness one day and later Blake told me he had accidentally run into a little boy but had told him he was sorry.
• We had a play date with our former neighbor Carson and his mom.  We went to Deanna Rose Farm and had a great time.  Hopefully we can get with them again soon.
• One evening we went to Cracker Barrel for supper.  Above the restroom entrance is a stoplight sign and Samantha noticed the green was burned out.  She wanted to tell them about it and asked if I would go with her.  She told an employee that their light was burned out and by the time we left they had fixed it.
• We've had a couple of play dates with Gianna and Alexa lately.  One was a spur-of-the-moment trip to Deanna Rose followed by lunch and the other time they came to our house to play.  We live a lot closer to them and hope to get together with the more.
• Blake has his 2 1/2 year check-up this week.  He is in the 40% for his height and 10% for his weight.  He got three shots plus the flu mist and was in a bit of pain that day but by the next morning he was fine.  Samantha went along and got her flu mist also.

If you've read the previous blog you know that Samantha has learned to ride her bike without training wheels.  Here she is in action...

This is what our yard looked like Wednesday morning...

  This is what our backyard looked like Friday afternoon...

We've had the swing set in our garage for about a year.  It became very evident that Travis was not going to have time to put it up yet this Fall and Samantha kept on begging for it to be put up.  Grandma Linda wanted to see the kids playing with it to, she had bought it for them.  Thanks to a gift from Grandma and Grandma we were able to hire someone to put it up.  The kids are thrilled to say the least!

Friday evening we had to test out the picnic table...

Sabbath morning the kids had to try it out before Sabbath School and Church.  In that short amount of time Samantha figured out how to get herself going on the swing and pump herself high.

Wednesday evening we were out visiting with the neighbors while the kids rode their bikes.  Zack, our neighbor boy took his training wheels off and learned how to ride without them that evening.  That same night Samantha asked for her to be taken off.  It was too late but we took them off the next night and practiced.  She didn't master it that night because it started to rain but Friday she was off and pedaling all by herself.  She still needs a bit of help to get started but often she can get going.  

Here are just a couple of shots of the kids at breakfast this week...

Samantha insisted on being silly...

Friday afternoon began KCs annual hot air balloon festival.  There were approximately 35 balloons.  The kids had a great time as you can see from the pictures below.   We headed out early with a picnic supper to be sure to watch the balloons launch.  Because we were here so early so were up close to the balloons when they launched, it was a spectacular event!

Later they all came back for the balloon glow where they put up their balloons for everyone to enjoy.

It was a great way to bring in the Sabbath.  The weather was perfect and everyone was so nice we can't wait to go back next year!

Over Labor Day weekend we took a trip to Louisburg, KS where the Cedar Cove Conservatory is.  They keep rescued large cats and also have three wolves.  The kids enjoyed seeing the big tigers!

It wasn't all play, Travis finished painting Samantha's room...

The kids have enjoyed the cooler weather and have been playing outside outside a bit more.  Blake has mastered the tricycle...

One night we had pizza and the kids enjoyed making their own personal one...

Playing with Dad's new iPad is a huge thing in our house, especially for Blake...

We've remembered that with home ownership comes work!  We have started working on our lawn as much of it has died after a long hot summer...

Our friends Jason and Angela told us that the Kansas City Symphony was giving a free concert at a park nearby with a part for the kids to touch and play some instruments.  I didn't think we'd stay throughout the entire thing but we did and the kids loved it.  Blake even asked to go back tomorrow.