Patiently waiting ...

Yesterday marked 39 weeks and today was my last day of work. Now we wait for baby b to make his/her arrival. We have our last scheduled appointment bright and early Monday morning (if we make it through the weekend).

This weekend is Honey Days!!! We'll be heading to the parade in the morning and then we'll make our way to the volleyball tournament to take in a little Rentsch volleyball!! This year marks 20 years of Rentsch volleyball! Such a great tradition and ALWAYS a good time. I'm excited to see everyone again ... funny how we only see some of these wonderful people on this particular weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Preston's Photo Shoot

He wasn't the most cooperative (what 2-year-old is?), but we managed to get some pretty good pictures of the little guy during our photo shoot.

And a picture with dad ...

Preston rediscovered his harmonica a day or two before we had our photo shoot and he hasn't put it down since. I recently inherited all of my Grandpa Rolf's harmonicas ... if Preston's love of the harmonica continues, he just might inherit them some day too. I think Grandpa Rolf would be pretty happy!

Maternity Photos ~ Baby B

The old train depot and the old firehall served as the backdrop for our photo shoot last Sunday. My wonderful, talented mother was the photographer.

4th of July

Sunday night we headed to Bruce to spend time with the Hovey clan. Great food and lots of fun! And a spectacular fireworks display courtesy of Uncle Don and Uncle Rolfie, who purchased a boat load of fireworks! Dustin ended up being our guy to light most of them! The guys got together with the neighbors and put on quite a show. At one point I think there were maybe eight of them lined up and they lit them up all at once. It was awesome!

 Grandma and Grandpa watching fireworks with the boys

Preston Rides a Pony!

Monday we headed to the Uncle Sam Jam at the Swiftel Center after Preston's nap (we skipped the parade this year in favor of him getting some sleep ... I think we ran him ragged this weekend). 

Preston got to go on a pony ride!! He was pretty excited. Until he got on the pony. We were the first in line in our group so he had to sit on the pony until the other kids got on their ponies. He kind of freaked out a little. At one point he saw me and was trying to reach for me and still hold on to the pony, yelling "I hold you, I hold you!". Once they got going he seemed to enjoy it, although Dustin said his knuckles were white from holding on so tight!

The horse he was on, named Buckwheat (which is what my Dad usually calls Preston!), was snorting the whole time Preston was riding him. At one point, Preston even yelled out a yee-haw!

After the pony ride, we headed over to the little petting zoo to check out a miniature donkey, some sheep, a pot-bellied big and some rabbits.

 

After all that activity it was time to come home and cool off with a freeze pop and some time on the swing!

Then we headed to Mom and Dad's for supper and some more fireworks. (We can't do any fireworks that leave the ground in Brookings. Bummer, right?)

 Preston got to help light some smoke bombs!

 He would light them and then run away, laughing/screaming the whole way. He thought it was the coolest thing ever, I think.

 The neighbors brought over their lantern so Preston and Allie could see it. We saw a couple in Bruce the night before. They are so neat!

There it goes! It took off and headed North and we could still see it maybe a couple miles away.

We were so blessed to be able to spend some time with both our families this weekend. I hope everyone enjoyed the 4th of July weekend as much as we did!

Farewell, Bryan!

Dustin's brother, Bryan, was able to come home for a few days before leaving for Afghanistan and we were fortunate enough to be able to go see them today for a bit.

 The brothers and their boys. 

Cyrus is getting SO big!! He's rolling over like a champ!

 Bryan, Jessica and Cyrus

 The belly makes for a nice little ledge for Preston to sit on ... baby b doesn't appreciate it as much.

 Cyrus was much more cooperative for pictures than Preston. :-)

 All of us kids with Grandma and Grandpa. 

They were kind enough to take us all out to lunch. Thank you!!!

 Leave it to Bryan to have some goofy look on his face for a picture.

 A little blurry but too cute not to share.

Please keep Bryan, Jessica and Cyrus in your thoughts and prayers while Bryan is deployed.

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Zoo!!

On our way home we decided to stop by the zoo.  :-)

 Checking out the animals. 

(These weren't llamas, but I can't remember their name ... same family as llamas though.)

 The camel was just hanging out while the keepers raked up around him/her.

 Galapagos Turtles!

 If you look close, you'll see the baby!

 Mama started swinging around the cage and baby just hung on to her leg the whole time. 

It was the coolest thing to see.

 That baby was CUTE!

 A baby rhino.

There were baby animals all over the zoo.

We joke about all the pregnant women at work right now ... glad to see it's not just us.  :-)

 Preston was pretty enthralled by the tigers 

(He kept calling this one Alex. Alex is a lion, not a tiger. Shhh. Don't tell Preston!)

 His trademark "ROAR"

Seriously, this kid never stops roaring.

Giving the ape a hug.

We had such a great day and it's just the start of our holiday weekend. Dustin plans to do some fishing tomorrow and then we're off to hang out with the Hoveys in Bruce tomorrow night. 

Monday brings the parade, Uncle Sam Jam and FIREWORKS!!!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone!!!