I have been doing some 'limited' posting to our blog this summer and doing a bit of cheating thanks to Smilebox. I am a list maker so perhaps I would do better making lists of what we have been up to this summer!

Places we have been:

Iowa- visiting friends Dustin and Mindy Hadley and their 3 year old Kaden

Branson MO- spent time with my parents and my dad's side of the family for a Rutter get together on Lake Taneycomo. We put about 2000 miles on during this trip-and once again, Creighton probably complained the least amount of all of us :) We went to Iowa first "on the way" to Branson....which after I finally looked at the atlas, was NOT a direct route as Chad had earlier convinced me...but it was great to see where D&M live. Here is a picture of Creighton eating crab in MO. He loved it!

The Toledo Zoo- I try to take Creighton to the zoo about every other week. He loves riding around in his stroller and checking out the animals. His favorites include: the aquarium, the primates, and also the new Nature's Neighborhood kids area. Here is a picture of both Creighton and the Orangutan eating.

We are also thinking about planning another quick trip before the summer ends...possibly out to VA to see family and friends.

Creighton's Favorite Things and New "Tricks":

words: "dada", "hi", "what's that?","tractor", "mama", "nana" for banana, and he is starting to say a mumbled "outside"

Creighton loves playing outside. He loves his lambs and will dutifully carry do his chores when he goes out to visit them. As soon as he walks into the barn, he heads for the hay pile, grabs and handful and carries it over to their pen, shoves his hand through the gate and feeds them. This continues on until he is bribed or carried out of the barn. Creighton also loves going for rides on the 4 wheeler. The term "out of site, out of mind" does not apply to him when it comes to the atv. If we are outside, Creighton will walk over to the shop and whine at the door until you either distract him with something equally exciting or take him on a ride. He has always loved the 4 wheeler- even when he was very little.

Chad just recently finished Creighton's sandbox- which turned out to be a very large sand area! Chad and Corey Roth worked on digging it w/ a tractor and then when Chad went to buy the sand his wife wanted, it was going to be $300 to fill it! :) Chad put some dirt back into the sandbox before adding forty 50lb bags of the sand I wanted. Needless to say, it was a bit of an adventure, but Creighton LOVES it and loves to play "knock over the sandcastle" with me.

Other Items:

Creighton, having 4 ear infections in 3 months is going to be getting tubes put in his ears July 29. We are hoping that it goes as smoothly as it should and that they work their magic! We feel very blessed that Chad has continued to be very busy with his eavespouting business and he has 2 great guys working for him. I can happily report that I have not thought about school for the past several weeks, but will need to start devoting a little time to school things as the summer continues to fly by! We are also looking forward to this August when our new pastor Steve and his wife Bonnie Heatwole will be coming to Lockport.

I hope all of you have been having a great summer filled with all the things you love.