Birthday-Pool Party

This afternoon we went over to Auntie Sue & Uncle Fred's house for a Birthday-Pool Party with Grandpa and Nana, Great Grandma, Uncle Bruce and Sue, Rob and Julie, and last but not least, Nicole. We ended up meeting with everyone today because of prior commitments on the afternoon of our Cake and Ice Cream Party.

The first thing that the boys did, of course, was jump into the pool. They jumped in and out of the pool for over an hour straight. Brewer went down half of the slide a hand full of times, and is not afraid of jumping into the water at any depth! Cooper had fun letting Mommy and Daddy play catch with him. He would plug his nose and go flying through the air, come up, catch his breath and then plug his nose for a relaunch. We had a blast!!!

After a nice little picnic, Cooper was able to open up some presents. He was pretty excited to get his Prince Fielder t-shirt from Grandpa and Nana...he will be wearing this at the Brewer's Game in a few weeks for sure!

While Cooper was busy opening up presents, Brewer had a blast playing in the little puddles over by the pool...he is a magnet for water! A true BOY at his best!

Ski Show -Take 1

Last night we took a trip out to Twin Lakes to see their water ski show. However, when I was online looking for directions, I didn't look for their schedule. We didn't discover until after our picnic dinner that their was no show scheduled for the evening. But we still managed to have a great time.

We took a picnic dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Beck out to the park. The boys were too excited for dinner after they saw the water, so they both headed down to the beach where they played in the water (with Mom and Dad in tow). There were lots of rocks on the shore that they enjoyed throwing into the water.

Both boys got an ice cream truck. Brewer got a chocolate-banana flavored pop and Cooper picked out a rainbow Popsicle.

They both soon discovered the trick to eating them this afternoon was to eat them fast before they melted!

But that was ok because we went back to the water to wash off the sticky mess! Oh well, even though we didn't see what we planned on seeing...it was still a great time!!!

Zarletti Family Reunion

Today was our annual Zarletti Family Reunion! This year the crowd was a bit smaller than normal, but it was still a lot of fun. Cooper had a blast playing with Steven and Rebecca and all of the other cousins as well in the bounce house, slip and slide, games, and up at the park! Brewer had a blast checking everyone out and saying hi to everyone that would talk with him!

Cooper and Brewer both took a swing at the pinata this year. They were both swinging with all of their might!

At the picnic site we had two areas for the kids to get wet. One was a kiddie pool and the other was this water slide. Brewer decide that the kiddie pool was for the babies and he was wanting more and more of the big water slide!

On the way back home from Washington Park, both boys were told that they were going to take a bath before going to bed. But when we got home, Cooper asked if they could play in the pool. Daddy and I both said yes, but we're bring the soap out. So both boys took a "red neck bath" tonight before calling it a night!

Potty Time

Brewer got up this morning with a dry diaper, so I asked him if he wanted to go potty. He got up and took off for the bathroom and started to pee on the floor. I quickly picked him up and set him on the potty chair and he proceeded to go a little bit, got up and peed on the floor again, so I put him back on the potty chair where he filled up the potty catcher! Then Daddy and I did the potty dance for Brewer as he looked at us wondering what was going on!

Six Flags...More Fun!

Today we took the boys down to Six Flags Great America along with Grandma Maria, Auntie Lisa and Sara. We all had a blast! The weather was perfect and the crowds were not too bad...busy but not unmanageable. I don't think that we could have picked a more perfect day to go!

Here is the Carousel that welcomes you to the park. Randy took this picture right before we left, however, I thought it would make a perfect first picture to say where we were!

Cooper and Brewer had a blast in the splash pads in Wiggle's World. It was nice enough to be in the water, but not overly sticky that you had to be in the water. But I think we can see on their faces just how much fun they are having!

Cooper, Grandma Maria, Auntie Lisa and I went on this fun new ride right outside the Southwest Territory. There were water canons everywhere to soak every dry spot reachable! We had a blast on this one!

Our second to last ride was the train. It was just a nice way to relax and see the whole park on one ride!

Here is Cooper on his horse on the Merry-Go-Round. He had so much fun today! His favorite ride was the train and the water boat ride. He did go on his first roller coaster...the Dark Knight! He was a trouper on this one...we are very proud of him for going on it!

Brewer also did awesome! He loved riding on the bumble bee ride and the Wiggle's Cars! Maybe next year he will be ready for more!

Happy 5th Birthday Cooper!

Saturday July 3rd was Cooper's 5th Birthday! He started his day off by opening his presents from Mommy, Daddy, and Brewer. His favorites were the Bakugan carrying case and the Bakugan t-shirt! It was a Bakugan kind of day!

Then it was off to the park. First, Cooper biked two miles around Lake Andrea before we went to the park for some fun. Cooper played with the diggers for quite awhile dumping and reloading the diggers.

He had a blast chasing Brewer around the playground, crawling in and out of the tunnels.


And while I was chasing Brewer, I heard a "Mom, help" when I turned around and found Cooper three bars in on the monkey bars! He was so excited that he did it a couple of times!

But Cooper's favorite part of his day was watching the fireworks down at Kennedy Park. The display this year was spectacular! Happy Birthday to a terrific 5 year old!!!

Next Saturday, we will have family over to celebrate with Cupcakes and Ice Cream!

Accident #2

After work on Thursday, July 1st, we ran out to the grocery store. When we got back the boys were playing in the driveway. I had taken one load in and came out for the next load when the two boys started heading towards the road. I put the stuff back in the van and followed them down where they were going. Brewer was having fun scooting down the slight incline on the tractor and Cooper wanted to go over to the neighbors to play. I was trying to get Cooper to come inside when I turned and saw Brewer start to crying and yell "hot, hot, hot." He had touched the brake rotor on the van and burned the tips of his three fingers.

Brewer screamed for over an hour and a half because he was in so much pain. He eventually passed out with his hand in a dish of ice water. We are thinking of putting him in a bubble for safety reasons, but we fear that he would find a way to pop that bubble putting us back on square one!

Accident #1

On Tuesday, June 29th, Brewer and Cooper were outside playing in the backyard, when we heard this horrific scream. When we got to the boys, Brewer was standing motionless with his mouth wide open trying to scream again, but couldn't get anything out. He had stepped on a nail! Fortunately, the nail only pierced the skin and did not puncture it. The on call doctor told us to flush it out with forceful water and apply ointment and a band aid and to watch for an infection.

The next day, thankfully, Brewer was walking, climbing, and running like his old self!

Weekend at Grandma Maria's

Saturday after we were done with Relay for Life, it was time to relax! The boys were excited to play with Grandma's toys in the back yard while we unpacked the truck and car's of all of the stuff that we had at the site. Cooper had a blast riding on the new two-wheeler Grandma found for him and Brewer had fun going up and down on the back steps before playing on the digger!

After lunch and a nice rest for Cooper (both boys decided to tag team one another so that they had the good rests while the big kids couldn't rest), we went over to Ann's house to swim. Both of the boys had fun jumping in the pool over and over again. Cooper did his first cannon ball and went under...much to his surprise!

And when Brewer finally had enough of the jumping he had fun playing with the WATER that was in the beer bottle! We are thinking of this one below for our Christmas card this year!?!

After we were done swimming, Grandma, Auntie Lisa, Sara, Ann, the boys and I went to Dos Gringo's for dinner...it was yummy!

On Sunday morning, Cooper got ahold of the camera and took this great shot of his brother crawling through the new tunnels that Auntie Lisa brought for them. Thank you:)

All weekend we were telling Brewer to be nice to pillow. We think he finally understood when he started following pillow around saying "nice puppy" and trying to give him kisses!

When we finally got back home, Daddy was done with putting the new roof on the house...it looks awesome!

2010 Relay for Life

We had another successful year of Relay for Life June 25-26th! Our team once again earn Platinum status for raising over $10,500 for the American Cancer Society; and overall the event has raised $115,000! This is HUGE for the community of Beaver Dam. This evening was also a bittersweet evening, as it was Mom's last night as the Chairperson for Relay. Next year, she is going to be able to enjoy the event a little more as an on looker and not as the go-to person for the entire event. However, she did an awesome job and has brought many changes to the event that is hosted at the High School in Beaver Dam!

Here are Cooper and Brewer's luminaries from the Luminary Ceremony. They (and I and Randy) are thankful for Elizabeth for holding their hand!

Here is Brewer after waking up from his 3 hour nap in the kids area. He was a little hungry and yes, he ate the whole slice of pizza!

Weekend with Cousin Gabby

We had a crazy busy weekend June 19-20th! We started the weekend off by going to Cooper's t-ball game and pictures. As usual, Cooper was not being cooperative with the photographer, but eventually she got a great pose of Cooper and Daddy. After the game, we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa's for breakfast along with Auntie Kris, Gabby and Great Grandma. We had a nice visit before Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Kris, Gabby, Great Grandma, and Cooper went to the Jelly Belly Factory. They had a great tour and did some sampling. Then they stopped off to pick up Daddy before going out to Monkey Joes (Brewer stayed back to take a much needed nap). Gabby and Cooper had a blast bouncing around with one another before picking up pizza's that we would have back at our house. After Cooper and Gabby polished off 1/2 of a pizza on their own, they decided it was time to play in the pool in the backyard. We all slept real well that night!

On Sunday...Happy Father's Day...we headed back over to Grandma and Grandpa's to get everyone so that we could go for a Trolley Ride. Cooper, Brewer and Gabby were pretty excited. We went for lunch at the Boathouse and then went to the beach for a couple of hours. The weather was beautiful and the sun was shining at all times (which was a far cry from what the weather had been)! We ended the weekend with a little cook out before they headed back home and we went to bed!

Rain Rain Go Away

Cooper and Brewer had a blast splashing in the puddle at the end of the front walk way after the big storm had past through on Friday, June 19. The wind storm blew the fence of the neighbors down between the two houses, and wrapped their lights around our phone and cable lines in the back. Other than that, we didn't have any other damage to our house. We were bummed though to find everyone else's shingles in the back yard except for ours...the roof was getting done next weekend!

Both boys were drenched when they finally came back in the house!

Kite Fest

Daddy and Cooper went down to Kennedy Park for the annual Kite Fest on Sunday, June 6th. They happened to catch up with Grandma and Grandpa while they were down there. Cooper had fun watching the kite show and he also made a kite of his own. From the looks of it, they had a great time.
While they were down by the lake, Brewer and I walked over by Gigi and Papa's so we could talk about the picnic. I was also able to spend time with my Mom before she headed back home.


Kite Show

Balloon Launch

Cooper on the rocks down by Lake Michigan!

Graduation

Saturday, June 5th Cooper graduated from Extended Love Child Development Center's Preschool! It is hard to believe that he is turning 5 this summer and will be going to Kindergarten in the fall. Time has flown by way too quickly, yet it is amazing to see all of the changes that he has gone through so far in just a short time.
His graduation was held up at Pleasant Prairie Elementary School. Grandma Maria, Gigi, Grandpa and Nana, Auntie Sue, Grandma and Grandpa Beck and Auntie Andrea were there to watch Cooper and his class perform their songs. Cooper was being Cooper and didn't utter a word during the whole thing, a little stage fright...

Except for when Ms. Linda asked Cooper what he wanted to be when he grew up and he responded with "An Owl!" Then he was full of smiles and giggles! But on the way home, he sang all of his songs as though he was on stage!

Cooper with his teachers...Ms. Carole and Ms. Shauna...both have amazing talent and Cooper learned so much from them...he has two boxes full of projects from this preschool class!

Cooper at home posing with his cake and some of the things from his graduation...I had to hide his time capsule so he (and I) didn't open it. We will save it to open on his High School Graduation in 2023!!!

First T-ball Game

Cooper is playing T-ball out at the Rec Plex on Saturday Mornings at 8am! June 5th was his first game after two practices with his team, the Brewers. Cooper said it was a good thing that they were not the Cubs!

Here is Cooper with his "game face" after he put on his #5 jersey. He said it was because he was going to be turning 5 this year! Great thinking Cooper!

Daddy and Cooper right before the start of the game. Daddy has been helping the coach with the team and he has been doing a great job!

Here is Cooper in the batters box, getting ready to take bat. He has a great swing and an amazing arm at throwing the ball. All of his coaches are extremely impressed with his talent. Cooper has been playing second base in the outfield. He does a great job, but has troubles at times waiting for the ball to come to him and will go out of his position to get the ball. But overall, he is doing a great job at learning the fundamentals of the game!

Memorial Weekend

Memorial Weekend is always the kick of our busy months of traveling. On Saturday morning we began our summer adventure by heading Up North to the cabin. Cooper was super excited to be going up there and he talked all about the things that he wanted to do: swim, fish, walk to the farm, and have a campfire, not to mention play with his cousin Gabby!
We took our first break in Shawno, Wisconsin (about 1.5 hours away from the cabin). At this point Brewer had had enough and was in need of a break...so were Mom and Dad! The boys and I got out of the van at this park off of the main street while Daddy went in search of some lunch for us to eat. The boys had fun running around while we were waiting. Cooper found this tank at the corner of the park and went over to it to investigate it. Brewer was just having a blast climbing up and down the steps.






We finally arrived late afternoon after making one stop at the Mennonite Store for some yummy treats. Cooper also enjoyed driving us up to the cabin when we got to County Road B. Cooper had fun swimming, fishing, going on a walk with Mommy, and playing with Gabby. Brewer had fun playing inside while Mommy was busy cleaning up from the winter's disaster (mice) and also enjoyed his run up on DeMayer Road until he fell flat on his nose...ouch! Daddy was busy helping Grandpa get the water in and helping put in the new toilet. We also took a little side trip down to Stacey and Del's summer party on Sunday afternoon. We headed for home on Monday afternoon. Our trip was short but sweet and we are all looking forward to going back up there again soon!

Summer of 2010

Here is a glimpse at our summer adventures. At times our weekends can be super busy, while others are nice and relaxing. The ultimate goal though is to have a combination of both! We hope you enjoy!