Hiking.

We joined my Sister and Matt for a hike on Sunday.  The hike wasn't too bad, it was trying to get Skyler to follow instructions and listen that was a challenge.  Like trying to herd a cat!

Doggy came along too!

Twinky little waterfall.

Our 4 year old.  Now complete with new hiking boots!

Rescuing a potato bug with Matt.

Mountain goodness!

Mommy and Skyler reading the trail sign and deciding which way.

Green!

The mobile chicane slowing everyone down before the bridge.

Maizey dog after a dip in the stream.

Skyler conned Matt into carrying him like a sack of potatoes!

Mommy bringing up the rear.

Getting a drink.

Coming back down.  Karen and Matt split off and hiked up to the top.

:)

Holding these two trees up.

His new boots are waterproof.  He tested them out quite a few times as you can see the sheen on them from the stream.

This granite was oozing water.

Big dip!

Big drink1

Blue sky to the South...

Not so much headed West!

Getting darker...

Looking Southwest toward our house, raining!

One exhausted doggy!

Birthday party!

We celebrated Skyler's 4th birthday on Saturday.  It was loads of fun!

Inspecting the cake.

Beer cart!

Checking out the presents.

Opening presents.

Kid chaos.

Showing off his new toy.

Grandma White made this fabulous quilt that doubles as the "Eye spy" game.

BLOW!

Mmm, frosting coated graham cracker loader arms!

"This is pretty good!"

The pump track was a hit.

Birthday version 2.5

2.5 because I don't have the patience to upload all the photos from yesterday.  We had a great time with great friends and family.  :)  Thank you to all that attended and brought gifts.

Can you believe my Dad made this??!!

Absolutely incredible!

The aftermath...

Birthday, part 2.

Not a lot of pics, but it shows what went on in the evening of his birthday.

What could it be?!

"A tractor!"

Attempting to re-create a photo when I turned 4.

"Next present!"

He's pretty lucky to have such awesome Grandparents.  :)

Birthday wrap up.

Skyler told me yesterday that "this is the best day ever!"  I couldn't agree more.  We had quite a day, Grandpa came over and finished the tile in the kitchen.  Skyler and I went out to lunch at "Old McDonald's", we stopped by the Deere dealer to have him pick out a present, and stopped by Wayne's farm to look at his 544K loader.  After Mommy got home he opened presents, and then we took him to Culver's for dinner and ice cream.  Whew!  Today I get to work on getting the house and yard cleaned up for his 4th birthday party tomorrow.  I need a nap!

The grouted finished tile.  It looks amazing!  Thank you Dad for helping!!

None of this beautiful finished product would be possible without my Father.  Look at those countertops!

Happy Meal in the park.  He wanted a "picnic" so we brought along a blanket.

After discovering that his Happy Meal came with a toy Transformer, he would use his "super powers" to chase down his hamburger wrapper.

"Got it!"

"I'm loving it!"  I have to admit, it was really a treat to have some McDonald's for me too.  I only get to eat it once or twice a year.

So tasty!  He ate his entire meal!  

He's been wanting a loader at his birthday party.  Although I could make it happen, Mommy vetoed it.  This is out at Wayne's farm.

Pretending to drive.  Look how grown up he looks!

The obligatory wheel shot.

Time for presents.

Ripping...

"A book!"

"Another book!"

"What's this?"

"A Mickey Mouse watch!"

Now he has his own "Planes" sleeping bag!

And the piece de la resistance, a Lego front loader garbage truck!  Sensory overload!

Mittens likes the new sleeping bag.

An hour of Daddy building it later...

Finished garbage truck!

There are more photos that I will add tomorrow.  G&G came up to give him a couple presents and Mommy took a bunch of pics while I built the garbage truck for Skyler.  Stay tuned.