"I'm Free"...translation..."I'm Three!" (Cade)

Cade's birthday felt like it lasted all week long. It was on Tuesday the 20th so we celebrated that day of course. I didn't finish his present until Wednesday so we celebrated that day as well. Then we had a small group of friends and family over on Friday so that was a celebration! It's good to be Cade! He is well loved!

This was his real birthday! Look at that happy 3 year old!!!

My tree house is for all of the little things that I love. Kind of like a boy "doll house".

Here it is from a birds eye view. Momma is very proud of her project.

Here are Cade's hippo, alligator and giraffe cupcakes. He requested a hammerhead as well but it didn't make the picture.

The grand finale for the birthday week!

The beginning of September

I can't believe how fast September has been going (am I going to say that about every month for the rest of my life - is that just how it goes?)! To start off the month we went to the Colorado State Fair but I went to take a pic of the boys and Andreas on the Ferris Wheel and realized the batteries were dead on the camera. I did take pictures on Jake's kid camera so maybe one day we will see those. Next we went to the Balloon Classic (one of my favorite mornings) at Memorial Park with the Eliason crew. We had a great time with Uncle Sam, Aunt Gwyn and the kiddos! The boys and I went on a field trip to Venetucci Farm with my mom's club group - Cade is like his mom - there is something about a farm that makes them feel at home. :) Then Jake had his first day of preschool! His loves it! Last weekend we were very fortunate to get to go to Pagosa Springs - it was a great time! Sorry for all of the pics on this post - I will try to post more frequently and not so long - key work...try. :)

Beautiful morning! We had to go on Sunday this year because Saturday was too windy so they didn't go up.

Is that just too cute! Cade and Elly

 Venutucci Farm - Digging for worms in the compost! Cade was sold from the start!

Jake's first day of preschool!

Pagosa Springs - Fishing right outside of our place! No fish though!

The little boys liked throwing the fish eggs more than fishing.

In one of the Springs! We had such a great time!

This was our view!

A little bit more for August

There were a few more days left in August so we squeezed in a few more things!

The boys are making this box into a green race car (must have been Jake's idea). Nick has found a new love for paint!

Melissa (standing) and I put on a camping event for my mom's club group. There were heaps of kids and moms there and we had a great time!

Check out our cool headbands we made!

Jake's 5th Birthday!

Jake is 5! We had a great time celebrating his birthday with family and friends. When I asked him what he wanted to do at his birthday he said have a race car party with a pin the tail game, race car tracks and a pinata. Well, we can handle that. The pinata isn't in the pictures because it happened too quickly!

Birthday doughnuts! Cade had a difficult time with it not being his birthday as well - a chocolate doughnut kind of helped.

Jake wanted me to make a pin the tail (spoiler) on the race car game but when we saw a pre-made pin the race car on the track game, he thankfully thought that looked cool as well.

Race car tracks with our friends

Hot dogs, chips and watermelons

Race Car Cupcakes

Blowing out the candle makes it official!

Happy 5 year old!

How did August go so fast???

August has been a great month for the Ballards! We have had several days at the Fort Carson outdoor pool which has been so much fun, played with friends and just enjoyed being kids (yes, many popsicles have been consumed in the process)! Jake has his fifth birthday coming up tomorrow and we are very excited - look for the race car pictures soon. Cade has fell into a pretty steady routine of eating, playing in the dirt and sleeping! Nick just starting climbing out of his crib and his parents are begging him to slow down! Here are some pics...

New game of dumping water on our heads makes us giggle!

Splash!!

Big brother Jake is teaching little Nickers to play ball.

Nick says I got it coach!

Meanwhile the cheering crew is having a little cucumber from the garden.

Classic pasta pic!

Here's the real noodle kid!

Don't forget a dinner pic of me...almost 5 years old!

I'm ready for the pool dad! This was when mom went to California with her college girlfriends for a girls weekend. The boys all had fun with dad!

Chomping on a snack with our pal Caleb

Lovin' my wheels

We went to the pool (Fort Carson - our new favorite) with neighbors Keri and Bailey! We had a soda and cinnamon roll break - call that a great day

Finishing out July with water guns, the rodeo, and worms!

Water gun fight with the Ballard cousins ~ Nice Shot!

Stick em up!

First roma tomato of the season is ready. Cade has since become a professional tomato picker!
Nick's first tomato ended up squished on the cream carpet - uggh.

Jake got a date with mom and dad to the Pikes Peak Rodeo!

Jake took over 100 photos at the rodeo - it is hard to get those cowboys flying off!

How many kids can we fit on the swing set?

Mom bought us a tub of worms!

They're everywhere! Cade's face in this pic may look grossed out but trust me he is not! I'm sure there was a big smile to follow!

Finally a Ballard boy that isn't so much in to the squishy little worms. He was looking at his brothers like they were crazy.

To the zoo with mom and her friend little Sara! Gotta love the giraffes!

Yep, no brothers - just Nickerbockers and momma....and Nick's favorite the elephants (or the whooos - that is what he calls elephants).