First of all, a note on my recent blogging hiatus. A couple weekends ago, we bought a new computer (which is great!) However, the cords that came with the new machine were too short (boo). Brian kinda-of, sort-of rigged it up for me, but neglected to explain that I could switch between the new and old machines using switches on the side of the monitor (aka: giant TV he’s got hooked up to be the monitor). Anyway…after it took like 3 days to transfer files, I still was afraid to touch it until he got home and gave me the run down (traveling for work…what’s new). Speaking of traveling, I don’t think I posted about Brian’s Hong Kong trip. That was several weeks ago as well. Maybe I’ll grab some pics from his ipad and post them here later.

So…then Nana came for a visit and we’ve just been enjoying the summer. However…I feel like a bad bad mommy for not posting on Aiden’s greatest summer accomplishment: riding a bike without training wheels. He’s been at it for over a month now, but it took a while to master because he can’t actually reach the ground when he’s on the seat. Therefore, he had to learn how to lean the bike a little to one side, put a foot on a peddle and push off the ground while simultaneously straightening up on to the seat. Also, the only way he knew how to stop was to almost fall off the thing. However…he is now a PRO!

These are pictures from this morning (and let me just clarify that I had to use two keyboards and two different "computers" to get this all posted because these bike pics are from Brian's fancy new camera and only the new computer actually reads the photo cards....)

For some reason, we didn’t take many pictures of Nana’s visit (6/16 – 6/19), but it was a GREAT weekend. She got to see Logan’s baseball practice, all the boys at swim lessons and then spoiled them rotten with a trip to the toy aisle at Target. They got LOTS of great stuff for playing outside this summer! We had TGIF that Friday night, sat out by a fire for a while after, went to Prairie Fest the next day and just hung around on Sunday until she (sniff sniff) had to leave us.

I did take some pictures at Prairie Fest though:

Here, Nana leads a string of kids over to the rides

I took Brady on the little kid rides while Nana and Daddy went with the big boys. Here are Brady and Matt on the “trucks”

…and Brady on a motorcycle

There were a lot more rides this year…or at least our kids could go on more exciting ones and I didn’t even know they were there last year…one or the other. This is: Mackenzie, Logan and Ella on the hang-gliding ride.

At one point, Aiden had a few tickets left and needed one more ride. I convinced him that the swings were right up his alley. I was rewarded with a big smile every time he went around and his signature “this is cool” thumbs-up sign.