Pumpkin Hunting

We've been going to a lot of different farms lately, so mom and dad decided to change things up a bit and take me to a pumpkin patch.

Lotsa Catchin' Up To Do

We had some good times this summer. Let's do the quick run down.

Well, I had to move out of my bed finally. Mostly because somebody else...*ahem*... was trying to move in.
But I guess it worked out okay in the end, seeing as I got a big boy twin bed! Which is great for training for the Olympic Trampoline event. You can never start training too early, and given my parent's athletic ability, the Trampoline might be my only shot at qualifying for the Olympic team.

But I digress. Mary and I actually had a swell summer. I took time out of my busy day to read books to her.
I got to climb into my very first outdoor tent. Mom and Dad acted like this was a major event. Something about how the tent was a wedding gift from Uncle Will, but that this was the first time they had ever opened it.
They had just celebrated their third anniversary the week before, so I guess it had been sitting around for a while. I didn't really care about all that stuff. I just loved playing my same old toys in the sweltering heat of the tent. So much more fun than inside.

And really the tent in the backyard was just a warm-up for vacation!! To the magical land called Nebraska! Where we didn't even go camping...

After a brief visit to a Kansas City farm
And possibly some violations of child labor laws...
Mary started to look bored,
so we hopped back in the car and headed north. Through a hail storm and into Nebraska.

Where we ended up at another farm! What a sweet trip. There were lots of woodland creatures.
And I was able to run free like the buffalo. Which was awesome for Mom and Dad!

(video dedicated to my boy Ryan) So rather than being out in the wild, they figured, let's try a zoo...

Which was great too, because we met up with Simon and Lucy.

And I had a new mom for the day...
Seriously, I couldn't stop holding her hand. What's up with that? At any rate, I was pretty much running the show if you know what I mean.
Seeing the penguins was a dream come true for dad.
And I did get up close and personal with some of the beasts.
After all that excitement we dropped in for a visit with Uncle Steve and Aunt Molly, along with cousin Ava. Thanks again for the hospitality!
Well that was vacation in a nutshell... or maybe it was more like a novel. At any rate, enjoy.

Siblings

Sometimes Mary and I play games together. She holds the puzzle pieces and I do the puzzle. (I know all about sharing.)

I have acquired a few new toys that she can't play with, namely plastic clothespins. How does that song go?.."I have something in my pocket, it belongs across my face..."

Mary doesn't usually play with toys. In fact, she just likes to lie around and look pretty.

Or even worse, steal all Mom's time.

In Memoriam

On a recent family vacation (our first real one), I was finally able to visit the man my parents named me after.

I never met him, but I hope that I will grow up to be the kind of man that he was.

Summer So Far

Being a Big Brother keeps me busy during the days and exhausted at night, so I dictate this post during tub time in order to give my fans a well deserved news update.

So far this summer I've spent a lot of time making sure Mary develops a good sense of humor.

I've even learned how to pacify her.

But after all the long days and evenings working as a Big Brother I decided I needed a little R&R.

A little boating can be so relaxing.

There's nothing like a good book.

And a visit to Grandpa and Grandma's is always nice...even if I have to share Grandpa with the Cousin.

...and the Sister.

Yep...the Cousin even steals my time with Grandma.

Even though I'm a bit disgruntle about the "sharing of the Grandparents", I do love to have my picture taken.

Well, we all know this is MY blog, but I know what you all came here for. So now I give you pictures of Mary. All I can say is, she's getting fat!