First Day of School

Today was the boys' first day of school. Casey will be in second grade and Brett will be in fourth grade.

It was a rough morning--it started pouring right before the bus came.

I managed to get a few photos of them before the rain.

Casey and Brett



Brett



Casey



Bus stop friends
Josh, Casey, Suzanne, Carson and Brett

Water balloon fight

This summer, the boys have been playing with water balloons with some of their neighborhood friends.

To celebrate the end of summer, we decided to let them have a water balloon fight.

Blowing up and tying all the balloons wasn't much fun, but throwing the water balloons was a blast!

Casey throwing a water balloon at Brett



Suzanne getting Dan



Brett throwing one at Josh



Josh getting Brett back



Carson and Josh



Suzanne, Carson, Brett, Josh and Casey

Birthday brothers

Casey's eighth birthday was last Saturday, the 15th, so we bought him a Nintendo DSi, which was one of the things he really wanted. Since Brett's 10th birthday is Tuesday, Aug. 18, we bought him one as well and let them both open them.

I can't believe how old they are!

Brett and Casey, birthday brothers



The boys and their new toys

Fun on the lake

We met up with our friends, Todd and Trisha and their kids, and spent Friday on Table Rock Lake on their boat.

It was a blast! We explored the lake, swam, rode in a tube, fished--you name it. The kids even got to jump off some cliffs into the lake.

Walking to the marina



Todd and Kara



Brett



Leaving the dock



The kids in the front of the boat



Brett and Dan



Brett jumping in the lake



Brett



Casey



Casey swimming



Casey jumping off the rocks



Brett jumping



Riley and Brett in the tube
(Brett's hands are in the air)

We anchored just off a small island in the lake and let the kids fish and throw rocks.

Casey and Brett



Kara with one of the two fish she caught



Getting the fish off the hook



Todd showing Casey a crawfish he found



Casey and his new friend

Branson Landing

We spent one afternoon having lunch and walking around Branson Landing, a shopping area on the banks of Lake Taneycomo.

For you Wichitans, this is what our WaterWalk should be!

We had a great lunch at White River Fish House



Dan and the boys



Me and Casey



Shopping at Bass Pro Shop



Inside Bass Pro Shop



Branson Landing



The bank of Lake Taneycomo

Pirate mini golf

Brett had been begging us all week to take him mini-golfing. We picked a pirate-themed course and took the boys one night. I have to say it was hot out, but the course was really neat.

The boys in the stockade...where they belong!



Casey taking his turn



There were waterfalls throughout the course



Brett lining up his shot

White Water

We took the boys to White Water, a water park, on Tuesday. One of the rides was a three-story water slide that Casey went down twice. He was the only one!

Casey coming down the slide on the right



He made it!

Silver Dollar City

On Monday, we took the boys to Silver Dollar City, an old-fashioned amusement park in Branson. The boys rode some of the rides, even a runaway train rollercoaster.

Casey



Brett and Casey



Dan and Brett playing checkers



Casey in jail...where he belongs!



Crossing the swinging bridge



Casey after surviving Thunderation,
the runaway train ride



Brett and Casey on a much tamer rollercoaster



Casey on a pirate ship ride



Dan and the boys on the log flume



Brett and Dan in the Old Mine



Casey



Dan and Brett on the water toboggan
(It was like a waterpark ride)



Brett and Dan after the water toboggan



Dan and Brett in the fun house's slanting room