4th of July week

Charlie, Lincoln, and I went to Rapid for the 4th of July.  Tim and Max stayed home to paint, attend the St. Peter parade, and visit Nama.  It was a great week with so much going on.  We were busy every day with birthday celebrations for Mak, parks, bike rides, and welcoming our newest cousin/nephew.

Celebrating the 4th and Mak's 5th birthday at Reptile Gardens

Aunt Tina and Charlie being goofy as usual

We got a private show since it was Mak's big day.  The boys touched a giant snake and a baby alligator

Surprisingly Charlie wasn't too freaked out and I knew Lincoln wouldn't think twice about touching these reptiles

These two dressed themselves that day in DIFFERENT houses.  It was funny to show up and they looked like the twins.

Happy Birthday to you Big Mak!  We love your spirit, your energy, and your constant love!

We brought Mak one of our Warrior hats and he LOVED it!

Aunt Tina and Linc checking out the animals

Uncle Chris told them to stick their tongues out at the animals

Grandma and her lovebug

Checking out the prairie dogs

Chris is such a hands on Uncle and it is great to watch the boys love him

The alligator ate Lincoln!

Linc and Char had a great time together

Aunt Tina and Mak

This picture sums up the week!  All 3 of these energetic, entertaining, exhausting kiddos having a blast together.

The end of Reptile Gardens - very tired

BUT..... they got their second wind for go-carts!

"shake and bake baby!"

Uncle Chris is so patient with Charlie.  He was nervous and scared but Chris calmly talked to him about what to do.

Mak's turn.  It definitely was made for big guys not 5 yr olds

Uncle Gabe and Kyra aiming to make someone cry HAHA

We ended our week in Sioux Falls with Uncle Tim's family.  It was exactly what I needed, to see those beautiful girls and get lots of hugs and kisses.

Sophie, Aunt Faye, and Lincoln enjoying some pizza

Auntie Mel and Sophia Marie

Uncle Tim, Izzy, and CT loved spending time together

Linc's favorite spot to be.  I think Uncle Tim now has less hair!  oops

The Newest Addition to the Family

I am pleased to introduce you to our newest nephew, Zakariah Timothy Schweitzer!  He was born July 6th at 8:53am, sharing a birthday with his big brother Malaki and great grandmother Helen.  Mary was induced Thursday afternoon and Baby Zak arrived the next morning.  He weighed 8lb 2.5oz and 20 in long, with a ton of dark brown hair.  He is absolutely adorable!  Baby Zak and his Mama went home on Saturday and are doing great adjusting to their new lives.

Big brother Mak couldn't wait to meet his brother and immediately started protecting him.  

We are so very happy for my sister and her beautiful family.  She is a wonderful mother who would do anything for those boys.  I am extremely proud of her and Chris.

Zak's 1st bottle with Mama

Getting checked out by the nurse (Mak didn't like that nurse after that)

1st time in Daddy's arms, with Mak supervising :)

1st time in Grandma's loving arms with Cousin Lincoln

Grandma and Papa right after Zak was born

Big brother Malaki checking him out

Papa introducing Lincoln to his newest cousin.  Lincoln thought it was so funny that Zak was wearing a diaper.  Ever since he started wearing his undies, he laughs at diapers. :)

The Schweitzers - Proud parents

1st time in big brother's protective arms

Auntie Mel getting all the time I could before leaving.  I feel so blessed to be able to be home when he was born.  I stayed with Malaki, Charlie, and Lincoln but we got there as soon as he was born.  It is amazing how you can instantly love a little person you just met.  

Papa finally got ahold of him.  This means Papa has 5 grandsons!  That's alot of rowdy boys.

Precious and priceless,

so lovable, too-

The world’s sweetest miracle,

baby, is you. ~ Helen Steiner Rice

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH ZAKARIAH AND WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU!

Warrior Dash Part II

Kayla had a great idea to buy a waterproof disposable camera for the race.  She carried it the whole time and captured some great photos of us in action.  Pics are out of order....

We had 2 obstacles left at this point in the race

Mel-Heather-Kayla-Jocelyn

Kayla coming down the 20 foot cargo net

Tim and I stuck together the whole race - huge motivator!

Looks like a new beer ad!

They want you to donate your shoes after the race and this is the pile 5 feet off the ground

right before the race - not sure what I am laughing at

Our shirts that Kayla, Heather, and Jocelyn made

This is a great photo.  There is someone from each couple up there.  This was harder than it looks!

It was about 4-5 feet off the ground but after running uphill, it was hard to make my feet balance and go where I wanted them to.

Ben in green, Danny in Blue, Mel in Black, Jocelyn in Red

Right after we finished the race! woohoo!

Crawling through the trenches with barbed wire right above our heads

Showing those muscles that took us up those walls

Our intense stretching right before our start - ridiculous! lol

Everyone represented

Mel - Heather (and I think that is Ben coming over the top)

1st obstacle - we just had a rope to help us up this wall

Heather is climbing and Tony was a sitting duck on top (his foot got caught in rope)

Everyone putting everything they had left in the tank to cross the finish line.