Summer is full of parks, slides, lakes, boats, family, friends and endless smiles!

Wow we are really trying to soak up the warm weather this summer!  Duke has been a busy boy with learning how to golf, play baseball, his favorite basketball, say endless amounts of words and running any where he can.  After a trip to the cabin for the 4th of July, time in the backyard playing with water, paint, balls and all his toys we wonder how we still are able to get up every morning but would not change it for the world.  Take a look at the joy Duke brings into the family.

Taking his buddy for a walk.

Loving the morning and still being in his PJ's

Helping Grandma water the grass

Driving the 4 wheeler - watch out!

Taking the slide into the lake.

Enjoying a family boat ride, a little scared as dad is driving.

Enjoying the beautiful sun.

Our cabin view we can't get enough of!

Dad making Duke fly right before bed time.

Loving everything about all the dump trucks at the cabin.

Aunt Doreen and Cousin Annie keeping Duke busy with coloring why we attempt to fish a little longer.

Fishing off the dock with mom and below catching his first fish with dad!

Flying into the water.

Bonding with Aunt Joanie who came from Maryland - he loved calling her Jo Jo

Duke met a new dog friend - Daisy

Enjoying his own game of bean bags.

Family photo!

Grandma and Grandpa Weldon came to help paint the baby's room.

Duke now loves to climb on the couch and look out the window with Jet.

Mom will lose Duke faster than she thought with all his girlfriends in the neighborhood.

Out for a cruise.

"Dad's Home!"  Duke always screams when he hears the car door close.

A family that swings together swings together - had a fun wagon ride to the park

Duke helped mom bake cupcakes!  He loved helping and talking all about cupcakes.

Dad's turn - watching the All Star Baseball game.

Duke still loves to read!

Duke and mom doing some sun bathing during snack time at the cabin.

Grandma taking Duke for a paddle boat ride

Dump trucks can go anywhere!

Driving the boat with Grandpa.

Duke even found time to fit some baseball practice in with Grandpa.

Can you believe its July today?!?!? Yet we have fit in a lot of fun yet into summer.

Duke had his 18 month check up on Monday!  He got some shots, and got to play some games with the doctor.  He is right on track for height and weight - in 72% for weight and I think 50% for height.  Doctor was very impressed with his vocabulary and he is ahead for amount of words he speaks and puts together - it must be all that reading he loves to do!  Ears, chest, throat all good and they sent him home with just two tears after the shots.
Can you believe Duke is 18 months!  Wow this boy still loves to eat, talk, run, run, run.  Lately his favorite thing to do is climb anything and help mom and dad with anything he can do.  He loves doing the dishes, sort laundry and fold, clean, put things in the garbage, and the list goes on!
The biggest step for Duke is he transitioned to a toddler bed over the weekend!  Yup he has his own bed!  He did great, slept through the night and went right to sleep.  We did catch him slide out once but he climbed right back in and fell asleep.  Another big milestone is he pooped twice on the toilet!  Once at home and once in a public restroom!!  We are hoping this will continue as we prep him for the big potty training weekend coming up.
We are also getting him ready for his baby sister - yup you heard it - he will have a baby sister!!  He is getting excited but really likes to point out babies and lift mom's shirt to look at the baby.  He is already good at rocking the baby in his rocking chair so I am sure he will be Mr. Helpful.

Well enough of this, lets look at some photo fun!

We love our MN Wagon rides at night.

Trip to a new park in the neighborhood.

We found ducks!

We found another park we tried!  Duke loved that he got to climb something new again.

Perfect Saturday morning - Playing outside in the water, and painting!

Duke's birthday cards for Grandma and Grandpa Schmitt - turning 59 and 60!!

Dad and Duke enjoying snack time as we watched the rain come in on Saturday afternoon.

Duke getting ready to use his big boy bed!

Baseball practices on Sunday morning in your PJ's - why not!!??  Duke loved in, he will have to work on his hitting skills but he loved it and thats what counts.

I could watch these two all night long - always hard at work ;)