Nyles' 5th Birthday/Idaho Trip for Corn

Nyles turned 5 on Saturday, August 12th.  We were trying to decide what we were going to do for his birthday, an ended up going up to Idaho to bag freezer corn.  The corn ended up being "ready" a little earlier than my dad thought originally, mainly since it was so hot this Summer.  He called us up Tuesday and said it was going to be ready over the weekend.  So Steve picked me up a little early Friday afternoon from work, and we headed up.  It was a fast trip, but still fun to go up for the short time.  We celebrated Nyles birthday during our family dinner get together at the beginning of the month, then up in Idaho, then that night when we got home.

Nyles fell asleep on the drive over to Jeff/Kim's for our family dinner.  Silly kid!

Carter enjoying some watermelon, and Nyles ready for his birthday ice cream.

Noah and Nyles, the August birthday boys!

Nyles w/ the shark blanket Aunt Diane gave him (you can get inside it).  

Carter walking w/ Grandma LuDean's walker.

The cool shark blanket Aunt Diane made Nyles.  She's making all the kids one for their birthday.  They're soooo cool!  Nyles sleeps in it every night for bed.

Nyles was getting too big for his other bike, so we got him a bigger bike for his birthday.

Nyles riding his new big bike like a pro ;)

Before we left up to Idaho, Dave and Joann stopped by to give Nyles a birthday present.  Nyles really LOVES the show Wild Kratts right now, so they gave him some Wild Kratt figurines.  He played w/ them on the way up to Idaho.  Wild Kratts are 2 brothers (Chris and Martin) who teach kids about all different kind of animals and insects.  Nyles has learned some really cool stuff about animals from them.  It's quite educational!

We made it up to Idaho Friday night, then Saturday morning we started doing the corn.  The weekend before Grandma VaLere Hegerhorst helped Marla and Elaine do corn.  She also came over to help us that morning.  Steve and my dad actually husked the corn out in the field, so we could cook it up right away.  It definitely saved us a step and was much appreciated.

Grandma VaLere husking corn the week before.  

Nyles and my dad w/ the corn they husked and brought in from the field.

Pretty, yummy corn!

We celebrated Nyles birthday of course.  Grandma and Grandpa gave him a firetruck and a firetruck book.  Thanks!  Carter had fun playing w/ Grandma's toys.

His fire truck book and firetruck.  The truck actually sprays water, cool!

We also got Nyles a bow and arrow for his birthday.  The neighbor boy Ryder has one, so he of course wanted one too.

Practicing his aim.

Shooting the wooden cow.

Carter playing outside.  Steve throwing Carter up in the air; he loves it!

Carter petting dad's dog Foxy.  He loves animals too!

Steve helping to cut the corn.  He cut while I bagged it.  We did 92 quart size bags.

Carter enjoying an Otter pop.  He loves Popsicles, especially since he's teething.  He's actually getting all 4 molars in right now.  My dad hit his head while getting the boat ready.  Steve helped bandage it up.

Nyles really wanted to go fishing for his birthday, so my dad took him out on the boat.  

Luckily they caught some!

Nyles fishing on his birthday!

 While they were fishing, my mom, Carter and I stayed home to finish the last of the corn, and made Nyles' birthday cake.  I made a number 5 out of cardboard, then did sprinkles around it and swirls around the edge.

Carter thought it was fun to play with my mom's walker.  Nyles big 5 cake!

We also put up balloons and a Happy Birthday sign that morning.

My dad also took Nyles on a couple motorcycle rides; his favorite!  

Steve and I tried out Nyles bow and arrow too; it's actually a lot of fun!

The cat Addy, still there on the farm.  She's been there since Nyles baby blessing, so about 5 years now.  Nyles showing my dad how far his arrow goes.

Nyles all ready for his cake, and blowing out the candles.

We left Sunday morning to get back, since I had work on Monday.  On the way home we decided to go over to LuDean's for cake and ice cream.  Dave and Joann were already going over there for dinner, so we thought we'd catch them all after dinner.  

Carter helping Grandma Joann w/ the phone.

Nyles opening a Wild Kratts game from Grandma and Grandpa McGrath.

His Wild Kratts cake I made after getting home from Idaho.  It's a Tortuga, which is the home base for the Kratt brothers on the show.  I baked the cake and frosted it, then Steve put the decorative frosting on.

 Blowing out the candle!

Carter getting Joann again, and playing w/ the scale.  

Carter is puling himself up on everything and getting closer and closer to walking.

Nyles ready to go shoot his bow and arrow again.  Carter now watching him from the window.

Nyles had his 5 year Dr appointment this past Friday as well.  He's grown 3 inches this past year!  He's now 3 feet 8 inches (73 percentile) and 44 lbs 12 oz (76 percentile).  He actually grew 3 inches the year before also!  He's definitely a growing boy!  

Steve also talked to the Dr about Nyles' Pfapa sickness.  "Periodic fever adenitis pharyngitis aphthou ulcer (PFAPA) syndrome causes sudden attacks of high fever. These attacks occur on a regular basis."  Nyles has had these fevers every month or so for the past year.  Aside from the fevers he only has chills, no other symptoms.  Usually the fever can last 3 days though and he doesn't want to do much while he has the fever (low energy).  So we finally diagnosed it a couple months ago (at Carter 1 year Dr appt actually), and hopefully now have a treatment.  The Dr decided to give him a low dose of steroid to help w/ the fever.  He ironically developed a fever the night before his Dr appt, so when Steve took him to the Dr he could actually show him his symptoms.  After giving Nyles the steroid that day, his fever went away!  We're hoping this will help by not only reducing his fever quicker so he won't have to miss school, but hopefully he won't have his episodes as often.

Nyles also met his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Graham, this week.  She is awesome!  He'll go in the mornings.  Though the rest of the school started school this Wednesday, Kindergarten will start tomorrow, on Monday.  Nyles, along with all the rest of the Kindergartners, did an assessment this week, in order to see how they're doing and where they're at starting school.  Nyles did great, and is ready to start tomorrow!  We're excited for him!  He'll do great!