I wish I was a baller...

Yesterday I told Madeline that Gramma, Grampa, and I were going to be taking her back to the pool!!! Steve and I took her a few weeks ago and she just had a blast swimming in the kiddie pool and going down the HUGE waterslide with Daddy. So, I recruited my parents to help. Gramma offered to stay in the shade with Jackson, and Grampa and I were on pool duty!



I thought I would check one more time the hours the pool was open, and when I did I realized the pool was *closed* for the season. OHhhhhh drat. How do I tell my child who is IN HER SWIMMING SUIT or "baby suit" as she calls it, that we aren't going to the pool. Boo. So we all decided to spend the morning at Pinheads instead. I had wanted Madeline to try her hand at Duck Pin Bowling, and she loves the playland there.

It was awesome. She LOVED bowling (of course who wouldn't when you have bumpers and you get to stand 4 feet away from the pins) and got a special luch of pizza!!! It was a wonderful day together, though I think Gramma and Grampa may have enjoyed it just as much!

Jackson chillaxin' with Gramma

She LOVED when the ball popped out!

What form!

What I love about my kids

I stole this idea from my friend Leslie I hope she doesn't mind!

What I love about my daughter:

I love the way you sleep on the floor every night. Guess we didn't need to buy you that toddler bed afterall!
I love the way you are remembering to say please and thank you consistently now
I love your crazy wavy hair
I love how much you love bugs and dirt and mowing and composting and your hermit crab
I love how most of your toys aren't toys at all, but household items you've latched onto
I love how much you love to be read to
I love how your favourite songs aren't children's songs
I love how much you love your Daddy. More so, I love how much your Daddy loves you - how he lights up when he sees you and takes such an active role in raising you.
I love that almost all of your favourite shows are on Public Access Stations. Some of which I used to watch at your age.
I love what a good eater you are. (most of the time)
I love how much you love your brother and constantly ask where he is if you can't see him.
I love your hysterical laugh when you are really really happy.
I love how easily you potty trained!
I love how you call one of your Grammas "Black Gramma" and the other "Blue Gramma"
I love how creative you are getting.
I love that you can identify the Mona Lisa and Big Ben.
I love how much you love your friends, and are constantly looking for Gabby as if she'll just appear if you wish hard enough.
I love how you ask me what's wrong if you hear me sniff.
I love that you're using prepositions now. "Mama, will you play wit' me?" Can't say no to that...
I love that a majority of the time you are a patient, obedient, sensitive child.


What I love about my son:

I love that we experienced a magical birth
I love that from almost the very beginning you were a smiley baby
I love that your sister makes you smile when no one else can
I love that my husband has a son
I love that you have found your thumb and it keeps you happy at night!
I love your little snort when you're really hungry
I love that you're hearty and healthy
I love our quiet nighttime nursings though I'll be equally happy when they pass : )
I love your thick fuzzy hair
I love your bright blue eyes and hope they stay that way!
I love when you fall asleep in my arms and we take little cat naps together

Being a stay at home mother of two is far from where I thought I'd be in my life at 28, but I couldn't be happier!

Baby of Mine

Madeline had a few friends over today to watch a movie in the theater. I didn't get any shots of them sitting in there together, but it was awful cute.....
Maxine chillin' on the blanket

Josie investigating what's going on.

Little baby Maggie spying on.....

....Max playing with Mr Potato Head

Baby Katie and Baby Jackson! Jackson was sporting one of his sister's old outfits.....sniff.....it's a 3-6! Big boy.....

A fun and crazy time was had by all!!

Running Man

Steve decided on a whim that he would like to run the "Pound the Pavement" 5k held at Falls Park in Pendleton. I told him I thought he was crazy, but whatever....well crazy likes company so..... he got his equally crazy friend Jeremy to run with him. (This is the same guy who ran the mini with no training). Afterwards their clan came back to the homestead for a whole day of lots of fun! Austin chasing Jeremy on the dirtbike.

Spencer was in charge of mowing the grass!

Steve took the girls for a hay ride (minus the hay) and the girls loved it!

HERES TO YOU very old lady running the 5k. You are your velcro hat are in better shape than I will ever be!

Madeline helped Steve stretch out.

The boys and the girls.

madeline mimicked everything Steve did - it was quite cute. What a wonderful day with another wonderful family!

Party of Five

Madeline had a few friends over yesterday. There were a total of 5 children at the playdate! It was Jackson's first playdate, so he invited his new friend Matthew to hang out and chill....


First he worked his charm on Emily.

Matthew and Jackson just hanging out.

Laney being a perfect lady in her dress on the swingset!

Gabby and Madeline figured it out for a few seconds.

All three girls squished into the playhouse and played in the mulch.

It was a great day with friends and we hope to do it again soon!

A little bit of everything

Baths last night. I am new to the whoel "bathe a newborn" thing. Steve always did bath when Madeline was little! It's not so much fun cause he's REALLY slippery!

Madeline helping Daddy give Jackson his first bottle. He hated this bottle, but as since accepted good ol' Avent.

Her favourite place to hold him - in the blue vibrating chair. Lots of these shots to come I think.

Chillin' outside with Daddy

Daddy put her to work!

Better than nothing!

I have been beyond terrible in getting pictures up of Jackson (and Madeline for that matter) but .....well......both my kids are alive so hopefully that is worth something!

I blame some of it on misplacing my camera cord so all the pics go on Steve's computer and then they are lost in his big huge hard drive...

but here is, at least, one picture of Jackson. I took it while he and I chilled inside while our friends and family were building a great new swingset for Madeline! (Pics of that to come!) I call it his ghost picture.

He is doing well. He is gaining weight well and has finally taken a bottle from Daddy. The last two nights he's gone almost a 4 hour stretch! YEAH! He doesn't like tummy time, but has already developed a freakishly strong neck.

Madeline is still doing well with the new addition. Most of the time she just ignores him, but she likes to help change his diaper and she LOVES it when they can lay anywhere together. (usually in the pack n play) She doesn't understand that he can't do everything she can do and wants him to play on the swingset, take a bath with her, go potty etc..... I say she should enjoy not having to share while she can!!