4th of July

We had a very busy and fun 4th of July this year. We spent the morning at the pool, enjoying some sun and letting the boys get in some swimming before coming home for a nap. Grammy joined us at the pool after Jacob called her and talked her into coming over in the morning. While the boys were resting after lunch Josh and I were busy getting ready for our 3rd annual 4th of July cookout at our house. We had all of our neighborhood friends, plus Grammy, over for dinner and hanging out. This year we made some water balloons for the kids to throw. While they only lasted about a minute, they kept the kids entertained for about 20 while we filled more up so they had another round of balloon throwing. Josh manned the grill and did a great job with burgers and brats for everyone. After dinner and chocolate covered s'mores for dessert we packed up and headed to our city's celebration and fireworks. Unfortunately none of our friends went this year and Jacob was really upset because he was looking forward to watching fireworks with his friends. After a rough time getting into the parking lot this year, we finally got in and Jacob was feeling  much better after getting to enjoy some bounce houses and running around with thousands of other kids. They also had a really cool train ride this year so Josh and Jacob waited in line for that for a while then Owen and I joined them. After the train we got our glow sticks out and got ready for fireworks. Owen wasn't too sure about them at first but then started enjoying them. Jacob loves fireworks and this year was no exception. By the end of the night they were both exhausted and once we eventually got out of the parking lot they both passed out in the car. Fortunately, they both slept really well that night and Jacob even slept in. We were all exhausted the next day though!

 

 

water balloon fight

 

Owen running free

 

 

Entertaining the small one

 

Silly Jacob

 

 

On the train

 

On the train

 

Best family picture we could get

 

Loving the fireworks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June Recap

I realized that I have posted all month. As always we have been busy. We do something almost every day right now. Josh got out of school the second week of June and we have been going since then. Appointments, playing, swimming, running errands, cleaning house. We bought season passes to a  local waterpark this year and have been going there once a week. The boys absolutely love it. They run and run and wear themselves out. It took Owen a couple of times to warm up to it, but now he just takes off. Jacob got to go down the big slides last week. We have also been going to the pool most days if we aren't at the water park. We have been working on Jacob swimming using his arms this year. He is getting better at it but is still working on it. I'm sure he will have it down by the end of the summer though. We have also been working on getting Owen swimming. Right now he will hold his breath and float and sometimes he will kick his feet. But he will jump right off the ledge in the pool and go under water no problem. He likes to throw the Mater dive stick down to the bottom and wave bye to it, then asking us to get it for him. I am so glad they are both loving the water!

We also celebrated Father's Day this month. It was just a low key day hanging out at home and swimming. Then we had steak for dinner. It was a much needed relaxing day.

We are getting ready for our trip to Michigan in a few weeks. Traveling with two kids requires lots of prep! Especially since this is the first time we have flown with kids. It will definitely be a new experience for everyone, but we are all excited! It will be a busy trip with lots of activities already planned. I can't wait to get the boys up north to Hubbard Lake for the first time.

30, Mother's Day, 7 years

It has really been non stop here since March. I don't think we have had a free weekend since then actually. And I think May has been the busiest so far. This weekend we will have a chance to relax some finally.

We started May off with my 30th birthday. That seems crazy. I was pretty sure I wasn't older than 26. But I can't really complain. I couldn't ask to be in a better place in life right now. A great husband, two adorable and amazing little boys, my dream job, a nice house. I mean really, it doesn't get much better than that. To celebrate, Josh threw a surprise party. Which is a difficult feat since I am not gone very often. So it was kind of a backwards surprise party in that I was already here and people just started showing up. It was a great evening with our family and friends. I also got a fun new camera to play with. A good camera that helps me catch the boys doing something cute while they're still doing it instead of after the moment has passed!

For Mother's Day this year we headed to brunch then to my mom's to plant flowers for her. It was pretty low key other than that. The boys played in the little pool grammy bought last year. Well Jacob played and Owen wanted to but the water was cold so he wasn't a fan of being in it and he couldn't make up his mind about what he wanted to do.

Next up was our anniversary. 7 years. It is crazy to think about where we were and what we were doing 7 years ago. I was still in school, Josh was still at the Y. Those things seem so far away now. We have done so much and come so far since then, but at the same time it doesn't seem like it has been 7 years! Josh surprised me by taking me to a Dave Matthews Band concert the weekend before our anniversary. He arranged for my mom to come watch the boys and just told me we were going somewhere outside. We had a great time at the concert and it was a fabulous surprise! Josh got tickets to a Cowboys game, but obviously he has to wait until the fall to go to that.

These events probably all deserved their own posts, but time is not my friend lately! So some pictures to go with this post.

Playing with my new camera and a great picture of flying baby

 

Mother's Day

 

Mother's Day again, with my boys

 

This is not warm like my bath water!

 

Splashing around

 

Much happier playing on the side of the pool

 

Before church this morning. They are adorable.

1 year check up

We had Owen's one year check up a few weeks ago. (And have been super busy so I haven't had much time to update). He is still big but not as big as he has been, but significantly bigger than Jacob at this age. He is walking everywhere, and trying to run. He gave himself his first black eye by running then falling into the window sill. He eats a ton and likes most food. He still only says mama with an occasional baba in there, but  he signs please, more and thank you and makes car and dog noises. Although he has absolutely no problem telling us what he wants most of the time. If he wants to nurse he pulls on my shirt and signs please, if he wants a snack he goes to the pantry and bangs on the door or if it is open at all just grabs what  he wants (He half climbed the shelves one day to get the graham crackers down), or he will grunt and point at what he wants. The grunting and pointing is generally the hardest part to decipher and sometimes takes us pointing to things to figure it out. And he understands almost all of what we say. We can tell him to go get something or give someone a hug and he will go do it. He climbs on his chair to sit in it and can climb up the steps on the slide in the backyard. He is working on getting down to one nap a day and about half of the time is taking one nap. And he is sleeping through the night most nights. Usually he wakes up between 5 and 6 to nurse once then goes back to sleep again until around 7. He still nurses anywhere from 5-7 times a day and shows no signs of weaning anytime soon. He still loves playing with Jacob and frequently just follows him around. He also has a weird love for Jacob's toothbrush which he can get out of the drawer in the bathroom so we have to keep the bathroom door shut now. And he is an expert at opening the dishwasher, according to him it is the best toy ever. He loves bath time, as long as the water isn't cold when he gets in. And he loves reading. He will grab a book off his bookshelf or Jacob's and bring it to us signing please.

One year stats:
Weight:  25lbs   79%
Length:  30in     57%
Head:     19 in    92% (our kids have big heads)

Owen's birthday party

We had Owen's party on Saturday. It was great! We celebrated with a bunch of our friends at our house. It turned out to be a gorgeous day so the kids got to play outside. We did "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" for the theme and it turned out awesome. We served all the foods from the book and had a caterpillar cake/cupcakes. I was really proud of my non-crafty self making a bunch of the decorations. Jacob had a blast playing with his friends and Owen just walked around visiting, then begging for food and eating a ton. Jacob helped Owen open his presents and of course wanted to help him play with them too. Owen tore into his cake afterwards. He had red icing all over his face. He also got his first taste of ice cream and loved it. His reaction to the cold was hilarious! We had such a great time celebrating Owen's first birthday and I am so glad we had out wonderful family and friends join us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting in his chair from Grammy

 

Opening presents

 

 

 

Singing happy birthday!

 

 

 

Enjoying the cake

 

Sweet boy sharing with daddy

 

Cold ice cream face

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy first birthday Owen!

Happy birthday lovey! I cannot believe you are already a year old. It has been such a fun year watching you grow and learn. You have been such a lovey boy since you were born, always loving to be held and cuddled. Even now with you walking everywhere you still come running when I lay down and you still pull me down to pick you up and cuddle up to me any time you meet someone new. I love watching your sweet little, shy flirty face as you reach out to someone then smile and lay down on my chest. I love all your little laughs, your big belly laugh at brother's antics, your giggle when you are tickled, and your happy chuckle when you get something you want.

It makes me so happy to watch you learn and figure everything out. You are always surprising us with the new things you know and how fast you pick up new skills. Sometimes we don't even realize you have learned something until you just do it! I love watching you watch your brother and join in with his play. Seeing you play with your brother has brought me so much joy this year. From you just laughing at him playing peek a boo when you were just a bitty baby to chasing him around and asking to ride on the bike with him now.

Even though you have only been here for a year, I can't imagine our family without you. You are such a blessing to us and I am so thankful that you are ours and I can't wait to see all the new things you learn this year! Our lovey, Obie, brother. Happy Birthday Owen!

(These pictures are copyrighted, please don't copy them without asking)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Busy Spring Weekend

We have not slowed down at all around here. If it is possible, I think we have been even busier. This past weekend Owen's Godmother, Aunt Wanda, was in town visiting. We took advantage of some gorgeous weather on Friday and spent the day at the Dallas Arboretum with Grammy and Aunt Wanda. We took a picnic lunch, walked through the gardens, then headed to the Children's Garden there to let Jacob explore and play. We could not have asked for a more perfect day to go. It was sunny and warmed up nicely without being too hot. Jacob enjoyed running around and checking everything out and Owen was up and down all day enjoying the grass and walking around. He was a huge fan of the plush green grass they have. We headed to Grammy's house afterwards and met Josh there for dinner.

Saturday was another busy day as I had work in the morning then we had our community Easter egg hunt in the afternoon. The weather did not cooperate, however, and it was cold, windy and rainy. But the boys both participated then we hung out for a while to enjoy the train ride, bounce house, and Easter Bunny. Owen loved the Easter Bunny. He kept staring at him and asking to go see him. He also wanted to check out the grass at the park but he was not nearly as much of a fan of that grass.

Sunday we headed to church with Aunt Wanda and Grammy then to brunch. They came over to our house afterwards and we spent a "quiet" (quiet as in we didn't do much, not as in the noise level) afternoon here. It was cold and rainy all day Sunday so movies, chatting and playing inside were perfect.

We also had our first tornado warning of the season on Thursday evening. The boys were bathing when the sirens went off and we pulled them out dripping and headed to the closet. This is the first year Jacob actually understood what was going on and on Saturday when the sirens went off for their monthly test he froze and told Josh they had to go to the closet because there was a tornado. Hopefully we won't have anymore this season.

Grammy carrying Owen

 

Owen walking with Grammy and Aunt Wanda

 

He loved the soft green grass

 

I have another picture exactly like this from 2 years ago

 

 

 

 

Passed out with my water bottle

 

Owen looking for Easter eggs

 

Jacob's turn

 

With the Easter bunny. Owen was obsessed with him