Fun with Cousins

Recently, the kiddos and I got to watch my baby nephews, separately of course, while their mommies and daddies were working hard earning a paycheck while we we busy having fun. Little Levi, is such a character. He is constantly smiling and playing and Sis would NEVER leave him alone. Poor little guy I know must've been exhausted after being mauled and tackled from kisses by our little princess. He is absolutely a little doll with his precious belly laughs and ornery faces.

Maddox seemed to really take to Elijah, the most mellow laid back child I think on the face of the planet. Little Eli has Mommy and Daddy completely spoiled, as he hardly ever makes a peep. Maddox played with him, proud to show him his cars and Little People play sets, which he stuck each animal in his mouth to ease those sweet teething little gums. We played outside and sat in the shade enjoying a gorgeous day.

Although these little guys are both so fun and cuddly right now, I can't wait for picnics in the park, days running through our zoo, and hot afternoons splashing away in the pool. I possibly could attempt these things now, but how fun it will be when everyone is a little more mobile. Thanks Joey and Bekah and Cassi and Justin for some fun times with these precious little guys.

Memorial Day

Memorial day around our home was exhausting. We completed projects that we had started but never completed. Hauling dirt, moving rock and stone, landscaping and assembling new furniture. I think Danno was grateful to go into work on Tuesday, knowing that he would have a break from laborious back breaking jobs around the house. We did take Monday to relax a bit. Having some time with friends while watching the kiddos spray each other with enormous water gun blasters.

A few pics of our somewhat completed projects...

A tea for our princess

We have been so busy that please forgive the lack of posts. It's gonna take me awhile to catch up on all of our activities but I just could not let this one pass, even if it has been a few weeks since the royal celebration.

A good friend's daughter, princess Karis, invited Ava to her very first princess tea party. I must admit, I was more than worried about how my little diva princess would behave. The Queen Mum had excitedly told me of all the special touches she had planned; the real china, the decorated cookies and wafers, the table settings... all I pictured was sis throwing one of her royal fits as she threw the china across the room and spilled raspberry tea all over a beautiful table scape. I was soooo wrong. Ava was in heaven. Parading in the castle in her plastic heels and tiara, she handled her china carefully, stood in her chair eating cookies and wafers, sang Happy Birthday to her friend, and hunted for her princess purse and gloves. She LOVED every second of this girly princess party. I knew I had been blessed with the girly girl that I wanted, but I see piles of dress-up clothes in my future, hours of dreaming of a prince and ruling over a kingdom that is troubled, and loving every second of seeing myself in my little girl.

Sickfest 2009

We are currently on day 11 of our puking, diarrhea, nausea sickfest that we caught from church nursery, and seem to be ready to kick it. Lasting minimum 5 days, we had to cancel our Easter plans and so so sadly cancel our much anticipated trip to KC Great Wolf Lodge trip with the Daniel family to lay on the couch, in mommy's lap or whatever surface we could make it to. Wretched I tell you!!! Luckily, Ranno and Jackson bypassed the bug somehow and stayed healthy. So, as much as I love the walls in our home, I cannot wait to break out of this popsicle joint for some play.

Jackson our Soccer Star

Still Experiencing Firsts

As Jackson gets bigger and more grown up, we are having fewer and fewer firsts. Although Goo and Sis still have a large share of first time happenings, we did all of those before with bubby. Not that they are any less special, thrilling, or fun, they are just not the first time Danno and I have experienced them as parents.
The last 2 weeks have been fairly exciting for Jackson. He lost his 1st tooth, which he proudly got $1.00 for from the tooth fairy in his new Transformer tooth pillow. He took it out so nonchalantly. "No big thing mom, really." He came into my bedroom one Sunday evening during Desperate Housewives, said he was ready for it to come out, I showed him how to twist it, and there it was. No big thing. No whims or tears about the blood at all. Such a big boy, my handsome.
Last week at our small group at church, Jackson received another first, his first black eye. He and another little boy we running in the play area known as the Ballpark. They collided and the shiner was the result. He cried that evening right after it happened, but then was so excited about it. Running to the bathroom the next morning to check his face to see if his eye had actually turned black, and each second it seemed of the afternoon following the collision. After realizing that each time he left the bathroom disappointed that it wasn't "black" yet, we had a pow-wow about what the term "black eye" meant. Sadly, his eye was not going to be completely black like an alien or some Marvel super villian, just a little bruising. Obviously very heart breaking for our 6 year old.
So, even though Jackson's first are coming less and less and as he grows to our sweet boy, we still have some excitement over the first time things that are not so joyous.