more summer pictures

Catch up.

I took the summer off of blogging. Here is a brief synapsis of what we've been up to. May: ended preschool and waited for the beach club to open. We started our first of reunions in Wichita, KS visiting Nathan's family. June: Nate & I went on a weekend trip while the kids got spoiled at Gram's house. We enjoyed the hot weather at the pool and being outside. July: Uncle Robb visited for a long weekend. Jackson, Ashton & Parker had swim lessons everyday and we often stayed afterwards to swim more. We spent the month at the beach club and Jackson learned to swim- like a fish. He would rather swim than go down the waterslide! Addison loved it all and wanted to be very independent. She had no clue that she was about to drown. She has no fear. We took a vacation to Oklahoma for a family reunion. Jackson & cousins drove go-carts ALL BY THEMSELVES. Jackson fell in love with his older cousins and wanted to bring them home. August: Nate & I took another weekend trip to do a triathlon while they spent another weekend getting spoiled. We had another family reunion. And we celebrated Daddy's 31st birthday. We are gearing up for preschool to start, fall, jackson's birthday, and many fall trips- the major to Orlando and Disney the first week of October!

Texas trip- April 08

We had a super great time in Texas. A list of what all we did: shopped, played in the "park", waded and tubed in a river, went to Sea World (a favorite!), had a bonfire, went for sno-cones, saw a HUGE spider, had a tractor ride, played a lot more, got very dirty, ate a lot and slept a little. It was a kid-holiday. A lot of times there were 3 adults per 7 kids. Nathan & Phil joined us on the weekend. The temperature was perfect upper 70's and sunny. We hit Sea World with 4 adults and 7 kids on Friday. The kids were all really great. We saw dolphins, Shamu and more killer whales, sharks, fish, alligators, walruses, beluga whales, clydesdale horses and so much more. We stayed out of the splash zones and stayed perfectly warm. We took over the Reeves house and they were perfectly content with that! Gwen graciously gave up her room and Josie kindly let Gwen sleep in her room. Charlie could easily be forgotten about he's so content and sweet. The boys still talk about wanting to go back to Gwen & Josie's. Josie loved Addison most of all and would try to help her or play with her. We learned just how independent Addison was because she wanted no help at all from Josie. Nor did she appreciate anyone telling her she couldn't eat sand or anything else!

swim lessons!

We started swim lessons today! Jackson had big boy lessons all by himself. He was so excited and couldn't contain it- he was jumping up & down in the locker room saying "i'm so excited, i can't wait, mommy!". He did fantastic swimming and will be set for summer. After class he and his classmates got to sit in the hottub... what a big boy! Addison also did great for her very first lesson. She got really scared twice and started crying but was always able to settle down and continue kicking and splashing. She would jump to me (fall towards me) into the water, she could kick her feet so excitedly and she could almost pull in a swimming motion towards a toy. She didn't get the idea of blowing bubbles but she thought mommy was hilarious when she did it. Fun time and we're looking forward to spending a lot of time in the pool!

New Car

We finally got a vehicle that can hold more than just the 4 of us! Nate & I are going to pick it up tonight in Kansas City. It's a 2005 Toyota Sequoia. It seats 7 which means I can haul my kids & my nephews! We have several road trips planned for this year so we definitely needed something bigger- with a dvd player! Lately, Jackson has been telling us that he wants to sing his abc's. Preschool has gotten him into singing but he's very picky about when he sings, who hears him and you can never sing with him. Well, just now he was in his bed- not wanting to take a nap but staying in there anyway- and I hear him singing them "a, b, c, d... q,r,s, w, oh wait, that's not right...a, b, c, d...". It was quite hilarious listening outside his door. Well, its happening. A few months ago I didn't think it was going to happen... but it is. Daddy & Addy have something going on. The Daddy's girl thing has begun. I'm not sure what they have but they are tight. I'm not sure who is more smitten' with who. The other night Nate & I were butting heads with one another over each child. He used to be tough on her but now she nearly gets away with anything when daddy is around. She also has her hold on Papa- and I heard that she is working into Uncle Phil's heart too. I have to admit that she is quite sweet WHEN she chooses. And she can be very select in her choosing. She is her own little girl, with her own little ideas and her own BIG wants. I could still kiss her little face off nearly everyday. ugh... she's good.

Easter!

The kids spent Good Friday morning at Nana's house painting eggs and an egg hunt. They had a blast- as these pictures show. She got them all sunglasses that they l-o-v-e. On Sunday we drove to the Brodersens place and had an Easter egg hunt with all the cousins. It was freezing cold but the kids didn't notice. Then Uncle Gary got out his new HUGE green tractor and gave everyone (even adults) rides. Jackson was lucky enough to go twice because Mommy wanted to go! Jackson is doing a lot better. We ended our steroids and breathing treatments yesterday. He still has trouble running for a while and will start coughing and having some breathing difficulty. But once he calms down he's ready to race around again. Addison is talking up a storm. The only problem is its not in our language and she gets very frustrated at us. We keep getting teased by warm weather but it keeps going back to cold. We can't wait!

Sick boy

We've had an eventful few days. Jackson stayed home from pre school on Thursday- sick. When I got home he had just gone down for a nap but I decided to go in and see him anyway. Joan had told me that he was wheezing so I wanted to see/hear for myself. I went in and he was breathing so quickly and shallow. Something in me told me that I wanted to see him more- so I had him get up and come into the living room. I watched him for a few minutes and knew I needed to take him to the doctor. He was having an asthma attack! We came home with a breathing treatment and steriods. Dr. W said that we will not call it asthma yet because many kids have a one time attack but if it happens a few more times before summer then we'll have to talk more seriously about asthma. I don't like to admit this (and didn't of course to dr. w!) but Jackson was still sleeping with a binky. I couldn't let him do it with his breathing the way it was. Nate & I had been procrastinating getting rid of it anyway so this was the perfect time. It has been a rough few days but he has officially slept 4x without it! We had a party last night and he got to invite friends & family. I picked up balloons and got him a race rig (semi truck) w/ race car. So, we are a binky-free family and it feels great! The kids all went to Nana's house yesterday morning for painting easter eggs and an egg hunt. They all had a blast and came home very painted- and energized! Tomorrow we head to our Aunt, Uncles and cousins house for lunch and an egg hunt. The kids will have such a fantastic time.