JDC first lost tooth!

This tooth had been loose a LONG time!  One day I had all the kids (ashton & parker) and right before naps I realized it was time.  I took some dental floss and tied it around the tooth (this is what we did when I was little!) and I yanked it out.  It was so ready to come out and Jackson didn't have a moment of hesitation!  The boys and Addison thought he was the coolest ever!

Swimming!

We had a fantastic year of swim lessons and swimming.  Same as years past we took a full month of swim lessons.  Which is quite the commitment (nearly every week day) but is always worth it.  They build their skills so much quicker than going once or twice a week.  A lot of days we stay for swimming afterwards- with a picnic in between.

Jackson & Ashton worked hard on diving and retrieving things from the bottom of the pool (even the 12ft end!).  We (j&a) LOVED their teacher.  He was fantastic with the kids and always started the class earlier and finished late.

We were not too impressed with Addison & Parker's teachers this year.  They didn't expect much out of them and Addison ALWAYS swam better with me then she ever did for her teachers.  Addison ended the summer jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side all by herself!

Ashton diving

Jackson & Ashton diving side by side.

Jackson off the diving board

Addi & Parker

Jackson & Ashton's class usually ended with a train on the slide.

Snyder visit 2010

Our fun friends (The Snyders less Chris) came to visit us in June.  We had some fantastic days in the sun and water.  The pictures speak for themselves.

Addi & Max

Monty- enjoying himself to the fullest.  This boy cracked me up the entire time.  SO full of expression and personality.

The boys.  Ashton has a very big load!

Picnic!

Peddler's Jamboree!

This weekend Nathan, Robb and Jackson had a boys weekend.  They went on an overnight bike trip (with about 400 participants) 30+ miles to Boonville one day and back the next morning.  It was a super laid back ride with country town stops every 10 miles with a band and refreshments.  

We recently bought Jackson a tag-a-long bike.  He LOVES it.  He says he wants to ride the "tagtail" (his term for it) because he can go farther!

Side note: they took our old camera that is broken so the pictures are sort of weird- or low quality from a blackberry!

Race morning in his new tri shorts!  He was SO excited!

Stop one listening to the band.

Robb & Jackson enjoying the break- and the river!

Daddy & Jackson in Boonville for dinner.

Camping!  Life doesn't get better than this!

Heading back home on Sunday.

Biggest tree we've ever found!  Jackson & Uncle.

67 miles total.  I am SO proud of Jackson!  The most he had ever ridden was 8 miles.  Nathan said he peddled about 75% of the time.  The only thing he complained about was his bottom hurting.  They came back with many stories, memories and smiles.  We are already planning next year!  Mommy is joining the party!

The girls stayed home this year and had a "girl day".   Addison chose her friend Lily to join us for the evening (w/ her mom Jennifer and little sister Rosie).  We went to buy her a new girly movie, went to the splash park, ice cream before dinner and brought pizza back to our house to play.  Addison was SO fun to be with and soaked up the attention!

Camping!

Earlier this year we purchased a used pop-up from some friends.  We have been so excited (not sure if the kids or nate were more excited!) to camp for the first time!  This was our first weekend out in it!  We headed to lawrence, KS for a trial run for our 70.3 race on June 6th.  It RAINED the WHOLE weekend!  I take that back- it did stop a few hours before we left!

I'm sorry that I didn't get pictures of the outside- or any other pictures of the inside!  The kids were SO happy to have their own sleeping bags (another first!).

I forgot the right sized sheets so it was only sleeping bags!

hiding

sleepy!

games in nana & papa's new, beautiful camper

more games...

their favorite place in nana & papa's camper- top bunk!

the racers & cheerleaders

Overall it was a fun weekend.  Papa finally got a camp fire going (with A LOT of work by all gather dry sticks!) on Sat. night and we were able to have smores'.  We can't wait to go back and have a sunny weekend!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was a bit different.  I would have loved to have a lazy day being pampered- which is exactly what Nathan & the kids would have loved to do- BUT I (along with heather & dad) had a 70 mile bike ride on the schedule.  We decided to start it early to get it done.  We got home by 2pm and the picture below is how I spent the rest of my afternoon!  I came home to a beautiful new hammock (which is what I've wanted for years!), wonderful homemade cards from the kids and a beautiful card from my hubs. 

Jackson was SO sweet before I left on my ride.  He followed me around the house while I was getting ready so he could spend time with me!  It was precious and made me all warm inside thinking that he must really have wanted to be with me!

When I got home Nathan was making his famous strawberry 3 layer cake.  It was so beautiful and I'm sad that I didn't get a picture of it!  Everyone (mother's on both sides and 3 generations!) gathered for a HUGE meal prepared by the father's in the family.  That is a tradition of ours now.  It usually happens for brunch but this year with our training had to happen in the evening.  They make dinner just as well as they make brunch!  

It turned out to be a beautiful and perfect day!  I'm the luckiest mom ever!

a cooler day, reading a book, wrapped in a warm blanket and then a little nap listening to the birds sing.... doesn't get any better than that!

Spring fun.

Here are some random pictures of the past week.  We've been finding all sorts of critters including the snake below that mommy would NOT touch!  The kids kept trying to talk me into it.  NO WAY!

Then below is a picture of Jackson's new tag along bike.  In a few weeks Jackson & Daddy are going on an overnight bike trip!  They have been riding a few times a week to try to build miles.  The overnight is 30 miles one way and another 30 miles back home the next.  Tonight they did 8 miles... they have a ways to go!

Snake!

Addison loved it!

Their first ride.

Uncle & Addi.

Just Addi being cute.