PLANES

When Jason and I were dating we often went out to the airport and watched the airplanes come in. It was a lot of fun, but when 9/11 happened we thought they shut that part of the airport down. Turns out, they DID NOT and when we took the kids out there a few weeks ago, we will so happy to see that we can still go out and sit right under the planes as they come in. The kids loved it. We can't wait to go again.

Savannah 18 months....

She rides on this thing as fast as she can and slams into the refrigerator.


She loves to pose for the camera.


Watching the planes. Ugh, dirty face.


Fight moves.


So, I am getting creepy comments on my blog and so now I have blocked everyone from being able to see it. It is purely for me and for me to print someday so that the kids will enjoy it. My only fear is that I won't keep up on it, but now that I have figured out my camera I think it should be easy. This post will be about Savannah since she is now not a baby anymore and more into the toddler stage. She is 19 months now and getting to be really fun. She is still pretty feisty and she really will NOT say much of anything, but she communicates okay for not using any words. She has started saying MAMA for me and she says that a lot and last week I heard her say MORE when asking for more food, or stories. I am hopeful that it will come, but I am thinking about speech therapy in the future if she does not improve. That is my biggest frustration with her, but it also give her a really unique personality that I love. So, I'm sure it will all work out, but until then....

Right now, she is becoming really independent. She LOVES LOVES LOVES stories and could look at books all day long. She can point to many animals and is starting to say MOO for cow. She is getting better at the screaming thing. For awhile there she screamed about EVERYTHING, but she is getting more friendly with others and starting to be able to express herself more. She loves me and I love that. She gets really shy and is totally girly when it comes to strangers or any new situation. She loves Jack and wants to be just like him.

She is strong and big. I took her to the doctor and she was in the 97% for height... 60% for weight. Jack was as tall as her, but she is a bit heavier than he was. It's the love of sugary things!! :) I am looking forward to having more one on one time with her while Jack is at school. She really is at my most favorite age EVER!!

Jack turns FIVE!

He was our bday boy over a month ago.... but this year was a big one!! I didn't want to clump it into the mass of pictures because this kid is so great and funny, he deserves his own post to mark the occasion.

All year, I said that we weren't going to do a birthday party, but he got invited to a few and he really wanted one so I caved. We didn't do anything super great, but I think the kids all had a great time. On his actual birthday, we made him his favorite muffins for breakfast and hung around in the morning. He didn't want to go to the gym. (I couldn't make him... its not MY birthday)! That afternoon, we met up with some friends at Chuckee Cheese. The kids ran around for a few hours and played all the games they had. I played a few at air hockey. It was a fun afternoon. That night, he had a baseball game and then we went to Leatherbys.

For his party, we invited about 11 kids and had them over to our house for pizza, ice cream, cake, pinata, games and presents. We had a Stars Wars theme and all the kids seemed to like the games. They all loved giving Jack their presents and they crowded around him, almost smothering him.

I love this boy. I'm tearing up a little as I type... he brightens my life, our home, and everyone and everything he is around. He is pretty popular with his friends, because he is such a NICE boy. I hope he holds on to that, because that is one of his best qualities. He cares about people. He is a pleaser. He is a helper. He is a great big brother. He is sassy, but hilarious. He has opinions and he loves learning. He loves reading. He is sensitive. He is a good listener and he wants us to be proud of him. He loves his daddy and looks up to him! He looks to me for approval in everything he does. I love being a stay at home mom because of this. Savannah loves him to death and wants to be wherever he is. He is so patient with her and is a great example. I am a blessed momma to be his. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK!!

On to Kindergarten....

Since school starts next week, I guess I better finish up on preschool on the blog... Jack finished his last year of preschool in May. He is getting ready to start kindergarten in about two weeks. EEEEKKK!! I think he is semi-nervous, but mostly excited because he is in the same class as three of his good friends. That makes me less nervous too.

We really loved preschool. Jack learned so much from Ms. Lorie and I know that he will be heading into kindergarten with all that he should know. I was thinking about holding him back and talked to Lorie about it. She said that he is really smart and totally ready and I have to agree. She really does a wonderful job with the kids and when they leave they really are ready for the next step.

His end of year program was really cute. He had a little part, that he did wonderfully, and it was fun to see how grown up all the other kids were as well. Jack is such a great kid. I love him sooo much!! I'm sad that these past five years have gone by so fast.... but we are on to new adventures!

PICTURES!!

Six months worth.....

HELLO?

Is anyone out there?? I have been MIA. I finally got our pictures loaded up on our new computer, but looking through them is not very exciting. I can see that over the last six months, we have not done much!! Most of my pictures have my kids at home in their PJs. But, those are the best days, right? I'll do a brief update like I did the last time and then load some of the favorite pictures from the past six months and then we will start fresh with hopefully a post a month going forward.

JASON--

So, last time I wrote, he was getting ready to apply for school in the fall. That didn't work out. He did well on the GRE, but the degree he was thinking about is so different from what he is doing and he doesn't have experience in it so they told him to volunteer and apply again next year. He has since been thinking about other options and we have a few things in the works, but that's all I will say for now! Other than work, his calling and family time keeps him busy.

JACK--

Jack has just turned five and has had a BUSY few months. We started the spring with soccer, and then he moved right into karate, followed by baseball and swimming lessons. He had a great time doing all of these things and has had the BEST summer of his life because he has had so many friends to play with and things to do. He is getting ready to start kindergarten in about three weeks. (EEK!) I think he might be a little nervous (he has been kind of emotional lately), but I think he is really excited and I really do think that he is ready for this change. I hope I am ready too!

SAVANNAH--

This little lady has probably changed the most these last six months. She has grown from a baby to a toddler. She is really communicating with us, but not talking yet. She does say MAMA, but it is a struggle to get her to say anything else. She is finally pointing at parts of her body and she understands everything we say, but will not talk. I think she must be one of those kids that will never talk until she can say a full sentence! She is a lot of fun, but very feisty! Because she can't talk yet she mostly screams bloody murder in order to get her way. She is also very opinionated and wants to get her way. But, under all that feistiness is a very loving, wonderful girl!

ME--

Nothing new to report... nothing at all. I am loving staying home with these kiddies and hanging out with my great friends! I am ready for the fall weather, but not really ready for school to start. Makes me sad to let this boy of mine leave me and have a whole life that I will not know anything about! I'm going to have to volunteer a lot at the school! We do have a family vacay planned for the end of September to San Diego. We figured out how to fly there for free so we are super excited! We will be hitting Sea World, San Diego Zoo and Legoland! Can't wait!

Here's to starting fresh and leading more exciting lives!!

Recap Minus Pictures....

We have had the worst luck with cameras these last six months. It makes it hard for me to blog if I don't have a functional camera because I don't take pictures and then all my thoughts are scrambled and I am left with nothing to blog about! We did finally get a new camera awhile back, but thought it had chargeable batteries and it doesn't so now that we have that figured out, we should be able to get some pictures uploaded this weekend. I am hoping, anyway.

We have had a busy few weeks/months since I last wrote. I'll do a brief summary of each of our developments!

Jason-- He had a very busy two weeks this month. He was called to be the executive secretary in our ward. The stake president told us it would be a busy calling, but so far it hasn't been that bad. Our bishop is really cool and I think Jason likes to be involved in everything. But, it does make for long Tuesdays and Sundays... and Wednesdays because I am in YW and gone so two nights a week is hard. But, he is doing a great job so it'll work for now. :) He also took the GRE for grad school about a week ago. He did really well and got what he needed to get in to his program. All that is left is sending in the application.... we will see what happens! If he gets in... our schedules will be very crazy... he will be in school Tuesday and Thursday nights and probably have bishopric on Wednesdays! He also quit his job about two weeks ago and moved to Backman Title. His good friend, Dave, had quit a few weeks before and they both ended up at the same place. It has been a really good move, but it was a bit crazy because he thought he could get a job there, but they couldn't talk to him until he quit his other job so it was a pretty big leap of faith! Heavenly Father is watching out for us... he quit on Monday, interviewed on Tuesday and started his new job on Wednesday! YAY!

ERIN-- I probably have the most boring life of the four of us. I am training for a duatholon next weekend. My friend enrolled me as a "birthday gift".... yikes. :) No, I am excited for it. I am just not really into racing much anymore. I guess I am not really in the phase of life where it is a priority. I would rather be home with my family. But, once I am there I love it and its always good to have a few hours to myself. I am still working... and that is getting harder. I really can't sit down at my computer during the day anymore so that leaves me with staying up really late... hence the fact that it is 1113 pm as I type. :) I am truly enjoying this time though and I actually looking forward to being even busier as life goes on. (I type this so I can go back and remind myself when it gets really crazy!). I also have a bunch of great friends and I love the fact that I can stay home and be in this great group of women! I love my book club!! It is a highlight in my life!

JACK-- This boy is the biggest nut ever! He has so much energy and he makes me tired just watching him. He has been obsessed with video games lately and it is driving me crazy!! I know it is probably due to the fact that the weather has been so terrible, but that has always been my worst fear... to have a gamer for a child... :) He is getting ready to start soccer on Saturday and we have signed him up for Tiny Tigers... karate moves starting in May. He loves his friends... He is so happy. He is smart. He knows how to work my phone better than I do. He loves preschool and.... is excited to start kindergarten in the fall. I know I said that I was going to hold him back, but his teacher thinks he is ready... I tend to agree after this winter and all of his friends are going. So... his orientation is tomorrow. AUGH!!! I am nervous about it. I'm sure I am going to have to be talked down by my friends. I just really don't want to lose this baby of mine to the world. I love him with my whole heart. He will play Tball in June and start swimming lessons again. We are entering into such a new world for him.

SAVANNAH--- This girl is the best. She is getting to be so funny. She is 15 months old (almost) and walking, talking, playing, copying, learning, loving... the list could go on. She and Jack are starting to play really cute together... the other night they were playing peek-a-boo in Jack's bed and I just watched them laugh at each other. Jack really loves her and she loves him. She still loves me and when I am sitting on the floor she will just run up and hug me. She loves our new kitty and any mention of her can stop Savannah's tears. She says... hello, mama, mmmmaaaa for milk, dada and points to everything. She loves to read and will bring me books all the time. She loves Spiderman and always wants me to put the mask on. She loves when I wear hats and if Jack is wearing a hat she wants one... also a cape if Jack has one on. I was giving knuckles to Jack the other day and in she walked with her hand outstretched for me to do it to her. She loves to eat, especially sugar. If you make faces at her she tries to make them back... I really love her wink.

ZOE and the KITTY--- They love each other... sleep together... cuddle at night... fight, run around the house and scratch in the morning. But, they are pretty good friends.

That's our family in a nutshell. Pictures coming soon.