Being Brave....

I have to be brave, that is.  For allowing my sweet baby boy to ride around with his wild-n-crazy big brother in his truck!  We still have the restraints on the truck so it goes very very slow but still - I didn't let them get farther than arms reach of me.  Ethan was very fascinated by the whole experience and J loved having his baby brother on his right side.  :)

Clean Floors=Happy Baby

Ethan is oddly interested in the vacuum cleaner.  He can be throwing the tantrum of all tantrums and I turn that Dyson on, and SILENCE!  He follows me around when I am vacuuming trying to grab it and climb on it.  I always thought most babies were afraid of the vacuum but Ethan LOVES it.

Boys of Summer!

Track Master.

That's my new name.  I'm THAT good.

the jamaicans are calling our name.

ryan and i are off today for our very first trip together with two kids!  when we got married, we promised each other that no matter what, we would go on a trip together - just the two of us - once per year!  we always try to go somewhere we've never been....  

so here's our past trips:

2002: we went to Maui for our honeymoon.... best place on the planet!  seriously!  Also, in 2002, we went to Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley and San Francisco!

2003: Cozumel - for my friend Stephenie's wedding.

2004: San Antonio

2005: Las Vegas

2006: Key West (We also went to Milwaukee, Houston)

2007: Washington DC (for Ryan's brother's wedding)

2008: Since I had J in mid 08 and we moved at the same time, we didn't take a "vacation" trip but we did go to Milwaukee for Ryan's cousin's wedding and his mom took J overnight one night so we could have some time to ourselves!

2009: Outer Banks, NC (for a friend's wedding) and also to NYC!  We also went to Milwaukee twice this year!

2010:  RIO!

and now - 2011 - jamaica!  i am so excited!!

i have some blog posts scheduled to update over the next few days - so my blog will continue to be updated, but stay tuned for jamaica pictures!

Brothers Til The End.

All for one and one for all
My brother and my friend
What fun we have

The time we share

Brothers 'til the end.
~Author Unknown

 

It's one year in the waiting.

Last year at this very time, I was 8 1/2 mos pregnant, huge and miserable and dreaming of the precious baby growing in my tummy to come out and swim in the pool with me... I finally had my wish today.  My sweet baby boy did not like the cold water sprinkler at our house this weekend, but he didn't mind the nice heated pool at Lisa's house.  :-)  He started out not too sure of it... but he warmed up and almost feel asleep in the pool!

 Big brother was AMAZING today!  Historically, the water has not been Jackson's friend.  Any water in his face=screaming fit.  So last year, when I was that big pregnant miserable momma - my 2 year old was RUNNING around the outside of the pool, laughing at me and my big belly trying to catch him - all while throwing Mrs. Lisa's rocks into the water!!!  This year, entirely different story.  I'm so thankful for that!!!!  This year, Jackson did so good.  He wore his puddle jumper perfectly - no complaints and actually had so much fun jumping from the step into Lisa's arms!  He was totally getting splashed and he never once complained and even was upset when we had to leave!!  Wow!!!!!  I am very appreciative of Lisa and Heather keeping an eye on J so I could watch Ethan.... Ben, Holiday and Eden were so happy and playful - J was in his own element!  AND our friend Kim came with her two gorgeous kids - Jacob and Emma.... Jackson thought Jacob was really really cool (he's almost 10!). 

 HULA TIME!  Jacob was crazy crazy good at this!

 

This is Ben saying "Jack Jack - come in the water!"

 

Great day, great friends, great memories! 

Em - thanks for the pics.  Love you girl.

Thomas, the memory game.

Remember that game "Memory" ...?  Well, Ryan and I both loved it as kids.. and were pretty darn good at it.  Turns out, our big boy is pretty good too.  I bought him the original memory game and we all played it together a few times, but then I found the Thomas Memory Game.  OH BOY!  Jackson was so excited to play and honestly, he's impressive at it!  He is not so good and turning over the card and leaving it on the table... he wants to pick it up and look at it and set it down wherever he wants. Other than that, he loves this game!  Of course.... it's THOMAS!  :)

backyard giggles and whimpers.

Since 95 degree weather seems to be the "spring" weather in Northwest Arkansas, Ryan and I decided it was definitely time to pull out the pools for the backyard!  We got J a new one this year w/ a slide and basketball net!  He wasn't sure at first, but he came around!

This is a REALLY big deal for Jackson - who does NOT like water in his eyes!

Thumbs up!

 Goggle time!

Ethan was completely content watching and playing with the dump truck.

 THEN!  The unthinkable happened!  Mommy put Ethan in the cold water!!  What was I thinking!!!?  Obviously, Ethan was not amused by this whatsoever.

 He didn't even want his little feet in the big pool... he was not having any of it!

 He felt much better when Daddy would just hold him and let him watch Jackson.  I know if the water would have been warm, he would have loved it.  That cold water was way too much of a shock to him.

 Love my sweet boys.