A Family Reunion

This past Saturday Jared had a family reunion at the Wilderness Center. Unfortunately he had to work - one of the 2 weekends a year they have to do inventory, blah - so the boys and I went without him. It was small and I knew almost everyone, so we were still really comfortable even without Jared. And, of course, I got lots of help from Grandma and Grandpa.

We ate some lunch and then went for a walk. I think Holden really had fun with Grandpa and Grandma, playing/walking with his cousins, and feeding the geese and fish. And Bridger got to ride around in the Jeep carrier, so I know he was one happy little camper.

After we left, I realized we didn't really get to visit much with most of the extended family, but I suppose that's what happens when there's so many little ones... not much time to just sit and chat.

Another "perk" of my little one? Souvenirs. Holden brought home some "special rocks" (he somehow manages to find one almost everywhere we go) and a 5-foot-long stick. To show Daddy.

Naomi and Holden. Leading the way to the pond.

Getting some crackers from Grandma

(Note the dirty feather. Another potential souvenir that ended up getting dropped along the way.)

Feeding time

Watching the geese. And making a goofy face.... I think it may have been a little bright in his eyes.

And then he turned around and gave Naomi a big hug.

And me and Bridger during the hike in the woods. I still don't know who he looks like, but for now he seems to be at least sharing Mommy's blue eyes :)

A Day for Daddy

Father's Day was kind of low-key this year, but I think Jared still had a good day.

A couple small ham and egg breakfast sandwiches on homemade buttermilk biscuits, a handmade card and a paper airplane, a special chocolate covered cookie with a "Dad" tie candy on top, and a big cup of coffee in his "Happy Father's Day" mug. That was Daddy's morning.

Then we were off to church, followed by lunch under the tent with everyone to celebrate our 125th anniversary.

Then it was home and nap time for the boys. I tried to get Jared to just relax and do something he wanted, but like some others in our families, he sometimes has trouble having "lazy time." So he spent his afternoon in our on-going project: the kitchen. He worked on the new window frame/sill he built over the sink, painted the 2 finished walls, and installed a new outlet, light switch, and cover plate. And he burned trash. See? He has a serious work ethic.

But at least he got to enjoy himself at dinner - surrounded by a few of his favorites: a hot grill, some good beer, and a big steak :) And although it rained, I think he still had fun grilling out for the first time this year. And for dessert, Whoopie Pies. Per his request.

Then both boys went to bed early and The Terminator just happened to be on tv. It was Jared's day, after all.

So yes, it was simple. But I hope the most important Daddy in our life still had a good time on his special day. ♥

We started outside, but then so did the thunder.

Stealing a Father's Day kiss

Jared and some of his favorite things

Rain can't ruin his mood :)

And finally Bridger woke up to join the party

All the boys waiting for the food to cook

And our family. It's not our best photo, but Holden's face makes it better :)

Happy Father's Day!

Did someone throw the clock out the window?

Because time is flying over here, it seems.

I honestly don't even know what happens to my days sometimes (let alone, whole weeks). We get up, eat, play, clean, and before I know it, it's already 5 o'clock and Jared's home!

Every week I feel like Tuesday - the days I get one week closer to my due date - just sneaks up on me. I'm already 29 weeks now! That's only 11 more trips to the grocery store, people, and then it will be time for another baby already! (Hold on while I pick my jaw up off the floor....)

But really, sometimes I kind of feel like time is just spiraling away from me. And not just when it comes to this pregnancy. I also feel like I had been looking forward to my sister and her kids coming up for my brother's graduation forever, and now that's already here and gone. And they're back in Florida now. Just like that. All the planning and decorating and gathering and baking and whoosh.... over. (And I barely took any pictures the whole time. Ridiculous.)


So here's a few recent pictures that made me realize just how fast things change.

Mom and Dad with the Graduate

Our "little" brother

Here's where part of my days went for about a week. Cream-filled graduation cupcakes, little baggies of puppy chow, and some dog bone cut outs for the party.

Close-up of the cupcakes - decorated with little

diplomas and paw print cut outs

And the dog bone cut out cookies

Bridger's getting so big. Here he was trying to share his Binky with me. He loves to "feed" me things and giggles when I pretend to eat them. Goofy.

And our really big boy, Holden!
He always climbs over here on this bench/wooden support/tree and tells me he's being a monkey :)

This afternoon. My boys and my big belly.

And the side shot.
(Ready or not, here he comes!)

Why did the Turtle cross the road?

Why to visit our yard, of course!

And to consume my morning with trying to keep track of him so I would know when it's safe to let Indy out or take Holden outside to play.

Sigh.

So yes. I was standing in the kitchen this morning looking out the window when I saw something moving oddly near the end of our driveway by the road. It took a minute, but eventually I figured out it was not a raccoon - or an armadillo (it was early, I was sleepy) - and grabbed the camera to take his picture.

This is what greeted us this morning:



Nice, right? And you can't probably tell, but I'd say his back was about the size of a Frisbee. So, in my opinion, big.

And well it was really kind of fun and exciting. For like 3 minutes. And then I remembered that he's wild, he's not nice, and I just wished he would go away.

But instead he turned and headed straight for my bed of hostas by the garage.



The bed where Holden always like to play and where our unofficial "pet" toad Fredrick always hangs out.



Dirtball.

Now we're pretty much trapped in here until I can spot him ambling his way somewhere else. But since I'm not planning to spend all day watching the flower bed, I'd say this may be an "inside day" until Daddy can come home and make sure it's safe again.

In the meantime, Holden keeps telling me, "I hope he doesn't find Fredrick."......

Ten Months

I'm a few days late, but we have a Ten-Month-Old!

And he is just one of the chubbiest (heaviest), happiest little boys I know :)

He claps whenever he hears someone say "Yay" and he shakes his head when he hears "No No." He also shows Mommy "So Big" almost every time he's in his high chair.

He weights at least 23 pounds (haven't weighed him in a few weeks), has 6 teeth through, and already has such a goofy little sense of humor. For instance, the other day he was practice walking around the living room and he unknowingly stepped on a magazine I had on the floor. I yelled "No" in a silly voice and moved him off. He thought that was just the funniest. So for the next 15 minutes or so, I'd set him down and he'd walk straight for the magazine. He'd start giggling before he even stepped on it knowing I was about to yell "No" again and pick him up. Silly boy. But it really is lots of fun to watch him "get" when something is funny or a joke/game.

And he still doesn't want anything to do with crawling really. He'll either just scoot backwards or get his feet under him so he's on all fours - trying to stand/walk. He doesn't like his knees on the floor for some reason. I still think he's trying to skip straight to walking. And he thinks he can... but he doesn't really have any skills yet. He continues to just let go and go for it whenever we're practicing. He's a little Danger Kid. But I think his balance is getting better - he can now do it holding onto only ONE hand - so maybe he knows something I don't.

Here's a few pictures from dinner on the day he was officially 10 months old. He got a Trix stuck right to the end of his nose and I couldn't resist.

Goof.

Ornery.

♥

Good Morning!

Haha.

Serious morning hair.
:)

"Swimming"

Hello, Summer!

On Tuesday when it was so hot, I decided I really wanted to get some sun. (I was stinkin' pale for how nice it's been outside lately....) So as soon as Bridger laid down for his nap, I slathered Holden in sunscreen and we headed outside.

He tried to play in the bucket of water we have out for Indy, so at first I gave him his own bucket. Then I remembered the little blow up ducky pool (bathtub) he used to use outside when he was a baby. So I filled that up, too. He's way too big for it now, but I thought he could at least play in it with his cars and stuff like he always does with Indy's water bucket.

And then, finally, I had my little light bulb moment. I remembered the turtle sandbox that my Mom's neighbor gave us last summer. We've never used it yet, so I drug it out of the garden shed, rinsed it out, and ta-da! - Turtle Pool :) (And I never even thought about getting him out a swim diaper. Or his swimming trunks. So... he just played in his regular diaper. It worked.)

And Holden loved it.

Oh, and I got a sunburn. So, all in all, a successful day, I guess. :)

He kept standing on the little ledge and "jumping" in

His face looks like it may be a bit chilly :)

"Swimming"

Indy liked the pool, too.

(And thankfully waited until we were pretty much done anyways to pee right beside/in it.
Yup. Thanks, Indy.)

He kept saying, "I gettin' meself wet!"

Loves his little Turtle Pool

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast." - John Gunther

Bridger is a happy baby. He's really very good about just sitting by himself with some toys for awhile and is usually easily entertained watching Holden play, or even Mommy or Daddy while we work around the house.

He loves being startled and he loves trying to walk - although letting go and just "going for it" probably isn't the safest way to practice....

And he still loves bath time. Especially now that he gets to take a bath in the big tub with Holden every night :)

But I think probably one of the things that makes him the happiest is eating. And I feel like he's always had kind of a "ham" personality, but even that seems to come out more at meal time.

Cracker!

Making goofy faces and funny noises

"So Big!"

Showing off those bottom teeth

Sweetpea♥