Saturday, June 27, 2009

Videos of Jay from Saturday, June 20

Birthday Cupcake Being Destroyed


Walking With Toy Push Car (just after taking his first steps)


Playing with Car and Josh's Lego Bionicles

Friday, June 26, 2009

Second 1st Birthday Party!

Last weekend Matt, Jay and I traveled to Oregon to visit PopPop, Nana, Aunt Shawn, Uncle Mike, and cousins Alex and Joshua.

We intended to drive straight to PopPop and Nana's house, but after 5-1/2 hours in the car and still being a good hour plus drive away from their house (the first rain in about 30 days coupled with Friday traffic -- not a good combo) we were all pulling our hair out. We gave Aunt Shawn and Uncle Mike an impromptu call to see if there family was around at home Friday night (they were), so we stopped there and visited and had dinner with them. (Thanks so much for being so willing to accommodate us dropping in like that 'ya'll!) We got back on the road again two hours later after the traffic had cleared and arrived at PopPop and Nana's that evening.

Saturday we enjoyed a lazy-ish morning - Jay loved playing with "new" toys (to Jay) that PopPop and Nana have and he enjoyed exploring PopPop and Nana's first floor (now that he can crawl and cruise so well). I baked a batch of birthday cupcakes that morning for later that day.

Uncle Mike, Aunt Shawn, and the boys arrived around noon. PopPop barbecued burgers and hot dogs on the grill and Nana made a delicious side salad, served with baked beans and potato chips. Shawn brought a yummy apple crisp for dessert and the birthday cupcakes and vanilla ice cream were the other dessert options. Jay enjoyed massacring his birthday cupcake with the toy spatula. He took only a couple bites of cupcake - and only those bites because Alex hand fed him a few bites of it.


Following the candle blowing and eating the dessert for the three birthday boys, the birthday presents were opened. Alex and Josh both received Texas Longhorn t-shirts (in honor of Uncle Keith, Aunt Traci, and cousins Sam and Sydney who moved to TX earlier this year). Alex received the new favorite game - Ticket to Ride. Josh received three new Lego Bionicles, a mini skateboard, and a magnetic race car thing. Jay received a new shirt and a Thomas the Train track and train set from Mike, Shawn, Alex and Josh, and from PopPop and Nana a Fisher Price Little People ride and push car.
Jay took his afternoon nap, a round of Ticket to Ride was played, Josh built his Bionicles and played with his car and skateboard, then the boys went outside to shoot some hoops on the basketball hoop in the cul de sac while Mike worked on fixing Josh's bike's chain which had slipped off earlier that week. Mom and Shawn enjoyed a nice walk around the nearby loop, too. What a fun, relaxing afternoon we had together as a family!


After Jay woke up from his nap he enjoyed watching the boys shoot hoops outside. Then it was time for Mike, Shawn, and the boys to leave. (So sad!!)


PopPop and Nana fixed a light, simple dinner we all enjoyed and then it was time for Jay to take his bedtime bath. From the pictures below you can see he LOVES taking his bath!!
Sunday morning we packed up and left PopPop and Nana's and drove to church where Mike, Shawn, Alex and Josh attend. After church Shawn made a wonderful dinner for all of us (beef roast, roasted potatoes, yams, and onions, a yummy cauliflower "potato-like" salad, rolls, and watermelon followed by icicles for dessert). Then it was time for us to hit the road back home. It took us 3-1/2 hours to get home vs. the 5-1/2 hours it took on the way there. Much better!!

Thanks for the wonderful weekend PopPop, Nana, Mike, Shawn, Alex and Josh! We had such a great time with all of you!

I'll post again in a day or two with some video clips we took while there. The most exciting thing was that Jay took his first steps last Saturday, June 20!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Second Haircut


Yes, I put Jay in the bathroom sink for his second haircut last night. The sink is perfect - it keeps him confined to one spot, he can play with the guest bathroom lotion, shampoo, and conditioner bottles and admire his reflection in the mirror, and Mom can more easily trim his hair and the "mess" falls into the sink allowing for easy clean-up.

I didn't cut as much of his hair this time - it really was a trim vs. a haircut. Our little boy is looking more clean cut again! Hooray!



Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day

Dad,

Happy Father's Day! Technically this is your second year celebrating Father's Day since I've been born, but because I was such a little newborn last year, this year probably feels more "real" to you in the "father" role.

I'm so glad YOU are my DAD!!

I love it when you "chase" me, play "peek-a-boo" with me, wrestle me, play with me, read to me, sing silly made-up songs to me, and for telling me, teaching me, and modeling the love my Heavenly Father has for me.

I appreciate it so much when you change my diapers (even the stinky ones), feed me, and calm me so I can fall asleep.

And thanks for loving Mom so well, too. You know how much I like it when you kiss Mom in front of me (I grin from ear to ear). Thanks for working hard and providing so well for us so that Mom can stay home and take care of me every day. I love that I get to see you for lunch most work days and you know how excited I am to see you when you walk in the door after work.

You are the GREATEST Dad! I love you so much!

Jay

*Picture above taken June 20, 2009 while sitting on Dad's shoulders.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Fun With Friends

Today Jay and I met up with our friends for our *weekly* get-together (*it isn't always weekly, but most of the time we try to meet up once a week). Everyone was able to gather today and we all had a great time. Our time together started out with a lunch meal and/or snack for everyone. Then the kids played inside and outside with all the fun toys while us Moms supervised and chit-chatted.
This picture above is my favorite one of the day. Three-year-old Kellen loved to pull or push the one-year-olds around in the wagon. And those in the wagon really loved being pulled around the yard!
We put Audrey and Jay together in the wagon for a ride. Audrey liked stroking Jay's hair on the back of his head or touching his shoulders. So funny!!

Here are the three recently turned one-year-olds all together for a quick ride in the wagon. (Audrey in back, Jay in the middle, Kyler in the front)

The wagon puller, Kellen, with his possy.


Brothers - Kellen in back, Kyler in front

And just before we left, Kellen requested a wagon ride with Audrey
Thanks for the great time everyone! A special thanks to Priscilla for hosting today.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

A Look Back

Me (Mindy on left) and Molly (on right) - 1978 - 1 year old

Jay - 2009 - 1 year old

Matt - 1972 - approx. 1 year old

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

He's 1!



It is still hard for me to believe he is one already! Was it really a year ago I was holding a newborn baby boy??

Monday, June 8, 2009

Pool & Play

Today my friend Katie invited Jay and me over for a pool and play get-together. Jay and Audrey get up from their morning naps at just about the same time so Katie and I know our window of opportunity.

After Jay awoke from his nap we hopped in the car. We fed the kiddos lunch, Katie and I then had a bite to eat, and then we headed out to the pool in the backyard (not before I had to change Jay's diaper which he had MAJORLY filled - thank goodness he did his business before the pool time!)

Thanks to Katie and Audrey for the new camoflage hat for Jay for this birthday! This hat is terrific for pool time since it covers his ears from the sun.


Audrey received a bubble machine for her birthday and the kids loved having the bubbles waft over them. (See the bubbles in the photo below?)




Jay had his first opportunity to use a toy that he could push and walk with thanks to Audrey's toys. As you can tell from the video and two photos below, he had a blast doing it! I've purposely avoided purchasing a toy like this since as a Mom I'm not exactly eager to encourage him learning to walk sooner than when he'll figure it out on his own. Ha! Perhaps that makes me a "mean Mom" - depriving my child of great fun. :)

Katie then pushed the kids up and down the hallways on this toy. Audrey holds the handles vs. Jay who loves to be pushed "hands free." We tried to teach him to hold on, but nothing doing.

After this the kids started "melting" and needed their naps, so we ended our time together.

Thanks for such a fun afternoon Katie and Audrey! We had a GREAT time!