Birthday Bash

To celebrate Alaina and Sawyer's birthdays, we went to the Waterpark of America and stayed overnight.  We had a great family weekend and as always, great memories were made.

 Jon and Jonnie trying to figure out the sleep number bed.

 Checking out the ladies?

I am so happy and feel so blessed to have my family.

Happy Birthday again Alaina and Sawyer!

Happy 6th Birthday Sawyer!

Six years ago at 3:30 am, my sweet little boy was born.

 You really were the cutest, most perfect baby and it was love at first sight.

 You were quiet and curious about everything around you and you were so cuddly, I just held you in my arms all day. 

 Your smile lit up the room. And still does.

 You were silly and captured everyone's attention by just making a goofy face.  Six years later it is the same way and your faces just became goofier (:

 You are always so happy and easy to please. 

 I am so proud of all your accomplishments these days and it is so fun to watch you grow and learn new things.

 You are still that sweet, happy boy and you are everyone's little buddy.

 Happy 6th Birthday, Sawyer

I love you so much!

Happy 14th Birthday!

Fourteen years ago at 6:09 pm, my beautiful girl entered the world.

(I know, we were pretty awesome)

 I thought you were the most beautiful, precious baby I had ever seen.

 You were always so happy and easy going and you made my job pretty easy.

 And 14 years later, you still do.

 I still can't believe my baby girl turned 14 today and looking back at these pictures I remember thinking how I couldn't imagine what you would be like when you were a teenager.

And now that I know, I couldn't be any prouder of the young lady you are and are growing up to be.  You have been a true joy to me for 14 years.

I love you so much, Alaina.  Happy 14th Birthday.

Family Book Club-Week 2

We wrapped up a successful week 2!  We'll start with Alaina again...

Alaina read, My Sister's Keeper By: Jodi Picoult

Anna is not sick, but she might as well be. By age thirteen, she has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots so that her older sister, Kate, can somehow fight the leukemia that has plagued her since childhood. The product of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, Anna was conceived as a bone marrow match for Kate—a life and a role that she has never challenged...until now. Like most teenagers, Anna is beginning to question who she truly is. But unlike most teenagers, she has always been defined in terms of her sister—and so Anna makes a decision that for most would be unthinkable, a decision that will tear her family apart and have perhaps fatal consequences for the sister she loves.

Alaina's thoughts: I thought the book was really good and the ending was shocking.  I liked that the book showed the view point of all the family members as well as other important people involved in the book.  It was nice to hear how everyone felt.  I highly recommend this book and it made me really think afterward.  Alaina rated it 5 stars out of 5.

Jonnie decided to read James and the Giant Peach By: Roald Dahl with Sawyer and I as he was always in the room listening to us (: 

James Trotter loses his parents in a horrible accident and is forced to live-miserably-with his two wicked aunts. Then James is given some magic crystals that give him hope. But when he accidentally spills these crystals on an old peach tree, strange things begin to happen. A peach starts to grow and grow until James is able to climb inside and escape his awful aunts! And through this adventure, he makes some interesting friends, including Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider, and Centipede, and finally finds a place where he belongs.
Jonnie's thoughts: I really liked this book.  My favorite part was when the peach landed on the Empire State Building and policemen were calling it funny names.  I also thought it was cool that they lived inside the peach and I think it would be fun to do that.  I would definitely recommend this book.  Jonnnie rated it 4 stars out of 5.

Sawyer's thoughts: I loved this book! The most exciting part was when the cloud men were throwing snow balls at them in the peach.  I thought the centipede was really funny because he said bad word sometimes! (haha-of course he would love that part :)) I would highly recommend this book.  Sawyer rated it 10 stars out of 5 (:

Another successful week and I am so thrilled to be sharing some of my favorite books with the kids!

Week 3 books are:

Alaina-Water for Elephants By: Sara Gruen
Jonnie-The Giver By: Lois Lowry
Sawyer-The family Under the Bridge By: Natalie Savage Carlson

Dogs are wonderful...

Until they bite ):  My sweet boy was bit today while we were walking dogs at the Humane Society.  I blame myself...I was petting a blue healer when Sawyer came up from behind him and started leaning down to snuggle him (like he does with our Dex) and before I could tell Sawyer to come up to the front so the dog could see him the dog lashed out and bit him.  When I pulled the dog back, he lunged at me and almost bit me, too.  The dog has been super sweet all the other times I have walked him, so he must of gotten scared or something.  I am just mad at myself for not keeping Sawyer protected.

 The worst part is inside his mouth ):  There is a puncture and a long swollen scrape all on the inside of his mouth.  I realize now how much worse it could have been and he could have needed stitches, but it's still so puffy and swollen.

 He is my little dog lover and I really hope that doesn't change.  It will make him more cautious and I guess that is always a good thing when it comes to strange dogs.  They all can't be like Dex who lets Sawyer lay on him and nuzzle him all day long.  Sawyer said the only good dog in the world is his Dex (:

Needless to say, he will not be coming to the Humane Society with us.  Maybe he was too young in the first place?  If he decides to come later on I will only let him walk the little dogs with me or brush the cats (though they can scratch and bite, too!).  It was a wake-up call for us all! My poor boy.



Father's Day

The kids made their dad breakfast in bed to start off his day.  Eggs and hashbrowns, toast with jelly, and cinnamon rolls which struggled to come together and didn't rise but they tasted good and we ate them anyway (:

 Then they gave him their gifts.  They stocked him up with underwear, white t-shirts, and a bunch of cut-off t-shirts.  I know, boring, but it's what he needed!

 He was happy.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and hanging out.  We went for a walk together and then ate pulled pork sandwiches at his request.  He had a nice day.

Happy Father's day, we love you.

Picnic

 Happy Birthday to my mom...

 And Happy Father's day to my dad.

It was fun spending the evening with you.