3 1/2

This is Jackson's oldest cousin,Miles.  He is Jackson obsession.  He talks about him constantly and LOVES to be with him.  Mile's is really good with him too :)  I am sure it's not as much fun to play with someone that much younger, but he just lets him tag right along and shows him how to do things.  It's super cute.

I can't believe Jackson is 3 1/2.  He really is a little boy now.  His favorite things to do are playing outside, riding his "lawnmower", playing chase or hiding, taking a bath, watching lawnmower video's on youtube, watching Veggie Tales, Spider-man, Barney, or a Disney Movie,  and going to school.

Jackson is very sweet most of the time.  He will do things like say he is sorry when you have dropped something or hurt yourself (it is too precious).  He will offer to help with just about anything and is not hard to get a laugh out of.  He has a wonderful sense of humor. I catch him saying something silly with this smirk and I know he is just trying to make me laugh.  He gets along pretty good with Bailey and offers things to her all the time.  He doesn't like when she is trying to mess up whatever he is making (which is often).  He has a HUGE imagination and I catch him constantly talking to himself about stories he has made up with the toys he is playing with.  People comment to me all the time how well he plays by himself ;)

Jackson definitely has his moments though.  He throws temper tantrums like nothing you have ever seen!  Most of the time it is when he is just too tired.  He test our patients constantly ;) He is STILL having potty training issues.  I mean, he has it down and all but, he just keeeeeeps having accidents, mostly #2.  I would say on average he has 2 accidents a week, sometimes more.  It is just so gross and I am so beyond OVER it!  I have cleaned poop out of more things than I can to think about.  I reaaaalllly hope Bailey is better.  I think I might wait to try to train her until she is 5 yrs old. LOLOL Thank God for our ugly green carpet upstairs and that we haven't bought anything new yet :)

We are so blessed to have our little man and I just couldn't imagine this house and our family before we had him.  He brings us so much laughter and love to our lives.  I just LOVE to watch him grow and learn new things.  The other day he asked for yet another lawnmower and John said, "you already have 3 buddy" and he said, "BUT, I need 4!!!".  John and I both looked at each other and then said simultaneously-"Good job buddy!"  I think we both almost ran right to the store to buy him one just for using the correct math ;)   

Easter 2012

 Jackson was really happy with what he got, but he liked Bailey's bath toy more than she did ;)

 Bailey was so cute checking out what the Easter Bunny brought!

 Here we are outside church on Easter morning.

 We drove (see pics below) over to our neighbors house and they took some cute shots for us :)

 Jackson still loves his car-which he calls his big lawnmower. And Bailey is so happy to just sit right next to him and ride along :)

 All of these pics are from our church Easter egg hunt.  They both did great!  Grandma and Grandpa even came out this year to watch!!

Hanging out with the Kunkel's

This week was the kids spring break, so on Tuesday we took them to The Yellow River Game Ranch & then Friday was the twins birthday.  You can tell how much fun they had!

 Bailey wasn't afraid of the animals at all :)

 Of course, they didn't want to take a picture with me ;)

 All the kids!

 Bailey screamin..."BA-YEEEE...BA-YEEEEE" and she was looking for the bunnies.  Sadly they were all in their tunnels and hiding.  Usually they are all out and you can play with them and it's one of the best parts!

 Look at this sweet expression...poor girl was so sad she didn't get the bunny to come out of the hole! LOL

 They all loved the baby chicks!!

 I know they don't look that happy, but they had a blast!  I made their shirts for their Spider-man and Tinkerbell party :)

Best buds!

Grandma's Birthday

We went out to eat for my Mom's Birthday last weekend and we all had a great time :)  Jackson is sooo playful with my Mom-they always have a great time together :)  It's as if they really get one another's sense of humor and it's fun to watch!  

Nicole's Baby Shower

 These are the clothes I made for baby Morgan :)  I had a lot of fun making them and I love learning new things :)

 I just love this picture of Nicole, she is soooo stinking cute even when she's pregnant :)

 Here's the car seat cover I made her, I was excited how it turned out.  I did it a little different b/c she will have a summer baby.

 Here is everyone!  She got so many wonderful things and hopefully almost all she needed to start :)

 Me, Nicole, Morgan, and my Mom :)

Here is me with Isabelle, could she be any cuter?!?!  She is Melanie and Jimmy's little girl.  I think she is 7 months old already!

Book Recommendations

A week ago I finished my first Beth Moore bible study and it was amazing!  My sister-in-law Amy has been telling me about her for years and I finally got a chance to do one :)  It was a 12 week study and we met once a week on Monday mornings. It involved a lot of homework, but it was well worth it (she gives you a bunch of levels of involvement, it's up to you how much you really want to do)!  I loved it for so many reasons, but one of the main ones is that I got to know my way around the bible better.  Being raised Catholic we really didn't open it up much-if ever.  That's not to say I shouldn't have taken my own initiative and done it...but we won't go there ;)  The last couple years of being a Methodist I have learned so many new things.  I think I am mostly lucky that I have a church I love with all my heart. I don't think its the choice of religion, but how much your willing to put into it, getting involved at church, and lots of fellowship :)  

Well guess what I read during my break until my next bible study starts up...THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY!!!!  It was sooooooo goood!!!! I really can't say enough about it, I read it like a crazy lady!  Half the time I had my mouth open or my hand over it in complete shock!  I felt like the little boy from the Never Ending Story! LOL  I can't wait, John and I are going on a date to watch the movie and grab some dinner.  I think he is just celebrating the fact that my head won't be in a book 24/7! 

Lego Land!!

Amy had the idea of taking the kids to Lego Land while they were in town on Spring Break.  We all had SOOO much fun!  

 Here we are riding the fun ride-they even let Bailey go on and one of the sweet ride operators sat with Jackson so we could all go!

 We saw the BEST 4D movie...ALL the kids loved it!  I have heard the other 3 are not near as good.  We saw the one where the scientist invents something and they are all trying to find it (in case you decide to go!).

A few tips or advice.  It was not cheap :(  Make sure to bring socks-they have some for $1.30 to buy if you forgot (you must wear them in the playground area).  The food there is absolutely out of this world expensive. It was $15 for a kids meal and $30 for an adult...and it was ball-park kind of food...didn't look to yummy.  But, right outside the Legoland was a Moe's!!  So we all ate there and they took our stubs and went back in after lunch, it worked out great!  We really got our money's worth and stayed about 4 hours :)  We just kept doing things over and over again and they loved it!

Amanda's Shower

We threw a bridal shower for Chris's (one of John's best friends. Also the Ballard family and the Kendrick family are basically relatives!)  soon-to-be wife Amanda.  Me, Em, and Amy...(and basically Meghan too) call her our sister and Janet thinks of her as another daughter-in-law.  

Jennifer White made her this and I loved it!!!

 I made another hanger for Amanda :)

 This is everyone-minus Amy who is taking the picture.

 All the Kendrick and Ballard girls!  

Diddy sweetly watched Jackson and Bailey while we all threw the shower b/c all the boys were in Destin for Chris's Bachelor party.  Well, if you can't already tell from this picture of Bailey kissing Diddy...she is OBSESSED with him! LOL  It was the cutest thing ever. She followed him around like a little puppy dog ALL day :)