just another ordinary day

The following are various snapshots of ordinary days with these 3 special kiddos. Enjoy.

Thank heavens for creative grocery carts! Jax picked out this race car one as we started through the wholesale club. Note the BIG GRIN on Levi's face. He thinks its pretty fun being up with the big brother. This cart only had 1 steering wheel, which is probably a good thing. Levi just would have ended up chewing on it...gross.

I just think this is a cute face on our baby. I mean, he has a cute everything (just look at the rolls on his forearms and legs!!), but this isn't the typical face I get with my camera. So cute.

I love it when these two play together SO nicely, which is usually the case. I was in the kitchen prepping or cleaning up a meal, when I noticed I hadn't heard from these two in a while, so I came back to check on them and this is how I found them.

Feet all kicked up and cozied up on the top bunk, "reading their scriptures". I think they were taking turns telling each other stories. I thought it was pretty cute, so I snapped a picture.

Another time, they wanted me to snap this shot. They both think it's pretty funny that Alivia can haul Jackson around. Me too. Sheesh! They're both getting so big!

Levi is mobile. He's army crawling WELL and occasionally crawling a bit on his hands AND knees. Oh, and he's pulled himself up a couple times, either along the couch or in his crib. Watch out folks! Those baby rolls are going to start MELTING off once he starts walking, or hopefully not... :)

He discovered he can crawl through the side table and get to the back of the couch where some toys are. He thinks he's prettty clever, which he is. But on one occasion, he crawled in and stopped, turned over and was gazing up at the under side of the table.

I remember Jackson crawling through as a shortcut too. It's just crazy to think Levi is big enough to do it too.

early Sept. rainy day activity

We've had a LOT of rainy days lately. And, after I'd checked the weather and realized we were in for a few more days of such weather, I decided I'd make sugar cookies and frosting as a sort of "rainy day activity."

You wouldn't think this is a big deal or anything brilliant, unless you know I NEVER make sugar cookies! They are a lot of work and they don't really seem worth it to me. Well, I may have changed my mind.

The kids had a GREAT time frosting and decorating a couple cookies...

and then of course TASTING them was even MORE fun! Notice Jackson's PILE o' sugar and sprinkles. No spreading it out for this one :)

Mmmm, pink and purple and sprinkles...

The kids had SO much fun frosting and decorating, we did 1-2 each day after lunch for the rest of the week. They really enjoyed themselves and I was happy watching them and helping with the sprinkles.

What a good idea Mom!

silly faces

Confession: I don't take enough to just play and be silly and have fun, SO here's a moment when I did.

 

The boys were sleeping, and Alivia rarely takes a nap anymore; I mean, she is almost 6.

So we had some silly time. She still talks about it.

Life's too short. MAKE the time, and MAKE GREAT MEMORIES!

just me and the boys

One morning the boys and I walked over to the Park before we went to pick big sister up at school. It was a nice morning and Jackson was happy to be able to dig and dig in the sand. It was funny. He kept burying any ants that'd pop up. Then he'd wait to watch them emerge, only to bury them again.

Oh, and Jackson dressed himself this morning. He matches- green shirt, (olive) green shorts, and green spider socks. Good job bud.

Those are some cute boys!

His first ride in the swing. He was smiling and giggled when it tickled his tummy.  I think he liked it. :)

trip home, part 3: be lazy

After our trip to the Lake, we spent our last week hanging out at Nana & Papa's house. We got some KFC (a MUST), went swimming at the pool for Family Night (at least Alivia and I did). It was fun just the 2 of us. We went on the slide over and over and over again. And, I learned the secret for SPEED. Lay and then tense up ever so little so you can slightly lift up your arms and legs, and WHOOSH! Off you go. We played on the lazy river a little, and then did the slide a bit more.

We also went down to the movie to see "Winnie the Pooh". I'll admit. I was a little disappointed. I guess I was expecting a NEW storyline, but it was one I'd already seen before, just done a little differently, or was it a storyline VERY similar to every other Winnie the Pooh storyline? Whichever the case, it was more the EXPERIENCE that was memorable than the movie.

Oh look! Here's our "Pooh Bear" all grown up, holding my little chunk. (I don't think POOH BEAR applies anymore. Sheesh, where does the time go? I must be getting old)

Nice shot of Alivia and Aunt Chels waiting for the movie to start

And here's the crew. Like I said, it was more fun just being all together than the actual movie. Alivia watched most of it, but it lost Jackson's attention after a bit (if I remember correctly...?)

After the movie, we stopped at the arcade games in the lobby. The kids enjoyed trying their hand at the hunting game. Check out their GAME FACES below.

Good stance Jax! All business, this one.

I was also able to have a little time away with my sister for a pedicure, a sonic milkshake and running around. That's always so nice.

A couple days before we flew back home, Aunt C, C, and Uncle B came up and went to the Suf and Slide Water Park with us. It was a LOT of fun! I don't think I've ever been there before, or if I did, it wasn't like this. We will be doing this again!
But WOW was it packed! (FYI for next year- you can pack in your own food).

Alivia had SO much fun with C & B. As soon as we got there they took off for the waterslides. But 1st, she had to demonstrate her MAD swimming skills to the lifeguard to prove, she could handle it. Little did the lifeguard know, THIS ONE IS A FISH!

Taking a break and coolin' down, or is it heating up to get back in?

This little one could take no more. He had a lot of fun sitting and splashing around in the shallow end of the toddler pool area. I loved watching his sweet face. You could just see the GIDDY in his eyes and watch him kick his legs in GLEE!

Now he's all pooped out and needed a little snooze while everyone else kept playing.

It's always a sad day when we have to leave and fly back home.

This day is always LONG but it got even longer when our 2 hour layover turned into 4-5 hours. Sheesh. It went fine though. We took our time eating, found a lounge to feed the wee one and unwind a little, and here we found a quiet corner so the kids could watch a movie (LOVE our little DVD player! What a lifesaver!).

Go ahead and get comfy kiddos. We're going to be here a while!

Poor sweet little boy, konked out again in the stroller. (This stroller has been so good to us.) Check out those LEGS! You can just nibble on 'em!
 
And at long last, we made it to our final airport, only to have a 2 hour ride home. And, of course, Jackson FINALLY falls asleep AS WE ARE LANDING!! Luckily, a nice older woman took pity on me (I must have been a SIGHT), and asked if she could help. She was happy to be able to carry our cherubic baby while I pushed my exhausted Jackson in the stroller, loaded with our bags, and big sister walking alongside. We were all so happy to see Daddy waiting for us at the baggage claim. We even got all of our bags! It was a great end to a LONG day!

trip home, part 2: the lake

(I can't believe I haven't blogged about this yet... Sheesh! And sorry for ALL the pictures. I don't do the collages anymore and they really add up.)

After my sister's wedding in JULY!!! we went to the Lake for our annual summer vacation. It is picturesque, peaceful, and always a wonderful time.

Daddy posted the picture below to his FB account with a caption to the effect on: "This is what's on my agenda this week." Ahhh. Looks like a great week of fun in the sun and relaxation! Well, the week turned out a little different than we'd expected. The first couple of days were sunny and warm, 85-91* and we took advantage of our time on the beach and going for boat rides. The rest of the week turned abnormally cool (high 60s or low 70s), overcast, and rainy with some thunderstorms.

What a cute shot of these 3 cousins! Can't believe how BIG and grown-up they are. We love L! She is so sweet and so much fun with the kiddos!

Sweet Mr. Levi enjoying his lunch on the front porch.

(I loved the BIG front porch. We ate out there a lot and just enjoyed it!)

Our fishy Alivia. She loves to swim and was in the water as much as possible! (With the cooler temps and rainy days, she didn't have as much swim time as she wanted, but it was still fun!)

It was so crazy! Here they are at the end of the dock and ALIVIA IS TOUCHING! It was so shallow! Daddy and some of the other uncles walked out to see how far it was shallow. It went out another 100 yards or more! It was a bit comical seeing a boat cruise on by and then watching them REALLY slow down when they hit the sand bar.

The beautiful Selkirk Mountains off in the distance. "Hello Canadaaaa!"

Left: Our sweet, spacious pad for the week! SO very nice!

Right: Mr. J enjoyed splashing around, digging big holes in the sand, filling the holes with water, etc.

 Papa and chunky Levi having a moment. :)

I love this shirt of Levi's it says: I'M ALWAYS HUNGRY!

So true, this little one loves to eat, and it shows! Nibble nibble

Make-shift canopy on his play bouncer so Levi could be down by us on the beach without getting a sunburn on his babysoft, porcelain skin.

This face says: Really Mom? Another picture? Here's a half cheese for you.
HAHAHA You can really see her 2 missing teeth though.
She too enjoys playing in the sand and all the beach fun!

A better shot of the dock. And that's Daddy and Alivia WALKING out past the dock. L is catching some rays on the back of the boat. I love that feeling of the vitamin D soaking into your skin. But after a couple minutes I'm too hot and starting to perspire and then you have to dip in and cool off. Ahhh. :)

Watch out for this one! Crazy driver! Nah, he's just posing for now. Chels said he did a good job.

Okay and here's a good shot. Daddy is WAY out there walking, past the end of the dock. Look how far out he is! And he could have kept going. He turned back because he was afraid of getting hit by a boat crusing by.

Pretty fluffy clouds amidst our rainy days.

 Mr. Chubbs and Aunt C enjoying the sunshine! Cute hat little guy!

Aunt Chels and Uncle BJ took the kids on a walk one day. Here are a few shots from their walk.

Note the sign behind the kiddos- Steamboat Bay Rd.

Chels said Jackson kept finding sticks so he wack on all the bushes and anything else. She thought it was funny, which I do too, but I've seeen him do this MANY times before. He is a boy, through and through!

I think it was our last night when we did sparklers (leftover from the wedding), and s'mores! I loved that this place had a firepit for us too! Mmmm, s'mores

Jackson too! I love this shot of him all snuggled in his sweatshirt, fire shining on his face, complete with s'mores.

Looks like he's not quite sure, but he really did like them.

One of the rainy days, a bunch of the adults set off on a huckleberry picking adventure. This was the loot they brought back! Tasty! Of course, they were soaked to the bone from being rained on, but they were tickled they were able to take home so many yummy huckleberries! I'm sure they'll remember that spot for next year!

Cute shot of our kiddos! They were excited to be able to take their fishing rods and do some fishing off the dock with Daddy and Uncle B. Notice they're wearing coats over their swimsuits because it was a little brisk with all the rain and thunderstorms.

 

On our last day (high 67, low 45), a few of us decided we wanted one last (or first) boat ride, just a little jaunt here and there. Well, it started out fine, and then we got dumped on. The skies opened up and it rained and rained! By the end of the ride we were all draped with towels trying to stay dry. I think Dad and I got the most soaked because we were in the back of the boat. Dad said "I've never been so wet!"

Alivia was up front huddled under the boat cover with C & L, and Jackson and Daddy were behind/under the passenger window. Jackson was hardly wet at all! He told the others back at the house, "I was the only dry one!" It was a fun ride, and definitely memorable.

After our week at the Lake, we drove Daddy down to catch the airplane back. About halfway there, Jackson starts throwing up in the backseat. Oh no! After a couple rounds, his tummy settles down and he sleeps the rest of the way to the airport. And, instead of continuing the 2 hour drive home by myself with the 3 kiddos (1 of which was sick), I rented a hotel room near the airport for us for a few hours until my parents could drive down and continue home with us.

Here we all are, fast asleep.

Poor guy. He was a little run down the rest of the day, but recovered quickly after that.