Memorial Day Weekend 2011

 We had a busy Memorial Day weekend!  To kick off the weekend Jason's brother, Matt and his family came to Omaha.  Lily and Jason met them at the zoo on Saturday morning.  It was rainy and cool to start the day, but then it turned out to be a beautiful day.  This is a pic of Lily and her cousin Miles at the zoo. 

 Lily on Uncle Matt's shoulders at the zoo.

 On Saturday evening we headed to a birthday party for my cousin's little girl, Sophie.  Sophie was celebrating her third birthday!  There was a giant bounce house and a swingset...needless to say that Lily was in heaven!  She bounced and played her little heart out. 

 I love my pictures with my girls, because I am usually on the other end of the camera!

 Me and my grandma at Sophie's party.

 Lily digging in the mud.  She kept telling me she was looking for bugs.  I find this funny because if she even thinks she sees a bug or a spider she starts crying and wants to be picked up.  She was covered from head to toe in dirt and mud, but at least she was having fun!

 The giant horse bounce house!  It was a cowgirl themed party....so cute!

 This was Sunday morning on our way to church.  She is every bit as ornery as she appears to be in this picture.  I tease her and Jason and say she acts just like her daddy!  Not true, Lily is definitely MY child and sweet little Avery is her daddy's child. 

 After church we had lunch with Matt, Sabina and Miles before they headed back to Des Moines, and then we came home and started in on our 4 year past due landscaping project.  Lily is helping dad out with the wheelbarrow.  It started off to be a rainy and chilly morning and then it warmed up and got hot and humid.  I think Lily went through 3 changes of clothes this day.

 Always happy and always sweet.

 This is a before picture. 

 This is an after picture.  It didn't turn out too bad for two people not knowing what they were doing.  I look at it now and I wish I would have done somethings a little different, but we will see how they grow and we may decide to dig and replant some stuff next year.  Who knows.  We still need to get some bigger ornamental rocks for a few spots too.  Overall, we are happy with how it turned out.  I am so proud of Jason and so thankful for his hardwork in this project. 

 We still had some time for some summer fun too!  Both girls woke up from their nap and put their swimming suits on.  Lily played in her new sprinkler while her daddy worked hard.  Mommy and Avery hung out on the sidelines...in the garage out of the sun!

It was a busy but fun filled weekend!  Happy Memorial Day to all and most importantly THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE!

God Bless.

Starting to Look Like Daddy

I came across this picture of Jason as a baby a few days ago.  Not only do I love this picture because he is with his dad, but also because I have finally found one that Avery looks like him in.  I have always said that Avery looks more like Jason, and I can really see it in this picture.  She doesn't have his blonde hair, but they have the same little face and she does the same thing with her mouth as he is doing in this pic.

WICKED!

For Mother's Day my siblings and I bought our mom tickets to the musical, Wicked.  My dad didn't want to go, so I did and I'm glad I did!  It was such a good show and I'd actually like to see it again sometime because there is a lot to pick up on and put together.  Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz and if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it!  We had so much fun!

Look What I Can Do!

Avery says, "I'm getting so big...I can hold my OWN bottle!"  

My Matching Cuties

 Avery isn't so sure about this!

I have two girls and I have never dressed them alike until now.  They look so CUTE and I have bought them a few matching summer outfits!  

First Word

Avery is talking!  Well, not really...more like babbling...constantly.  The only thing anyone can make out is "dada".  So, I officially make this her first word!  I know she doesn't know she says it, but I'm going with it.  Lily's first word was "mama" so it is neat that Avery's is "dada."  My little peanut is growing up way to fast these days.  We have another almost first for her too...she finally ate a veggie!  If you count sweet potatoes mixed with oatmeal and breastmilk a veggie...she did it!  I'll count it!

Sunny Days

 We take advantage of the beautiful sunny days we have been having.  It is so nice to have Jason home at 4pm instead of 8pm.  Lily was napping the other day so Avery and I set up a blanket in the front yard and waited for Daddy to get home from work.

 Daddy is home!

 Laughing with Daddy!

 Lily woke up from her nap and joined us outside.  Daddy and his girls.

I am not a fan of the double stoller.  It is so big and bulky, but we have to take it when we go to the park because Lily can't walk the whole way and Avery is still too small to sit in the wagon.  Oh well, we walked up to the park and enjoyed sitting outside in the beautiful weather!

A Visit from P-Diddy Jane

 This past week my niece, Presley, stayed with us for a few nights while my sister and Brian got married in Mexico.  It was decided a while back that Jason and I couldn't go to Mexico because we didn't have anyone to watch our kids.  Instead we got to stay home and BABYSIT!  Presley is one of the most beautiful baby girls (except for my own:)) that I have ever seen, however, she is also one of the most tempermental little girls I have ever met!  I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous about watching her for so long along with my two girls.  The first two days I wanted to pull my hair out and cry right along with PDiddy.  She cried for two days, and she doesn't just cry...she screams.  After the first two days all was well.  She was a perfect little girl and we had fun.  Lily really enjoyed having her cousin sleep over at our house.  Poor Avery got ignored most of the time because she doesn't really care where she is or what she is doing.  Presley really took to Jason and when  he was home she wanted him.  I think he reminded her of her daddy...they are both TALL.  On day 4 we took Presley to her Grandma Jane's house.  Just when she had adjusted we had to say good-bye.  Grandma Jane watches her M-F so she is comfortable at her house.  I didn't think I would miss her, but I did...so did my kids and Jason.  We all had fun with little PDiddy Jane!

 It was like having twins for a few days...Presley and Avery are just 6 weeks apart.

 PDiddy is a bit bigger than our little Avery.

 Cousins

 Little Buddies

 Uncle Jason and PDiddy

 Playing with Lily

 Having breakfast outside on the deck

 8 months old and nearly walking!

 Going for a wagon ride

 Playing with Daddy/Uncle Jason