Busy Weekend!

Whew... I am exhausted! I should be sleeping but alas, here I am updating all my faithful (re: 14) followers!

Dave enlisted Adam and I's help to throw a surprise party for Kari. I threw the idea of shoe shopping without the kiddies and Kari bit... what women wouldn't? We spent a few hours at the mall (which is no small feat... it's a small mall people!) and came back to a house full of people. Kari never suspected anything... even when I spent WAY too much time trying to figure out texting on my new phone. New phone + covert operations = failure. Oh well... Kari chalked it up to me being techno geeky about a brand new phone ;~)

Here is the happy family!


This was way too cute not to post. Not sure how this happened... if they talked about it beforehand... but both of them came out, books in hand, and sat down to read. Freaking precious stuff here.


Again, too cute not to post. That Sadie is a good hugger!

Can you tell I think babies hugging is adorable?

Sunday brought a shower for Jessica... our first mommy to welcome baby #2! Little Chloe should be arriving on Thursday, as long as she doesn't decide to make an earlier appearance!

Apparently I totally slacked and only took a couple pictures! I guess that is what no kids will do to you... I thoroughly enjoyed talking, laughing, eating and being relaxed without chasing around my munchkin. In fact I am guessing all the moms felt that way. Every single child was home with their daddies... except Adrianna, who seemed to relish being the only little person there!



After the shower Adam and I decided to break out our new toy from Kare Kare... a huge fun filled pool! And when I say 'Adam and I', I really mean Kari. She just wanted to be able to bring her daughter over to play in the pool... but she offered to bring dinner too and that clinched it!

Seriously though... it's supposed to rain and thunderstorm the rest of the week so it was either today or next week... we chose today!

On a side note, what the heck is up with all the rain? I mean I know, things need to be watered... growth, all that jazz. I get it but come on! It's been non-stop for so long and the gloomy gray weather makes for some rough stay at home mommy days! Come on sunshine!


My little model


Playing before we filled it up!

I thought he might be a little hesitant... he isn't really too familiar with pools...

but nope. He climbed right up and jumped in! I love how he is starting to explore and take more chances. Well, I love it to a degree... the other part of me has several heart attacks throughout the day. Welcome to motherhood.


Yeah, not really being shy about playing. I think this pool will get some use this summer!


In case he fell overboard. Poor dog.


Daddies playing with their babies!


I have no words.

Like all good play dates, an end must come...

but not without the ever adorable hug goodbye.

Can I graduate?

This past Thursday was Little Gym graduation! Bittersweet because we aren't doing the summer session but fun nonetheless!

It's a great time for all the kids to show off all they have learned in the past 20 weeks. Parents, grandparents... all are invited to watch.

Chase was lucky enough to have his daddy and Grandma come!


Wheels on the bus go round and round with the parachute. Chase decided to stand up and start dancing part way into the song. I have discovered that he LOVES to dance so we have a constant stream of kids music on these days!


Doing flips with Miss Erin... on the high bar!


One of Chase's favorite activities... he runs, jumps and swings on the bar.


He loves the balance beam and can do it on his own (with immediate supervision of course!)


I don't think I have to tell you how much he likes the bubbles!


We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions - of the world -


Just some of the graduates... a few spirited kids weren't very interested in posing for pictures... including my son. This was mere moments before he made a break for it... no time for pictures, there is fun to be had!

Uncle Nico visits!

As some of you may remember, Adam's little brother Nick is a world traveler these days. If you don't know what I am talking about... click HERE.

It's always a treat when Nick is in town... and this time he brought presents for Chase from Shanghai.


Couldn't you just eat this kid up?




Nick also had a remote control helicopter he got at a market in Shanghai... man was this thing cool. We all got a chance to fly it... even Chase!

Of course when you have helicopters in your living room, things are bound to get wild!


Things are never dull around here.

Will the pictures never end...

The answer is no...

It's what I do. My name is Jessica and I am a picture-holic.

Who could resist taking a multitude of pictures when you end up with ones like this...

Chase has taken to holding my face/neck when I ask for a kiss. Seriously, can I freeze this love and store it forever?

These pictures are from a play date at Jenna's house yesterday. Their backyard is a kid haven... it had a water table, a pool, a big people swing, a kiddie swing and a slide... so many choices!

My son apparently had blinders on... he played almost exclusively on this slide. I think he went down it no less than 5,8904 times.


Now I have to preface the next picture by saying... 4 of these children wanted on the swing all by themselves. Anna was the only one we had to force request lovingly to sit so we could get a group shot. Perhaps they all know what's coming and are just giving up?

L-R: Jenna, Lexi, Anna, Sadie and Chase... although I post about them so often, I am sure you know their names.


The all important water break!


A real man helps take care of the kids!


I just had to post this picture... The Most Dramatic pose goes to Miss Jenna!


Fun with blocks.

Chase is my son. That statement still blows me away. I am a mother... forever and always. When he is tired he seeks my chest to cuddle on. When he is hurt he scans the crowd in search of my face. When he accomplishes something he looks to me for approval.

I really didn't understand the idea being ok with him growing up... I thought I would always miss the last stage but it's just the opposite. I look at him and can't wait to see what he does next. Parenthood is unreal.

Homegrown

Adam and I have wanted to plant a garden for awhile but we just haven't had the space... until now! This past weekend we planted 3 kinds of tomatoes: Roma, Champion Bush and Rutgers. We also planted Lady Bell (green) peppers, Blushing Beauty (yellow) peppers, Holy Mole peppers, and Yellow Banana peppers, Zucchini, and Cilantro.



Of course when I say 'we'... I really mean 'Adam'. He has spearheaded this adventure from the start. He dug out the grass, turned the soil, planted the plants/seeds, added mulch and invented ways to keep Riley from peeing on our garden (collective "ewwww").





Here is our (*his*) finished product!



It's hard to see but the stakes have deer netting through them to keep Riley out... a great suggestion from one of the employees at Lovell's nursery. Adam also had to fortify the corner so Riley's leash wouldn't just knock over the stakes. So far so good!

On top of the actual gardening Adam has taken to composting. Here he is with his first concoction!

Yum!

It feels good because we are putting less in the landfills and actually still 'using' any food that we don't get to in time. In fact Adam has become quite the pariah of scraps... I had to warn him that if my good food goes missing he is in big trouble!

Can't wait to see the fruits (and veggies!) of our (Adam's) labor!

The fun continues!

Once the babies woke up we hit the road.

First stop... Lovell's Nursery to get some veggie plants and netting. More about that in the next post!


Lexi looking pretty by the flowers.


Chase and daddy... I love these boys!


Next stop... Mountain Valley Orchard! Adam and I particularly like their selection of fruit and veggies... plus the workers are always so nice. We picked up some yummy fresh blueberries and strawberries.

Next was a stop to Grandma and Grandpa's house.


Lexi spotting the moon while it was still light out!


Getting him started early!

Then back home for dinner and bed.


Seriously, does it get much cuter than this? I could pass out from all the adorability.. what? it's a word. Look it up.

Please don't.

The next morning we got up and had a very yummy breakfast... eggs, bacon, waffles, oh my!

Then it was time to play on the deck while daddy worked in the garden. Again, more on that in the next post!

The babies played with the water table a good bit of the time.


Just look at those fat little baby feet. Oh how I love them.


So intent on getting it just right!


The boy loves a good splash!

All in all 2 toddlers weren't that difficult. It helps that both kids are fairly well behaved and easy going. No real meltdowns and they don't fight over toys a whole lot yet. When we were out in the world, Adam and I had our assigned kid... no passing 1 between the 2 of us so that was a little harder but definitely not impossible. Also they napped together, ate together, played together and went to bed together (well in separate cribs... climb off the ledge Dave!) so it didn't really add much confusion to our routine.

That being said, we are both still exhausted and are currently lazing on the couch. I foresee an early night ;~)

Houseguest!

We have a houseguest!!! Lexi is staying with us today and tomorrow while her parents get a well deserved night away at a bed and breakfast.


These pop up tents = best investment EVER.


Water break!


Daddy 'supervising' play time while mommy makes lunch!

While Lexi was playing her bow came off and this is where it ended up...

He looks pretty with a bow!

Yeah...

this probably won't help with being called a girl.

BTW... Lexi's good habits are rubbing off on Chase... those are carrots he is eating!!! And he ate at least 9 of them! Woot!

Here is the most excellent veggie eater!

Seriously, you have to hide the veggies until she eats her other food!

Currently Adam and I are playing on our computers while the babies are napping... quiet is good ;~)

Once they are up and ready to go we are going to scope out some of the local fresh fruit stands and see what we can find. Maybe hit a park on the way home!