It's Already July???

It is so hard to believe that it is already July. We are having a great time It has been so much fun all of us being home. We have hit the pool, Kings Island, Fireworks, cook outs, and many other games of puzzles, sidewalk chalk, and playgrounds.

Bella is getting so big, I can't believe she is 15 months old. She is such a little spunky, outgoing, happy little girl. She is always smiling and whenever we are out she says hi to everyone she sees. She is also such a little peanut, which is funny seeing how big she was when she was born. When we went to her 15 month check-up she was just short of 20lb leaving her at 8% in weight and around 30 inches leaving her between 50-75% in height. Man.. I will certainly take those percentiles. lol! She is beautiful and has her daddy's dark tan skin which makes us all jealous. She loves the pool and will go under water non-stop at the pool, just like her brother did at her age.

Jacob is turning into such a big kid and continues to be such a great kid. I am so proud of the sweet little boy he has become. He is so polite, and most of the time is so sweet to his sister. He is so excited about going to "Big" preschool this fall and is already talking about riding the bus. He loves playing with our neighbor Isabelle and especially likes going to "Nanna's pool" and Kings Island and ride the "rollercoaster". We started a star chart for him this summer for things like going to bed when asked and brushing his teeth, cleaning his room and basement. He has already earned the movie "Dora Pirate Adventure" movie.

Life is great with my kids and all of us being home.. sure wish we could do this year round. here are some pictures....

Lovin the summer!

Oh.. it has only been a week, but we have loved every single minute of summer break (ok.. maybe not the few tantrums and not wanting to go to bed, but most of it). This is the first summer that we are all really going to be home the entire summer. Daddy is not taking classes, nor it mommy. We are all just having a great summer together! AND mommy and daddy are looking forward to a trip to Vegas we have planned for mid July! Anyway.. wanted to stop by the neglected blog to share some pics of my family. I love them so much!!!!

Our special Day

I love "special day's" with Jacob.. it leaves both of us feeling so wonderful! Today I took Jacob to Kings Island. Daddy was out of town and Bella spent the day with Nana. (and I missed her terribly, but she really just wouldn't do well at KI for 6 hours).. anyway.. we had a blast! We road many rides and also made it to the water park and played around. He was in heaven and told me about 4 times that "he loved me" and asked for a hug and kiss many times (he is such a sweet little loving kid). Days like this remind me that days like this create memories for my children.. memories I want them to have when they get older.. only 2 more weeks and it is summer vacation and I can't wait!!! There are so many things I want to do with them... go for a picnic at the park, go paddleboating, hiking, zoo, library storytime, I would also like to do some sort of service project with Jacob.. any ideas?... I could go on a field trip everyday with my kids! anyway.. here are a few pictures of Jacob after our day of fun.. he couldn't go to sleep so I just ended up taking some pictures .. lol! Can't you see the happiness in his smile.. love him!

Bella's Baptism

please mom... no jacob, not until church starts. :)





I love how you can see Jacob and Kev in the background here.




isn't she just precious! I just love having a girl.



I have been such a bad family blogger lately.. looking forward to the summer when I have more time to keep this updated!

Well, Miss Bella got baptized Mother's Day weekend. We went up to Akron to have Jay Groat a very special part of our family baptize Bella. He also baptized Jacob and married Kevin and I. We sure wish we lived closer so we could listen to him speak everyday. He always does a beautiful job. Here are a few pictures of the day.. unfortunately I didn't get too many picutures during the service because I was up with her.

It was a great April.. happy May 1st!

I have been so bad lately about updating our family blog. We have had a fabulous April.. we are all so happy it is starting to get nice out! :) Although, we aren't really liking all of the rain. Anyway, mom and dad are looking forward to the summer where we all can hang out as a family. Jacob is adorable as ever and still just adores his sister.. but at times certainly has some jealousy when I am holding Bella and not him, but for the most part he loves being a big brother. Bella continues to follow Jacob around and wants to do everything he does. Their newest thing is jumping on the cushions of the couch in our office room.. lol.. I don't care because it is an old couch and I just love watching them... here they are



I really have been taking pictures of them like crazy.. just not posting.. Here are a few of my favs of my little man...






and of course, here are some of my little lady....

Back from a great vacation!

milking it for all he can.. lol!


but isn't he cute out of the bath!


my boys!!! :)



I love my family!


totally already a daddy's little girl!


funny girl!

We had a wonderful time in Destin, Florida for our spring break! We certainly are now looking forward to the summer time.. this summer Kevin nor I are taking any classes.. just three months of family fun.. oh boy.. we can't wait! (nor can Jacob and Bella). We had a really great place in Destin and the pool and beach were wonderful. Unfortunately Jacob got sick on the way down, but by the end he was doing great and sure had a blast! Here are a few pictures from our vacation.. yep, a lot are "photographs" .. I still need to upload the point and shoot pics. LOL

My Baby Girl is one!

My Dear Baby Girl,
Well, can you believe it.. here we are one year later. One year ago we opened our hearts to our precious little girl. Never did I think I would be blessed with a little girl. I thought for sure I was going to live in a house of all boys.. well, you surely surprised us. And we couldn't have been happier. You have blessed our family more than I could ever explain to you in words. You bring a spunk to our family that we are totally in love with. You make our family happier with your giggles, smiles, and yes even your pouts. You certainly have your own little personality that we have fallen in love with... the way you follow your brother around wherever he goes and tries to do all he does, the way you giggle and get so excited everytime your dad comes home from work, the way you throw your head back and kick your feet on the floor when something doesn't go your way, the way you give your mom, dad and Jacob head butts as a way to tell use us you love us, just as your brother did as a baby. Everything you do..everything you say.. every look you give.. we love everything about you!

This year has been so exciting... we have watching you go from barely holding your head up, to sitting up, to crawling, to cruising, and now your walking! Amazing how much a little one like you can grow in one year. You have gone from being off the charts at birth weighing a crazy 10lbs 8oz and 22 3/4inches long to being such a petite little girl. You haven't even doubled your birth weight and only weight 18lbs 9 oz and just 29 inches long. You surely don't eat much.. you are way too busy running around after your brother and playing with your toys!

You love being outside, especially now that you can walk. You love pushing your walking toy outside (and inside). You love pushing around Jacob's cars like you are driving them.. it totally cracks me up! You love to feed yourself.. even if it means more of it goes on you than in your mouth. You love cookies, cheese and crackers and some days that is all I can get you to eat. You love your daddy and often say his name.. even when he isn't around. You love your "bunny" and chewing on his arms.

Baby girl.. I love you and everything about you. .. one year later... life couldn't be much better. I thank God everyday for sending you to me.. and all the blessings our family has been given. I look forward to all the wonderful moments we will have together in the days and years to come....

Love you baby girl...
"Mommy"

My baby!

I never get enough pictures of my kids and I.. so today when Bella woke up, I crabbed my camera.. held it out in front of me and hoped I would get something... lol! I thought this one was worth keeping. I love having a little girl. She is almost walking all on her own. She will take about 4 or 5 steps and then falls.. Before I know it, she will be running all over the place (I know she can't wait for that!)

We love the sun!

We have had a beautiful last couple of days.. we are loving loving loving it!! I wish it would stay like this, but I know it will get cold again before spring is here to stay. We have been outside for the last 3 days and just having a blast! Jacob got a new bike for his third birthday and he has really enjoyed riding it. And of course.. Bella had enjoyed walking around holding mommy's hand and watching her big brother on his bike.

Bella is 11 months old!

OMG... seriously, this year is going way way way too fast. Sweet little Bella is almost 1 year old. (wipe away tear) I continue to just adore every little bit of her. She amazes me everyday and continues to make all of us smile. She has quite the personality and a bit fiesty (not sure who she gets that from ;) ) She is almost walking... and I am sure she could, but gets around faster crawling.. I mean after all, she needs to keep up with her brother as she chases after him. lol! She stands forever and can walk with the walker all day long. She has seemed to take after her brother and is a terrible terrible sleeper.. grr... Not quite sure why my kiddos dont like sleep.. but I still love them! I could just eat Bella up.. she makes me smile, laugh, cry, ect all at the same time. She isn't liking food too much lately, which really stresses me out sometimes, but I know she will eat when hungry. I continue to be so thankful for all I have been given... life has certainly been good to me.

Now a cute picture of my little cutie... seriously, check out that smile!