Spotlight on Kelsey

Today I was just thinking how I rarely talk about Kelsey on the blog nor do I show many pictures of her. Many of you are probably wondering who is this third child I am talking about. She generally is sleeping when I have the camera out, so I thought I would highlight our little angel for a moment. This little blue eyed babe is now 8 months old and is a real joy. Her older siblings can be very demanding and display a lot of

 drama but she is very chill. She is generally a happy little lamb and gets so excited when people talk to her. She is a very social gal. She has just started crawling and I think it's to avoid being sat on by her older siblings. Although she has not said any recognizable words yet, I swear she is trying to say hi, she loves to use her voice. Kelsey displays  lovely squawk while playing and some various other noises too that get our attention.  Jackson and Jocelyn absolutely adore her and well so do her parents. The kids are often disappointed when she has to go down for a nap or has to leave them while playing. "The little one"as Jackson refers to her, is usually the only one permitted on our little pirate's ship. I guess she's the favorite. She has been a real calming peace to our home and we sure do love our Kelsey-Coos. 

Our American Idol

Jackson has really been into singing and playing his "cantar" or his guitar lately. He is often found belting a song out at the top of his lungs and jamming out with my tennis racket. Jackson recently found out that the Leap Frog Fridge Magnet always makes great accompaniment. I caught this on camera the other day and had to share his latest performance.  Caution- You may want your volume down a bit when you push play. It's a bit "louder" as Jackson would say. 

Killer bunny

For the past 5 weeks, we babysat a bunny named Killer. We have a fenced in backyard and after about 3 days of having the bunny with us, we just let her live in bunny paradise. She ran around our yard all day digging, jumping, eating- whatever she desired. Our kids would check on her each day and chase her. Then, each night she snuggled up to my tomato plants and went to sleep. I think Killer enjoyed her stay here, but, alas, on Sunday the fun and games were over. It was time for her to go home. Sadly, I didn't take very many pictures to document this event. Here's our tribute to Killer Bunny. 

Killer eating cauliflower leaves.

Our trip to the beach...sort of

I would like to say that we spent an exciting day by the sea searching for seashells and bobbing in the waves as they crashed into us, but in reality we were at a nearby lake imagining it was the ocean. Our kids wanted to go to the beach and so we went to Alum Creek State park with some friends. Our children loved it especially Kelsey although we don't have any pictures of her enjoying it (she was asleep when the camera was out). Beware of the glare off of our pasty-white bodies in the pics below- they don't see the sun all that often.

Our happy sun deprived family

Jocelyn loved going in the deep part with dad and her Elmo intertube

Jackson playing in the sand

Friends and family playing in the water

Happy 6th Anniversary

Today marks 6 years of marriage!!! Hooray!!! It's hard to believe it has only been 6 years but at the same time it's seems like so much has happened in that 6 years. As I thought of what I could say to sum up the 6 years, I didn't quite know how to put it into words. I am not much of a writer nor do I have a way with words like my own husband. I decided to sum it up a few simple verses. Here it goes:

We've lost a few hairs

We've gained a few pounds

We've had our share of ups 

We've had our share of downs

We've had a kid or two

Actually, make that three

We've moved across the nation

A bunch of nuts are we

Few things have stayed the same

Over the past 6 years, it's true

But one thing has remained constant

And that's my love for you. 

Happy Anniversary John-David

COSi Construction Exhibit

We went to COSI today for their Big Machine Exhibit. This year the kids were able to actually operate the machines with help from one of the workers. It was super hot outside but we waited in line for Jackson to do it but it was well worth it. Jackson loved it. As we were leaving COSI Jackson said, "I had a lot of fun digging on the big truck". I am glad standing in the heat wasn't in vain. After we saw the trucks we went inside to some cool air and to play in the kid area. Kelsey got to play at the water table for the first time and loved it. We have another water lover. It was a fun day. 

Jackson with friends. Jocelyn decided she was going to sit in the stroller. 

Jackson driving a big machine

Jackson with the help of a construction worker, actually operating the digger. 

Kelsey at the water table

Fathers and Sons Camp out

I have been waiting for John-David to do a post about Fathers and sons since I didn't go, but he hasn't been around so I'll just post some pictures and sum up what I know. It was last weekend at some place 45 minutes from our house. They brought their own dinner and then the stake provided breakfast the next day. I am really not sure what they did but Jackson really enjoyed it. Our ward had a really good turn out and they all sort of camped near each other. Jackson loved chasing all the boys around. He even picked up some great camping skills like peeing in the great outdoors. He demonstrated this Saturday morning after he returned. We found a rather large yellow puddle on the pavement and Jackson pulling up his pants. Great skills. That's what every mom wants their son to learn.  

Jackson playing catch

His sleeping arrangements

Our rather large tent

Memory Lane Tag...You're it

Memory Lane.... the tag that gets everyone involved

Got this from a few friends and I thought I would play the game. 

Here's how you play

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and i had together. it doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory of you. it's actually pretty funny to the responses. if you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. 

Why we need our dad

Dad was on call tonight and to keep the kids busy, and to wear them out, we decided to go on a walk. Jackson has a two-wheeled bike with training wheels on it that we got at a garage sale and serves as his mode of transportation on our walks. The training wheels on it are not the best and have given us some trouble lately. Before our walk I got out John-David's toolbox to fix the problem. I grabbed the first wrench I saw, tightened something and we were on our way. I noticed that Jackson's bike was not sounding quite right and when I looked at it, I realized I had tightened it too much, therefore making the tire not touch the ground. We turned around, went back to the garage, pulled out the wrench again and some other tools that looked like it could fix the problem. Unfortunately, I never actually go them to work. I fixed the training wheel and decided that since the tools were already out that I could lower his seat a little as well. I tried to loosen the nut on the seat without a lot of success. Jackson began yelling, "You can do it mom. Try harder mom. You almost got it". After a few minutes of this all I was doing was just stripping the nut and not loosening it. My cheerleader lost hope. Jackson in a much less energetic voice tells me, "We need dad!"

Girls Night Out

My friends and I decided that we needed a night to work on some projects kid free so my friend Kaicie organized the first "Girls Night Out". Oh, yes it was as wild as it sounds. We all brought a project to work on which for the majority of us was tutus. Kaicie taught us how to make these adorable tutus that sell online for $30.00 and cost us about $6.00 to make ourselves. They are so cute. It was such a fun night and Kaicie got some cupcakes from a cupcake bakery that were very fun. I think all moms need a night out like this at least once a month. I can't wait for the next night out. Thanks Kaicie. 

Kaicie, Marianne, Kayce and Sherida cutting out the tulle

Barbara and Tabitha making "Buckeye" tutus

Kaicie displaying a cupcake and Camey coming in for the kill

Liz, Carter, Kaicie and Camey getting ready to try a cupcake

Girls Gone Wild

Cedar Point

Our friends, the Gessels, had this idea to go to Cedar Point this week while Luke and John-David had a break- so on Monday we went! The day started off rough, and as we made the two and half hour drive up to Sandusky, OH we wondered if we were even going to be able to get in because it was raining quite a bit. Luke's sister, Heather, was kind enough to watch not only our baby but the Gessel's 4 month old, Ben, as well as her own 10 month old. What a trooper Heather was! Despite the down pour, we thought we'd try going since we had come such a long way. The morning brought spurts of showers but by midday the weather had started to clear up and by late afternoon, it was perfect. Our kids loved it! Jackson is a born thrill seeker and once Jocelyn warmed up to it she was ready to go, too. It was so fun to hear the kids giggle with delight as they would spin on one of the rides or get to drive their own car. Out of all the kids, the true thrill seeker was John-David. He doesn't get really excited about a lot of things but he was like a little kid when it came to the big roller coasters. Cedar point has the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world called the "Top Thrill Dragster" and of course John-David had to ride that one. I got nervous just watching that one take off, there was no way I was going to ride it. That didn't stop him though. I am not a huge roller coaster fan but he even convinced me to ride a few of the big ones. Nothing strengthens a marriage more than being strapped in a small cart and spun upside down several times at a high speed. As one of our favorite quotes goes, "If it doesn't kill you, it will make you stronger." We really did have a fun time and would like to go back again sometime. Thanks for the invite Gessel Family.

Kathyrn's and Marianne's feet on the "Raptor"

Jocelyn taking a little cat nap on our long day

Jackson and Jocelyn enjoying a ride

Dad and Jackson taking a spin in a car

Astronaut Ryan in his spaceship

Jackson being spun

"The Top Thrill Dragster"