Summer is ... here!?!?!!

Summer is ... HERE.
I could try to come up with a bazillion excuses reasons why I have neglected posting to our blog for so long...
But, rather than attempting to play catch up...
Catch up of the past 8 (8?!?!?!???!!!) months, I'll try and start from here... today... now... and hopefully fill in the gaps here & there.
I'm not making any blog posting promises... but, am really really going to try to update more often... (more often, than say 2x p/year).
Last week was the LAST week of preschool for both Jackson and Maggie. It's so hard to believe we've already come to the end of their school year. And... the end-of-preschool::hello-ELEMENTARY(???)-school-this-FALL for Jackson!!! Yep, our sweet guy officially GRADUATED (!!!) from preschool last Sunday. He had an AWESOME school year, and has grown so much! He, truly, is no longer, our little guy, rather our amazing sweet BIG GUY!!

Jackson William, approx. 3 months old young

(ok... we all know he was NEVER truly our little guy... he was an amazing sweet BIG guy from the start...  Exhibit A: photo above, just in case a reminder was needed...)

 Preschool Graduation

June 2, 2013

Jackson William, 5.5 years old young!

Jackson's preschool graduation was really great. It was so fun to see how excited the kiddos were, to hear them sing songs they've been practicing, and of course... receive their "graduation diplomas"!
Their head teacher, Ms. Tonia had asked parents a few weeks prior to graduation to send her a photo of our "soon to be graduate", when they were just a babe... Exhibit A (above) is the one Jackson and I picked. Ms. Tonia put together a very sweet slide show, which included each graduate's photo as a babe, as well as a photo she had taken of each kiddo, during their last week of school. Amazing how much they've all grown, yet still look so much like their baby pictures. It was so fun to see not only all the baby photos, the last week of school photos, but so many GREAT photos of our kiddos having so much fun throughout the entire school year. We have really LOVED St. Matthew's Preschool, and feel so blessed to have had both kiddos attend preschool there, this past year. We couldn't have asked for a better fit for our amazing (and very different personalities!) munchkins! Next stop for Jackson: Kindergarten this fall!!!!  *sigh...*
Maggie will continue at St. Matthew's this coming fall, in their Jr. Academy Program (more deets on that to come!)

Maggie's 3's Preschool class, the last week of school.

Her teacher, Ms. Cathy is truly wonderful.

Can you pick Maggs out?

She's the sweetie standing to the left (blue shirt) of Ms. Cathy.

What a bunch of cuties!!!

Maggie had a fabulous year (her FIRST year!) of preschool. She absolutely LOVED school, made great friends, adored and is adored by her teachers. She learned so much that sometimes I can't believe she'll ONLY be 4 years old in July!
She has also grown SO MUCH ... especially just in the last 4-6 months. Her legs seem to be growing a mile longer every other month, and at times I find myself just in amazement over the conversations she has (both with me, with Jackson and of course, with herself, her "babies", her "animals", etc... ha!). Next stop for Maggs: Jr. Academy at St. Matthew's in the fall!!!!
We have LOTS more pictures (and so much to catch up on!!!) to share! My goal in keeping things updated around here is to try to keep things short & sweet... in hopes I won't feel completely overwhelmed and in turn... let what feels like my middle name, guide me... PROCRASTINATION!
Hope you're enjoying this amazing gorgeous sunshine... we're LOVE LOVE LOVING it! We were able to get out and plant some flowers (and carrots... we'll see how that goes... ) yesterday. Looking forward to getting out in the "garden" (we don't really have a garden, as much as a shaggy lawn... ha!) again this afternoon.
Much Love.
The Weeks

The Weeks' week's blessings...

   In hopes of posting and sharing more (and more often...) I am going to attempt to share my personal and our family (as a whole) thanks and blessings of the prior week. This "idea" is in no way my own, yet it comes from one of my Favorite Blogs, in which the author, Kari Patterson shares her "Week’s end with thanks". 
   And, although the idea of sharing our Thanks and Blessings is not my own, all of our Thanks, of course, will be my own, as well Brian's, Jackson's and Maggie's. We have so much to be thankful for on a weekly, daily, hourly basis... yet, I find that we don't share them enough.
  So... here's our 1st "Weeks' Week's Thanks" (did you catch all that?)...
1. Snuggles with Munchkins, even if sick... sometimes it's worth the day long snuggles.

2. Same day pediatrician appointments
3. "unknown-strange rash" on Maggie's wrist turning out to be intense eczema due to her drooling when sucking her thumb
4. Robot-Jackson and Robot-Maggie, talking in the BEST Robot Voices ever!
5. Car Carts at the Grocery Store. Happy Munchkins = Happy Mama. (although, is it just me, or does it take some serious muscle to push those things? Apologies to all of those I have bumped rammed into... it was an accident, I promise. I have very little control of those car carts, but they save me every time I take both kiddos to the grocery store for more than one item!).

6. Robots running out of batteries, and getting to tickle give said Robots new life batteries
7. Giggles... non-stop giggles, even when trying not to giggle
8. Jack and Maggie playing Robots together
9. Maggie to Jack, "I wuv oooo, Dack. Ooo my favowites color." 

10. Jack to Maggie, "I love you, Maggs. You're just such a cute little girl. Come and give me a hug."
 
11. Grandparents
12. Grandparents/Mom and Dad/Nana and Papa (aka Brian parents) moving closer, being closer, helping closer
13. Amazing (above said) Grandparents picking Jackson and Maggie up on Saturday morning, returning them home Sunday afternoon 
14. Sleep... lots and lots of sleep to finally (!!!) get over a nasty bug (accomplished due to #13)
15. Sewing
16. Jackson jumping up and down as I'm sewing and trying to keep up with the needle bobbing up and down
17. Teaching Jackson how to sew (on a mini sewing machine... he's a natural, and loves it!)

18. Playing dollhouse with Maggie, me being the "big girl", Maggie being the "mama"
19. Buster panting hard from playing fetch with Brian in the backyard 
20. Our family, even with a rough week behind us of all being sick, mounds of laundry, and dealing with all that goes along with munchkins having the flu... I love them more than words can describe.

21. This amazing man that brings me happiness every day! 

22. Sunshine Days

 (Maggie swinging on the "big girl swings" at Jack's school!)
23. Jackson getting a big bed (thanks Kara!!! We love love love you!!!)
23. Being back home at First United Methodist Church
24. Making Valentine's with Jack and Maggie
25. MOPS, friends from MOPS, support from MOPS and the goodness ahead 
I promise not each week will have such a long list... but, we do have so much to be thankful for! And, of course, that includes each of you!
Hope you all have a fabulous week! xoxo

 

Thankful and Blessed don't even describe it!

Maggie's Special Day...

Our Sweet Little Miss Maggie had a VERY Special Day on January 8, 2012 when she was Baptized at First United Methodist Church, our Home Church in Vancouver, WA.

(note: We were active members when Jackson was a baby, and then we moved to Gig Harbor and then back... Needless to say, after MUCH "church shopping", we just weren't finding what we had been looking for ... which was First United Methodist. :) The drive is about 30 minutes, but it is completely worth it! We love being back at FUMC, and are hopeful that maybe in the future (who knows when....), we'll be a bit closer!)

Our Sweet Girl!

After Church Service, all those who were able, joined us for Lunch to celebrate Maggie's Special Day! We went to Beaches Restaurant in Vancouver, and it was really fun. The kiddos had a great time finding treasures in the "treasure chest", and making their own ice cream sundaes!!!

Maggie is nothing but a Pure Joy in our Lives, and in all who she surrounds.

We are incredibly Thankful to all of our wonderful friends and family who were able to join us for such a special and memorable day (and, of course missed those who were unable to be with us). Maggie was spoiled too (of course) with some incredibly special gifts.

All, that I know she will cherish forever!

 Jackson's ready to make his own Ice Cream Sundae! With the supervision of Daddy, of course! :)

 Still Adorable, even with a stinker face! :)

 Making Ice Cream Sundaes!!!

 Treasure Hunting ... (fyi: they both chose those "dinosaur clencher thingies"... you know the kind with the dinosaur mouth that opens and closes with the little handle. they have not only been used to "pick up toys" (which takes FOOOOORRREEEEVERRR!!!! but, apparently they are also great "swords" for pirate fights.... Oh Goodness!)

So many special gifts!

We are so blessed in all the love and kindness given to our sweet little girl!

Big Brother, Jackson!

(he was just doing his part, in being "King" for Lunch... he played the role very well!)

The day prior to Maggie's Baptism, we spent some time at church with Pastor Tinney...

Jack and Maggie really LOVED being on stage and playing all of the musical instruments!

Marjorie Elizabeth Ann, you have blessed our lives more than you'll ever know! We love you more than any words could describe! We know you are going to continue to grow and be the most loving, sweet, kind and amazing girl, you've already shown us you are!

"Baptism is a sign of God's ever-present and ever-flowing grace." ~ Pastor David Tinney

Thank you all for loving our little Princess as much as we do!!!!

xoxo

No promises...

I have finally come to terms with the fact that having two small children, I cannot make any promises of how often the blog will be updated (yes... me writing typing this, is much more for me, than anyone else). :)

No matter how hard I try... I can't seem to keep up with our blog... so, no more promises from me, as I seem to set myself up, feel guilty (over something as silly as not keeping our family blog updated, that I'm fairly sure approximately 2.5 people actually read), stress over writing on the blog, and then end up with mile long posts due to not updating in so long.

I can promise that I will continue posting updates. But, no deadline promises, anymore!

(as I'm pretty certain, those were just for me... and, clearly it wasn't working...).

Here's what we've been up to... (ok, really what we were up to around Christmas time)...

Hope you all (2.5 peeps) enjoy!!! :)

(ps. I am going to attempt to blog my progress, through the book "Organized Simplicity" ~ if you have read it (please be patient with me), and if you haven't, you should check it out... if you feel that your home is not only unorganized, but lacking the feeling you would love it to convey). If this is something that I do indeed have time to do (that is, document my hopeful progress, it will be on a separate tag, so that those who have no interest, can skip it all together!).



Jackson's AWESOME "Parking Garage" that Jackson and Mama built... ALL BY THEMSELVES!

(yes, I think I was a bit more proud than Jackson! :) It was a two evening process... first the painting of the cardboard, then the actual construction... And, it was so much fun!)

 Cousin Love!
(this was actually taken towards the end of Summer, 2011! ~ But, it's such a great picture! It was the first Duck Game of the Season, and all of the cousins were ready to cheer on our Favorite Team!!!!

 Sweet Maggie Girl...

This is what happens (above photo) when little girls don't go to bed when they're supposed to... and then have to get up early to take their big brother to school.

They fall asleep in their beds while their Mama is doing laundry, just minutes after getting home from taking Big Brother to school! :)

(it was so sweet to find her all nestled in her bed with all of her "babies", that she had been playing with, surrounding her!).

 One Cute Daddy,

With Two Cute Munchkins!

 I know, Valentine's Day is upon us... 

and I feel like am still catching up from Christmas....

I'm thinking, at this rate,

all of the Christmas stuff in the garage that 

still needs to be organized, labeled, and (some) donated,

will just be there waiting for me next Christmas!

 Jackson having fun at the Disney Store (in December!) when we went on a special Mommy-Jackson date. We went Christmas shopping, and he had so much fun!

He was so sweet in picking out "Holly", the bear from Build a Bear, that he chose for Maggie for Christmas.

He washed, cleaned, brushed Holly. 

And, then picked out the perfect Christmas dress, with shoes and a bonnet for Holly to wear!

 Cute guy!

His feet were hurting, when we finally left the mall...

he told me, "Mama, you shop for sooo long. I can't shop for so long. 

You make my feet hurt!".

Ha, for most who know me, feel the same!!! :)

Making Christmas Decorations...

Adorable "Pinecone Trees"

 ... Maggie made one too!

 Here is Jack's beautiful ornament hanging on the tree!

 Maggie's looked beautiful too!

Maggie, caught wearing the "Birthday Crown".

It was worn (for a very short period of time, not even long enough to capture a photo)

by Papa as we celebrated his birthday a few days prior to Christmas!

Such a Silly Girl!

Two Tired Boys!

 Christmas is Exhausting!!! Especially when it includes a new Buzz Lightyear, and the BEST (boy) Cousin in the whole world!!!
We love you, Chris and miss you lots!!!

More Cousin Love!!!

Jack and Maggie LOVED having their cousins, Michelle, Chris and Ashley to play with them, and all of their new goodies!

Ashley teaching Maggie how to use her cell phone (????).

Oh Goodness, it's starting early!!! :)

We had such a wonderful Christmas, spent with Family. We loved having everyone at our home this year, and it meant so much to us to have Family with us, as we celebrated such an amazing day!
(We have so many more Christmas photos to share, but I'm afraid at this rate, it'll be Christmas 2012 before I finish posting everything from Christmas 2011! :p)....

Big Hugs and Love from each of us!

xoxo

Christmas card out takes ... part I

Merry Merry Merry Christmas to all of our Wonderful Friends and Family!

We are ready for Christmas to be here!

Tree is up,

Stockings are hung,

Goodies are made (for the most part...),

Lights are up,

Wreath is on the door,

Gifts are wrapped,

and Memories have been made! :)

This year, I did want to try and get the "perfect" Christmas card... HA! Anyone with munchkins, knows this is completely impossible! But... we did manage to get a very sweet Christmas card out to all of our loved ones (literally, by the skin of my teeth, I tell ya!).

If you haven't already received your card, you shall soon... 

For those who have, I hope you enjoyed it...

Now here are some fun... "out takes"... 

ie. Attempts at photos for our Family Christmas Card!

They may not be "perfect", but they are definitely perfect to us!!!

Merry Christmas from our Reindeers to yours...