New Pool!

We got a new pool today. The old one has been around since before we had kids (we bought it for the dogs to play in!), so we thought it was time to get a better one for the kids. It took awhile to blow it up (thank God for the automatic pump on our van) and fill it, but then the fun began. It started out with just Jacob in it (Ellie didn't want to get wet). Then, I joined in the splashing fun. That progressed to throwing buckets of water at Nathan and then an all-out hose war. Jacob called it a squirt fight! Here are some pics. from the beginning (we had to take the camera inside so it wouldn't get drenched!):

Dunking Jacob

Ellie "dries" off

On a funny note: Ellie, Emmy, and I were out running errands today. On the way home, Emmy started to cry. Since Ellie was sitting in the back, I told her to talk to Emmy to make her feel better. I couldn't keep from laughing when I heard Ellie tell her baby sister "Knock it off!" Not exactly the comforting words I hoped for. =)

Look what Emmy found!

Emmy has been staring at her feet for about a week now. She finally figured out how to grab her toes today. She is hilarious to watch because she is always kicking her feet in the air so she can see them. Here is her weekly pic.:

BCC Water Works

The kids had a blast today at church. BCC had a wet get-together for 2-8 year olds behind the church building. There was a huge slide, lots of wading pools, water balloons, and bubbles. It started to sprinkle after about an hour, which was perfect timing for lunch. We enjoyed pb & j sandwiches, chips, carrots and celery, and pink lemonade. It was lots of fun!

Ellie in one of the pools (and actually getting wet!)

Jacob going down the water slide

Mom and Emmy enjoying lunch

Four Months Old!

It is hard to believe, but Emmaline is four-months olds today. She is growing so fast! We went to her well-baby check-up last night and her pediatrician was happy with her progress. She is 24 1/2 " long and weighs 13 lbs. 14 ozs. which puts her in the 50th-75th percentile for both. Here are her weekly pics

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Happy 28th Birthday, Katie!

Her birthday is actually on Wed., but since she lives in Cincy, we celebrated when she was home for Father's Day. Mom made a neat sunflower cake and we had yummy swiss steak and mashed potatoes for her birthday dinner.

How many people does it take to light the candles on Katie's cake?

Ellie helped Katie open her presents.
She found money in one of the cards, so she grabbed it and said, "Where's my purse?"
Here they are "fighting" over the money!

Happy Father's Day

Well, today's is Father's Day and Nathan is sick. What a way to feel appreciated! He hasn't felt well since Thursday evening and has had a sore throat and fever. Thankfully his fever is gone, but he still didn't feel good enough to make the family rounds. After church, the kids and I went to his parents' house for lunch. The kids had a good time playing and visiting with the various grandparents that were there.

Ellie, Emmy, and Jacob with Papaw

Granddaddy, Ellie, and Jacob

After that we headed to my parents' house for dinner. Dee was there with her family and Jacob and Ellie loved playing with Colton. It has been really hot, so after dessert, the kids played in the sprinkler in the backyard for awhile.

Jacob, Colton, and Ellie at the kids' table
They were so noisy that we decided next time they can eat in the kitchen!

Dad and Colton

Emmy wrestles with Papaw

Ellie, Jen, and Emmy in the sprinkler

Jacob waters (drenches!) Mimi's flowers

Today was fun, but really long, so it was good to come home to relax (and put the kids to bed!). Nathan was feeling better, so he opened his presents and spent some time with the kiddos before baths, stories, and bed. I am so thankful for a husband who likes to put the kids to bed so that I can enjoy some peace and quiet every evening!

Nathan and Jacob with the frames he and Ellie painted at Grandma and Papaw's House

Nathan and Ellie (who obviously doesn't want her picture taken!)

Drama Queen

I'm not sure what has gotten into her lately, but Gabrielle has grown into quite the drama queen. She can be completely happy one moment and then the littlest thing to upset her will send her off the deep end. Heaven forbid I walk upstairs without holding her hand or try to pick out her clothes for her! Anyway, I tried to take her picture in the backyard today because she looked so cute on the swing. She said no, of course, but I managed to capture this pout that seems to define her personality at the moment. If she is this moody as an almost 3-year old, I can't imagine how she'll be as a teenager...if she survives that long! J/k!

Sign of Summer

You can tell it is summer when little boys start to sport shaved heads. Nathan cut Jacob's hair today because the poor kid's head sweats like crazy and I won't let him outisde during the day without a hat =) He was pretty proud of his new 'do when daddy was all done.

Backyard Barbershop

Hosing off to get rid of the clippings

Can you hear me now?

Emmaline got her hearing aids today. They are so tiny but are making a world of difference. She was always smiley, but now she is even more so because she can really hear what is going on around her. Her weekly pic. is at the top and here are some pics. of her wearing them:

Profile-shot

All smiles!

Jacob gives baby sis a kiss

Emmy's hearing aids

The ear molds are smaller than a quarter and have glitter on them. The otter clips onto the back of her clothes and the orange straps hold onto the hearing aids to we don't lose them...very important when they are almost $1000 each!

Cox Arboretum

Nathan's cousin, Chanda, came to visit for a few days from Colorado. We haven't seen her in almost 8 years, so it was nice to spend some time with her. The weather was nice yesterday, so we went to Cox Arboretum with her and Nathan's grandparents, Mema and Granddaddy.

Chanda and Emmaline

Granddaddy, Chanda, and Mema by one of the ponds

Jacob climbs a tree

Watching a 3-legged turtle

Jacob after running through the sprinklers

Bathing Beauties...

Jacob and Ellie love the sprinkler and pool. They looked so cute yesterday, so I had to take a picture. Of course this was taken before they started putting sand in the pool and had to come inside because they wouldn't obey. I didn't take a picture of that, so just imagine this one with lots of tears and noise.

On a roll...

Emmaline rolled from her tummy to her back today. She is proving herself to be quite strong. Regardless of whether she is on tummy or back, she scoots herself in circles and off the blanket every time. She is getting really good at holding her head up and doesn't like to lay down anymore. If you try to lay her back, she lifts up her head and tries to sit up the rest of the way. My baby girl is growing up too fast!

Ready to roll!

Taking a break to suck her thumb!

Almost there!

Yeah Emmy!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

I was doing laundry when I heard Jacob yell for me to come upstairs. I found him and Ellie in the dining room on the floor. Apparently, there was a spider crawling aross the rug, so they used one of my votive candleholders to catch it so I could see too. This led to a short science lesson as the thing they caught had wings and did not have eight legs. Regardless, it's existence was short-lived.

Good Report

Emmaline had her 3-month check-up with the cardiologist today. He was pleased with her weight and said that she is tolerating her heart condition really well. She is doing so good that he doesn't want to see her for 6 months. Obviously, we'll go back sooner if she starts to have issues, but it was nice to hear his positive report. It is still looking like 2 1/2 to 5 years before she'll need surgery to repair her hole. Keep praying that God chooses to heal it before then. Here is her weekly pic. from today:

Yawn...are you done taking my picture yet?!

Help! I'm falling and I can't sit up!

Jacob, Emmy, Ellie, and friends

Emmaline's Cradle...

When Jacob was born, my dad made this beautiful cradle for him to sleep in. Jacob used it, Ellie used it, and now Emmy is using it. She is pretty active, so we had to drape a folded sheet under the mattress and over the sides because she kept getting her arms and legs caught between the bars on the sides. Unfortunately, now she is getting to the point where she is kicking her legs so much that she pulls the sheet in the cradle and still gets stuck. It is with great sadness that we are moving her to the pack 'n play this week. The cradle has been a fixture in our room for 4 1/2 years, so it will be sad to see it put in the attic. So long, old friend...you had a good run!