Randomness

It's been a while since I've done a random picture post, so here we go:

Love Karianna's faces, especially when playing with the baby!

 Oh, this little boy's hair!  Looks like a halo!

 James loves playing with legos right now-big and small.

 Happy baby watching Karianna's final dive meet!

 Karianna's final dive meet-this is her at the top of the 3 meter, doing a back tuck jump....

 ...and this is her WAY up in the air just about in a full tuck!

 James loves playing the piano.  He is very careful plunking out one key at a time, and he always sets up my music notebook as if he is really playing.

 LOL--love this one!  JD's original idea!

 Okay, I realize there is a weird splotch on this picture, but I had to put it because I look like an alien...

 And this is James trying to copy me!  LOL!

Jackson: 8 months

 I missed Jackson's 7 month update, so this will just make it seem like he is all the more developed than normal!  Jackson is 8 months old today and cute as ever!  Here's what he's been up to:

• Jacks is becoming more mobile, which is a scary endeavor!  He can scoot/roll around fairly well and definitely goes out of his way to try to get to things. He will often be sitting playing with a toy and next time I will check on him, he has rotated himself the opposite direction, while still sitting.  He can get his knees up under him while on his belly and rocks all the time; he also likes to do push ups.  He is not far from crawling!  

•  Sitting is of course in the books, he is very sturdy sitting now and loves to be placed in front of a big bucket of toys that he can methodically pull out and chew. He sits in the bath on his own now too without his baby seat.  He has really come around in regards to enjoying baths-he splashes like crazy!  No teeth yet for this kiddo!  Yea for me!  He certainly has been teething for a while, but nothing has sprouted.  We'll see if next month's update sports teeth.

•  This month brought a lot of firsts:  first fireworks, first camping trip, first swim, and first time at an overly crowded public pool (several times for this one actually).  Jacks did a great job camping, took his normal naps, slept wonderfully, overall awesomeness!  

•  Jacks has all the traditional non-toy toys.  He loves playing with crinkly wrappers, packaging, and bags. He likes phones and his favorite actual toy is a turtle that has lots of buttons and music galore.  He likes ripping magazines or newspapers, or banging spoons on the table.

•  This kiddo is so happy!  The only time he is not is if he sees me in the room but isn't in my arms.  He is definitely a momma's boy, but is overly happy.  He learned how to clap this month and will clap anytime you say, "Clap!  Clap!"  He still nurses every three hours during the day and will dive bomb me when he is hungry.  Subtle Jacks!  He eats baby food twice a day now, a full jar at each sitting.  He also likes cheerios, kix, and biter biscuits, though I hate those things for the mess they induce.  He is able to pinch up little things with his thumb and pointer finger, which is scary because the other day he put a rubber band (rainbow loom) into his mouth and started choking.  High time to start sweeping more and more!  He has a sippy he likes, but he doesn't really care for water or even juice mixed with water. Formula is a thing of the past, which I am sad about--I liked being able to supplement if I felt he needed it, but he just won't take it anymore at all.

 See the biter biscuit goo???

•  Jacks had his first real swim on 4th of July-doesn't look too excited, does he?  He actually really enjoyed it, probably because the warmer water made it more manageable.  He enjoys splashing and watching all the kids do their crazy jumps into the water.  Going to the bigger pools is a little harder in terms of keeping he other kids occupied, but he does well being splashed and dipped into the water occasionally.

 First fireworks-mesmerized!

•  Jacks has finally turned the corner in terms of sleeping!  After James had his surgery, he fell into a bad habit of waking around 2/3 in the morning wanting to eat.  Most nights I would just top him off real quick and he would go right back to bed.  It was okay, but I really started missing having solid sleep.  So, we moved James in with Sara, and Jackson in with Karianna.  He now goes to bed around 8:30 in his swing, I feed him for the final time at 10:30ish, and then he goes to bed in Karianna's room in the pack and play.  It has helped him to have a completely dark room, and to have no idea where I am.  That sounds bad, but in my room, he knew EXACTLY where I was, and when he would wake up, he would find my sleeping form an whine until I came to get him.  If he starts fussing, I will go in and give him his binky, and he will go back to sleep.  The last few nights he has not even needed that, which has been so nice!  Jacks' daytime schedule is fairly consistent, waking around 7:30, then going down for a morning nap around 9:30, and an afternoon nap around 1.  He generally takes a short catnap around 5:00ish, then down for bed at 8:30ish.  

 I thought Jacks looked so American in this outfit, I handed him a flag and proceeded to take a 4th of July picture.  It took longer than I wanted, and Jacks obviously needs lessons on flap etiquette!

 That was my best result-holding the flag over his head, out of his eyesight!

•  While Jacks still occasionally sits in his bumbo and duckie bouncer, he needs cushioning because he is well aware of how to wiggle out of them.  Hence the pillow border in this seat (and yes, he is playing with ads).  I think the time may have come to pack some of these things away for the last time.

And with that, the 8 month update is ended!  He's growing so quickly, and we are so happy to have Jacks in our family!

PIANO!!!!!

If you know me well, you know I have been waiting to have a piano in my house again for over 12 years.  You know I have told my mother time and time again that I have dibs on her piano, whenever she ends up replacing it.  You know if I won a billion dollar, the first thing I would buy is a piano.

Hence why I am so very happy to say the day has finally come!  We have a piano!

 And I love that picture, it is part of the reason I have wanted a piano so badly-I love the idea of my kids playing the piano, gathering around the piano and singing as a family, and just enjoying music even more than we already do.  Plus, playing the piano is my ultimate stress reliever.  I might not be the best pianist but there is so much to be said for drowning yourself in music to make the world go away in a few fleeting moments.

Some good friends of ours just moved cross-country and realized they did not have the means to take their piano.  We have know about this for a few weeks, but didn't want to bank on it.  I know if it were me, I'd self of a ton of other stuff before parting with my piano.  Moving day came though, and they just could not find the room.  So they offered it to us for a few hundred dollars and we jumped at it!  The boys moved it into our toy room after Jared rearranged all the furniture, and it didn't even need to be tuned after the move-there are a few twangy notes, and one key that feels a little lose; otherwise, it is in great shape and such a perfect addition to our home.

The kids love having piano time everyday.  It is sweet to listen to Sara and James plunk out keys, singing along at the same time. Jordan is the most consistent asking for time; JD is the least, but when he does, he usually sits with Jackson and lets him play. Karianna is going to fly through piano lessons.  She has such a good ear for music, and she has a good foundation of theory from doing violin lessons this year.  I just need to order her a theory book, borrow my mom's leveled books, and start her lessons.  So excited!

I personally play every single day, multiple times a day.  I am loving having this instrument in our house, I can't even express how grateful I am for it!

Happy 4th of July!

Hey look, we are festive!  

We had a pretty relaxing 4th of July, just hanging out in town, barbecuing, swimming, and then hitting up fireworks in town.  Nothing huge, but it was fun to pretty much spend the entire day together!  

Jackson went swimming with us for the first time and actually really enjoyed it! Probably because the water is starting to get super warm, and he enjoys watching the kids splash around.  Before I took this picture, he was really really happy, but once I took out the camera, he froze-wouldn't smile, wouldn't move.  I actually got a little worried, I couldn't tell if he got cold after being out of the pool, or if something was really wrong.  I took him in for a 20 minute catnap, and then he was fine.  

 Getting ready to go to the fireworks!

 Totally festive in his red, white, and blue shirt!  Even his whitish hair matches!

 Look, I took a selfie! (And just for the record, I feel really dumb using that word.).

 Jordan's Fireworks Picture

 Me and My Buddy

 Jackson's Fireworks Picture

 JD and Dad's Fireworks Picture

 Karianna's Fireworks Picture

 Sara's Fireworks Picture

More 4th of July Activities

We started the holiday with a sleepover in the family room, something the kids ask to do all the time.  JD woke up at the crack of dawn to help deliver flags, so he was gone when I took this picture.

 I got all festive and chopped up a watermelon in the shape of stars, added some blueberries, and a bowl full of cool whip for dipping.

 We headed to the Hansons' house for a neighborhood run, swimming, and brunch.  Jared stayed home with the little ones, as he really needed some extra sleep.

 At the finish line with the Hansons!

 And lining up at the starting line, just waiting for the official go ahead!

We stayed for a good 2 hours, maybe even a bit more, and had a great time swimming, diving for pennies (there were 1000 in the pool!) and just chatting with friends and neighbors.  I really enjoyed myself, and it was a great way to kick off the 4th of July!