Jack:
Sunday, August 26 - We had a bicycle birthday party for Jack at Audubon Park in Henderson. I handmade the invitations to look like wheels. Jeff and I went early to set up. It had been sooo hot that week but we were VERY lucky to get a break that day. Jeff put together a great obstacle course for the kids including cones, street signs, a basketball goal, a slide and a tunnel. It was perfect! We had black and white balloons and checked flags everywhere. When Mom got there with Jack, he ran as fast as he could to see everything. He was so excited!! We only invited 12 kids and it ended up being perfect. After making nameplates for their bikes, they just rode and rode the whole time. He got a new tent from Grandma, clothes and toys. He had an awesome party!
Tuesday, August 28 - we went to Chuck-E-Cheese's for my family's dinner with Jack. He got new cleats from us and a lantern from Grandma and Papaw. Again, he had a great time!
Wednesday, August 29 (his actual bday!) - Jack took cupcakes to school to celebrate. When I went to pick him up, he had on a bday hat and sticker and a birthday bag full of stuff! That night, we had Jeff's family over to celebrate. He got a new soccer goal from G&B, a baseball game from Grammie and a guitar from us. I'd say he had one awesome bday!!
Monday, September 17 - Jack had his 5 yr checkup. He weighed 49 lbs (80th%) and was 43.5 (60th%) inches tall! He's grown 4.5 inches in one year!! He's easily wearing a 5/6 in clothes and a size 11.5-12 shoe. He had a really good appointment with Dr. Cochran until he was done and said "he gets 3 vaccinations". YIKES! I thought he would get them next time but since he will start kindergarten before he turns 6, they wanted to do them now. I talked to him about it while waiting for the nurse and the nurse explained everything to him. He was good through all that. She told me to hold his hands because kids his age tend to try to grab her hands. So, I held tight. He didn't try moving but just cried his little heart out. then he got his finger poked. He had a rough time. I felt so bad for him. We immediately went to the gas station and got him some Airheads and Bug Juice! His asthma is flaring up so he's now taking 2 inhalers. He's not getting any better though.
Jack is still LOVING school. They did 2 weeks of a different color each day so that was fun and now they are working on the alphabet. We've been to Mayse Farm already and he's having a great time. He asks every day if he gets to go to school today. On Saturdays and Sundays, he gets upset because it's not a school day. What a difference! There's only one issue with school...he's in love! All he talks about is Avery Fisher. He says she's his girlfriend. He talks about her non-stop. On Monday, Oct. 1, they walked to McCullough Library to talk about street safety, etc. Well, when I went to pick him up that day, Mrs. Wheatley said to me "You have a lover boy on your hands". I just laughed. She said "Today was a very romantic day and I have pictures to prove it!". When we were in the van, Jack said "today I was holding Avery's hand but my teachers told me to let go." Great!!! It's so funny! I guess we'll see if this romance lasts until May!! :-)
Abby:
Monday, August 27 - Abby started tumbling class at Acros. She absolutely LOVES it! Her favorite thing is the trampoline but she likes everything else too. Jeff went once and took pictures and they were so cute. Neither one of us realized how much she smiled during the class until we saw the pictures. Mom and Dad came once and Lori came once. They all loved watching her! She's now running down the tall balance beam, pulling her toes up while hanging from the parallel bars, and hanging from her knees. She can do a somersault and a head stand. And, she looks adorable in her leotard!! She's perfect for this. Her teacher, Miss Katie, says
that she's always surprised how strong she is! After she's done with this in November then Ally will start dance.
Abby has had a couple haircuts and looks so cute. She's got a little bob and it makes her look like a teenager!
Friday, September 21 - The girls had their 2 yr checkup. Abby weighed 23 lbs 7 oz (10th%) and was 33.5 inches (45th%). She's so tiny! She ran circles around Dr. Cochran so he could definitely tell she was the more active one.
Abby is just so cute. She's funny and wild at the same time! She doesn't talk as much as Ally but still holds her own. She'd rather play by herself than with Jack and Ally. She loves her tumbling and also loves to dance. She can't stand still! She's still wearing 18 mo. clothes and about a 5.5 shoe. She can still wear the 5s too. She'll go potty every now and then if she wants. and loves to take her diaper off. Lovely! She's got the most beautiful, petite face and I love her eyelashes! She's our 'Lil Bit'!
Ally:
Friday, September 21 - Ally weighed 28 lbs 12 oz (75th%) and was 36 inches (95th%). She is now the same height as Jack was at 3 yrs old! While we were there, Abby was on my lap and Dr. Cochran was looking at her. Ally walked up and said "Abby sick?". She's definitely the "Mommy" of the two!
She also went to a PT appt today and is doing wonderful. After her next appt (in 3 weeks), if she's doing this great then she's going to discharge her.
Ally loves to dance and enjoys her books and puzzles. She talks very well now. She walks down the hall and says "Jack's pictures" or "Where Jack go?", "Where Daddy go?". She also says "watch TV"! :-) Her new thing is "I princess!". She's so cute and clumsey. She has the most beautiful hair and loves to cuddle. I love it when she says "Mommy sit" so that I can hold her and snuggle. She makes me slow down! I can't wait to get her in dance class. She's going to adore it!!
Saturday, September 22 (their actual bday) - The girls and I started the morning with cinnamon rolls with a candle to pratice blowing them out. They didn't have any trouble! Later, Jack had a soccer game (where he scored 3 goals!) and then we went to Roca Bar in Newburgh with my family. We had pizza and the girls opened their gifts. Abby got a cash register she loved and Ally got a puzzle. They were in heaven! After we got done eating, we sat them at the end of the table and sang Happy Birthday. When we were done, the whole section of Roca Bar clapped and whistled. It was so neat and nice. They are very special girls!
Sunday, September 23 - We had their birthday party at Village Green's Clubhouse. It had a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. They love watching that. I had made the invitations which turned out cute. We had a small party with just cousins and friends. The girls had a ball. They danced to our birthday CD. Everyone played "Pin the Party Hat on Mickey" and "Find Plutos Bone". Mom drew Mickey and Pluto and they turned out so cute. They loved being sang to and just smiled from ear to ear. The did great at opening their gifts and holding them up for Daddy to take pics. The only glitch in the day was when I went to get the cake and it wasn't there! For the first (and last) time, I ordered it from Donut Bank online. Well, they didn't have one. So, Lori had to go to Diamond Ave and pick one up right at closing time! It was a pain but we had a VERY fresh cake!! The girls had a great time as did everyone else. They are really good girls and I love watching them interact. Besides the scratching, biting and pulling hair, they get along great! :-) We are so blessed!
Other:Saturday, September 8 - We had a surprise retirement party for Mom at Howell Church's Family Life Center. It was such a chore to make it a surprise! Lori, Dad and I had to come up with so many stories and things to do without her to prepare, etc. I invited her to "Nicky's shower" that day and she complained and complained for a week about her shower being in the middle of the day on a Saturday. I really thought she was going to back out. So, to make her come, I asked her if she would watch the girls while I set up and then bring them because Nicky's family really wanted to see them. She said "well, Devyn has a football game...". I told her that he has more than one game and she can miss one! So, she said "I guess". I said "OK!". Lori and I went out there and set everything up at 9am that morning. Then I dropped the girls off at noon to Mom (in which she was still complaining!), went to Jack's game from 1:30-2:15 and then headed back out there to finish up. By 4pm, there was easily over 100 people there. At about 4:15ish, I looked out and saw Mom getting the girls out of the van. We told everyone to gather 'round. My heart was pounding and I was so anxious. When she opened the door, everyone yelled "Surprise" and she couldn't believe it. It was PERFECT! All the kids ran up to her and she couldn't even get in the door. They all love and miss her. She was shocked at the number of people there. We had pictures everywhere. Lori, Greg, Amanda Phelps, Teresa Berendes and I all spoke about her. She was laughing and crying at the same time. It was priceless. We got all her kids together with her and took a big picture which was awesome. Unfortunately some of the big boys had left and some came afterwards but there were 28 in the picture! It was an awesome evening and Mom still talks about it. She was truly surprised!!
Tuesday, September 18 - Mom, Brandy and I went with Lori to her ultrasound. She's having a BOY! It was plain and clear too!!
Friday, September 28 - We took the kids to Angel Mounds to Native American Days. It was a neat event. While dancing with the Indians and everyone else, a photographer from the Courier & Press took our picture. It's supposed to be in the Warrick edition on this Friday. This week is the Fall Festival. I've been 4 times and am done! We took the kids Tuesday night and Jack rode rides. Ally could've rode too but not Abby (too short!) so they only thing they did was go down the big slide with all 5 of us. They each got a corndog and munched on those for 30 minutes! Jack had a huge corn on the cob and thoroughly enjoyed it!!
Tomorrow, we're going camping at Lake Rudolph. It's one of their Halloweekends. Now, we'll be trick or treating and the high for the day is 91 degrees...too hot! The girls are going to be Colts Cheerleaders and Jack is going to be an Army Man. Jack has a camo heavy outfit, brown boots and my Dad's real army hat. He's going to burn up! It should be fun though. C&A are going to be next to us and then Lori, Mom, Devyn, Tyler and Monie rented a camper there. We should have around 20 people there! Can't wait!!
Next weekend, Amanda and I have a cabin in New Harmony to scrapbook from Fri-Sun! We are ready!! She's been so busy at work that we never get the chance to talk. Plus, I'm so far behind!!
We're off a weekend but then Halloween weekend we're going to Scales again. Hopefully it will be cooler then!
November events:
Jeff, his Mom and brothers are going to a Colts/Patriots game.
My birthday
A birthday getaway to a surprise location
Ally starts dance
Thanksgiving!
We are always so busy but we're lucky to have great family and friends and school to be a part of!!
