just because

We are in love with you, Brooke!

happy birthday benjamin!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Benjamin!!  It was all about Buzz Lightyear & Woody at the party - - he's a huge fan of that movie and will watch it over and over if he could!  We had Ben's birthday celebration a week early because Papa was in town...what fun to have him there to celebrate!

Ben's birthday menu:  brats (surprise, surprise!), cheetos (actually, this was a huge hit with the adults too!), rainier cherries & strawberries, and George's beans. Yum!  :)

What could it be??  His reaction, "My very own fishing pole, mommy!!"

Yay for a remote control car that can flip over!  Uncle Tom couldn't get the batteries in quick enough for Ben!

 Ben finally got his pedal bike (as he calls it).  Funny background story - - Marcus was on the computer searching for bikes on craigslist one night when he found a great looking bike for Ben...however, it was yellow.  Ben got a glimpse of it and so Marcus made up a story & asked him if he would ever like a yellow strider bike.  Ben was VERY adamant about not wanting a yellow bike...I want a red one, Daddy!  So...the search was on for a red bike.  If you know this kid at all, he's all about red or blue these days.  Thankfully we found another great looking red bike - - Daddy enjoyed taking it apart and making it look brand new! 

 Daddy helping him get the hang of it

The kids were out until 9pm riding bikes after the party!  Gotta love a summer birthday where it stays light super late!

Your 3 year stats:

Weight:  34 lbs (75%)
Height:  38 inches (65%)
Blood Pressure 96/50

papa!

 The reason we got to see Papa for the weekend!  :)

Jaelyn & Benjamin were pumped to see Papa - - they wore him out!  :)

We headed to the Museum of Flight on Friday morning because we needed something to do indoors (it was raining...surprise, surprise!)  It was a super cool museum!  Lots to see and learn!  The first ever Air Force One, a concord, lots of fighter jets and crazy looking/very old airplanes.  Soon they'll have the shuttle trainer which will be neat to see.

Doesn't she look small?!

 Ben checking out the fighter jets!

Ben getting a chance to sit in the cock pit!

One super cool thing was to see their space exhibit and see first hand the rockets that Daddy works on...so cool!

 Then on Saturday morning it was off to Salty's on Alki for their famous brunch.  Oh my goodness is the food amazing!  We have made this a tradition when papa comes out...what fun!!  We had a great view from our table...right against the window!  :)  If you asked the kids what their favorite food was, it would probably be chocolate covered strawberries.  Jaelyn must have eaten 10 of them!  All nutrition goes out the window at this brunch. 

  

 

I see fruit on the plate, good job sweetie!! 

 Yep, these chocolate covered strawberries are da bomb!

 Had to check out downtown Seattle, however the binocs the waiter gave us were crappy!  So, Ben decided to have a bit of fun with them!

Family photo op outside of Salty's

preschool graduation!

Jaelyn has officially graduated from  preschool and is going off to kindergarten in the fall!  I can't believe my baby girl is SO grown up!  She had another great year at Living Hope preschool.  She absolutely adores her teachers - - especially Ms. Erin.  I knew that she really liked her (& that she was her favorite) but I had no idea the extent.  After the "graduation ceremony" she gave Ms. Erin a huge hug and would not let go.  Finally when she did, she had tears rolling down her cheek.  So sweet!  She is really going to miss her and her preschool.  Thankfully Benjamin is headed there for 2 days a week so she'll be able to see them for movie nights and other events.

Mrs. Pitts reading off what each kid loved about Jaelyn:

Ryder - Jaelyn is good at stacking things

Cole - Jaelyn is good at numbers

George - Jaelyn plays with me

Thomas - Jaelyn is really good at putting the planets in order

Sadie - Jaelyn plays outside with me at recess

Jaelyn says, "I am really good at playing soccer"

Ms. Erin, Jaelyn, Thomas, Mrs. Phelon, Ellie, Sadie, George, Cole, Ryder Mrs. Pitts

 Jaelyn & her favorite teacher, Ms. Erin

Mrs. Pitts & Jaelyn

Benjamin & Jaelyn on her last day of preschool!

Brooke's Baptism

 What a wonderful day - Brooke was baptized on Father's Day!  She did so well...she didn't even make a peep when Pastor Matt drenched her head in water!  She was awake and alert through the whole thing!  Jaelyn & Benjamin loved being up front and watching Brooke being baptized. 

 

Pastor Kelly sang a beautiful song after Brooke was baptized, "What If" by Jadon Lavik

What if I climbed that mountain
What if I swam to that shore
What if every battle was victorious then would you love me more?
Would you love me more?

What if I were everybody's first choice
What if I went farther than before
What if I stood high above the rest then would you love me more?
Would you love me more?

Chorus:
You say I belong to You apart from the things I do
You say I belong to You I'm in awe of why You do
Why You do, why You do
I'm in awe of You, ooh

What if I ignored the hand that fed me
What if I forgot to confess
What if I stumbled down that mountain then would you love me less?
Lord would You love me less

What if I were everyone's last choice
What if I mixed in with the rest
What if I failed what I passed before
then would you love me less Lord would you
would you love me less, oh no oh no oh no

Chorus:
You say I belong to You apart from the things I do
You say I belong to You I'm in awe of why You do
Why You do, why You do
I'm in awe of You, ooh

What have I done to deserve Your son sent to die for me?
What can I give I want to live give me eyes to see
In a world that keeps changin' there's one thing that I know is true
Your love is stayin' there's nothing else I'll hold onto

Brooke, we pray that you grow in the knowledge of love of Jesus Christ!  We pray that you hold tight to the fact that you BELONG to Christ apart from the things you do!  We love you, babe

little fishy!

So, I think Jaelyn might being doing swim team in her future!  This little fishy is something else!  And where else can I brag, but my own blog??  She is moving on up to the hour lessons this summer because she needs more of a challenge!  Coach Angela runs the hour lesson much like a swim team practice - so we'll see how she does!  Since she's been having private lessons lately (what a treat to not have anyone else in her lesson!) Angela has been prepping her - - doing the IM (butterfly, back, breast & crawl stroke), drills, sets, & racing dives!  Today was all about the drills - exaggerating a certain aspect of a particular stroke.  Angela was amazed at how quickly she picked up each "exaggeration".  We've got a natural on our hands!

Learning how to do a racing dive

A little blurry, but cool nonetheless!

all smiles

You are SO precious, Brooke!

Big sis getting all the smiles!

Siblings!!

finally!

Benjamin has patiently waited for his turn at gymnastics - and today was his first class!  After watching Jaelyn do gymnastics for 1+ years, he was more than ready to have his crack at it.  He had such a fun time and when I asked him what his favorite part of it was...it came by no surprise...jumping on the trampoline into the foam pit.  

The mini-munchkins (Ben's class) & munchkins (Jaelyn's class) do a fun little warm up at the beginning of the class.  Ben was all smiles and even led the pack to jump over the moving "snake".

Doing the "monkey jump" which is a precursor to a cartwheel.

Jumping on the trampoline!  Yeah...fun times!! 

2 months

Brooke is 2 months old today!!  She is such an easy going kid - - guess you need to be that way as the 3rd kid!  Brooke's first full night of sleep (10pm-7am) happened when she was 6 weeks old...and has been consistently giving me a full nights sleep!!  LOVE that about her!!  Brooke is smiling a lot more and cooing too...such fun!  Her eyes are a lot bluer than Jaelyn or Benjamin's ever were...I think we've got a blue eyed girl on our hands!!  We are in love with you Brooke (or as Ben says, "Broot" - can't say his k's yet!).

Her 2 month stats:

Weight: 11 lbs 6 3/4 oz (75%)

Height: 23.5 inches (90%)

playing together

Yep - it does happen where the kids play nicely together!!  Sometimes I have to remind myself of this...hence the reason for the picture!  Ha!  It is truly neat to see them play together - they love to "play" camping, school, shopping, etc together.  Their imaginations are very creative!  

big brother love

Brooke thinks Benjamin is pretty cool!  First attempt at catching her elusive smile on camera!!  She loves to smile at her big brother and sister (if they aren't in her face too much!)....and the cooing she's beginning to do is priceless!  

S is for Sisters!

Jaelyn & Brooke having a special moment together!  Jaelyn sure loves being an older sister!!

Sometimes it's rough being outnumbered!  Ha!

Mother's Day Tea

 What a special morning the two of us had!  Benjamin was off having a special date with Opa (which included checking out the animals at the park AND lunch at DQ!) so that it could just be the girls!!  When I arrived, Jaelyn met me and asked if she could escort me to my chair!  Once I sat down she brought me my tea cup/saucer and helped me pick out which tea I wanted to drink!  So precious!!  Then they performed some songs for us...including using the hand bells!  After the concert was over, Jaelyn brought me a plate of goodies to munch on.  The food was fantastic!  The morning finished off with Jaelyn presenting me with a present - - magnets that had a picture of her  in it as well as a picture she drew of our family.

 Patiently waiting for the concert to begin (our presents in the background!)

 Ready to use her hand bell!

Cole, Jaelyn, Ellie, Paige, Sadie, Ryder, & Thomas