Sleeping "on" a big mattress

here is a quick pic snapped before Baby J awoke one morning in PA. He crawls off the mattress in his sleep :-)

Summer Fun.

 K went to Camp Widjiwagan again this year.  She did the advanced climbing courses throughout the week, which included walking tightropes, climbing a super high rope ladder with wooden "steps" that got wider and wider until almost 5 feet apart (did it in 5 minutes!), and a leap of faith from a huge pole.  This picture was from one morning when parents were invited to climb with their kids.  K did the hard route, and made it look easy.  I did the medium route, and was surprised that it wasn't as physically difficult as I thought.  Just don't look down!

Baby J and I are finding fun things to do outside this summer.  Went to our friends' house and played in a wading pool, on their swing and slide, and of course, toy cars!  Check out the shades :)

                   

 

 Oh the joys of driving.  Steering wheels.

Hazard lights.

And don't forget the radio.

Turn it up, it's Guns n Roses!

Photos from Jesse's camera.

The mosquitoes got him one night, right above the eye.  

Take little bites, Baby J, LITTLE bites!

He has learned to open our kitchen door.  Which leads to the basement.  Which leads outside.  Which is where he wants to go.  Always!  Time for safety handles.

Self-feeding smoothies is always a messy ordeal... but on the upside, he is getting spinach or kale, cucumbers, coconut cream, lots of colorful berries and/or peaches, and no sugar - just bananas to sweeten!

Playing on the couch.  Second best to bouncing on our neighbors' huge trampoline.

Happy Father's Day, June 15th, 2014

Continuing in the tradition of last year, we visited a museum about cars for Father's Day.  Last year the Frist Center was exhibiting Art Deco cars - perfect timing for Father's Day.  This year we drove an hour to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.  One of the more interesting times to do so, since the sink hole sucked in several cars a couple months ago.  They managed to retrieve all the cars out of the gaping hole in the floor, and put them on display.  One was actually drivable when it came out, but the worst one looked like this:

Fresh fruit for thought

Someone said to me over the winter, "Aren't we lucky to be able to give our kids fresh fruit?"  So many people in this world do not have access to fresh foods in such abundance, and with such choices that we do.  In the middle of winter, I can give my kids fresh berries from lands far, far away from me.  It is a privilege, yes, but also a responsibility.  While I am grateful for choices all year long, I ponder whether I choose the right things to eat.  If I go with the seasons, I eat what I was designed to eat: a variety.  When I choose what I want, I box myself in to a small selection of what I pass by in the produce aisle at the grocery store.  I am grateful for the ability at present to afford whole and nutritious foods for my children.  At the same time I am sad for those in our country living in food deserts, where the only food close-by is a gas station mini-mart, and sad for those around the world in war-torn areas with little or no food, or where hunger is the norm.  I don't have answers to my thoughts, but K_ and I will be volunteering at a breakfast this Sunday serving homeless individuals in downtown Nashville.  Perhaps just a drop in the bucket, but something positive none-the-less.

A day with Dad!

Baby J and I enjoyed a relaxing morning with Dad, and a lunch trip to Sitar for delicious Indian food.  Dad and Baby J hung out together while Mom went out for a massage appointment!!  Bonus points!

All I can say is thank you, thank you!!







And happy fourth month birthday, Baby J!

June Already?

 I can't believe it is already June!  Time is flying by very quickly...


Baby J just had his 4 month checkup and weighs in at 15lbs 10oz.  Of course, he wasn't thrilled with the shots. He loves to be held in the sitting position now and is always laughing and smiling.  Strangers just love coming up to him and talking to him, and he is not shy about giving them a great big smile or laugh!  He brightens their days!

K__ is super excited for her little Bro to start eating solids.  We will start soon, as he is becoming interested in what we are eating.  His hand unexpectedly ended up in Mom's plate of rice at one point, and he has tried drinking water out of a glass (of course he ended up a bit wet...)!

K__ had a relaxing week last week with not much to do.  She is participating in band camp this week and next, and is thrilled that her best friend is there, too.  We are planning a bunch of sleep-overs to go with it!

Baby J will be coming with me to teach flute lessons this week again, so I hope that the crankiness from the shots will not interfere.

In our spare time, we have been spending some time at the pool, but Jake is not entirely cool with getting in cold water.  I think he wishes it would be like his baths, where he is more than happy to kick and splash around.

We went strawberry-picking last weekend... barely.  The berries were pretty well picked out.  One of the ladies at the farm was more than willing to hold a baby while we picked, and he sat on her lap and laughed and laughed.  You wouldn't know it by the look on his face in this picture, though!  That's one to make Dad proud!