Bowling fun!!!

During the month of July while Mark was taking his marathon masters class

he took three Fridays in a row off so the kids could actually see him.  Each Friday we tried to do something new or fun!!!  We went to the zoo the first Friday, we went swimming at the YMCA pool the next Friday and last Friday we too the kids bowling for the first time.  They loved it!!!  Landrie was so animated the whole time and Jaren was so excited to carry the balls by himself and to compulsivly collect all the neon balls in the alley.  At one point he had more than would fit on the ball rack. 

 

Anyway we are so enjoyed our Friday activities, but will not miss that Daddy is done with class!!!

 

I want to say a THANK YOU to EVERYONE who helped this hormonal pregnant woman get through the last four weeks.  I will not pretend it was easy or that I did it with grace.  I'm not sure I would have made it at all without very special people, giving me some alone time, keeping us company, eating meals with us, etc...  you name it I appriciated it - THANKS!!!

 

Jaren tried every form of bowling.  #1 - granny style

#2 - just throw it as far as I can

#3 - side arm
 

 

Video of Jaren John bowling. It won't upload one of Landrie for some reason.  I'll try again as she was so animated and so cute about all of it. 

And ...

#4 - ramp

 

July trip to KC

In July we went to KC to visit Kelsey and Marshal and see their baby girl Maelin!!!  She is so HUGE and adorable.  It so happened the same weekend that some of our old college friends had a bbq so we got to visit with many more friends that originally anticipated

They had water games for the kids.  This year there were many more kids than 2 years ago when we were at the BBQ

Kelsey and her daughter - Maelin

Landrie was in LOVE with Maelin to say the least - poor girl couldn't get a moment of peace

Jaren thought the building blocks made a pretty great road

Mark and Maelin

Marshal and Landrie Lynn enjoying the YUMMY food

Try Number one

I'll start by saying this attempt did not go well and we are back in diapers.  

Landrie had began to potty train herself.  Asking to go potty and having success on the pot both number one and number two.  After the nightmare we had with training Jaren I was not planning to try with her till she was three - plus with baby coming I figured she would regress anyway, but with her training herself I felt like I had to at least try it.  So we gave it a good three day try.  

I will admit she was so proud and so cute in underwear.

This attempt started great but halfway though day two it became very clear to me that we were constipated and that, I believe, we had a UTI.  She would not leave the bathroom for more than 7 to 10 min, but would not go and if anything came out it was a dribble and she cried.  Then she didn't have a BM from Tuesday night to Sat afternoon.  Poor girl.  It was not a fun experience for ANYONE.  so we are back in diapers and doing great!!!  

I will say I wouldn't have been sad to only have one in diapers, but it was not worth what we went through.   Maybe in a few months we will try it again.

Jaren's first movie

As part of Jaren's birthday present we took him to his first movie.  He loves Dispicable me so we took him to the sequel.  I'm not sure who was more excited Mark or Jaren, but we all had fun.

Well, we eventually had fun.  Jaren didn't know what  a movie was and was not thinking it was fair that Landrie was going to be at Mima and Papa's house while he had to go with us.  He knew Mima and Papa's would be fun!

Let's just say he got over it and had fun.

We got to sit though ALL the credits at the end cause Jaren wasn't about to leave a speck of popcorn on his tray.

He did SOOOOO great!!!  He sat through the whole movie and loved it!!!

Jaren's birthday party

Jaren's birthday party was very different this year, very good, just different.  With Mark and I deciding that after first birthday's our children's birthday parties would be grandparents and godparents only - Jaren and Landrie were the only kids present at his party!!!  Jaren loved the extra attention from Mima's and Papa's!!! We all had a nice time other than possibly Mark when he had to grill in the sizzling hot weather.

Jaren's train cake

Yummy dinner

Landrie brought Jaren his presents as he did for her at her party and she loved it as you can see

The new helmet was a HUGE hit!!!

Um...  can I just say I think he is super adorable and handsome in a hat - only thing is he looks WAY to old for my liking.

Building with our new legos

Lets eat!!!

We love you little man

Jaren John's birthday

Jaren's actual birthday was before his party this year but we of course still celebrated.  With Mark having started his summer class the first thing in the a.m. was the only time Mark was going to see him so he got to give him a present then.  Jaren got a new super soft sports blanket and football shaped pillow for his new big boy bed.  

We have also had Jaren's 4 year well baby check up and he is doing great.  He is 41 inches tall (66%) and weighs 41 lbs ((86%)  

He played in the backyard with Blake - they played baseball and Jaren fully believes you can not bat without a helmet and wants to wear gloves so he is wearing his bike helmet and yard gloves :)

Landrie having fun outside with the boys

Then we traveled up to the park for some fun

And of course we were hot after playing at the park so we went to country acres for some ice cream!!!