Welcome Home Daddy!

I apologize for not getting this on here sooner, but we've been busy soaking up "Daddy Time". Jason got home last Monday evening. It was so awesome to watch that plane land and taxi toward us. As soon as they gave us the "go", the families quickly scampered toward the opening door. It was so great to see Jason for the first time in months. Jaxon reached him first and was immediately scooped into Jason's arms. Sissy toddled shortly behind. She ran straight to him with a big hug, but then backed off a little while she studied his face for a few minutes. It was a wonderful evening! I took very few pictures, but when the base photographer gets his pictures to Jason, I'll be sure to put them on here as well.

The night before Jason's homecoming, the kids worked on decorating posters to help welcome Daddy home. I rarely get out paint for them (ok, almost never), but this was a special occasion. They loved using the finger-paints and Kota threw a fit when I cleaned her hands (she was hoping we'd paint a lot longer).








Dakota and her daddy were on the front page of the Peoria Journal Star! Check out the article and pictures: Click Here



Here's a great interview Jason did with a local TV station: Click Here


Jaxon and his Daddy embracing each other once we're inside in the warmth. He was not happy about the TV interview, he just wanted to "take my daddy home".



Jason and his kids! Their "Uncle Jessica" made their adorable outfits. Jax's shirt says, "My Dad is my Hero" and Sissy has a very cute red, white and blue skirt on. I begged them to show off their outfits during the TV interview, but they were more interested in getting Daddy home.

Quick Visit

Aunt Ninny and Page came up for a quick visit. They got to our house about 1:30am on Monday and left Tuesday, just before lunch. Jaxon didn't know they were coming, so I told him to sneak out to the living room Monday morning and there would be a surprise. He was so excited to see them! We were so glad they came up to visit. We didn't do much, so I don't have many pictures, but it sure was nice for my sister and I to sit and talk for hours on end while Page entertained the kiddos downstairs. We even went to the grocery store for a few minutes, while Page stayed home with the kids for her first ever babysitting gig!


We all made chocolate chip cookies Monday night after dinner:

Page cracked the eggs.



Jax dumped all the dry ingredients into the mixer.

Both were very helpful in cleaning the beater, bowl and scraper! I think more dough was eaten than cookies that night - typical for cookie making in my house.

Winter Wonderland

Snow! It started snowing late in the night Wednesday and when we woke up Thursday morning, the entire ground was covered white. Much like the rest of the country, we've been experiencing unusually warm temperatures so far this winter. In fact, Wednesday afternoon, Jaxon and I were outside for several hours, in pants and short-sleeved t-shirts, raking leaves. The next day, snow! Ah, the midwest. The kids were so excited about the snow, so we bundled up and headed out to play for a few minutes. I hadn't bought snow boots or water-resistant gloves for Dakota yet, so Thursday afternoon was a bit of a bust. Jaxon had a blast shoveling snow (from the grass onto the sidewalks, but whatever), while Dakota kept falling down and crying until I'd come pick her up. Oh and did I mention her snow pants were huge and she kept stepping on them and tripping? What a mess! Jax and I were prepared to shovel the driveway and sidewalks as best we could, but when we came out, we discovered that our next door neighbor, Pete, had already taken care of it. We are so blessed! Jax was a little disappointed (I was not) because that was his favorite part of being out in the snow with Daddy last year, but we found plenty of areas to shovel around the house.

Friday morning Jaxon woke up begging to go back out in the snow. So, we first headed to Wal-Mart for boots and gloves for Dakota. It started out a little rough, I think she already had some fear of the cold white stuff Jax and I were rolling in and throwing at each other. It took some time, but after awhile she figured out that mom had her bundled up good and she was not going to get any of that cold snow on her skin. We made snow angels, rolled through the yard, played on the swingset, attempted a snowman, shoveled the drive (again) and rode the sled down the hill in our backyard several times.


Shoveling snow from the yard onto the freshly snow-blown sidewalk. Oh how I love that boy!




Whee!! Dakota did not want sledding to end.




Here they come, about to tip! Kota loved eating the snow as it was falling from the sky.




Poor girl, she looked adorable, but she really couldn't move much in this marshmallow-like getup. I know she was warm and dry though, and that's all I cared about!

FRIENDS

We had a small group at our weekly Playgroup on Thursday (probably due to the snow falling). They were all playing so nicely and getting that energy out that kids get when they've been locked inside for winter for too long. So, I snapped a few pictures of our playgroup friends. We meet at our church every Thursday morning for an hour and a half. The kids enjoy playing with friends and their caretakers (moms, grandmas, babysitters...) get some time to sit down and have a little bit of interrupted adult conversation.

Owen - 2 years old - he was so excited to see my camera and did not hesitate to start putting on his "cheese" face as soon as I pointed it in his direction.




Nora - 2 years old - I took several of Miss Nora, but I was not near as interesting as the Legos tower she was working on.



My cutie patootie, Jaxon - 3 1/2 years old.



Griffin - 4 years old - one of my sweeties in my Sunday School class and one of Jaxon's good friends.



My girl, Dakota - 1 1/2 years old - look at that "cheese" face! She really, really, really wanted to sit on Griffin's lap for this picture, but he wasn't interested.

Special Week

What a blessed week we just had. I can't even begin to explain the many blessings God has provided for us during these last few months, but last week was quite a treat. A former 5th grade student of mine (who is now a whopping 16 years old) asked if she could come spend a week with the kids and I. Wow! I never would have thought of such a wonderful idea. So, not only did she ride back to IL with us (and let me tell you how much easier it is to drive 6 1/2 hours with two small kids when there's another person there to help) but she spent a week helping me with the kids, taking care of them so I could run errands and get things done around the house, and she helped me get the house organized after the craziness of Christmas. To say we are blessed is an understatement! Thanks Betsy for an amazing week! And it's safe to say that my children are absolutely in love with her.



Once we got the suitcases unpacked, Christmas presents organized and put away, and reorganized the closets and playroom, we decided to spend a morning having fun at the Children's Museum.


Here's the kiddos sliding down the slide:





Playing in the new exhibit; Water Works:






Jaxon playing cars and trains (sorry about the blurry pic):





The kids loved shopping in the grocery section:






There's a pretty cool exhibit that I need to learn more about, but it's basically a bunch of clear PVC pipes connected in varying directions. I believe the exhibit teaches the kids about wind power, but I really need to read more on it. Anyway, the kids put soft balls and handkerchiefs in to the pipes and watch the wind carry the objects throughout the pipes, then suddenly shoot the objects out a hole. The best part of watching the kids do it was initially putting the objects into the pipes; the wind would blow their faces in the cutest ways!



Jax was trying to catch the soft ball as it came shooting out of the pipes.





What an unbelievable week of weather we had last week! Really the last several weeks have been unusually mild. I think the week of Christmas, the temperatures got close to 60! Last week we had two days above 50 and Betsy and I decided to take advantage of the second day and get the kids outside for some fresh air. It was crazy to think about being outside, in jackets, in January! The kids even got warm and took their jackets off for awhile!








Hi Jax! Sometimes he randomly asks for his picture to be taken, of course I am happy to oblige!




Here's our sweet Betsy and Dakota. Kota was so content to sit on Betsy's lap and have stories read to her.




Both kids with Betsy on her last night with us:




Betsy's mom drove up Friday night and the two of them left Saturday morning to head back to Kansas. Jaxon had to get in one more game of Candy Land before they left:

Dressed to Impress

I actually remembered to get my kiddos' picture before leaving for church and they didn't want to cooperate at the same time! Oh well, here's our cuties ready for church:






Here's a professional picture of our cuties too:

Sweet Friends

We got some time with Aunt Titi, Uncle Bill, Hollie, Justin, Rachel and Justin while we were in KS. What a fun night!

Newlyweds - Justin and Hollie McGarry



Justin and Uncle Bill watching TV.



The proud new Daddy with precious Kennedy.



Rachel, Justin and Kennedy - what a beautiful family!

Happy (Early) Birthday Caleb

Our sweet nephew, Caleb, will turn one at the end of this month and his sweet Mama threw a mini-party for him, just for our family. We were so thrilled to celebrate this awesome milestone with him.


Sweet Caleb checking out his cake and candle while we sing "Happy Birthday" to him.



Happy Birthday Sweet Caleb...



Enjoying his first bite of birthday cake. He loved it!



Me and my pumpkin! Happy Birthday Caleb! We love you and we're so glad we got to celebrate with you!

Page's Basketball Game

While we were still in Kansas for Christmas break, we were able to catch one of Page's basketball games. The kids were so excited to watch her play and they yelled for her (or at her) the entire game. Anything Jaxon heard someone yell, (Defense Page! Hustle Page!...) he would repeat.


Page is in white. She's right in the middle of the two other girls in white.



One of Page's cheerleaders. Go Page Go!



After the game, Memaw treated us to Red Robin. And it was family night, so a balloon artist came to the table and made Jax a cool balloon dinosaur with teeth and everything!