It's the Great Pumpkin

We decided to take the kids to the Pumpkin Patch, a tradition we started last year while Jayla was in my tummy! We had a great time. We were joined by my Aunt Michelle, my co-worker Amy and her boyfriend, and our friends Mike, Lisa, and their two boys Zander and Zennen.

We ended up with 2 VERY large pumpkins and 2 baby pumpkins. Ty, Zander, Lisa and I went on a hay ride. It was so much fun and a pleasantly warm day.

Ms. Jayla

This is my favorite picture of Jayla. Jayla will be 8 months old on the 20th and I cannot believe how fast she is growing. She is LOVING solid foods, playing trucks with her brother, and has even started sleeping until 5am. She brings so much joy to our family!

Jesus is my homeboy

Ty has been attending a Christian daycare since May. He LOVES it. Mrs. McDonald is super patient, kind, and loving. Ty has also been learning so much about how to be a good person and productive part of school and our home.

He likes to say prayer at dinner time every night. If I forget, he promptly reminds me! So the other night, we sit down for dinner, cross our hands, and bow our heads. Ty begins his prayer "Dear Gangsta Jesus, thank you for this food that will nourish our bodies". I almost fell out of my chair.

I guess that would make Jesus the Original OG!!! Watch out Ice T, Jesus is our homeboy!

Our "Mini" Vacation

I needed to be in Spokane for a work conference, so I decided to bring the kids and my sister along for a "mini" vacation. We enjoyed swimming in the pool at the hotel, eating out, playing at the wagon wheel park, and just spending time together!

The start of a beautiful relationship......

You've always been a part of me
right from the very start,
creating treasured memories
I've cherished in my heart.
You're such a wonderful part of my life
because of the thoughtful things you do
that I want you to know how grateful I am
to have a sister as special as you.

Jayla's 1st friend

Jayla's friend is Lizzy. She is 9 months old. Jayla was very interested in Lizzy because she could clap and sit up on her own. We are looking forward to the girls being friends for years to come!

Ty's first bike!

For Ty's 4th birthday we decided to get him a real bike. We did a lot of reading about big boy bike safety and why it's important to wear your helmet! Ty wondered why the neighbor kids didn't have to wear helmets and I told him "because I'm not their mommy and I love your beautiful head too much!"

I also made him wear tennis shoes because I was scared for his feet.....I'm a nerd I know. He had a ton of fun and is catching on fast, so the training wheels will be off in no time!

She wants to roll!

She mastered tummy to back with no problems, but back to tummy is a whole 'nother story! Her tummy gets in the way. Here are some pictures of her trying!

Happy Birthday dear Ty

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Ty
Happy Birthday to you!

My little man is 4 today :)

Ty's 4th Birthday party was so much fun! Great food, great friends, great weather. My family came up from Portland and Danny's family was there too. All of our friends have kids as well, so there were a TON of little people running around.

His Thomas the Train cupcake cake....so yummy! Dairy free, whipped frosting

I made this number 4 cupcake cake myself!

Ty and his cousin Brooklynn, she is 10 days older than he is

Brooklynn, my mom (GG), and Ty

Look at me Jump

We got a jumperoo from a friend and Jayla loves it! She jumps like a maniac and enjoys getting a baby workout!

4th of July weekend

We had a great 4th of July in Portland with my mom. It was really laid back. We didn't go anywhere for fireworks and just watched them at home. We decided just to relax in the comfort of the couch! Ty had a great time with GG. He went fishing, played in the pool, and just enjoyed having family around. Jayla is a complete momma's girl and loves being hed by me.....

I'm enjoying being home with the kids and I have so much respect for those that stay home with their kids full time! I just want to use the restroom alone or enjoy a treat alone!

School will start soon enough and then I'll miss being home, so I'm living in the moment and just loving my babies!

Jayla pics!

more pics

My little boy!

Ty Jackson is amazing! I couldn't ask for a more special, kind, loving little boy. He is a fantastic big brother. He loves his sister more than I can put into words. He is always kissing her, bugging her, helping to make her smile. Having Jayla around has made him a better little boy at school too! He is always helping the younger kids and his teacher Mrs. McDonald.

He is counting up a storm! His newinterest is fishing. Every time he sees a fishing pole, he wants to grab one a catch a fish. Danny will probably be taking him soon! Ty will be 4 years old next month, which is just blowing my mind. I remember the day he was born and how amazed I was by him even then. He is already such a determined little man already. I'm so lucky and excited to be his mommy!

He loves making goofy faces!

Graduation

I just completed my first year with the Bethel School District. Graduation was not what it usually is, a very proud moment for me. I think it's because I was only at Bethel High for one year and I didn't know very many seniors. And the ones I did know were lazy WOW gamers who never did anything!!!

So this afternoon, I'm packing the kids up and headed up to West Seattle for Chief Sealth's graduation. I actually feel like I contributed to a number of the graduating seniors education. My Academy of Finance students mostly. I'm so excited to see them walk across that stage, ending one chapter of their lives and beginning the new. My Sealth kids are dear to my heart and I am so proud to have taught them and was given the opportunity to watch them grow.

I'll post pictures tomorrow. Congrats Chief Sealth High School Class of 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look Mommy, I can sleep in my crib!

She slept from about 10am until midnight and then about 12:30 until almost 5am!!!

So amazing, my little girl may learn to sleep on her own!

She has found her voice!

Jayla is becoming little miss personality. She is laughing, smiling, and testing how loud she can be. Here is a new video on what will soon be Diva Jayla!




She has also discovered the mirror and she loves looking at herself!

Jayla Renee a.k.a. Princess Poo Poo

Jayla is the cutest thing in the world!!!! I'm know I'm bias, but she is pretty cute. Her hair is growing at an alarming rate! So here are a few pics of the beautiful girl and her hair!

Lock down at BHS

We had a lock down on Friday after school. As a parent, the scariest thing is not knowing what is happening. I was in a room with 2 other teachers and 4 students when it occurred. We had to sit quietly for about 20 minutes unsure of what was happening outside the 4 walls of our classroom. It is the strangest thing. So many thoughts running through your head. "Have I hugged my kids enough", "Did I say 'I love you' to my mom when I got off the phone?"

It saddens me to no end that people are incapable of coping without resorting to violence. People are so quick to lash out in anger, rather than dealing with their feelings or emotions.

This is the official word from the district about our lock down on Friday:

We've received a few inquiries about an incident at Bethel High on Friday afternoon and thought it best to update everyone on the situation. At the end of the school day on Friday, a fight between female students led to the arrival on campus of four or five young men with gang ties. The men ran out of the school when they heard deputies were on the way.

The men jumped into a car and were driving away when deputies stopped them in the 24100 block of Mountain Highway not far from the school, said sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer. They found gang paraphernalia inside the car and arrested an 18-year-old man and his 19-year-old friend, Troyer said.

Bethel High staff responded quickly and did a good job of securing the building as quickly as possible. The administration is conducting an investigation.

Swimming, swimming in the swimming pool

When days are hot, when days are cold
In the swimming pool.

Jayla took her first dip in the pool a few weeks ago. She LOVED it, although you cannot tell from the look on her face :) She is sometimes so serious, I have no idea where she gets that from.

She splashed around and was very content with being in the water. I hope she enjoys the water as much as her daddy, brother, and I do. I bought the kids a mini pool a few weeks ago too and we will be spending many a summer afternoon kicking back in our purple pool!



Here is Ty talking about when his sister was in my tummy. Man that little boy is funny!

Ty's first baseball experience......

And boy does he have a MAJOR league 'tude!!! Every time he'd miss a ball, he would hit the ground with his bat. We are working on being less of a perfectionist while learning. He is such a coordinated little person already. He can already hit a baseball better than his mommy can! I am working on getting him into T-ball this summer. How cute is that? Can you believe the kid is almost 4????

Jayla has arrived

Yes, she is 3 months old now, but better late than never, right?

My beautiful baby girl came into this world on February 20, 2008 at 12:22pm. She came into this world a firecracker! Screaming with one eye open!


She continued to scream until they handed her to mommy and all was well again. She was 6lbs. 8oz. and 19.5" long. My little petite thing.

Fast forward to 3 months and there isn't much that is petite about Ms. Jayla Renee!!!!


Ty is the best big brother in the world and I'm so lucky that I have two healthy, wonderful kids!

Be patient with me!!!

I will try to figure this blog thing out!!!!

Welcome!

It seems everyone has a blog these days, so we'll see if I can keep up with it and actually update it the way I should!

Ty is 3 1/2 years old and so much fun. He learns everything at such a quick rate, sometimes he's hard to keep up with! Jayla will make her appreance anytime, which we are so excited for!

Stay tuned!