New player in the house...

Over the past couple of weeks Aubrin has started to take more interest in baseball. She even has her own princess ball and bat. The other day Todd and the kids had a baseball game going in the backyard. Jackson would be the catcher when Aubrin was up to bat and then Aubrin would be the catcher when Jackson was up to bat. Todd was showing Aubrin the correct way to hold her hands on the bat. Each time she was up to bat she would say, "Daddy, like this?" I think that moment was melting Todd's heart. Now Aubrin joins in on our evening baseball games. Each time she bats she says, "I going to hit a bomb." I think she has been listening to her big brother talk.

Jackson and Grandpa

Jackson loves to be helpful. If there is a project going on in our house Jackson is there with his tools and ready to help. Over the past couple of months my dad has been helping Todd and I do a few things around the house. Todd is very handy, but with his schedule this summer it's difficult to get projects done. Earlier this summer my dad, Todd and Jackson put in a flower box on the side of the house. Jackson would help grandpa put glue on the bricks and then use his special hammer to make sure they were on tight. This project took my dad a couple hours longer, but he loved having his little buddy helping.





With getting the house painted this summer, this has led to many more projects around the house. My dad came over last week to change light fixtures and help hang our new cabinets in our office. Sure enough, Jackson had his tools ready and waiting for grandpa to come over and get started. Jackson was eager to help grandpa cut the drywall for the new lights. Although, once he realized how messy it was he settled for helping screw the new bulbs in and turning on the switch to make sure they worked. Jackson thought it was pretty great that he was able to climb on the ladder. Thanks grandpa for all your hard work!

Going to the Movies

On Monday we took Jackson to the movie theater for the first time. Jackson loves the Toy Story movies so we knew that going to see Toy Story 3 would be a great treat. For the past month the coming attractions to the movie have been on TV. Every time they come on Jackson tells us that he didn't remember those parts from the other movies. He thought if it was a new movie why didn't we have it at our house. We explained that it was a new movie at the movie theater, but he just didn't have a concept of what that meant. We decided not to bring Aubrin with us. She enjoys watching movies, but while busy doing other things. She likes pushing her babies around or doing a puzzle and every so often looking up at the TV to see whats going on. So we thought we should wait a bit longer for her first movie. For Jackson's birthday our friend Michele gave him a Toy Story t-shirt. He was excited to wear it. Once we got to the movies Jackson walked up to the ticket window and said, "I'm here to see Buzz and Woody. It's my first time here.!" It was priceless.

We got popcorn and in we went. When the lights went down and the movie started, Jackson couldn't help but smile. He was so excited. Jackson ate his popcorn and asked Todd if he could go "Make him some more." Jackson also had to go to the bathroom during the movie and didn't understand why we couldn't pause it while he was gone. He sat through the movie like a champ and loved it. On the way home he talked about his favorite parts and asked his famous question he always asks, "Next time, can we please bring Aubrin?"

Playing With the Big Boys

This summer Jackson has been spending a lot of time up at the baseball field with Todd. He helps Todd get the field ready for games and also helps clean the field up after games. This summer Jackson also has been able to spend a little more time in the dugout during games with the team. Aubrin and I watch the games with the rest of the fans. We can sometimes hear Jackson's little voice from the dugout yelling, "Let's go guys!" or "Good work." In between innings Jackson runs out on the field and helps "warm up" the guys in the outfield. After the games Jackson goes out on the field and shakes hands with the other team.







Then he jumps on the tractor with Uncle Scott ( He coaches with Todd) and helps drag the field for the next game. Jackson truly believes that he is part of the team. He is learning a sense of teamwork, following directions and a love for the game. Aubrin loves watching the games and clapping for the players- for both teams.

Water fun!

We had such a great time with Erin and her family while they were in town. They came over for some water fun last week. All of the kids played in the pool and the sprinkler. Jackson and Todd introduced Will to water squirters. At first Will wasn't quit sure what to make of water being squirted at his belly, but soon enough he was all smiles and giggles.


Later in the week Jackson and Aubrin enjoyed playing on the Slip and Slide and also in our bigger pool. Jackson has finally gotten the hang of the Slip and Slide. He now adds a few of his own fancy tricks to it. He slides, does a forward roll and then splashes into the end. Aubrin on the other hand is in the earlier stages of the Slip and Slide. She runs down it and jumps into the pool of water at the end. Either way, they are staying cool!

4th of July Weekend

We had a great 4th of July weekend. The only thing missing was Todd. With the kids and I going to Chicago and Todd going on his trip, the kids and I didn't see Todd for 13 days! We made the best of it and kept busy while he was gone. We started our weekend off with Annie and Nate's birthday party at Pump It Up.

The kids had a great time. I was so surprised how quickly Aubrin got in the bouncys and joined in the fun. Jackson was definitely playing the "big brother" role that evening. Aubrin accidentally got knocked into and Jackson said to the other child, " Excuse me, but can you please not touch my sisters body?" I'm hoping that big brotherly love continues when they are in high school!
Friends of ours down the street went away for the weekend and invited me to use their pool while they were gone. It was a nice little treat for us. The Campau's came along with us. We actually went three different days. Jackson was feeling brave and went down the slide, once on my lap and then by himself holding Aunt Krista's hand. He was so proud we had to call Todd right away and tell him!

On the 3rd, Krista and Mike were having a get together at their house and invited the kids and I over to join them. One of the lakes near their house was having fireworks that night and you can see them beautifully from their front yard. Before the firework show we had dinner and all of the kids played on the water slide and in a soccer game. Jackson so badly wanted to be part of the soccer game, but just doesn't always play by the rules. He wanted to keep picking up the soccer ball with his hands. By the end of the evening he was doing much better. Good thing cousin Nate is really patient with him and was trying to teach him the rules. The fireworks didn't start until 10:00. My kids usually go to bed between 8:00-8:30 so I wasn't sure if they were going to make it, but they did and they loved them.




On the 4th we went to my parents house for a BBQ. Erin and her family are in town for 10 days!!!!!!! Jackson and Aubrin were really excited to see Will and Emerson. My Aunt Connie and Uncle Phil also joined us. The kids played in the pool my parents have and played in the bouncy.




I was so excited when Todd called and said he was 10 minutes from my parents house and was just getting dropped off there. The kids were surprised and excited to see him. Todd got there just in time for the yummy dinner my mom and dad made. It was really a perfect day to have our whole family together. My mom and dad love when all four grand kids are together and playing.