Where were you?

Today is an important day to teach...to teach our kids, the next generation of what we all experienced during our life time. There aren't very many national events that have affected me, or that I feel apart of, and I don't want that to happen to my kids. So somehow today, maybe driving out to our playdates, maybe snuggled in bed, we need to share with our kids what happened this day, so that we don't forget...can you believe that was 2001?

Sleepover

After a long, rough day for me yesterday, I wanted to do nothing more then sit on the couch and watch a movie. However, my husband convinced me to go and have a slumber-party with the boys...probably the last thing I wanted to do at 9:00, didn't I just finish with them? So we moved Noah down into the bottom bunk (a full) and got Jakey out of his crib, and we all snuggled in. It was one of those moments that was so precious because Jakey (yes, my Jakey) layed with us for almost an hour still, without screaming, trying to get up, and not hitting anyone. We were singing lots of songs, and once we ran out, Noah started making up his own. He was singing loud and proud, and was so funny with all his inflection he had. He sang about all his trains, some of his friends, Nana and Papa, and then started on Jesus. Here is how his Jesus song went:

"Jesus loves me, oh, I love Jesus
I fell getting in the bathtub
and hit my crunchies
Oh, it really hurt and I cried"

At that point Andrew and I busted up laughing (therapy for my long day) and couldn't stop. Noah didn't mind, he just kept right on singing.

Airplanes!

Our boys are both obsessed with airplanes, so today, Andrew had the genius idea to take them to Marine drive to see all the planes and to be by the river. It was so pretty down there today, and we enjoyed walking and riding our bikes up and down the path. We even saw 5 fighter jets take off...boy, that was loud! The mountain was so beautiful with the river...we just had to take a family picture. It didn't turn out the best, but we still had a good time together!

Noah's Responsibilities

Something that is important to both Andrew and I, is that our boys grow up to be responsible. It drives me crazy when children (adults) can not just take care of themselves, so we want to start training that now. We ask Noah to do lots of different things, but decided last week to make "official" jobs that are his. So I made him this responsibility chart where every day he can check off what he's done! I still need to laminate it tomorrow and the check boxes that I am going to stick on with velcro, but I'm pleased with the way it came out!

Getting Ready for Fall

We're getting ready for fall around here...sad to see summer coming to an end, but excited for the next season too! We spend the morning before church getting a few little things to help bring in the season. That background is going to be looking much different here soon!

My Boys!

I am loving the ages my boys are at right now, it's such a joy being their mom! We have had lots of those special moments with Noah where we have gotten a glimpse inside his head and see a little of what he's thinking. When I was driving home at night from swimming with Noah one night, he said, "Mom, God is holding our car protecting us." It makes me think about what he can see that we can't. So sweet. He has been really into asking "why?" To which I reply, "why do you think?" His answer is mostly because that's how God wants it to be. He is very into his friends, and develping those relationships...all the time. He always wants to have a friend around. I have been so pleased with his mannors lately, where he's been saying, "No, but thank you though!" He also is getting better at writing his name...now the N looks like a very long mountain chain, the "O" is pretty good, the "a" is simply an "o" with a tail, and his "H" is a nice bridge. And of course the letters are all over the page. :)

Jakey is also developing quite the personality! He is talking alot, of course I'm sure I'm the only one who can understand him. He knows just what he wants and when he wants to do things. He also has lots of his "favorites." Crackers, or actually just food in general, his cars, trucks, and trains, balls, running, and screaming. Yes, screaming. He runs from Noah with a life-size shark screaming...so funny. He is attached to his blankey...and in the past week has started sucking on it all the time...gross.

I love my boys and love being their mom! We had a great day at the zoo today with Gina and Cade, and I'm looking forward to many more "mommy" days with them!

Lifegroup Camping

We returned tonight from an awesome weekend of camping with our church Lifegroup. We went over to Pacific City at the beach and stayed at an awesome campground that was great for kids! We spent our time eating some great food, having some great fellowship, sitting around the fire, shopping, playing on the beach, swimming, and of course at the cheese factory! Oh, and who could forget a few rousing late night games of Mafia around the fire and beer margaritas?

Love those buns...all his jeans have gotten too short, funny how that happens. So we got new ones out but they were a little big still.
Jakey looks so cute here!

Two of the four couples hanging out at the beach

Jakey wasn't allowed out of the stroller this trip to the beach:)

Andrew throwing the football trying to wear the dogs out.

My messy boy actually sittingdown for about 10 seconds...that boy does not sit still!

Our beach...so pretty!

What Jakey does best: run, get dirty, smile, and make lots of noise.