Sunday, August 16, 2015

Swimming Lessons

Earlier this summer Ethan and Nora took a couple weeks of swim lessons.  They loved it and did so wonderfully!  By the end, Ethan had passed his swim test and can now jump of the diving boards!  I'm so proud of both kids!  Nora continued to show no fear and was jumping off the diving boards (with a lifeguard to catch her) like a pro!
Nora- waiting her turn to swim
Kick, kick, kick
Ethan learning to dive
Nora on the diving boards!
Ethan tried to see how far out he could jump
Check out that form :)!
I took a couple videos of Ethan swimming and both jumping off the diving boards...

Here's Nora jumping

And Ethan.

And here's the second half of Ethan passing his swim test!! 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Visit to Indy

Last week we went to Indy to visit the Jolliffs, who have been in the states for the summer.  Hap, Elizabeth, Sam, Andrew, Jacob and twins, Abigail and Abram were prefect hosts!  We had so much fun, even if it was just a 24 hour visit!  We played, swam, ate, celebrated a birthday and caught up with great friends!!  
3 babies watching the big kids swim!
Nora- jumping off the diving board
Sam, Nora, Jacob, Andrew, Ethan
Love these kids!!
Playing catch off the diving board!
Pizza night!
Atley and Abby
Playing before bedtime
Happy Birthday to Andrew!   
Sam and Ethan
8 Kids!
Andrew and Ethan
Nora and Jake!  These 2 played together so well!
Elizabeth and I with our crazy group of kids!  Love them all!
It was such a great time catching up!  The kids played so well together.  Elizabeth and I have known each other since kindergarten.  Even though we don't get to see each other often, we always seem to pick up right where we left off.  That's the sign of a true, deep friendship.  I am blessed to know her and her family!

Thursday, July 30, 2015

10 Months

Atley Jane is 10 months old today!  It's hard to believe that in just 2 short months we will be celebrating a whole year of her life!  

  • She nurses 3 times a day and eats 3 meals a day- and she usually can't shovel it in fast enough!
  • She takes 1 or 2 naps a day- it depends on what we are doing in the morning if she gets that morning nap.
  • She sleeps great at night.  She goes to bed between 8-8:30 and wakes up between 7-8 most mornings.  
  • She still has 2 teeth and working on those top 2
  • Check out those teeth :)
  • She crawls all over the place
  • She pulls up on anything she can get to and has started to cruise around on the furniture

    • She claps now! Usually when you say "yay!" and sometimes when you say "clap".  (We're still working on the wave)


    • She loves play with Ethan and Nora- except when they try to move her away from something
    Now for the rest of the pictures!
    Standing!
    Headbands are more fun to play with than wear
    Sweet Atley Jane!

    Wednesday, July 22, 2015

    Phone Dump

    I've been taking lots of pictures on my phone lately...but not too many on the camera.  So, here's the latest from my phone :)!

    Atley was looking too cute for church on Saturday, so I snapped a few pictures
    Sunday afternoon, we decided to head to Scheels in Springfield.
    Getting ready to bowl
    Silly girl
    The obligatory- sit in the bear chair- photo :)! 
    Some pictures from playing around the house!
    She had a blue popsicle...
    Playing some bags
    Ethan is good! I would pick him as my partner any day :)
    We've been spending a lot of time at the pool lately too!
    Atley was loving the little splash pad!
    Atley and Olen having fun
    Ethan, playing with Atley (Nora was with us...just wouldn't stand still for a picture)
    Ethan and Soren- silly boys!

    Fun-Filled Weekend

    Our good friends, the Lloyds, came back to town for a visit last weekend.  It was such a fun time!  We started with a fun night swim on Friday night.  Check out all these kids!!  14 kids between 4 families!
    Love these kids!
    Saturday we met at the Children's Museum.
    Stopped for a smile during a little grocery shopping!
    Nora, Atley and Mayleigh
    Bubble room!
    Love these girls!
    Emily, me, Erin and Jessica
    Saturday night we all went to church together, had dinner and said our goodbyes.  Ethan had his first sleep over at Emily's house with the Lloyd and Koskinen boys.  He had a great time!  I almost shed a tear watching him walk into their house with his pillow and backpack.
    Sweet sleepy boys


    Wednesday, July 15, 2015

    Michigan City 2105

    Last week we spent the week at the beach with my parents, Abby and Alex and lots of cousins.  This is the 3rd time we have vacationed at Beachwalk in Michigan City, IN on Lake Michigan. (2010, 2012)  The weather could have been better, but that didn't stop our fun!  We had great beach weather the first 3 days and then it turned cooler and a little rainy.  I have a ton of pictures, so be prepared :)!

    We took a walk down to the beach when we got there on Friday.  It is so beautiful!




    The weather the next few days was perfect for some beach time.
    Sandy boy
    Sand angels
    Scout buried Ethan in the sand
    Ethan and Scout spent a lot of time digging gigantic holes :).
    Katie and Nora
    Again with the holes...
    Swimming in Lake Michigan
    Here they are again, with Haley joining the fun :)
    Snack time

    We also spent a lot of time walking, riding bikes or scooters and taking golf cart drives around the resort.  And sometimes stopped at the playground for some fun!
    This boy loves the monkey bars/rings
    Scout, Nora and Katie on the big green slide!
    Piling on the golf cart with Uncle Alex
    One of our evening walks
    We were there over the 4th of July, so we had to do some festive activities :)!
    Nora's ready!
    She wasn't too sure about the sparklers at first
    Micah was our firework specialist 
    Watching in awe :)!
    Love these 2 (and their sister in the background)
    She figured out she could do it too.
    Grandma Terri, Nora, Jared and Micah- just hanging out
    Atley was captivated by the fireworks
    Ethan and his sparkler
    After our firework fun at the houses, some of us headed down to the beach to watch the fireworks over the lake.
    Ethan and Alex- patiently waiting
    Among the crowd on the beach

    Happy 4th from Jared and I :)
    Finally fireworks!
    One day we took the kids to the local zoo.  It's a small zoo and we had a great visit!
    All the kids, ready to go in!
    Ethan's wingspan vs. the Bald Eagle
    View of Lake Michigan from the zoo...so pretty!
    Cute kids ;)
    Hanging out with the river otters
    Feeding the birds
    HUGE white tiger
    Our trip also included a lot of fun family time!!
    Pile up on Abby!
    Ice cream time with cousins!
    Pop and a sleeping Atley
    Happy baby
    All the kids loved playing with Atley
    Especially Scout :)
    We had a fire pit at our house, so naturally we had to have s'mores!
    Looking down on the fun!
    Yummy!
    Marshmallow mouth
    Atley had to settle for a mum mum...
    My mama and I
    Pop rescued her from the stroller