Another year in SD

Once again we are back at Point Loma Nazarene University doing what Jay loves to do...camp for students.  This year on our first night God provided a beautiful sunset that we haven't seen down here in a few years because it is always so gloomy.  I made Jay come outside and take it in with Tanner because as we are learning, the time with our kids is precious and goes so fast.  

Here's Tanner!  She was so cute, she told the sun nite nite and then we'll see you tomorrow.  Man I love that little girl.

Mommy and Tanner.

 Tanner is very into cameras, thanks to the help of Grammie.  She took a few pretty good pictures on Grammie's camera of a ferris wheel so it got me thinking that maybe I really should teach her about taking pictures.  Here she was sitting so nicely for her tutorial.

Her first picture,  Jett's bottom.  Of course I am a proud parent and think we should frame it and let's be honest who doesn't love a baby's bottom.  She took some of mommy but they were definitely no good :)

Today was a beautiful sunny day.  We never even really saw the sun last year so we decided to take advantage of it.  Tanner and Pete had a blast at the beach digging, digging, digging.  No water for them today. 

So far it has been a great start thanks to the help of Grammie, but we are really looking forward to camp starting so that we can see daddy some.  The kids really miss him and I know he misses them.  

Jett's Dedication

Last Sunday we were able to Jett dedicated at The Well Church in Fresno.  Jett was 8 months old, which was 12 months earlier then Tanner since she was almost 2.  Jett did great and kept leaning onto Brad to hold him.  It was really cute.  We felt so loved by are family and friends that were there to support us.  We love you guys.

 It looks like we are praying in this picture but Brad and Jay just had their eyes closed and I have a funny expression on my face.  Makes you wonder if were looked like the whole time on stage.

Tanner was looking out at all the people trying to find the ones she knew.  She didn't love being on stage and kept thinking there was going to be loud music and noises.  I think she has been to one to many openers and opener practices that she may be a little scarred.

At the Well, they put up a big picture of the baby so everyone can see them.  It is really nice because it can be hard to see the actual child on stage.  This picture is weird because it has another picture it is trying to merge with.  

This is a random picture but I had to throw it in there because Tanner got her first Barbie doll.  Of all the ones she could pick, she chose the most expensive one.  We returned one doll and got $16.99 and this one she picked was $21.99.  Only $5 more dollars but still is a girl after her mommy and daddy where she tends to like higher end stuff.   And of course this one had scissors, which was the real reason she wanted it.  These are the best scissors though because they are just two cylinder pieces of plastic and nothing sharp.  Thanks BARBIE!!!

Tanner's party part 2

 Here are all our fairies.  We have Addison in blue, Avery in purple, Tanner in green and Aubrie in pink.   They were all so sweet to each other.

 Snack time with Tinkerbell fruit snacks and Lemonade.

 Well the party activities were going so quickly that we decided to head across the street to the park to fill some time and to let our fairies stretch their wings.

 Four flying fairies giving their wings some exercise.

 Tanner would swing all day if mommy let her.

 Tanner's new favorite thing is to go down the slide with mommy holding her hand, and I realize it won't be forever that she wants me to go with her so I take every opportunity I can.

 Now it is time for cupcakes.  Notice we had an addition.  We played with Hudson at the park and once he heard about cupcakes he was not going to be left behind.  Good thing I made a lot of extra anticipating some stragglers from the park wondering over.

 Happy birthday to me.... was what you could hear Tanner sing.

 Cute little Addison showing us her cupcake cone.

 Tanner of course just likes the frosting.

Opening gifts.  It was a lot of fun and I think Tanner had a blast.  She even thanked everyone for coming to her party on her own, I didn't even have to prompt her.  What a sweetie we have!!

Tanner's Fairy Party

Here is our little fairy princess so excited for the day that it was the earliest I have ever had her dressed in the morning.  She let me do her hair without a fuss.  I didn't quite think about what she would wear under the costume so we have to improvise.  

We are trying so hard to learn to smile for the camera but you will notice in alot of pictures that she is dazed.   Poor thing she woke up with a big cold this morning but it would not damper her day!

Daddy setting up for the party.  It's amazing what a little balloons and a few outside decor, and a tree from Tanner's room can do to transform a deck to a party.

Little fairy costumes waiting to be put on.

Daddy and his Fairy.  She was soooo excited and couldn't wait for her "friends" to come.

Sister and brother getting in a few pictures before Jett has to take a nap.  Jett slept through most of the party to our amazement.  That just made it a lot easier for mommy and daddy.

Three of the four fairies.  You have Aubrie in pink, Tanner in green and Addison in blue.

The girls learned how to play musical chairs and everyone was a winner and got a wand.   I think they actually got the idea of it pretty well.  Tanner was usually the first to not get a chair.  The nice thing is at this age it didn't really faze them.

Cute little Aubrie all done up for the party.  She is such a sweetie.

Addison use to live here but now lives in North Carolina, but she came back for a while and we were so excited to have her join the party.  She really is a delight to be around and has really good verbal skills like Tanner and just loves to talk.   We wish she lived closer.

Our fairy princess.  I can't believe she is three and we love her so much.  She has brought so much joy into our lives and it is never a dull (or quiet) moment in our house.  

Easter

Before any Easter festivities could begin we had to take some family pictures because dirt is usually not far behind.  To our surprise it was Tanner who turned out to be the smily one.  But you can't blame Jett because he only had a 20 minute morning nap and had missed two meals of baby food.  

 What a good looking family.  We feel so blessed to be our kids parents and feel like we have had great examples in our own parents.

 What cuties!!  I am a proud momma for sure.

 There's our smiling boy.  So handsome.

 Love this little man.

 I call this my cheese face.  He often gives this smile if you look at him.  Look at that wrinkled nose.

 Tanner was way into the Easter egg hunt this year.  It was so cute.  After she found all the eggs she promptly asked us to hid them again, and didn't even open them.

 Daddy and Tanner looking for eggs.  Once the bucket  got to heavy for her to hold she would ask Daddy or Papa to carry it for her.

 Mommy's turn to hunt for eggs.  I did drop one egg and it opened up and she said what is that.  I quickly said bunny poop, and she believed me.   THen I ate one and she was intrigued and asked to try it too.  Then she realized it was candy and said it's not poop its yummy.  What a smart girl I have.

 Look at my loot mommy.

My cousin Stephanie made this beautiful egg cake for us for Easter.  She did a great job.  THanks Steph!

What should we do today? Lets go to the moon.

So one morning we were sitting at the breakfast table asking Tanner what she wanted to do today and she was in her grumpy self so Jay started making suggestions.  He asked her if she walked to go to the park, on a walk, watch a movie, go to the moon etc.  Finally she decided to go to the moon.  Wondering how Jay was going to live up to that one, later I learned he planned to build a rocket ship.

Two hours later daddy and Tanner were busy building a rocket complete with a window and door.  Jett was really happy to watch the action.  Of course daddy did most of the building but the two had fun none the less.  What a great daddy!!

 Almost ready for take off.  Notice Tanner's tools on the little table.  Any time daddy gets his tools out so does Tanner.

Just landed from the moon and had a great trip.  The rocket stayed in the house for 5 days and then it retired at night after bed.  It was quite fun and I can't wait to see what the next thing these two decide to build. 

Jett's new move

 A couple of weekends ago we met up with Jay's family for lunch, we'll me and the kids did as Jay was busy building sets and as always Tanner and Micah were buddies paling around.  I love how close they are and really hope as they get older they still will have that special bond.

One day after Jett's nap I walked in to find him like this.  Boy, was I surprised.  I guess just like Tanner he will learn to do a lot in his crib where he can focus.  Now he is a rolling machine.  He even rolled off the changing table today as I turned around to talk to Tanner.  YIKES!!  Scared mommy and himself.  Tanner never rolled like this.  Guess no more babies unattended on the changing table.