Visit to Nanny and Paw Paw’s House

Directly after moving to our new house we went to to visit Nanny and Paw Paw.  As always it was a blast and the boys were beside themselves with excitement.  Due to Nanny being sick, Lincoln’s birth,  the move, etc. it had been WAY too long since we’d been.  So, the first weekend of November we packed up and went to Beach City.

It was so awesome for Nanny and Paw Paw to get to meet precious Lincoln.  They were, of course, instantly in love with our teeny man.  And as with the other boys, the feeling was mutual!

Jack had to get in a shot with his sweet Nanny and baby brother.

The boys loved their new horse tire swing.  The named him Bullseye.

Jack hung off of it while Bear actually swung (is swung even a word?)

Lincoln with his Paw Paw.

Once again Mr. Adventure climbing the rope while Bear uses the swing as it was intended.  Neither is surprising.

Paw Paw and Nan surprised Bear with his VERY OWN CAR!  He was so excited!

Such a monkey!

Bear just chillin’.

One of the most important milestones of the visit was Jackson’s first ever night fishing.  He was so excited!  The guys went out after dinner and Bruce brought Jack back around 9:30.  Jackson was on cloud 9.  He caught over 10 fish and was told he was the best 5 year old caster (is caster a word?  What’s with me tonight?)  they had ever seen.  My little man was so proud of himself!

Golf cart rides are always a hit!

And the ever loved pogo swing.

Andrew is always so sweet to the boys.

And no trip is complete without a 4 wheeler ride with Bruce.

Making happy memories with great family time!

Jay and Bear put together this castle.  Bear promptly wrecked it directly afterwards.  Yep, he’s 2.

Love these brothers!

Lincoln got lots of love!

Jack is a happy man on the bay.

The master of silly faces.

I swear, he put himself in there!

This trip was the first weekend in November, Lincoln was only 3 1/2 months and look how big he looks?!  My sweet baby!

What a fun (but way too short) visit! 

Brothers

Tonight the boys are both sleeping in the same room at Gaga’s house.  I was listening at the door to see if they were going to sleep.   Here’s what I heard:
Jackson: Bear, go to sleep!  Be quiet!
Bear: I’m scared.  What if a bad guy comes?
Jackson: Bear, if a bad guy comes I’ll just introduce him to two scary things. . .my fists!
Bear: Thanks Jackson.

Sweetie little Jack

Lately I’ve been struck again and again by just how sweet Jackson is as a little man.  I’ve always known it but sometimes his unsurpassable energy or insurmountable hijinks cause me to focus on other things-like my own daily survival.

But I digress, back to his incomparable sweetness. . .

A few nights ago I was putting him to bed and said goodnight and that I loved him.  He said goodnight and that he loved me and then said, “mom, you’re the greatest person I’ve ever met” and gave me a big hug and kiss.

Each morning Jackson gets up early enough to see Jay leave for work (around 6:30) and then climbs into bed and snuggles up to me.  He usually just lays there silently (sometimes playing on my phone) next to me.  And then around 7 when Bear starts stirring (saying “mommy, I waked up again, come get me!) Jack kisses me on the cheek and says, “sweet mommy, it’s time to wake up.  I love you mommy!”

Last week I walked in to him laying in the crib with Lincoln.  He was just snuggling and talking to him.  I walked in just in time to hear, “you’re the baby that I prayed for.  I asked Jesus and Santa for another brother and he gave us you!  You were the answer to my prayers.”  Yes, my heart melted.  For all of his wildness, he sure does have a heart of gold.  I love that little man with all of my heart.  It’s amazing how kids make your heart grow so much bigger.  Jay and I both love each of our three little boys more than we ever thought possible.

Our New Home!

Upon arriving in our new home we started getting things set up.  We were grossly unprepared for how long it would take to unpack and get settled (as in we are still knee deep in boxes. . .).

We were super blessed to have Mandy and Nick come for our first weekend and help us get set up.  They also installed fans, cooked dinner, etc.  It was awesome and so much fun having them.  Adrienne and Keanan were supposed to come as well but the family got a stomach bug.  Huge bummer!

Mandy got a lot of time with Lincoln and also made us one of the most delicious dinners ever!

Mom texted me this picture of the boys saying goodbye to the old house.  She was keeping the boys for us over the weekend while we unpacked and brought them to us on Monday.

Adrienne texted me this super sweet picture of our bigs the night before their first day of school without us. 

We didn’t immediately find our helmets so I went on our first day in the new house and bought new ones.  In our house you can never have too many helmets.  Jackson of course has to have the helmet for ages 14+.  No surprise there!

My incredible little hulks.

Bear woke up on his second day in the house and said, “my new home!  I love my new home!”

Happy Lincoln.

Baron loves Lincoln so much.  He’s always begging to hold him.

Our first weekend with the boys our street had a block party.  Here are a few of the kids watching a movie with Papa’s projector in the front yard.  It was a great way to meet everyone!

I just can’t take enough pictures of our teeny man!

We got “Boo’d” with a nice basket of candy and candles the week of Halloween.

Jackson drew this picture of our family and I just love it. 

I recently read an article about how important it is to be in pictures with your kids.  It was talking about how moms feel too dumpy, frumpy, etc to be in the pictures and how kids would later treasure them.  These are definitely not treasures but here’s a few shots with my smallest man.  Fresh out of bed and sans make up but hey-the article inspired me.

The grocery store by our house always has a cooking demonstration going on.  Almost every time I go I buy the demo dinner and cook it that night.  So far Jay has loved them all.

Mom came back to visit us for Halloween which was awesome.  It was so much fun to have her back.  The kids loved trick or treating with new neighbors, Jason and Hailey.

Our neighborhood was crazy on Halloween.  Everyone was dressed up and all of the houses were decorated. 

This house had music synchronized with their lights.

This house had a guy out from juggling fire.  The boys loved it.

The boys got so much candy.  I let them each have 1 piece and they were more than happy with that.

As usual my boys enjoy dressing up EVERY.DAY.

I sure do love my super heroes!

I just can’t believe how big Lincoln is getting!

Super fun Halloween in our new home!