A Morning in the Park

Last week my cousin was telling me about a park that was really nice,
so we decided to check it out today. I googled directions and we were on
our way. Well I left my ipod at home with our directions. I thought I
remembered so we drove on, and on, and on. Finally we called my cousin's
husband and he was able to recall directions to help us get there.

The park was beautiful! I loved the lake and can see myself taking many
more walks around it in the near future:) The trail had a lot of shade which
helped keep us cooler.
Jackson couldn't take his eyes off the ducks. He wanted to let go of
Brian's hand and chase them in the lake.

Brain can't wait to take Jackson back to fish someday:)

After walking around the lake and looking at the birds and fish, we

headed over to the play area.

Walking on the bridge with mommy

Racing daddy down the slide

Through the tunnel on his own

Daddy is always doing something funny

And, we ended the morning off with a picnic lunch. Jackson enjoyed

his first picnic and ate a ton of food. Surprise! He also got to experience

flies for the first time. Thank you Lord for blessing me with a wonderful

family who fills my heart with joy and the beautiful sunshine today!

A New Game

Brian always tickles Jackson on our bed in the mornings. The other day Brian asked Jackson where his belly button was and he pointed right to it. He can also show us where his head and feet are. What a smart boy!

Wild Man

Jackson was full of ENERGY today!

Bike ride +
Playing at the park+
The Little Gym+

Reading books+

Taking a walk+

Dancing to music+

Watching Old MacDonald+

Attacking mommy+

Swimming in the pool+

Another bike ride+

NO NAP=

(at 6:30 pm)

A LOT of stuff

Yesterday morning Jackson and I went to the library for story time. He liked the singing and clapping. His favorite things were the computers and the table with crayon buckets in the middle. He was still under the weather yesterday and ended up taking a 3.5 hour nap after story time. Jackson only would eat fruit and drink his milk. He laid his head on me and just wanted his hair rubbed. Poor guy!

We gave him some benadryl and ran the humidifer last night and he woke with better spirits. Praise God! He still has a runny nose and a little cough, but he ate better and was such a goof ball all day. He decided he didn't really need a nap today:)


First thing this morning we were off to the doctor for Jackson's 15 month well check. They checked his vision and he passed. He now weighs 28 pounds (90%), is 35 inches tall (off the charts!), and his head circumference is 19 inches (75%).



We got in to the exam room right away but had to wait on the doctor a bit. So, Jackson climbed on everything,

Ate some goldfish,


"All done mom"

And was just plain silly. He had to get two shots and was a champ during both of them. I was so proud! Hopefully no more doctor visits this summer.



Since it was no nap day, there was plenty of building to be done:)

Check out that crazy hair!

He did not want me to help him with his tower. Jackson and I also went shopping for Brian's Father's Day gift and got ourselves a little treat too!
It is such a dangerous thing for me to have each day off. A day has not gone by yet of summer vacation that I haven't spent money. This could be very bad!


My Aunt Midge gave Jackson her old plastic swimming pool. He liked shoveling the water. He enjoyed the little pool, but everynow and then he would get up and want to go swim in the pool.

No school + an active 15 month old= a very long, but FUN filled day

The Start of Summer

I have completed my fourth year of teaching, CRAZY! This year I had to pack up and bring my whole classroom home because I will be teaching at a new school in the fall. After numerous trips from my classroom to my Jeep and the Jeep to the upstairs spare bedroom Brian was tired!! I helped some:) I think it is more work for him when I changed schools than me. The last day is always bitter sweet for me. At least most of my students are going to the new school with me, so I can still see them next year. I am excited for what the Lord has placed in my future, butI am going to miss some sweet, sweet friends next year.

Jackson had a 102 fever the last night of school. So instead of going out to celebrate, Brian brought Chick-fil-a home. His fever was down so he went to the sitter's house the next day while I wrapped up shop at school. Talk about a waste of a day! He was still not feeling well and fell alseep at 6:00 without dinner. Around 10:30 he woke up. I got him up and fed him dinner then we stayed up playing until midnight. Jackson let me sleep until 9:00 on the first day of summer vacation. However his fever was back and we were off to the doctor. He had streph throat. Off to the pharmacy for Jackson and Sonic for me!

You wouldn't guess he didn't feel well~what a goof ball!

I wish I could say he was on the mend, but now he has a deep cough that has been keeping him up and he is still running a low grade fever. It is so hard to watch your baby not feel well. We have our 15 month well check tomorrow, but I have a feeling he won't be well enough for his shots. Please say an extra prayer for my boy to feel better.

I am loving this summer SAHM stuff:) Even if my summer didn't start off with the bang,I am so thankful to be home to love on Jackson when he is not feeling up to par. Plus we have 3 months to make a lot of bangs!

15 Months

Today was the last day of school for the year. YAY!! I now get to spend the next 12 or so weeks with the cutest 15 month old around:)

1. Jackson has his 15 month well check later this month. I will get all his updated stats then. He is still wearing size 4 diapers, 18-24 month clothes, and size 5 shoes.

2. He loves to be outside! Whenever he wakes up, even at 5 am the first thing he says is "outkide". He stands at the window and shouts "outkide, outkide". So cute!!

3. Outside is his new favorite word, he also says up, what's that/this, all gone/done, hi dad, hello, meow, wow, mom.

4. Jackson is not patient. He knows what he wants and wants it right away. This is usually the case with food.

5. He loves bike rides. When we go in the garage he walks right over to the bikes and says up!

6. He throws his head back when he doesn't get his way. (We're working on this one and #4)

7. Jackson gives big bear hugs and pats your back while doing giving you one. So sweet!

8. He still loves his hats, shoes, and bike helmet. He now tries to put his shoes on himself .

9. Jackson still loves to read. His new thing is to climb up on the couch or chair by HIMSELF, tuck a blanket in around him, and read his books.

10. He goes to bed around 8-8:30 each night and sleeps till 6 or 7 each morning. We have been taking walks each night and he falls right alseep. Probably not the best habit to get into but Brian and I get some time to talk each night:)

11. He is a great eater! He has slowed down a little bit. His favorite foods are mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, strawberries (really any fruit), goldfish, graham crackers, and he loves his milk!

12. Jackson's hair is growing and growing. It is a light brown, blondish color and very long in the back. I think I will just let it grow for now!

13. He loves to swim and is learning to kick his feet and blow bubbles in the water. We have plenty of time to practice this summer:)

14. He is very smart and responds to everything we say and amazes each day with the things he is able to do.

15. Jackson loves Old MacDonald Baby Einstein DVD. He stands and dances, points and oooos through the whole movie. He also loves to dance, bob his head ,and lifts his arms when he hears any music!

Memorial Day

I love three day weekends because of all the time I get to spend with my boys! Summer is near and for that I am beyond excited but it is still not the same as three day weekends because Brian is working. Man, I wish he would have finished his teaching degree:)

Today we celebrated Memorail Day by BBQing with some family and friends. Katrina, Louis, and Lori were able to join us for a little bit! My Aunt Midge, Uncle Dan, and cousins Korey and Kim and her husband Jonathan and son Aaron came over too.

We grilled hamburgers, brats, and a hot dog for Jackson. We also enjoyed lots of fruit, potato salad, spinach dip, and brownies! I always eat way too much on days like this:)

The rest of the day was spent having fun out in the sun!

Trying to blow bubbles!

Playing washers

Brian set to work yesterday to create what we needed to play this fun game. It is a favorite at all Hartzler get togethers. If you get three ringers in one turn you get to sign the board. Ofcourse Brian accomplished that feat on the first day of playing! Uncle Dan and I did dominate for a few games:)

Jackson must have been warm, he dumped a whole cup of water on himself. He was such a trooper today! He was outside almost all day and was exhausted tonight. He was soundly sleeping by 7:30.

It feels like summer to me, I would love to sleep in tomorrow... I guess that will happen Friday:)