Happy Father's Day To...

My Daddy-
He truly has been a role model in my life and so glad God blessed me with someone who LOVED me unconditionally.
Things I remember my dad doing as I grew up:
1. Every morning (or the mornings I was up that early) I would see him spending time in the Word and praying. What a great example of the importance of spending time with God first thing in the morning. My dad is a busy man but always makes time for the Lord.
2. He never missed a school show, band concert, volleyball game, basketball game, graduation, or any other big or small event in my life. He would leave work or drive through the night just to be there. Thank you dad for showing me how much you cared about me and things I did.
3. He prayed with me almost everyday until the day I got married. Those were some of my favorite times with my dad. How great it was to hear him pray for me and lift up other needs before the Lord together. This is one thing I want to do with Jackson.
4. He has the biggest heart that beats only for others. He cares nothing of what others' think of him and works only to please the Lord. I have learned the value of hard word and determination from him.

Dad, I love you and pray and I can be more like you each day!

To My Father In Law-

Thank you for being such a Godly example to your son. I know Brian will be the kind of father you were to him. Thank you for investing in his life each and every day. You have truly made a difference in Jackson's life too!

To My Husband-

Brian- You are such a great daddy to our son. He knows you love and care about him from you actions and words. You put him before every thing else. I am blessed to have a great husband but also a wondeful dad to our children. I love watching the two of you interact-it makes my heart melt. Jackson is one lucky boy!

GOT SPF 70

Jackson and I are staying plenty busy so far this summer. Brian asked the other day if I was bored yet, because I used to say that during the summer. But, that was before I had a 15 month old to have fun with. Each day we always have some where to be or have someone coming over to swim with us.

Our Days go something like this:

1. Get up whenever Jackson wakes up (as early as 6:00 and as late 9:00)

2. Jackson eats breakfast while mommy works out

3. Bike ride and playing at the park

4. Reading books, building towers, kitchen

5. Library Time on Mondays/The Little Gym on Wednesday/Pool time

6. Lunch Time

7. Nap Time (2-3 hours, Mommy has Bible Study Time, cleans, or works on school stuff)

8. Snack Time

9. Play Time/Pool Time

10. Wait for Daddy to get home

Even with somewhat of a schedule our days are very relaxed and include lots of SUN and SUNSCREEN!

Now this is what our days at the pool LOOK like:

I love these HOT days and am thankful we have somewhere to cool off with our friends. I am thinking Jackson and I will have the best tan when we go home to Wisconsin next week!

The Nursery

About 3 months ago, I started volunterring in the nursery at church. I fill in every week where ever they need me. Sometimes I am with the babies and other times I am with the 4 year olds. Well, this last week I got to be in Jackson's room. He doesn't cry when we drop him off any more, but when I am in his room he wants to be right by me.
I observed a few things about Jackson while I was with him in the nursey:
-He doesn't like to share his mommy
-He likes THE toy that another child has
-He is a strong boy (we will work on not taking toys away)
-He is just as daring on the mats in nursery as at The Little Gym
-He is a great "picker uper"
-He is the cutest, tallest boy in his room, HA!

It is fun to see some of the boys and girls he will grow up with in Sunday school and youth group. I can't help but wonder if he will marry a girl from youth group like his daddy did:)

Every week after we pick Jackson up from the nursery he heads straight for these toys in the entrance of the nursery area. I think it is his favorite part of Sunday morning, it is what gets him through:) I would love a wall of different activities in Jackson's room for him to play with; Grandpa Mel?

It was fun to spend the morning with my boy and his church buddies!

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