A Visit to Poky!

Playing baseball.

Jillian loves dogs just like her Daddy. She has since she was about seven months old.

Jace chekcing out Grandpa's house decor.

The kids in the sink.

Grandpa, Jace, Jillian, Grandma.

The view from the top of Grandpa's house.

Grandpa with Colton.

Aunt Jill was coming to town so when that happens we all try to meet in Poky so we can all see her. It was kind of last minute so I wasn't able to get work off so right after work we put the kids in jammies and we were off. As soon as I got to the house everyone sat me down and was real weird. ( Honestly I thought something awful had happened.. I kept asking my Dad if he was okay because I only have one Grandpa left. He seemed fine?) So finally after a couple minutes of awkward silence Jill says "Joy.. I'm pregnant" It took my breath away and I just gasped and started crying! I am so excited for her. Now I didn't get any pictures because everyone else was taking pictures of me and Jill but it was a moment I will never forget. (She is doing great and having a California girl in early December) So after the big announcement we all chatted and played with the kids and then made it off to bed. The next day we played and went swimming and had plenty of baby talk with a wonderful meal prepared by my Dad. He loves cooking when we all get together. The next night we stayed with our Grandpa in the woods. Colton, Grandpa and I took a hike to the top of his property and it was beautiful. He showed me all the perks and even carried Colton on his shoulders through the thick wet stuff. He is in great shape! After that we played some baseball with Fallon, Alex, Grandpa, and our cousin Elijah. Following our big game we headed for home. It was a great quick trip.

Colton's Shark Tooth!

Many of you may not know but Colton is extra special because he was made with an extra tooth! We are learning more about it as we go. He has been to the dentist every two months since he was about 18 months old. He has had a real cleaning and x-rays. He goes back with Angie our hygienist all by himself. They think is extra tooth is merged with the real one which makes it prone to cavities. Today he was so brave and got the cavity filled in his extra tooth (with no pain killers or gas). This is him in the parking lot showing me his new filling in his extra tooth! Way to go bud!

May

Jillian watching Daddy and Jace mow the lawn.

Jillian on her pooh toy.

Colton going really fast!
Jace climbing in his car. He loves life behind the wheel!

Colton and his good buddy Matt with a butterfly.

Jillian being real cute.

I try so hard to get a picture with all the kids together. I haven't been successful yet but this is as close as I have come. They are all looking at the camera!

One of Colton's pictures... If you look he did pretty good with his name. I have the green marker and he did the red. We would take turns with the letters.

Another attempt with kids together in a picture...

Daddy and Jace on the mower.

Jace hanging out in Aunt Tobi's rocking chair.

We had a wonderful month of May. It started with some lawn mowing and cleaning up the yard. Brian loves yard work and you can tell because we have a great yard for the kiddos. Then on May 8th Dad and Colton drove to Montana to help Aunt Tobi celebrate her graduation. Colton loved the adventure. Grandpa and Grandma Schultz continued west and came to see us. However I am not sure they will keep coming because every time they come Brian has a chore list for them. This trip the project was to organize, clean, paint the garage along with putting in an attic ladder and epoxy on the floor. Louise helped for a weekend and then had to head home for work. Dutch stayed another week. I helped by heading home with all the kids to give Brian a weekend by himself to put the finishing touches in the garage. It has been so nice. It feels like an extra playroom because of the epoxy on the floor. Thanks for all your help papa dutch and grandma weez. We finished out May enjoying our new "playroom" on all the rainy days. Some of the new tricks in the house include jace clicking his tongue, jumping, and saying two. Jillian blows on a pinwheel, climbs up and goes down the slide by herself, and does half a sommer sault. Colton does a front flip on the trampoline and wanted to "play with grandma sal's eyeballs" (her contact case) "because he saw her put her eyeballs in there."

April

Jillian in her high chair with some eggs.

Jill and Jace checking out the eggs from the hunt.

The handsome and witty Levi.

The strong and noble Jacob with Jace.

Colton getting ready to make a masterpiece.

Aunt Tobi with her birthday cake. Colton ready to help blow out 29 candles.

Jillian getting a smooch from Uncle Kris.

Jillian "hanging out" with Dad. One of her favorite things.

All three and me with the Easter bunny. Thanks Aunt Tobi and Hailee Kiser for your help!

Colton at the Hunt! Go big guy! Get those eggs.

Our beautiful and talented Aunt Fallon with Jillian.

Our intellectual and charming Uncle Alex with Jace.

The wise Grandpa Deatherage with Jace.

Aunt Fallon and Mom holding Jace and Jilly.

April was full of fun and visitors! First we had Grandpa, Aunt Fal and Uncle Al! It was so much fun to see them yet a little crazy for me. Fallon was a little younger than Colton when I met her and now she is a beautiful young lady. It made me realize that I really need to slow down and enjoy each little moment with my young family. Grandpa is so great with the kids. He can usually be found where ever they are and he is on the floor playing right along with them. Then we had Uncle Kris, Aunt Tobi and Cousins Levi and Jacob. It was so fun to see Uncle Kris with Jillian. They had a tender special relationship. She isn't quick to share her smiles like her brother so it was neat to see her open up. I loved watching all the boys play too. Colton still talks about his cousins Levi and Jacob to anyone that will listen. He is a huge name dropper with all of his little friends. He is definitely cooler because he knows these big handsome boys. (Again.. Levi was 18 months old when I met that special little guy and now he is a man.) The time zooms by!

While the Magruders were here the boys did a lot of ground squirrel hunting and I roped Tobi into helping me with the Easter festivities. Colton was very sweet at the hunt his first two eggs he picked up "were for the babies." He is a great big brother.

Baby Owen!

This is the our newest nephew. He is the most precious thing. We love you baby Owen.

The Babies are 1.

Wow. What a year it has been for these too. They have both almost quadrupled their birth weight. That is a lot of growing. Anyways..

Jacer!

You are an amazing courageous boy that tackles the world. You walk, run, jump, hang, climb and fall. You love to wrestle and play in a pile of pillows. You love balls and often play fetch with Dad. You are very ticklish and quick to smile. You still love your cuddle time and mommy loves that. You are starting to like meat and still love bananas and cheese. Your nick names include slugger, little tank, wild boy, jace jaroo and jacer.

Jilla lilla Lou!

You are a graceful, nurturing advantageous little girl. I am in awe of your beauty and your smile. You light up the room. You love stuffed animals and you love to give them kisses. You love stacking and sorting and putting away. You can often be seen chatting away on whatever object you have made your phone. You enjoy feeding yourself with a fork and love anything you can stab with it. Your nick names include sis, sissy, Jilli, jilli bean, pretty girl and sweet pea.

March

Jillian eating cake.
disclaimer (Louise has a perfect shot of Jilli with her cake and I am still figuring out how to load it so check back in case her cake picture changes)

Grandmas and their babies.

Jace is slowing down.

This is Colton's wink. One of my many favorite things about my big boy.

Jillian's butterfly cake!

Jace's frog cake.

Anna, Jace, Joy and Jillian.

Leaping Lillipads! Jace and Jillian are turning one! I can't believe those little babies we brought home are becoming little people. To celebrate we invited our family and close friends over for some cake. We were so lucky to be surrounded by so many people that love our children on their special day. We played outside and then came in to eat cake. My friend Anna has made cakes for all my kids on their first birthday, it was hard to watch my kids destroy her (and her mom's, thanks Joyce) masterpiece's but so much fun at the same time. Jill loved the frosting and got purple everywhere. Jace loved the cookie part of the cake and then loved to play in it and squish it in his fingers. After entertaining their guests they had a nap and had a great day. Thank you to everyone who made their first birthday special. They were so lucky to have everyone their.

Also in March our family celebrates March Madness. We have so much fun watching the games because we participate in a pole and we are college basketball fans. Out of 44 participants I won this year. I haven't let any of Brian's coaching buddies forget either. If anyone needs help with their picks next year just let me know.