Happy Valentine's Day

We don't do a lot for Valentine's Day but we do enjoy exchanging cards and eating a bit of candy. This year after dinner we did family cards and Jaydon was thrilled with his.

Jaydon loves animals! This card was too perfect to pass up as it had a bunch of animals saying different corny things. He will point to all the different animals when asked to find them, he signs many of their names and will make some of their noises (dog, pig and horse especially).

Even Lily was in the spirit waching Jaydon from the bookcase.

Geocache and Park visit with Grandma

Grandma came up to babysit so we could go to the card party (see post) and the next day we thought we would go for a geocache adventure and visit the park.

Grandma always has some kind of technology to help us get where we are going. We did end up fiding the cache this time (it was the one we couldn't find with the Millard Family). Turns out it just wasn't out last time we looked, so Millards if you are up for another visit we can go try again...

Using the digger machine at the park.
Focused!
Slides are one of Jaydon's favorite things...it doesn't even matter if they are all wet and it is cold.


He got a little wet but was quite the trooper and still wanted to go down some more.

"Shipwrecked" Card Party

Kon and Penni throw a fabulous card party every year. This year the theme was "Shipwrecked" and six of us decided to go as the Gilligan's Island crew (we drew our characters out of a hat and poor Ginger was the only one left out). We had a great time as always and are already looking forward to next year.

Jeremy and I got Mr. and Mrs. Howell, it was fun putting our costumes together.

Jason and Melody drew the Professor and Gilligan.

Jayson and Sherry were Maryann and the Skipper.

The group.

Our wonderful host and hostess.

Starting out the first of six rounds of the card game.

There are prizes at the end of the evening and Jayson and Sherry were super excited about the snuggies Jeremy and I won so we happily traded for their cute yard light. All participants left happy!

Cats!

Jaydon loves animals! When we walk out to get the mail each afternoon he always signs dog because he wants to go see if the neighbor's dog is outside, then he signs cat because he wants to see if the neighbor's cat is outside. I tell you these neighbors probably think I am staking out their house because Jaydon likes to just hang out in front of it hoping to get a chance to see either animal. Then he also will point out if there are birds around by signing bird.

He has started trying to pick up the cats and snuggle them. Higgins did a pretty good job on this squishing event.

As the kids were voicing their displeasure at being in the pack n' play just a little longer than they wanted to be I decided to throw the cats in too and get a photo.

Higgins was trying to jump out the whole time so this was as good as the photo got.

Jaydon likes trying to play with the cats with their toys (the laser or the feather), this morning Jaydon kept taking toys and putting them next to Higgins while he was sleeping to see if he would play, nope, he just slept.

A video of Jaydon playing with the cats with my apron. He of course had the cats running around the house before we decided to take a video so the video does no justice to the fun the cats and Jaydon had when they were actually really chasing.

Jaydon and Brenna

We are really lucky to have Brenna (and Wendy and Greg) so close (a 2 minute drive). Swapping childcare has worked so well for me to be back at school a few afternoons a week.

The kiddos enjoy spending time together.

Brenna had just arrived and wanted to give Jaydon a hug, this time he didn't seem all that interested but it varies on who wants to give the other one a hug at times.

I had them both and had to take a shower and get ready for work so...into the pack n' play they went with toys and books. This was of course at the end when I decided to go get the camera when they both wanted out rather than get them out right away. Photo op first!

Taking turns on which one was vocalizing their displeasure.

Random Jaydon Picts

Here are a few shots throughout the month. I realize I am already getting a lot worse at taking photos, we have had a few fun things we have gone to and I have neglected to bring my camera along to any of them. Hopefully I can get back on track. I know I complained about not having very many baby pictures of myself and while this is not a pregnancy announcement I do worry about how few photos baby #2 will get when that time comes.

Jaydon loves helping, here he decided to set the table. Scary that he is able to reach so many things now - stuff left on edges of the dinner table and counters are no longer safe.

He loves to snowshovel. So far he has never tried that trick when it is actually snowing but he pushes the shovel all around our cul de sac and sometimes even pulls it.

Enjoying some snuggly blanket and book time by the fire place. It was great.

Jaydon loves to read!

He is also extremely active. He runs and jumps and climbs on things and enjoys being buried in blankets, sheets etc.

Old Small Group Get Together

We had a great time getting together with our old small group. We missed Phillip, (otherwise known as Jillip) who is on deployment with the military right now. Other than that everyone was able to make it.

Melody trying to take Gavin home with her.

Jeremy playing with some of the kids. Christian, Grace, Abby and Jaydon (L to R)

Getting cleaned up a bit after dinner, also talking sports.

The guys: James, Jeremy, Jason and Jeff (hence the Jillip comment from earlier). Jeremy got the seat way down in the opening of the couch so that made him feel like a normal photo of himself would just not do.

The ladies: Lisa, Heather, Melody, Sarah, Krissi and little Gracie.

And this next sequence was the attempt to get a photo of all the kids. Keep in mind when we first joined this group Christian was the only kid yet in existence and he was a baby.

Jaydon was doing ok for awhile but it took a bit too long to get everyone located and onto the couch, so the next few are his attempt at escaping.

Ok, everyone is here: Gavin (chillin'), Grace (contemplating), Jaydon (escaping), Christian (debating whether he should stop Jaydon), Grayden (thinking about escaping), Jackson (enjoying himself immensley), Abby and Mikayla (sisters smiling for the camera)

Chaos reigns!