Into High Gear

At the Lake

2009-08-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

We spent a full week at Grandma and Grandpa's house on the lake. I cleaned a lot, but we got to spend lots of time with family too.

Kaylee & Jackson

Aunt Linda & James
Sitting in Grandpa's chair
Just sitting around the back yard
Uncle Phil and Porter
Isaac
Enjoying the nice weather
Riding in the paddle boat

Uncle John & Aunt Bonnie

Aunt Mindy and Morgan

2009-08-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of August, we took a trip to Indiana. First stop was to see Aunt "Minnie" and Morgan. We went shopping at the outlets (twice) and then played in the sprinklers.

The picture says it all

2009-08-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

Fashion Statement

2009-08-21T19:11:00.001-07:00

Black dress shoes, white socks, plaid shorts - perfect old man outfit!!

or just wear them around the house with your fishy pajamas

Sooo Sweet??

2009-08-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

This is a rare picture of Jackson cuddling up with his sister. He really does love her, but usually shows it by squishing her or jumping at her.
This is a more realistic picture of his loving by giving her "toys" to play with. Maybe I should fit her with a hard hat -- it might help to protect her. Oh well, she will be one tough little cookie.
T

Perspective

2009-08-21T16:30:00.001-07:00

I let Jackson play with the camera a little bit. Here are some pictures from his view.

His room
Daddy sleeping
"Thithter" Reagan
Favorite "Cars" and "Thomas" toys
Aunt Hannah's dog "Weya" - Leila
Mommy
Reagan
Daddy rear-end
Mommy's feet
Favorite Tonka Truck

Mike Montgomery

2009-08-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

This summer my second cousin Mike (from California) was pitching for the Burlington Bees a minor league team for the Kansas City Royals. We got to go see him play and also visit with some family that we don't get to see very often. He got bumped up a level and transferred out east, so we won't get to see any other games this summer. Maybe later when he makes it to the majors??!!
Josh, Reagan, Cousin David, Aunt Barb, Mike, Uncle Paul, Jackson, Cousin Mark, Cousin Jeanette

Jackson at Music Class

2009-08-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

Jackson had a lot of fun at his music class this summer. He mostly liked to run around the room to the music, but he did have his favorite drum and set of drumsticks.

Reagan - Two Months

2009-08-21T15:56:00.001-07:00

Reagan and Violet

2009-08-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

Violet Yowell was born less than a month after Reagan. I am glad that she will have a good friend to grow up with.

Soon they will be stomping around in monster feet and playing and fighting like Lauren and Jackson.

Fourth of July

2009-08-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

On July 4th this year, we went over to Mottors to grill out, played outside for a while and then went to see the fireworks.
Jackson didn't like the noise.

Kevin and Denise
Waiting for the fireworks to start.
Jonathon, Eric, and Kevin playing "corn hole".

Daddy's little sparkler

The kids running around in the yard.
Picture time in our 4th of July shirts didn't go well

Craft Time

2009-07-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

I am going to try to do craft time with Jackson every once in a while. Just to give him some Mommy and Me time where he gets my undivided attention for a while. Today, I gave him crayons to color while I fed Reagan and then planned to do crafts with him when I was done. He colored for 5 minutes and threw the crayons on the floor for the next 15 minutes. That was fine, he could pick them up when I was done, then we could have fun. Wrong!! Today, he decided he did not want to pick up his crayons. 45 MINUTES LATER, after 6 spankings, much wailing, a call to daddy, and time in bed, he said "okay mommy" and happily picked them up. Someday, I will figure out what makes him tick. So then we got to have fun with scissors, glue, and construction paper. Hopefully next time we get to go straight for the fun stuff.

Work

2009-07-13T12:22:00.001-07:00

I had a meeting today with the district director to see if I could work part time. There is just no way I can work full time with two kids. Some days are great, but some are not - just trying to get stuff done without anything extra going on. I am not even sure how I feel about working part-time, but I felt I needed to ask. It is really a good job, I would like to "keep my foot in the door", and I really don't want to lose my pension benefits. But I really am not sure right now what I can handle. I thoroughly enjoy being with the kids, but being out working just a little bit every week would help me personally as well add a little extra to the monthly budget. I am not worried about it at all. God knows what is best. Every step so far in my life especially the last few years has been exactly where I needed to be for that particular time and I know that as long as I trust Him and don't try to figure it out on my own, it will all work out.

Linus and his Blankie

2009-07-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is Jackson sobbing at the dryer because his blankie is in there and not dry yet. We have had this episode several times in the last 2 and 1/2 years. I need to document that as well as a happy boy with his "Raar" (pacifier) and "Blankie". The pacifier stage is passing on, he only needs it sometimes to fall asleep. I think we might have the blankie around for a while though.

Jackson's Sensory Disorder Problem

2009-07-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

I have been taking Jackson to the Y for a little art class. Basically to give myself some incentive to go work out. They just read a little story and then do a craft project to go with it. He likes gluing and cutting, but I found that he does NOT like finger painting or anything that gets his fingers messy. It ends up all over him and me. So I decided to work on this issue at home and I gave him a cookie sheet with shaving cream on it and some hot wheels cars to drive through it. He literally freaked out!! He was crying hysterically and yelling "I dooty!" He did not like being messy. I showed him how to clap his hands together and make "snow" so that kept his interest for a while, but he still wasn't happy. Finally I stripped him down and put him in the bathtub to clean him up. He was worried about his trucks, so I gave them to him and he was happy as a clam washing them off in the water. Oh well, at least he likes to be clean -- we will work more on the texture issues later.

My new hairdo

2009-07-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

I had to cut down on my time getting out the door. It takes at least two hours to get me and 2 kids dressed and fed in the mornings. So I cut my hair short to expediate things - at least on my part. (We took this picture on our way out the door to celebrate our 11th anniversary).

Lazy Day at Home

2009-07-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Having a fun day playing in the sunshine.
Reagan relaxing in her pack n' play
Little Fish
What a mischievous face!!
So much fun to be outside

Extra Big Brothers

2009-07-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

We usually take pictures when we go away, but then never do when we are just hanging out at home with friends, so I am trying to remember to do that too. Parker and Braden Mottor are really just extra big brothers to the kids. They were over yesterday and love holding Reagan. They also discuss who is on "Jackson Duty" whenever we are together with them. Yesterday, Braden played trains with him and Parker read books with him. Fun Times!!

Happy Anniversary

2009-06-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

Happy 11th Anniversary Josh!!!

Pretty Princess

2009-06-26T14:57:00.001-07:00

Reagan's Baby Shower

2009-06-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 20 was the date of Reagan's baby shower at Aunt Mindy's house. We had a Victorian tea party outside under the white canopy. (Aunt Rose planned it, but we were sad that she couldn't come because a new little cousin-to-be was making her really sick). Aunt Mindy and Grandma Gear cooked and baked all week making lots of yummy sandwiches and cookies. We all wore hats and drank tea (iced tea because it was so hot) out of pretty tea cups. Guests were Great-Grandma Gear, Aunt Carol, Cousin Gretchen, Grandma Gear, Aunt Christine, Aunt Mindy, Aunt Angie, Aunt Hannah, Grandma Nyikos, Aunt Bonnie, Aunt Joanna, and Cousins Sorel, Morgan, and Lydia. Aunt Bonnie had the silliest hat and also worked really hard to win the clothes pin game. Reagan got a lot of pretty clothes and a quilt from each grandma.

Sorel and Jackson

2009-06-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

Playing and Splashing in the Millenium Fountain

A Day in Chicago

2009-06-26T14:25:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, we took a trip to Chicago for the day. We were meeting up with Uncle Ben, Aunt Angie, Carson, Uncle Nathan, Morgan, Grandpa Gear, Aunt Joanna, Sorel, and Aunt Bonnie. We were supposed to go to Shedd's Aquarium and thought that it was a bonus because it was a FREE Day. WRONG!! We got there at 10:00 to find a line around the block and a 2 hour wait. Worse yet, there was a storm coming. After half an hour, the raindrops started falling and we ditched that idea and went to the Field Museum. We got in before we got too wet, unfortunately the Gear side of our party was not so lucky. It was extremely crowded, but we got to see the animals and the dinosaurs. After that, we tried to go back to the aquarium, but still couldn't get in. So we walked down to the Milennium fountain with Aunt Joanna, Aunt Bonnie (she didn't like the long walk), and Sorel. The kids had a ball splashing around

Super Mom

2009-06-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

Okay! Angie Good says that I need to journal about the everyday things of life -- so here goes.

I really need to realize that I cannot be a Super Mom when I have a newborn, but I can try anyway. Prime example is yesterday morning. I have found already that I need to take a shower after Reagan has eaten (and hopefully fallen back to sleep) and before Jackson wakes up. I also need to plan 2 hours ahead if I hope to go anywhere.

But yesterday, I was completely dressed before I realized Jackson did not have a music class so I did not have to be up so early. I let the kids sleep while I got a few things done. I really want to get Jackson to eat healthier and decided to make oatmeal pancakes as an alternative to his regular frozen waffles. I also had some yogurt and fresh fruit that I thought would be good with some granola. I got on Kari's site and wrote down her recipe. All was going well with the pancakes cooked and the granola in the oven, when both kids woke up at the same time. I bounced Reagan on my arm while I got Jackson settled in his chair, cut up his pancakes, and poured a little syrup in the corner of his plate (yes, I know - disaster waiting to happen). And of course, the phone is ringing off the hook the whole time. I got him settled and then sat on the couch nursing Reagan while I made 6 phone calls regarding the baby shower this weekend and trying to get myself a haircut.

When I look up Jackson is asking for more "chechup" (translation: "ketchup" which he uses for any condiment - ketchup, butter, syrup, soap, etc.) I had left the syrup bottle on the table, which he had now dropped on the floor - luckily it did not spill, but somehow he broke the handle off the bottle. Yes, I noticed he had syrup all over his chin and hands but that can be cleaned up later. Back to nursing Reagan, when I smelled something sweet burning. Jumped up to find the granola a charred mess in the oven.

But I was determined to have some relaxing time at Leah's house so Jackson could play with the boys, she could take some Reagan's one-month pics and we could have some adult conversation. So I finished nursing Reagan, wiped Jackson off with a wet wipe (no time for a bath - even though he was sticky up to his elbows, all over his face, and his entire belly), threw the dishes in the sink, and packed the kids up in the car. Yes, the burnt granola is still on the stove filling the house with the wonderful aroma of burned sugar.

We had a great time with Leah and the kids and I forgot about the disaster until I walked back into the house to that wonderful smell. Sorry no pictures to post because Josh had started to clean up. He only had a few smart aleck comments - like "Did you put cocoa in it? because it sure is dark".

So, thanks for the recipe Kari, but I went to Target and just bought some granola. Next time, I won't try to use my extra hour of quiet time trying to be Super Mom.

(and yes, it took me 4 separate times and 2 days to write this post.)

Pictures of Reagan at One Week

2009-06-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

Beautiful!!