Meeting their new cousin!

We went up to Iowa this weekend to see Ryder.. and Jami & Rexy too.  We drove up Friday evening and spent the night at moms.  Saturday morning we all went to Jami & Rexy’s house.  The kids were so excited to see their new cousin!  When we got there, Jami was feeding him a bottle, so I finished giving it to him WITH LOTS OF HELP!

 

They all did a great job with him.  Jocleyn fed him and held him all throughout the day.  She has become so grown up this year.  Eli was a little shy with him.  But he did hold him and tell him that he and Ryder share the same middle name Bosch.  He thought that was pretty cool!  And Audrey helped feed him.  She held him.  And everytime someone else was holding him, she would hold her arms out because she wanted to hold him.  She gave him kisses and hugs. 

 

Brian went golfing with Rexy on Saturday, while the kids and I stayed at Jami’s house with mom.  We met Brian out there later that night for a bonfire.  We made smores.  All three kids roasted marshmellows.  Audrey ate half of a smore, but then realized that she could just eat plain chocolate.  Jocelyn made marshmellows for everyone.  It was a beatiful night to sit outside!

Sunday we headed to West DesMoines to Brian’s parents.  We had lunch and then we filled up the pool outside and they played on the slip’n’slide.  Even Brian went on it!  The kids thought that was pretty cool.  Monday morning we stopped by Uncle Mark and Deb’s house to see them.  Only a couple more months until their big day!

I am an Aunt!

Let me introduce Ryder.  He was born Saturday the 23rd at 6:33am.  Jami did an awesome job and had a pretty fast labor… especially for her first!  His name is Ryder with the middle name Bosch (for grandpa VDB), just like Eli.  What a neat family tradition to celebrate my dad!  Ryder has long fingers and toes just like his daddy!  He is so sweet and precious.  It is going to be so hard to not see him very often.  Jocelyn, Eli and Audrey will get to meet their cousin this weekend!  Jocelyn & Eli are very excited!  I am sure I will post some pics of the kids after this weekend!  Please keep Jami and Ryder in your prayers that they have a great first week together!

Good Bye crib!

Well, last night our bedtime routine took much longer than normal!  I put Audrey in her bed at 8:45 and went  to tuck Eli in when all of sudden Eli’s door flies open and in walks Audrey!  (With a BIG smile on her face).  She had climbed out of her crib!  I tried to put her in her bed several more times…and several more times she came to find me.  Out of her room she came acting very proud of herself.

Now, let me give you some background info as to why Audrey was still in her crib.  About 3 months ago, we put a twin bed in Audrey’s room and she wanted nothing to do with it.  We would lay her in the twin bed and she would cry and point to her crib.  We figured, let’s just leave her in there a little bit longer.  We would put her to bed in her crib and she would fall asleep within minutes.  Well, a little bit longer turned into months longer.  Summer flew by!!

So last night, we had no choice!  I layed down with her in her big girl bed.  She cried, tossed and turned, poked at my face, you name it, she did it!  Finally, over an hour later, she was a asleep.  And she slept in there all night without waking up.  I had to wake her up this morning.  This morning, her and I worked in her room.  We cleaned it and put all her stuffed animals from her crib on to her big bed.  She was very excited.  But we’ll see!

Wish me luck at naptime today!!

Making cookies!

Now that Jocelyn is in school and Audrey is back to taking naps after lunch, Eli and I can spend some time doing actvities together.  Eli wanted to make chocolate chip cookies.  I let him pour the ingredients in, mix it, and spoon the dough onto the cookies sheets.  Needless to say, we had some gigantic cookies and some bite size ones too!  We had fun together and was very proud of what he had done!

Riding along in a little red wagon!

We hadn’t gotten the wagon out all summer.. my fear was of Audrey standing up and flipping out when someone was pulling her.  We got it out over the weekend.  Jocelyn pulled Eli and Audrey up and down the street.  Audrey laughing all the way and Eli yelling “FASTER” to Jocelyn.  They had a blast!

Jocelyn’s first day of school

Jocelyn had her first day of 2nd grade.  She really likes her teacher and has a lot of friends in her class.  She has already started spelling tests and has seemed to do pretty well this week.  Eli will start preschool after Labor Day.  He is definetely ready for his routine to back to normal.  (ME TOO!!)  He also will have story time at the library once a week.  Audrey will also get to do a Mommy and Me story time!  Lots of stories, fingerplays and songs. 

Living History Farms

In June we spent some time in Iowa.  Brian’s mom and I took the kids to Living History Farms.  I hadn’t been there since I was little.  We had a good time.  The kids learned a lot and so did I!  Here are some pictures to show the activities they were able to do.

Time with Great Grandma!

My grandma spent a few hours with Jocelyn, Eli and Audrey.  All four of them had so much fun.  I am so lucky to have my grandma to spend time with my kids.  They enjoy being around her.  Eli calls her the “old” grandma. 

BOSCH memorial golf tournament

BOSCH Memorial Golf Tournament

We hold a memorial golf tournament every year for my dad that passed away in June 2002 of a sudden heart attack.  The tournament is a time when all my dads family and friends get together to celebrate what he loved most about his life.  FAMILY, FRIENDS, and GOLF!

All three of the kids came out with us this year.  Eli got to putt on some holes and Jocelyn rode around with many different people.  Audrey just loved being outdoors and able to run around.

What we did all summer!

Crazy Grandma came down to visit us and we took her to a Royals game.  We had a good time.  There were fireworks afterwards.  Eli was so excited to see the game and for the fireworks.  He tried to stay awake, but fell asleep right before the fireworks started and then would not wake up!

 

The kids love to go to the zoo.  We have a family membership so we can go many times throughout the year.  We saw the baby zebra this year and we always love to sit and watch the chimps.

Eli played his first year of TBall.  He had some great plays.  He could not wait for games.  He told everyone that he was going to play “real” baseball.  Thanks to everyone who came to watch his games!  He was so excited to show everyone what he could do!