Little Man is Two!

Today is Jackson's 2nd birthday!  We didn't do a big party this time but had a little celebration over the weekend for him. 

Of course he didn't want to have his picture taken so we got very few smiles - again. 

Giving Granddaddy some love...

Rachel loved the hat Grandmama gave her...

It was raining so we didn't get to stay outside long - so hot and steamy and wet!

Did I mention wet?  Jackson liked jumping in the puddles though...

I should have known he would sit down in the water and would have to have his clothes changed...

I didn't do a big cake (or party) this year - so we went with mini-cupcakes instead... He doesn't know the difference though!  

He actually blew out his candle!

Then wondered where the flame went!

He loves his new big trucks!

And his new tricycle!

Climbing in it already...

Today, Michael took the kids to the mall and let them ride the train and the carousel at the mall.  This picture is a little dark, sorry... 

Then this afternoon, Michael put together this one last gift for Jackson and the kids got to play with it after naps.  A mini-trampoline!  They both really like this one!

Tonight we had dinner at home and then went to our favorite frozen yogurt place by us for a treat!  

Happy birthday, sweet boy!  You have changed so much in the past two years...all of our lives have changed so much in the past two years!  You have gone from a precious little baby boy to a big, rambunctious, wild & crazy little boy!  But we love you so much! 

Changes...Part 2

Rachel has had her first loose tooth over the past few weeks!  It took a while but yesterday it became REALLY loose - like bending all the way over type loose... So we knew it would be soon.  We decided to just let her be in control of it instead of one of us actually pulling it - so that it came out when it was ready. 

Tonight it was even more ready and as she and I were sitting on the bed reading her story before she went to bed, she was just a wiggling it... All of a sudden she holds her hand out and looks at me and says "I got it out!" 

She wiggled her first tooth out on her own and it was so easy!  She is very proud of herself too!

The one beside it is loose too, so it won't be long before there is an even larger gap there! 

On another note, a certain little boy turns two years old tomorrow... so check back soon for more birthday pictures!

Playing & Pooh

Rachel wrote this note the other day to her Pooh Bear (whom we all know is practically a part of the family)... She wrote it all on her own without asking how to spell any of it.

 

And just playing in the house...

 Crazy girl!

This kid will climb on any and every thing - he has no fear...

I thought this was sweet of him watching what Rachel was doing...

Changes...Part 1

As many of you know, Rachel got a big haircut last weekend!  She has been wanting her long hair cut for quite some time now...It took us a while to convince Michael that it was okay to cut it - he just loved her long hair.  And while I've always wanted her to have long hair, it was getting very stringy and didn't look that great unless it was up... So, we took the plunge... And it looks great!  She really loves it and it's so much easier to brush now without all of the extra tangles!

Her long hair - wet.

Her long hair dry...

And the new do!

So cute!

Father's Day and More Pool Fun

I know I'm a few weeks behind but here are a few pictures of the kids with Michael on Father's Day...  Rachel watching in anticipation as Michael opens his gift. 

 And Jackson playing with the paper...

We've started planning ahead for our upcoming trip to Costa Rica over Thanksgiving...this was Michael attaching Jackson's car seat to a luggage carrier and wheeling him around the house in it... He thought it was neat for a while - then just wanted out!

And more pool time... We've had a couple of days when we've been the only ones at our neighborhood pool - I don't mind that at all!

My little fish...she is doing so much better in the water this summer...She has so much more confidence in herself now.  She loves jumping in the deep-end and swimming back to the side by herself - over and over and over.  

And it has taken some time but we think Jackson likes that too - jumping in the water with Michael and going completely under and then coming up.  Surprisingly - he likes it!  He's even already gone off the diving board - with and without Michael (I caught him though!)... Way earlier than Rachel ever did.