Summer tastes good

Summer so far has been full of activities...and many activities full of lots of good food! We are enjoying the yummy fruit in season. Bray is finally liking fruit and it's nice to see him chow down and want more! Over Memorial Day we went to the annual Milford Parade. We were 1 of 2 kids in a 20 foot radius, so we abtained quite a bit of candy. At first Jett was timid to get the candy, but by the end, it was like he was shot out of a canon and on a mission to get the sweets. Darin and Darcy were on a little get-away, so Dina brought Adie. I thought (being the good Aunt that I am) she needed a little taste of a sucker. Oh boy did she like it. I had to hold on to the stick for dear life because she was sucking so hard I was afraid she would swollow it whole. For Fathers Day my brother, Troy, and his wife, Kori, had the whole family over for a cookout. It was such good food and great to hang out with everyone. They have an amazing house and property, so there was never a dull moment. The highlight was when, Troy, brought out the 3-wheeler and everyone got to take turns. For Fathers Day we also had Greg's family over for a cookout. Some friends, Randy and Casey, invited us to their Sunday school class campout. We played volleyball on some sand that was just ground up rocks. We took the boys to the beach (Wes and Holly came too, they are very good friends of the family...Wes was like a Dad to me growing up and I babysat Holly since birth). It was all fun and games until, Greg, got a leach on his foot. We had some good food and played some games. The boys loved it! It was like the world was their playground with lots of people that gave them lots of attention:) On the way home, Jett, was quick to tell us (after he settled down from crying because we had to leave), that he really liked camping!
My Grandma turned 80 this month, so we had a little shindig for her. My grandparents are so spunky for their age and are so fun to hangout with. Before we went I was telling, Jett, that we were going to Grandma Juday's birthday party that night and that she is 80 years old now. He looks up and says, "Wow, that's a lot of money"! I thought it was stinkin' cute. I think he said that because he got three dollars in a card, because he turned three or because we were really working on money at our garage sale and age and money relates the same to him. Funny! We have also been having some cookouts with friends, what a fun time of year to spend with people. So last night we were invited to Darin and Darcy's for a cookout with some friends from their church. The couples were so fun and we really enjoyed getting to know them. Talk about small worlds, one of the guys, Luke, and I went to college together. His wife did also, but I was gone before she came. So it was nice to catch up with him and spend time with his family - super cute kids! We once again had great food and then we played an intense tournament of badmitten...well, as intense as you can get with seven kids running around. We decided next time we get together, no kids:)

Start 'um young

Whistle while you work...or in my case...whistle while you watch. The boys love to clean and I am all for letting them do it. I might as well do it now when they are begging, because in a few years I will be hearing complaining..."oh mom, do I have to clean the floor again." So a few things (chores) the boys have around the house. #1 We let Jett feed Samson...or while he is playing he helps himself to feeding Sam whenever he feels like it. No wonder Sam is 20 lbs over weight, he is getting feed like 5 times a day! #2 Jett gets to vaccum the floor. Loves it! Like sometimes I use it as a reward. Yep. Seriously! One night Greg was working in the basement and came up to talk. He turns the corner and sees Jett coming out of his room pushing the vaccum for the first time and laughed. It is pretty stinkin' cute! #3 After meals they have to get the dust-buster and clean up under the table. They both really like this job. We also bought them their own brooms, so when I sweep the floor kitchen floor, they can do it with me. #4 This is a new one to the group. They like to wash the windows. Jett is more into the sparying part, but wipes up quite well:) #5 Which is on every kids list, they have to clean up their toys. Jett does pretty good, expecially when he can't eat until they are picked up. Bray doesn't quite get it, but he fully understands how to pull out every single book on the shelf...although he is improving on putting them back.

Oh, and p.s~ I do put clothes on my children.

Crossing our fingers

I believe our family just witnessed two miracles! As you have read in the many many months, like a broken record, of our problems with Brayden sleeping and eating...well, we have had a breakthrough and crossing our fingers it lasts!

After getting tubes in Brayden's ears we didn't see much change and were, lets be honest, devastated. We felt hopeless and frustrated as to where to go with answers. THEN, this week he just decided to start sleeping! I mean out of the last six nights only one night I was up with him. Otherwise, he slept all night long...not a peep...for 10-12 hours! Amazing! Wonderful! Glorious! Thank you Jesus! Which I do find interesting that it happened the same time as miracle #2...
He is eating!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if it has something to do with his ears or if he was just healed of this texture/sensory to eating thing, but the child is eating. Even more than Jarrett. He still has his weird, I don't like bread thing, but pretty much I can make a dinner, put it in front of him, and he will eat it. And the best part is that he is finally wanting to feed himself now. I am wondering if the two go together because he started eating better, first. So maybe he wasn't getting enough calories during the day and just woke up ticked off. At this point, I guess I don't care how the miracle happend, I am just relieved our prayers were heard and that I have had almost a full week of sleep. So for now we are resting in the peace of a happy, full child and praying it stays! :)