Brotherly Love

I came accross this picture today. It's one from sometime last year, but it was just too sweet not to share!

Pool Party

Last month we invited our friends Elle & Emma to come over for a pool party. We sat up 2 blow up pools & the "silly sprinkler". All 4 of the kids had a lot of fun. Elle & Emma brought over their little water guns which were a big hit with my boys.

Kale's 4th Birthday

Kale, his Mom, & sister were recently able to come back to OK from Hawaii to visit. While they were in the state to had Kale's 4th birthday party. Of course we had to go. Dylan has missed Kale so much. It was so great to get to go. This was in May and now at the end of July he still talks non-stop about seeing him.

All of the kids were having so much fun!

Kales family makes the best hamburgers! I had been having a ton of trouble with all day sickness during that time & couldn't eat a thing, but I ate 2 burgers & a ton of other stuff. Real home cooking!

Ryan's 2nd Birthday Party

We had a small party at home with Ryan's daycare friends once we got back from TX. We had a nemo party, but as you can see...they made a mistake on the cake. I ordered a half sheet cake, they made him a full sheet. This thing was half as big as our kitchen table. We just sent home extra with all the guests! :)

We also cooked out hot dogs so we didn't just sugar up the kids-I think they enjoyed the cheesy chips more though...
He also enjoyed his gifts alot!

Ryan's 2nd Birthday (at Mom's house)

We were in TX for Ryan's 2nd Birthday so we had a little family party for him there. Mom got him an Elmo cake & some Nemo plates & napkins.

He got a big toy Jeep to play with in the sand, and a swimming pool(we waited to use this after we came back home).

After he opened his presents all the kids played in the bird bath (I guess if you can't use a pool this is the next best thing!).

Mom brought out some towels to dry the kids with but JD & Travis took them because "it kept them cool".

Family Birthday for Dylan

Each year for the boys birthdays we try to do something fun just as a family. This year for Dylan's birthday we had planned to go to the Zoo but the weather just was good, soooo...we went to the Omniplex instead! Dylan had a blast! They have so many different exibits. Dylan is always interested to learn about anything, so a place that he can go from thing to thing is great!

After that we went to eat at the Mall food court because Dylan wanted Chik-fil-a, and we couldn't find a different one. We sat at a table shaped like a car, which of course made Dylan's day.

Once we go home he opened his gift from Ryan. It was a Disney Cars Mega Bloks set. Dylan loves Legos & Mega Bloks so he still loves this thing.

Our new Puppy

Ok, so he's not so new by now but he was in March!

This is Symon. We got him the day of Dylan's party. Getting a dog wasn't planned, it just kinda happened. We went to get Dylan's cake & there was a lady sitting outside with puppies....so here we are....

Anyways, these are pictures of when we first got him. He really loved Ryan's paci. We had to quickly let him know this wasn't okay...plus Ryan wasn't to happy to share....

Dylan's 4th Birthday

This Year was Dylan's Golden Birthday. So we had a pretty big party complete with bounce house!
Dylan wanted a Monster Truck cake, but a firetruck party......So we used firetruck decorations.

Baby

Well, his name will be....(insert drum roll here)......

Aydan!

Starting Pre-K

For the last two years we have used the Funshine Express curriculum program for daycare. I’ve just been amazed how much all the kids have learned! Even the youngest kids are picking up things way ahead of others their age. It’s also so much fun – even for me!!



Dylan has had such a boost for when he starts school in just a couple of weeks. I still cannot believe he’s old enough to go to school. I guess I have to let him go though – I think at this point it would break his little heart if he didn’t get to. He’s been looking forward to it all summer….

Smoothing out the wrinkles......

I guess Ryan thought the cat was a little wrinkled…..



The funny thing is….Molly slept through the whole thing ~ I think she’s finally getting used to having Ryan around! :)

Pancakes with Daddy!

On weekends one of our favorite things to have for breakfast is JD's homemade pancakes! They are awesome! I'm spoiled! Anyways this last weekend JD decided to get the boys involved. They had so much fun adding all the ingredients & mixing it all up! Both of them have always enjoyed cooking which I think is awesome, espesially these days when I don't feel much like doing it.

Catch the Reading Bug!

The theme for this years Summer Reading Program was "Catch the Reading Bug". The boys have had a blast! They each got 20-25 hours of reading down this summer. For Ryan it was mostly books about Bunnies(I'll explain another day), and for Dylan Bug books...imagine that! At the end they each got a certificate for their participation in the program.


On Tuesdays & Thursdays they had special guests that put on different programs for the kids. Storytellers to Jugglers! The only one The boys made it to was a balloonist - he made all sorts of bugs out of balloons. The boys loved it! Especially Dylan!

Our friends Elle & Emma were also there, which made the boys very happy! Dylan & Elle have become pretty close friends and Ryan & Emma.

Finger Paint? Finger? Are sure thats whats it's for??

A few weeks ago I decided to let the boys finger paint. All started out great....until....they decided to paint themselves. They had a blast though! I'm just glad it all took place outside!! :)
Thank goodness for water hoses!!!

It's a.....BOY!!!

Boy number 3! My mom has always told me "do it right the first time & you don't have to do it again" well, we felt we did so good we went on to do it 2 more times! LOL



We are all so excited to welcome the new little guy into our family! Now we just have to figure out how to take care of a winter baby. We are too used to our spring babies!

Little Swimmers

.............Coming Soon!!

This little one is due to make his/her grand entrance around Nov. 13th. (Nov. 8th if we have anything to say about it)
A little unexpected but still exciting!!
This ultrasound was taken at 10 weeks, so it'll be about 6-7 more weeks until we find out what our little blessing will be (yes for those of you who will make the joke...we know it's a baby, I mean we will find out if it is a girl baby or a boy baby).
At our last ultrasound the dr. looked to see if we could tell yet, he said he thinks it has a "winkie" yes Dr.s words! I still think it was just it's tail/spine not completely in place yet, it's way too early to tell anyways.
Either one would be great though...but...I still need a sidekick too! JD has two of them so far. :P

Pillows for Research

I've started sewing pillows for research! I've been so touched by Progeria that I want to help. The pillows are 13" x 16" & come with a pillow case. I am sewing the cases in whatever fabric design the buyer chooses. I'm selling them for $9.00 each. Extra Cases are $5.00 each. 50% of the proceeds are going to Progeria Research.



These are perfectly sized for toddlers, travel, preschool, daycare, gifts. If you are interested in one let me know!

If you dont need a pillow but still want to help go to the Progeria Research Foundation website http://www.progeriaresearch.org/ways_to_donate.html

He's going to be Okay!!

Well we found out today that Ryan’s x-rays turned out fine!! So our next step is off to the Endocrinologist to look at what is the best course of action now.

This weekend was the most stressful JD & I have had in a long time.
The waiting was awful. I really don't think any parent should have to go through that.

JD & I now have a whole new respect for families living life with a child who has Progeria. It must be so hard sitting around just not knowing what tomorrow will bring. I have learned one thing though. These children truly are gifts from God. They are the most amazing people I have ever had a chance to learn about. I have had a little time to e-mail with a few families living this blessing daily. I discovered it is nothing to be afraid of because we are all going to die someday. So we can choose to either hide from it or live everyday to its fullest. These kids are the most beautiful people ever! Inside & out!

Our new adventure....with Ryan

Age: 21 months

Ryan went to the Dr. today for an ear recheck. While there I was discussing some things that had been bothering me about him.
Weight has always been one of his biggest issues. Today was no different. We went in & he weighed 18-lbs 10-oz. Which doesn't even get him close to the lines on the growth chart.
His height hadn't changed any from his 18 month appointment either.
Recently we started to notice changes in the veins in his hands, eye lids, temples & forehead.
His hair has started thinning also.

So we have today started a round of tests to try to find out what is going on.

His first test today was a set of x-rays. One of his hand, another of his chest. They want to I guess look at his bone development. He greatly enjoyed this though. He had a blast & didn't want to leave. He even though "Monkey" needed x-rays too!

We should hear back on Monday what they find. Then we will know our next course of action.