Reaching for Toys

This week we've started noticing that Max will reach for his toys. Above is a picture of him in his infant to toddler rocker ( Thanks Bre!) that he just loves....and now he is starting to love the toys with it too! It's so neat to see him start to develope and change.

Busy Saturday

We had a busy Saturday today but it was a lot of fun. We woke up early. Mike and Dad got started on the deck and Mom, me, and Max hit some garage sales around our neighborhood. It was a lot of fun, Mike has been excited about the deck project for a while so it was good we got to start on that, and mom and I hadn't went garage selling in a long time...we found Max the cutest little tool workshop table with tools for $3. This afternoon we went to Sean and Rebekah's wedding at the gorgeous Glass chapel in Bella vista and than the reception here in Springdale at the Holiday Inn...we finished out the day with Max's first Natural's baseball game. He even met the macot. Now we are home and ready to head to bed....Busy day tomorrow with early church and than more work on the deck!!

Adding on....

Mike and I (and Dad and Max) are going to Lowe's tomorrow night to buy the supplies we will need to add on to our deck!! We are very excited. We have been talking about expanding out deck since the first time we stepped out on it and bought the house. It is such a nice deck, but with the grill, flowers, and our table set, it's a little snug. So we are going to keep the first level and turn the deck into a 2 level deck that ends up in front our fountain we made ourselves. Thank you in advance for all who help with the project. Pictures to come!!

Trip to Kansas City

Mike and I started planning our family trip to Kansas City tonight. Since mom and dad are going to the Beach in June...and mom is Max's full time sitter...Mike and I thought that would be a good time to plan a family vacation of our own. This will be our first trip with Max by ourselves. We are 90% sure we are going to go to Kansas City. It will be Father's Day weekend. Right now we are thinking maybe a Royals game, shopping at the plaza, cheesecake factory, the zoo, and Max first time at the pool...we are looking forward to more planning soon...

Back to School

Well after a semester and a half hiatus to prepare for Max's arrival, I am back in school!  I just got accepted back for the Summer semester and will be taking my last German course in the second session.  I am a senior with almost 100 hours now, so the end is within sight.  I am very excited to finish, and that pretty much all the classes I have to take now are really cool 4000 level History classes, and a few electives.  Should be a lot of fun.  It will be slow going since I don't want to spend too much time away from Max, but that will be OK too.

No Cable in the Lamb House

Mike and I made a family decision in early spring to try and go without cable in an effort to spend more quality family time together. Last week we finally went through with it and cut off our cable. I'm not sure how long it will last, but it has gone better than expected. We just want to have more time for sit down dinners, playtime with Max, time for Mike to play the guitar for us, time to read more books, have family movie night, etc...and mostly also just to spend more time outside enjoying the summer and our big back yard. I'm looking forward to it. These days it's easy to find yourself talking about tv everyday and not even realize it...what show is on tonight..what happened last night..what's on tomorrow...you find yourself eating dinner while watching tv almost everynight instead of at the kitchen table as a family taling about your days...hurrying back from the grocery store because you have 2 or 3 shows on your dvr from just one night that feel like you need to watch. Mike and I are looking forward to the change...and to spending more quality time together...and most of all helping teach Max the importance of family time.

Homemade Salsa's not far away now!!!

Above is an updated picture of the garden. Mike and I are so proud of Max's first garden. It is growing so good...and it's only May! We are looking forward to all of the tomotoes, green peppers, onions, beans, zuchini, squash, and cucumbers to come!!

Bekah and Max

Bekah and Max got to spend some time together on Memorial Day. Bekah is just a busy bee these days and loves "taking care" of Max. We even all went out to eat at Chilis together with Bekah and Max's car seats both in the Rogue with me, Mike, and Matt. AFter we got back we spent some time on the deck and out in yard by the fountain and the garden, what goergous weather.

Mabry is 2! Today was Mabry's 2nd Birthday party at Hunts Park. Todd grilled hot dogs for the "hot diggity dog" party. The kids had fun on the playground, playing games, and eating cake. Max and Laney slept most of the time. I can't believe it has already been 2 years since Mike and I got the call while we were in Branson letting us know that Jennie went into Labor. We love our little Mabes!

The first attempt at 3 month photos did not work very well. First we forgot the bumbo seat and tried holding him up, than he was not a fan of the sun in his eyes. We went home to get the bumbo only to return with a very hungry baby. I nursed him in the car and we tried again only to realize that this was not the day to take his 3 month photo. Photo number 2 is our second try. Max was just perfect, smiling and laughing all of the time. We had so much fun and got so many good pictures and the one above is going in his baby book.