Jared's 1st Birthday Party!!

We had a fun time today celebrating Jared's 1st birthday!  Despite Vivian being sick (fever and cough) we enjoyed having friends over to play, eat cake and open presents.  Jared had a lot of fun with everyone!

Jared had a "dirt mound" with a dirt bike on it for his cake.

Little water before the cake eating / destroying began.

Since Jared hasn't really eaten much food yet (still nursing) he wasn't too sure about the cake.  Shelby gave him some bites and I tried as well.  He semi-ate it, but mostly just like crumbling it.

Jared liked the wrapping paper and envelopes the best!

And he likes the balloons!

We didn't get a picture with all the kids and I'm bummed about that.  We had 11 kids and 7 adults.  It was a nice afternoon and we all enjoyed playing outside on the swingset.  Josh hooked up the fountain in our backyard and I am very thankful as I enjoy it!  

Thanks for coming everyone!!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Jared!!!

We are so excited today as it is Jared's first birthday!!  Here's our handsome fella ~

Dawson's Race!

Oh my!!!  We had such a fun weekend!  For several weeks now we have been looking forward to going to Spokane to watch Dawson Newby race.  We have known the Newby's for many years and have been wanting to see Dawson race.  With Jared just shy of 1 year and because he does well keeping his ear muffs on we hit the road Saturday morning and headed to Spokane for some Arenacross!!!  Here's all the pics ~

Outside the Team Faith rig.  Russel (my brother) drove the rig up with Dawson on Wednesday/Thursday.

Watching the time trials Saturday afternoon.

Look at that cute baby boy!

Grandma was able to come up to Spokane for the races!!!  It was such a blessing to have her with us ~ love that lady!  Grandma, Josh and Dawson serving the Team Faith devotional dinner for the riders and their crews, and anyone with a Pit Pass.  

We got to walk around the track!  Vivian especially loved this!  She would run up and down the hills, falling a few times just to get up, dust off and start running again.  The dirt was more like clay it seemed.

All the riders were lined up signing autographs and we got our picture with Dawson.  The girls told us tonight that they think he is handsome.  ;)  He sure has grown up to be quite the young man since we saw him last!  We are very proud of him as I am sure Jason and Jodi are, too.  

The Pit Passes were so fun because we got to be down where all the riders have their bikes.  Here we are by Dawson's bike.

Dawson on the "whoops"

At the starting line - Dawson is the one with the white and orange helmet with a cross on it.  Go God!

Shelby, sitting with Glenn and the Thayer boys.

The Thayers and Brookelyn (and Chloe) from our small group came too!  Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of all of us together, but here is Chloe with Vivian, Jared and me watching the race. We are so glad that the Thayers and Brookelyn came for the weekend!

Then we got to pick up Uncle Russel from the airport this afternoon, as he and Dawson and Steven (another rider) are driving the Team Faith rig to Portland.  This worked out well as they gave Grandma a ride to Richland where she will spend some time with Kim and family. 

Such a fun Uncle!  He just hopped right into the back seat with the girls.  :)

Dawson with the Bonus family.

Love those crazy sibs!

A very fun and crazy weekend!  We are glad to be home, but we sure enjoyed our time with family and friends and dirt bike racing!

Easter and kiddos playing

We had the chance to visit Kim and Adam in Richland for Easter and it was awesome!  The Bonus family just bought a house, after being in apartments for several (too many!) years.  The house is SO GREAT and we were glad to help them get settled and get a few projects done.  We had so much fun together!

Easter morning ~ Pretty girls and handsome boys!

Vivian and Shelby mid-way through the Easter Egg Hunt in the Bonus' back yard.

Jared hung out with me and Aunt Kim while the older kiddos hunted for eggs. 

On the homefront ~ Jared likes to empty the towel drawers.

And he did so well play-sleeping with the girls!  Shelby laid him down and tucked him in.  He laid in this bed for a long time.  It was precious!

Jared's first hike

We hiked up Castle Rock here in Wenatchee and had a fun time, but boy was it windy!  We didn't make it to the top as our hats were blowing off.  :)

Pretty neat view looking over Wenatchee.

Jared laid his head on Josh's head throughout the hike.  It was pretty sweet!

Our sweet boy - super excited to be holding a slice of apple!  

It was a great hike and we plan to go again, soon.  :)

Jared is 11 months old!

Gosh we are really enjoying this boy!  I cannot say it enough.  And he's 11 months old!!!  Here's some stats on Jared:
Weighs: 21 lb 1 oz
He has 6 teeth (four on top, two on bottom)
He is a great crawler! He crawls right over your legs or whatever may be in the way.
He pulls up to standing on just about everything.
He is a very happy little guy!
He likes to "talk".
He is very studious in his playing.
He knows how to get our attention - crying or screaming out for help.  ;)
He is a great sleeper!
He loves to snuggle if somebody is laying down.
He loves to clap.
He can give "high-fives" and wave.
He is still just nursing - we will start him on food next month.  Whenever he has an apple or carrot in his hand is so excited!  He doesn't really try eating it, just licks it.  However, everything else he puts straight into his mouth.
He's so handsome!!

The girls like to play with him like he is their son; this time they were at a restaurant and Jared was buckled in.  He plays along well most of the time.  He loves those sisters!!!

And he loves my hair.  :)

Vivian and Jared taking a bath ~ sweet kiddos!

Jared is such a sweet snuggler!  

The girls like playing with him in his crib.

We had some friends from Curlew driving through and they stopped to visit us!  It was such a breath of fresh air ~ such a blessing to see them and to chat.  Thank you, Ilze!!!  We love you guys!

Vivian fits in a (size 4, 144 count) diaper box!!  We got Jared's diapers and the girls started playing.  This because a surprise for Daddy - when he got home Vivian kicked up her legs and surprised Daddy.  It was pretty funny!

Some pictures of our life lately

Well, with doing homeschool with Shelby each day, having a sweet baby boy crawling all around, keeping Vivian busy, making meals (I seem to be in the kitchen a LOT) and just living life, I haven't been posting much lately.  So here are some pictures of us lately ~

 Jared is 10 months old.  Just as sweet as ever.  

He is crawling all over the place and climbing onto things...

If you are laying on the floor he will crawl over and lay his head on yours, as if to say, "I Love You!"  It is the most precious thing!

I love it when kids sit on their knees like this!  :)

Under the dining room chair

We have a fountain in our backyard and therefore a little pond as well.  The girls LOVE to play all around the pond.  Well, Shelby tripped on Vivian's foot and fell in the pond!  I missed the exact moment, but Shelby said she "jumped right out!"  It was cold water!

And here are the sweet kiddos rocking on their horses.