hello monday.

1. we had a great weekend. picked up miss ellie on friday. celebrated thomas's first birthday on saturday. church, lunch and some swimming on sunday. all good things. 

2. my heart has been so heavy lately. i have followed pitter patter art for years. in february they brought home sweet everett. he is a treasure! he had a very complex heart problem and needed a risky heart surgery. over the last 20 days he has literally been fighting for his life. they are clinging to hope and praying for a miracle. please if you have a moment lift them up. they certainly need and appreciate your prayers. 

3. kitchen project is coming along. all the cabinet painting is completed. minus a few touch ups here and there. the doors are curing and in a few days we will put them up. and then on to the countertops. fingers crossed we can make these bowling lanes work! it will definitely be an adventure!

4. jake man tripped while running down the driveway last night. he wasn't being wild and crazy or anything. he just lost his footing. poor dude. all summer long i have been protecting him from this and that. 

5. i am teaching an oils class tonight. i am excited and a bit nervous for it! it is all online so it isn't so scary! there is still time to join if you are interested! let me know! 

6. my hometown softball team coached by my aunt plays at state softball today! so exciting for those girls and my aunt!! go lady plainsmen! 

7. some silly critter has been eating my garden this year. my zinnias. my green beans. but not the lettuce patch we planted for them. grrr. darn critters! jake has enjoyed throwing his dirty diapers in the garden in hopes keep them away. i don't think it is working, but it does make me laugh. 

happy monday. 

king jakey james.

seriously his is our little king.

in perfectly normal not spoiled rotten kind of way.

ha.

lets just say he has us wrapped around his finger and it's not really his doing.

just being himself.

cool, calm, totally awesome jake.

he totally has us.

we just love this boy oh so very much.

he is so special to us.

all of us.

let me tell you a little bit about our favorite fourth, our cool dude, our best boy.

jake james at two years and six months old you.....

• are so funny. when asked if you want to do something you respond with either the cutest "i do!" or "meeeeeeee!" 
• are wearing 2T-4T clothes and size 5 diapers. 
• get your hair buzzed. 
• sleep all night in your crib. 
• are not a good co-sleeper. in fact if you are up in the night, often you are up. you don't do well snuggling in with mom and dad. getting better at it, though. 
• love chocolate. 
• are getting to be more of a picky eater. except if it is someone else's leftovers. 
• want to sit in a big boy chair to eat. 
• recently learned how to open the pantry door. 
• love to go the pool and visit parks. 
• pull me around by my shirt when you want something. usually it is something you want to eat. 
• get scared by things...the dark, animals, and bugs. 
• tell when something "scare me"
• like to go on stroller rides. 
• quite social. you hand out hellos and goodbyes. 
• enjoy playing in the backyard...swinging and playing in the sandbox are your favorites. 
• love to watch the movies moana, cars, and trolls. 
• love your three sisters. a few days ago daddy asked you if you had sisters and you responded "yes...three sisters!"
• can climb up the slide in the backyard.
• love to do art and draw with sidewalk chalk. 
• often take a super afternoon nap, but can skip it occasionally. 
• like to watch mickey and the roadster racers and puppy dog pals.
• l o v e to play with cars!!!!
• give kisses and love yous when asked. 
• can be a total ham.

oh jacob james.

you bring so much goodness to us.

we just do not know what life would be like without you around.

plain and simple you are our best boy.

we love you so very much jake.

jake attack

a boy and his sisters. 

happy thursday.

independence day.

land of the free.

home of the brave. 

so thankful for this country we live in. 

the freedom we have. 

thankful we can oh so easily get our tonsils removed, paint our kitchen, shoot off some fireworks, play board games, and eat some pretty fantastic food. 

thankful.

happy 4th from our favorite four.