House-iversary

July 19th marked our 4 year house-iversary! That day four years ago, we closed on our very first home! We were anxiously awaiting Blake's arrival and were scurring to get settled before his much anticipated birth! We bought our house a very special gift this year....new Brazilian Redwood flooring! I was hoping to post once we had it laid, but it's taking longer than anticipated to find someone to do the work. We actually ordered the wood back at the end of April and it just came in last weekend!!!!! It will go throughout the entire first floor of the house. We hope to have it laid in the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

PS I have been trying for about an hour and a half to get videos to upload, but no luck...I don't know what the deal is. I tried to put up a basketball video again as well as a video of Blake brake dancing...no luck! Sigh...Blogger irritates me sometimes!!!

Aaawww...Baby Blake! He wanted to be swaddled like Kendall likes to be!

She finally discovered that there are things hanging down from the bar over her bouncy chair. And she had to touch them both at the same time!

Blake's friend Adam and his mom and dad went to the pool with us a couple of weeks ago for the afternoon. It was fun! This was our first time at this pool and they had a really big kid pool that the boys really enjoyed! Kendall even got in and floated--I wish I had some pics of that, but obviously I can't take pictures and be in the water! Bryce's mom came with us and helped me with the kiddos since I'm out numbered now! It was a fun afternoon!

Gatti Town

Bowling!
And here's what Kendall did at Gatti Town!
Blake loves spooky stuff, so this game was perfect for him!

This thing went up in the air and bounced.....I don't know how to explain it...I have a video, but it's sort of boring. Anyway...yeah...like the random arm?

We went to Gatti Town with Bryce's mom last weekend and had some pizza and played some games (Gatti Town is sort of like Chuckee Cheese's, but their pizza is actually good and it's a buffet). It was fun! Monday's mom's eat free, so we need to go there on a Monday one of these weeks!

This Just In....

Watch out folks, we officially have a roller! Bryce laid Kendall on her activity mat on her tummy this evening and I got down there to take a picture of her because she was holding her head so high when all of a sudden, she just rolled from her tummy to her back as if she's been doing it her entire life! We put her on her tummy two more times just to make sure it wasn't some sort of fluke and sure enough, she rolled two more times!!!! I was so excited I got her first roll on film, though! How lucky was that!?! She's just getting so big!!! Such a sweet, happy girl...I tell ya, it's a lot more enjoyable the second time around...You're not so stressed because you know a little more about what you're doing, so you're able to relax and enjoy your little one!

I can just sit for hours and take pictures of this one!

Blake fell asleep in his closet...haha...I'll love showing this one to his girlfriends in the future--dinosaur undies and all!

Happy 4th of July!

Me and Kendall
Blake and Joaquin shooting fireworks--Blake's first time!
Bryce and Kendall cautiously onlooking!
Matthew, Hollee, Blake, Kendall and me
La familia!

Our 4th of July was a good one--not quite as fun as when we're in Lansing...we'll make it back there one of these years! I love the 4th with my dad!!!! Anyway, we went to a small BBQ with our friends Joaquin and Serena and then at dusk we went to my office to watch fireworks from our fifth floor terrace--we have the perfect view from there and this was our second year to do this. The boys, of course, had a fun time--even the big boys (the men) had a good time at the office! All in all it was a fun day!

Why do all the fun toys have to make so much NOISE!?!

We got Kendall's Jumperoo out this past weekend. Oh, boy, she loves this thing! Everytime she moves, part of it lights up and plays music. It's really cute! I thought she'd be too little for it, but she's totally in love with it!

Deep concentration
So, we were at Target the other day "looking" at the toys when Blake came running over to us saying he wanted the "Oh Smashes". We're like...uuhhh, huh? And he points to these green Hulk hands that make noise. Apparently he saw the commercial and remembered them from tv...This is the first time he's ever done that! So...he had to be good all week to earn the Oh Smashes and now he has them...and let me just tell you how annoying they are! Oh, yeah, SUPER ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!! I'm not really fond of the idea of these things anyway, but they talk everytime they hit something. So, Blake will smash them together and one of them will say "you're making me aaannngggrrrryyyyyy!!!!" Thank goodness only one talks and they don't talk back and forth...not sure I could handle that. But, yeah...annoying....

Can this really be comfortable? This is the only way this kid will go to sleep--all swaddled up! Thank goodness for the swaddle blankets! The only time she'll really take a pacifier is when she's trying to go to sleep..She must be swaddled with a paci. Looks uncomfortable to me, but she loves it! Oh, I should probably say she doesn't usually take a nap in her bouncy chair, but I was desperate!

Happy Birthday!

Ryan and me
Aunt Sandy and Kendall

My cousin Ryan and I share a birthday and it just so happened to be a couple of weeks ago. My grandparents came down last week to celebrate, so we had a little dinner at my house to celebrate! Ryan is 8 years younger than me--he celebrated his 21st birthday this year!!!! I'm just glad he finally grew out of having to have parties at Chuckie Cheese's!!!!! Happy birthday to Ryan and me!

Dress Up

Kendall and I played dress up on her three-month birthday--I was trying to get a good picture of her for her first year frame. She's sort of come alive in the past couple of weeks--She bats at her toys, talks ALL OF THE TIME (it's the cutest thing! Her teacher at daycare told me she always has a lot to say to her and the other babies), drools non-stop, pays attention to her toys that light up and play music. She's just starting to phase out of that newborn stage and into the baby stage--you know what I mean? She's sssooo smiley, too! She laughs and smiles all of the time. She's just a happy girl! She doesn't cry often, except when she's hungry or overly tired. She's getting big!!!! The fun is just beginning!

First Class Olympics

Blake in the obstacle course
Blake and his friend Adam
Getting his gold medal
Blake's class

Blake's school had the Olympics the other day. It was on one of the days Blake stays home with me, so I took an early lunch and took him over to school for an hour. It was really cute! It was also fun to see Blake interact with his friends!

Our Trip to Kansas

"Tie my shoes Uncle Aaron" Ha Ha
Lol...Blake put this hat on Grampy
Fishing at Lost 80
His first fishing trip!!!!
Mommy and Kendall

I know it's been over a month since we were there, but I like to be fashionably late, ok?! We got to see a lot of special people and do a lot of fun things! I'm so glad Mimi and Papa helped us get up North so that Kendall could meet all of the people that mean so much to us who are so darn far away!!!! It wasn't easy taking care of a nine week old baby and a thrre year old by myself for two weeks, but I managed somehow!

Oh my gosh! He let me take a nice picture of him!!! It'll be the only one Kendall will ever have with him!!!

Rain Forest Cafe
He used to be scared of this alligator
Nice tongue shot
Joe, Kendall and my mom

Amanda and Dan with Kendall--you guys look good with a baby!!!

LOL...I didn't realize Cael was having a fit in this pic

LOL
The girls at our American Idol party
Momma Holt and Kendall

We had so much fun seeing everyone and all of their kiddos when we were in town! Thank you so much Melissa and Amanda for surprising me with the party and our friends!!!!!