Lake House Fun 2012

This year's vacation was to the Crumbaugh's (Jamie's parents) lake house in Cuba, MO.  They graciously let our entire family use it for a week, that included the pontoon boat and jet ski too.  We had such a good time together hanging out and playing.  We missed Lindsay a ton!!!!  She is about to graduate from Nursing school and was a little too busy to drive that far just for a weekend.  We fished, swam, jet skied, boated, floated, ate, played games, slept, and my parents even rode their bikes.  Michael was able to go this year and that was AWESOME!  I am so glad he was there to help out with both girls and that he could take a much needed break.  Last year I was pregnant with Harper while I was at the lake, so this year I got to live it up on the jet ski and loved it.  Jamie is the pregnant one this year so she didn't get to have as much fun as the rest of us but she was a good sport.  Jamie and my mom helped out a lot with Harper allowing me to swim or jet ski a little more often, THANK YOU=) We had a great time but there were a few hiccups for our family that week.

First our parked van got hit by a garbage truck that was reversing down the street.  It punctured the back tire and scraped and dug holes along the drivers side.  The left sliding door does not open so Eden has to crawl under Harper's seat to get into the van.  While there, we had to get two new tires to get home.  Second, Thursday night Harper did not sleep.  She woke up about 11:45 pm (when Michael and I finally got into bed from playing games) and did not got back to sleep until 6:45 am.  Every single time she would close her eyes or start relaxing she would scream bloody murder and push off of me so I spent the entire night downstairs with Harper exhausted and screaming.  NOT fun at all.  I was so irritated and had no idea what to do because I just knew everyone could hear her screaming (turns out they couldn't, thank goodness).  When she finally cried herself to sleep at 6:45 am, she woke up two-three hours later and Michael took her and I slept until noon.  I took her temperature when I woke up and she had a fever so off to a doctor in Missouri.  She had a double ear infection so we picked up her prescription and headed back to the lake house.  Poor girl was miserable.  That was the extent of our hiccups and thank goodness nobody was hurt in the accident or Harper wasn't worse off.  Enjoy the tons of pictures below.....

Eden and Michael with her first fish caught that week.  She likes to reel them in and not so much the waiting game.  She would say, "Let me know when you catch one so I can reel it in."

 Harper eating rice and chicken, yum!

 I LOVE this picture.  All set and ready to swim!

 Eden and J. David jumping off the side of the dock.  Eden got pretty brave this week and was doing a lot of things in the water and jumping from pretty high.  So proud of her.

 Michael and Myles on the big raft and J. David and Eden floating on the green one.

 My parents are on the jet ski saying hi to Eden and JD.

 Eden LOVED the jet ski this year.  She rode it every day and had so much fun.  She likes going FAST!

 The guys fishing one night.

 Cuddle time in the recliner.

 Breakfast on the pontoon boat.

 Harper and Myles driving.

 Eden driving.

 Swimming on one of the days.  

 Love this picture.  Myles was pretending to drive the jet ski.  He is the cutest little thing.  

 Eden and Myles sharing the recliner.

 The kids waiting patiently in the golf cart to be driven down to the docks.  It's not far at all=)

 Aren't these two so sweet???  By the end of the week, they both knew which buttons to push to irritate each other.  They crack us up!

 J. David, Myles, and I after picking up the blocks.

 Michael and Myles horsing around!!

 J. Pops and Mimi with their grandchildren, except for Camden who is in Aunt Jamie's belly;)

 This is how Eden rolls on trips.  Head phones on, watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates, her favorite.

 So funny.... Myles, open mouthed, wanting some of his mommy's ice cream but she wasn't sharing, ha.

 The measly little catfish I caught one night and it was bigger than the rest of the guys that night;)

 A picture of some of the van damage.

 Quite time on the iPhones.

 Morgan with his boys.

 Route 66 goes right through Cuba so we had to get our picture taken on Route 66.

 Out to eat on Wednesday night.

 Harper in her little pool.

 We got to see the world's largest rocking chair.  It is pretty big.

 Eden being Eden.  

 Harper building with the boys.  She LOVED these blocks.

We had such a wonderful time and thank the Crumbaugh's so much for letting use their place to get together.

Wacky Wednesday

 Not so much wacky as random but, hey, I needed a new title;)  Eden has been doing some funny things with her clothes and wearing them a little differently than they were meant for.  Aunt Jamie thinks she will be a little fashionista.  Below she is wearing a skirt as a one shouldered shirt and the other day wore it as a strapless shirt.  She cracks me up but she always looks adorable no matter how she wears things.

Both girls bathed the other night together and they loved it.  Harper loves chasing all of Eden's toys around the tub and Eden just likes performing for Harper.

 Are they not so cute together?

 Several weeks ago I got out the sippy cups for Harper to start working with.  She doesn't quite get it all the way yet.  She does better some days than others.  She drank from a straw for the first time on vacation last week on July 18th.  She thought she was big stuff.  

 Through the summer at gymnastics they have themed weeks and several weeks ago it was pirate week.  What a cute little pirate we have!!!

Eden trying on the head piece to a possible Halloween costume we were given for Harper!!  

Jack Henry's 1st Birthday!

 Jack Henry's first birthday was on July 5th but his party was on the 7th.  Sarah did a milk and cookies themed party and it was the cutest thing ever!!!  She had the prettiest decorations and the best cookies ever.  She is so creative!!!  The party was just family but there were lots and lots of people there between all of Jeff and Sarah's family and we were even missing some.  Happy Birthday, Jack Henry! We love you!

There was even a special surprise waiting for everyone at the party.  Uncle Craig and Aunt Tiffany made their way to Arkansas for the party.  We were so excited to see them even if it was for just a day! We miss them and Uncle Matt, Aunt Beth, and Brisco all the time and treasure any time we get to see them.  I so wish it was more often but that's life I guess.

Aunt Tiffany got her hands on Harper.

 The food and decorations.  I didn't get a good picture of the little milk bottles that Sarah had out for everyone to drink out of.  They were so cute!  The food was all delicious!

 She had cake, cupcakes, and several different kinds of cookies.  And the party favors were taking lots of cookies home with you=)

 Eden and Lydia hiding under the bed in the room they were playing in.  Silly girls!

 Jack Henry opening his gifts.

 Eden and Aunt Tiffany!  

 Eden modeling the headband that Granna and GiGi got her.  She loves it!

 Family picture with the birthday boy!

 Cake time!!!  I think he liked it just a little bit!

 I LOVE the messy face!!

 Harper cheering on Jack Henry.  I think she really wanted to plant herself in the cake;)

 LOVE this picture of the two of them.

After the party we had everyone back to our place to hang out until everyone had to go home that night.  Eden and Lydia played and played and all the adults just hung out and talked.  We all had a great time getting to catch up.  

 Eden and Lydia playing dress up.

 It was so hot outside that the girls decided to play in the sprinkler a little bit.  

 Jack Henry, the special birthday boy!

 So we tried to get a picture of Uncle Craig and Aunt Tiffany with their nieces and nephew, minus Brisco, and this is what we got.  I think we waited a little to late.  Hilarious!

 A pretty cute one of the girls.

 Finally, Sarah had to hold Jack Henry.  He likes his mommy, so sweet=)

I snagged a cute one of Craig and Tiffany with Harper some how.  So sweet.

Happy 4th of July!

This year with the Fourth of July being on a Wednesday, we didn't do much.  Michael worked most of the day so the girls and I hung out together like a normal day and then we went to the Bittle's for dinner.  We had a great time and enjoyed our time with them.  Jackson and Eden played and played outside together until way past dark. The adults even played a few games that evening.  With as dry as it is this summer there was a burn ban so nobody could shoot fire works so it was a pretty quite Fourth of July for us this year.

Harper at 9 Months Old

Harper was 9 months old on July 3rd.  She is getting so big.  I can't believe how fast her first year is going.  She is such a fun baby.  She smiles almost constantly.  She has really blossomed lately and getting into everything.  On June 28th, Harper cut her third tooth.  Her top right central incisor came in and then her right lateral incisor came in next to it on July 3rd.  After that she got both the left central incisor and then the left lateral incisor.  Her seventh tooth, the left lower lateral incisor, came through right after those.  She had five teeth all come in at once basically.  She had been miserable with all of that.  And boy has Harper found her voice and LOVES hearing it.  Wow, can she scream.  We have all commented on how bad we need ear plugs at times.

Harper is crawling everywhere.  On June 21st,  I officially called Harper crawling.  She was army crawling at times but she is definitely up on all fours and getting into everything now.  She is getting quicker and quicker.  On June 29th, Harper pulled up for the first time.  She has been working on how to get down after she pulls up.  She will scream sometimes when she gets stuck and needs help.  I think she may have a short temper like her sister and we may be in trouble.

Harper has still been eating like a champ and seriously only wants real people food.  If she sees you eating at all she wants it.  She has had all kinds of things lately.  She has had: cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, bananas, green beans, peas, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, baked beans, black beans, chicken, rice, Philly cheese steak meat, rolls, bread, pizza, macaroni and cheese, catfish, Cheerios, puffs, cheese, turkey, and I'm sure a lot more.  She wants to try EVERYTHING!!!  I guess that is a good thing for now.  She still gets four bottles a day for now and baby food to really get some vegetables in her.  I don't want her to not stop eating her greens:)  Her pincher grasp has really developed and she can grab anything with those two fingers.  She is very impatient when you are fixing her food so you better throw some Cheerios or something on her tray to occupy her or you will get an ear full of screaming.

Harper loves music and being sung too.  If she is ever upset or screaming you can start to sing to her and it quiets her immediately.  It is the sweetest thing.  She can give high fives, clap her hands, wave bye-bye, and so much more.  She follows us all over the house and can't stand to be by herself.  She stills loves Eden so much and loves to be near her and have her attention.  She watches her every move.  This could possible back fire someday;)  Harper is starting to get upset when you tell her "no" to something.  I think she is starting to realize what that means.

On June 25th, Harper got her for ponytail.  Her hair is growing in like crazy.  I love it.  It is still super fine but when she gets hot or sweaty it will curl on the back and sides.  Its so cute.

Harper loves swimming and the water.  She could play and play in the water.  She can't get enough of the water and really wants you to let her go which is scary.  She will sit on the edge of the pool and lean in to jump in and you have to be there to catch her.  She does it over and over again.  She never minds if she gets water in her face either.

The first time I saw Harper raised up in her crib.  She was so proud of herself=)

 Harper on the table at the doctor's office for her 9 month check up.  Everything was perfect except she had an ear infection=(  That was her fifth or sixth one so I'm just wondering when she will get tubes.

These are her nine month stats.  Her weight and length are actually off the charts.  She is still long and heavy.  My back can vouch for it;)  By the way, Eden at 9 months was 20 lbs 1 oz and 29 inches long.  Harper is wearing 12-18 month clothes and a size 4 diaper.  I have know idea what size shoe because she has never worn any but they are pretty big.  Harper is barely fitting on her changing table these days.  She basically has to draw her feet up to fit on it.  So funny to me.  

Harper definitely needs to slow down some.  I can't believe her first birthday is right around the corner. She blows us away everyday with something she has learned or doing.  She is just wonderful and we love her to pieces!!!!