What a busy week!

Disclaimer: I know I haven't been up to date with this and instead of promising old stuff, I'm just going to post like I haven't been slacking. ;-)

School starts on Monday! EEK! Where did the summer go?

We have football practice every night. Cheerleading practice every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Their first game is this weekend. They are beyond excited.

Friday morning, we are going to open house at school to find out the kids' teachers. Jasmine also has a patrol meeting to go to.

Sunday, the kids are going to a Cardinals vs Nationals game with Oma and Opa.

Then Monday ~ it's the first day of school. As much as I hate my kids being gone all day, it will be nice to not have so many in the house all day long since I have my nephews for such a long time every day.

Some Mountain Fun

We spent a week in the mountains at the end of July for vacation as we always do. We had a lot of fun just relaxing and riding the 4 wheeler. Jamie even taught me and James to drive it ourselves! Jasmine and Jacob got to drive it too with help from Daddy. Oh wait, Jacob drove it on his own too! EEK! 

Here's some pictures to highlight our time there.

Jenna hanging out in the back of Daddy's truck


Daddy and JayJay


The gang helping Daddy cut down and pull out the dead trees




Jay and I just hang out and watch, eating snacks and drinking water


Uncle Carl and Chad came over one day so we did S'mores with Chad




I think we are in trouble with this one


And this one...


Well probably all of them






We had a great time and can't wait to go back as always.

Happy 1st Birthday Jaylynn!

Jaylynn Grace, you are the sweetest thing ever. You just light up my and Daddy's world. Daddy just loves when he walks in the room, how you run to him with your arms open. It melts my heart how every time you pick up anything that remotely resembles a phone that you talk to Daddy on it. It's always Hi Da. Hi Da.

You make us all laugh with your cute expressions. You definitely make our world happier, funnier and brighter.

JayJay, Happy Birthday sweet girl. We love you.



Not too sure...


Fingers don't blow out candles???


Jaylynn was so upset. She wouldn't eat her cupcakes. Daddy, of course, saved the day and she enjoyed her cupcakes.


Look at how scrunched her nose is, biting down into it.


So happy!


Happy 1st Birthday Jay! We love you!

Bad blogger, updates and walking

I'll start this update on a high note, albeit sad, but still a high note nonetheless.



Yup, that would be JayJay walking. Not even 11 months old yet. She's been doing steps here and there but in the last few days has really taken off and is starting to prefer walking to crawling. YIKES! It's so exciting to see her do something so big yet it's so sad for me. That's like a big kid milestone. Where's my baby going??

I wish I had more time to blog. I probably do but I'm just so worn out taking care of my own kiddos and everyone else's for pretty much all day that I can't put two sentences together to blog. I'm definitely going to attempt to blog once a week. I don't want to miss putting up things that I'll forget that I want the kids to read one day.

The kids only have a few more weeks of school. Officially it's like 13 days or something crazy like that! I love summer time. I love them being home. Jenna will be so excited.

Speaking of Jenna, she'll be home with me one more year. She took the Kindergarten Early Entrance Exam and didn't pass it. It's a pretty strict test (a little too tough if you ask me but whatever) that they must pass all six parts to. She passed 4. I know in the long run that it won't hurt her keeping her home another year. I just know there are so many kids that are going because their birthday falls before the magical date of September 1st that aren't ready and don't know as much as Jenna. Jenna, on the other hand, was quite happy that she wasn't going. The teacher that tested her said she did a great job on the test, fully participated and wasn't upset or apprehensive about taking it and that folks, in my book, was the amazing part. If you know my Jenna, she doesn't like to stray far from Mom and I was quite proud of her for her enthusiasm to take the test.

The four school kiddos are all doing amazing in school. Top of their classes, above grade levels in reading and math.

Both James and Jasmine just recently got cell phones much to their excitement (and my own since the house phone is now not ringing 24/7 for them).

We have a new member to the family ~ Landon ~ David and Michelle's baby boy ~ was born earlier in the week. He's such a cutie and I hope to meet him soon.

I guess that's it for now. I have kiddos asking for a snack so again, I must run.

For Jaylynn's next trick...

It's hard to tell from the picture but she's standing all on her own. Yup. She's even taken two steps. The first was a true step and I think the second was more falling forward. Then she stood up afterward and scrunched those toes, her face and everything else she could to try to make those feet move again but couldn't figure it out. She'll get there.

Easter 2010

Jordan graced us with his presence during his very short spring break and Easter weekend. ;-) Just kidding Jordan. I know you are a very busy teenager. *sigh* Anyway, we just had a nice weekend of being a family, coloring eggs and driving each other bonkers. Oma, Opa and Uncle Boo came over on Easter to celebrate the boys' birthdays too. Jordan and Jacob got gift cards to Best Buy. Jordan got an iPod Nano with his and Jacob is saving up for one now. James got his iPod Nano, which I don't think has stopped playing since he got it! He he he. My kids love music and I love that they love music.

Here's some of the pictures from our weekend.

Trying to get a nice one of all the kiddos...



I LOVE this one of Jaylynn!



Coloring eggs



While coloring eggs...



He swears they look nothing alike...



And just because she's freaking adorable



After Oma, Opa and Uncle Boo left, we went up to the middle school to play some basketball.

3/4s of a year???

Jaylynn is 9 months old today. Seriously? 9 months old. That's like the big kid of the babies. That's not little baby anymore.

Jay is such a fun and sweet baby. She is clapping, crawling ~ for real crawling. She gave up the army crawl. :-/ ~ standing, letting go, walks while holding our hands and cracking us up. She is a world of fun.

As much as she is a mommy's girl, she has a huge soft spot for her daddy. She melts his heart with every smile and every single time she says Da da. I think if she asked for a Mustang, he'd go out and buy one that second.

I can't believe she is already 9 months old. That's why too close to a one year old for me. Although I can't wait to see what she does next!

Tomorrow officially starts spring break for the rest of the gang. Jay will have so much fun with all the kiddos home. She loves crawling behind all of them and tries to be one of the big kids.

All Tuckered Out

I think the beautiful weather this weekend wore Jaylynn out.

The Sweetest Thing A Child Can Say

Jaylynn learned the greatest one word that a child could say yesterday. She'll day it at the end. I think it's worth the wait.

Happy 8 Month Birthday Jaylynn!

Yesterday Jaylynn turned 8 months old. She is getting so big. I took her for her check-up today. She is in the 50th percentile for height, wright and length. Jay weighs in at 17 lbs 14 oz and is 26 1/2 inches long. The doctor said Jay is doing great and is super strong for an 8 month old.

This picture was taken last night in the bath. She only likes when Jazzi holds her. I guess she just feels safer. She really was having a good time. She loves splish splashing around. I had to zoom in close though so I didn't get Jazzi's nakedness in the shot.

Welcome to the family Luke!

Today, my sister, Joanna, welcomed, along with her hubby, Steven and daughter, Hope, their new son into their family. Both mom and baby are doing great.

WOO HOO! What a great day!

Luke Josef Karnis

February 28, 2010 at 11:30 am
8 lbs 8 oz, 20 inches

A neat thing ~ both Jaylynn and Luke were born on the 28th. Obviously of different months but we have a lot of family number things that go on and it's just neat to see another connection. Jay and Luke are exactly 8 months apart.

Welcome to the world Luke! We love you and are so happy you are here.

Go Jenna! Go Jenna! Go!

Yup, Jenna bowled a 242. What's that? Yup, she beat Daddy, James and Jacob. Go Jenna! Go Jenna! Go! You rock!

If it's one thing I can do, it's bowl. And I guess my girl is just like her mama!