A day at the lake

My buddy Jamie and his wife Stephanie invited us to go and spend the weekend with them and their new baby Haylie at Lake Oconee. We dropped Ava and Renee off at Gaga and Papa's house and headed up with Zach Friday afternoon.

We had a blast... we had the use of a really nice boat, and Zach loved it. It was his first time on a boat and he was hooked from the beginning. The whole time we were there he kept asking "when are we going back on the boat?"

Saturday we took the boat out with a picnic lunch and road out to the dam and relaxed with some turkey sandwiches and peanut butter cookies. The we took a little post-lunch swim. We had a really good time, and I'm now convinced that I should buy a lakehouse and boat at some point in the future.

Zach also went fishing for the first time... but didn't have much luck. You can tell from the picture below that Jamie is the real fisherman!

Thanks Jamie and Steph!

Don't mess with Ava...

... she still hasn't forgotten the whoopin I gave her big brother a few months ago...

In case you missed the first encounter... click here

Flashback flick...

August 2006 - This was the last few weeks we spent in the old house before moving (You can see some boxes and totes stacked up in the dining room). Ava was just learning to walk, and she didn't like Zach using her walker as a toy...

Monday Memories

March 2006- The city of Kennesaw has a "Touch a Truck" event every spring and we went for the first time when Zach was about 20 months old and Ava was about 6 mos old. Zach was finally walking on his own by that point and was getting pretty good (with the help of his ankle/feet supports) and we couldn't turn our backs for a second that day, he was on the move! He climbed over curbs and was almost running everywhere trying to look at everything! It sure was nice to watch him just go after wanting him to walk for so long! However, I think Zach's absolute favorite thing that day was the people dressed up in costumes, there was a duck and a dog and he just ran up and gave them hugs and wanted to touch them...it was so cute! (To this day, he LOVES any kind of character, he is going to LOVE Disney World one day...Ava on the other hand...not so much).

My brother Jason and his wife and their kids met us up there (it was so cold that day!) and we had the best time just looking at all the trucks and the kids got to climb up in them and honk the horns and stuff. Perfect for curious little boys!

(Almost looks like the duck is trying to eat him rather than hug him!)

I love this picture of Ava...she was awake and then the next thing I know, I look down and her poor head was flopping forward and she was asleep! I think I managed to turn her around to face her towards me so she wasn't slumped over...but that girl must have REALLY been worn out (or REALLY bored!) because she would never sleep anywhere other than the car or her crib at that age!

Let's go for a run...

There are some good races coming up over the next few months that I plan on running. If you've never run in a race, I encourage you to try it. The races are always enjoyable, lots of other like-minded people, plus... you usually get a cool t-shirt (that's about all I wear these days... race t-shirts).

If you are not a "runner", I also encourage you to give it a try. It is hard to get started (I know, 2 1/2 years ago when I started I didn't think there was any way I would stick with it), now I love it. And the side benefits of losing weight and getting in shape are pretty good too. I've lost about 40 lbs over the last few years, and I attribute 90% of that to all the running I do.

So let me know when you want to go for a run... I'm there!

Upcoming races:

Sat. June 21st - Possum Trot 10k in Roswell -
http://www.chattnaturecenter.com/callout-right_copy1.htm

Fri. July 4th - Peachtree Road Race

Sat. July 26th - Etowah River Run 5k in Canton - http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1579873&assetId=3731eed4-3be9-4930-8773-ea4863464620

Mon. Sept 1st - US 10k Classic -
http://www.us10k.org/home.asp

Sat. Sept. 15th - Lightning 10k - Sandy Springs - http://www.sandyspringsfestival.com/10k_road_race.html

Just for fun, here are some pictures from past races...

Monday Memories

Some days, when all the kids seem to do is fuss and fight, I look at sweet pictures like this, breathe, and count to ten :)

I'm on break...

Even superheros have a hard time keeping up their tough and professional appearance during their lunch break...

Party in my crib!

Renee woke up from her morning nap and the kids had a blast hanging out in her room for a change...as you can see from the pictures, she will probably be just as silly as her big bro and sis!

Girly girl

Here is miss Ava showing off her dancing outfit that Mimi got her...this isn't the one she will wear when dance class starts in August...this is just a practice one...and Ava is already perfecting her twirl :)

Monday Memories

Cousins and buddies-Jen's brother Jason has a little boy, Jackson, who is only 5 weeks older than Zach. They are buddies and have so much fun together. Here is some sweet pictures of the two of them when they were still little . (They are both turning 4 this summer!)

Gaga's and Papaw's house...

We went and visited Jeff's parents' house this weekend for some fun in the sun. It was Renee's first time in the pool... and Zach and Ava both swam around by themselves for the first time (in their lifevests of course). If we can do this a few more times... hopefully the kids will be self-sufficient in the pool during our beach trip in August...

Cousin Sarah's jeep was a big hit with Ava... and in typical woman fashion, she drove around not looking where she was going, fiddling with the radio, posing for the camera, and running into stuff.

Fun with motorsports...

We went over to Uncle Jason and Aunt Steph's last weekend... and while we there, we played with Uncle Jason's new toy... this may be the first and only time you see Jen riding a motorcycle by herself... so take a good look. Zach and Ava stuck to more kid-friendly whips...

And if you're looking for a Christmas present idea for Jeff... here you go. (just don't tell Jen).

1/2 a year old!

It's hard to believe I have been in the family for 6 months already...I just keep getting sweeter everyday (that's what my mommy tells me). I have to admit, I am pretty sweet...I don't cry except for when I am tired or hungry, I still take 3 naps a day and I smile and laugh all the time! I finally learned to roll from my back to my belly so I have lots of fun doing that and I just noticed that I have some fun little toys attached to the end of my legs...they have little nubs on them that are great for chewing on (Mommy calls them feet, but I call them yummy).
Zach and Ava are still my favorite toys, they make me giggle and smile!
I have been eating like a little piglet too, I love baby food, it's the best! I like everything and eat it all up!
Mommy is hoping I learn to sit up soon...I am getting close but it's a little hard...guess I need to work out my abs a little more...they say it's all about the core...

I still love my crib, I love the fun toys hanging on the side and sometimes, I swing my arms around and get lucky and turn them on all by myself! It's really hit or miss. I also like to play quietly...Mommy thinks I am sleeping but when she peeks in at me, there I am, wide awake and just sucking my thumb (yes, that is still my favorite thing in the world-besides Mommy and Daddy of course). Speaking of my thumb, I still just can't get enough of it and I even try to suck on it while I am eating my bottle...it's kind of a cool trick really :)

No teeth yet as you can see by my pictures...do I have my mouth wide enough?



It's been a fast, fun 6 months...can you believe in another 6 months, I will be a year old?? I heard I get my own special cake...wonder if it will taste as good as my thumb...

Monday Memories

June 2006- Here are Zach and Ava trying to fill Daddy's shoes :)