Six Flags

We headed to Six Flags last week and it was perfect!! Jayden had a blast. The weather was beautiful and there was hardly a wait (2 mins) at each ride!

We are going back next year for sure and going to take Daddy!!

Our Pool

The best $27 I spent at Target last week when it was super hot! This week has been chilly. We enjoyed a few days of swimming and I'm sure there are a few more to come! 

Sit still? Yeah right.

I was trying to get a picture of these wild

18 month olds, but they had a different plan. Run like crazy!!

Birthday Boy

F-O-U-R

Happy Birthday, Jayden!!!

 

 

Dear Jayden--

Today you are FOUR years old! Only 365 more days until you are one full hand. But since that is so far away we will just talk about being FOUR! You were not too thrilled when I told you that you would be turning four soon, but after thinking about it for about a month, you decided that four isn't so bad. You also made up your mind about what you wanted for your birthday. The requests were simple: Toy Story cake, Toy Story candles, and Toy Story wrapping paper with presents. Perfect! We had your first birthday celebration over the weekend with Ellee and Emlyn. You got embarrassed when we sang "Happy Birthday" and hid your face, but you are a shy little man. Eventually we were able to sing to you and your blew out your candles like it was no problem! You scored a new Toy Story scooter (the top item on your list), Wii U, coloring books, pajamas, Monster toys, stickers and all kinds of things four year olds love. Next weekend we are going to celebrate with your Nana and Papa Acree!

This past year has been a busy one for you! You played basketball, soccer, and baseball!! I would say that baseball and basketball were your two favorites. A lot of people came to watch your games and thought you were hilarious! Great Grandma and Grandpa Acree, Nana, Poppy, Gma, Maddie, Mollie, Grandma, Poppa D, Reagan, Adan, and Livia all attended your basketball games this year. Poppy didn't miss one game! Grandma, Adan, Reagan, Aunt Lori and Uncle Mike came to watch soccer. Aunt Lori even took some video to show Nanny. Poppy, Gma, Maddie, Grandma, Poppa D and the kids made it to see you play baseball this year too! Daddy coached your soccer and baseball and Poppy even filled in as coach for baseball! You did such a good job at your baseball games. You were the best at sitting on the bench and waiting your turn while the other kids messed around. You hit a pitched ball to you at every game and only had to use the tee twice! That's awesome!!! You also went to your first Cubs game! I think we will stick to those two sports this year. Maybe you will be tall enough to make a basket on your own rather than have your coach hold you up for a shot! Speaking of growing, you are 39 inches tall and weigh 32 pounds.

You are starting to come around to the two little people living in your house as well. Last year you really didn't care for them and they were sort of cramping your style. Now you tell people to be quiet if you sisters are sleeping, turn their fan on each night, kiss them on the head before bed and try to carry them. You also knock them over, don't share your toys, and fight with them. I guess I better get used to that!

Throughout the year we traveled to a few different places and you win a gold star for being the best traveler out of the five of us. We visited Mt. Carmel, Myrtle Beach (you were afraid of the waves), St. Louis and Lake Barkley several times. You tubed behind Uncle John and Aunt Kim's boat for the first time ever this summer and you loved it! I hated to miss, but I saw the pictures! You have a love for water and the boat. You sit up front like you are in charge. It's great! You also love the water park and would be thrilled if you could go every single day.

 

Preschool was also a first for you this year and you loved it! Grandma took you and picked you up almost everyday! I was able to come visit a few times too. Miss Beth was so nice to you and said she saw a lot of improvement in your speaking and sentence structure as the year progressed. We are still working on getting you to slow down your speaking, but the improvement you have made is great. We know it will continue as you get older. Next year you are going to all day preschool at Blessed Sacrament. I am so excited for you to be at school all day, but also get a nap while you are there!

 

Your obsession with "hot milk" at home has not ceased. You drink cold milk everywhere except at home. Funny how you work little man. You don't need your blankies to sleep anymore or your Mickey pillow. You are growing up. You loved to read books before bed and your new favorite book was mine when I was little. The other night your prayed for Woody and Buzz. It was pretty cute.

 

 

 

We love you "to infinity and beyond" little man, "reach for the stars"!

Happy 4th Birthday, Jayden!!! Love you more than you will ever know. We all do!

PS: In world news, the royal baby was born on Ellee and Emlyn's birthday and today he made his first public appearance and was sent home. What a neat piece of history that happened on your birthday!!

 

Liam Patrick

My friend Meredith welcomed little Liam into the world on July 3rd. Last week Kristy and I headed up to visit Meredith and meet the newest member of our circle. He is so sweet and such a good baby!!!

So glad we were able to see him, visit with Meredith and see their new home!

Congrats, Haugens family. He is precious. 

Water Park

Jayden loves the water park!! We enjoyed our day here today!!!

4th of July

We were lucky enough to enjoy a long weekend at the lake celebrating America's Birthday!!! It was by far the coldest I have ever been on 4th of July, but within a day it warmed up and we were really able to enjoy our time outside. 

Jayden was a fish and the girls enjoyed playing in the sand! 

Our friends were also able to join us for a few days. The kids had fun and I'm pretty sure Brody enjoyed watching his daddy wakeboard!!

Jayden went tubing for the first time and had a ball!!

Hope everyone had a fantastic 4th! Happy Birthday, America! 

18 months......a few days late!!!

With their 1 1/2 birthday falling the day we left for the lake it was too hard to get this important post done. That is my goal tomorrow!! 

18 month stats coming soon!! 

1. Adalyn and Amelia had a fever today and we made a visit to the doctor. Amelia was 18.6 pounds and Adalyn was 19.8 pounds! I think Adalyn has either an inch or half an inch on Amelia! We will see next week!!

2. The girls are wearing size 12-18 months. I'm very careful about what brand size I am buying. Amelia can still fit into tiny sizes but she is growing!!! We moved up to size 4 diapers but they are so big! I'm going back to a 3. 

We love you babies!!! 

Back to Illinois

Our friends made the move back to Illinois and came for a visit last night! The girls are 3 months apart but nearly the same size!

The boys are about 4 months apart in age and Mayson towers over Jayden. Mayson's daddy is very tall though. He is going to be one tough cookie when he gets big! 

Welcome back home, Aslinger family! Glad to have you only a car ride away. 

On the flip side, our friends the Haugens' moved up north to Chicago. We are going to miss them but hope to keep some traditions still in tact! 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, everyone!!

Super J!

Splash Pad!

If it is hot and we aren't home or at the water park you can probably find us at the splash pad! The kids LOVE it! I wish we had one at home! 

Super J!

Growing....

The girls are basically done with their bottles as they should be at their age. They will take them sometimes, but other times they just simply dump them out. We are getting tired of washing all the parts so I am packing up the bottles (keeping 2 for emergencies) and passing them on to a friend. Tonight after Jayden's game, one nap nanny was out for Amelia, who did not eat well earlier. As I handed her the bottle, Adalyn started to whine a little. I took the bottle and split it between them to make life easier. Later when I was done loading the dishwasher, I found the girls like this.

 

Adalyn & Amelia

 

17 months vs. 15 days old

Amelia & Adalyn on their first day home together

Little Slugger

We have been lucky enough to involve Jayden in another sport and this has been my favorite one so far. I think it is my favorite because it is his favorite and he is having so much fun! There is no argument about going to baseball, wearing the way too big shirt or little black hat, cute little pants, and he must wear his baseball shoes. He didn't love his basketball shirt and wasn't a fan of soccer shin guards but baseball has been perfect!

 

 

Luckily, Aaron was able to coach baseball and I know Jayden loves the extra attention from Daddy!

Throwing the ball and he caught it---not looking---but he caught it!

 Little man was up to bat and he is so little. He is one of the youngest on his team in the 3-6 year old league. I think he has only had to use the tee once all season. Quite impressive if you ask me. Major league material....not so much, but learning rules and listening he gets a gold metal!

A high 5 from Daddy at home plate!

 

Amelia and Adalyn are getting used to the sporting life. Poor girls are in for me. Paybacks will be when they have dance recital on a 95 degree day!!

Jay made it to 3rd, right where we were standing. He wouldn't look at me. I suppose it isn't "cool" when your mom stands with a big camera yelling your name.

 

"That's a winner!" Although there is no winner and every kids gets to cross home plate twice!

 

Jayden's team!

Our little slugger!!!

 

There isn't a cuter kid out on that field. Especially a little one who is always sitting on the bench waiting for his turn, ready in position and listening to the coach. He really is rocking this baseball thing in my eyes and it just proves how much he has grown and how well he can listen and pay attention!

 

Keeping swinging for the stars, Jayden.