Gavin

On July 25th Gavin turned 7 years old!

I asked the family to describe their brother/son. This is what they had to say about him!

Steve: he's independent.....doesn't ask for much, but when he does it is important...cautiously brave....Gavin is just a good kid!

Ethan: he likes to play with me....he likes to tease me.....we sleep in the same bed and he keeps me awake at night.

Averi: he plays with me....he tickles me and makes me laugh....and I love him!

Wyatt: (if he could talk)...I love to wake up in the morning and see Gavin.....he takes care of me and makes my bottle and always makes sure I have my blanket!

Mom: Gavin is my Buzzy Wee....he is very go-with-the-flow.....he is smart and we often ask Gavin how to fix things or how to run things that Mom/Pappa/Grandma can't figure out, like the DVD player in the van or the PlayStation.....he is still a mamma's boy and loves to cuddle...he is excited about school and friends.....he has the most amazing eyes....he is always willing to help me by playing with his younger siblings....he can eat me out of house and home!

We are lucky and thankful to have Gavin!

Averi

On July 15th, Averi turned 4 years old!I asked the family members to describe what their daughter/sister is like, and this is what they had to say!

Ethan: she's a girl....she's really good at teasing....she likes to play with other girls, ponies and dolls!

Gavin: she screams really loud....she likes to play a lot....she likes to boss Wyatt around!

Wyatt: (what he would say if he could talk)....I scream when she takes my toys away from me...she can get me into huge laughing fits!

Mom: She is our Pumpkin Pot Pie...she loves pink...she loves dresses.....she can be as ornery as me, but also very loving....she is great at cuddling...she is always willing to help around the house....never hesitates to say "I'm sorry"......she has Dad wrapped round her finger......I am so thankful to have her as my 'little girl girl.'

Steve: she's affectionate....loves to cuddle....a busy-body....always the center of attention...she plays well.

We are so lucky and thankful to have our Pumpkin Pot Pie!

We combined Gavin's seventh birthday and Averi's fourth birthday this year, and had their party at Pump It Up! Gavin had been begging me to have his party there, and I finally caved into him. We had a great turnout with lots of family and friends for the kids to enjoy!

The super slide was so much fun that even I had to go down it once. (not the best idea at 30 weeks pregnant!)

The kids had a chance to joust together and also to box with the over sized gloves.

Cousin Ben running around having fun!

Averi just loves spending time with Eliza! Love this picture of them together!

Friends together at the end of the obstacle course. Gavin even challenged Steve to a race, and I laughed when Gavin beat him fair and square!

More friends having fun! This is Jared, the boys friend who lives up in my parents track.

I love this smile on Steve's face. He had so much fun with the kids!

My little Wy-Guy. He had as much fun as the older kids!

Gavin and his cousin Ben!

Ethan loves the play air hockey with Grandma.

Averi having fun on the giant slide!

Gavin also!

Lots of fun presents for the kids to open. Thank you to everyone for all the gifts!

And of course.....birthday cake!

My King and Queen of the day!

It was a successful party and I hope all the adults had as much fun talking as the kids did playing!

Baseball

This year Ethan and Gavin played baseball for the NOR Parks and Recreation Department. It started in May with practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and when the games started we were up in the Northwest Monday through Thursday. The boys were in different divisions so we ended up having two and a half months full of baseball! I was very impressed with the league and hope they continue to want to play next year. Of course with my love of baseball, they do not have much of an option!!!

Gavin was in t-ball, but they basically ended up turning it into coach pitch!

I really enjoyed watching him play. He possesses some of the competitive nature that I do, and he really put a huge effort into his games. I love this picture with his tongue sticking out in concentration!

He got a chance at many positions, but really enjoyed first base best.

Ethan was in machine pitch this year. I was a bit hesitant about this, because he didn't play last year and therefore missed coach pitch. I went and bought a machine to pitch to him before the season started and quickly realized that he wouldn't have any trouble hitting considering he almost decapitated me with a hit while practicing at home!

It turned out that he went 18 for 21 during the season. I am the proud mother of a child with a 850 batting average! I loved the smile on his face when he hit and made it to base!

Ethan also got to try out different positions. He was usually in the outfield, but also got a chance at third base and pitcher.

Even though it was a very busy season, I was bummed when it was over and I look forward to next year! Averi will be old enough to play then!

Momma's Little Drag Queen!

More evidence that Averi needs a baby sister to dress up!

Johnson Family Reunion

Pappa, Grandma, the kids, and I recently took a road trip over the Fourth of July up to Idaho for the Johnson family reunion. It took us two days to drive up there, and we ended up at my Uncle Jim and Aunt Jerry's ranch in Parma. It was very good to see all of the Johnson side of the family. I have many cousins on that side, and only see them every couple of years. The last time they did this reunion, I was two weeks from being due with Gavin and therefore I wasn't able to go. I'm glad I had the chance this time, and the ranch was so fun and beautiful that I was ready to move to Idaho! (I have discovered many beautiful places throuout my travels this summer that I wouldn't mind living at.) There was a big grassy area that we all congregated throughout the day to visit.
The kids had so much fun and were able to do things that they don't have a chance to do here at home. They immediately made friends with their seconds cousins, and they stayed busy throughout the entire day enjoying life on 200 acres, where they could just run and play!

There was a Kubota that drove us all over the ranch. The kids immediately fell in love with it, and Ethan and Gavin actually had a chance to drive it around a bit. There were also a bunch of four wheelers for the kids to enjoy. My cousin James immediately asked the kids if they wanted to ride them the second we got there. Ethan replied, "My mom will kill us if we get on one of those!" He ran up to me so excited with the opportunity to be able to ride. I figured since this was the main mode of transportation there and everyone was very experienced, that this would be the safest place to ride the quads. The boys enjoyed them throughout the day, especially Gavin, who always found people to take him on rides!

Wyatt and Averi all decked out in their red, white, and blue!

There was a tree fort on the property that the kids spent a good deal of time playing in with their second cousins.

My cousin James informed us that they were setting up a slip and slide over on the neighbors property. I was thinking one of those ten dollar ones that you buy at Walmart. (Can you tell I am a city girl!) Boy was I wrong!..........................My cousins call this the 'Red Neck Slip-n-Slide!

This slip and slide was the highlight of the day! I was actually jealous of everyone who got to go on it, and was kind of bummed that I couldn't enjoy it being pregnant!

Basically, it was a very long piece of plastic that started at the top of the hill next to the irrigation pipe. My cousins would open the pipe up and instantly made a slip and slide!

The kids went down it for about two hours. They ended up sunburned but were still wanting to go down it even after the water was turned off!

I love the smile on Ethan's face!

The evening ended with a b-b-q and fireworks and sparklers for all to enjoy. It was a great time and worth the four long days of driving on the trip! We didn't get back to the hotel room until around midnight, and I was so tired that I fell asleep without even covering myself up! Steve wasn't able to go with us since he doesn't have any vacation time left at work. He would have really enjoyed it and I hope to be able to take him there sometime in the future!