New News

Lots of new things happening in Jalyns little life. Its been very neat to watch both boys since school has started. Jalyn getting to try and learn new things. The more I watch Jon Michael I'm impressed with the different facets of his personality...he's a lot like me...he's kind of a loner, thats why I don't get many pictures of him b/c he's doing things on his own, he enjoys reading, he loves science this year, he likes to play computer games and board games and figure out brain teasers, and he also loves being active in taekwondo, trying to skateboard, playing basketball...he's a good mix. Jalyn is our social one, it might take him a little bit to warm up to you but when he does you can't stop him from talking to you and telling you about things in his life.

Ok, enjoy the pictures below...all of Jalyn...it seems I can only catch Jon Michael at taekwondo...

Jalyn trying cookies and milk for the first time....he didn't like the milk but he enjoyed the experience of dunking cookies.

Jonathan taught him to ride his bike w/o training wheels b/f I could even get the camera out.


Learning to turn.

So cute watching him pedal like crazy.

Jalyn has LOVED art class. Any free time that he has at home he's either drawing or cutting or taping paper...he told me this morning he needed glue, so I'm sure he's thinking of some art project in his mind.

See the construction paper all over the living room? I'm constantly either picking it up or telling him to pick it up b/c like I said he's always "doing art" now. Such a good daddy to lay in the floor and show him how to draw things.

I wish I had a picture of Jonathan and Jon Michael on the computer the other night....Jon Michael was playing a hunting game but the deer was hunting the hunter, he loved it.

"Oklahoma O.K."

If you're not from Oklahoma or into old musicals you didn't get the title of this post...its from the song Oklahoma...

Anyways!!! A few weekends ago we went to Oklahoma for Jonathan's family reunion. It was held near Broken Bow, Oklahoma, in Beavers Bend State Park. It was lots of fun and the weather was AWESOME! Sitting by the pool the second night I actually got a chill from the wind! Don't misunderstand me, I LOVE Texas but a break from the sticky hot weather was great. There's lots of pictures below of the trip. We all had such a great time we want to go back and just spend some time hiking and stuff.

I knew there was a Braum's in Idabel so we stopped there for dinner and Jalyn got his first "real icecream" (sherbert), cherry limeaide flavor....yuck, but he loved it!

First cool picture at the visitors center.

This is a creek that comes right off the river...we explored it the next day with the cousins.

There was a nature center with birds and inside a collection of snakes and bones and stuff, fun for the kids.

Jalyn was nervous the hawk would attack if he turned his back!

Silly cousin picture....Jalyn not participating!

Part of the creek we explored...it was so much fun with the kids. I told them this is the kind of thing that I used to love to do when I was a kid in Oklahoma.

Another part of the creek....the kiddos did really good for awhile, figuring out the best way to stay dry then they just gave up and started sloshing thru the water wherever they wanted.

Hanging out at the campground. Jonathans dad, Jonathan, Justin, Ana, and walking by in the back is the guys 1/2 sister.

Praying b/f lunch.

The boys brought almost every toy that they owned but the hotwheels were the biggest hit. They weren't sure what to do when we got there and I told them to grab their cars and go make roads in the dirt and bridges and stuff...they loved it and it was so much fun to see them just hanging out with cousins and playing and getting dirty from head to toe! I love it when kids can just be kids.

Uncle Jonathan playing with Milliana....why didn't we get to do this with our own babies?!?!

Snow cone time.

That night after the reunion was over and we had eatten dinner we went back to the creek for one last time, the boys found little bitty fish living in a pool in the rocks. I love seeing my boys being boys!

Walking back from the creek, Jalyn brought back this "walking stick" that he found and many rocks!

We had such a good time. It was very cool to sit there Saturday afternoon and listen to the family go over their ancestory and how they had come from Mississippi (Choctaws are one of the tribes that were moved along the trail of tears from their homeland) to Lousianna and then on to Oklahoma and how some of the family left on their own b/f the trail of tears b/c they wanted to go on their own not be forced by the government.

It was a great little get away b/f school started.

"We know we belong to the land

And the land we belong to is grand"

A line from Oklahoma, it really felt true while we were out with the kids in the woods and being in nature. Very much a reminder of how amazing this world is that God created.

Back to School

Well, today was back to school for Jon Michael and the first day ever for Jalyn. Jalyn told me this morning while he was getting ready that he was so excited. I love that our boys have transitioned so well into big kids.

We just got back from Oklahoma last night (pictures and new post later) so the boys schedule was really off. Jon Michael couldn't go to sleep and after Jonathan went to work at 11pm he got in bed with me....then in the middle of the night Jalyn was totally awake so he climbed into my bed...then around 5am fell out of the bed! So it was a restless night but they were up and ready to go this morning, with no complaining.

The boys weren't cooperating with pictures this morning! But this one really does show their personalities!

Big boys walking to school.

I tried to get a good picture b/f they went into the school and as you can see they were hot and miserable from our one block walk so it didn't happen. (We got spoiled in two days of Oklahoma weather!!! I love Texas but a break from the coastal heat was WONDERFUL!!!!)

The first day of the rest of his life!!! Jalyn's backpack is as big as he is....

We met their teachers on Friday, Jalyn got Jon Michaels kinder. teacher so he was ready to go and very comfortable. We visited Jon Michaels new teacher and room and felt very good about it. I'm so excited for them! It was awful to see all the crying kids, and mommies, this morning! I wished all kids could be as excited as the boys were.

We'll keep you posted on the exciting things going on with the boys and their school lives.

Little Ninja

I heard Jalyn playing in the front room the other day and when I went to see what he was doing he took off running. Here's the chase in pictures....

Uh, oh, he caught me looking...so up the stairs he went.

He's laughing as he's running away from me.

Cornered in the office! But he's off again...

The chase ends in his bedroom with him drawing his sword on me!

Thanks Mr. Dobson! You've created a monster....Oh sorry, I mean NINJA!!!

Camping Trip

Jonathan's been wanting me to post something new for awhile. Its 2 am on Saturday, I just went grocery shopping at Kroger (they were doubling coupons up to $1!!!!!!!!!!!! I saved $45!!!!) and now I can't sleep so I figured now was a good time to go thru the pictures and post what we've been up to.

Last Tuesday Jonathan took the boys to Lake Bryan to go camping. Here's some pictures from their trip.

This was Jalyns "prize" he brought back..."police sunglasses", they found on the beach. He loves those things.

Why does this hug look like a headlock?!?!

Two brothers fishing.

Jalyn caught his own fish, did it all by himself, casting, and everything.

There was a burn ban and they couldn't cook the hotdogs, so Jalyn got to have his ideal dinner....bbq chips, cin. roll, and gatorade!

I love this picture...two brothers just hanging out in the water, talking.

Jon Michael helping set up the tent.

The boys had a good time. Jonathan said when it was time to go to bed in the tent Jalyn looked at him and asked, "Is it safe in there for me?" So funny...

Thanks Aunt Tab!

Thank you Aunt Tab...and Uncle Brent, and Kiersten, and Aubrey! Jalyn loves his army gear.

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday money. We went in with him and he got his own Nintendo DS. The boys love being able to play together now....and there's much less fighting over the one DS.....so thank you from me!

Taekwondo Testing for Two

Today, Saturday, was belt testing for both of the boys. It was SUPER long day, Jalyn tested from 10-12 and then Jon Michael until 2:30, but the boys did great, check out the fun pictures.

This was last night, I walked downstairs to tell them they needed to go to bed and they were already out.

Jalyn doing punches and kicks.

Jalyn sparring.

He broke his board! He was so excited it was on the first try.

Mr. Dobson giving him his new green stripe belt. He skipped a stripe belt today.

Mr. Webre signing boards.

Mr. Dobson signing his board.

Jon Michael doing a pattern.

Only four testing in his rank..the higher he gets the smaller the group.

Stick self defense....taking down his attacker.

Jon Michael was the attacker and Jason is disarming him...and readjusting his spine!

Jon Michael sparring with Mr. Dillon.

Jon Michael breaking his board.....first try also!

Mr. Roy signing his board....Jon Michael has been with Mr. Roy since he was in the preschool class, they love their instructors.

New belts and broken boards...what a great day!