My THREE year old!

This year we didn't celebrate Jonah's birthday until the next day for one big reason... my parents were coming to visit!!  We did decorate the morning of his birthday when he woke up, but told him we would do a party and presents the next day.  He was totally fine with it. 

I LOVE this picture of our little family party.  Jonah loved his batman cake and was so happy to have everyone he loves there.  (that smile says it all!)

Singing to him he was so excited looking around at everyone!  

And of course he was excited about this as well! :)

All about Jonah:

1- Jonah was decided to potty train himself about a week before he turned 3.  We had attempted at about 2 1/2 for a week with no success, so we decided to wait awhile longer.  At the beginning of October after much "persuasion" from Justin I decided to take the plunge.  He did okay for about 2 days but lo and behold he ended up getting sick with a yucky nasty cold/cough and started to go downhill.  I still kept it up for about a week and then realized that it wasn't working because he wasn't feeling good (poor guy!).  I put him back in diapers for about 2 weeks.  Once he got back in diapers he kept telling us that he needed to poop before he would poop in his diaper and we kept taking him to the toilet to do his duty.  He rarely pooped in his diapers that whole two weeks.  He was feeling much better and so we decided to try underwear again and he basically got it down in a day all on his own.  I was so thrilled!  

2- LOVES Diego and Dora.  He was at a friends house putting together a Diego puzzle.  It had a pictures of animals and he was naming all of them "This is a sloth.  This is a green-eyed tree frog.  This is a humpback whale."  I had never heard him do that before and it cracked me up that he was describing them with such details.

3-  Isn't quite in love with sports as his brother.  We signed him up for a little basketball class through the park district and he didn't really love it.  I think most of it was because he is so little and he got discouraged because he couldn't make baskets and doesn't know how to dribble very well.  I asked him if he wanted to try soccer and he just said, "Not now."  We are fine with that, but we do want to explore around and try things out to see what his interests are.

4- He likes his scooter, plasma car, and bike a lot.  He is really starting to love doing puzzles and enjoys coloring and drawing.  He has known all his colors for a long time, but has a really hard time with his letters.

He also seems to have more of an imagination than Jackson does.  He plays with his "guys" and things better than Jackson does.

5- Is my sweet-aholic.  He LOVES treats and sugar.  It's kind of a battle to keep him away from them during the day.  He is more picky with his eating than Jackson and doesn't eat big meals at all.  He's still a little tiny guy and I love his littleness!!  

6- He's loveable and happy and a joy to be around. He loves to be with someone and doesn't play too independently on his own, unless someone is at least in the room with him.  He gives the best hugs and kisses and says "I love you so much" a lot.  He's just a sweet heart and this momma can't get enough of the boy! 

Halloween 2012

I wasn't as gung-hoe as I normally am for Halloween this year.  My decorations were lacking, I didn't come up with any creative costumes, Justin and I didn't even dress up, and I didn't want the headache of carving pumpkins with kids that really can't carve yet.    

LUCKILY, Jonah and Jackson have an awesome grandma who sent a Halloween package with a pumpkin decorating sticker book.  We did bust those out for FHE one night.  

This was the first year that they really picked what they wanted to be.  Jackson wanted Spiderman and because Jonah didn't want to be left out of the super hero theme he wanted to be Batman.  It made it pretty easy on me. 

Jackson had a Halloween party at preschool and was able to wear his costume to school.  Here are some of the kids in his class.  

He goes to school with three kids from Church so we had to get a group picture of them.  

Jackson LOVED trick or treating this year so much.  He would go and go and go all night if we would have let him.  Jonah was done after we made the rounds around our little block.  We did get in the car and drive a little ways down the neighborhood for more and Jonah really didn't want to.  He went to maybe half of the doors, but otherwise just wanted Justin to hold him.  He said, "I've got lots of Candy" and wanted to get back in the car.  Once we got down the road a ways I had Justin run back and get the car.  When he picked us up Jonah just looked at him and said in a relieved voice, "Thanks Daddy!!"  Jackson on the other hand had a melt down because he wanted to keep going.  :) 

All about Jackson

Jackson turned the big F-I-V-E in September.  He had low key but fun birthday. Daddy woke up and made him a special pancake breakfast before heading to work.  

Because we are really new to the area, I didn't throw birthday parties for the boys this year.  We had a little family get together at Grandma and Grandpa's house and invited our family friends the Dennings over for pizza, cake, and presents.  

He was so funny cause a few weeks before his birthday his batman cup broke.  He was so sad, so I told him maybe he could ask for a new one for his birthday.  He got right on the phone and called Grandma Blake to tell her that he wanted a batman cup, plate, and bowl for his birthday.... she listened! :)

He got a "big" bike from mom and dad.  I thought that he would need to get used to it so we left the training wheels on it.  He didn't really want anything to do with it until we took them off and then he jumped right up on it and was riding it like a pro.  

The high school  is right behind the Johnson's house and they were playing a football game, so we bundled the boys up in whatever we could find and went and watched the last half of the game.   The kid still LOVES LOVES LOVES sports! 

Jackson at age 5:

He loves football and sports and video games (the wii, computer and dad's tablet).  Most of the games he really enjoys are sports games.  

He's very smart.  He picks things up very quickly and will spout out random facts that he has learned at school or watching a show or something. 

Although he is very smart, he has a hard time recalling little things such as where he puts something.  For example: The other day I gave the boys two treats after quite time.  He ate one of his treats and put his other one somewhere.  Two minute later he is freaking out cause he can't find his other treat and wants a new one. I really had to talk it through with him to figure out where he may have left it.  Finally he remembers.  This seems to be an everyday occurrence.

He loves to be in basketball shorts and t-shirts every single day.  I have a drawer full of "winter clothes" and he won't touch them unless its a school day or we are leaving the house and I make him put on warm clothes.

His favorite food is peanut butter and honey or pb&j sandwiches.  He pretty much has that for lunch every day and is very happy with that.  His appetite is growing a lot and he is always known to eat a good full meal. 

He LOVES gum.  Bubble gum especially is his favorite.  When he does get gum he can chew one piece literally all day long.  

He can make friends very easily.  Moving into the neighborhood was easy for him because if he sees a kid outside he can easily go and start playing with them.  He does however get his feelings hurt if someone won't share their toys with him.  He just doesn't understand why they won't share and gets very angry.  (We are trying to work on that)

He missed kindergarten by 6 days here in Illinois so he is doing a three day a week preschool with the High School program.  These pictures are from his first day (it was cold outside thus the silly poses).  He really likes to go to school.   

We love him!

Blake Family Reunion

The end of July was the long awaited Blake Family Reunion at the Ranch.  Here are a ton of pictures of all our fun!  

Grandpa got suckered into going to ditch creek with the boys all the time.  The love throwing rocks and playing the water.  

Jackson and Easton are the best of buds!

We thought they were just going to be throwing rocks, but Grandpa couldn't keep them out of the water ;)

We had a few times were it rained for quite a bit so our gathering spot was in the barn.

Or should I say the adults hideout was in the barn.  The rain didn't stop the boys...

Here is Jackson out riding the bike in the rain.  Todd and Amy were life savors with the bikes this year.  Jackson and Easton rode it around the yard constantly. 

Jonah liked the helmet.  It was rare to see Jackson and Jonah without the helmets on.  

The theme this year was the Olympics.  Each family "team" created their family flag.  We drew portraits of each family member (including little baby in mommy's belly).  I hadn't told anyone besides my parents so this was how we announced the news! :)

The annual Butte Hike.  Aunt Jamie made everyone family reunion shirts so we had to get pics of the kids in their matching shirts. :)  The boys were also sporting Grandpa Blake's look with the bandannas. 

These three boys loved hiking with each other.

Justin had the hard job of carrying Jonah...  luckily Jonah got out and walked for quite a while cause Justin was not enjoying that much.  

Justin and I were in charge of the kid Olympic games.  We had games like a bean bag toss, basketball shooting, croquet, darts, balance beam, and a relay race.  We got through most of it before it stated to rain too hard. 

After the kiddo's went to bed we had the adult games.  (Minute to win it style again).  

These two made it into the finale AGAIN this year.  However, this time Todd won the gold.  

We did a family bike ride to the lake this year.  Our family got left in the dust and I only made it half way ;)  Luckily Grandpa Blake was following along in the truck and he came to rescue Jackson and I since we were too tired to go on.  

We had a picnic at the lake and played for a short time.  (it was quite chilly that day so only the very brave actually made it into the freezing cold water)

Me and the boys stayed for a week longer after the reunion was over.  I got to spend a weekend in Utah visiting my best friends.  Kim had just adopted a little girl from Ecuador and it worked out perfectly for me to be there for the sealing.  

Me, Anneka, Kim, and Kylee.  It was so great to see these girls!  I got to go shopping with Anneka after the sealing for a few hours and we got together the next day to hang out.  Love these girls... they will be forever friends!

I also got to go over to Grandma and Grandpa Stevens for a few hours one evening.  It was great to see them and to have the boys be able to spend some time with their Great Grandparents.