Thursday Kid Swap

My friend Theresa & I have been swapping kids on Thursdays for the past couple months--1 week babysitting for 1week "free"--it's been great!  Jack and Lainey play great together and both go down easily for naps, so even my babysitting days have been a nice change of pace.  We love having Lainey over--she's a fun one!

Picnic Lunch 

Puppy Dog

Story time 

Painting

Laner Baner

We love this happy little guy--he is a joy!  He continues to be a content baby-smiles easily and loves to interact with people.  He keeps a good eye on his big brother, who does about a good job as a 2-year old can do "playing" with a baby.

Laying down has started to get old-he seems to
be happier watching things from a little  different angle

Out Cold

Happy Birthday Ella!

We got to celebrate Ella's birthday with her this weekend.  Jack loved having his cousins and Uncle John here...and Lane got plenty of attention too!

Confetti on the Birthday girl!

Flat Stanley returns to Iowa to wish Ella a Happy Birthday!

Here is Flat Stanley on his first visit to Iowa...he came from
Ella's 1st grade class for a quick visit and had to return with a report
on his adventures in Iowa.  (He helped plant the garden with Jack)

Cousins :)

Ryan and the girls wore themselves out jumping @ Skyzone on Saturday...

Can you find Ryan, Jack, & Ella  in the foam pit?

And what kind of aunt would I be if I didn't teach the girls things like the upside down face?!

Ella

Taylor/Cletus

Trailers

Trailers are probably Jack's favorite thing in the "whole wide world" right now.  He lets us know when flat beds drive by and when trucks with hitches do not have trailers, he hooks baskets to his big wheel and hauls stuff around, he favorite little toys right now are "green truck" and "blue truck"...which both have trailers.  He's always wondering if Daddy will be bringing a trailer home.  The last few times Ryan's brought one home Jack has asked to go stand on the trailer.  Dream come true...standing on a REAL trailer! :)

Graduation Weekend

Congrats Jay! 

Congrats Joel!

Congrats Zane!

Zonked out clutching his glow stick on the way home 

Both boys got plenty of attention from family and friends this weekend!

Multitasking

Despite what Ryan may tell you, he CAN multitask.  Here he is mowing the lawn AND "babysitting Jack"...all at the same time!  (No, I do NOT agree with the term "babysitting" in reference to a father watching their own child, but you get my point.  HA...you were expecting me to say I didn't agree with how he did his multitasking followed by a picture of Jack riding on top of the mower, weren't you?! :))

Getting a better view from atop a 1ft high stool :)

Waving at each other every time
Ryan passed the window.

This kid adores his dad.  Watching their relationship is one of my greatest joys.  I'm not sure I've seen many things much sweeter than them waving to each other this evening...I think you would agree if it were your husband and son! ;)

Mother's Day weekend

We had a great weekend in St. Louis, celebrating Mother's Day and introducing Lane to Darren and his family.  The boys couldn't have been better on the drive down and back.

Grammi cuddling with her littlest guy

The cousins might be a few years apart, but there
IS an up side...it's called built in babysitters!

Jack loved making breakfast pizza with Grammi 

Caught red-handed sneaking a sausage!

Ryan is so good with the kids...always takes
time to get down on their level to play

Meeting Uncle DD and Chase

Lane was really talking up a storm and smiling at Papa

Being the good uncle that he is, John gave
Jack his first lesson on hockey gear :)

And so begins a month of family weekends...

1. Mother's Day with the Helmkamps

2. Jay's graduation

3. Memorial Day with John's family

4. Marcie and Taylor's wedding

The fun is just beginning :)