Getting Up to Speed

Due to several factors including but not limited to camera confusion and less frequent computer use- I have gone a record 52 days without a blog post. I'm going to attempt in one post to get up to speed. Obviously, I will be leaving out many cute and cuddly pictures of Katie, and many memorable Jackson moments, and for that I apologize!

In July we made a trip to Idaho, here are some highlights:

 Our ten year class reunion!
JULY 3- Blessing Katie:

4th of July! Spent the afternoon on The Range with the cousins:

We got to spend a lot of time with JD, Liz, and Cami for the last time before their move to TX!  Here are Cami and Katie, in little twinner outfits!

Here is Cami chasing Jackson around. Jackson loved growling and making Cami giggle.

The second week of July Steve took his scout troup to Treasure Mt Scout Camp for the week. He had a great time. We spent the week at Nana and Grandpa's house. Here is Wyatt spending some time with us. When in doubt, just wear underwear!

I spent much of the time while Steve was away making a family Tree- if I get ahold of a picture will edit this post.
Steve had the camera with him at Scout Camp, but we had a really awesome Shively Family reunion at Heise Hot Springs. We had the camp site all to ourselves and I for one had an awesome time. (Refer to the Egbert Family Update Blog for details...)  Good Job MOM!

We left Idaho on July 20th- Nana and Great Grandma Egbert made the drive with us since Dad drove back to California w the Scouts. It was so awesome to have them here for a few days!  Little did I know, Steve actually left our camera at his parents' house in Idaho, so no pictures of Nana and Great Grandma!

So now that we are back in town, we spend many of our days at the pool.  Jackson is trying to drop his nap, but this is what happens when he goes swimming:

He is swimming on his own as long as he can hold his breath. He hasn't figured out how to come up for air yet. But he is getting close! He isn't afraid of the water, and he absolutely refuses to wear his "shark" a swimming life-jacket.

Here's Katie's first time in the pool . It was a little chilly so we didn't stay in for long! But Katie loves bath time  and she didn't fuss at all in the pool, so I think she will be loving it before long!

Other things keeping us busy:


We had some friends over to make cheese and shake butter. Not bad for a first try. Wouldn't be complete without some home made bread!  Here's our yummy lunch. (The green is some fresh basil from our "Aerogarden")

My Pregnancy Buddy (she and I were due the same time), Daisy, and I threw a New Baby of 2011 Party for all the new babies in our ward (some used to be in our ward or will be in the future).  It was so much fun to see all the babies rolling around on the floor!

We put up their pictures and Stats- thanks to Daisy's cousins for making it look so cool! And thanks to Steve for putting all the clothespins back together after we took them apart to paint them!  Here are the little kiddos from oldest to youngest! I don't have a good copy of the picture.

And this is a horrible picture- not sure what's up with my camera! But here are all the moms and babes. We are still missing four from our ward born so far in 2011 and there is a big bunch yet to come before the year is out!

And here is Katie in her party dress:

Anyway we are loving our little family and enjoying the last few weeks of my maternity leave! I'm currently looking for a solution to my blog apathy-stay tuned!

Alex's Wedding June 13th

So this is actually the day before Alex's wedding, but Katie was in such a cute dress, given to us by a neighbor, that I had to include this picture.

And here is the lucky man himself before the wedding. I didn't get any pictures of Alex with his bride Hannah, but I will tell you that she was beautiful, and seems like a lot of fun. As the ceremony was starting, Alex was getting choked up. It was very sweet.

Here is the Boyle Family--Katie 5 weeks old today.

We were so happy to see Danny and his family, Jacob, Laura, and Sam!  Jackson loved playing with Jacob who is quite the model citizen.

Here is Steve with Chase and Justin, it was so fun to catch up!

We put Katie in the "little black dress" that Aunt Jenna gave her.

There was a live Karaoke band and Jackson LOVED dancing with the other little kids (and his mom).

Here is Jackson admiring the decor as the evening went on. 

Thank you Alex for giving us a reason to celebrate and meet up with old friends!

The night before Father's Day, Steve was with the Scouts at a Dodger's game, and Katie smiled her first real smile! Here Jackson and I are trying to capture the moment. She wouldn't smile for the camera, but trust me, it happened! And she has been smiling a few times every day since. Can't wait to have full time smiles!

Loving this little girl and our little human Jackson!

LOVE AT HOME

Steve has a "special" habit of bringing home bags (plural) of cheesy-poofs (cheetos) because they seem to always be on sale. Tonight he walked in from school with a few more and teasingly I said something like "STEVE! YOU DIDN'T! NO MORE CHEETOS! (Loud voice) As he walked in the kitched with his booty, I (laughingly) pushed him back out the door and saying something like "You are grounded from buying cheetos, we still have a few bags in the cupboard!" At this point Jackson walks in and says "Mommy, No say that!" He repeated himself a few times and then got this really sad pouty face and then staarted to cry! I apologized for talking so un-nicely to daddy, and tried to explain that I was teasing daddy and I was not mad, but that didn't help- he was so sad! It was one of those special parent moments that was humorous and sweet, and leaves a memorable lesson. What a good little guy he is!

Other Memorable Moments

Jackson really is good with Katie- I think he will be a very sweet and fun big brother for her. He tries to play with her occasionally and loves when "His eyes is open!"  (Everyone is "that guy" or "him" or "his". I hope the women we encounter are getting a complex from it thinking they look manly!)  He is also the crying radar- "Katie is crying!!"

Some rare "awake time".

When Grandma Boyle was in town we went to the new Los Angeles Temple Visitor's Center. There is such a beautiful, powerful, and peaceful feeling there. It motivates me to be a better person. I love everytime we go.  One of the sisters shared a thought with us. She said that she has found on her mission when she has been "self-focused"- fretting about her weaknesses and focusing on herself she is less effective than when she forgets herself and just works hard doing what she knows she needs to do. I thought that was a good reminder- a lot of times Old Scratch knows he isn't going to get us to leave our spouse or party on Friday night, but if he can use our desire to be better against us, it can become disabling if we focus too much on our own weaknesses.

 I love this picture of Steve and Katie, here she is streching out at the visitor's center.  Thanks Aunt Kristen for the cute dress!!

I think Katie looks like she is giving a disinterested Jackson a piece of her mind!

Last weekened we had some neighbors over for a movie and SODA POP ICE CREAM. Steve was the mastermind behind the occasion and bought some rock salt to put in this bucket. He put Soda, Sweet & Condensed Milk, and some fruit in old Gatoraid bottles and we had some yummy and oh so sweet frozen treats. He did have to roll the bucket for ten minutes or so, what a champ.  Fun idea Steve!

Glamour shots by Deb. 

I'm sorry Katie, but your Dad caught a "poop-face"! 

When Grandma Boyle was visiting, Jackson wanted to read her scriptures and started by clearing his throat and saying "And it came to pass". That day we gave him is own Book of Mormon and he frequently wants us to turn it to the right page so he can... follow along (Nevermind that the book is upside down). And sometimes he will even "read" himself by repeating the words we tell him to say.  

Katie is a fan of bath time. I love putting her in the tub and watching her look around. Although she is frequently attacked by all the animals Jackson keeps in the tub. He likes to get in with her, but he declined to pose for a picture this time...

Due to the "June Gloom" here is Los Angeles, Jackson is looking a little pale. We definitely need to get him out in the sun!  (I'm pretty proud of my frog... look closely- if you need someone to draw you a frog, I think I'm your woman!)