It's been a while...

I have been meaning to write a new post for a long time now, but I have just not done it.  So I am going to update you on us from the last few months.

Jaden:
Jaden learned to ride a 2-wheel bike this summer.  I was the one more pushing it, but he has been doing a great job and he got the hang of it pretty quickly.  I took him to the park where there was lots of blacktop and he just went.  He prefers the smaller bike over his bigger bike but he really is a big boy now.  Here is a video.

Jaden also really enjoys playing the computer or our cell phones.  He is very much a tech guy, and can just pick up a game quickly.  He really impresses me, it is amazing what kids can do with technology that us adults can't do.  In July, Jaden turned 5!!! He wanted a Mario birthday party, so he had a Mario birthday, complete with Mario mustaches.  He LOVED having both his family and friends over to celebrate with water guns, balloons and cake.  

Jaden was in swimming lessons again this year, and he made a 180 degree improvement from last year. This year he had to fear of the water, and got his face right in.  When it was time to jump off the diving board, he ran and jumped in and yelled, "CANNONBALL!"  It was so fun to watch him enjoy it.

He also started Early Kindergarten a few weeks ago.  He loves it, loves his teacher and loves PE and Music. :)  I just love the polite, kind, fun, honest boy he is growing up to be.  He looks out for his brother, (most of the time), he still enjoys spending time with Jason and me, and he cares about other people.  I can only hope he continues to grow this way and grow into just as wonderful school-ager and teenager.  

Bryson:

This then brings us to Bryson.  The baby of the family (he lives up to this title).  He is a little more challenging than this big brother, but he can be the kindest little boy too.  He really likes to get his way and he likes to do the opposite of what I tell him to do.  Maybe it is just because he is 2, but I have a hard time being patient sometimes.  Him and Jaden are sooooo much different, but that makes each of them even more special in their own ways then. :)

Bryson was potty trained pretty easily this summer and he is dry 99% of the times he sleeps, both at naps and at night.  I usually still put a pull-up on him because otherwise I get nervous, but it is almost always dry.  He really got the hang of potting in the potty really quickly.  

He still REALLY loves his blankie and he loves playing "monster" in his bed.  He crawls and hides under the covers and tells me to come and get him.  He would play under his covers for hours.  He loves to watch movies and to snuggle.  He also likes to do whatever his brother is doing and bothering or tackling his brother.  He likes to play outside on bikes or in the sandbox.  Bryson also had swimming lessons this summer, it was the mommy and me class.  He loves the water as well and really enjoys little slides to go down, like at the Ames pool, and Manchester pools that we had sometime to get to this summer. 

 

We had the opportunity to go out on Uncle Joe's boat and the boys enjoyed it a lot.  Jaden and Jason went on the tube and went pretty fast.  Jason and I also had a chance to tube and it brings back old memories. It was so fun.  I love boating.  

Jason:

Jason was really busy helping his dad again on the farm.  They were still doing a lot of work cleaning up from last summers wind storm.  They have been roofing, building a new garage for Grambo :), and building A LOT of fence.  

Nevada Family Chiropractic is also a busy place these days, and we celebrated our 5 year anniversary in August.  We had homemade ice cream and cake to celebrate.  Congrats Jason.  

Heidi: 

I did a lot of running this summer, as you saw before I did the Warrior Dash and then did my favorite, the Bix in Davenport.  Not only have I really been enjoying the exercise I appreciate the friendships I have been making and building while doing different runs.  Here is a picture of the crew in Davenport before the Bix.  It was a beautiful day and I ran my fastest Bix. 

I have started my 4th year at Nevada High School as a PE/Spanish teacher.  I really enjoy it, both the kids and the teachers I work with.  This is my 5th year of coaching volleyball and I am loving it.  My freshman are doing a wonderful job.  They are a wonderful group of girls, they work hard, are kind to each other, and they all understand what it means to be a team.  And they are really good at volleyball!!!  Our varsity is ranked 3rd, currently, in the state and are doing awesome.  Look for us in November in Cedar Rapids.  The girls and James, our head coach, have worked hard to get to where they are, and they deserve to do really well this season! Go Cubs!

Hope it didn't take you days to read this and you enjoyed my little update.