Santa

Santa 2011

Before & After

This is Jakes school picture for the year, he thought it was funny to give a crooked smile for pictures that day.  When we got the pictures back, we all know what mommy thought....becuase I am so anal with pictures...I said, that was perfect....I am sure that will look great in the annual for all the girls to see!  He said, awwwwh I totally forgot about the annual.  Can I please retake it on another day????  I said, you mess the next one up, then that will be in annual, no retakes! I got a big smile and a new hairdo at the sametime!  What more could a mom ask for!!!! 

Fire Station Visit

Rex got to visit the local fire dept a couple weeks ago with daddy.  He loved it, got to put the helmet on and of course didn't get a picture of him! He had a lot of fun:)

Jake the Snake Poster

We had the opportunity at the Hoosier Nationals in Indiana this summer, to have a poster made by one of the photographers who took his pictures at race track, it turned out so nice.  I just forgot to post this when I got it back.   

Planes, Trains and......

Automobiles! We took the boys to a fun little place this past weekend. It was Rex's first time bowling and first time for arcades...poor 2nd child...always gets deprived! We all had a blast, and for the record...I won the bowling game too!

Had to take a picture with the winner! I don't think the boys were all that excited about me gloating winning!

 Daddy, was trying to redeem his low score:) 

 

Happy Halloween

Jake, the Zombie Doctor 

 Rex, as Ghost Face..I couldn't believe he didn't want to be some little boy costume, like Luigi...but no he chose something all boy and gorish! He looks so big in this picture...my little boy growing up on me....he did choose a Mario Brothers candy bag:) Guess, I will take what I can get!

They both have little friends this year that are brothers too, Ryan went as a storm trooper and Reid went as the Grin Reeper:) Rex was the only one that after 2 blocks and 1/2 bag of candy decided he wanted the warm car instead:)

End of Season!

It's the end of season for BMX racing:) Ready for winter break!  Both boys came in 3rd place for the last local race of season...so proud of both of you boys!  Love ya!

Family

I had some special visitors this weekend, my Aunt Susie and Big Gramma came down from Iowa for a visit, I have not seen Aunt Susie in over 17 years...she was always my favorite Aunt! I don't think I need to be putting "Big" infront of Gramma anymore...I felt like a giant compared to her! I sure wish Aunt Susie's daughter could of made it down...she would of made me feel small standing at 5"11 and only 16! Maybe next time:) 

 4 generations together again:)

 Had to get just the family too!

Jake's First Plane Trip

Well, I must say that Jake had to have the best trip a boy could ask for!  Daddy and Jake went to Oklahoma for a BMX race and to visit Beau's sister & family for 4 days.  They live in a suburb of Oklahoma City so less than 20 miles from the race track.
 

Jake came in 2nd place with the race! Way to go Jake!  He was racing an expert too and he almost had him!

  

Then they went on some road trips and ended up being and education trip too! He was fascinated with all of the history. I am sure he will be studying this in history class someday.

"Oklahoma City bombing"

 The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19 children under the age of 6,and injured more than 680 people. The blast destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a sixteen-block radius, destroyed or burned 86 cars, and shattered glass in 258 nearby buildings.The bomb was estimated to have caused at least $652 million worth of damage. Extensive rescue efforts were undertaken by local, state, federal, and worldwide agencies in the wake of the bombing, and substantial donations were received from across the country.

This first picture is the memorial was where the road was at, where he parked the truck....On the front it is stamped with 901 and on backside is says 903  the bomb was set off between those times.

This is a picture of the bathroom door set infront of a blown up picture of aftermath

This is a picture of the state seal that was in the federal building, the explosion had warped it

Actual clock from explosion set in front of a picture of a distroyed room

This is not a picture...this is the bathroom of a building next to the federal building...nothing had been moved this is actual site.

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Uncle Chris, Christopher (15), Beau, Jake (8), Colin (10), Aliana (5), Ava (9) and Aunt Angel

This is the site of where building stood, in place are chairs of each person who lost their lives that day, smaller chairs were for the children. Only family members where able to cross ropes and go on lawn.

The official investigation, known as "OKBOMB", was the largest criminal investigation case in American history; FBI agents conducted 28,000 interviews, amassing 3.5 short tons (3.2 t) of evidence, and collected nearly one billion pieces of information.The bombers were tried and convicted in 1997. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001, and Nichols was sentenced to life in prison.

 

"Get your kicks on Route 66"
US Route 66 was established in November of 1926 and covered 2,448 miles stretching from Chicago, IL. to Los Angeles, CA. Route 66 was one of the original highways that made up the U.S. system of highways, and was made popular by a hit song that was written by Bobby Troup. The song was originally performed by Nat King Cole, but had been performed by other artists throughout the years. The lyrics of the song outline the major areas that the highway passed through.

In 1985, Route 66 was removed from the US highway system because it had been replaced by the more modern  Interstate Highway system.  Many portions of the highway are no longer relevant, but are still used at times and is referred to as "Historic Route 66".

 

 Can't forget the whole reason for the trip:) The Plane Ride!  His first plane trip... he got to sit in the cockpit of his first airplane and even play talk to the air traffic control unit!   The captain was telling him all about it! Pretty neat to sit up there and touch controls for his first trip.

County Fair Time

Gagee and Papa always take the grand kids to the fair every year.  They love watching them play and have so much fun! Last year was Jake's last year to go with Gagee and Papa  he can't ride the rides with Rex anymore and just in time, because Sarah (3) is just right to start riding with him! They had so much fun together. Rex is so sweet to her, helps her get up from the floor...treats her like a little girl should be treated.  So cute to watch them play together too! Soon Rex will be too big to ride with Sarah...then she will have her little sister Rachel to go with...I think that Gagee and Papa will have many more years to take grand kids to the fair! Thanks for taking them mom and dad!





 

This year, we took Jake with his buddy from school, Reid.  This was both boys first time riding all those big rides and they rode them all not scared of any of them! Also, to MATURE to pose for pictures too!



School Time

Jake started 3rd grade this year! WOW school days are flying by, for me at least! I am a little behind posting kiddos! It's only 2nd week in August...schools only been going since August 1:) He has a new teacher this year...Miss Courtney Carr. I hope it is another great year of loving school.

Fall Creek Falls

Last month, Gamma decided to take a trip just her and Jake to Fall Creek Falls. I remembered coming to Tennessee on vacation to Fall Creek Falls and I just happened to be the age Jake is now too! Although, my memory of my one and only visit to this place is a little rusty...I thought the place was just grand! Not so grand in my son's eyes! He didn't get overly excited and neither did Gamma! She remembers large water falls and the huge distance to the ground, but the reality was it was an almost dried up waterfall and not very far down either:) Ahh but, sweet memories!

This picture was taken 26 years ago when I went....I can see the rolling falls in the background mom!

Awwh 26 years later....Objects in the rear seemed much closer back then too!

So glad you both enjoyed spending time together!

BMX- 8/09-8/11

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Summer BMX

How about being busy with BMX racing this summer! Jake has been so many places this summer Alabama, Georgia, Indiana...and summer isn't even over. He has a trip to Oklahoma coming up in August, that will be his first plane ride too! He finishes up with the Grand Nationals in Kentucky this year over Labor Day weekend.

Jake was #4 in the Nation as a Rookie 8 yr old rider at the beginning of the year! He advanced to Novice on January 1, and he has adjusted well to this advancement...now he is in the Top 10- 8 yr old Novice racer in the United States! We are so proud of you Jake...you have come such a long way since you started out!

Jake at one of the Georgia tracks

Jake with his 2nd place trophy at the Indiana Hoosier National in July...this was the same track he broke his collarbone last year...I think he wanted a little payback with this track!

Montessori Achievement Academy

Rex started Montessori Pre-school on May 4th. We decided to put him in a Montessori school because we wanted him to have a different learning experience than Jake did....and we loved the concept of how Montessori has an alternative method of teaching children based on the discovery that children teach themselves through discovery. The Montessori education emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching or reading. He will be able to learn on his own, at individual pace and according to his own choice of activities from hundreds of possibilities. Since Rex is very independent, we thought this fit his needs the best.

Rex is not very partial to school.....his first day at school....refused to take a nice picture and was not even going to crack a silly smile!



Okay...the following pictures of his second week at school...and he was crying throwing a fit he didn't want to go to school! He goes 3 days a week to transition him into the school setting. This week is a little better when leaving him...but he starts crying about not wanting to go about an hour before I take him.

So, since I didnt get a sweet picture last week, I wanted to try it again....this is what I got

No, mom I am not liking this...I don't want to smile

No, I don't want to sit either....

I thought I told you NOOOOOOO!!!!!! DON'T MAKE ME throw this lunch box at you!!!!

Fine if you say I don't have to go, I might smile for you. What's that you say mom? I still have to go even if I smile? Oh...well forget it then!

He is doing better than last week at leaving him, but his teacher say's he does great all day! Love you Rex!