Catch-Up

Ok, I am so terribly behind on here. I have tons of pictures of all the fun things we've been doing, but that would all take too long... I'll just post some good ones and we'll see how close that gets us to now!


Tyler's Preschool Program
It's funny to think it was at Jaden's spring program last year when I realized I was pregnant with Kate. They always do refreshments afterwards and I got heartburn immediately after eating a chocolate chip cookie. Chocolate always gives me heartburn when I'm pregnant, so I just knew.




Mother's Day at my sister's



Happy girl!



I love how she's looking at herself in the mirror!




Jaden with her teacher, Mrs. Koelling, at Kindergarten graduation.



This was too cute, he's just tall enouh to see himself in the mirror.



Joel watching the Memorial Day parade. Funny story: When Derek was a kid, there were always a bunch of kids who decorated and rode their bikes in the parade, so he wanted to do it with the kids this year. We decided to go at the last minute so we rushed downtown and I just dropped them off at the start of the parade and took Joel and Kate further down the route to watch. We had fun watching all the floats waiting for the kids on bikes... waiting... waiting. Finally when it looked like the end of the parade, we stepped off the curb to see if anything else was coming and there they were! Jaden and Tyler and Derek bringing up the rear! It was too funny! I guess I was laughing too hard to get a picture, and you probably had to see it to think it's as funny as I do, but I still had to tell the story! :)



Tiny fingers and sweet soft cheeks! I looooove babies...



Family movie night





Joel wants in on the lovin'



Family Camp! We were too busy having fun to take pictures, but the kids really enjoyed singing songs after mealtime!



The first time at the beach the kids went right into the waves with Daddy and didn't come back on shore for 2 hours, seriously!!!










Some pretty awesome trees down there.






Kate was there too!



Playing with Tyson. It was so great to visit with our friends!!!





Tyler swimming with no floaties!


Jaden got this sand dollar all on her own!



Could it get any better?



Jaden's Birthday: Jaden's birthday snuck up fast after being on vacation, but we spent the morning at McDonald's with her cousins and the evening at Daddy's softball game. They love going to his games- he plays in our church league, so there are lots of the kids' friends there. Jaden helped make 2 batches of cupcakes to take to the game and share! After the game she had her first sleepover with her friend Kaylie, which was very exciting! Then we had the family party Sunday afternoon at Grandma Seeley's. Jaden designed her chocolate 3-tiered ladybug cake- it tasted much better than it looked, but she was happy!







This picture is nearly inpossible to make out, but it was too sweet not to post. (The lens fogged up going from the house to outside.) It's on the deck at my mom's house. My grandparents are sitting in chairs and Jaden has her arm around Grandpa's neck and was stretching to hold Grandma's hand to get her picture with both of them.


an attempt at sweet potatoes!




Coppertone Babies!


We went to the Zoo for my birthday. It was a beautiful day and we got going early enough to make it to the Children's Zoo while it was free and had a great time!











Watching fireworks from the boat in the driveway!


On the 4th of July we went to Columbia for Derek's cousin Alisha's wedding. We took the girls and Jaden definitely had a good time!



She's got some moves!!!


Jaden wanted to camp out on the floor in her tent!




Up waaaayy past bedtime! She went to bed a bit early that night and then woke up wanting to play just when we were ready for bed.



Peaches!



Cheerios!





I was afraid this might be the last time I rock my baby to sleep, so I needed a picture.


Joel's Birthday!! Joel is getting so big, and talking more every day! We had a fun family party on Friday night before his birthday on Saturday. For his birthday we had donuts for breakfast before heading to the park with his new bike! We played outside most of the day and had icecream sundaes. We try to sing and do candles as many times as possible on birthdays, so Joel did pretty good by the end of the day!


Jaden, our master artist, made these block letters and cut them out for decoration!












VBS: Kids singing and dancing in the morning, Joel in the marketplace of Rome, and Kate along for the ride!





Ahhhhh, finally! Now to just stay up-to-date!

Springtime!

Kate with my grandparents I had put Kate down on the playmat and went to fix lunch. This is how I found her just a few minutes later! Jaden loves for Papa to tell her stories, but she pretty much directs the plot, then usually wants to act it out too! My almost-6-year-old! Happy girl gets to sit wth all of us at the table now! I just can't get enough of her huge grin! We went to Maramec Springs for a Mother's Day Picnic/Play Day. But it was all flooded. The water was not the beautiful clear trout stream, and way yup over its banks. We waded through ankle-deep sludge to get to a picnic table, but we still had a good time. We're looking forward to going again when the water is down. We finally got all 7 Seeley grandkids at our Mother's Day BBQ at Jennifer's. Our fantastic family on Mother's Day. I got to sleep in that morning, then they all brought me breakfast in bed and the presents they had chosen for me. Derek had taken Jaden and Tyler to Dollar Tree to pick out something for me. It's so fun to take them there because you can say, "You can pick out anything you want," and see what they come up with. Jaden picked out a blue glass goblet, which is actually very pretty, and Tyler picked a 100 piece puzzle of the USA. Then they each got me a Mother's Day balloon. This was the best Mother's Day yet!!! That sweet face! She's looking at her reflection! Finally enjoying some nice warm weather- complete with the pool and pops!
Even Kate joined us outside!



Kate's wonderful new talent! She is doing this all the time now! It's really cute, but I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to think that!

Easter

Cutie Kate ~ 3 months

We had Kate's pictures taken the other day, and she just looked too cute in her spring outfit! She is always so sweet and happy!!!



I just thought this was a funny expression to catch...



Isn't this so funny? It reminds me of a senior picture pose!



She's getting so big, reaching and grabbing her toys!


Of course she likes it in her mouth!


This was taken the first day she actually laughed!

Videos!

Kate just loves to talk and be talked to! It's so cute now, but I'm not sure my ears can handle another talker!
Tyler riding his big 2-wheeler! He's so proud!
This is what Joel does every time we get the camera out! It's so hard to get a picture of him smiling and not that goofy cheese face!

I just love their expressions in this!

February - March

I got Kate all ready to go and propped her up on the couch while we finished getting ready. I guess we were taking too long! Isn't she precious?!? I love the booties my friend Hope made for her too!


This was just too cute! He always takes off one sock at naptime, and his other one had a hole in it that his toe was sticking through!


Joel is such a Daddy's boy. He wanted Derek to sit next to him, and then he kept his hand on Derek's leg the whole time his movie was on. :)


Kate's first time getting some fresh air outside!!!


Kids singing at church.


So sweet :)


Tyler practicing riding without training wheels. He's a pro now on his big new bike!



Tyson's Baptism, he is a week younger than Kate.


Hanging out with the Davis' Wish we were closer! They're soaking up the sun in Savannah... and we're jealous!



He'll be a great Dad someday!


She's so sweet!


Tyler occasionally wants to hold Kate.


So of course, Joel wants Tyler to hold him now.


Dad's boots are like waders!


This is too cute! Joel loves his bear! Jaden and Tyler made this for Joel at Build-A-Bear when he was in the NICU.


She is really loving her play mat! She can finally reach and sometimes grab the toys!



Helping with the laundry. Where's the baby?


Making muffins!


Hmmm... cheesy handprints on the face...


Cheesy grin. Guilty!


Cheesy grin...



...guilty again!!!!


I love these boys!


Joel snuggling with his bear at naptime.



Baby legs! I love 'em! Stinkin cold weather makes me cover them up all the time!




Cute boys!


Ahhh... book and bedtime!



My sweet girls :)


Look at these legs!


He wanted to sit in here to watch Baby Einstein, it gave me a chance to shower!


Happy girl!


She kept getting distracted by her feet and was trying to sit up to reach them!


I was just documenting Joel's allergic reaction to the Spanish Rice we had the other night- scary in the moment. I'm glad we were home and had Benadryl on hand!


He's getting too big!