Random pics

This is our new neighbor. This gopher tortoise decided to make his home right under our back fence. We often catch him walking through the back yard, but when he hears Eden he makes a break for it.

Mr. Evan Joseph looking at his grandma.

Layton Cove loving life. He smiles all the time.

Eden Rae dancing to Laurie Berkner in her new frog boots.

Layton Cove playing with Eden's dolly.

Happy 25th birthday Kelly. Kelly and Evan Joseph at our house. We had chicken cacciatore and birthday cake. I always let each kid pick out their birthday dinner and that is what kelly asked for.

Grandma lovin' on her Jullian Scott. I love my boy!!! Even though he's growing up way too fast.

Eden Rae helping to blow out Aunt Kelly's birthday candles. We had to light the candles 4 times because every time we got them lit Eden would blow them out. I was laughing so hard. She was very excited and when we got done taking the candles out Eden stuck her hand right in the middle of the cake.

Blowing them out again.

More updates

Let's see.... Layton is almost 4 months old now. He is just the sweetest little boy. He loves to kiss and talk with us. Mary sings to him and he coo's and talks along. He loves to be on the floor on his play mat. We lay him on his tummy and within seconds he's on his back. When he does stay on his back he is busy moving around in circles. He's a great sleeper and now that we have him on Soy formula he seems to be spitting up less.

Eden is growing and talking so much. She is wearing 5T's. already. She talks and talks. Mary is doing little school lessons with her now. She is busy teaching her how to write letters and to recognize them. This week she worked on teaching her Above, Below, Next to, Behind, In Front and on. Eden gets a little confused, but she is having fun with the learning process. She loves to play dress up with her princess outfits. Her favorite movie is Sleeping Beauty. She sings the song all the time while dancing with her dollies. She drives Mary nuts because she insists that Mary hold all of her toys/dolls even though she isn't playing with them and when Mary puts them down Eden gets very upset. Needless to say time outs have become an important tool around our house. I of course have to be careful not to butt in. I want to save Eden all the time. Papa and Eden time is very important. She demands it. I don't even get in the front door before she is dragging me somewhere to play.

Evan is growing so fast. We don't get to see as much of him as Kelly is on maternity leave and her mama Vanda is staying at their home. But we enjoy the times we do. We love all the little noises that he makes. He will be dedicated at church sometime this month. So all of Kelly's family will be here and we'll have a big celebration for Evan.

Jullian is growing up so fast. We love getting to see him. He's a joy. He's really getting into music. The last time he was here we spent time looking up video's on youtube to watch.

Chloe is going to be 16 this month. Where did the time go? My other little girl is now a teenager. At least she still calls me to talk to me and share what's going on in her life. She is taking college AP classes this year. Her intellegence is amazing. I know she can do anything she sets her mind to. Her Aunt Mary is so proud of her. She is busy looking for a part time job so that she can save money for a car.

Grandma has good days and bad days. Mary gets frustrated because she doesn't take some of her medications like she should and her mom thinks she nags her all the time, but Mary is trying to do what is best for her so it's this vicious cycle. She helps take care of Layton so that Mary can focus attention on Eden. So she gets very exhausted during the week and ends up sleeping the entire weekend to try and recover. But at least she's holding her own and hasn't gained any of her weight back.

Dean is busy working and being a deacon at church. He stays busy with visitation and with the upcoming changes at work. We know we are blessed to have a steady job in this economy and praise God for providing.

Adam started his senior year of college this week. His first game will be this coming Saturday and you can listen on the Earlham.edu website. Just following the links to the varsity football site and you can listen on teamline. You can always find Dean and I in front of our computer for three hours on Saturdays listening to his games. We'll be going up to see him October for senior day.

Ashley and Aaron keep busy with work and their families. We're grateful that they live close by and we get to spend time with both of them and their spouses. Actually we're glad we get to spend time with the grandkids. : )

Mary just tries to keep up with taking care of everyone. That is a full time stress induced job. She struggles with her migranes and the aches and pains that her body gives her. We're happy her heart issues weren't anything serious and the doctor will continue to check on her. She enjoys what quiet time she gets and cherishes it the most. She never thought she'd be raising kids again after ours left. But she wouldn't have it any other way. She loves her babies.

Updates

We got the two boys together and decided to take some pics of them together. Here we are comparing foot sizes. Layton 3 month and Evan Joseph 1 month.

Eden taking the time to be sweet to her baby brother. Layton likes being on his tummy. He's already rolling from back to front. And he scoots around in circles on his play mat.

Evan Joseph LaFollette 1 month and his big cousin Layton Cove Jennings 3 months. What sweet little boys.

Evan and his brown eyes and Layton and his blue eyes. We were lucky to get pictures with their eyes open.

Evan Joseph LaFollette's 1 month picture.

Disneyworld 2009 with Eden

Eden on the ferry ride back to the park & ride. She had on her new hat that has Eden, mama and aunt Megan on it.

Tuckered out princess. She was asleep during the Country Bear Jamboree. She had a busy day.

Ohhhhh.... the Disney princesses. Eden was soooooo happy.

On Papa's shoulders so that she could see the Disney Princesse's in the parade. Dean and Eden had been waiting in line to ride the magic carpets. Well the ride went down and so we started to walk elsewhere and came across the end of the parade and coming up next was a float with Peter Pan, Wendy, Alice in Wonderland etc... and the next float had all the Disney Princesses. God is so good how that worked out. We didn't want to stand in the 2 hour line to see the Princesses in Toon Town so God worked it out for us. YEAH GOD!!!

Eden on Papa's shoulders waving to the princesses. She was so excited. I cried just watching her happiness.

Playing in Pooh's playland. She had so much fun you wouldn't know it was raining. : )

Eden playing in Pooh's house.

Our Princess with her new Princess hat. This day was all about Eden.

Seeing Small World and loving it. Ahhhh.... the innocence of children. I love it.

Eden and papa waiting for the Small World ride. She was having a great day.

We came across the fairy Godmother from Cinderella and we were able to visit with her. The fairy Godmother asked if Eden was a "Little Cinderella" since she had blond hair and blue eyes. I told her that's what she says when she watches it.

Grandma and Eden on the Jungle Cruise.

She loved all the animals. She was so excited.

The "mean witch" Malificent appeared on stage just as we were walking down Main Street. Eden was so shocked.

This is Eden's face as she saw Malificent on stage. She loves Sleeping Beauty. We watch it everyday. So when the "mean witch" appeared she was stunned.

The beginning of a really great day with my two favorite people.

What's New?

Layton Cove Jennings at 11 weeks. He sits and coo's and plays a little.

Big Sister Eden after waking up from her nap. She loves Layton.

Eden bouncing Layton in the baby bouncer and touching his hands.

He is a happy little guy when he doesn't have a tummy ache. He is still struggling with gas bubbles. But when he's not doing that, he's as happy as can be. He smiles, coo's, he's noticing his little fists now. And he rolled over from his tummy to his back yesterday. What a strong little boy.

Smilin' big for his granny. He likes to be talked to.

Layton went to the doctor this week. He was 24 1/2" long and weighed 12 lbs. Doctor says he's in the 90% for his height and 50% for his weight. He's a little bit whiney, but I think it's due to his unhappy tummy problems. Otherwise he's a doll. Plus I get a kick knowing he looks just like Dean.

Eden is a huge helper. She will help get diapers, his binky and she will watch him while I make a bottle. On the other hand, she doesn't have a quiet voice. She wants to look in the crib when he's sleeping thus waking him up. She gets a little jealous when we have him on his play mat and are spending time with Layton. I have found that if I include her on most things she does better but I have to figure out what to do with her noise level. Her mama says that she is doing better with the terrible two's now that she is back on her schedule of being with grandma and grandpa during the week. She's being nicer and not throwing as many tantrums. Still not interested in the potty. I guess we'll wait a bit more. Although with her growing she is almost out of the largest diapers they make. So she better hurry and get interested. LOL She learned how to spell Eden and is running around the house telling us E D E N. Now I'm going to start teaching her to recognize the letters. Ahhhh... she is such a smarty. : )

Evan is growing fast. He gets cuter every time we see him. His Grandma Vanda will be home from Korea this week and will get to see him in person for the first time. I can't wait. She has gotten to see pics on facebook and she's seen him on Skype but I know she will be so excited to get her hands on him. Kelly's brother Dan and her cousin Spazz will come down on Thursday too so Aaron and kelly will have a full house. Buddy (Dan) can't wait to see his new nephew. I'm excited for all of them to meet this cutie pie. He came to church last week and was very good and slept through the whole service. What a good boy. He looks just like Aaron. Kelly is healing nicely from her c-section but has to be reminded to take it easy and not to overdo.

Travis and Ashley got to see Megan last week. The American Idol tour was in town and so Ashley picked Megan up from her hotel and brought her to the house so she could spend time with Eden. Eden loves her aunt Megan. She calls her Sleeping Beauty. Ashley is inundated with tons of work from being off for maternity leave. She is working long hours to try and get caught up. Travis has been very ill for the last week with the flu and then on top of that he got snipped on Monday. No more Jennings babies for him.

I have been having some chest pains and palpatations so I went to my doctor and he decided to send me to a cardiologist. I had my initial meeting and told him my symptoms. I thought when I left we'd just do the intial battery of tests and then I'd be done. Well, I guess my stress test showed something irregular and so I've been scheduled for a nuclear stress test for Monday. I guess the pump dye through your veins and then they can see if there is narrowing of the arteries or some kind of blockage. Sounds fun doesn't it? I'll keep ya' all posted.

Well, I guess that's enough news for now.