Friends

Ashley drove up to Indiana to see her brother play some football last weekend. I was glad she went since he got injured in the second half and had to go to the hospital for x-rays. Usually we have to wait a long time before we hear any news but because Ashley was there we had up to the minute updates. His knee has a deep bone bruise and he hopes to be back on the field next week. Ashley had a great time cheering the Quakers on, but they lost big time. Some of the fans said she should be there for every game and some just shook their heads. Whatever..... we are a football family and we cheer loud for our boy. We don't quit just because they're losing that's when we get louder. She got to take Adam and some of his friends out for dinner and they got to just hang out. They had fun just being themselves.

The boys are growing

Layton has started eating his rice cereal, banana's, pears and this is sweet potato. He loved it. He ate the whole jar, grinning the whole time. If you notice his hand is on my helping to get the food in. He likes to be in charge. The first time I gave him the cereal it was everywhere. I've never had a kid that was that messy, but he kept grabbing the spoon. He's 5 months now and 17 lbs and 26" long. He's in the 75th percentile for weight and the 90th percentile for height.

Here is the 3 month old. Mr. Evan Joseph. I call him Mr. serious. He's always so thoughtful. Doesn't smile a ton for me. But he hasn't been over as much as mr. Layton so I'm sure he'll get to know me and smile eventually. I'm trying not to take it personally. He looks just like his daddy. The child "farts" all the time. I call him a dirty rotten farter. : ) And he is so stinkin' solid. Holding him is like holding a bowling ball. What a precious, precious little boy. He loves to watch football with his daddy. Kelly said Aaron tried to watch the hockey game with him the other night and he cried until Aaron changed to a football game. Smart boy. I'm sure he's missing his grandma Vanda. I know Kelly is.

Here's a picture of the two little ones together. Layton is mr. happy all the time and Evan is mr. I'm thinking if I like you or not. It's just too cute to have them together. There were together yesterday and they were talking to each other. What fun.

Evan went with his mommy to her small group gathering on Sunday. Here he is loving life in Kelly Turner's arms. I'm sure he got all the loving one little boy ever needed. The ladies just love to hold him and spoil him rotten.

OK, I'm so jealous. I never get this look from Evan. This is from Karey Erickson. I just love it. What a handsome little guy!! This is exactly how Aaron looked when he was a baby. It's like de ja vous for me.

Cousins Growing Together

Evan Joseph LaFollette 2 1/2 months and Layton Cove Jennings 4 1/2 months

Layton and Evan playing on the blanket together.

Layton trying so hard to get to Evan. It was so sweet. They were talking to each other.

Layton Cove and Evan having some blanket time.

The baby boys even took a nap together. How sweet is this?

Evan's dedication

We ate lunch at a restaurant after the dedication at church. They boys got tuckered out.

We must have had at least 20 people at Evan's dedication on Sept. 20, 2009. Here is everyone sitting at the table relaxing.

Aunt Kristy Young.

Cousin Jullian and Uncle Travis.

Grandma Vanda and Great Grandpa Antonio from Portugal.

Here we all are eating, watching the game on the flat screen and just enjoying family!!

Jullian, Travis, Ashley, Layton, Evan, Aaron, Kelly, Eden and Mary. Dean was taking the picture.

Pastor Charles Richard giving a prayer of dedication over Evan Joseph LaFollette with his parents Aaron and Kelly.

Brother Chuck talking about knowing Aaron and talking sports together. : )

It was a wonderful day filled with lot's of family. I had fun putting babies to sleep. I first had Evan, got him to sleep and then I passed him back to Aaron and grabbed Layton so Ashley wouldn't get stressed out. I'm sure everyone in church got a chuckle out of me and my baby boys. : ) A grandmas job is never done. : )

Wonder Girl

Eden likes to play with capes. So we found a costume that had a cape. However, when it came we had most of the costume..... there was NO CAPE!!! Dean called they said sorry that costume is no longer available. He asked to speak to a supervisor who told Dean they would call the manufacturer to see if they could get another costume for Eden. So we are waiting to get another costume and then we have to send this one back. Poor Eden. But she's still my super hero.

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.