Halloween, Thanksgiving, Cheer and a picture of a Christmas tree, not really in that order......

 We spent Thanksgiving in Texas with the Halls.  We got to see Uncles Trey and Drew. I don't think anyone on earth loves them more than Josie! She ran and jumped into both of their arms when she saw them.  Jack got fly on an airplane for the first time and did great. I flew by myself with both kids and it was bad at all, Josie is a great helper and Jack was happy to ride on me in the carrier.

 Jack also met Great grandma and Gradpa Hall.

Right before we left we celabrated my grandma Johnson's bithday up in Denver with my cousins and their kids.  Josie and Presley and bestest friends.

 My hungry Jack is eating rice, oatmeal and barly cereal now.  He loves to eat and I am excited for real food once he can sit in high chair.  We didn't really do typical baby food with Josie (she ate what we ate, baby food is too exensive and she did great with table food) and won't with Jack either, but at three months he was trying to eat my oatmeal and could sit the bumbo so we knew he was ready for a little more than nursing.

 Josie is 4 years older and I know won't have much interest in really playing with Jack, but I do like these sweet moments when they are together.

 We had an Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates and a baseball for trick or treating. It was fun, and my first time to take Josie out to do that.  I'm not really much for Halloween

Our 2012 tree! Pretty!!!

 Yay!!! My Flurries, they are awesome and I love coaching Josie. They really do get out there at comptitions and shine!

 Jo's 2nd cousin a cheerleader too, fun to see them at Denver compatitions.

 Our last comp was a two day and we got to stay in hotel and swim.  It was 70 degrees in Dec in Denver.

the boy is two months and the girl is 4 and 1/2

 Jack is two months now and seems to be older, well maybe I feel like he should be older.  This time around seems to be going slower than it did with Josie. Jack is a pretty big dude 13.5 lbs and 23 inches.  He is the same size as his sister when she was 4 months old. He is monster eating man and has given me an infection I cannot seem to get rid of.  Thank goodness it is only on one side cause I'd go crazy if I had to pump both sides all day.  Josie has been able to give him a couple of bottles and I love that he will take them (Josie refused) but I am ready to get back to full time nursing and get rid of this pain. 

 Having two kids is more difficult but Josie is such a big helper she makes it almost seem easier than one, cause when I need something she is a ready and willing helper.  It helps that she is rewarded with a barbie or an afternoon out to a movie.  Jack and Josie have so been very similar babies. They both like to be upright looking around,  preferring standing to any other position, both were/are holding their heads up by 5 weeks, both didn't really nap or need to, no fussiness, both mostly sleeping though the night by 2 months and both mostly happy babies.  Jack however HATES his car seat and driving.  I have pretty much gotten used to the screaming and poor Josie who has to sit next to him in back is always asking for the music to be turned up ;) She is always telling me how much she loves him and seems to be reacting very well to him as well.  She is great calming him down and playing with him in his bouncy seat while I shower or do other things I need to do. I am now very glad I have the age gap I do.  God knew what we needed. 

Josie was very excited to turn 4 and 1/2 this year, we have never even talked about the 1/2 birthday til this year when she was asking when it was and getting very excited about it.  We made cupcakes and called it good (though she asked for gifts, HA!!) Josie is super awesome!!! She loves school, she going to part time kindergarten at my parents church school and keeping up the kindergartners who go every day.  She is still doing gymnastics, which starting to get more serious as the coaches are looking to move to a more competitive program.  She is also still on a comp cheer team, and loving that.  This summer she began to love swimming, we went almost everyday, and is request swimming lessons.  She loves to play with friends and by herself, she is sooooo creative and her imagination is incredible.  I don't remember having so much fun with barbies, she comes up with the most fun games to play with them.  She also loves musicals and listening to show tunes on my ipod, she is always singing ALWAYS, though I don't think she will make it in the music industry.  If she not outside, at an activity or playing with a friend, you will find her in her room listening to Adventures and Oddessy and playing teacher.  She also is learning to love God and pray.  She is always praying for friends and family.  She saw me pain and stopped what she was doing to pray for me. She is growing up so fast and I love it because each new age is more and more fun and watching grow up is the best.  

Jacks Birth Story

 When I had Josie my water broke the day before my due date, nothing fancy, just at home.  So I knew to go to the hospital, it was easy. I was hoping it would happen again, no way!! The day after my due date I started having painful contractions every 10-15 min.  I went to bed and couldn't sleep and over time they were 5 min and more painful.  I woke Jeff up and we waited that hour they tell you to wait and when they didn't stop we went to the hospital. It was about 2am.  At the hospital they checked me and was not dilated.  The nurse said I could wait an hour and they would check again.  After another check and no improvement they sent me home.  I was so frustrated, they were so painful and so even!! We were home for about 2 hours before I could not handle it anymore and went back to the hospital, praying not to get sent home.  While I was at home I was trying to not let Josie hear me in a lot of pain, but that was impossible and she later told my mom, "see I told her it was gonna hurt"! So no scaring for life =) Back at the hospital I was 3 cm, thank God!!! An hour later they started an epidural, again thank you God =) two hours after that I was 7cm.  I could not believe it was going so fast. I was group b strep positive and needed the antibiotics to work on the baby so they made me keep him in there for another hour, but after that I was ready to push.  35 min of pushing and her was here.  With Josie it was 2.5 hours, so I was thrilled.  Jeff cut the umbilical cord and I held him after they cleaned him up.  I didn't really get any pictures of right after he come out but he was 8lbs, 3ozs, 21 inches long, and had the hair I hoped for after having my super hairy Josie. 

 We had Josie come meet him first before any other family and she was super excited to kiss him and tell him she loved him. 

 This is my favorite way to hold him!

On my due date! 

Jack is here

 Jack Donald Jackson

July 31st

5:48pm

8lbs 3ozs

21 inches

Not as much hair as his sister, but I'd call it a full head =)

Summer Fun 2012 (before baby edition)

 Swimming, we did a lot of swimming, even got to bring some friends along a few times.

 Sonic happy hour!

 Cheer practice without shoes and Popsicle breaks to escape the hot gym!

 More swimming. Jo has always loved swimming and its always been a huge part of our summers. This summer is special because Jo decided to swim for real and can even swim all the way across the deep end coming up for breaths as she needs too.  I guess its time for real swim lessons!

 Lunches and movies with Grandma, Aunt Linda sent Jo her very first (used) Coach purse. She filled it full of baby supplies for her brother and it goes everywhere with her.

 Three baby showers, feeling very loved and stocked on diapers for a while!

 Lots of playing with the next door neighbor.  Best friends for sure!!

 Week of gymnastics camp, lots of fun and new skills! Jo cried on the last day!!

 Out door movies, nice treat on a cool Colorado evening.

Santa's Workshop, a yearly tradition! Jo's fav! I went every summer as a kids and love taking Jo.  

 Dad and Jo car ride, have a pic from every year of her life starting at 2.

 Jo and Presley her cousin at our traditional Christmas in July with the Johnson side of the family in Denver.

 Board games before bed, Jo's new love.  Takes sooooo much longer than books, but a fun family thing to do a few times a week.

 G-ma, mom and Jo pedi's.

 AAAnnnd more swimming!!!!!

 Getting ready for brother. Josie is practicing her diapering skills.

 His little part of the house.  We didn't do up a big room him, but we did for Josie. Josie didn't get an awesome nursery either, why spend the money on a tiny baby when now she can actively help and love her room. Its very pink, purple and princess.  We are almost done with it and she loves it so far.  

 My body getting ready for baby, ugg excited to get rid on the swolleness =)

We are a week away from my due date, so any time now they say =) I am glad Josie and I packed a fun summer into June and most of July, cause I have feel Aug will be pretty low key, for a good reason. We are going to try to head out to KS for Labor Day Weekend!

4th of July 2012

 A week before the 4th of July Josie and I went swimming.  When we got to the pool we look up to see this.  Josie called it a bottle of smoke, everyone else called it the Waldo Canyon Fire.  It started on a Sat looking like this coming from the mountains and a few days later was in town burning down houses.  Colorado has been very dry and wild fires start very easily.  We had a long week with thousands of people evacuated from their homes and then over 300 homes lost.  As of July 4th the fire was 100% contained and we all stand in awe of the hero's who were a part of that success. Josie learned alot though this, more about how to pray for others and protection for herself, and how to give to people who need the basic things.  She wanted to pick out her favorite foods to give to the little girls who could no longer eat at their houses.

So due to the fires and dry Colorado heat this summer, fireworks were 100% banned and all of the public firework shows were cancelled.  It was odd to celebrate the 4th with no fireworks, but hey we'd seen our fair share of fire around here and I still got to hang out with my little firecracker all day, and shop at Ikea =)  

Fathers Day 2012

 For Father's Day this year we went 2 hours northwest to Breckenridge, CO.  It is a special place for us. We lived there for a year after getting married and would have stayed longer, had I not gotten pregnant with Josie so soon.  We like to go ski in the winter, but LOVE to visit in the summer.  Jeff and I both love to be outside and hike and we are trying to get Josie to love being active too.  Also when I was a kid my family would always spend a day at Breck every summer.  So I have memories of the Alpine Slide from when I was a kid.

 Jeff took her on her first ride, she was nervous for about 3 seconds before she was pleading with him the go faster, and then wanted to go again and again!!

 After sliding we took the chair lift up to the top of peak 8 and attempted to hike down.  We went down for about a half hour and decided it was just too far for a four-year-old and a 34 week pregnant lady, so we hiked back up to the lift and rode it down.  It was pretty and I am sure we will be trying it again next summer.

 Then we spent some time in town, walking around and dipping our toes in the Blue River. It sure was cold.

 We ate pizza at our favorite place that Jeff I come to every time we are back in Breck. It was a fun day, and we can't wait to snowboard this winter.

Minnesota Eh!

Jeff always spent his summer family vacations in Minnesota with his extended family and he really wanted Josie and I to experience what he had as a kid. So we planned a trip, he had not been up that way for 10 years so it was really special for him.  We started the trip at a Twins game.  Jeff loves baseball and the Twins have a new stadium so we went to check it out.  It was Josie's first pro game (besides the Rockies when she was 4 months old) and last for a while, she did not have fun.  Too hot and too much sitting still.  Needless to say Jeff watched the game while Josie and I explored.  

 After the game we headed three hours north to Hill City where his grandparents have a cabin on a lake.  The first night it rained so much there were a ton of fun puddles to play in. We walked around explored there land and waded in the lake a little bit. We also had a big BBQ where Josie and I go to meet of ton of Jeff's family.

 Josie found a real turkey leg that she loved and Jeff hated so she would run around and torture him with it all week.  I love this picture, it totally captures the feeling =)

 Josie and Jeff's sister Cathrine on a big tree that hangs over the lake.  Josie wanted to jump in, but it was to cold that day.  I also climbed up there and freaked everyone out. Jeff's grandma made me get down. 

 Josie at her first campfire, she had so much fun. She had been begging to cook over one for months and even had her first S'more.

 Four generations!

 Josie and grandma and grandpa Jackson.  This is at Walker a little tourist town with lots of shops and fun lake to swim in, if it wasn't only 55 degrees.

 Best ice cream ever, at a gas station. I had almond joy and they give you a ton.  Jeff even got a stomach ache after eating all of his. 

 A little fishing at his grandparents lake.

 Josie was the only one to catch anything and wanted to throw it back.

 I was surprised she was ok with touching him, much less holding him like this, but she was proud.

 The lake was so pretty. Jeff's mom and brother cannoned and even took Josie out for a spin, she loved it.  I wanted to go too, but no one would let me!!

 After a week up North we spent some time a family of three in the Minneapolis.  It was nice to have that time together.

 We spent a day at the Mall of America, how could you not???? The Nickelodeon theme park inside was a huge hit for Josie and wants to go back. They also had a Disney Store that was huge and it took forever to get Josie outta that place.  That girl needs to go to Disney Land!!!

 Another huge hit was the hotel pool, I think we could just go stay at a hotel and swim for an entire vacation and Josie would be happy.

 She loves to fly on airplanes except for landing, she has always been this way, even as a one-year -old.  she grips me tight til the plane stops. 

It was a fun trip and I am glad I got to experience all the things Jeff talks so excitedly about all the time.