Tractor Ride

Just like Cozmo, Jasper already LOVES being out on the farm. Gramps took him for a tractor ride, and I think he could have stayed on the tractor forever - he loved it! Jasper's cousin, Sydney, will definitely have to show him the ropes of the farm when he's old enough!

Memorial Day

We visited Grandpa Rick's grave site on Memorial Day. We made flower pots with Jasper's hand print on them to put on Grandpa Rick's and our other family's graves that were out in Waukee. Jasper tried helping with the planting of the flowers in the pots, but mom had to take over - he couldn't quite understand that we were keeping the dirt in the pots and now throwing it around :)

We then had a BBQ over at Grandma Vicki's house with Jason and Noah and even had a suprise guest - cousin Perri and Sandy - showed up to play with us a little bit.

Bedtime Fun

We started a new bedtime routine with Jasper P, which includes reading books before we drift off to sleep. This night, he was a little crazy-man and decided he wanted to 'read' books on his own, get up in his rocking chair with his milk, and laugh at us whenever we tried to pick him up to sit him on our lap and read to him...silly boy!

First Trip Out of State

We made our way on Sunday out to Nebraska to visit the Henrys (rick, shani, isaac, and emma). They remodeled an old one-room schoolhouse and made it into a beautiful home! We left Sunday morning to rode trip it with grams and Great Grandma Doris. At the Henrys, we met up with Becky and Larry, the Wilders, and Shani's parents. We enjoyed lunch, opened presents for isaac's 8th birthday and had fun playing outside.

This was Jasper's first long rode trip and first time out of Iowa. He did really good - slept for half of the trip there. And did not sleep a wink on the way home, but kept occupied with snacks and games with grams. Our next test - a road trip to Colorado in August for Jill Henry's wedding!

A Play Date

Jasper and I met Isabelle and her mom, Melissa (Kiene) Meyer at the Park last weekend. It was a little hotter than we thought it was going to be (87 in mid-May) As you can see on their faces, they were sweaty - it's hard work playing!

Jasper fell a couple times and got a scraped knee - I was not prepared. Note to self: need to get first aid kit for the car. And even though Isabelle and I walked to the top of the "very big" slide, I still couldn't convince her that it was "not scary" to go down. We then headed to DQ for some ice cream. Jasper and I shared a cherry-dip cone - yum! Melissa is about 2 weeks away from welcoming their new baby boy to the world - we're so excited for them!

Walking Brother Cozmo

Jasper has become quite fond of our walks with brother, Cozmo. This time, he even held on to the leash as if he was ready to control Cozmo, "Come on Coz, let's go for a walk!" (yeah, right). Although Jasper does a great job of sitting in the stroller while we walk and laughing if Cozmo chases a fly, hacks up something that he found along our walking route, or chases pine cones.

Jasper has also started to give cozmo a treat to make him go in his kennel in the morning before we leave for work/daycare. It's too cute!

More Mother's Day Photos

By the time we got around to taking photos on Mother's Day, Jasper P was pretty "wrecked" (you can see it in his face in the picture with me). We had a great day (read more below). A couple pictures below are special as they're 4th generation - my grandma Bevery Trissel, my mom Vick Henderson, me, and Jasper P. Be sure to notice the lovely macaroni necklace that Jasper made for me at daycare - I loved it!

Happy Mother's Day!

We celebrated Mother's day with both sides of the family. On Saturday, we headed to Syd's tumbling meet, then to Red Lobster with the Wilders and grams and gramps. On Sunday morning, Daddy and J-man fixed a wonderful french toast breakfast for me. After that, we took a walk, and got ready to head to Allison's for the afternoon. We had a BBQ, played pick-up softball and soccer games, and celebrated cousin Perri's 1st birthday.

Thanks to J-man and Daddy for making my day so great! I love my boys so much (and Cozmo, too) :)

Happy 5th Birthday, Sydney!

Cousin Sydney is 5! Can't believe it! I remember the day she was born - the same day adam had an interview for his job at the altoona herald. Unfortunately, we missed her being born, but made it to the hospital soon after! It's been such a joy to see her and our nephew, Noah, grow up.

We celebrated her birthday out on the farm. Gramps brought out the ever-popular train that the kids just love! Along, with many 4-wheeler, tricycles, whatever mode of transportation you want - he's got it! Jasper P showed off his skills of actually driving the 4-wheeler - can't believe he could actually drive it, but he did!

A Day at the Farmer's Market

Daddy took a road trip with "uncle" nate westre and headed to minneapolis a couple weekends ago for a Royals Game. While they were gone, Grandma Vicki came over to spend some time with us. On Friday, I took the day off and went to some garage sales with Melissa Wilder and Gina Sherman. That night we went to dinner with Grandma Vicki and woke up Saturday morning and had a fun time at the Farmer's market. The weather was beautiful! We had a breakfast burrito, listened to some live music, and bought some yummy fruits and veggies.

Autumn and Matt are Having a Baby!

Jasper and I had a great time at cousin Autumn's baby shower. Myself and cousin Allison Smith (Autumn's sister) were in charge of games, so while we played games with the guests J-Man took some time to explore and hang out with our family that was there. As you can see in the picture with Autumn, he was a little "ready" to not be held and to get on with this "girly shower" stuff. The picture with him playing with the toys, isn't the best, but he had on such a cute outfit with his tie and everything, that I had to add that one in there...

We are excited to welcome our new baby, boy cousin at the end of June!

A New View

Shortly after Jasper turned one, we turned his carseat around to face forward - even though this doesn't exactly sound that exciting, He LOVED it! New things to explore out the window and easier access to see mommy and daddy..this is the life!

Adam's 29th Birthday

We tried out rock wall climbing for adam's 29th birthday at the Sports Plex West in Waukee - it was a lot of fun! I was a little timid at first, just realizing how high it actually was, when I reached the top - but Adam was a pro and went up all three of the courses just like that!

We then took J-Man to grandma vicki's house for the evening and headed off to AJ's Steakhouse at Prairie Meadows for a nice dinner.

We got a brand new garden hose and holder for Jasper's daddy for his b-day. Adam realized that now at the ripe age of 29, a new daddy, a hubby, and a homeowner, he thinks it's not too bad to get outdoor lawn stuff for his b-day, but if I would have given this to him a few years back, then he definitely would have questioned my gift-giving abilities :)