It seriously is so fun to watch the cousins play together. Jolene loves her cousins. She gets so excited when she sees them, she squeals and jumps up and down and runs to them. A few weeks ago, we had a family BBQ in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard. Usually what happen is, we put the girls in the swings and between me, Ema (usually Ema), and Grandma they get pushed to their satisfaction... this time though, Tucker got in on the action! They had so much fun!

Jolene is very much into golf like her daddy. When he comes home from work, she chants "golf golf!" and they go outside and chip and putt together. We got her a plastic set of clubs at Wal-Mart, occasionally I'll find her practicing before daddy gets home. The problem is, once I pull the camera out she just wants to do a face and then see her self on the display. So I had to try and capture it without her knowing. This is the best I could do:
Like I said though, once the camera comes out she just wants to make faces and then see herself. Here are some of her faces:
She's such a crack up lately. She has more personality than we know what to do with. She has all the sass of her mother and the witt of her father... plus both of our rebellions. We have our hands full!
Just about every day we go to Grandma's house to play in the back yard. I'm not one of those moms who can go to a park and socialize with other parents in hopes our kids don't kill each other while we're pretending to be polite to each other. I like the comfort and privacy of a finished backyard (Grandma's) and Jolene likes running with the dogs anyway. The other day we had Ali's baby Addie out with us for a little bit. That little baby loves the swing!

This past Wednesday I took Jo to the local library. We hadn't been since last summer when we first moved here, so I thought it was a good time to finally get a library card and start reading books OTHER than Goodnight Moon (haha). We walked in and went straight for the desk to obtain a library card. The lady gave me a run down of the policies and then mentioned that we came just in time for the "Fun Van" Literacy Program if we wanted to try it out. It's completely free and once a week. The kids get to play (supervised by staff) while the adults get a lesson from certified staff about development for their age/motor skills. Then, we come together and do a story time and craft together, followed by getting sent home with a goodie bag (a book, a snack and a toy pertaining to the craft we did. This time the "toy" was sidewalk chalk). Jolene LOVED it. Except that it was breaking into her nap time. She got a little cross with me. Especially when I attempted to take her picture during song time.
This picture is not just a "bad shot" as in I missed the smile, this is literally the look she was giving me when I tried to take her picture. She is getting so sassy these days.
I can already see it now, her first day of school and Jonathan and I teary eyed trying to get pictures of every moment and her getting annoyed and embarrassed and just wanting us to leave already. Haha.
The Literacy Program has two session, 11:30-1 or 2:30 to4. I think this week we will try the later one, so she can at least get a nap in.

During one of our family outings, we took Jo to Rainforest Cafe for dinner. It was her first time ever going, and we hadn't been in forever either. She was very hesitant at first. Trying to soak everything in. The moving snake freaked her out, and she wasn't too sure about the elephants. Once we got her coloring, and chocolate milk she warmed up a little more. Then she saw other kids loving it, so she decided to fake laugh at it all until she was finally comfortable towards the end of our meal.

Offer approved on this new house, we got some work to do to close in a month and get Fannie Mae to pay closing costs, but we are moving right along, no hick ups yet. This is a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath nearly 2200 square foot home located in Homestead North in Maricopa. Seconds from the Fire Department, church, park areas, and down the street from Wal-mart and my commute is only 1 hour! ok really its 45 minutes, still no that bad. It's kind of like living in Troy, Mo and working in St. Charles, for thos eof you that live there. Here are some shots of our new house. We should be closing end of Oct.
Front of the house blocked by our beautiful tree.
The big backyard, perfect for my fire pit and bbq pad.
Dinning room, we'll swap out the light fixture, since it's past 1994...lol
This is the entry, there is an office right off to the right that you cant see, and a bathroom right in front of you, the wall is the stair case going up.
Kitchen with tin back splash, of course i couldnt talk Mandy into keeping it lol, tile back splash is on the list.
Living room great size, carpet has to go, prolly will swap out for hardwood floors before we move in, Jo can't play on that.
huge loft perfect for jo, and the space where the pic was taken in is our new media room, or 4th bedroom if we decide to have more kids lol
Master bed room leading to the bathroom and walk-in closet.
There are 2 other bedrooms for the kids which are just normal size, and they are across the hall from the master. She needs a little TLC but we're excited to DIY a little on our new house!

After looking through a few home we feel in love with this one! We are putting an offer in tonight and hopefully all goes well! here's hoping!
Backyard
Front
Kitchen
Kitchen
Living Room
Living Room
Loft