Recent pics...again

Clayton "read" this book to Stephen. It has pictures of animals and the names of the animals. Such a sweet thing!

Clay wanted to watch his video with the dogs.Stephen loves the jumper

Stephen gets himself all turned around, but it doesn't bother him.

He's into books now, too. Or at least this one.

He loves a good book! (This is the one that Clay read to him--a strong recommendation goes a long way.)

Jenelle was pretending to be Zipporah and Clay was Moses. Here she set the table for the kids. She had Clay to say the pray--but, of course, she told him what to say. :)

Mike and I got to have another date night--two Fridays in a row. Last Friday, my parents watched the kids. Last night, a friend from Jenelle's school brought over her 5th grade daughter and they watched all three kids. They even made monkey bread with the kids which they finished for "bre-thest" (breakfast) this morning. Thank you to both parties.:)

Insight: Mike said to me today, "Taking care of the kids makes you tired. It makes me exhausted." Job security for me.:)

Picture of Alayna

I got to take dinner to Matt and Jess on Friday night. They got to come home from the hospital about 24 hours after Alayna was born since mom and baby were doing so well. Jenelle went in with me to take the food and to meet Alayna. My boys haven't met their new cousin yet, but I'm sure they will soon. Mike got to go over on Saturday and spend some time with them. She sure is a cutey.

New family member

I

I haven't met her yet, but my niece, Alayna Joy Hekman was born today at 3:28pm weighing 6 lbs 12 oz and is 19 inches long with light brown hair. Thank You, God, for Alayna's safe arrival. We look forward to welcoming her into the family.

Stephen 6 months

Tiger picturesWhispering to his tiger

Pictures that Aunt Jess took

Family Life

Our adventurous day while Stephen stayed with Mike's momClay after he and Jenelle had played in the water

Taking time to be silly

Making the water instruments shoot water out

Meeting Bob the Builder (After shaking hands, Mike felt pretty sure--due to the smallness of the hand--that it was a girl sweating in that costume.)

Clay enjoyed riding on Mike's shoulders to watch the roller coaster come by--end of the day and feeling silly

Mike got a stand-alone ice maker from a customer and fixed it.

Jenelle and Allison swimming in Mike's parents' pool

On our family date at the park. Mike was explaining directions to get them ready for what's in the next picture.

Recent Stephen pics

He has recently started rolling over and this is his first nap on his tummy.He is close to sitting up by himself.

He just started holding himself up while on his tummy so that he can enjoy himself.

Daddy coming down to his level

At his 6 month check up. He was slightly less happy when he got his 3 shots :(

Content on his tummy

Happy in his Winnie-the-Pooh outfit complete with socks

Jenelle's party, first day of school and birthday

On Jenelle's bday party day, we picked up her balloons and then just the two of us went to get frozen yogurt.We had our families over to celebrate and the theme was clearly: Princess

Here she is in one princess outfit complete with skirt, shirt, crown, ring, necklace and earrings

Her cake turned out this year. Yeah. It was funfetti with strawberry icing.

Her second princess outfit with a wand. She was "wanding" all of us into things like skunks, possums, and camels.

Her first day of school was on her birthday. Here she is with her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Jeffers.

Lining up for her first day

Wearing her birthday crown she got at school. (My mom stayed at our home with whichever kids were at home that day while we took Jenelle to and from school and took Stephen to his 6 month check up).

Her present from us--a bike, which she promptly peddled down the step of the deck to the grass and fell off. No injuries and she has already hopped back on.

She said she is so glad she turned five. Shortly after she said she wishes she was 6!