splash pad

We hit the new Splash pad in Waterloo on the Fourth of July. It was one of those terribly hot days- perfect for running through some cold water! The kids loved it. Actually, we all loved it. What a great addition to Waterloo- the Amphitheather is awesome too- all down by the Youth Pavilion by the river.

Our buddy Austin came along and of course, his favorite part seemed to be climbing on the playground equipment, next to the splash pad.

Yes, even mom got wet!

Our best attempt at a picture of the kids. We will definitely have to go back! Maybe next time with a picnic lunch.

13 months old

Can't believe how time flies! I'm behind on the blogging but want to make sure I remember some of these important milestones for my Jacer boy.

Jace at 13 months:

*Between 12-13 months he started to walk. The waddle/zombie walk. Now he runs. Watch out world!

*Still nursing- loves that. Food, not so much. He has his random moments where he'll eat but you just never know.

*Loves cars. Pushes his little cars around the house all day long.

*Balls (or anything he gets ahold of)- he throws! Watch out, it hurts.

*Knows Mama, Dada, and Sister/Addelyn- when we say one of our names he knows exactly who we are talking about.

*Gives kisses- big, open mouth ones. Also blows kisses when he feels like it!

*Doesn't say much- a lot of jabbering and sometimes things that sound like words. Mama and Dada sometimes.

*LOVE this boy's laugh. And that toothy grin. We see it often.

*Into everything! We need to baby-proof our cupboards. He is opening cupboards, pulling stuff out, playing in the toilet, up the stairs- he is everywhere. Discovers new things that Mom hasn't babyproofed daily.

*Naps- still taking two good naps a day (most of the time!)

We love our Jacer boy!

field trip time

Being it is summer time and Ilene's daughter Katie is around- it makes it possible to do some field trips with all of the daycare kiddos. Also, one of Ilene's other daughters, Lisa was home from NYC - so it was a perfect time for a field trip to visit the horses. Even a few moms got to join in, myself included!

Jacers enjoying some Lisa time. Gotta soak up those moments while this girl is home! We just love Lisa and we're excited for her- she is starting school in NYC this fall. She has been out there working and is really finding her fit in the city.

The two babes, checking things out (oh and don't forget, one of our favorite people- Katie!) My kids just love her too. She watched Addelyn when she was a little babe and also was a Caravan nanny (basically hung with Addelyn 24/7 while I was crazy busy in Florida). We love that she gets to hang out with the kids on summer days when she isn't teaching. 

The kids hearing about the saddle from the wonderful owner of the farm

Addelyn and the kids got to brush Charlie, the 30 year old horse.

Everyone got to ride Charlie- including Jacers. He did great!

Addelyn loved her ride too.

Here is the whole crew. What a great group of kiddos.

Jace loves animals. How in the world did I get two animal LOVERS?

What a great time with the horses and all of our sweet friends. Thanks to Ilene for planning such a fun little field trip!

grandpa turns 90!

Mark's Grandpa Dean turned 90 a few weeks ago and they threw him a surprise party. We made a road trip for the afternoon to celebrate him. He is a good, good man.

Here are many of the great-grandkids- at least all of the ones that were at the party! Getting this picture took some work.

There is Jacers and his look alike, Papa Dar. (Dean is Dar's Dad.)

Four generations of Hoskinson men

Jacers with his Great-Grandpa Dean

Sturgis Falls Celebration

Being that Mark and I aren't from Cedar Falls, we didn't realize the LOVE of the Sturgis Falls Celebration that goes on each summer here until we really got connected in the community and realized how many people love this fun celebration. So in our own way, our family has grown to love it too. (Okay, Mark is still working on finding this love- but Addelyn and I (and soon enough Jace) are there!) This year, we did the kiddie parade for the first time. We really had no idea what it was all about but we showed up (along with our friends and their girlie- Avery) and the girls both wore their fun princess outfits. We hung out while Mayor Crews "judged" the outfits and then the kids walked in the parade. They weren't really sure about the whole deal at first as you can see by their faces but as the parade went on- they started waving at people and had fun. It was a short little parade route and at the end- freezie pops and a bag of goodies.

Jace= not too excited about the kiddie parade

Our sweet parade girls

After the parade, with Addelyn's friend Payton

My favorite part of the weekend- sitting in the park, relaxing in the shade- listening to music and eating good food. The problem is- my husband really doesn't enjoy sitting outside in the heat and doesn't like to eat outside when he is sweating (yes, doesn't he sound a bit difficult!?) He did it this year- and with a smile on his face (for the most part!)

Our friend Aquayla came along too.

Saturday morning we enjoyed the parade. The last few years it has been terribly hot and sunny. This year, cloudy but no rain. Even a bit of a breeze. Perfect parade weather! Addelyn and Payton got a few sweet tattoos and even some candy!

Don't forget the cool hat! They did well with the Mardi Gras theme.

On Sunday afternoon, we hit the street fair and kiddie tent. We also got smoothies and doughnuts and listened to more music in the park. We ran into our friends in the kiddie tent and everyone got a balloon animal- Addelyn got a dog with a leash. It was a fun afternoon but soo hot. It was so hot we had to go home and head straight to the pool!

What a fun weekend!

Omaha Zoo trip

At the beginning of summer, we took a trip to the Omaha Zoo for two days with Mark's parents and brother and family. We had a great time! We spent two days at the zoo (which is an awesome zoo by the way). The kids were great, the zoo was a blast, and we stayed downtown in a great hotel for families that had a kitchen and free meals. I love watching Addelyn with her cousins- she has such a blast with these boys.

Jace and Addelyn loved the animals.

Yes, these two are trouble together!

This picture says so much!

Gotta love the family pic by the gorillas. We have a family pic by the gorillas at the St Louis Zoo from a trip when we were kids. So I had to have a family pic by the gorillas!

Matt, Nicole, Ty, and Trae.

There was a indoor area with the gorillas, a good place where Jace could get out and move around a bit. We kept him occupied by carrying him, backpacking him, pushing him in the stroller, and letting him out in certain places to crawl or cruise. He did great at the zoo for this age of a baby that just wants to be on the go! Only one meltdown but to be expected with a baby missing his naps!

One of the favorite exhibits- the monkey with the little baby.

We did like the big ole hippo too.

Or maybe these two were my fave!

The aquarium area is awesome at the zoo. It is cool, dark, and has glass everywhere so fish are swimming above and around you. Jace loved it.

We rode the train once and Addelyn and Mark (with the others) rode the Sky-Tram too. Nothing boring about this zoo!

What a perfect ending to a sunny, busy, on the go day- a swim in the hotel pool, a bath, popcorn and movie- cuddled up with your cousin! Thanks to the Hoskinsons for such a fun mini vacation!

a new sign

Addelyn talks my ear off while we drive places. i have to work hard to stay attentive to what she is saying. really hard.

the other day, we were on 12th street, going past the funeral home. there were some construction workers out in front of the funeral home, which addelyn of course noticed.

A: "Mom, did you see the construction workers? What were they doing? They were working on something."
Me: (sometimes, I'm not working hard at being attentive, like I said above) "Oh yeah..."
A: "MOM! Did you see the workers, what were they working on?"
Me: (awake, paying attention now) "You are right, they are working hard. It looks like maybe they are putting up a new sign."
A: (in the most matter of fact voice) "Yeah....I think it says, Someone Probably Died."