Days with the Dorans

It's been such a fun summer! I feel like I don't see Jodi as much as I should but that is often because of our schedules and the ages of our kids can make it tough- I'm a bit more "free" in my kids' older age and she has it still a bit more tough (in my opinion). Still when we talk (regularly) and do get together (not regularly enough) it's like not a moment has gone by. We were able to get in some good walks this summer (5 milers) while her boys hung with our kids!  Z actually ended up being the babysitter- he's SO good with kids!! The Gerken boys were at farm camp and Jodi was at an appointment that went late so Auntie Laura and the Littles (Bigs were at camp) got to go and pick them up and hang out at the farm and the playground! It was SO much fun listening to the kids talk and I really should have taken video of it (next time I hope). They are growing like weeds! I just adore those boys! Here's to more walks and me having kid...

 I was so excited to be at Hugh's Baptism! This year they were at a local church so all of us were able to go (easily). Huey was great! He didn't fuss at all and it was a nice service with a good message. After the baptism we headed back to Jodi and Randy's to celebrate!  Huey slept for a while while we ate, but he woke up happy and I had to get a picture of him in his adorable outfit before he got changed into play clothes. His grandparents were all there and his great grandpa too! Randy's brother and sister were there and a little later Jodi's brother, sister-in-law and niece came over. It was good to see them. We also celebrated Jack's second birthday. He was cute and definitely into opening the presents. He had a quiet audience for all his gifts and wanted to open them all.  I'm used to LOUD at the Doran house!  Of course the way toys are packaged, it isn't easy to get inside them. It was fun to watch Joey step in and help out. He'...

 We had a fun low-key Memorial Day (at the lake of course).  The Cosmans and Gerkens came over and we all (us Dorans and my folks) ate, drank and were merry!  I think this was the first time the kids got to meet Hugh Todd and it was so fun to see them with him and think back to when they were that tiny!  It sometimes is hard to remember... Hugh is doing great and has changed so much just in a couple weeks! Of course we also got to catch up with Jack! I think he was a bit overwhelmed at first but soon he was comfy with his honorary cousins.  I'm mad because I didn't get any swimming pictures and few boating ones but that just means I was busy having fun in the moment!  Not a bad place to be!

So yes... Jodi did have a little party for Jack of course but I wasn't invited (sob!).  It was family only.  Of course his Auntie Laura (I'm still family) did need to come over for a visit to see the little man who was walking all over the place! So adorable!!! He liked the presents I brought him and he REALLY liked me! We laughed because I would pucker up my lips and he would plant one right on me!  Open-mouthed of course, just like my babies did when they were that age. I love that another little one has stolen my heart and I also love that on May 13th another little boy will steal my heart... Jack's little brother! Congratulations Jodi, Randy & Big Brother Jack!!

I was so excited to go to see Jack Paul get baptized.   He was baptized up north so it was just me and the boys.  Jeff had to lead worship and Al had a rehearsal for dance.  Both were disappointed they couldn't make it.  It was a busy day, but there was no way I was going to miss it! Jack was such a champ, but then I wasn't surprised.  Jodi and Randy don't know how lucky they have it.  He is such a mellow baby and was all smiles throughout the service.  He also looked adorable in his shorts and tie!  It was interesting for my boys because it was a traditional church and we are 100% contemporary people now... Last time we went to a traditional church we realized how much we get from the (contemporary) music.  Still they sang songs I knew (from my younger days) and they did sing something my boys knew and I was excited to hear them sing!  It was a really nice service!  They had a children's message which Seany was ea...

I almost laughed when Jodi asked me if I could babysit because it sounded like she felt bad having to ask me... DUH!!! OF COURSE I WILL BABYSIT!!  Jodi was taking a class all week so she booked me for a day and I couldn't wait to get my hands on little Jack!  He grows so fast so I have to savor every moment I can (and of course take pictures!!)!  He is seriously one of the happiest babies I have ever seen!  The only time he cried for me was when I put him in his Bumbo seat to give him some cereal. He ate about four bites and since he was not happy, we stopped and I gave him a bottle... he was MUCH happier! It was threatening rain all day so we didn't go for a walk (like I had hoped we may be able to) but we did have fun indoors.  We exercised (I had him pull himself up on my hands to standing... exercised his legs...), we played with toys, danced and sang and of course read lots of books. I opted for the waterproof variety since sometimes they dou...

So the day after Ali's Showcase, we headed to Auntie Jodi & Uncle Randy's so the rest of the Doran clan could meet their new cousin!!!  Of course Jack Paul isn't a cousin by blood but we've learned that our friendship bond is just as tight as blood!  Jodi is GLOWING in motherhood and Randy is just an amazing dad (though I didn't snap any pictures of him this time). I was a bit surprised with how much the kids wanted to hold the baby... I knew Ali would want to hold him a lot but the boys were just as eager to hold him.  In fact, Joey was the first to hold him and did a great job.  He just kept staring at him and it was the sweetest thing.  Joey feels a bond to JP because they were the same size when they were born (Though Joe was an inch longer. He did have 3 more weeks in the oven cooking than JP did). The Goose loved it too! He suddenly seemed a whole lot older to me~ I wouldn't have pegged him as the kind of kid who would be eager to hold a ...

Randy's mom made the DELICIOUS cake!!  So I admit... it seems a little strange to be writing about Jodi's Shower when I now know exactly who was hiding in her belly!  Still I'm going to do my best just to write about the day.  This was only a week ago but my, a lot has happened in that week!!  The shower was actually at Jodi & Randy's house which is brilliant when you think about it!  No need to load up all those presents and wow!!!  Did she get a lot of presents!?!?!  We got her a mirror for her car seat and both of her bigger toddler sized car seats (Since we know you use those forever!!  Seany is still in his!). I think that Ali was at Auntie Steph's shower (I should look back) but this is the first shower that she remembers being at. She was actually nervous but I explained to her that we just eat, watch Auntie Jodi open presents and play some games.  Seeing that she was with Jodi and I when we registered, you think s...