The new kitchen

Grammy & Grandpa Ward got Jacob a play kitchen for his birthday. It was fun watching the 3 grandpas put it together - Grandpa Ron as the project manager, with the "Chucks" (Papa Chuck and Grandpa Chuck) following orders :) After a few hours it was all together and Jacob is greatly enjoying playing with it.



Jacob getting help from Grammy & Grandma Tilla to put away his food

Jacob & his Grandparents

Grammy & Grandpa Ward, Grandpa Ron, Jacob, & Nana Jill, Grandma Tilla & Papa Chuck

4th Birthday Bowling Bash!

Last Saturday Jacob celebrated his birthday with a few friends and family at the Tempe AMF bowling alley. The kids had a great time bowling, and were actually pretty good at it!

Here are some pictures from the party...



Max & Mikey, with their moms' Meredyth & Jaime

Grandpa Ron, Grandma Tilla, & Nana Jill watching the kids bowl

Pizza time!

Olivia & Ryan



Time for more bowling...and Jacob gets a strike! Followed by his dancing through the crowd to celebrate!


Meredyth, Max, & Owen





Mikey & Jaime



Takes some serious concentration to carry the 6 lb ball :)



...and it's cake time!




so excited to eat some frosting!

The guitar cake

To continue in the birthday cake decorating tradition, this year Jacob chose a guitar cake. Nana Jill & Mama made it Friday night, and I think it is actually getting a bit easier - took just 1.5 hours this year :)

Jacob turns 4!

Can't believe our little boy is already 4 years old! Time has surely flown by. Last Friday we celebrated on his actual birthday with all 6 grandparents - Grandpa Ron, Nana Jill, Grammy, Grandpa Chuck, Grandma Tilla, & Papa Chuck. Then on Saturday he had his birthday party with friends and family.

Here are some pictures from his actual birthday...




We started the morning with a little hash brown, complete with candle of course.

Opening presents from his grandparents

An elmo cupcake for dessert

mmmm....

Last week...

On Saturday Jacob's good friend Ajda (& mama's best friend Natasa) moved back to Slovenia after spending a year in Phoenix. So last week we got to together each day so the kids could spend lots of time together (well, & us too!). We are happy for them that they are back with family again, but greatly miss spending time together. Perhaps a trip to Slovenia will be in our future :)

Jacob & Ajda playing at the McDowell Mountain Recreation Center

Ajda & Jacob enjoying their dessert at Chompie's

Gaber & Natasa at Chompie's


The whole gang at Chompie's - Ajda, Jacob, Mikey, & Gaber

Memorial Day Swim Playdate

We spent Memorial Day with our good friends the Penkoff's (TJ, Katie, & Owen) & Lucovnik's (Natasa, Ajda, & Gaber). Katie & TJ were so kind to host a pool playdate complete with bagel breakfast :) Mama even surprised herself by getting in the pool even though it was probably only 78 degrees; definitely the earliest in the year I've ever gotten in! But it was very refreshing, especially since it was in the 90's already.

I haven't done many belly shots this pregnancy as I did with Jacob, so here are a few...the belly is getting big (as Owen likes to remind me daily!)

Thank you TJ, Katie, & Owen for a fabulous day!

the kids were quite interested in the growing belly, well... all except Jacob.

Jacob loving floating in the pool with his water wings.

Gaber :)


Jacob loved playing in Owen's playhouse


Owen, Katie, & TJ after swimming