Here are pictures from our beach trip at the end of July. We go each year with Jamie's parents and his sister, her husband, and their kids. When we are all together, we now have 12!

This year Jamie thought it appropriate to sit the older cousins down and explain Jonathan's diagnosis. We thought this might help them understand why he is still not talking and why he hits/pulls hair to get attention. We emphasized that any acting out was not okay but that he would quit eventually. He adores Emma and wants her attention. The problem is that he pulls her hair and it really hurts!

At this point, Joel was approaching eight weeks and we were trying to get him to sleep through the night consistently. We were trying to get him to sleep in his pack 'n' play rather than in his car seat. I would feed him late at night and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.

This year I tried to relax. Often, in years past, I have had a hard time doing so because Jonathan yells a lot or our kids are up way before anyone else. In my mind a vacation means sleeping in and time for me. I had to give myself a talk this year to remind myself that our vacations are now about the kiddos having fun. Jamie and I also worked out a deal where we alternated who got up each morning. I got up most nights with Joel but Jamie often worked late at night so as not to interfere with family time. It was a good deal and we will do it again!

Found the boys like this one night. Jonathan likes to get into bed with Jackson sometimes.:)

Jonathan loves his cousin, Emma.:)

Pops having fun in the pool.

Jonathan loves to push.

Pushing big boy cousins...

Jackson loves to cook. He is wearing his chef outfit and just made a shake out of a kids' cookbook Aunt Betsy gave him.

Jono had a makeshift bed in our room. Jack and Joel slept in another room together. We don't quite trust Jonathan to be in the same room as the baby yet...

Uncle Ryan, Meredith, and Joel.

Voelkert kiddos - Eric, Meredith, and Emma

Meredith and Joel (she is four months older than he is).

Cousin picture for the summer of 2009

Cousins on the beach.

We are missing Emma and Nana! Nana was taking the picture and Emma was on the plane ride.

Jack and Eric riding the planes.

Nana and Jono taking a rest on the bench.

Daddy and Jonathan riding the train. Jonathan is not real excited about it.

Uncle Jamie and Emma riding on the racetrack.

Pops watching the babies so the rest of us could ride the rides.

Uncle Ryan snoozing with Meredith at Big Kahuna's.

Aunt Emmy advertising for the cups at Big Kahuna's.

Tickle,

toss, and

Jono signing "more."

Jonathan likes to stick mini marshmallows up his nose. One day his teachers noticed white goo coming out of his nose, called me, and had me pick him up. They thought maybe it was because he stuck a yogurt covered raisin up his nose. I think it was residue from this incident...

Grammie came to help with Joel and again when Jonathan had his surgery in August. She and Jackson are cooking together.

Uncle Ryan, Emma, Eric, and Uncle Jamie getting some rays while playing.