First week in October

Jamie flew to NC last Thursday for his annual golf trip with his buddies from college. I stayed behind with the boys. I packed them in the car and took them to SC on Friday. 

Aunt Betsy is getting married to Bryan Bender in November and the ladies from our church were giving her a shower. I wanted to go but did not know how I was going to swing it. I didn't want to leave Dad with all three boys. Jonathan could pull a Houdini, Jackson might talk his ears off, and Joel may scream continuously. I prayed about it:) and immediately, I thought of a girl who was born on Mom and Dad's street and grew up there. Jackson loves her so I contacted her on facebook and she gladly accepted the challenge of my boys. Beth and her friend, Hannah, showed up on Saturday and I was able to attend the shower with no worries! Many thanks to Beth and Hannah!

While we were gone, Jonathan had a few unexplained fevers. If fever due to anxiety is possible, I think that is what it was. He is very attached to Jamie and kept signing for "Daddy." Being in a different place without his dad seemed to be very difficult. Once we saw Jamie, he was healed! I have started to notice several behaviors that Jonathan does in connection with anxiety and it explains many things - fever, mouthing anything in sight, constant movement, etc.

On Sunday, we went to Greenville and picked Jamie up at the airport where he had driven and dropped his rental car. Our friend, Jeni, was there visiting home with her daughter, Elena. We were able to meet up with them at Cracker Barrel. We went to college with Jeni and she currently is on staff with Young Life in Costa Rica. It has been YEARS since we last saw her. It was great to catch up in person.

We got home Sunday afternoon in time for Jackson's cub scout meeting. He and Jamie worked on his Bobcat badge in the car and Jack received it that night. Yeah!

It has been a good week home. I kept Jono home Monday to make sure he was okay. Jamie put up our bounce house since rain was not forecasted this week. I have let the kids bounce to their heart's content in the afternoons. It is a great way to get rid of their excessive energy. Joel can be in it and the other two are fairly gentle with him. Tonight Jamie and I talked about how it is only a matter of time before he takes Jonathan down.:) It will probably be a good lesson for Jono. 

Jamie and Jackson head to Mobile to camp out on the USS Alabama with Jack's cub scout troop this Saturday. Jamie heard from a co-worker today that this particular camp out is loud and not much fun.:) We shall see!

Julie:)

thejuliewarren@gmail.com

Elena, Jeni, Jack, Joel, Julie, and Jono outside 

        Cracker Barrel.:)

Jamie and I swapped places.

Bounce house antics.  Jackson has been 

        nicknamed "Hard Hitter" at school and he        

        performed accordingly.

 Who is the Alpha Dog now?

Jono has been closing his left eye a lot. We 

       cannot tell if it is necessary or has become a

       strange habit. We scheduled him for an eye

       appointment. We are calling him "Pop-eye."

       Joel thinks he is the same size as the rest of the 

      Warren boys.

      Jono is taking a rest as his hair houses some

      static electricity.

       Joel saw his brothers doing this.

       Who's the hard hitter now?

        He is growing up too fast! Our baby!

Jamie and Julie's vacation pix

Jamie and I got away for four nights a few weeks ago. It was so wonderful - better than our honeymoon. I think people should take honeymoons after kids. I did not value sleeping in, having a meal in peace, taking naps, and doing whatever I wanted before the kiddos. I sure love our kids - I just enjoyed catching up on sleep.

Since he arrived, Joel has not been a good sleeper and he has been teething continuously since month four of his life. I look forward to the day when the child I think he is returns.:) I will enjoy sleep again one day as well. I don't want to complain, though. Most days when I am so tired, I remember to be grateful for our life. Most nights, Jamie and I look at each other and say how blessed we are. Then we fall asleep!

Today was nice. The weather was significantly cooler. Joel and I grocery shopped and he did not begin screaming until halfway through our jaunt through Publix. I was nervously shopping, awaiting the howling and twisting in the stroller, so much so that I dropped a whole container of blueberries. They rolled everywhere and I felt badly! 

After the store, Joel was content to stay inside while I unloaded the goods in the kitchen. Not too soon after, Joel figured out he could be outside. So, we headed outdoors and stayed there for a couple of hours. He hates coming inside. Upon our arrival home from doing any errands, if I don't book it inside, he starts crying to stay outside. 

Jackson and his friend, Hardy, played today. When I checked on them outside, they were hosing each other down. I yelled out to Jackson, "Hey, Buddy! What about "Don't play in the water" didn't you understand?" I was slightly ticked. 

Jonathan appears to be doing well at school. His speech is emerging. Today he said his version of "Daddy, exercise" which meant "Daddy is exercising." I just need to keep praying over that boy. Please join me in praying for Jonathan's speech to emerge one day. I am also praying that it would be completely clear.

Here are pix from Jamie's and my trip a few weeks ago to Cancun. So nice, missing it already!

Julie:)

thejuliewarren@gmail.com

We got a snack of tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole.

Me reading. I love to read. 

Jamie enjoying a cool beverage on the terrace.

My "snack."

Where we lived most days.

View from our window of the ocean.

Dinner out. The servers were so kind and attentive.

Jamie posing for picture.

They had turtles hatching that we got to release into 

the ocean in the evenings. It was so neat! I was hoping 

all the turtles made it to safety. I cried as I saw those little

babies making their way all on their own into the big swirling sea!

This is where we ate our last night - on the beach.

We roasted marshmallows as part of our dessert.

Breakfast right before we left.

Final breakfast before we headed home.

Current pix, past and current video

Weekends are a little chaotic around here. Jamie and I find we are the boys' entertainment all weekend.:) It can get tiring but it is good, too. 

Jamie and Joel stayed home from church. Joel has been teething all week and is foul. Apparently, Jamie put Joel down too early because Joel decided to jump out of the bed (Joel can have quite the temper). So, Jamie took the bed apart this afternoon, and now Joel is sleeping on the floor. The other two did this as well, but Joel takes the cake at diving out of the crib at a mere 15 months!

Here are our most recents pix and videos...

Jonathan pushing Joel around on the trike in our driveway.

Jackson in the tree. He loves this spot.

Joel.

Joel loves to snuggle with his lion or his lovey.

Once we put him down, he immediately goes into snuggle mode.

My boys love to be naked. 

Jono taking a snack break... naked...

Joel loves raisins. He can be picky. However,

if he can be the one to pick the food out and eat

it on his own, he is happier. That is why often I find

him in the pantry eating the very goldfish out of the box I 

just offered him and he refused. It has to be on his terms.

Kisses from Joel.

Joel likes to climb. We do not allow it.:)

Jonathan loves this hat. You will often find him wearing

it and with his wooden horse, galloping around the house. So,

he was kindly sharing this cowboy hat with Joel.

Jackson and Joel dancing together (sorry about the view).

Playing outside with Daddy.

Joel and Jono playing behind the drapes 

while Jack is enthralled by the TV.

Labor Day with the Bishops

Every Labor Day we try to celebrate with our friends, the Bishops. This year they came here. Here are some pictures from their time with us. We miss them so much!!!

Davis, Kate, Jackson, and Jonathan on a walk.

 Jayne, Kate, Jonathan, and Chris taking a break.

Julie and Jayne on our hike with whiny kiddos.

Jamie, Joel, Jackson, Kate, Chris, Jonathan, and Davis

pausing for a rest on what we think was Turtle Rock

Davis, Joel, Jonathan, Jackson, and Kate right before the Bishops left for home.

Back to school

This year Jackson started second grade and Jonathan began his second year of preschool in the public school system. 

It took Jackson a while to adjust to the rules and now he really likes it. I am grateful that he is articulate. He can tell us about what is really bothering him. Sometimes it is hard to hear because if someone has been unkind to him, that is hard to hear. 

Jonathan was excited about going back to school. I was nervous because his teacher this year is tough. Her job is to get him ready for kindergarten and that is a tall order. So far, she has been great. I knew it would be a good fit but I know she has a big job ahead of her!

Joel stays at home with me and cries if we don't stay outside upon returning home from carpool. That boy can stay outside for hours. I let him play in the yard, driveway, and car. 

  

Jackson on his first day of school.

Jonathan and Joel on Jack's first day.

Robert and James waiting with us to go inside.

Jonathan's first day.

Jackson's first day.

Jono's first day.

Pictures from the beach...

Here are pictures from our annual Destin vacation with Nana, Pops, and the Voelkerts. We went the last week of July.

Jamie, Aunt Emmy, Eric, and Jackson

Joel kept trying to escape and explore.

Jamie and Jono.

Jono LOVES Emma and she is so good to him!

Miss Liberty visits us.

Jackson and Jamie.

Jack, Jamie, Ryan, and Eric.

Emma and Jono. He calls her "Ma.":)

Annual Cousins Pic.

Jono, Julie, Jackson, Jamie, and Joel.

Pops, Joel, Jackson, Eric, Jonathan, Emma, Nana, and Meredith.

Jamie throwing Jonathan.