Happiness

Mr. Jed got to sit in the shopping cart like a big boy last week.  He loved it.  It's great when they reach this stage.  There is so much more room to put things in the shopping cart and the baby is much more entertained.  I remember taking a little cell phone picture of Evangeline during her first time in the front of the cart, so I guessed I'd better do the same thing with Jed.  

While Evangeline and Kyle were at Wriggly Field last week, Mom and I decided to do a jam day.  We did things a little differently this year because of the Jed factor and bought strawberries from the strawberry field that were pre-picked.  Even by cutting out that phase of the process it still took us all day to make all of our jam.  I think we dilly dally too much, but that's what makes it fun.  We tried a new method for processing the jars this year and it was amazing.  I don't think I'll ever do it the old way again.  We processed them in the stove rather than in boiling water.  It was a jam making life-changer. 
One batch we made was our jalapeno strawberry jam.  Here's a picture I snapped of mom chopping the jalapenos.  This just cracks me up. 

 

My dear friend, Amy gave me these beautiful labels for my birthday.  They had been her grandmother's which makes them so very special.  

VBS was all last week.  It was such an awesome week for me and both of my kiddos for sure.  Vacation Bible School is a blessing in so many ways.  There are so many fantastic volunteers that work so hard to make this a special and meaningful week for the children.  It is also a blessing to my life as well.  I really enjoy VBS week.  I was a pre-school leader this year.  Jed was watched in the nursery by Peggy and she took him around to several of the pre/K centers so I got to be with him too.  Evangeline had an absolute blast as well. She had a speaking part in the program and we've been singing the songs all week. 

 

VBS week concluded with a pool party.  Kyle came with us and we watched Jed enjoy a pool for the first time.  Oh, he loved it! 

 

Evangeline told me that she did not want to take swim lessons this year.  I told her that I would only agree to it if she could prove to me that she was not scared of the water and that she could still swim confidently.  She not only proved to me that she was not scared, but drove the point even further home by jumping off the diving board over and over and even winning the "silliest jump" contest!  Her prize...a ginormous pixie stick. 

 

We've finally transitioned Jed to his crib.  He's done a great job this past week.  The biggest news is that he slept through the night for the first time last night.  I put him to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 and he slept until around 7:00am!  Evangeline has also slept in her bed the past three nights without getting up in the middle of the night and coming into our room, which is her regular routine.  In a small way I'm kind of sad about that one and happy at the same time.