News & updates for the week...

Besides the big news I posted on yesterday about Justin starting to walk on his own, a lot has been going on here since last weekend. We switched Justin out of his infant car seat into a forward facing convertible car seat, and wouldn't you know it, the back seat of my jeep is too small to have Jordan and Justin's car seats next to one another so we had to put Justin on one side and Jordan on the other side; there is absolutely no room for anyone else in the back seat...Philip thinks it might be the excuse I need to get a bigger car (i.e., the minivan like my cousin Sara got (Toyota Sienna) that I just fell in love with) so It can be more then just us in the car at one time. I think NOT; I'm hoping for at least another two years with my car. I mean come on, it only has 159K miles on it and is 10 years old. Maybe when Jordan heads of to Kindergarten next September I'll think about it...

We took the travel trailer out this past Saturday and got it ready (UN-winterized) for our 1st camping trip in 2 weeks. We are very excited to get it out and start using it; we bought it last fall and put it right into storage. I do have to mention that when we go back to park it in the storage lot it always seems a chore to me because I've got to guide Philip backing it up while toting the boys and navigating in a tight space between another travel trailer and a trailer for hauling 'stuff'. There is not much room for error, but anyone that knows Philip, knows that he gets very agitated quickly when something is not working out just right...anyways, I was surprised when we went back to park the trailer and he told me to sit in the truck and do you know he backed it up all by himself without land nav., a compass, or a guide right into the exact spot. I got very excited because now that I know he can do it on his own, it eases the stress on my mind of getting him parked the first time:-)

I also want to take note of the VERY GORGEOUS weather we had this past weekend and through to Monday (4/6)...It was sunny all weekend with high 60's on Saturday, low 70's on Sunday, and 75 degrees on Monday!!! It was awesome, however short lived since today it has rained like no tomorrow and we have the possibility of snow on Monday and Tuesday. Yes, you heard me SNOW...last I knew it was Easter on Sunday! You know I can't go without posting on the weather here about the snow we had, did have, or are going to have...lets hope to goodness that I'm not blogging about the snow we have in June!!!

On a final note, wish us luck (well me & Philip anyways); we are getting family pictures taken Saturday morning and anyone with kids knows trying to get them to sit still is one thing, but getting them to smile on queue is an Act of God. Justin I'm not too worried about since he's only 1 (next year will be a different story) and smiles at everything, but Jordan on the other hand that is a totally different situation. I do however have the bribe ready and in place...after pictures Jordan gets to go to party city and pick out his themed decorations for his Birthday party the following Saturday. I think he's shooting for Diego, but I don't want to get him in that store and then have him wander onto a 100 different things; the bribe could backfire as we end up at Party City for the entire afternoon picking out birthday decorations!!! I can only hope that there is only 1 aisle in the store and that the aisle is only full of Diego merchandise...too much to ask?

Travel Trailer Pictures

How do you wonder in the last photo that Philip & I ended up in the picture together...? Jordan took it!!! Yup, I think he's going to be a photographer when he grows up; not bad, huh?

Busy Weekend...

We had a very busy weekend; Jordan and Daddy got their haircuts, we had a BBQ yesterday, AND Justin was up on all 4's rocking on his hands and knees making a very small attempt, but an attempt none the less in trying to crawl. I got a few good pictures that I need to post; I will add some tomorrow as well as the pictures of the travel trailer. (Yes, I'm still working on that:))!

Philip made an EXCELLENT southern BBQ this weekend. We had s couple of his co-workers over and their families as well as our neighbor MaryKay and our other neighbors with their daughter Samantha. The weather was wonderful! Sunny and mid-high 60's; who would've thought that I would say wonderful to 60 degree weather...We had baby back ribs, steaks, mac & cheese, homemade greens, hush puppies, and apple pies he brought back from his business trip through TN last week.

Justin's two bottom teeth have also popped through now; it's hard to believe he'll be 7-months old on Sunday!

A new car now?

On Tuesday (10/14) my car broke down while I was on my way home...long story short, I was concerned that the problem to fix was going to cost more then the car is worth. The Kelley Blue Book value for the car is only about $3K for my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I bought in 2000 with 152K miles on it...knowing we just bought a travel trailer, we weren't looking to buy a new car either. Anyways, it ended up just being a loose hose the sprayed transmission fluid all over the undercarriage, front tires, and the rear end of the car. The cost for this fix is $300...YEAH, no new car!!! The hope is that it last another good year or two, then we'll revisit buying a new car...maybe a new minivan (Toyota Sienna) like my cousin has:)

So yesterday and today I'm driving a rent a car that barely fits myself with two car seats and the boys in it...thank goodness on my way home today, I'm picking up my car. Philip would have to be strapped to the roof to go anywhere with us:) I wouldn't last any longer in the Chevy Aveo; good on gas I'm guessing, bad on toting families/car seats/ and strollers!!!

Look for pictures of our travel trailer over the weekend.

Camp Jamison?

We went looking at travel trailers this weekend and ended up purchasing one:) We had been looking for the last 2-3 years but postponed it last year when we found out baby Justin was coming...over the weekend, there was a RV show at the Tacoma dome and we found one that we just fell in love with! We are taking delivery of it this coming Saturday. It is 26' and is able to be towed by Philip's current vehicle (which is paid for:)) which was are driving and determining factor on which trailer we wanted or could get! It is a 2009 model so the theory is that we'll have it for a REALLY long time.

Since we are now going into the winter season, we will be storing it up the street from our house at a storage facility that has what looks to be like a 100 or so RV's and THEN working to start booking vacations at campsites for every long holiday starting in the spring...we are now going to be that family that is never home on a holiday or long weekend during the spring or summer! I will post out some actual photos next weekend once we get it.

Jordan was really excited and actually remembered sleeping on a bunk bed in July 2007 when we rented a travel trailer to go down to Seaside, OR. Since he'll be 4 years old next April, it will be so much more fun for him!

FYI - I didn't forget to post pictures from our MI trip; I just didn't get around to it this weekend. I will definitely do so during this week before classes start again on next Monday!