A day on the lake.

Rick and Gloria have a cozy cabin up on Lake Vermillion and they invited some of us crazy Dairy Queen people up for the day. Their family from Florida, Marc, Amy and their boys Austin and Dalton, were there to join the party (and pull everyone around on the jet ski). Caleb even came along for the ride. The cabin is on a small island so Jack had his first boat ride that day. We even found him and itty bitty life preserver to wear.

Lots of fun and food were had by all.

Thanks Rick and Gloria!

Jack's first boat ride put him right to sleep.

Papa Rickey and Grandma Ladybug, our wonderful hosts.

This was where Jack was most of the day. Every once in a while Grandma Ladybug would share and let Jessica hold him but that never lasted too long!

Dan, Jessica and Evan waiting to go. They found out soon after this shot was taken just how cold Lake Vermillion is in mid-June!
Dalton "playing" with Brinkley the dog. Smile pretty!

Seth with Caleb and Austin.

Marc was busy all day pulling people around with this get up. When the 3 boys were on here anyone flying off the back was accidental although it did happen a couple of times. However, whenever he was lucky enough to get 3 adults on here, his goal in life was to buck someone off.

This is more Gloria's speed. No jet skis for her! She'll jump on this very strange contraption and take a couple of laps around the island. Go speed racer!

DQ Danno on Grandma Ladybug's bike.

Action shot! On this pass by the dock Wade had decided that he had had enough and decided to jump off. Seth had great timing with this picture!

This shot was at the end of the day on the boat ride back to the car. Can you tell Caleb had a good time? You can't see them well here but he was smiling so much that day that he had laugh line tan lines! And he slept most of the 2 hour car ride home too.

Our first Father's Day

???

Where is the picture of Jack and his Pops on their first Father's Day you're asking? Well, we were spending the day at Rick and Gloria's cabin and in the excitement of trying to capture everyone flying around the lake on a huge inflatable raft Seth deleted a bunch of pictures that weren't yet saved on the computer! And there were some great pictures in that bunch too! But now that he's aware of what he did he is, in his own words, "very sensitive" about what he does with pictures on our cameras. I know there will be many other opportunities to take pictures of my guys but there's something symbolic about the "firsts" isn't there?

Our first Mother's Day

So I know I should be all weepy and sentimental about my first Mother's Day but to tell you the truth I was in such a daze for about the first month Jack was home I don't remember much of anything! The day was much like Thanksgiving though with dinners at both my mom's and Seth's mom's houses. I can't wait for future Mother's Days. Home-made cards with a little kid's drawings, breakfast in bed (hint, hint Seth!), and time with my Sweet Baby Jack.

My first blog!

Okay! So I've finally started this blog. Please forgive the formatting as I'm learning the ropes. For now, enjoy the pictures and marvel at how one tiny baby can change things!

This was the beginning of the enjoyable part of the night for me. I was eating this popsicle about 3 minutes after the wonderful doctor administered my epidural. I was feeling good then. And the popsicle tasted great!

The paparazzi was waiting just outside the door. And yes they all had their cameras ready. Grandma Nancy, Grandma Donna and Auntie Amy were very excited to meet Jack. Caleb was along too but he was next door in the family lounge asleep on the couch.



Amy and Jack.
Think of the wisdom she has to pass along to this kid!


Seth and Jack.
Seth would prefer to be referred to as Pops by the way!

Do I look a little shell shocked? He was mine and they were going to make me take him home? Weird!

Jessica and Dan.

I have a picture of Dan holding Jack too but I know Jess will get mad if I don't use this one where she's holding Jack. Right Jess?

Clay and Alex.

You will never meet two sweeter people in the whole world.

Grandpa Dean (Seth's dad) looks a little nervous here but he'll get the hang of it soon enough.

Honorary Grandma Ladybug (aka Gloria) is running neck and neck with Grandma Donna for the amount of clothes she has bought Jack. Keep it comin' Grandmas!

I thought this was cool. The hospital had essentially a low-jack system called Hugs on the baby floor. Every baby wore a sensor and if they were taken through an exit door and alarm would sound. No stolen babies at St. Lukes!

Snooze time with Pops.

Ajha and Mazzy are loving their cousin. Ajha always askes if she can pet him and Mazzy will forever call him Baby Jack.

Caleb and Jack are amazing to watch together! I never thought an 11-year-old boy would be so attentive to a baby he sees almost every day. Caleb will walk away from whatever he's doing (even Playstation!) to come and talk to Jack. And now that Jack is acting slightly more human and interacting with people Caleb is quickly become his favorite. Just wait till I show you a picture of Jack staring at Caleb's mohawk!

This is just a small sample of the cast of characters Jack has to learn from in his lifetime. Won't it be a wonderful life?