Future "Flyer"

If you were a cheerleader you know what I'm talking about, but if you don't, just take a look below. That's Jayla taking after her mama (once again). Daddy's been doing this with Jay (only in our pool) since summer began. Jayla is a natural, she locks her legs and "flys", and can even stand there for awhile. Thank you to Grandma Riley for finally capturing a picture of it and sending it my way.

Such a little Allstar

A Day for Daddy Jear Bear

Sunday was such a great day for daddy and Jayla. Mommy kept them busy all day, starting at 9am...

On a side note, I'm not sure if all of you know this yet, but Jearel is back bartending, at Hurricane Bay. It's a long story (most of you know it), but they came asking (more like begging) for Jearel back at the Bay.

This waking up at 9am was not much fun for daddy (at first), but after Jayla surprised him with his favorite breakfast (biscuits and gravy, homemade by mommy), and LOTS of presents, he was filled with joy.

Sleepy head enjoying his breakfast.

Opening his presents. He got much needed clothes (poor guy never gets anything for himself), movie tickets to go see Toy Story 3, and a stepping stone for his garden (which was MIA this year)

And Jayla got a shirt out of it saying, "I love my Dad".
Daddy going out to see his final present (the stepping stone).

Handmade by Jayla (ok mostly mommy), but we thought this was something fun and something we will continue to do for years to come.

The stars even glow in the dark.

On our way to the 10 o'clock showing of Toy Story 3.

This was officially Jayla's first trip to the movies.

Grandma Riley even joined in on the fun.

What a big girl!!

Jayla did REALLY well through out the movie. There were some occasional outbursts from Jayla, to the man behind us, "No, myyyy BUZZ and Woody. MINE!!" and then towards the end of the movie she got a bit restless and wanted to keep switching laps to sit on, mommy's, grandma's, and then daddy's.

*This was an outstanding movie. My favorite out of all 3. I recommend you go see it and bring a box of tissues*

After the movie, we headed over to Jearel's dad's house for a yummy dinner and enjoyed a fun afternoon with them. I'm sad that we forgot to take pictures. It is not too often that Jayla gets to see Papa and Nana Garrett. She absolutely loves her time with them.

Thank you!!!

~I always knew Jearel was going to be the best daddy. He is so involved in Jayla's life. They have their very own little routine down every night (including baths from daddy). Often my friends tell me they love watching Jearel around kids. He is the first one to get in and play with them (this is one of the many reasons I fell in love with him). He has so much patience, imagination, and LOVE for kids, which only multiplies ten fold with his very own daughter. Babe I am so very grateful for you (even though you lack in the helping around the house chores, you don't miss a beat when it comes to being the perfect daddy to Jay). WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH and hope you had a great daddy's day!~

I hope all the fathers out there had a great day, especially my very own dad (We miss you and love you)!

"A Rabbit in a Hat"

... or in your house, if you have a cat. Ozzie, our "cougar" according to Chad and Kyan (and he is big enough to resemble one), decided he was going to wake us up in the middle of the night with a lovely present, a baby bunny.

The first night (yes I said first night, to be continued) he woke us up at midnight. We have grown to know Ozzie's change in his "meow" whenever he brings us in a special gift. It is a very low, LOUD, long, meow, that is usually followed by noises of little scratches running across our wood floors and not the scratches coming from Ozzie's feet, but some other creature. Over the years Ozzie has captured and released, birds, mice, lizards (some as big as Gila Monsters), and a few rabbits, in our house. He usually eats the birds (sorry TMI), but lets the other creatures live, in our house. If you are wondering how he gets them, he comes and goes, as he pleases, through our doggie door (makes it nice so we don't need a smelly litter box).

Back to the story.... The first night, after we woke (thankfully not Jayla) we chased Ozzie in Jayla's bathroom, cornered this baby rabbit in our laundry room, and after examining him, took him outside to release him, and that is usually the end of that.

However, then came the next night, same thing happened, however Ozzie decided to take the bunny outside himself. Jearel insisted we go back to bed, but I refused. I chased Ozzie around our backyard, while spraying him with the hose, until he released the bunny and locked Ozzie up in our house.

Then, the third night came, this time much earlier, it was 8pm, Jayla was asleep, and Jearel and I were getting ready to watch Dear John. Ozzie came darting through the doggie door with this poor little bunny, AGAIN!
We googled a place to call, and were given some great advice. We kept him over night in a box, fed him grass and water, and later the next day drove him to a rescue place. Jayla FINALLY got to see this little bunny (as we told her the stories leading up to the final night). It became our little, VERY CUTE, pet, for a bit and now he is safe and sound "at the doctors", as Jay would say.

WE WILL MISS YOU LITTLE GUY!!

Swim Lessons

Last week Jayla started her swim lessons for the summer. We decided to sign her up through the city of Peoria. Her classes are 4 days a week for 30 minutes a day. It was super cheap and I was a bit skeptical if they would even be worth it, but they totally have been!! She has learned so much, in just one week. Daddy and Jay practice, in our pool, and practice definitely makes perfect. She now completely dunks her head all the way under the water, all on her own. She's never been afraid of the water, but this was something she was not interested in doing, before we started these lessons. I'm so proud of her already!! My goal is to have her swimming on her own, at summers end. I know this is possible, because my friend's little man was swimming at age 2 & 1/2. Here's to hoping!!!

My blond little beauty!!

Hanging out with teacher Mike and some of her boyfriends!
I love Jayla's head full of hair. It is actually longer than mine now! LUCKY GIRL!

Teacher Mike makes all the kids hold onto the side of the wall, until it is their turn for kicks, arms, etc. This one is Jay's favorite, blowing bubbles.

Her and Luke (little cutie and Mr. personality) practicing their bubble blowing and leg kicking!

Off swimming on her own (not really, she can stand there)

They play this little game of hide and seek... All the kids have to go pick 2 toys out of the basket, come together in a circle, and then close their eyes, while counting to ten. Then teacher Mike throws all the toys somewhere in the pool for the kids to go find. As they reach for the toys, it forces them to put their face under water. Some of the kids (ok all) use their toes so their face doesn't go under water. It cracks me up every time!! Little smarty pants!

Grandpa comes quite often to watch his little angel swim. He loves her so much, and Jayla just lights up when she sees him watching, on the pool side. Thank you Grandpa for always making her day!

Anxiously waiting to dive in!

Someday we will make it down that big slide (42 inches is the rule). I wonder how many we have to go?!

So the rules state, in her preschool A group (ages 2-5), that parents have the option to join their kids, but unfortunately Jayla has issues with men she does not know too well (thanks to daddy), and wouldn't you know we have a man for a teacher. Anyway, daddy, for now, has to swim with Jay so she doesn't freak out. As long as teacher Mike doesn't touch her, she is cool and likes him.

Let's hope in the weeks to come it gets better. Jearel is the only parent in the water with his kid. JEEZ!

Hide and Seek game, again!

Jay's going under for a toy!

Sorry, more pictures of her hair. I just can't help myself.

This game, the kids pretend they are sleeping, while all the kids count quietly to 1-10 "o'clock" and then shout "WAKE UP", as the teacher (or daddy) throws them in the air. It is actually really cute, and teaches them the basics of floating on their back.

The toy basket for Hide and Seek.

All of Jay's friends and teacher Mike.

Estrella Waterpark

We LOVE this place, not only because it is fun for everyone, but it means we are hanging with our best friends, the Roseland's. Sunday we packed up our stuff and headed out west, for a short afternoon in the sun! Like always, we had a blast and Jayla loved it, more than ever, this year. She is finally big enough to walk just about every where in the water. I'm looking forward to many more fun days like this *hint, hint*.

Thanks to my personal photographer friend, Jenni, for capturing some really great photos of us and making these cute collages, as well as adding them to my blog. You are gonna have to start charging me by the hour (ok not really).

Sweet Jenni loaned us one of her REALLY NICE cameras (for quite sometime), but somehow I can't quite capture pictures like she does. I'm starting to realize it takes some real talent and not just a nice camera. She rocks at her new business, just click her name above to see more.

I can't THANK her enough for all of this!!!

~Thank you, as well, for the invite on Sunday. We love you!~

Jayla the Gymnast

While mommy was in school, Grandma Riley found something fun for Jayla to do. Grandma found this AWESOME place, Oasis Gym, and didn't hesitate to sign Jayla up for gymnastics class. The two of them would go every Monday. I had the privilege of going one Monday during my Spring Break, and nearing the end of her classes they hosted something called "The Beach Olympics", giving all kids a chance to show off their skills, to family and friends. Jayla learned some pretty interesting moves in her 10 weeks spent with Grandma and teacher Renee. Her legs even got that whole muscle tone going of a gymnast.

There are a 1000 pictures to tell the story, and I am so happy to say that Jayla will continue to attend gymnastics class with Grandma, while mommy is signing her up for dance classes (offered at the same place). When I was little (3 to 14 years old), I attended Langham Dance Studios (tap, jazz, & ballet), it wasn't until I cheered in high school that I got to learn some basic gymnastics skills. Anyway, long story short, I LOVED it and I loved being with my same friends/teachers for so long. Our plans are to keep Jayla enrolled at Oasis gym through high school :) (Jearel doesn't know this yet-HA).

Jayla receiving her gold medal after the "Beach Olympics"

SERIOUSLY, HOW CUTE IS SHE?!?!

Jayla and her little buddy, Ella. Ella, by far, was the best student in the class. I think Jayla would do better if she could learn to follow directions every time (we are working on this).

Handstands... Jayla has this down!!

Forward role... Jayla does these all over the house, successfully about 80% of the time. Other times, I swear she almost breaks her neck.

Cartwheels!!!!!

Teacher Renee, helping Jay in her handstand.

Back Flip!!

WaHOOO, you GO JAY!

Ready, Set, JUMP!!

I guess the Olympics was too much pressure, Jayla needed the help of teacher Renee (this time) to JUMP, into the foam pit!

Bars?!

No FEAR! Jayla loves this stuff! It is a nail bitter for mommy, for sure!

She is so strong!

Flipping on her own :)

Here are pictures from the class I attended a few months back.

Looking back, Jayla has come so far.

Trampoline FUN!

There was a lot of chasing Jayla around, to help keep her focus in class. If I had to guess, Grandma got her work outs in too!

Stretches!

Jayla wanted to touch my toes, instead of hers. Silly girl!!

And she is off again!!!

Running and running, does anyone else have this problem?!

And we are back!

*thanks to my sister for the pictures*

Balance beam!

Jayla LOVES the foam pit!

I can't thank Grandma Riley enough for starting Jayla in this life long adventure. If it wasn't for you we would have never found this place. Also, this was such a great idea. I know we use to take Jayla to The Little Gym, but this is far more real, and something we are going to look forward to, for many years to come!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

We love you!