They Are Such Big Boys Now!

These boys are growing up so fast. It is hard to chronicle everything, but I did want to get these fun things out there.

This is Jakie Playing Soccer:) He is so funny with his growls, grunts and squeels. I love it! Unfortunately, the other team scored (a few times) because Jakie just runs beside them trying to beat the one with the ball (with speed and usually beats them ) rather than stealing the ball. We will work on that for tomorrows game!


Here is little Ricky being such a big boy. I swear he got up on all 4's seconds after the battery ran out! Sorry, I will get him doing his magic after I buy more batteries!



Here are a few of my cutie pie of the last few weeks:

This little guy is rolling over!! This is after going from Right to tummy, tummy to back, then back to tummy!! Such a strong boy!

"SCH-WINN"

"SCHWINN" (Wayne's World fans should be hearing this to the cadence of "She-wing"!!). I know, I am a dork! I wanted to tell everyone how Sunday was like Christmas for me!! We left for church Sunday morning and when I came home later that afternoon there was something leaning against my door. I kinda peaked around the corner from the van after we got out and wondered what the heck!?? We were not expecting any deliveries or packages from family so I was perplexed. Well, as I neared the door I saw that it was a 3ft by 2ft package that had a note attached. It was unwrapped so when I got within clear reading distance and saw what it was, I just about fell over. There at my door was a brand spankin' new jogging stroller, still in the box (not even unwrapped) and blue!! It had a note attached to it that said that the person that left it (you know who you are and you are getting so many cookies and thank-yous, you wont believe it!!) heard that I was looking for one and it was a blessing for them to gift it as they wanted their garage back. WHA?? " YES PLEASE" (another WW quote for ya!). I just could not believe it. I thought surely it has to be broken, not really a stroller, a mistake, me dreaming?? Thank heavens as I examined it, the stroller was not only perfect but new and blue! 3 things that thrilled me. I had been looking for one for months but they were so pricey, I just could not justify it to the family or savings account. I checked out Craig's List but the ones I found that I could afford went so fast, I gave up. Then, this miracle happens and I was so thrilled!!!! I still cant believe it. It is a blue Schwinn jogging stroller with the huge wheels. See: YAY! Hang on Ricky! I am taking you for a wild ride! We wanted to get Jake a bike for Christmas (with a little help from Grandma H.) so this is perfect. Now we will be able to get mobile and get out a bit. Oh, I am just thrilled. * Thanks Kate for putting me up for it. For those that don't know Kate, she is a friend from church that I talked to about wanting a jogging stroller that when first offered this stroller by the person that gave it to me (because they thought she needed it) , said she did not in actuality need it, but that she knew someone that did, and gave the person my name. The stroller was worth a lot of $$ and no one would have blamed her for taking it and selling it to someone else, but not Kate! She thought of me! Just like great friends and great Kates do. So, now I have a fantastic stroller and a generous family to thank with plates and plates of cookies, lots of thank yous and some kind of a pay it forward. I am so grateful for people that think of others, serve, give and make me want to be that way! My life has been a tangled web of wonderful people that help and bless me along my way! Sure hope that I am that for some others some day! Thanks again Kate and though the person that gave it to me does not read my blog... Thanks to you too!! You are just wonderful!

Weekend Trip to OH

(Click on phots to enlarge them)

Friday afternoon at about 12pm Rick called and wanted to get out of dodge. We contemplated the possibility of going to DC, but with a 4 hour drive and limited time the next day we were thinking twice. So, we looked to the West and headed out to a little town that Rick found online. It boasted great lakefront shoreline, charming little town feels, etc. Well, after getting up on Saturday morning, driving 2 hours and 1/2 tank of gas later...We arrived in Ashtabula, OH. Not quite the cute little place they made themselves out to be!! The shore fronts were strewn with dead carp (that is what Jakie is poking on the beach in the picture below), industrial factories with chimneys a-pipin blocking much of the view, and a downtown the looked like a ghost town. I marveled at the talent of the photographer that took pictures for their city web site, as they managed to miss all of that! They showed cute storefronts with flower baskets out front, shoreline, seagulls, etc. All of that was still here, just dead! Well, after a 2 hour drive, Rick and I were not to be discouraged. We had pre-planned to meet (an old companion of Ricks fromt eh Mission)Dan Linfesty and his wife Sarah there to spend time and catch up. Well, they arrived and agreed. We got the bidone!! (we got bunged). Oh well, Jakie did not care. He was thrilled to poke dead fish, run up and down the 200 yards of ocean line, carve our names in the sand, pose for the camera, play on the lifeguard chair, throw rocks in the water, chase seagulls, and watch the ships. We got in on the fun with the rock throwing and rock hunting that Sarah (Linfesty) and I do for fun and even happened upon a Rib cook off!! What luck! The smell was amazing and the food was just what we were craving. All in all, we wont be back to Ashtabula, OH....EVER, but it was a fun day with the kids and friends. I guess that is how it goes...You win some, loose some, and find a fun day anyway on the days in between. Thanks Ohio! I have not yet been wildly impressed with ya, but we will find something cool to do there some day. Well, I guess Kirtland was rockin, but aside from that, we will have to keep trying. Thanks Dan and Sarah for a fun day. It would have stung if we made the trip up alone and headed back an hour or two later like we would have without you two to hang with.
Speaking of stinging: Rick running around the car in a fit of fear from the bees that hung out at the heap of a beach was worth the drive! I wish I had my video camera out for that one.

Our Little Soccer Boy - Go DC United!

(Click to Make Pictures Larger)

Today was Jakie's first time playing soccer. We signed him up for a 4-5 year old league for fall. He gets to do 6 practices (45 minutes each) followed by a scrimmage game with another team each Wednesday. We went and got all of the gear they requested and took him to see what would happen. You never know with kids and sports. Some love it, some hate it, and others just don't get it! Well, we were a little of love and get it tonight. Jake loves to run so it was a perfect fit in that respect. He looked so adorable in his little shin guards and cleats! His coach was great and really taught 10 little kids how to play a basic match in 45 minutes. Lots of them had never played before and the game turned out really fun to watch. I am so glad that we put him in this year. There were so many funny moments that I cannot even remember them all, but one of my favorites was caught on film. Check out the collage below and let me know which one you think it is. Hint..It is a funny one! I bet it is your favorite pic too.
Here are a few other highlights:
-Jakie pulling up grass and showering it on other kids. Hated that one!! Gotta teach the kid to leave the poor grass alone!
-Jakie licking his team mate Dillan. Another problem. Ha, they ended up buddies though. You can see them sitting on the sidelines waiting for their turn. Thank goodness his parents thought it was normal 4 year old behavior. We are going to end up the parents of the weird kid that licks everyone!
-Jakie running faster than everyone including the kid with the ball that he passed by about 20 ft while we yelled directions on how to go back and steal the ball. It took about 20 of the 30 minutes they played before Jakie realized that he has to run after the ball each time and that he could steal it and go make a goal.
-Jakie kicking the ball into another scrimmage near by as he tried for a goal. That would not be funny except that he decided to just take the other games ball down the line for them. Yep, he just joined their game until they told him to come back to the game on our field. ha, such a cutie!
-Jakie winking at me and giving me the thumbs up. I just adore that Kid. Cant help it! He just makes me smile. -Seeing Jake make friends so easily and having fun. I just love it when he is happy and enjoying being a kid!

Well, we accomplished all that we set out to do by putting him in soccer: tire him out, have him meet other kids, learn how to play soccer, listen, and have a great time! I think we got about 4 of the 5 here. Well, I guess there was a 6th reason. I wanted to get a few sweet shots of Jakie in action. I posted a few edited shots at the bottom that were my favorite

Ricky Is Laughing & Cooing

Well, this just does not do him justice, but I did want to get some proof of his laughing and cooing out there. When I put the camera over him he gets a bit shy, but when I am about 1ft from his face he goes nutts. He raises his eyebrows and just about winks at me! He smiles, coos, laughts. We have daily conversations (with sounds) as I change his bum and he just adores being adored. Luckily, we adore him so he is a happy baby. He is partial to momma as he loves my voice, but daddy and Jakie make him laugh quite a bit too. Pretty much anyone that makes eye contact and speaks to him in a sweet voice is okay with him. He will smile and love you with reckless abandon! He is such a fun part of our family!

Polo Match Fun

Well, we may not be your typical Polo type of people, but that did not stop us from attending a benefit Polo Match that UPMC was sponsoring. Rick got two tickets to the match held at a gorgeous estate (900 acres) that was made into a public equestrian park. The scene was complete with Polo players, horses, one of a kind vendor tents, appetizers, deserts, drinks, viewing seats, a 1/2 time show with the local hound society, fire trucks, balloon animal makers (note Jakie in a shark balloon head dress) and pony rides for the kids, ladies in bright sun dresses and hats, etc. It was such a fun sight. I had a baby strapped to me most of the time so my pictures are not as artistic as I would have cared for them to be, but these are about the best of the best. They are fun though. I sure enjoy Ricks UPMC perks and it is always fun to see the people he works with. I genuinely enjoy their company and like them each quite a bit. **** The picture of Jakie with the dogs was during 1/2 time after they did their command and hunting exhibition when they allow spectators to come down and meet the dogs. It was so fun!

Update

Well, things are moving along. Fall is in the air and though the leaves are not yet changed, there is a sense of change that is tangible. Things with our family are wonderful and I am looking forward to a Holiday season that is not far off. I only wish that we had more family and friends to enjoy that with. Right about now is when I miss Mom Shumway's spiced candle that reminds me of when Rick and I were dating. It is one of the favorite things of fall for me. My moms turkey dinner and oyster stuffing is the other favorite of fall. The leaves here will be my favorite Fall Pittsburgh thing. Okay, what are we up to?

Rick is still hard at work as the Director of the GI labs at UPMC, working on callings and enjoying his family every spare moment. The start of the Football season is like a breath of life for Rick so I am supporting that. I enjoy sports (mostly in person as I love the outing side of things), so it is not hard to support, but Rick is slightly fanatic about football so I have to temper that at times (Much like he has to do for my decorating,photography, books, etc.) He is generally well after a terribly difficult year though missing dad as we all are. Ricky's arrival has helped to bring joy to an otherwise difficult situation and I know that has meant a lot to Rick.

I am doing great as well. I am still so in love with being home with the kids. I am so grateful that they can be my "job" as they are my favorite thing to do all day! I love taking Jakie to play, love seeing him succeed at things that he just learned, love making lunch and sitting down to it with him. I love playing with Ricky and cooing at him while he nurses and love it even more when he sleeps in my arms. It has been great to be here, to finally do laundry, to make cookies for the kids after lunch, to vacuum and dust and not have it all be on Saturdays along with everything else. I spend my free time (not much) shooting pictures of the kids and anything else that is interesting, reading and hopefully soon, exercising! I am still Primary President and love that too. Kids seem to be the theme of the day in my life. Luckily I love them and seem to get them! I guess I am just happy and well! Lots to work on, but content to be where I am and grateful for the chance to be here.

Jakie just started school on Wednesday! Thanks so much to Grandma Shumway for sending him. He loves it! He goes MWF for a few hours each day and just absorbs. His teacher is a sweet lady that thinks he is a sweetie. Jakie is signed up for soccer this year and gets to start on Wednesday. YAY! He can run off some of that energy and hopefully really love the game. Anything that combines running, playing and winning is right up his alley so I am looking forward to seeing how he will do. Jakie is growing like a weed and looks like most of the 6 year olds in his primary. He is so handsome and sweet and has truly been a joy. His big brother love for Ricky makes us smile and though he is a man handler with him at times, he is so pure in his love for his little brother. We would not change at thing about the way Jakie loves and treats Ricky. We will keep him!

That leaves little Ricky. What can I say, but that he has been a model baby. He is so squishy, so soft and so sweet. He loves to look mommy in the eyes each morning and smile, squeal, laugh at times and just play. You can see the joy that the family loving him brings. He coos and follows our eyes with his and just wants to be looked at all day. He is a little chubber and is probably in the 15lb range by now. He loves to nap, and nurse and is such a happy, beautiful boy. I knew I would love our second child, I just never could have dreamed how much. He is truly as much a joy in my life as his big brother and it feels like he has always been here. He has brought a profound happiness to his mommy and daddy's life.

Well there you go! We are just the same old Shumways. Still moving a long, still loving the family and still doing all that we can do to make it work. We miss you all and hope that you are doing wonderfully. Enjoy Fall because if you are like us here in PA, it wont last long and winter is really cold and long. Fun, but long!