Madie's first day of preschool

Well, today's blog is mostly about Madie.  (Although there is a pic of Luke and Jilly at the bottom too.) It was her first day of preschool!  She was up at the crack of dawn as usual. I usually wake up Jillian around 6:20 to get ready for school and Madie is always biting at the bit to get in there and wake her up too. (-:

I had been explaining to Madie that today was her first day of preschool. She kept insisting she needed to go to "Jilly's school." I am in a carpool with another Mom for Jilly.... so when Ms. Apryle came to get pick up Jillian, Madie was very distraught that she did not get to go with Jilly. The next two hours may have been the longest hours of my life and we watched the clock click down until 9 am when preschool starts. Madie was bouncing off the walls ready to go. She just did not understand why Jillian got to go to school but she was still at home with me and Luke. (-:

Finally around 8:45 we loaded up and headed up to "school." The preschool is at our church so she is already familiar with the building and was excited when we pulled into the parking lot. The preschool encouraged the kids to bring a stuffed animal because they were going to have a picnic with all the stuffed animals at the start of the day.  When Madie walked in and saw the picnic tables with snacks and all the big stuffed animals on the floor she was geared up! She ate a quick snack and snuggled with some of the giant stuffed animal the preschool has and then we got to walk to her class. Mrs. Traci her teacher welcomed Madie and that was it.....she was off.  She was ready to play, learn, mainly be a big girl. (-: I am so proud of her. She isn't scared of a thing and I know she will do great this year.

As for other two darlings.....Jilly is still doing great. And Luke is surviving two older sisters. There has been numerous "passie" snatchings by Madie.  Luke has also had to deal with watching the daily fashion shows that the girls put on as well as Jillian's continuous singing concerts in the living room. I'm not sure who is going to appreciate these quiet mornings without the girls more.....Luke or me. (-: 

I hope everyone is having a great week. Love to all.
Jess

 Brushing our teeth before the first day!!

 Walking in with our favorite stuffed animal.

 Here we go! Already a step ahead of me, can't wait to get in there!

 All the snacks were so enticing!

 Taking in the new classroom. Looking for her name around the ABC circle.

 The wheels are already turning.....not sure if that is good or bad for her teacher. Ha.

 Girls Day at the nail salon. Thanks to Lainey for a fun girls time out.

 Jillian getting her nails and toes painted. (-:

 The girls sporting their wild headbands from Grandma Moore. Jilly loves wearing that giant flower. Ha.

The cutest little man I know. (-:

Hello Weekend!
Ahhh, it's the weekend and this one has started out quite nice if I say so myself.  Josh and I got a babysitter this morning so we could go for a bike ride on a nearby bike trail and then for a nice breakfast.  It is great to get out early in the morning...it is just too hot the rest of the day.  After returning home we got Jillian and Luke ready (Madie is in Oklahoma visiting Mima and Papa Bob for a few days) to head to church for Jillian's soccer assesment.  She is going to play Upward Soccer this fall. It is just 8 weeks (8 games and 8 practices).  A good step into the sports world. I had asked her about it a while ago and she said she would play on one condition......if Josh would coach. (-: He coached Upward Football and Basketball last year for older kids and the girls and I went to alot of the games to cheer on him and his team.  Jilly said she thought he looked like a good coach so she would play if he was her coach.  Needless to say she got her way. (-:
After her quick assesment we headed to lunch and now are all home relaxing. Much needed after a busy week!  School started back this week. Jillian is in first grade this year.  They loop at her school so she has the same teacher as last year...which is great....we love Mrs. Craft. She is wonderful. (-: Madie headed to Oklahoma on Thursday. Mima and Papa Bob surprised Josh and I and said they could come pick her up Thursday and stay for a week. We welcomed the surprise, with the new baby lack of sleep is starting to wear on Josh and I......one less two year old for a few days is a nice break. We love Madie to pieces but man she is a little pistol.  It is still up for debate where that wild side comes from.....ofcourse Josh and I both point fingers at one another. Ha.
Luke is still doing great and is growing like a weed. He had his 8 week checkup yesterday and was already 13lbs. He was 7lbs. 14 oz. when he was born, he has already gained 5 lbs. As our pediatrician says....he obviously has no problems eating. (-:  Jillian is such a great help with him. She loves laying on his play mat with him and singing him songs. He has really started smiling and she seems to be the person who can make him smile the most.  She is very proud to share that fact with everyone. Madie ofcourse loves him too and spends most days trying to figure out how to "hold" him.  For now she is settling for laying by him or holding his feet while I am holding him.  She wants to be a little Mama.
(-:
Well, I guess that is about all for now. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Jessica

 Ava (a good friend of Jilly's) and Jillian playing after school yesterday

 Luke and Madie in the play mat.  Gotta love Madie's smile. (-:

 Luke at his doctor's appt yesterday. Such a cutie.

Our attempt at a family photo when we were in KC for my cousin's wedding. (-:



Well, what can I say??? I finally have a second to catch up on the blog and all I can think to say is...AHHH! Things are crazy with three kiddos that is for sure...crazy, but fun. Luke is a doll and the girls are super sweet with him. Jillian raves about his chubby cheeks and Madie can't stop calling him "sweet baby Luke." As for Josh and I....I don't think there is any questions about our feelings.  We love him to pieces.  

This summer has flown by. It seems like we have all been going, going, going. Jillian spent half the summer at her Dad's so it really feels like she hasn't been home at all.  She is our seasoned traveler as I like to say. (-:  When she was home Luke had just been born so those few weeks flew and these last few weeks we have all been traveling as a family to visit our families.....Tour de Baby 2012 as I like to call it. First stop was Tulsa, then KC for a family wedding and then onto Fulton for a few days. We just got back this week.  Jillian stayed in Fulton for a few extra days. She has been begging me for some alone time with Nanny and Papa-she had never gotten to spend a few nights with them by herself so this was her chance.  Hard to believe she is getting to spend time with them like I did when I was little. I feel so blessed my kids are getting to experience their great grandparents as well as their grandparents. (-:   

Tonight Luke is sitting here next to me and I was able to catch a couple of quick shots of him. Thought I would share. I also shared a funny one of Jilly and one of Madie and Luke from earlier in the week. Hope you enjoy.

I will make every effort to post more pics of everyone soon. Love to all.

Jess

 Little Luke taking a nap tonight while Mommy and Daddy watch the Olympic opening ceremony. He is so cute when he sleeps....looks just like his Dad with that one arm behind his head.

 Deep in thought, ha. Love the finger on his cheek....he looks like he is going to wake and share something very profound.

 I'm awake....! Why is that camera in my face??? Gotta love that cleft in his chin...Josh's mini-me for sure.

 Just chillin' in my seat. Not sure what to think of Mom snapping pictures. (-:

 Where's Waldo....better yet, Where's Jilly? She decided she wanted to forgo sleeping in a bed and make a pallet on the gameroom floor while we were in Tulsa.  She set up all of Mima's stuffed animals all around her. It took her forever to tuck them all into place, but it made for a good night sleep as you can see...she is still snoozing late into the morning. (-:

Madie and Luke on the airplane back to Mississippi. It was Luke's first airplane ride! All of my kids have had the pleasure of taking their first airplane rides with Mima and Papa Bob.

A few cute pics of baby Luke....we are all great and doing well.

Hey Friends and Family-
Well, its that time! Baby Luke could be arriving anytime now. If he isn't here by Thursday then my doctor will induce that morning. So less than three days at the longest! Yeah! This Mama can't wait.  Despite still not feeling all that great we have had a bit of a cool spell with lots of rain so that has made the last few days somewhat pleasant. (-: Ofcourse once the rain stops we live in a sauna, but atleast there is a little relief.  Jillian and Madie are both just as ready for Luke to arrive as I am......as Jillian told Josh a few weeks back "that baby needs to arrive so Mom will stop being grouchy." (-:
This summer has been good so far. Jillian went to her Dad's to visit for the first couple of weeks of summer and had a great time. She got back Saturday. She had a great end of the school year with lots of fun activities and a cute program her teacher and class put on.  It was called "Rockin' into First Grade."  They did a rendition of Tina Turner's song Rollin' and it was hilarious. They had the moves and all. Just one of the lines was "My brain keeps on turning....cause I just keep on learning....rollin.....rollin.....rollin into first grade." I have it on video and am trying to figure out how to get it on DVD so all can see.
Madie has had a good summer so far too. She had swim lessons last week and did awesome. I have posted a bunch of pics below. She is a fish. I have signed her up for another week because she loved it so much. She maybe a pro by the end of the summer. We have attempted potty training a couple of times but I am not sure it is the right time. She seems not at all interested. Oh well, we will give it a few weeks and try again. I really wanted to have her out of diapers before Luke arrived. Not looking forward to changing two sets of diapers. I guess it isn't that bad- I could be Kate Gosselin changing 6 babies, ha. I can't imagine.
Mom has been here for two weeks now and it has been great having her. Bob and Mary were able to come in town for Labor Day and it was great to have them too. Prior to that we had Nanny and Dad in town helping when I was having a rough time with my breathing. So the last month I feel like we have been running Hotel Moore, but it has been great. I am loving all the extra time with everyone....and help.
Josh hasn't been traveling too much the last few weeks. It has been nice to have him close to home. I know he is excited about Luke's arrival.  He has been the lone ranger man for quite a while now. (-: It will be great to throw another little man in the mix.
Well, that is all for now. Next post I will have lots of pics to share of Luke! Can't wait to share him with you all.
Love to all,
Jess

 Jillian with her teachers right after her class performance.

 Jillian during her performance. She is the one right in the middle with the star sunglasses and light pink shirt.

 Madie on her first day of swim lessons. She made a new friend.

 Madie and the rest of her class learning about water safety.

 Getting ready to jump and swim to the side! She was ready. Ms. Mary had to hold her back. (-:

 Jumping in....

 Our garden is producing double time. Lots of canning going on right now.

  The girls had a lazy evening yesterday. It was rainy so we had a movie night .

A busy week....(-:

Hey All- It has been a busy week!! Last Friday was "Cowboy" day at school. Jillian dressed the part perfectly. Madie and I got to come and be a part. They had a parade and roasted marshmallows over a fake fire. (-: They also had pony rides and many other fun things.  Saturday we had Jillian 6th b-day party. It was a great success. It was at a cheerleading gym close by. Tons of in-ground trampolines and a foam pit to flip into. The kids had a great time trying to push each other into the foam pit. The Moms and Dads had a pretty good time trying to push each other in too, ha.
Wednesday was Jillian's actual birthday and it was a busy day for sure. Jillian wanted to open her own back account on her birthday so we did that......see pics below. Adorable. We went to church that night for dinner and bible study. Jilly is in choir and they are performing next Sunday evening. She is getting pretty animated with her bible songs. (-: For her birthday dinner we went to Olive Garden.  She wanted breadsticks and then ordered cheesecake for dessert.  As for nutrition-not the best, but I can't deny the breadksticks and cheesecake were declicious.  Good choice.
Today we begin another weekend. Lots planned, but fun stuff. Jillian is planting a garden with her girl scount troop tomorrow and then Josh and I have a wedding to go to tomorrow evening. I think we are going to try and take the boat out again Sunday after church.  Trying to use it as much as we can before baby Luke arrives. (-:
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Love, Jess

 Jillian sharing her seat with Madie on Cowboy Day

 She got the nickname Sassy Pants Jillian. I would say it fit perfect, (-:

 Around the campfire-you can she Jillian in the middle in the light pink hat.

 Josh helping me set up for Jilly's party. I think he has a cupcake in his mouth!

 All the kids running around and on the trampolines.

 Jillian and a couple of her friends....Hollyn and Maggie.

Blowing out the candles. Good shot of the baby Luke in the background, ha. 

 Opening presents....

 Opening her own bank account, she had to sign her own name. Big stuff.

Madie at the doctor this morning. She got her last vaccine today, she didn't even cry! Tough stuff. (-:

Spring is here and man I wish this chick would hatch.....(-:

Friends and Family-
We had a great Easter weekend! We took the boat out Friday for the first time this year. The weather was awesome and the water was perfect.  We got a new tube that is "little kid" friendly. The kids can sit up straight in it and have back support. They loved it-we must have pulled them around for 20-30 minutes. They loved every minute. Josh has pics of the lake day on his phone so I will post those when he sends them to me.
Saturday we went to an Easter Egg Hunt at a friend's house out in the country.  Tons of kids, good food, great egg hunt. The girls had a great time. We came home that afternoon all exhausted.  After naps we dyed our own eggs and Jillian wrote the Easter bunny a letter.  We left it with some carrots on the front porch. He must have loved the carrots because he left Easter baskets and hid our eggs all over the house.  The girls had a great time waking up to the surprise.
After the hunt and breakfast we headed to church. It was a great service as usual. I am so thankful for our church family.  Since joining TBC Hattiesburg has really started to feel more like home.  There is something to be said about finding common ground in Jesus. It may sound silly but from where I stand it has proven true here to many times over the last few years.
As far as me I am done "cooking" as some might say. (-: Little baby Luke could come anyday and I would be happy. Ofcourse he can't arrive for about more 8-9 more weeks.....so, I will continue to wait not so patiently. Ha.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and is enjoying the spring weather. Enjoy the pics.
Love,
Jess

 Madie fell asleep before the hunt. Our makeshift bed. (-:

 Jillian was ready to find some eggs!

 She woke up in time for the egg hunt and as you can see did just fine. (-:

 Jillian was proud of her Lady Bug egg she found.

 The family after the hunt.

 They couldn't wait another second to dig into their eggs.

 Jillian setting out carrots Saturday night for the Easter Bunny!

 Jillian's letter to the Easter bunny. I helped a little, but she did most of it on her own!

 We never got a great family pic. The lighting wasn't the best, but atleast you can see how cute the girls looked!!