Drew is 10 years old

Today is Drew's birthday, 10 years old.  Where did those years go?

I remember the day Drew was born.  We knew he would be coming on June 3rd as he was a planned csection.  We had moved to Des Moines in January and into our house we built on May 15th.  It had been a whirlwind few months with everything going on.  We were so excited for this day to finally have arrived.

Scott and I were up early in the morning to get to the hospital and be prepped for the big day.  I remember being so excited and nervous as well.  It is an amazing feeling to be driving to a hospital knowing you are going to have a baby to hold in a few short hours.  Nothing like it.  Mom and Dad were at the hospital shortly after we arrived, Dad couldn't have looked more nervous but always trying to fake being calm and Mom just chatted away, which I have learned is her way of being nervous.  Tommy stayed home that morning with my sister and niece.  He wasn't even 2 years old yet.

On the drive down I remember talking with Scott about baby names...we had no idea if it was a boy or girl.  We had the girls name of Mary Grace (after my Mom Mary Lou) and Grace which is what the biblical meaning of Susan means, "full of grace" and boys we were debating still between Andrew or William or possible Michael...but we knew we wanted to use my Dad's name Roy, as a middle name, so we ran all of the options as we drove down to the hospital.

8:31 am there was a beautiful cry...and I heard them say "looks like a girl head with lots of hair, nope, it's a BIG boy" and Andrew Roy entered the world.  With tears of joy, relief and excitement Scott and I thanked God for his healthy arrival into this world.

Boys making silly faces on Drew's bday at the cabin

Drew's DQ ice cream cake

The golf bag he wanted from Tommy

The Super Soaker he wanted from Jack

At school on the last day with his bday treat for his class

Drew has been such a blessing to our family.  He is one of the most loyal and true people I know.  He fierecely sticks by what he believes in, is NOT easily wavered on anything.  Drew is tenderhearted and so loving.  Our boy who loves animals of all kinds, who rarely speaks a harsh word to his brothers, who loves the Buckeyes and everything with them with his big heart, who has a competative drive and spirit that is hard to match.  It is hard to imagine our family before he was here.  

Happy birthday buddy...we love you!  I will find some baby pictures later to post along with these recent ones.

School's out for Summer

It's the last day of school for the boys!  Woo hoo for summer!  Took a few pics this morning before we headed out.  Hard to believe we will have a 1st grader, 4th grader and 6th grader in the fall!  Pretty exciting.

Jack's end of the year party is today at school, Drew's celebrating his bday a day early with a cookie cake in his class, Scott is in Memphis this week...and the boys and I are headed to the cabin right from school until Sunday.  A whirlwind of good things...

Summer is almost here!

Making goofy faces

Typical Saturday in Spring

Jack in the field

Tommy batting

Tommy pitching

Drew on first

Jack and Manager Daddy

Down and Ready

Drew on first

Jack playing "catch"

Drew getting a grounder at first

Tommy pitching

This picture is what it's all about....

Wedding in Cayman

update..picture I took off of Brooke's blog....married June 5, 2009!  Congrats Brooke and Brandon

When Tommy was 3 we were in search of a place for him to learn how to swim...we were led to Swim with Kim, aka Kim Johnson's backyard and pool.  We signed up and he had an awesome experience....here we are 9 years later and just finished another week of swim lessons for all 3 boys this past week.  Kim and her daughters, Brooke, Kasey and Taylor have taught all 3 of the boys how to swim and I am SO grateful.  It hasn't always been easy...Drew was NOT a fan of swimming so there were days of pulling him out from under tables, having Kim peel him off of me while he screamed and I ran out the gate, hiding in their bushes to watch Jack learn how to swim if he saw me he would run to me...we laugh about it all now.  All of the boys have become strong swimmers, love to jump off their diving board, would go to Miss Kim's every week all summer if they could.  

But in all sincerity we are most grateful.  Learning how to swim is a BIG deal in our opinion.  It has always been a HIGH priority in our house and there was never an option NOT to learn how.  It is one of those things you have to know how to do in life!  We recommend Swim with Kim to everyone who asks...we just feel so blessed that our boys have Kim and her family.  They make it so much fun.

This week is a big week for the Johnsons...and it's hard to believe that 9 years have passed since we first met them.  We are thinking of  Johnson family today as they all are flying to Grand Cayman for Brooke and Brandon's wedding this Friday on the beach.  The perfect place for a Johnson girl to get married...  of course if you ask Scott he would say we have probably financed this entire wedding for them with 3 boys in multiple weeks of lessons for 9 years. :)  He always has something quick witted to say.  :)  But I will have you know Kim ALSO taught Scott how to swim at 40 years old....so he has a special place in his heart for this family.  

Congratulations Brooke and Brandon!  Can't wait to celebrate at your reception with you!  The only pics I could find were of Jack last summer...I will update pics after the reception or maybe I will hack one off of Brooke's blog from their wedding day.  

Jack last summer off the board

Jack with Miss Kim practicing his back float last summer

Drew's Personal Day

walking to the green talking to Dad

end of the round with Mom

Today was the day Drew chose as his "personal day" off from school.  He was happy to wake up to a morning of sunshine.  He was wanting to play golf.  So this morning Scott and I played a round of 9 holes of golf with him.  We had a fun time, I had better start working on my game as he is getting to the point where he will be passing me up quickly in the game of golf.

We had a quick bite to eat together and then he and I headed to the pool for some time in the sun.  

It was special to have some one on one time with Drew before summer hits!  Only 1.5 more days of school left!

Field Day

40 yard dash was neck and neck...

Yesterday was field day at school for the 4th-6th graders.  I volunteered to help and was given the job of organizing the 5th graders before each track race..in their order.  It was more work that I expected, but lots of fun.   As of yesterday afternoon I was losing my voice from having to scream kids names to get them in order.  But my voice was fine....it was fun to be there with Tommy and his classmates.  He has a great group of kids in his grade.  It was a chilly start to the day

My good friend Barb was kind enough to send these pictures today, I wasn't able to take any pics as my job was busier than I had thought it would be.  But there are some fun ones...

Tommy and some of his classmates

Getting ready for the handoff

Look at our hurdler

Jack's Personal Day

Today is the day Jack chose for his PTO "Personal Time Off" from school.  He was hoping we could head to the pool but cold temps, sprinkles and clouds held us from being able to do that.  So instead we stayed home most of the day.  He played with legos and watched some of his favorite shows on TV.  I did laundry and tried to clean the pantry out.  :)  

A little before noon we headed to Toys R Us as he has been saving up for another lego toy.  He was excited to use his $10- to purchase it.  

From there we headed to Daddy's office, which is always a highlight and then Daddy took us to Fazoli's (better known as Tomatoes around here due to the large tomato on their sign).  Jack had his usual ziti with 2 chocolate milks and enjoyed a little quality time just with Mom and Dad.  

Then we headed home so he could make his new lego creation and so Jack could "snuggle-buggle his Mama".

We headed to pick up his brudders at school and he proudly stopped by his classroom to give his teacher a flower for her bday and a card he had made.  His classmates made me laugh when they said to him as he walked in, "Jack you're really late"....hmm with 5 minutes left of school he sure was late!  

We had a great day together and can't wait for summer!

Just me and my Dad

Drew had a baseball tournament in Kansas City this past weekend.  Bummer to have the family split up for the holiday weekend but they had a great time being together.  The weekend before he went with Tommy for a baseball tournament out of town.  They have both had fun hotel weekends with Daddy.  It was a great reminder to me of what a great Dad he is and how selfless he is to give up his own time, so often, to be with our boys.

Scott does such a great job of spending time with the boys.  It is such a blessing.  He takes them golfing, to the driving range, to I Cubs games, to Ohio State weekends alone, to Drake basketball games,  to Wendy's (Jack's personal favorite), coaching their teams for most all sports, takes each one of the boys to the Iowa State fair for a father/son day on their own...he just loves to be with them.  

Yesterday after they got home from KC they even worked on mulching the yard together...quality father/son time that they all were excited for.  :)  Drew and Tommy even made it mulching in the rain.  Even working they enjoy being together...we did have to bribe the boys with promises for 32 oz Gatorades.    But the mulching job did get done.

Today he is playing in a Charity Golf outing for a work thing...hopefully he is enjoying some time for him.  He pours so much into us all.

Tommy and Dad at the Iowa State Fair Aug 08

Daddy coaching Jack's flag football team fall 08

Dad and Drew at the Ohio State Michigan game...on the field after the game

Dad and Jack at Jack's Ohio State weekend

Coach Dad congratulating Drew on their basketball tournament win....love this pic

Love you my Love...

Big Cheese Readers

Jack was the "Big Cheese" this week in his classroom.  He was able to invite a guest reader to come and read a book to his class yesterday.  He asked his teacher if she would make an exception to having one guest reader and he chose both of his brothers, good choice.  They each read half of the book.  Jack was so pleased and so proud to have his brothers in his class.

It made this Mommy's heart melt to watch Tommy and Drew read to the kids and then hand the book to Jack to show the pictures.  One of the best parts of being a Mom, that I never expected, is watching the relationships between the boys as brothers develop.  I love that.