Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from The Summys!

Trying to get a family picture is always challenging, and we are always trying new tricks to get the boys to sit still.  Sometimes our tricks work, sometimes they don't.  Jackson was so upset about taking a picture and Jeff was attempting to make him laugh...it didn't work!  But it makes ME laugh every time I look at it!! :)

 We.Need.A.Nap!!

We spent the weekend with Jeff's family, and needless to say by the end of the weekend we were all tuckered out.  The boys had fun hunting for Easter Eggs, eating tons and tons of sweets, and of course playing with Grandma Lori's dogs, cats, and trucks.  All three of the boys were crying when it was time to leave.  They had so much fun!  Jackson said he was going to stay all week!

Even though the boys enjoyed their Easter baskets, eggs and chocolate...

Easter is most importantly about our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, and the HOPE that he brings to all of those who trust and follow him.

Entertainment

Jack's imagination is blooming!  He loves to pretend he's a superhero, a toy maker, a singer, whatever he can come up with.  It's so fun to watch!  Yesterday all three of the boys were pretending to be singers and came up with a clever way to give me a concert.  They would all hide in the closet and come out singing their hearts out.  It was very entertaining, at least to this mom!  Check this out...

Tired

As I type this, Superman has literally fallen asleep in the middle of my family room floor...

This poor boy!  We have taken away his afternoon nap because naps lead to very late bedtimes.  This week, however, he has napped three out of five days.  He must be going through a growth spurt or something.  He has never fallen asleep in the middle of playing, but I guess when you need sleep, you need sleep.  I know that feeling!

Here he is earlier this week.  We spent the morning outside walking and playing at the park.  He was so tired, he slept in this very uncomfortable position for an hour and a half!

Hopefully you all have had a restful week just like Jackson. :)

Giddyup Daddy!

This weekend Jeff swam in the Illinois Masters State Swim Meet.  It was his first meet in 12 years...yikes, it's been that long since we graduated from college!  For those of you that don't know my husband, Jeff swam from the age of 6 all the way through college.  Swimming was his life, and became mine too.  Since college Jeff has been coaching numerous teams and swimming a little himself.  He decided at the first of this year to start training again, and I have been so incredibly proud of him.  He set goals for himself and has achieved everything he set out to do.  Jeff had an awesome meet this weekend, swimming in six individual events and two relays.  He beat all the times he had set for himself, swimming only 4 seconds off from his all time best in the backstroke!  I think that's pretty awesome considering he has not swam competitively for 12 years and only trained for 3 months.

I took all three of the boys to the meet on Saturday morning so they could see their Daddy compete and cheer him on.  Jackson was really into it, yelling, "Go Daddy, Go Daddy, Go Daddy," over and over again.  Grant and Coop just loved running around the building and eating all the fun treats that I had packed for them. :)  It was incredibly hot in the pool area.  I was prepared for the heat, but this pool was sweltering.  All of the boys' cheeks were as red as their shirts!  Saturday afternoon, Jackson and I went back to the pool just the two of us to watch Jeff swim again.  Jeff won his heat and placed second in his age group!!  Jackson was especially excited about Daddy's heat winning prize, a beanie baby dog that is now affectionately named Jackson.  On Sunday, the boys and I headed back to the pool after church and were able to catch one more race.

Waiting patiently for Dad's race.

Our sweaty, flushed family!

Overall it was a fun experience for the entire family.  I loved watching the boys cheer for their Dad.  I'm so proud of Jeff and what he has accomplished.  Now it's on to the National's meet in Mesa, AZ in a few weeks, a trip for just Jeff and I.  We're both excited for that!!

Jackson is 4!!

I just cannot believe Jackson is four years old.  I have memories from those first few days after he was born that are so ingrained into my mind that I feel like it was just yesterday I was holding a sweet little baby boy.

Now that sweet baby boy is playing make believe, making up new jokes, riding his scooter, helping out with chores around the house, and doing all kinds of things that amaze me everyday.  Jackson is a sensitive, fun loving, curious boy these days.  He has many questions about "life" that usually come out of nowhere.  He is obsessed with Toy Story and all he wanted for his birthday was Buzz Lightyear and a Buzz Lightyear Spaceship cake.  So of course he was not disappointed...

We took the boys to the Jump Zone to play.  They all loved it!!  It just opened a few weeks ago and I just happened to see an ad for it.  It was awesome because there were very few people there so the boys had plenty of space to play and run around.  We could have stayed there all afternoon I'm sure, but we needed to get home and have lunch and birthday cake.  These pictures from the Jump Zone are not very good.  I had the hardest time figuring out what setting to put my camera on, but you can see the big smiles on the boys' faces!

Even Jeff got to go down the fun slides!

Even though I was not feeling the best, it was a great day!  Jackson had a smile from ear to ear the entire day.  Both Jeff and I are so proud of the boy that Jackson is becoming.  He has a sweet heart and cares for others.  He likes to be silly and goofy and make everyone laugh.  He puts a smile on our faces each and every day.  We love you Jackson!

Here are some more pictures from the big day...

He wanted a magnifying glass, and I just think this pictures is hysterical!

Grant in the Buzz Lightyear Spaceship

Cooper in the Buzz Lightyear Spaceship

Jackson checking out the "space creature" with his magnifying glass.

Jackson in the spaceship.

I wish it was my birthday, hmmph!

Jackson with his birthday sign that his friends at school made for him.

A birthday kiss from Mom

New Toy Story pjs

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays

We have celebrated three birthdays at our house in the last week.  Jackson turned four last Saturday and today, Grant and Cooper celebrated their second birthday.  I'm just in disbelief that I have a four-year-old and two two-year-olds...how did that happen??!  I have been planning to get pictures out from Jack's birthday all week but I have been sick since last Friday, ugh!  So here is a quick peek at the birthday celebrations and I will try to get more out soon.