Fall Updates--Night Eyes, Fun Times at Grandma and Grandpas, Cousin Reagan, Brother-Sister Time!

The monkey, cupcake, and dragon

Daddy and his little girl

Daddy and his little man

Jakson checking out his other dragon friend

Not into getting pictures taken lately

Loves dinosaurs, hates getting his picture taken

Cheeseballs!!!!!  I love them to pieces!

BATHTIME!!!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Pekarek bought the kids a gator and Jakson and Lyv were in heaven! 

Hold on for your dear life Lyv!  :)

On the gator again

Jakson's sleeping buddies.  Bell had her dress on before bedtime...  ;)

Fun time with Reagan, Jakson, and Lyv again

Lyvie and Grandpa

CHEESE!!!!

Savannah, Reagan, and Lyv-  Girls are checking out Nana's beads!

Hoversten Haven AT LAST!!!

I can't believe it's been one YEAR since I blogged the last time!  I guess having two kids keeps you pretty busy, but happy and busy.  This last year was best/hardest year of our lives.  We moved into a little tiny two bedroom rental house after we sold our townhome in August of 2010 three weeks before Lyv was born.  Brought another little one into the world, survived the winter cooped up in a little 10 x 10 living room with my post-pregnancy hormones, I survived breast feeding for 6 months, Brett had some health scares, we decided to build a house, Jakson went through the TERRIBLE twos, our house was finished, we moved OUT of the little crazy house, MOVED into our new house where I've been teaching the last 9 years, went on two trips to the cabin, and my baby brother got married to the love of his life!  Life has been crazy, BUT we are so happy and we both feel we made the right choice by deciding to move to Carlisle.  Since I've been teaching here for 9 years, it feels like home.  We know tons of people already, our neighbors are great, there are always kids playing outside for Jakson to play with, we know lots of people to watch the kids if Brett and I need a night out, we are very close to my Aunt and her family, and we LOVE our new house!  Needless to say, we couldn't be any happier.   Here are a few updated pictures of our fam.  We just love our Lyvie Lou and Jakson to pieces.  They are the best thing since sliced bread.  :) 

Welcome to the world, Alyvia Lou Hoversten!!!!

Alyvia Lou Hoversten

August 31, 2010

7:42 a.m.

7lbs. 5oz. -- 18 1/2 in.

Waiting to go into surgery!!!

Thanks Dr. DeJong!!!  Good work!

Brett cutting the umbilical cord...he didn't pass out!

I have a small baby!  :)

Happy parents!  Pretty baby girl!

Gma and Gpa Pekarek were the 1st visitors!

Sweet baby Lyv

All clean after her first bath, in her first outfit

Wrapped around his finger already!!! 

Jakson, meet your baby sister!

First family picture!  Jakson was more interested in his big brother

 presents from his sister!

Grandma Rita and Aunt Kaitlyn + twins

Grandpa Paul and Uncle Quinn meet Alyvia

I have to be dreaming...is it REALLY a Hoversten Girl?

Auntie Liz

Uncle Jess Robert

GREAT Aunt Carla

My cousin Kassady is awesome!  :)

Stay tuned for more pics!

What a busy life!!!

Here's what our life entails right now as we speak:

*  our house SOLD July 13, closing date for new owners is August 16
*  we had 4 weeks to find a rental place
*  we are moving across town this weekend to a very small townhouse for about a  
     year to save money to buy our next HOME
*  packing is interesting when you are 35 weeks pregnant and you have a 21 month
    old...
*  I am also trying to prepare for the school year and plan for my long term sub...
*  preparing for baby girl to arrive August 31 by c-section, 4 weeks away!
*  We have a very, busy, talkative, patient, sweet, mouthy, independent, 200% boy
    21 month old little man in our house
* I am realizing that having a happy, healthy family, and great family/friends are
   the most important things in life

Churchisms

Jakson is starting to talk nonstop.  He's growing up soooo fast!

Today in church, about 10 minutes into the sermon, he says loudly "Bye, bye?".  Then, a few seconds later he starts walking out of the pew and he says "I be right back!".  I guess he wasn't having the whole church thing today. 

Not long after that Brett and I thought we smelled a dirty dipee.  So I checked Jakson's pants assuming he had taken his usual 9-10am dump.  Nope, it was clean.  The next time I checked, Jakson shouts out in church during the sermon mind you...  "I toot, I toot!!!" 

I think we're learning we need to filter our conversations at home a little bit better...

Gotta love the lessons church gives you.  About God AND what not to say around your children.

Playing Catch Up

Okay, you'd think since it's summer and I'm not actually teaching I might be able to blog a little more often.  Obviously not.  Jakson has been enjoying his summer by swimming in our blow up pool,  playing with toy horses, talking about motorcycles, riding 4-wheelers, vacationing at Hoversten Haven, riding his tricycle and wearing his helmet, holding his new cousin Reagan, and learning how to be a big brother.  This past weekend Brett and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary and Jakson got the opportunity to spend the WHOLE weekend with Gramma and Grampa Pekarek.  They took him boating and THEY had a blast.  Captain Jakson got to drive the boat with Grampa and he played on the beach and had a picnic.  I think he wore Gramma and Grampa out!  Tomorrow night Jakson will begin his five night vacation at Gramma and Grampa Hoversten's house while Brett and I go on a trip to Hoversten Haven (our babymoon I guess you could say) with the Nails and Schultzs.  We are looking forward to some adult time, but I am secretly very sad after being with Jakson EVERY DAY since the beginning of June that I will not be with him for FIVE days!  I know he will be in good hands with Paul and Rita and he will have a blast swimming in the big pool and 4-wheeling.  Here's some pics to sum up our summer so far!

Riding on the boat with Daddy, Bernice, and Gramma

I LOVE to ride 4-wheelers!!!!

Playing in the loft at the TABIN with Uncle Andy, Cade, and Carter

All the Hoverstens (except for sleepy Cade) at Hoversten Haven

Holding baby Reagan!

Uncle Jess, Aunt Liz, and Reagan

Swimmin in Gramma P.'s Pool!

Playing with my girlfriends  :)

I on the other hand, am definitely growing a baby.  I'm 32 weeks along and am starting to feel the last few weeks' symptoms.  Kankles, swollen fingers, uncomfortable sleeping positions, etc, etc.  BUT, it's worth it right?  Brett and I are so excited to welcome our little lady into the world on August 31, which is her Uncle Andy's and a few other family members' birthday.

30 weeks

MORE PICS and summer updates coming soon!  Stay tuned!

Happy Father's Day!!!!

I'm sitting here today as it's a VERY special day in our family.  Not only is it Brett's second Father's Day, it's my brother's birthday and my soon to be niece's birthday as well!  Jakson and I came up to Steamboat Friday afternoon with high hopes we would get to meet baby girl Pekarek this weekend.  I always am a planner, and it worked out perfectly!!!  Brett came up yesterday after work and golfed with the boys.  We grilled last night with Jess and Liz to celebrate an early birthday for Jess.  Mom and I did a lot of talking to Liz's belly.  She clearly was ready yesterday to be a momma.  We encouraged her to eat our spicy dip, that gave me heartburn, so I'm convinced it was THAT that made her water break at 1:45 this morning.  Or it could have been me talking, pushing, and jiggling her belly around before they left.  Yep, I bet that was it.  At 2:30 this morning a very nervous Jess Robert called to inform us they were on their way to the hospital as Liz' water had broke.  Needless to say my mom tossed and turned until 5:30 this morning until it was "OK" to be up for the day.  Did I mention that last night at dinner Jess was saying he wanted to do whatever HE wanted to do today because it was HIS day?  :)  Now he has to share it with his little princess...who is about to be born into the world.  My mom texted me and said the nurse says she has lots of hair.  Jess' heart will be melting in the next few hours.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!