Halloween

So technically this is Jessa's 2nd Halloween, but in my heart it was her first real Halloween. She got to dress up three times in two different costumes, one for a party, one for the library and then actually Halloween. I never imagined how much fun she would have. We went to Gilbert to trick or treat with family, and Jessa never stopped. She had no fear when she went to the doors to say trick or treat, with the exception that she didn't want them near her candy :).. She had such a great time once we got going. This was by far the best Halloween ever!

Family Fun

We had a blast this weekend, not only did we get to see our Peterson Family but Vegas McGhie's and Atkins' as well. All the kiddos have grown so much, you don't realize how fast they grow until you've been away from them for awhile. Jessamyn was beside herself with all her playmates. We roasted marshmellows in the backyard. Jumped on the trampoline, played way to many board games and watched one to many Guitar Hero battles.

Kickin' Weekend

Off to Las Vegas we go! A quick trip to settle a little business and a visit with family. We got to see Krista and Chloe in action on the soccer field. A fun spectacle. Then off to see Ryan on the soccer field as well, impressive bunch I might add. Bingo at the Texas, a little poker and home. It was a very short weekend but a nice to see everyone. Jessamyn enjoyed being with her family especially spending time with her Grandma & Grandpa McGhie, Morgan and Megan, oh and Tara too!

Summer's End

As the summer draws to an end I look back and sigh. We have had quiet a busy summer. Between Vegas and Phoenix it has been a non stop adventure for us and Jessamyn. We rounded out basically the last day of summer back at Rachel and Josh's house with fun in the pool for the kiddos, a little Monopoly for the adults and then an evening of Smore's and a fire pit for everyone. Now everyone knows I am the undisputed champion of Monopoly, but my dear Arizona family and their blasted electronic Monopoly has fouled me twice now. First at the Atkin home and now at the Peterson home. I came back after the defeat by Mac to win it =)

Jessamyn has grown by leaps and bounds this summer. Her speech is getting better and better. It is amazing how much she has grown up. It breaks her Mama's heart to see her baby growning up. She misses her Vegas family like crazy, but has grown very close to her cousin Loggie. She can't get enough of the little beast. They are definately two peas in a pod.

New Toys

Another fun filled weekend with our Arizona family this weekend. We had Josh, Rachel and the little kiddos over for some fun and games and of course lots of laughter. We decides to buy Jessamyn a little jungle gym type toy and we could not get the kids off the thing. Up down, screaming, laughing, throwing, you name it they did it. So cute though, well worth the money at the garage sale. In the meantime us adults spent the evening playing a little Friends Scene It and Pictionary, which might I mention may be the funniest game ever invented. Anyway, Jessamyn's speech is growing by leaps and bounds at this point and she is trying to say everything. If she doesn't know the name she will ask you. Her current favorite word is "cookie" and let me tell you there is no tricking her with anything that is not a cookie. I can't wait for everyone who hasn't seen her in awhile to see her again. She is quite a fireball lately.

Sea World/San Diego

Ok, so I've fallen a little behind. Things are a little hectic on the home front at the moment but I wanted to make a little BLOG about our trip to California. We went on a little family vacation with Amber, Robert, Ryan and Morgan. We took the kids to Sea World and the beach, it was awesome! Jessa loved all the sea creatures and especially the dolphin show. Which might I add we all got soaked in. It was adorable watching her freak out at the Aquarium when she saw Nemo and Dori. She didn't want to leave. The beach was even better. She was running after the waves, splashing in them, finding sea shells and helping mom build a sand castle. We had sooo much fun. It may have been her first vacation that was really enjoyable for her more than us. We can't wait for the next one.

Auntie Nel's Birthday

This weekend we were back to Vegas to celabrate Chanel's birthday. Of course in Sean and Chanel style there was a WIIlympics to be had. Tennis anyone? So Spencer and I were the second couple to be elliminated in the WIIlympics but thats ok because we got to laugh at everyone else attempting to win the gold. In the end their could only be one winner though... Jessamyn in the meantime was working the party. Between flirting with all the boys, young and old, attempting to steal Chanel's presents and stealing cake, she was in paradise and of course she got to see her Molly. What more could a kid want...

Time Flies...

So we spent another weekend helpin Rachel move her house. The kids were a handful as usual, but Jessamyn and Logan (who are only 3 months diff. in age) really seemed to hit it off this time. Those two cracked us up. Logan who out weighs Jessamyn by like 15 pounds and several inches kept trying to hug her, she on the other hand had other ideas. She would try to beat him up several times, but he's a tank so he can take it =) They were dancing like crazy all day, it was so unbelievable adorable. Not much else going on in the McGhie household today.

Dancing Babies

Logan, Jessa, Maddie & Brooke getting their groove thing on!

Temper Tantrum

For everyone who thinks my kid is an angel... here you go...

Lunch Time

Amber, Robert & Morgan

It was another fun filled weekend of excitement for the McGhie's. Amber, Robert and Morgan came down from Las Vegas to visit us, well more accurately to help Rachel & Josh move from their Queen Creek House to their Gilbert house. It was a scorching hot day at 113 degrees on Saturday as we moved them, and attempted to keep 6 kids at bay, but as usual we had a great time. We managed to get just about everything moved but not unpacked and had time to enjoy some pizza and giggles as well. Spencer, Robert and Josh managed a little male bonding as well, ummm attempting to rearrange kitchens and what not. It is really fun to watch =) At the McGhie household we played a little morning Guitar Hero and then sent our family packing for the drive home. I don't think Jessamyn like that very much. She wondered around the house looking for her cousin for about an hour, it was kinda sad. It is still amazing how much alike miss Morgan and Jessamyn look. Anyway, all and all, a whole lot of fun!

Jessa's first book

OK, so I am definitely the proud Mommy! Today my little 18 1/2 month old read her first book. Now let me give a little bit of history. My child LOVES to read, we probably read about 2 hours a day. Her favorite books are her sign language books, Teddy Bear Teddy Bear, Five Little Monkeys and anything with animals in it. We read them over and over again and she never gets bored. Lately she has been trying to read along with me with her little babble words and we make up movements to go with any of her rhyme books. Today however she was curled up in a corner all by herself with one of her sign language books, which is not uncommon. I was kind of standing off to the side watching her and she put her little book in front of her on the floor and started doing the sign language that corresponded with each page she turned. Now I know she wasn't technically reading, but the we usually do those signs together and there she was flipping through the book doing each sign all by herself. Basically she was reading to herself. It was probably the most adorable proud moment of Mommyhood so far. I guess she is a little like me because I love to read too!

Spencer's 26th Birthday

So everyone who couldn't make it, sorry you missed out =) We had a fabulous party at Heather's house in Las Vegas. Between the good company, beer and pool there wasn't a moment missed. Spencer also got a nice little pelting with water balloons, which Jessa enjoyed throwing at her Daddy. We have discovered that Jessa thinks that she can swim without the help of anyone or anything. She managed to jump right into the pool without anyone to catch her. Don't worry her auntie Meg saw her going for the jump and grabbed her before she went underwater but man oh man she is soooo fearless. It was great to see all, well most, of our friends over the weekend.

Weekend of Fun

This weekend we had our first visitors in Surprise, AZ. Sean and Chanel joined us for a weekend of fun in the sun. We also celebrated Spencer's 26th birthday. Heck getting old ain't it. Much to Jessa's delight we had a BBQ at her uncle Jeremy's house where she got to do her favorite thing in the whole world. Swim! He has a huge blowup water slide with a pool and Jessamyn can't get enough of it. She spent a good 3 hours in the water and even then it was like pulling teeth to get her out. I guess we have a swimmer in the family. She is absolutely fearless in the water, although I had a few minor heart attacks along the way she managed to slide down the water slide all by herself. We got visit with our very large and loud family. The kids are all getting so big. We also celebrated Mac's 13th birthday, the first of my nieces to enter teenagerdom. Oh dear. We are all in trouble now. Zach and Tyler even managed to visit join us too. With Zach's busy golfing schedule it is hard to see them sometimes. Sean and Chanel also brought along their Golden Retriever "Molly" who Jessamyn is attached at the hip to. She followed poor Molly around all weekend, even attempting to ride her several times. Molly is a great sport though and took it all with a grain of sand. All in all we had a great weekend. I think we even managed to wear Jessa out, which considering her seemingly boundless source of energy, was a bonus.