I share a lot about our family… so I wanted to share this. Jordan’s Grandma isn’t feeling very good… So she needs prayers and love in whatever form you can think of. We love her very much and hope she feels better very soon.

I’m pretty sure we’ll never be able to recreate the amazing that came from 2011. Jordan’s year started at Disney World and ended happily with a post-birthday party high at home. What happened in the middle was amazing.

First, this website has grown along with our community on Facebook. It’s really an incredible gift to be able to talk to so many families.

Second, the trips we took this year are hands down the most awesome trips.

Third, the people we met in person and online are awesome. Our family had a chance to spend time with so many people… From our family to new friends we consider family to a non-stop growing number of Born Just Right families. Everywhere we go, there’s a chance to meet new friends.

SO… I couldn’t boil the year down into a simple blog post. The best I could do was go through my many, many photos and share them. (Also, don’t forget the beautiful photo collection of Jordan during her last month of preschool and our family photo shoot.)

(By the way, if you missed it, here’s Jordan’s happy new year wishes!)

I have a thing for taking the kids to see Santa… It’s cute and I’m running out of years where this tradition is exciting. Cameron has figured it all out… But he and I have made a pact to keep it away from Jordan for at least this year. So when we took pictures with Santa this year, we helped her put together a list for Santa (which she wrote in pink crayon). We had a quick visit and Jordan was very happy. Cameron was sweet and willing to give a couple of really great smiles.

I have a huge week of work to do… So unless something crazy happens this week, I’m going to have to disappear a bit from the site. I’d love to spread the word about Jordan’s birthday fundraiser. Today is officially a month before Jordan’s birthday and her quest to raise enough money to help two more kids attend Camp No Limits next summer. We’re madly in love with the experience. When we have a few moments, Jordan and I want to share a video with our thanks to the many of you who have already given to her campaign. We also have a couple of really big deal milestones this week… including our search for her next arm’s fabric design.

We wrapped up a wonderful celebration for Jordan and Cameron’s grandparents (and my in-laws). They are celebrating something that you just don’t hear about a lot these days: a 50th wedding anniversary. To add into the fun, the kids’ uncle brought his girlfriend and her awesome triplets who spent a super fun week with us in Maine earlier this year.

We kept everything simple: good food, friends and family. The day was beautiful and we got to play all day. The highlights included basketball, football and a lot of coloring with chalk.

When I first met Randy, we went on one of our first dates by visiting his parents’ house and attending a wedding together. I knew I had picked the right guy after meeting his parents. They are good and loving people. I’m honored to be a part of their family!

Happy anniversary Jone and Charles! We all love you very much.

I have a few traditions… I started them back when I had one child who was tiny and I wanted to get pictures of him for a family calendar. Now I have two kids, a popular and highly anticipated family calendar and an inner desire to have awesome pictures for it.

So last week I realized our Fall leaves are as good as it’s going to get… the crazy calendar-minded me wanted to the get the kids out into the leaves. I ran my furthest run ever on Sunday… 11 miles. While I ran I noticed so many beautiful leaves. I suddenly had visions of great photography moments. My plans to take pictures of the kids powered me through the run. (I’m less than two weeks away from my first half marathon.)

Later that day, my brother got into town for the week and I dragged him and the kids out into the leaves along our town’s nature/fitness trail. Unfortunately, the kids weren’t that interested in getting the pictures taken. I’m guessing it’s because I place WAY too much importance on pictures for that calendar. Here’s what I was able to take:

We decided at the last minute to go play in the water… not at our pool but at a water park that’s about an hour and a half away. We didn’t have time to spend an entire day there, but long enough for the kids to have fun and do things I’m pretty sure they’ve never seen before. I brought out my camera for a short time… Cameras and water do not mix very well. I didn’t want to make a horrible mistake and trash my camera or my phone.

Since I don’t have a ton of pictures, I’ll have to explain how Jordan was incredibly brave. I’m a nervous person when it comes to water and my kids. Neither are expert swimmers. So the first thing they do is play in a wave pool. Big waves, shallow pool. I wondered if they could handle it. I wanted them close to the entrance of the pool but they didn’t need to. They had so much fun jumping over those waves. By the end of the day, Jordan was floating through them. It was really cool.

Next up (after the super shallow kiddie area that Jordan wanted to at least try out) was a lazy river. Jordan sat on my lap as we checked out all of the other slide options. The first pick was a pool with lily pads you could leap across to get to some super fast slides. Jordan crawled along the pads and LOVED the experience. She also went down the slides and at least once swam all the way to the pool stairs by herself. I was so proud.

Then we grabbed inner tubes, climbed up the stairs to slide down and then enjoy a “roaring” rapids area. I was worried Jordan wouldn’t be able to hang on to the tube by herself. She’s skinny. She’s not that tall. I worried about her being able to hang onto the handles. My head was running through all the scenarios and felt nervous. But Jordan powered through. She hung on. She loved it so much, she and I went back down again while her brother and dad did something extra exciting that she’s not tall enough to do. I am proud of both kids for pushing past initial fear and having a lot of fun.

I’m seriously thinking about signing Jordan up for a new indoor swim team that’s getting started at the beginning of September. She’s becoming a good swimmer when she uses both arms. She wanted to work on her swimming in the pool today and her distance is increasing so much. It’s super exciting and I can only imagine how much stronger she will get with regular swimming year round.

But for now… It’s time to get back to school. Next week is her first full week of Kindergarten! I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes. She still has a very positive attitude about school and learning. (Thank goodness!)

Happy Fourth to everyone!! We hope you have a wonderful holiday. We had a great weekend so far. Jordan had a chance to spend time with her grandparents and her great grandpa, Daddy Junior. I swear, I would have given anything for my grandparents to have had a chance to spend time with my kids. Daddy Junior is 90 years old and incredibly strong. He was my inspiration in my recovery from ACL knee surgery. He worked and worked and worked his way back from two separate hip reconstruction surgeries on the same hp. He’s the most positive man I know. So as we celebrate our country and family, I hope you eat a little extra barbecue and drink a little extra iced tea in honor of Daddy Junior!

It’s a vacation Father’s Day!! I’m so thankful to have Randy in my world and especially happy to have him as the father of our two kids. They have picked up on all of the quirky personality traits that made me fall for him a long, long time ago. (Okay, not that long ago… but it’s been a while.)

I’m also super thankful to have two fantastic grandfathers and one amazing great-grandfather who we love and adore! We’re extra lucky to have my Dad here to celebrate the day with us in Maine.

Grandpa in Maine 2011

My favorite recent picture with Poppy

Hugs with Daddy Junior

I’m nine years into this mom thing… And I still can’t say I’m a pro at this, but I am honored to be the mom of these two kids.

This past week has been an example of just how crazy I allow my world to get because I’m a mom. Jordan and Cameron had baseball or soccer or dance or piano or something scheduled every day this week except Friday. So what I did I do on Friday? Did I rest? Nope, I had people over to the house. And that required a hasty house cleaning. That was followed by a Saturday that included Jordan’s t-ball game and soccer game. I had a meeting I needed to attend in between those two games. And afterwards we took family photos for a few hours. Insanity.

But it’s worth it. It’s worth giving my all to my family. But I’ll be honest. I’m super excited my mother’s day is unplanned and relaxed. So far, I’ve cuddled with the kids in bed and enjoyed a “tea party” with both kids in our tree house.

Of course, I wouldn’t be the mom I am without my mom. She showed me the kind of commitment she was willing to give her kids. Heck, she left her job to raise my brother and I.

I know she put in just as much heart and exhaustion as I do, if not more. I’m sad she doesn’t live close to us, but technology helps us connect as often as possible. The kids get to see her over my phone or computer on a regular basis. I’m lucky to have her to lean on, ask questions, complain and just chat with as often as I can. I am so lucky to have a mom who is loving and committed to me and my family. Thanks Mommy! I love you!! (And I’m shocked I found a picture of us together since I’m always the one taking pictures.)

I have to include my mother-in-law as well as a person who has influenced me as a mom. She has gone above and beyond the call of duty to offer support to me and the family before and after I became a mom. She retired not long after Cameron was born, so that has given her a little more ability to visit us in times of need (plus she lives 5 hours away which is super convenient). I can’t even think of how many dates Randy and I have been able to go on because she and my father-in-law were willing to visit us. Plus, she has shown me how I shouldn’t worry about all of the little things since I’m a working mom. She’s okay with a messy house when she visits if the kids and Randy are happy. There’s never been a time when my mother-in-law has said no when we needed help. (Of course I couldn’t find a recent picture of her and I, so I found one of her and Jordan.) I’m so thankful for her love!! I love you!

I’m also thankful for the influence I have from so many women who have given me the confidence to be the mom that I am today. I hope all moms everywhere have a wonderful day and enjoy the family time!

I’m thinking about taking a nap.

We are on a whirlwind holiday tour. We tried to cram a full Christmas celebration with Randy’s side of the family in 36 hours. So we told the kids we were having a “Mini Christmas.” it was anything BUT mini! The kids got to spend awesome time with their great-grandpa (Daddy Jr.), grandparents and uncle. We had a great group of visitors who all visited with unexpected gifts. We played a lot of basketball, climbed trees and got to visit a neighbor who puts on a heck of a light show in his yard and dresses up like Santa. We had a ton of fun other than Jordan deciding to hide my wallet long enough we though it was gone. But 12 or so hours after that revelation, I’ve forgiven her. We’re ready for our next holiday adventure!