The Holway Family

Gymnastics

Dance ended and they had an 8 week summer gymnastics class for the kids, so I thought it would be something fun we could all do (which it was, minus the no-air facility in blazing hot weather).

Mallory can't stop talking about and I can definitely see the benefit as far as motor skills and balance for both of them. I definitely recommend it for anyone considering.

Here are a couple pictures and a few (shaky) videos at the end.

Mallory Gymnastics Video

Jared Doing Gymnastics

It was pretty devestatimg to watch the state of Colorado go up in flames and not be able to do anything about it or be there to support anyone going through it. Just as things started to settle with the fire, my mom came to visit. The night she was supposed to drive in, we had the worst rain/wind storm I have ever witnessed. It left 85% of the state without power (luckily we were of the 15% that did), in the hottest days of the year. She ended up driving in the next morning and was luckily able to find gas a long the way.

The kids, Eric, and I had all just finished eating and I was going to take Eric's car to the grocery store while he took the kids home in my car. As I was standing there waiting for his key, tree branches started flying at me. I quickly got in the car and he got in his and we bolted, just as the power went out and umbrellas flew into cars everywhere in the parking lot.

As we were driving home, lights were out, people were in panic mode driving like crazy, and I almost stopped at one point to seek shelter as I thought I was going to be blown up and off the road. Stop lights were horizontal, stop signs blown in half, trees down everywhere. It was the craziest thing I have ever seen, let along driven through. Luckily, as I went to make my turn to seek shelter I had gotten just ahead of the storm and was able to make it home before it hit us.

Here is a picture of the pretty sky afterwards.

The neighbors trampoline (that was staked into the ground with 8inch stakes) ended up mangled in our backyard.

Huge trees had fallen everywhere.

The lines for gas at the few stations that had power were hours long, and by the time you got to the front they were out.

All in all lit was crazy, and power was out for most for 5-10 days, and just as they were getting power back, we'd get another little storm and knock it back out. It was absolutely crazy, and I'm very thankful through all of it that we have only ever lost power for 3 hours. We will be looking into a generator though, as working from home is difficult without power....

Clay Center and Fun with Grandma Lisa and GG

With my mom being able to work remotely now, she has been able to make more trips to see us. While she was here we headed to the mall for some shopping (of course!) and then to the Clay Center Museum.

Four Generations of Hands :)

A trip from Grandma is not complete with a trip to Build -a-Bear.

Thank you for everything Grandma and GG, we love when you come to visit!

First Family Golf Outing

I hadn't been golfing since just after getting pregnant with Mallory and I really wanted to go. We thought we'd give it try and bring the kids with is, and surprisingly it went pretty well. We have actually gone 3 times now, once with another couple. Depending on the pace of play in front of us, the kids are usually about done by hole 7 or 8 and we bribe them with hitting balls afterwards to get them to at least be quite the rest of the holes.

We pack a snack or activity for each hole, and the rules are you have to be quite, stay in the cart, and not get in the snack bag until they see the flag of that hole.

Afterwards they get to putt around on the practice green.

I don't think we could have ever gotten away with this in Colorado. I guess there are definitely some advantages to the laid back WV....

Jared's 2nd Bday

I was feeling really guilty that I didn't throw a party for Jared's second birthday, but I have come to terms with the fact that he wont remember and it really will be OK. I did bring donuts to his school and he at least got to celebrate it there, so I guess that counts somewhat. He even sniped one as we were getting out of the car. I have never seen a kid get caught and put it their mouth so quick.

That night we went to Olive Garden and he got a little ice cream sundae and that was it. A simple day for a simple boy....or at least I'll keep telling myself that. The whole way come we sang happy birthday to him and he would point to himself and say, "too me". He thought it was so cool we were singing to him.

I didn't get him any presents, but our neighbors are moving and I think passed on more toys than he could have ever dreamed of getting for many birthday's and Christmas's to come. We couldn't thank them enough!

And his favorite present of all was his car seat being turned around in the car. So excited over the littlest things :)

Happy birthday bub! We love you!

2 years 1 month and 4 years 5 months!

As a parent, some days are great and other days you wonder what you did wrong. On those days, I just head to Walmart and suddenly I start feeling better about my parenting skills.

Mallory has acquired quite the attitude lately. Luckily it's just at home and she is still the sweet angel to strangers, teachers, and friends, but wow, who knew age 4 came with so much attitude?

Jared has hit the "My do it, and Myself" stage. I think is one of the most challenging stages for me. I like to be fast and efficient, and letting Jared do it himself about tests every ounce of patience in me. It doesn't bother me when he can actually do it himself, but shutting the car door from inside and doing his car seat buckles, things he can't physically do, about makes me want to scream. I'm left with trying to find some way to deceive him to make him actually think he is doing it himself.

With that, he has really started with the tantrums. Luckily they are not the throw yourself on the floor tantrums yet, but boy does he get upset and it takes a lot of consoling to settle him.

The other day we were walking to the car and he did not want a hand in the street, so I forced a hand hold. The only way to console him was to let him walk just slightly back into the street and let go of his hand and let him take the last few steps. Did I mention I have been late to work about 10 of the last 14 days now??

I feel bad for our neighbors for having to hear me try and round the troops just to get out of here in the morning. Sounds something like, "Roscoe, get inside! Mallory, shut the door. Ugh, Mallory, let Jared shut the door so he stops screaming. Jared, get your shoes on! Jared, climb up in the seat. Jared, you are not sitting in the middle, get in your seat. Mallory, are your buckles on? Mallory, where are your shoes? Roscoe, get inside. Mallory, did you grab your snack. Jared, I did let you do it. Jared, I have to the do the bottom buckles." Ultimately everyone is crying by the time I pull of of the driveway, then the DVD starts and I can breath a sigh of relief for the next 30 min on the way to school. I don't know if this is how anyone elses morning goes, but I'm going to continue thinking that this is normal.

Alright, now onto the pictures.

We had some bananas that were going bad so we made chocoloate covered bananas.

I thought this was funny because I used to get made fun of for doing this. When I sleep I always had to be comforted by something tight against my hand, so I always stuck it right in the top of the elastic of my pants. I dont do it anymore, and Mallory has never seen me do it, so it must be genetic :)

Mallory has been quite the helper lately. It's nice that someone can help me put away dishes, vaccuum, and dust. I knew having kids would pay off :)

Mallory has also become little miss independent. She has to get herself dressed, do her own hair, and put herself to bed at night. Kind of nice, but I miss all the extra cuddles I used to get.

Jared loves to sing and dance, but he wont do it on camera. I snuck this video while we were in the car. Enjoy!

Jared Singing Rain Rain Go Away

Father's Day 2012

We were supposed to head back from Ryan's graduation early on Father's Day, but instead made a detour and met Eric's dad, brother, and sister in Columbus for a Father's Day breakfast. Since his Dad lives in Florida, it was a nice coincidence that Ryan's graduation was the same weekend.

I'm pretty sure it's impossible to get 3 kids looking at a camera and smiling at once.

Or two for that matter.

Eric, Lisa, Robert, and Ryan

Wait, did I actually get one with all three kiddos looking at the camera?

Once we got home, I took the kids shopping for a gift for Eric while he went golfing. Mallory misunderstood and thought we were shopping with Daddy's money, not for Daddy (wow, did that start at an earlier age than I thought), so we came home with some play dough....