Shaver Lake Fun (New Year's Eve)

We headed to the snow for our New Year's Eve celebration with Jeff's oldest brother Chris and his wife Penny. Ashley his daughter brought a friend and we had a blast. This was Jackson's first time at the snow and all he kept saying was " can I taste it?" Jeff and I kept telling him "yes, but not the yellow snow!"

I do however have to say that we live in the best place! We may live in the valley, but this place was only an hour from our house. I don't know where you could live and be so close to anything. We could literally get up and drive to the beach for the day or head to the mountains or Yosemite for the day! We are truly blessed to live in such a great town and country!

Jackson stuck in the snow. He just sat there watching everyone make a sledding hill.
Jeff and Chris racing down one of the many hills!
I love this picture! My two boys having fun together.
Yes, Jackson and I went down together! It was small and just as bumpy as sitting in a car! No worries, I did just fine! But we did run in to a tree! LOL

We had an awesome time and the weather was perfect! I think we will be doing this again! If you all know Jackson, He was such a trooper and wanted to do everything on his own. He loved it and could have kept going. We ended the day with a snow ball fight until Penny took one to the face. It's always fun until someone gets hurt!

I just wish we did this before Christmas. I would have used one of these pictures for our Christmas cards.

Oh, and he made some yellow snow!!!!

Christmas With My Family

Our Christmas at my mom and step dads!

It's always fun with my family, we eat, laugh, catch up and eat some more! Everyone is growing up and getting married and having kids. Well, we are having kids! I think in five years this family will have a few more faces in it!

Jackson had a few more gifts to open. Mostly from grandma and grandpa and a couple from his uncle Scott and great aunt. He had a really good time running around and playing with the kids.
He got toooo much stuff. After we got home he played with it all, but after a couple of days we had to take it all away. Now he only gets to play with one at a time and I honestly think he's forgotten about a lot of them! Which is a good thing because I pull stuff out here and there and he'll have something new! This will all last until his birthday in March! LOL
I hope all of our family and friends had an awesome Christmas as we did!

Our Christmas

Our family Christmas was awesome this year! I think we went a little over board in the gift giving department, but what the hell! This year is actually the first year we bought other people and for one another! We usually just get Jackson a couple things and call it a day. I guess we felt a little more festive this year.

This is also the first Christmas tree we've had since 07. We have just been all over the place and never moved any of our Christmas decorations with us! So this year I went out! I have been deprived of all the festivities to say the less.

We left cookies out for Santa, but we didn't have anything for the reindeer's. I just told Jackson that they would probably be full by the time they got to papas house.
Jackson opening his gifts! I had a hard time uploading pictures for this posts so I will just have to tell you how much fun he had! LOL
Here he is opening the presents that Santa left him. He got a Helmet and a Radio Flyer 3 wheel scooter! He was asking for a skateboard, but I had to tell Santa to wait a few more years! Once he opened his gifts from Santa he didn't want to open the rest! I think this is a sign that those 2 gifts were just what he needed and nothing more! I am going to remember that and coordinate next year! Anywho, Jeff and I had to convince him to open the rest from us and Grandma B and Grandpa Art. Anyway, it all was done within an hour or so. It took a lot longer then I remember as a child.

I think one of the coolest gifts he got was a Tonka remote control car. It's the one that's 2 cars in one and when you hit something it flips and keeps going. Well, long story short. Our little French bulldog Bella thinks it 's the coolest thing ever. She chases it around biting the tires and barking at it. Well, I think she thinks it cool. Looks like she's having fun! Its been a great laugh for all of us.

Our over all family Christmas was great!

Christmas With The Blaufuss's

This years Christmas was celebrated with everyone! Usually we just go to my moms, but we seemed to be more relaxed and have a lot more time this year. Besides, it always seems that our families are so spread out and this year everyone was in Fresno! The only two people missing this year were Jeff's mom and step dad! They were on their way to Florida for a well awaited vacation/move!

We spent Christmas Eve at Jeff's oldest brothers Chris's house with his wife Penny and their two daughter Courtney and Ashley. Jeff's middle brother Gregg and his wife Lauren and their two boys Carter and Kyle were there as well. We had a really good time eating and visiting! I think the best part was hearing all the kids play! Lauren and I are both expecting so next years Christmas will be more fun and exciting with two babies crawling around!

My side of the family has mostly teens and no kiddos for Jackson to play with! So next years Blaufuss get together will be louder and more fun!

Jackson standing in front of Chris and Penny's beautiful tree!

Penny, Courtney and Ashley made all the little boys blankets this year! Jackson always has Jets on the brain so they made him a Jet blanket which he loves and we use all the time! It is so warm and we could have wanted anything better! We say it was made with love!

Thank you girls!
Here is the Blaufuss Family + my dad!

We had a really great time with everyone and can't wait for more to come!

Christmas Tree Lane 2009

Every year as a child and most of my adulthood my mom or dad took me down Christmas Tree Lane. I think we took Jackson down for his first Christmas, but can't really remember. Last year we weren't here for the walk down, but I do know that we did drive down the Clovis Christmas Lane.

So this year being that we have been here in Fresno for the last 3.5 months, we got to do it! Jackson would get excited over the smallest house lit up before Christmas, so I figured he would love this.

The tradition started in 1920 with the decoration of a single tree in memory of a child who died. It is also is one of the longest-running holiday events nationwide and 2009 was it 87th Anniversary! Fresno's Christmas Tree Lane has also made the Washington Post as a holiday tradition!

Here is Jackson standing in front of one of the million decorations!

He is totally digging the Santa thing this year!
Well, this is definitely the start to a good Christmas!

Guess What?????

It's a BOY!!!!!!!

13 Week Ultrasound

Here is our little baby! Moving around and as active as can be! I haven't been that excited about this pregnancy, but after seeing our little he/she I am getting that warm and fuzzy feeling I had with Jackson.

My girlfriend Ashley did my ultrasound and she thinks it a ????! I am not going to say until I have an ultrasound with Jeff and we will announce it then! So, until then you'll just have to wait!

So precious!

Jackson's Visit With Santa Claus

Last Thursday, Nicole and I took the boys to see Santa. The last time Jackson saw Santa was in 07. He was only 9 months old and didn't have a clue as to what was going on. This year was different. He wasn't to sure at first, but I walked up to Santa and kneeled next to him and started talking to him. This helped a lot and he pretty much climbed in his lap. Santa asked him what he wanted and Jackson said "a scooter and a skate board!" Little does he know that skate boards are for big boys and he's not getting one! LOL

Overall, he did a really good job and he actually wanted to keep talking to him! We even had to walk by a few more times so he could wave.

Merry Christmas to my little man! This Christmas is going to be so much fun! He is excited about our Christmas tree, but he hasn't seen all the gifts under it yet. I can't wait to see his reaction to that. He has already tried opening one of Jeff's gifts!

Oh well, he'll learn!

12 Weeks

12 weeks and 4 day! As of today 12-13-09 I am 13 weeks.

Everything is going good. I go to the doctor on Tuesday for a check up and will get to hear the heart beat again. Not sure when they'll do another ultra sound, but I am probably going to see my friend Ashley tomorrow. She is an ultra sound tech and has been wanting me to come in so she can look at my baby!

I am feeling so much better! I have my energy back and my appetite! All though I am maintaining the same weight for the last 4 weeks! This is a good thing because I gained 60 pounds with Jackson. So far, I have only gained 6! Wooo Hooo!

I will try to update after my doctors appointment and let you all know how everything is going.

If you are all wondering what I think I might be having! I think I am having a Girl! I am hoping for another Boy, honestly. We have everything for a boy and it would be a friend for Jackson. We will take whatever and we really don't care.

I did however have a dream last night that it was a girl. It was the whole labor and delivery dream, where I had her and was holding her. She looked just like Jackson as a baby and the love I felt for her was as if I were holding her in my arms right now. So funny how our dreams can seem so real.

Well, until then....

Baby #2 is on its way......

Yes, it is true! We are expecting another baby! I am currently 10 wks and 5 days pregnant. I will be 11 weeks on Sunday and can't keep it a secret anymore. Well, from some of you! Our family and close friends know, but wanted to make an announcement on our blog! Jackson is excited and asking to hold HER already! I keep telling him that she isn't ready to come out yet and I'm sure she wouldn't be much fun to hold. He says we are having a girl, but we'll just have to wait and see!

I found out on October 14th, 3 days before my birthday. Jeff was in Mississippi so I didn't get to tell him in person and see his reaction. I was feeling fine up till my 6th week and that's when the fun started! I am having better days now, but it comes and goes. I'm not vomiting, thank god. But I have been feeling pretty sick and I am just getting my appetite back. I do however feel different with this pregnancy. Jackson was a walk in the park and this one is just the opposite. I feel like I am 8 months pregnant do to the fact that I can only eat small portions and it feels higher already. Who knows, but I do know that I don't believe in all those old wives tales.

So here is our little one! 9 wks and 3 days! I like how my uterus looks like a heart!

The day I found out! 4 wks and 4 days!
8 wks and 3 days! Oh, and Jackson 2 years 8 months and a few days! LOL
We will keep you posted and we are so happy and excited to be adding to our not so little family!

Happy Thanksgiving From Mississippi

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Mississippi with Jeff. We flew back to spend time with him for this Holiday and finish packing up the house. We didn't cook this year, we ended up being guests at one of Jeff's classmates house this year. Dave and Kathee were great hostess and made us feel at home. They deep fried a turkey and made some of their favorite dishes and shared them with us.

Jackson insisted on wearing is too small of a hat, but he still looked cute!

Jackson and I watching Jeff and Dave play Rockband.
Jackson beating up the drums! He was so funny, he was head banging and sticking his tongue out. I think we have a rocker on our hands!
Jeff being a dork!

Kathee and Jackson getting water for the dogs! He wanted to help feed them, take them out to go potty and play with them. That was his chore for the evening.

We had a really nice day together. We went for a bike ride, park and watched the turtles in the pond before heading over to Kathee & Dave's. We had a good family day.

Hodad's

This place I found on the Food Network channel a couple of years ago. I have been wanting to go there and try their burgers for some time now. The Food Network channel said this place was ranked in the top 10 burger joints on the west coast! But if your from the west coast we all know who has the best burgers, right? Um, do you know who I'm talking about? Their colors are red, white and yellow. They have lots of palm trees around the property, have you figured it out yet! well, I was going to tell you anyway, IN N OUT burger! However, I am not an expert eater nor am I a food critic, but I do like food and Hodad's was pretty good, but I do enjoy an In N Out burger from time to time. The atmosphere was awesome and their chocolate malt was even better! I didn't get a picture of the burger, but I got a picture of everything else.

Jackson and Kathy in front of Hodad's.

Jackson and I sitting in half of a Volkswagen bus! This is where we ate our dinner and enjoyed the view!
Here the chocolate malt! It was ginormous and delicious! It was so big that we all shared it and didn't even make a dent in it!
Here is a picture of the restaurant. It's a seat yourself kind of place and everyone was really friendly. We even got the low down from some locals on what to order. I am so glad we got to try it!

I included the link if anyone wants to check it out! Definitely something good to eat if your in Ocean Beach, California!

http://www.hodadies.com/

Sea World

Jackson and I visited grandma Kathy and grandpa Art a couple of weeks ago. While we were there we went to Sea World, Hodads (I will blog about this later) and Phoenix to find a house for us to live in. Our first adventure was Sea World! We went at the best time of the year. At least for a 2 year old! There were a lot of rides closed, but he couldn't go on them anyway and there was hardly anyone there. It made it nice for him especially being able to walk and not get lost in a crowd. We went the day before Veterans Day and being that we are Military, I got in for free and Jackson's not being 3 yet, he got in for free too. It was awesome!

This was our first show for the day! Sea Lions and the ugliest Walrus I have ever seen in my life! Jackson liked it, but he seemed to like the Shamu show more.

Shark exhibit with grandma Kathy! I think this is a Great White Sharks fossil.

Sleeping Turtle
Grandma Kathy treated us to lunch with Shamu! Archie is his real name, but we called him Shamu. At the bottom of this picture you can see a table. That is where we were sitting for lunch. We had an awesome view and Jackson just stood on his chair the whole time during lunch watching him swim by and shake his fins at him. It was awesome! This is at the Shamu Show! We sat right in the front middle (soak zone) and got wet! Jackson didn't like it to much, but he got over it pretty fast after he saw them flipping in the air and the instructors swimming with them. I think this probably was his favorite part of the day.

We also got to touch the Dolphin and see a ton of other things. Polar Bears, Penguins, lots of tropical fish and sea urchins. He had an awesome time and I think this was by far better then anything we've done with him. Lots of learning and hands on for him. Thanks Kathy for sharing our day with us we had a great time!

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009 was the busiest by far! We had 3 Halloween parties, but only attended 2. We went to 2 Church Carnivals and the main event of Trick or Treating on Halloween night! It was all a success, except for the 1 missed event do to going to the doctor. I did however order Jackson's Halloween costume 2 weeks before Halloween and it was already to small. It's to bad, cause I know he would want to play around the house in it! O'well!!!!!

Here is Jackson and his buddy Carson before heading out to Trick or Treat!

Nicole is supervising while I was busy taking pictures. I think Jackson was trying to get more candy then he was given!
Jackson and his cousin Ashley riding the helicopters at one of the Church Carnivals we attended.

Jackson at Pump It Ups Halloween party. Most of you remember this place from Jackson's b-day party. They had the place decorated for Halloween and had pizza and drinks for the kids. He even got a goodie bag at the end! He loved it there! All of the employees were dressed up and there was one guy who dressed up as Dracula and Jackson thought he was just awesome. He followed him around like a little puppy dog! Crazy kid!

All in all it was an awesome Halloween!

Newton Halloween Party

Every year the Newtons have a Halloween party for the kids. We went for Jackson 1st Halloween, but missed his 2ND. This year we were able to attend and Jackson had a great time. They had awesome food and Jackson was the only boy as you can see! He wasn't to sure about the girls. They were screaming and actually being more rambunctious then him! LOL He stayed away from them for a while and just covered his ears, but by the end of the night he was on his way out the door with Tinkerbell!

Here are all the big kids!

Jackson and I
My little dinosaur

He had a really good time and thank April & Mike!

Now we are just waiting for Halloween night!

Pumpkin Patch & Pumpkin Carving

This year we are in California for the holidays and we are so sad Jeffrey is not here to be with us. I know it would be different if it was just Jeff and I, but Jackson misses him so much. I am sad that Jeff won't be here to actually see him ring a doorbell and say trick or treat. I know there will be plenty more, but it's just so darn cute at this age!

We went to the pumpkin patch with Jackson's cousin last week. They had a good time, but someone didn't get a nap that day and wasn't listening very well. I managed to get a couple good pictures of Jackson.

Jackson cleaning out my pumpkin!

The Blaufuss boys at the pumpkin patch.

My SIL and my nieces after we finished carving pumpkins.

Finished products of our labor.
Happy Halloween

California

Just an update on what Jackson and I have been up to for the last 2 weeks. Jeff left us on October 5 and went back to MS to finish up his last phase of training. We will give him his space and let him finish the hardest part of training so far! He started IFF (Introductory to Fighter Fundamentals) this past Friday October 16Th. When I talked to him he said the first day was just meeting everyone and a few briefings. He is looking forward to flying again and learning some new stuff. I will keep you updated on his progress and maybe he'll even get on the computer and give an update himself!

So here is our adventures since Jeff left us!

These last 2 weeks have been really busy since Jeff left. We have visited with family and friends and we have basically become gypsies! We stayed with my brother Jeff for a week after Jeff left. We had a really good time with my him and his daughter Olivia. We also stayed the night with Gregg and Lauren. I watched their 2 boys while they went out and enjoyed themselves.

Jackson and I went to the fair to see all the animals and eat some yummy fair food. He wasn't to happy when he saw the rides and we wouldn't take him on them. Oh well, he got over it fast enough when he saw the bubble gun. He was such a good boy that grandma bought one for him!

We were supposed to go to a Halloween party and pumpkin patch last Friday, but we didn't make it. We are going to the pumpkin patch tomorrow with Jackson's cousins Carter and Kyle. I will post those when I am near a computer next week.

This picture is of Jackson at my dads loving on my lab Chase. He is the best dog ever and lets Jackson ride him, jump on him and roll all over him! Chase is pushing 8 this year and the only thing he does is groan when Jackson smothers him! Chase is such a good boy!

Here Jackson is at my second cousins house in Kerman picking grapes off their vines. He got to meet a cousin who we last saw at a family reunion 16 years ago and he got to see all the other cousins who haven't seen him since he was 6 months old. He had a really good time wondering around looking at all the tractors, lizards that we couldn't catch, barn and vegetable garden.
I celebrated my 28Th birthday yesterday and had the best time with all my friends. It was so nice to see all of them and have a really nice dinner.

My mom and step dad kept Jackson last night so I could enjoy myself and stay out without worrying about Jackson. It was so nice to get a good nights rest and wake up when I wanted too! This is what they were doing when I arrived to pick up my little farm boy! We road a couple times and then it was time for a nap!

We are enjoying all the company and especially all the baby sitters! Everyone wants Jackson, so I have gotten to spend a lot of time with some friends and doing some things we don't get to do after becoming a full time mom. So, thank you to everyone who has made that happen. We have a lot of things scheduled for the next couple of weeks and I will update as soon I am near a computer.

To be continued...........