pool princess

Give this baby gal water, and she's set.

She's pretty much the princess of our pool.

playmates

When Brad and I decided to space the kiddos out three years, I was worried they may have a hard time learning to play with each other.

I'm glad they've already proved me wrong.

Fin even lets Jacks tackle her. She's going to be the toughest chick on the block, guaranteed. :)

Here they are playing in the "fort". A staple of our living room that I can't keep either one of them out of.

shhhhhhh

At this exact moment we should be on our way.

On our way to a surprise weekend getaway I've been planning for Brad and I.

But shhhhh...don't tell him!

More to come :)

fight of the nuk

I never thought I'd have a "nuk baby". Jacks never took to one, and in my opinion, it was one less habit to kick later.

Enter Fin Fin Chick Din.

She's obsessed with a nuk. She can go all day without one, but once she spots it, it's like separation anxiety until she pops it in her little chops.

Brad likes to tease her with it...and let me tell ya...she's a tough cookie.

Here they are, fighting over that darn piece 'o plastic...

Baby gal always comes out victorious.

piggies

Is there anything more adorable than precious pink piggies on a sleeping baby gal?



I didn't think so.

hair snips

Jacks was in serious need of a hair cut.
Serious.Need.

Now, yes...I know his hair is short already, but this kid has the craziest hair.

The kind of hair that needs to be kept high and tight or it turns into a 'fro, just like his Mom...{side note - thank GOD for flat irons}

I think you can see that 'fro starting to curl up in the front??? Yeaaaaaaah.

Instead of having it cut, I decided I could just trim the back myself.

Since my point and shoot was still in the bathroom from taking tub time pictures, he thought it would be appropriate to capture the moment.
I, in turn, think his cute little pecs should be blogged about.

Even Steven.

stranded

The boys went to a movie this weekend..

I think someone noticed she was stranded with Mommy.

pedis with the sissies

morning pedis + yummy lunch + gorgeous little sisters =
the perfect start to a great day

capital F.U.N.

I'm not sure what Jacks is going to do without his summer playmate...

We LOVE having Kip around this summer.

We're not ever going to count down the days until she leaves.

{tear}

did you see that?

Tuesday night, Fin was playing with Wrigley, my sister's dog.
While Jess, Kara and I watched, Fin did something that left us all saying "Did you SEE that!?"
She stood up without holding on to the pup...

Last night while we were playing outside, I actually caught the brief moment on camera.
I only had my point and shoot with me, so the picture isn't great, but none-the-less...

DO YOU SEE THIS??

mini {part deuce}

Remember this post I put up about a year and a half ago?
Everyone kept telling me Jacks was Brad's Mini-me, so I had to prove I AM his Mom.

Well, round two. Everywhere I go it's all "She looks so much like her Daddy!"

Well, people...what do you think.

She might be mine too.

{Mommy}

{Finley}

while mama's away...she likes to play

I know I've said it before, but I have some of the best girlfriends a girl could hope for. My wish for Finley is since there are no sisters in sight for her, she can share that sisterhood in girlfriends like these.

About three times a year, we try really hard to get together. Sometimes we bring the boys, sometimes we bring the kiddos, but this time...it was all about the girls. We had so much fun, as we always do together, but this weekend was especially fun. I haven't been feeling well lately {I found out I have an ulcer, but all is good} so I was moving a bit more slow than usual, but it certainly didn't keep any of us down or off of the dance floor!

{Uh huh, we still got it....YEAH RIGHT}.

I think we're at the age where there will always be someone pregnant, but I think I'm safe to say even Preggers had a good time!

{the human highlighters}

A little touristy stop...

Trying to cool down from the heat.

At Improv Olympics...I laughed so hard I had tears... And on our way home. Although we did leave the babes behind, Parker spent the weekend in Milwaukee with Darcy's parents, and we helped her fly with him for the first time. He was a champ!
And how cute is this??

Hanging out on Carissa's baby bump.

Thanks to my besties for such a fantastic weekend!

a new buddy

While Kara has been living with us this summer, our kids have gotten to know her so much better.
Fin lights up when she walks into the room, Jack is trained to give her hugs on command.

But I think Jacks has made another new buddy...
Kara's boyfriend Brad. {Yep, try having two of those around the house!}
He came to visit this weekend, and Jacks wouldn't leave him alone.

Jacks convinced Brad to watch Wipeout with him, and promptly asked Kara to move so he could sit next to Brad.

Although I'm fairly certain he didn't share any of the candy I brought him home from Chicago {more on that later}.
Simply Adorable.

teef

Baby gal has teeth. Or as Jacks would say, "teef".

She took them like a champ. Just a few nights of crying, but nothing a little Tylenol couldn't take care of.

We were shocked she got them so soon {Yes, I know 7 months isn't early}. At her six month check-up, her ped said she would be walking before she gets teeth, so I stopped checking daily like I had for two months.

Enter a night when all of my sisters babysat my kids. Yes, all of them - Jacks was in heaven.

Jess called to ask if I had already given Fin Tylenol. "Tylenol? For what??" "For her teeth."

Fail.

Baby gal had teeth and I hadn't even checked.

And on another note, she has officially turned the age that grabs for the camera. The days of the sit and shoot are over. :)

the graduate

Tate graduated from Kindergarten this year. As my sister has mentioned, he refers to himself as "Tater Tater First Grader".

Why does this make me want to throw up? That he is growing up to be such a handsome, smart and thoughtful young man? That he is embarrassed when his Aunt wants to give him kisses in public? Isn't this the same little guy that would let me put barrettes in his hair and wear my necklaces around before Avery came into our lives and it was appropriate??

Man, he is going to steal some hearts, isn't he??

Fin Fin giving Beckett some love...

At least he'll still let me take cute pictures with him!

THIS right here. THIS is my favorite picture from the day. Jacks is convinced that he is a Newman. He is convinced that they should do nothing without him, and so when they were getting a "sibling" picture, can you tell he is also convinced he should be in the picture with them??
And we're so used to these oh my god I'm so embarrassed tiny meltdowns, I take a picture of it and Newman doesn't even flinch. Some day I will want to remember this, right? RIIIIGHT??

fourth

Happy 4th of July!

Love, the Hoversons

:)

the zooooooooooooooooooo

We had been talking about going to the zoo for AGES. Yet every time we had a free weekend, it poured. Jacks waited probably 6 weekends, and finally it was a nice day, so we packed our picnic and went.

We have been to the MN Zoo more times than I can count, but we had never taken Jacks to Como. It was a fun change of pace for us. It did end up raining in the afternoon, but I had B take Fin into a shelter while Jacks and I played in the rain.

When we got there Jack ran in yelling "The ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
It was such a fun day, and it's days like this you're really reminded of how great a little family can be.

With my favorite animal of all time...

Like the "road rash" between Pete's eyes? That would be from running into the steps on the deck the day before.
{Yes, that is possible to do.}

I love this picture. Jack's face makes me laugh.
And Fin looks pretty concerned that the monkey may actually be real...

No, Fin..we won't bring another monkey into the house.

first rides

About a month ago, Jacks and Fin both got their first horsey rides at Braxton and Brielle's cowboy birthday party.

Jack was excited for almost two weeks in anticipation of the big event.

Fin may not have known what was going on, but she looked just as cute anyway :)