Walk for ALS

We were able to go to Arizona for fall break. As I've posted before, Kirk has ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease since fall of '08. While down there we were able to participate in an ALS walk for cure event. It was such a fun experience and great to see the support for Kirk.
We did the full 5k walk and Jackson got tired toward the end so he hitched a ride on the motorized chair they provided for Kirk.
Hunter needed a little snack during our walk and the only thing available was trail mix with melty M&M's. Looks delicious doesn't it?
The cure as they came to the starting line



We got to see the Suns' Gorilla at the starting line. Caden was cool with it but Jackson was a little freaked.

Happy Birthday Caden

He had several birthdays this year. One with just our family, Grandma and Grandpa's, Nana and Wardy's, and then back at home with his friends.
Caden and Jackson got pirate costumes from Grandma and Grandpa. Jackson had the courage to put on the eye patch and the subsequent scary pirate face.
"X" marks the spot for a pirate treasure hunt. Had to soak the ground for while just so I could chip the concrete dirt deep enough to cover the little treasure.

As a little brother you either want whatever your older brother has or know just what buttons to push to irritate him. In this case, I'm pretty sure it's a little of both. Jackson is such a teaser.
We gave him a video game for his birthday, which he was pleased with.
Jessika made him a cake and I tried to make it a batman cake. Not bad, could be worse. The bottom line was the boys loved it.
Happy 5th birthday buddy! We love you so much. Jackson is trying to take out as many candles as he can.

Random photo shoot

I took this picture with the room pitch black. Jessika is "putting" the kids to sleep. Well, it happens to both of us but this shot was just too cute.
This was a little photo shoot we had the other week. Jessika was providing the comic relief and was winning them over big time, especially Jacob .

Flag football

3 straight years of dominance! The PT Dominators came through with another great season of success as we again dismantled the Med School students in the championship. That's 3 straight years of Med School vs. PT School for the championship. This year was interesting because of all the snow that fell the night before and that day. We had to play two games that day because the fields were scheduled for something else the next week. We were able to invoke the "mercy rule" on our semi final game (we were up like thirty something to 6 in the second half and the officials ended the game with 12 minutes left because there was no sign of change.) The final score of the championship game was 19-13.
This is Jackson at a game earlier in the season.
What a kid can do with a stick, volumes can be written.

Jacob's birthday

Bottoms up.
He loves to eat! He'll try anything we put in front of him. If he likes it he wants more and more and more. He eats just as much as the other boys and sometimes better.
All the boys are trying to blow out their respective candle. It was pretty funny to see Jacob try and get his candle when he blows straight down.
This was a portable/flexible tunnel that he learned to crawl through. He was really hesitant at first but Jackson was willing to show him there was nothing to fear.
He had a fish birthday so we had some games for him to play.

The First Haircut

This is the first time ever that scissors have been brought to his hair. I am thinking to myself do I really want to do this. I really don't mind combing his long locks after the bath and brushing through his snarls. Truth be told, he does not need to be looking like a girl any longer. No more clips, and pony tails any more.
Grandpa Jones was the lucky one to hold Jacob while he gets his hair cut. Lets just say they both were covered in hair.
Jacob kept looking in the mirror and giving kisses.
Jacob really was good didn't cry at all. I kept feeding him pretzels and giving him things to play with.
Here he is! Who is this boy? He can now see his little world. Look at his shirt, he was covered in hair. Our stylist did a great job. I think he looks so grown up.

Kirk's Vignette

This is a video that was done to help create awareness of ALS during the ALS telethon. It was really well done. Have a look.

Lehman's Caves near Ely, Nevada

These caves were the most amazing caves I've ever been in.

The formations inside were very artistic and beautiful.

We were able to have some lunch before our scheduled time in the park near by and take a family pic.

Kirk's first pitch!

The MLB had an ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease awareness month in July commemorating the day Lou Gehrig announced his retirement from major league baseball.

The Diamondbacks held their awareness game July 11 and invited Kirk (Jessika's dad) to throw out the commemorative first pitch.

Considering Kirk's history playing baseball (college

and minor leagues), being a season ticket holder since the first opening day of the D-Back's organization, and his current diagnosis of ALS it couldn't have been more appropriate.

It was an amazing night!

Of course Jackson wanted to get in on some of the action. When Grandpa took the mount he took off! I was behind the camera with my telephoto lense when I saw Jackson in the frame. When I took the camera down I saw Jessika was already on her way. I thought I would refrain from chasing after them and making a bigger scene, but it was funny to see Jessika, Jacob in tow, trotting after Jackson.

This was Jackson before the pitch. He's such a socialite! He'll talk to anyone. These were people in those amazing seats between home plate and the dugout. I was hoping Jax could score us some tickets.

Jackson was just soaking in the scene. It was a fun night with great representation from Kirk's family and friends.

Jackson's tooth

We're at the ER cause caden pulled Jackson off a coffee table at the
library and he hit his tooth on the arm of the couch. Now we're
waiting for the doctor to see what to do.

4th of July Rodeo in Oakley

Nana and Wardy came up to visit us and attended the Oakley Rodeo. It was a great show the kids had a good time with it. It did get a little cold, even though it's July.