Fun Thanksgiving

We enjoyed a busy but fun November. The highlight was our trip to Nana and Papa's house in San Diego for Thanksgiving. It was our first long trip with Jacob. He did great!! My children generally don't like to be strapped in their seats for any period of time, they are all movers, so 7 hours in the car is a challenge. Movies, snacks, books, and car games seem to help a bit, I think I will invest in some ear plugs however for our next trip!!

We have made some big changes lately that we hope will improve our families quality time. For the first time since having kids I am not working at all. That's right, I am now a FULL TIME mom, whew hew!!! I miss my job at our church, especially the people I worked with, but being home with the kids has been incredible. It is the hardest, most frustrating, selfless, funniest, most rewarding time. Being the one and only care provider is exhausting work, but one that God commissioned me to do and I gladly accept. Lord God, give me patience and wisdom to train up these kids in the way they should go.

We are preparing for the changes that lie ahead. Losing an income, no matter what size brings change. Please pray we keep our eyes on the One who provides and our ears ready to listen and act on His word.

Daily life in our home is well, life lived. Loud, wild and crazy, toys everywhere, laundry always waiting to be folded and put away, dishes never ending, running, laughing, and having fun. Come join us if you get the chance, we'd love to have you!

Fall is in the Air

loving the cool weather, riding bikes, playing at the park, and spending time outdoors with friends. james has decided soccer is not for him and really wants to play football, yikes! julie wants to get earrings like mommies except she wants pink. jacob is already sitting up in a seat (thanks Cherie for the loan) and playing in his exersaucer. please, please someone make them stop growing so fast!! enjoy the pics of our sweet kiddos!

Fun Family Times

The end of summer brought a new family member, a camping trip, new skills, and lots of new possibilities. We are enjoying life so much with baby jacob and are trying to cherish every moment together.

James started his 2nd year of preschool and is doing very well. He is very interested in learning how to read and Mommy is all to happy to teach him! He also is participating in his first organized sports team playing soccer. What fun it is to see him chase after the ball and try to make a goal. Though he enjoys it, he is much better at golf so far. This summer brought James another first, fishing!! He, caught his first fish while we were camping over Labor Day. It was some good eats! The most recent, as of last night, James is now riding his bike free of training wheels. Wow, he has had a good year so far!

Julie girl is just the most fun. She is rough and tough because she needs to be, but also so sweet and loving. So loving that I can't leave Jacob alone with her for fear that she might smother him with love. She too has learned to ride her tricycle this summer and has become quite a mommy to her babies. She is talking very well now and will let you know what she wants! We hope to start her in dance class soon as she sways and prances around the house, so cute. She insists on having pigtails each morning and has to pick out her bows to go with her outfit. I don't know where she gets that. What a sweet little girl God gave us.

Jacob is a great baby!! He is almost 7 weeks now and is smiling like crazy. I just can't get enough of him. He is a tank at over 12 pounds already and so long, he might be a basketball player. He sleeps great and wakes happy. Truely a blessing to have him in our lives. He did great on his first camping trip and loves being with his brother and sister. We just love that little guy!

Josh and I are busy with work and our ministries at church. We can't believe that we are coming up on our 10th anniversary already. What a life we have been given. So thankful for our many blessings!

Baby Jacob has arrived!

We are now a family of 5, wow!

Jacob Dean Watney was born August 1st at 3:20am


All 3 of our kiddos weighed in exactly the same, 8lbs 1oz, how crazy is that? Jacob is the longest by an inch measuring 21 1/2 inches.

He looks just like big brother James and has the sweetest temperment so far. He eats like a champ and I think will rival James as our family "Michelin Baby". Julie just loves her new baby and always wants to hold and kiss him. She is a great little mommy!

We are loving every moment with our little man and are learning how to run a "zone" defense as parents who are now out numbered! We are truely amazed and blessed beyond measure.

No need to say it... I stink at this blogging thing.

Read below for family updates.

James is now 4. He has been anticipating his birthday for months now. He and Julie will share a build your own pizza party on the 9th, can't wait. He still loves all trucks and cars, but fire engines seem to be his favorite. He practices putting on his "fireman" clothes daily and races around the house with anything that could be used as a hose to put out the fire. So far he's used a rope, my bath robe tie, a golf club grip, daddy's belts. He will be getting a play fire extinguisher from us at his party!! He enacts many animals and loves to pretend play. James is our spirited child. :)


Julie will be 2 on the 27th and my what a roudy, loud, and oh so loving and sweet girl we have. She is talking up a storm, and is very particular about where things go. She will find a piece of lent or something tiny on the floor and say "oh no mommy" and quickly go throw it away. Can you say, future helper!! She has learned to like her "babies" and all stuffed animals, but still just loves playing cars with James. With a baby brother on the way, she'll have to play with the boys.
Josh is currently studying for his insurance license. He has been offered a position at New York Life and God willing he will start there full time in June. He works so hard to provide for our family. He has lots of golf tournaments upcoming this month and continues to lead a ministry team at our church. Can you say all star!?

I am doing good, well I guess I am more surviving. I have been working 2 part time jobs while caring for 2 kids, keeping up with the houeshold duties and growing a new life. Needless to say, I am ready to relax and I can't wait to rejoin the land of the living!!! I look forward to days at the park, coloring, playing hide 'n seek, building forts, helping in James' class and anything else I can squeeze into the day with my kids.

Our biggest news of course is the anticpiated arrival of our third child,

Jacob Dean Watney.

We finally settled on a name. In fact, James has been calling the baby Jake since he found out we would be a family of five. We all can't wait to meet him later this summer!

Happy Fall!!

Hi all,
We are all doing well and loving this fall weather. Enjoy the pics!

Fun at theFresno Fair!

Pumpkin picking time!!

Our little fireman and ladybug!

We had a great time trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with Aunt Tara. She dressed up too! Take a look....

Thanks Tara, love you!

It's a new year!

Things are changing again for the Watney family. Dad is searching for a new job, mom got a new job, James entered pre-school and Julie is talking with several words. Read below for the highlights!

James-

Yes, its' true, I was fighting back tears as I watched my little boy walk from his table to the rug to listen to a story read by his teacher Mrs. Jackie! James' first day of pre-school was on the 26th of Aug. and it went very well. All of the parents stayed in class for the first 30 minutes and then were asked to leave to attend the parent orientation meeting. James took a look around to find me and as is our tradition, we blew each other kisses and said our I love you's and off I went. It was a huge relief to me for James to be so comfortable in his class! Though he didn't talk or play with any other kids on the first day, I know it will only be a matter of time before he makes some new friends! He loves school and can't wait to go again.

Julie-
It's apparent that she is going to be a tom-boy. Though she has dolls and girlie toys, they rarely get touched. She much prefers to play with cars, tools and copy anything her brother does. She absolutely loves to dance, did I mention she rarely sits still. I have yet to get through reading one book to her because she just does not stop moving! She loves to give kisses and blow on your tummy and she is addicted to shoes. She wants them on at all times and will even bring me my shoes from the basket so I can wear them too! She says several real words now and continues to "talk" all the time even though much of it is undecipherable. It won't be long now!

Josh and Shannon-

We are experiencing something new, job changes!! Josh is searching for a job that can provide financially for our family but one that allows him to be with us a bit more. Please pray for the right place for him!! I accepted a job at our church, The Well. With such rapid growth, we are launching several multi-site locations. The teaching will be through video but everything else will be live, so..... I am the new Kids Connection (nursery-6th grade) Coordinator for one of our sites. That means I organize all of the volunteers, do the scheduling and make sure all of the curriculum/materials/etc are ready each Sunday. The best part of my job is I can do all of this from home!!!! No more babysitters, lots of tears and being missed. God is sooooo good!