Monday, June 30, 2008

Lexington - (it's about time)

Well, it's taken me too long to get a new post up. I've been really busy lately. I was in a wedding in Northern Ky. I went to Lexington early so that I could get Jack settled before leaving him at Memom's for two days/nights. We did alot of playing with Nicholas and Nathaniel, they played so well together; shaping up to be big buds.

After needing several days to recover from all the traveling and moving around (Belleville to the townhouse to mom's to N. Ky hotel - back to mom's then back to Belleville - ugh!), we had a party at our house to welcome the new residents starting in July. I needed a reason to get my house nice and clean.

Enough excuses. Here are some pictures from our trip to Lexington:


He kills me in these pictures. He's so big. Aunt Neen bought him a new lawn mower. Here we're heading out to play with Nicholas and baby Nate.
Playing cars nicely together.



Watching TV


Baby Nate's reading Thomas on the concrete outside. I don't think he wants his picture taken.


Nicholas takes cutting grass very seriously. He "mows" with Uncle Casey all the time; follows right behind him with his own lawn mower. Here he's on his tractor doing a once-over on the back yard.



Aaahhhh. . . peacefully watching TV and enjoying Memom's "special" cookies (as Jack calls them). They look like they're watching us land on the moon for the first time :)


Monday, June 16, 2008

Home Repair Stories


Our house is still under warranty as it is just under a year old. We have all of our end-of-the-year repairs being done today by different contract workers. I gave Jack plenty of warnings that there would be lots of men in and out of the house today. He was excited and called them all, "men". "Hi men" he would say. When they would leave, he'd say, "where'd the men go?". One of them came while we were playing "cars" on the front porch. This is what Jack said when we had to come in the house:

"Is that man NOT going to play with my cars on the porch?" and then later, "Is that man NOT going to eat lunch with us?"

Okay, so then later on I have a man in the house fixing nail-pops. He is on a ladder and Jack is giving him the play-by-play of what he's doing. "I'm reading books with my mommy", etc. Then Jack grabs my hand and starts grunting and pushing (we all know what he's doing), face red and all. When he's finished, I'm thinking to myself, 'oh gosh, I hope he doesn't share this tid-bit'. Well, as soon as the thought was out of my head, Jack is walking over to the ladder and looks up and says, "I pooped". I was really embarrassed (you know since my child is the only one on earth that poops). I give him a few minutes to make sure he's done going #2 and quietly tell him we need to go change his diaper. On the way up the stairs, Jack tells the man, "my mommy is going to change my poopy". Lovely.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Ahhhh......the Corn! (try sounding like a Pirate when you say it)

Jack had corn on the cob for the first time the other night. He was so proud to have corn with handles. Here are some great pictures I managed to get and a video at the bottom. (He's so country).




Big bite!



This is one of those instances when Jack puts food on his face (yogurt here) to make us laugh. Just sits there like this until we notice.



"The corn tastes good for me".

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Supermarket Sweep!

Niko came over the other night and Jack had his grocery cart out. Amy had to run home and get Niko's cart (this is how it works with toddlers). They ran around the court like maniacs with their grocery carts. I looked at Amy and said, "it's like they won five minutes in the grocery store, they're runnin' around grabbin' whatever they can". Sam perked up and said, "yeah, that gameshow, 'Supermarket Sweep'!

Swappin' grocery items



Look at 'em go. . .



Trading out more items


Aaaahhhh. . . playing nice together.


Monday, June 9, 2008

Weekend With the Boy Cousins


Janeen, Casey, Nicholas and Nathaniel came to visit us for the first time as a whole family. It was tons of fun. The boys got along so well and just had a blast! Jack was so happy the entire weekend and did so well sharing all of his toys.


Nicholas looks as though something may be bothering him here. This picture is priceless. I'm sure it will go in the archives and come out about the time when they start dating.



Baby Nate climbing the curtains.


Playing "coffee" in the baby pool with bowls and a pitcher.



Here they're playing "restaurant" and Nate is the waiter. (such a crack up)


Little blonde studs


Busy playing in the playroom.


Pool time!


"Kuncle Casey" (as Jack says), Nathaniel and Nicholas at the pool.


Drying off with Aunt Neen. What a great weekend!


Tuesday, June 3, 2008

The Good Things About Living Away from Home. . .

Jack was sick all last week. When he was finally well, we gave him the option of going to the pool or going on a train ride (the metro) to see the Gateway Arch. He chose the Arch. He was psyched about the train ride, then immediately upon entering the train, he was "ready to go back to the van".


Look at the lip


The Arch


We saw all sorts of sights at the Arch (this guy was truly snoozing)

Jack is the little blue speck in the grass.




Jack and Sam looking at a helicopter flying over the river.



View from the park trail



MORE ARCH

Sam and Jack right by one of the arch legs



On our way to find some lunch downtown (next time we'll take a stroller)



After lunch, on our way back to the train (Jack was getting tired)



I love the look of contentment on his face here, he was so proud to be on daddy's shoulders.



The train ride home was all smiles - no longer scary



Monday, June 2, 2008

"Toot-Toot, Chugga-Chugga, Big Red Car"

Jack is usually shy about singing in front of anyone, let alone on camera.