Videos of our outdoor adventures

I thought both of these videos deserved air-time. (Oh, the weeds all over the yard are just an illusion I created)

"Cool"

So much work to do - so busy.

Is anyone ever too sick to dance?

Jack had his first fever in 16 months this weekend (kudos to his immune system). Despite the high fever and coughing, he managed to cut-a-rug while the Tylenol was effective. When Sam and I would converse about him being sick, he would protest, "I am not sick". We watched alot of TV this weekend.

Prior to trapping Cubby in the corner, you can hear him say, "this is fun". (He obviously inherited Sam's rhythm.) He just recently started liking The Wiggles.

Pictures from our "sick weekend"

Gettin' sugars from daddy.

Charging the camera.

Havin' fun with my "thinking chair".

I think I might need to get a life (or a job?)

I had to tell on myself and what a dork I am.

Last night, basketball is on, I'm watching it, but something is nagging me. I have always thought that the voice of Click, the camera on "Go, Diego, Go!" sounded like Rosie Perez, so I decided to google it and find out. Sure enough, I was right. No, I don't stop there. I have also thought that the voice of Louise on "Max and Ruby" sounded like the voice of Michael on "The Little People" videos. So, I decided that I was going to investigate that as well. That was a little harder as the People aren't as easy to find. However, I did find out the name of Louise's character. I will just have to watch the end-credits when we watch "The Little People" next to find out if Michael is indeed Louise.

Now, lets remember that these are Jack's shows. This is no "Grey's Anatomy" or "Lost" characters that has consumed my curiousity. When Sam asked me what I was doing, I told him the truth, embarassed. I said, "I need a life, don't I?" He said, "You have a great life." He is right. I do.

Just Jack

I had to take this picture. I found these tractors "tipped". If anyone has seen the movie, Cars, they know that Lightning McQueen goes tractor tipping. Jack often plays out that scene of the movie.

Surveying the grounds in the back yard.

I just thought this was a precious picture.

Sam and Jack watching basketball. Regional semi-finals.

Do these Glasses fit?

Jack got these blue glasses in a "medical kit" he received for Christmas. They have always been a source of frustration because they don't fit his head. Today he somehow got them to stay on for a while. Bless his heart.

The Simple Life

I haven't posted anything new in a few days. I pulled out some pictures that I thought were cute that I've taken through the week.

The empty Easter basket has been a huge hit. We're putting everything in it; eggs, cars, sippy cups, books.

These are different clothes - a different day, but we're still all about the Easter basket.

What a great idea! Putting the lawn mower in the dump truck. (I love the eyes cutting over at me.)

Going from one end of the yard to the other.

Jack was an off-the-charts good boy today. He kills me.

Kentucky is Home

We're back and it seems that each time I'm planning this trip to Lexington, some hormonal force causes my brain to forget how hard it is to travel five hours one way, stay a week, pack and load and head five hours home. . . with a toddler (and a chihuahua). I'm tired.

Thankfully, Jack was a wonderful boy while we were in Lexington. I couldn't have asked for a better child (in terms of the child that is Jack). Although the trip was not relaxing due to the numerous children we have accumulated, it was so great to see my family. Jack had a wonderful time with Madison, Lauren, Nicholas and Nathaniel, and of course, memom, papaw, aunt Jen, aunt Neen and (kunkle) Casey.

Madison and Lauren are such great cousins; genuinely caring about the boys and genuinely wanting to play with them. Nicholas and Jack picked up their game of head nudging (I keep telling Janeen, Jack will always win that game). Mom cooked for everyone and provided her home for many of our "get-together-and-take-care-of-our-kids" gatherings. If it wasn't for the illnesses, (Jack had the runs a couple of days, Casey was sick, the boys had just gotten over the flu and still had coughs and runny noses, Lauren got a stomach thing, Don had what was likely the flu, I got a cold), who knows what else we would have done. But as Memom put it, "if we all got together and we were all healthy, we just better not get in the car and drive anywhere". Amen.

Kentucky Spring break...no Spring about it.

I love the eagerness.

Nathaniel turned 2-years-old while we were there. We had a Go, Diego, Go! birthday party. It's hard to believe he's a big boy now. He's got the melt your heart eye-lashes and award winning smile. That boy.



Jack is thinking, "yeah, I've got one of these garages fella's; I'll show you how it works later." (It was difficult for him to not think that every toy was his).

Can't you just see what Nathaniel is thinking...'hello, this is my party and my presents - back off.'

It's amazing that we got them all in one picture. Jack, Lauren, Nathaniel, Madison and Nicholas.

More of our Kentucky Trip

The weather was down right depressing most of the week. One day it was sunny (and very muddy), but we managed to be outside for a little while. Nathaniel spear-headed playing in the leaves.

Here Nicholas and Nathaniel are busy taking the pile of leaves from one area to another. Hard work that had to be done!

Poor Lauren was sick most of the week.

There is nothing more fun about having this many in the van all at once.

Madison, Jack, Nathaniel and Nicholas. On our way to Jigi's house from Ci-Ci's.

We're Off to Kentucky!

We're off to Kentucky for a visit. Jennifer, Madison and Lauren are on spring break so we're going home. Nathaniel is turning 2 and we have some partying to do as well. We'll be back next weekend. GO CATS!!

Home from School

Jack made a Leprechaun hat at school and got a four-leaf-clover beaded necklace (neck-a-ness as Jack pronounces it). He wore them all the way home and I was lucky to get this shot as he was running around like a wild man. He was ready for his chocolate cake reward for being good. He held the American flag during group time today.

Jack earned a chocolate Little Debbie cake with sprinkles on it. He shoved the second half completely in his mouth. Here he is trying to figure out how to get all the chocolate and icing off his fingers.

Still working. . .

All finished..mmmm-mm-good.

Decorating Sam's birthday cake

Getting the job done.

Jack put the sprinkles on and all the candles in himself. Some were upside-down, and he had a huge streak of chocolate across his face, but the job was completed.

A Conversation with Jack

This morning, I'm going through the drill with Jack about how to respond to certain situations at school today. He is listening and our conversation goes like this:
Me: "okay, now what do you say if a little boy or little girl comes near you and you don't want them in your space?"
Jack: "I don't want any girls in my space."
Me: "well, you're awfully cute, some little girl might want to talk to you or play with you."
Jack: "say excuse me please"
Me: "Or what else"
Jack: "no please".
Me: "that's great Jack. Lets have nice hands today."
Jack: "I don't want a little girl to come in my space."
Me: "But Jack, you're so cute."
Jack: "I don't want to be cute!"



What a face. Bundled up and ready for school this morning. Hopefully this will be the last of the hat for a while.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Trying out big-boy underwear

Full-body shot

I've mentioned before that Jack is leary of pull-ups. Our neighbor generously gave us some extra big-boy underwear (new), and Jack really wanted to put them on today... just not the conventional way. Here are some pictures of him in the play room with his big-boy undies on. The fact that toddlers think this type of thing is completely normal just warms my heart.

I love this one.

Momma's little helper

I read (long before Jack was a toddler) that toddlers want to help with chores and do things themselves. They want to be "mommy's little helper". Well, it's true. If I'm doing laundry, Jack wants to help... unfold it. If I'm dusting, Jack wants his own rag to help out. He's so persistent that he can do whatever I'm doing. We'll see how long he desires to help out with household chores. By the time he's old enough to do the job right, he won't want to help anymore - I'm guessing.

I Love my guys!

Just some cute pictures of Jack and Sam. Jack initiated snuggling with Sam on the couch while Sam was trying to get a cat nap. I guess Jack decided that he didn't want him to nap. I saw it as a great photo op.

Sliding at the park

He just doesn't know how good he has it.

A day at the Park

Okay, so as I type this, it's sleeting and snowing outside and about 30 degrees. Despite that, yesterday it was 70 degrees and sunny (and a bit windy). After church, we went to the park. We went to this same park in the Fall and Jack didn't want to have anything to do with the slides. This time, he was fearless! It was hilarious. No sooner was his rear-end on the slide and he was flying down. The steepest slide didn't intimidate him one bit. On the other hand, he wanted to swing in the baby bucket swings.

Memom visited for the weekend

Memom and Jack had a big time. Memom brought Bob the Builder stickers and hand puppets. They were a big hit. Memom and Jack made chocolate chip cookies together, played ball outside and blew bubbles. It was a weekend of fun. Here are some pictures that captured the weekend. (Memom also stayed with Jack while he napped so I could go out shopping. She also did some laundry for me - which was very much appreciated!) We really enjoyed her visit and can't wait to have her back soon!