St. Louis Zoo

Sam took Jack to the zoo on one of his days off. Jack had never been to the zoo before and I hated to miss it, but I couldn't fathom going and walking around. As Janeen would say, "I would need a jazzy chair" to get around. They had a wonderful time and were both worn out when they got home. Here are some pictures Sam took from the day:

Alligators

A break for Dippin' Dots

Not sure what this creature is

Fun in the Sun

Last week when I was having an okay afternoon, Jack wanted to play in his pool and sprinkler. It was so humid and hot (we didn't last very long). Here are some pictures of him playing. He ran from the pool to the sprinkler over and over. This first picture is really blurry because of condensation on the camera lens from the humidity, yuck.

Fishing pole around his neck

Got a little bit of grass on him here

"Emergency"

Sam was on-call for two straight weeks including weekends. Jack received a doctor kit back at Christmas that included a beeper. Jack needed to wear his beeper, too. Here are some pics of him and his "beeper". He walked around saying, "emergency, emergency".

Bye-Bye Paci!

Paci, Oh Paci. Why did you have to leave?

Oh but you knew I was going as soon as you turned three.

I know you're with a new baby - being put to good use.

Is that what your mama said? Sounds like a silly excuse.

Paci, Oh Paci, my naps will never be the same.

I understand, but I believe your mom is to blame.

Jack took his paci to the hospital labor/delivery floor and gave it to a new baby. Jack still took a paci at nap time. We wrapped it up in a nice bag and tissue paper. Here is our "ode to the paci".

Jack in the car ready to head to the hospital.

Jack on the elevator heading up to the 4th floor.

Jack trying to take the paci out of the bag (he didn't realize that the bag was part of the gift).




Jack watching the nurse take it down the hall to the mother/baby rooms.




All the nurses were just so taken with Jack. He took "Mater" and "Lightning McQueen" to show the new baby, but we weren't allowed to see any babies. He was okay with that. He was such a big boy.



In this video you can hear a nurse say, "you are so big" and he says, "no, I'm three".

Final Post from Our Lexington Trip...it's a good one!

Since I'm so sick I can hardly stand it, I thought now was as good a time as any to finally post my last video from Lexington. You can't hear what Jack comes in the kitchen to say because I couldn't get the camera turned on quick enough. But, what he says is. . .

"MY MOMMY HAS A BABY IN HER BELLY!" Enjoy watching everyone's reaction. This was at the beginning of his birthday party at Aunt Neen's house.

Since Jack found out that I have a baby in my belly, he keeps claiming to have one in his belly. He will walk over to me with his shirt raised and say, "I want you to see the baby in my belly". Yesterday, our neighbor walked over and Jack knew how bad I was feeling. He immediately told her, "the baby in my belly is making me sick". He's having a hard time with me being sick. He's not making it easy on Sam either.

Lexington's Triangle Park

I thought it would be a grand idea to take the kids downtown to Triangle Park (full of fountains) and take pictures. Madison had the great idea of them all wearing Kentucky T-shirts. Aside from several homeless people in the park, Jack pooping his pants and Nathaniel not wanting to be in the majority of the pictures, it was a great time and we got several good pictures.


The following two pictures give viewers some idea of how the entire evening went down.


Hilarious

I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE this picture. Checking out the fountain.

I believe this is when the aforementioned poop is occurring. I asked Jack if he would go sit by memom so I could take their picture, he said, "no, I pooped!"

Madison and Lauren were so good with the kids.

Running through the park

Jack and Nicholas mesmerized by the fountain

Madison and Lauren acquainting Jack with the water.

Waiting on the Melvin's to arrive.

Aunt Shee-sha was so valuable that evening. She watched our purses and I believe it was her idea to take pictures on the Rupp floor. Thanks, Shee-sha.

Madison and Lauren will love having this picture when they are older.

Rupp Arena

After Triangle Park, we went in to the civic center and tried to get pictures on the old basketball floor. UK has replaced the floor and put the old one just outside of the arena. This is major excitement for any UK fan.

The kids (can't believe we have all of them in this picture) doing the "Y". During basketball games, the cheerleaders spell out Kentucky and the Y is always done by a local celebrity. These don't quite look like "y's" but it was a good idea anyway.


Ready for tip-off! I guess Madison would be playing center.

All five again. . . wow!

Lexington Legends

The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team. We got tickets through our church. It was so hot so we didn't stay long. Nicholas was unsure about the female mascot, "Elle". He told Aunt Jen, "she's not allowed to come over here". When I asked Jack, "Is this fun or what?" He replied, "What". I think the heat had alot to do with the amount of fun. But, Jack does keep telling me that he's ready to go back to a baseball game.

The kids after the game, ready for ice-cream!

Just in Case You Think Your Kids Aren't Listening to You

Today Jack and I went to the bank and to Target. On the way home (which is about a 12 minute drive), I realized I had to pee really bad. I looked back at Jack and said:

"Jack, mommy really has to pee-pee bad when we get home."
He says, "Mommy, I don't want you to pee-pee in your pull-up. Mommy, can you hold it until we get home?"
Of course I go right along with it and say, "Yes, I think I can wait until I get home."
Later after about 2 minutes or so of silence, Jack says, "Are you holding it mommy?"

It was just so hilarious how serious he was with me. Just like I am with him. And, not to be too personal, but he often praises me after I go to the bathroom, "good girl, mommy", just as I am with him. He doesn't miss anything. Or he's just a great little mocker.

The Greatest Kid's Yard Ever!

One night we went to Gwen's house, an old friend of Aunt Jen's. She has a set of 3-year-old twins and an almost 5-year-old. Their back yard was unbelievable. There were ride-on toys, an inflatable jumper, just toys-toys-toys. Jack had his first popsicle (which he made a horrible face each time he bit in to it). I don't think he liked the flavor but he picked blue. We ate pizza and went in the house and discovered the playroom. Oh my! Jack found a big box of Cars characters. I wasn't around when he discovered it, but I heard his reaction was as though he had "found the Holy Grail."

Go-kart ride on

Bouncer

Jumping video

Backyard Fun at Aunt Neen's House

Cool Jack (takin' a break)

Juice break

Jack would rather follow and hold the tractor than ride it. This is where he's more comfortable.

Takin' a turn. He still wouldn't go too far. (Love the John Deere hat on backwards - so Kentucky)

Nicholas and Jack pretend "grilling". Jack loves his cousins.

Nicholas and Nathaniel

Aunt Neen, Nathaniel and Aunt Jen (before going on our sister night out).

The Never-ending Birthday

Jack is going to think that his birthday is not just one day but a couple of weeks. We celebrated at the Mall, with Granny and Grandpa Eugene, with Sam and I here in Illinois, then on July 19th at Aunt Neen's house. We had a big family party at the Melvin's. This was the "big" birthday party where he got his new toys.

I love the patient look on his face here

Nicholas, Madison and Lauren partying

And the winner is. . . remote-controlled "mater". I believe this was the favorite toy of the party.

Rippin' into his new Thomas toy.

The cousins (minus Nathaniel who never wanted to get in the pictures)

Serious business opening aunt Shee-sha's gift.

LEXINGTON VISIT (2 weeks of pictures to come) One thing I do know is. . .

I have great-looking nieces and nephews!

Madison and Lauren





Nicholas

Nathaniel

I have 75 digital photos and 48 disc photos to sort through so my Lexington posting will come later. Here is a preview of my precious nieces and nephews.