so much to catch up on...

The past month has been so crazy that I neglected blogging, and I'm sure, all of my many adoring fans out there. Apologies to you few! I'll post more on why it's been so crazy the next time around, because this post is dedicated to the cuteness that is Jack. He has become so much more of a helper lately and an independent little man- I never cease to be impressed by him.

Here is Jack helping with the laundry. I gave him the full laundry basket, and he knew just what to do with it:

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Here is Jack helping Daddy mow the lawn. (I know his dad really appreciated it!)

Here is Jack showing me how a bike is meant to be ridden. (note: I originally tried to put him on his attached toddler seat so I could ride the bike, but he knew where the better seat was and insisted on sitting THERE)

We went around the block like this- me balancing the bike while he cruised. I am thinking it's about time for his own tricycle.
Jack demonstrating how to swipe a credit card.
Jack using the "credit card" (I don't think I'm quite ready for him to master this skill)

Jack showin' how it's done, miniature golf style.

While golfing, after I hit my ball I'd have to race to beat Jack to get in my second putt, or else he'd pick up the ball and return it to me. Ever so helpful.

Jack mastering the art of tee-ball while riding a truck:

I'm not sure how much everyone else will appreciate this video since you can't see the video Jack is dancing to, but I love it! He's copying the monkeys from the website playhousedisney.com as they dance some funky monkey moves. My favorite is when his hands are overhead, mouth w-i-d-e open, and head shaking. I laugh every. single. time.

Jack is growing up so fast that I feel overwhelmed trying to capture all of the memories. He is such a good and sweet boy; we're truly blessed to have him. I think his terrible-two's phase lasted about a month, which is witness to his sweet temperament. Case in point: while picking up diapers at Babies 'r' Us the other day we let Jack ride around on a really fun tricycle. He loved it! The only problem was that it was time to put it back up. We tried to coax him off the bike and upon Daddy returning it to the aisle, Jack started to cry. I luckily was struck with inspiration and gave the trike back to Jack and asked him to put it away. He quietly and no-fuss put the trike where it belonged and walked away. I am just so impressed by him! I love you Jack!

I don't deal with terrorists!

I am sure you're all familiar with the phrase "I don't deal with terrorists." Well my ever helpful husband summed up my attitude towards Jack's tantrums perfectly for me the other day. I was relating to him how whenever Jack cries or whines or screams or (fill in the blank for whatever YOUR kid does) I ignore him, and wait for him to calm down before giving him what he wants. Jon put it this way: "You don't give into terrorist toddlers." YES! That is exactly how I feel- that when he throws a tantrum, especially in public- it's like a terrorist tactic designed to get Mommy to submit. Oooooh, sneaky. Now I must give Jack his credit; he is not especially prone to tantrums, thankfully. But, once employed he uses them very strategically. For example: we ran into the grocery store the other day for a quick stop to pick up some milk. I go to put Jack in the cart's seat and he is not having it, because he wants to walk and push the cart. Well, I sit him down and he SCREAMS and cries and gnashes his teeth, with all sorts of drama ensuing. Now I realize that all I have to do to make the very-public meltdown stop is to let him push the cart. But- I don't give into terrorist toddler tantrums!! I can only imagine what the poor passerbys are thinking, but I will not give in!

Now I've shared....what's your most embarrasing public meltdown story?

Slideshows and other news...

So I am in the process of learning to post slide shows....why can't they just have an icon in your posting box when you write? Oh well, I ended up getting the above slideshow of our Florida pictures uploaded as a gadget and then moved it over from the side bar-- anyone know how to upload it into the actual post? I'm terrible with these things.

We're all doing well and surviving the heat. It's been in the 100's the past few weeks and our A/C was out of freon, so we suffered for awhile. But it's all fixed now and life is good again. Jon and I enjoyed a Jack-free weekend as my parents watched him. It was wonderful and we ate at Macaroni Grill and finally saw the latest Twilight installment. I am happy to report that the 3rd movie was enjoyable to watch and I didn't cringe once from bad acting, much unlike the first 2 movies. Even Jon conceded that it was the best of the 3 movies. And last but not least, we celebrate our 4th anniversary this Wednesday! I told Jon that he could cook me dinner that night :) Hard to believe it's already been 4 years, where does the time go?

Divine Destin

We just got back from a fun-filled vacation in Destin, Florida! The water and beach were thankfully oil-free and beautiful. The sand was sugar white and felt like snow to walk on! We had many adventures including seeing a 'gator show and parasailing-- both amazing. More pics to follow, but for now I can't stop myself from posting yet another video of Jack swimming. What can I say?-- I'm a proud momma.

Zoo trip

Earlier this week, Jack and I visited the Fort Worth Zoo with my parents. We had a wonderful time seeing the animals. The best exhibit was a large enclosure for parakeets, where they let you feed the birds using a stick covered in seed. Jack was such a brave boy and loved the birds. He didn't mind them flapping around him, and in his own way, tried to love on them (i.e. hit them with the feeding stick). There's a cute video capturing his loving attitude. (He's one of those boys who "loves" things soooo much and squeezes reallllly tight, if that makes sense. We're still working on being gentle.)

Love the white tiger- gorgeous. I totally want this as a pet, you know, a tame one.

parakeet enclosure

gorgeous blue macaw

Jack's first carousel ride. He sat so well on the horse before the ride started, and as it went up and down, he was a little unsure about it, but got over it fast and had fun!

action shot!

I'm only a little worried that upon seeing the massive crocodile, Jack's first action was to put his arm into the croc's mouth.

The weather was perfect for a zoo trip; it threatened rain, so most people stayed away and we enjoyed the zoo crowd-free! (And lucky for us, it didn't actually rain.)

blue paint and pizza toppings...

It's dinner time on a Monday. I just finished making a pizza with pineapple and pepperoni toppings. I think to myself, "if I put the pizza in the oven now, it will be ready too early. I better wait a few minutes..." So I put it in the fridge. Hmmm, what to do? I've got a few minutes to kill. Ah! I'll put away the paint can I used to touch-up a wall earlier today. I put the can of paint back in the garage and I SHOULD have just walked back inside. But, no. I notice another can of paint which has blue paint around its bottom, glueing it to the floor. This bothers me. I try to separate it from the floor and in the process realize it's actually upside down and now the lid has come loose and blue paint is spilling all over the garage floor! So I run inside and grab a hand towel from the laundry room, using it to ineffectively soak up about 10% of the bright blue, ever-spreading paint. I ball up the used towel and take it inside to throw away (I know-- stupid); and end up trapped in the laundry room which acts as the gateway between garage and kitchen. The door to the kitchen is closed. Are you KIDDING me? Now the towel begins to drip. Awesome, great timing. I miraculously open the door with my wrist and, towel dripping the whole way, throw away the paint-soaked towel. Realizing it was another miracle that my 2 year old hasn't popped up during the action, I decide to mop up the paint in the kitchen first. Then I grab a much larger bath towel and throw it on the paint, soaking up much more than my ill-conceived first attempt. I throw away this towel, successfully avoiding dripping this time. After resolving the paint debacle, I suddenly remember Pizza!! I grab the pizza out of the fridge and, to my horror, knock it against the door and drop it...I catch it as it's falling, and manage to save the pizza from completely falling off the cookie sheet. I cannot, however, save about half of the toppings from flying off the pizza, into the air, and all over the fridge and floor. Enter my 2 year old. And this all happened in 10 minutes.

And that is why dinner was late and the garage floor is now blue.

Port Aransas

We just got back from a blissful, week-long vacation in Port Aransas. (PA is an island of off Corpus Christi, Texas). We went with Jon's family and had a wonderful time swimming, building sandcastles, riding waverunners, playing golf, and visiting the aquarium.

Jon & Jack gazing at the Gulftoo cute...Jack really enjoyed throwing the sand tools into the tide and trying to catch them as they washed on and off shore.JAWS...that's Jack and Jon inside there. Many of the area's shops had these huge sharks out front to attract easily impressed tourists such as ourselves!Us at the TX state aquarium, in case you couldn't read the picture. Pretty cool entrance- you walk through the waterfall arches.

Dolphins JUMP!

Fun video of dolphin tricks.

Stingray-they let you "pet" them there. I didn't try it because I'm a wimp like that, but I was told they feel like jelly, all mushy....

Sorry for the blurry picture, I just liked how the seahorses clung to the coral.

Creeepy shark. I love how this picture came out so dark with the shark's eye glowing at you. How'd you like to swim by that in the ocean?

Underground viewing area of the dolphin tank. It was so pretty with the glowing blue water reflecting in the room. Dolphins are so cool, I really want to swim with them some time.

Last, but best--video of Jack starting to swim. He is my water baby...love it. I love how he just jumps out in the water and floats, and he doesn't care about going under. The only problem is you have to watch him because he WILL jump or push off of you and just try to swim out in the open.