Spring Break

Spring Break was all about rest, time, and prepping for the remainder of the year. Here is a collection of pictures from our holiday. Jack did go to Watters 3 days of the break to keep him in routine and to give us a chance to get things done that are easier without child (like an adult lunch and laying on a blanket at the park reading a book for pleasure). Thanks Nick for uploading these pictures (maybe next time he will do the commentary-breaking him in slowly) while I watch American Idol.

Here is Jack and I (after 11:00 one night when he was NOT sleeping) doing our hair in the closet (I know...odd but cozy and works). He has perfected holding the brush with the dryer...better than I am able to for sure. That particular night he also hollered out the closet for Dada twice...when Nick didn't respond he shouted a third time for "Nick". Guess he knows that when I call out for Nick there is a quick response and this time it worked for him too. Now when I go to leave for work he says, "Bye Jenn!" Cute sometimes, but being called Mama is my preference.
Tuesday after my doctor I went up to work for awhile to take advantage of Jack being at school and the kids being out of the classroom. It was hot so when I picked him up we pulled in at Watters Crossing for some gelato.

That night I headed to karaoke with the ladies. 1/2 price Tuesday so that saved money for drinks of courage....Thanks Angela for treating us to a GREAT night!!!

We had many dinners on the patio. The weather was PERFECT all week. Jack loves being outside.

Friday we drove to the city to have lunch with "Anderson" at Cafe Express at Mockingbird Station. Jeremy met us there too. It was pretty out, a bit cold, but the great company made it worth it!

Jack and Anderson playing around after he ate ALL her fruit.

Saturday Netflix delivered Wall-E and so we set up the picnic blanket in the living room for a family picnic while watching the movie. Jack thought it was just the coolest!

Adding another random food our boy LOVES to the list of avocado, hummus, etc...edamame. The boy shells them and puts the shells in a discard bowl. He can put away some edamame!

Maybe it is because he is "Italian" and has a passion for unique food because here he is excited for his first sampling of peanut butter and jelly.

Even though he was squealing with excitement he approached it gingerly.

Daring to take a taste. And after more attempts to show him what was inside the pocket of bread (Smuckers crustless brand), showing us eating it, and essentially begging him to give it an American fair chance...

it just wasn't acceptable for him. So we put just plain peanut butter on a slice of bread like his Dada eats.

And again...just not for him. Guess he would prefer Nutella.

But settled for a wet paper towel to wipe his mouth down.

Jack loves to take responsibility for his belongings. His shoes were starting to overflow from his shoe bucket which made finding a match difficult so we hooked him up with a shoe rack from the Container Store that fits perfect in his closet. Love it!

Nick and I spent the entire time Thursday while Jack was at school working around the house in the playroom, switching out Jack's wardrobe for the Spring, storing some of the things from my recent closet clean out, and the list goes on. I love the hutch even more now that we actually put somethings on it so it wasn't so bare.

Um....project Tough Love didn't go so well because not only were the nights unsuccessful with the Tot Clock but naps were a beating too. Here is a picture of him finally napping after 2 days with no nap at all. PS-All his toys find there way into his bed and once they are in there one time...it has to be there from then on out...One day there isn't going to be any room for him...unless he starts taking things out like the screwdriver (plastic but still dangerous), vanity set, and measuring cup from the kitchen.

Sunday the Tavares family came over to play in the backyard and grill. Jack and Ethan played with the bubble gun from Aunt Mary Beth...well, fought over it is probably more truthful.

Angela joined us for dinner-another great night on the patio to end the Spring Break.

After dinner the Sullivan's stopped by and the kids snuggled up to watch Jack's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD (another gift from Aunt Mary Beth)....they are getting so big-it seems like yesterday they were all layed out non-mobile on blankets.

Sunday after Gymboree we spent the day together in the backyard playing and Jack planted some lima beans and Alfalfa seeds so he could have his own little garden to match the plants that Dada worked on over the break.

After setting up his garden he helped Nick water the rest of the plants. Notice the LSU gnome in the rose planter...he calls it Ho Ho...guess he thinks Santa is a Tiger fan too!

And like mommy...Jack doesn't like getting dirty so he need a "new wipe" to clean up...which has become quit a quirky habit this past week...we are working on ending it before he wipes his skin off. Guess there is no doubt he is his mother's son!

The Dallas Blooms

Since our first trip to the Arboretum Pumpkin Patch when Jack wasn't yet one, we've wanted to visit during the Dallas Blooms exhibit and this year we finally were able to. Monday of Spring Break we kept Jack home from Watters so Karen and I could go ahead for a Mommy and Me Monday like we did last year in May (which was too late because it was HOT). Angela came along with us for some pre-engagement photo shoot practice.

We loaded up Olivia's wagon with picnic blankets and the backpacks with lunch and headed to see the blooms.
Karen and I even offered to pose for Angela to help her narrow down good places...pretty sure our first attempt was enough for her.

"Hey Olivia, your wagon is still so cool...today is going to be GREAT!"

"Peek a boo!"

"Ahoy matey, Nice to meet you!"

This was from one of the many playhouses set up around the Arboretum that revolved around classic tales.

While telling Angela about how last time Nick almost fell down this very hill chasing after Jack because I wasn't watching him closely...I slipped, fell, and pulled Jack down with me. Angela just laughed, then snapped this picture...I would have done the same thing-no hard feeling.

Jack and I modeling a good location for a picture. That tongue...I swear he is going to catch a bug on it.

"Come see these pretty flowers Livey...right this way."

"Watch your step...here let me give you a hand."

"I told you the steps and walk were worth it...these flowers are beautiful."

After the picnic it was time to head home (and keep the kiddos awake the entire drive back to the burbs).
I love how Angela manipulated this picture to show my little angel's blue eyes.
"What a great day Livey! I can't wait to come back soon."

A Day To Celebrate

We had everything set up to make Jack's 2nd Birthday perfect. The banner was hung, the gifts were wrapped, the birthday CD was in the player, the breakfast materials were layed out, and the 72 balloons were blown up (compliments of Nick) and in the hall ready to fill his room....A Day To Celebrate...

Um..pretty sure I found the Onieda Paul Revere (our everyday silverware-and only silverware we have) Toddler Set for Jack. We bought him two and had one wrapped up. It comes with a fork, spoon, and knife...he loves it because it looks just like Mom and Dad's. Shame his Dad wouldn't let me go ahead and order the Baby set too!
Everything was ready, but Jack sleeping on the floor put a hickup in our balloon plan. Nick snuck in to put him in his bed so we could cover the floor in balloons for when he woke up (idea from Angela via Melany-and will be a tradition for us-maybe next time with a pump though because Nick is still out of breath). He woke upin the transfer, fell asleep again in his bed with Nick, and was snoring so the balloon movement started...til he woke up again. There was no use fighting it so here he is rounding the corner at 11:35 PM wondering what the heck we were doing and why there were balloons covering the hall. So we played for awhile, he looked at the presents a few times, helped put the balloons in the playroom for safety reasons, and headed to bed with us...which is where he would have ended up anyway-Tough Love doesn't start til Monday night!

Our Birthday Boy having some milk in bed while starting the morning with Cars-aka: Mom and Dad trying to buy a few more minutes of shut eye.

I made Jack a whole wheat Mickey Mouse pancake...you know with some syrup and powdered sugar to negate anything healthy about it. He loved it!

We got Jack ready for Gymboree but needed to get ourselves ready so we let him open his first birthday present (which I picked knowing what it was)-a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD from the Coxe family. He instantly wanted to watch it which worked out great for Nick and I.

We made it to Gymboree. Jack was so proud of his "It's My B-Day!" pin. If anyone asked, "Who's birthday is it?", Jack would shout out, "MINE!". And if you asked how old he was he was quick to hold up two fingers (one on each hand) and shout back at you "Two Ears Old"..and sometimes he would go from there to counting his ears..."One-Two". Guess I wasn't clear on my words when we worked on years. :)

After Gymboree we headed across the street to Campisis's to have lunch with Karen, Olivia, Stephanie, and her daughter Cali. Yummy!

You can tell by the time we got home Jack had been up since before the sun after playing with balloons til midnight, played with Gymbo, had fun at lunch, and was pretty worn out...but the cake and Skype camera were already set up for Papa and Bebe -so the celebration continued a bit more before nap time.

Jack had a small cake (along with the cupcakes that Papa and Bebe had) so we sang Happy Birthday...

blew out the candles (a few times because he thought that was fun)...

he devoured the cake...and then he was able to open the big box of gifts that Papa and Bebe sent for him to unwrap with them there to watch via Skype.

Nick and Jack read 2 (the number he is obsessed with and won't go past when counting) books before we all took a 3 HOUR NAP. When we went in to wake him up at 5 he must have stayed up reading a few more books because his palette was covered in them. Along with all the animals that he must have...creature of habit...once it sleeps with him once...he has to have it every nap/night.

Aaron and Olivia came over for dinner while Karen was at a movie and after eating the kids hung out in the playroom.

Then we put the cake back together from the taste test earlier and blew the candles out a few times more!

Olivia helped Jack open his presents after the tasty cake. By then Karen was there so it was a nice little party (again-and not his last).

He loved all his gifts and cards! The boy lucked out: Cars rain boots, Elmo & Mickey figurines, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Book with CD, clothes, Elmo Loves You DVD, The Best of Elmo DVD, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD, Cars Crocs, Teddy Grahams, Cars Easter Eggs & Tattoos, Silverware, a Tot Clock (more on this later), and Beauty Bag (more on this later as well).

Angela came over for some cake after dinner and read with Jack before he hit the floor.

It truly a day to celebrate...no montage this year and I'm sick to my stomach to say I have taken no plump pictures since I went back to work. It is all we can do to make it day to day...but we're here, we're healthy (relatively speaking), and despite my rants and raves from time to time-every day that goes by I love my little boy more and more. I am so proud of him, I am amazed at how he changes with every second that passes, and look forward to seeing what this next year has in store for us....Stay tuned!