Summer has finally started for the Relle Clan. No new computer so this post has taken a few days...Here is the Cliff Notes version of the Summer of 2009 to date. Enjoy!
Mama Relle started off the summer with caramel highlights. This is the first time I've had any colored alterations since college...you know when it was burgundy-OK..purple. The bill was a bit of a shock, it hasn't lasted as long as I had hoped, but it has been fun playing my alter ego...Summer Jennifer (inspired by my friend Summer Karen).
With work behind us for the summer Jack and I headed to play in the McWilliam's backyard oasis. Between the play equipment, beautiful greenery, and fabulous patio with fan....why would they ever leave their house...or better yet, why would we ever go anywhere else?!?There are a ton of super precious pictures from our day on Olivia's blog:
Oliviasavestheday.shutterfly.com
Fun times in the sun and lazy afternoon naps...that is how our summer was supposed to be and how it started...til...
our little man got SUPER SICK! He had a mild fever for 2 weeks, a high fever for a week, many trips to various doctors, was clingy (even to me), and way out of his sorts (fell asleep on the floor as pictured while Cars was on....that isn't our Jack).
So while we were quarantined in our house I made sure to make my little man was happy as possible. This is the lap tray I had been wanting to get him for breakfast on the floor in our room but it wasn't "practical" (which will change when the new carpet we ordered for our "anniversary" comes in), but him not feeling well and Learning Express having their 20% Storewide sale resulted in him getting a biscuit (a present, treat, surprise).
I also had them wrap up the original present I went in looking for...you can totally tell he doesn't feel good....Jack loves opening presents...this day, not so much. If you click to enlarge you can see the luggage behind Jack...where it sat for days as we kept postponing our trip to Louisiana. You all know how it turned out...we finally just had to unpack the bags (packing isn't fun, unpacking is really not fun, but unpacking when you haven't gone anywhere just SUCKS).
With smock on and tears still fresh on his cheeks from not feeling well Jack created masterpieces with his new Do-A-Dot Paints.
On Saturday morning when we were hoping to head out first thing in the morning to Louisiana two days past original depature date instead we headed to Children's Hospital because Jack's fever spiked again and he was just so pitiful we wanted answers. Apparently it was Thrush, we were given medicine, and this is when we headed home to unpack the luggage officially.
While being treated we continued to stay indoors and set up a fun tent loaded with lap tray, mini DVD player, and lots of comfy blankets and pillows for Jack to hang out in since it was entirely too hot for someone with a fever to be playing outside.
The best medicine for Jack was the delivery of balloons from Papa and Bebe. He loved them! Once the colored balloons died he didn't let that stop him from carrying them around, punching them, and putting them in places that at least once a day makes you jump thinking it is a person. As I type this 2 weeks later they are still floating proud, hopefully keeping the germs away for our upcoming round two trip to Louisiana.
I mean....do I need to say anything about this? I think the picture says it all...spoiled!
Jack was finally feeling better and it has been too hot even for a healthy person to go outside past 8 AM or before 8 PM but we braved it one evening after dinner to play with sidewalk chalk in the front yard. Nick showing us how it is done.....I was able to draw the Hopscotch board but was clueless on how to actually Hopscotch.
This was supposed to be a precious picture of Jack running through the Hopscotch board....but it just didn't work out that way did it?!?! Although pretty sexy view of Nick's legs!
Not nearly as graceful as Nick...but I am totally blaming it on the fact that we didn't leave the house for close to 9 days, the blinds were drawn, and the most exercise in between naps was walking to the fridge from the couch.
Proof of our just letting things go....powdered donuts....Jack doesn't eat stuff like that....at least he didn't. After the spout of sickness he is now addicted to powdered donuts, apple juice, Fruit Loops, and an assortment of cartoons. Who knew about Noggin-Thanks Betsy-I think!
Thank goodness there were packages rolling in to help cheer our little man up...Here is one from GG and Mac. It came in a super cute Mickey package and was filled with Mickey clothes. Thanks GG & Mac!
And then there was one from Nana and Gramps. A book and a watercolor Handy Mandy book. Worked out great since Handy Mandy is one of his new favorites...along with Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Elmo....
And a package full of Nemo styled cookies from Bebe that were served at the pool party that was thrown in honor of Jack (and Uncle Joey's birthday), but the Relle Clan wasn't present. Jack enjoyed the cookies but had the most fun with the peanuts.
Feeling better, out in the world again....What better a place to rejoin society than at Gymbo's new big house (as Jack calls it). Gymboree moved to a new location...no longer in a shady shopping center, really fancy inside, but even farther from our house....we can't help but make the commute though...we're obsessed (in a healthy way though I think?!?!)
"Hey Mom-Watch me!"
"Come on Olivia, let's go play basketball." 
My love -who is worth the drive and further to play with Gymbo.
In celebration of Gymboree's new location there was a Gymbo Party where a real live Gymbo came to play.
Jack was VERY unsure of Gymbo at first but came around by the end. Here they are catching bubbles...Jack catching them from afar as usual. Argh-There was supposed to be a Hip, Hip Hooray cute picture of Karen, Olivia, Jack, Gymbo, and I here but it too didn't pull up....Maybe I'll do a separate post with all the missed pictures from this post. Maybe if the computer cooperates is the real stipulation.
We had a little project up our sleeves (that we started last summer mind you) so Friday morning we headed out early to the Arboretum. No crowds seeing as it was out of control hot...but ended up getting some great pictures and having a fun, yet HOT fun as a family outdoors. Profile shots are my favorite...he is always so angelic looking....which we all know the truth on that one. Must be the camera angle huh?!?
Running in the fields.
Tossing pebbles in the pond with Dad.
Being silly with Mom.
Happy Father's Day! Jack and I woke up in bed on Father's Day morning (yes, he was in bed with us...another summer sick habit that we had corrected, but is back). Yet when we woke up Nick wasn't in bed with us...that is because he was out mowing the yard. What Dad does that on Father's Day (especially at 8 when all the other Dads in the neighborhood probably have the morning to sleep in)-our Dad because he is the best. We had been non stop with Housewarming parties and such that it needed to be done. So Jack and I met him outside with his first gift. Don't you love his little Cars night time briefs?!?
Jack gave Nick a board book...Just Like Daddy to add to their bedtime collection. Nick was starting to get a little burnt out on the My Daddy book which didn't require Nick reading because Jack and Nick could both recite it by memory.
Jack and I tricked Nick by wrapping his gift in a Vera Bradley box (that is a whole other post to explain why we have so many boxes from Vera Bradley hanging around to wrap all the parts of his gift in different sized boxes). I think tricking him worked, but was nervous because Jack helped me wrap and knew what the gift was....and he isn't a very good secret keeper....but he did good!
Nick finally got up to speed with the rest of the world (even Bebe) and got an iphone for Father's Day. It came with a protection plan, blue protective case (mine is red from mother's day-which I've since gotten upgraded although the phone is acting up so I'm taking it in this week), a car charger, and a blue tooth ear piece. 
After opening gifts and having cinnamon rolls we headed to a mid morning escape in the McWilliam's backyard. Olivia and Jack always have so much fun together. They look like siblings (could pass as twins) and act like it too. So glad they've been able to grow up together.
A lunch of grilled chicken schwarma on pita bread with Tazzikki which went perfectly with the hummus pita chip appetizer, and was finished off with strawberry shortcake to go since it was close to nap time.
After a nap we left again to complete our overbooked weekend (for real Saturday alone almost killed me: PTA meeting, shopping for gifts, Weddning Shower Wine Tasting downtown, and Housewarming Party) at a swimming party for one of my students at a local public pool. Jack did GREAT in the water thanks to the life vest that the pool loaned us...we're borrowing Ashley's for our trip to Louisiana because we're having troubles finding one similar and he seems to not like to swim without it. Thanks Ashley!
Kathryn, Jack, Josh, and I. Happy Birthday Ladner Kiddos! Happy Father's Day Nick!
I wrote curriculum the following week so Monday, Jack and Nick did the grocery shopping but then layed low to catch up from our worldwind weekend. Tuesday while Jack was at school Nick did a little...I mean a lot....of work in the garage which I swear gets out of control so easily it is scary. On "the list" is a shed for the backyard...but it isn't in the top 3, so we will have to make do and maintain probably a few more times to allow for us to park at least one car until we can get some stuff out of there.
Here it was after he finished...much better. Still one car but you don't kill yourself trying to get to that one car and you can see the floor.So there you have it. You're up to date. The computer is on the list but got trumped by carpet so I'll do my best, don't forget about us, and those in Louisiana-can't wait to see you soon. This time though I'm not packing as far in advance and we're not telling Jack where we're going til we are on the road. Happy Summer 2009!!
