Just Mom and Jack

Nick headed to Corpus Christi with his teaching partner Stasha on Thursday morning around 5 AM. Jack was doing alright without wub but heard him get up and wouldn't go back to sleep. We'd been up late so I was already dreading Nick being gone til Saturday evening since here it was morning one and I was going to be working on 4 hours of sleep...but Jack finally went back down around 6 and I got everything ready, loaded, and didn't wake him up til around 7:20 for breakfast and him getting dressed. From that point one we did great...he would sleep in while I got everything together, the drop offs went smooth, and we enjoyed the time together in the evenings. He even went down without any trouble at all. Most biggest trouble was 2 students having to be restrained and removed by administration from my room. Friday night the Tavares family came over to keep and play with Jack while I attended the McGowen Holiday Dinner alone (sniff, sniff)...THANKS PATRICK & LISA. Before we knew it Nick was back...he felt like Jack had grown in that little time he was gone, Jack was super excited to see him, but our relationship is better...can't exactly explain how...it just is.

Here is Jack on the way to school on Thursday...I managed to have him looking as sharp as ever even with me not having a Jack morning routine. There was help though I must admit..Nick had taken care of A LOT that helped save me some time.
Turns out Mom isn't worthy of a souvenir from the PE Convention...HaHa! Jokes on Dad because Jack and I went to the Gap Thursday after school and I got LOTS of souvenirs.
Here are two randoms that I'm throwing in...I saw this in a magazine a long time ago, we started it at the beginning of the year and just finished it early last week. The arms are actual tracings of Jack's. We sent one to each set of grandparents and I have one hanging in my classroom. Too cute-but not nearly as good as an actual hug!

Here is another idea that I saw on a mommy message board that we started before school and it took until last week for us to do the final touches and cash in our Pampers points to pay for it. Well worth the wait...Jack is going to get it for Christmas and LOVE seeing himself in the book while learning his ABCs.

Here is the A and B pages.

Here is M and N...annoyed that the pictures are not the right direction...uploaded Picasa and it is frustrating me. Can't wait to delete it.

Wordless Wendesday-A Whole New Technology World

Chuck-E-Cheese

Since Chuck-E-Cheese was one of the thoughts Saturday night I decided hey...3 more weeks til the Holidays with crazy schedules...let's get the little man out to have some fun (and wear him out so nap without Wub isn't so painful).

The sun was in Jack's eyes on the way there and we didn't have his glasses, so he suggested I lend him mine, which of course I did! He even at a few points put them on top his head like I do. Too cute!
Jack loved, loved the riding toys (except the horses...the whole animal stranger danger thing is still going on). This one took your picture but every time he rode it his head was turned. I also tried to get us in the sketch booth but again...never a good shot...well, one that could probably land me in jail because I was trying to get him to turn his head and it printed with my hand around his throat...looks like I'm strangling him.

"Mom and Dad...Can I take Chuck E home with us? But not the live one because he is scary."

"Alright Mr. Vet...I'll drive you to check on the puppy."

"But Mom...that little girl isn't a vet like me and Dr. Pet Vet...I should drive it one more time before she gets a turn."

"Give Mom the Cotton Candy! Give Mom the Cotton Candy! Sorry Mom...it landed on 5 tickets...I'll put that towards my prize."

"Did ya'll just see that little boy hit me in the face...Mom, why did you grab Dad's arm to stop him from reacting...that boy deserved a firm talking too."

"Wee!!!!"

"Bam-Got ya!"

"Chugga Chugga Choo-Choo. Look, I'm conducting this train...I'm a vet and an engineer."

"I would never hit Wub Duck but I'm so mad...take this rubber ducky...we better get lots of tickets for this."

"Dad...keep an eye on that Chuck E...he's talking and moving. Not so sure about this place after all!"

"OK..Watching him from a distance isn't that bad and he's pretty good at singing those Christmas songs."

"Dad-If ya'll weren't so cheap and stole Chick-Fil-A table toppers I wouldn't have seen the fruit picture on it, rejected the pizza, and insisted on you buying (or the nice lady donating) me a fruit bowl."

"Let's go fast Dad. Push the petal to the metal!"

"No matter how hard I throw it doesn't make it in the hole. I'm eyeing the purple comb at the prize counter so I'll just hand the balls to ya'll."
"And collect the tickets of course!"
"Um Mom...Are you sure this is age appropriate it? Riding this virtual roller coaster is making my fruit come back up."
"Mom pedal faster so I go up high! Why are you sing that Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow song every time I ride the helicopter?"
"Do we have enough tickets for my purple comb Dad? YES! And 2 sheets of stickers! Ya'll are the best. Next time though...skip the pizza and put more money towards tokens."

The Purple Cow

Saturday night we were itching to get out the house so we called up the McWilliams (and Parnell's but they weren't home) to join us for dinner. Trying to figure out a kid friendly place that wouldn't be packed we decided to give The Purple Cow a shot.

The Purple Cow is a 50's style diner in Plano that has an electric train on the ceiling and an old fashioned soda fountain. If you look closely you can see Nick, Jack, Aaron, & Olivia trying to kill time while we were waiting for our dessert.
"I'll share a milkshake with you any day Olivia my love!"

"Well, looks like Dad has an Oreo milkshake and that is my favorite so I'll have to settle sharing a milkshake with him this go round."

The food was alright, the dessert was huge, but overall the kids were a bit antsy and I'm sure the other customers were happy to see us go although...what do you expect eating at a place called The Purple Cow with a train on the ceiling? And...I printed coupons for us and of course forgot til after he ran the credit cards so we passed them off to two other lucky tables before we headed out...pay it back- like the person ahead of us at the grocery who bought us reusable shopping bags last week.