Easter 2014

We had a great Easter this year.  I made ham and potatoes and Annice came over.  I put together an egg hunt for Eli with clues and his basket was at the end.  He read all the clues and kept telling me how easy it was to find them (I'll have to step up my game next year!).  Here are some pictures

Pre-k egg hunt

Jacks 1st egg hunt!!

Got one!

Reading clues!

Some of his clues made him do push-ups, jumping jacks, and dancing :)

Enjoying the new bubble machine he got for Easter.

Jack got a new toy dump truck for Easter.  

May Happenings

Brotherly Love.  Jack saw Eli sleeping in the morning and crawled over to lay on his pillow...melted my heart

Booty shaking shadow dancing ;)

Eli has really gotten into Basketball games and watching the Thunder play.  We stayed up late to watch the game one night.

Jack stacked and unstacked baskets at the dollar store one day for about 10 mins straight.  

Another moment of adorable.  Even Eli said "isn't this adorable mommy?".

My Mother's Day foot massage courtesy Eli!

Mother's Day 

Jack Jack is 19 Months

Oh yeah.  That's a nickname of ours for Jack.  I also love when Eli calls him Jackie.  This post is a few days early, but since I'm in the mood and much won't change in a couple of days, I'm sharing now.  

Jack is walking everywhere really well.  He's really picked up his pace and JR said it seemed like Jack was running a little earlier this evening.  He Loves to walk around outside!  He still needs help getting up/down steps and has to watched very carefully navigating the sidewalk and patio because he is totally oblivious that he could trip or fall down with a slight misstep.  He doesn't like to hold my hand which I remember Eli doing and probably every other toddler that just gained this freedom.  

He is starting to get better at putting together his wooden puzzles.  He loves to throw stuff too.  Anything.  I've started redirecting him to throw his balls instead.

He understands a lot of what we tell him to do and has some words.  I'm looking forward to him talking more.  He's really good at pointing to things, tells us when he's done with something or what he wants.  

He hates to have his teeth brushed.  I remember on and off struggles with Eli but Jack has never enjoyed it.  He has also started disliking having his hair washed.

He falls asleep in the car sometimes which is nicer than the alternative...crying in the car.  I finally turned him facing forward.  

That's about it.  See you next month ;)

Spring Break 2014

We had a great Spring Break this year.  Although we didn't travel anywhere, we stayed busy.  Here's a glimpse of what we did:

Played outside! The weather, although very inconsistent in March, warmed up enough for us to get outside and ride bikes, play with chalk and fly our kites.

We walked and rode bikes to the neighborhood pond one windy day.  I was hoping we'd see some baby ducks or goslings but I think it's still too early.  

We visited two Edmond parks during Spring Break.  Jack liked walking through the grass and climbing the playground stairs at Fink park.  JR took off Monday during break and we went to Hafer Park.  

We made rice Krispy treats :)

Jack liked them too!

We joined some mom friends at the OKC Zoo.  I will never visit there during spring break again....chaos and crowded!

We also got to tour the Edmond Police Station with our MOMS Club.  The officer that showed us around was great with the kids.  It was fun!

Here Eli is talking to the police officer.  He had closed the door for Eli and he tried to get out.  Of course he couldn't open it from the inside, Eli thought that was neat.  I hope the only time you're in a police car is for fun buddy!!

Group photo with all the kiddos!

Eli's friend Graham from school came over for a few hours one day as well.  They were excited to see each other and play together.  Eli is looking forward to getting back to school.  Now that Jack is older and we are able to do more activities together I am looking forward to Summer vacation!  For now...I'm ready for some consistently warmer weather.

Happy Half Birthday Jack! (18 mos)

I can't believe Jack is 18 months already. In 6 short months we will celebrate his 2nd birthday!?!  Right now I'm thinking of having a Sesame Street theme or maybe Cookie Monster.  But he could fall in love with something else in the meantime so I'm not going to go crazy planning yet :).  

Jack is walking everywhere now.  He falls quite a bit but it's progress!  You can tell he's so pleased to be walking and does so just for fun.  

This is a sad baby.  He loves to put his hands on his face when he is upset.  He even does this super cute sigh and covers his eye with his hand...it's so grown-up.  I usually have to hide my chuckle.  

Jack is still napping twice a day.  I have to say, I'm ready for that to change but I don't think he is.  I hope come Summer he is done with the morning nap and we can have some fun with Eli during the cooler hours of the day and nap during the hottest part of the day.  

Sweet dreams baby :)

Home Depot Clinic

I love finding free things to do for Eli and we discovered Home Depot has free workshops for kids the 1st Saturday of each month.  This month they were building a Trojan horse bank from the new movie "Mr. Peabody".  He got a Home Depot apron, completion certificate, and a pin for his apron.  He is getting really good at hammering!  He loves his bank.  Next week we are going to Lowes and building a bird house :)

Jack is 17 Months

We've been bogged down by illnesses and infections this Winter.  It seems that as soon as we get better and I get caught up the next thing is at the door.  We most recently battled a round of stomach bugs and Eli finally went back to school today.  We've also had a lot of really cold weather, snow, and ice this winter.  

Here's what Jack is up to these days:

He's really starting to enjoy watching Sesame Street.  He has this one particular episode with Baby Bear that he loves to watch.  They sing a song and he dances along, he even learned to say growl and throws his arms back and forth like they do.  It's adorable.

Watching Sesame Street.

He still really loves music and dancing.  He loves to look at books which makes me so happy.  I really want to focus on those with him.  His favorite book is called Puppy Explores.  There's a question in the book and the answer is no and he shakes his head no along with me.  

He has learned how to sign the word "more" and say it as well.  When I'm done reading the story he signs and says more.  He understands mostly when to say it.

He is starting to sit on his riding train and other (dangerous) things....

Uh oh.

The most exciting news this month is that Jack is really starting to walk A LOT more!.  When he's not crawling he walks on his knees.  He will get up by the couch or any other area, window sill, etc and then let go and make his way over to us.  He is getting better at not crying when he falls a little.  For the most part he will get on his knees when he loses his balance.  Eli loves when Jack walks to him and then they hug each other.  You can tell they are both so proud!

Not the best photo but here he is walking to me!  Look how thrilled he is!!

He pretty much eats whatever I give him but he really enjoys meat.  Some of his favorites, sausage, chicken, broccoli, apples, grapes, bacon, pretzels, chex cereal, cheese, raisins, fruit strips, French fries, chicken nuggets, hamburger and fish sticks.  

He just stole all my broccoli!  Can't complain about that...

He got 3 new teeth this month and I think at least another one is gonna pop through soon.  9 total teeth right now, 11 to go!  He gets very crabby when teething, which is almost always.  

Loves bath time!

Visiting Petsmart

Visiting Daddy at work

Helping Mommy clean the pantry.