Jack turns 2!

It's hard to believe that Jack turned two today. I'm sure I'll blink and be writing about him turning 10 before I know it. That's how life goes, isn't it? Flying by at an ever increasing rate? Working on enjoying each day as it comes.

Here are a few photos from the day!
This is Jack's last night as a one year old

















We had such a fun day! Wish you could have been here! Love you all...I'll leave you with 2 videos of our day. In the first one, Jack is talking about the new truck puzzle he just opened that Great Grammy Jean sent and in the 2nd, he is playing with his new fisher price garage.

Cowboy Jack

Here's a fun picture we took of Jack at the store last night!











It's been a long week....well, week and a half. Jack had a fever last week on wednesday so we went to the doctor and were diagnosed with a virus. By saturday he had an ear infection and an ulcer in his mouth. And monday he got a stomach bug. UGH! We stayed home again yesterday to make sure it was all over and start him on a few light foods. Everything seemed well...so we met daddy for dinner. Jack just had a few crackers...

We had fun with daddy and Jack played nicely with his cars at the table. Afterwards we went to Wally World to get the oil changed and then it happened...A major diaper explosion. Alas, we are home again today while everything works it's way out of Jack's system. Hopefully we'll be back at school tomorrow!

Kevin was in NY last week at his old studio recording drums for a project. He had a great time with the band and was able to visit a few friends as well. It's good to have him home though.

Jack and I have been blowing bubbles this morning. Ferris, the cat, had more fun with the bubbles than Jack. Not to mention some much needed exercise. All he does recently is sleep and eat.

Everything else is great! Love to you all...

~e

Hanging out...

Jack and I are hanging out at home today as is recovering from a lovely little stomach bug. More like a stomach monster...this was no little bug. Thankfully he has been much better today. Today he discovered the joys of hanging upside down and sliding off of the chair. Here's a quick video...



Here are a few pictures as well...


Coloring and
Play-Doh time!

































Puzzles time!

















Jack likes to wear mommy and daddy's shoes...today, mommy's were in the living room...I'm sure he'll have words for me when he gets older.













Just hanging around...










We have happy news! No...no babies...but we have rented out our home in Virginia! We are so excited that God provided someone to rent our home for the next year. A little nerve wracking giving the keys to our most expensive possession to someone else...but we've done all the proper checks and feel good about the couple that is there. This means we have all of our things in one place again! (Well...almost everything...sorry about your garage mom and Jim.) It's nice to feel "home" again. We are really enjoying Nashville and are thankful to be here.

Hope everything is well in your part of the world...

~e

cold...really, really cold.

It is cold. No...it is beyond cold. The thermostat in the hall doesn't even go low enough to say just how cold it is in our house. It's 36 degrees outside and just about as cold inside. Thank God for space heaters.

Let me explain. Our friends that we are renting from kindly left the utilities on until January 30th. (A huge blessing so I feel terrible complaining...however...) Kevin called the gas company today (plenty of time to get things in our name before the 30th) and after he had everything set, the lady asked "When can I schedule you to get the gas turned on?" To which Kevin replied, "No, it's already on, we just want it switched to our name." Evidently someone from the gas company had been in the area today, saw that it was supposed to be cut off on the 30th and decided to be uber efficient and cut it off today. Thus...it is FREEZING in our house tonight. Thankfully the are able to come tomorrow and cut it back on. So...say a little thank you prayer if your heat is working tonight and send warm thoughts our way!

~e

P.S. I'm sending Kevin to the doctor with Jack when he's four...no way I'm going to go through that! I've taken Jack for all of his shots thus far...I think that's a fair trade! Sorry it was so traumatic. I think I need to go to Chuck E. Cheese's after reading all that you guys went through? Anyone want to come with?

One more thing...

I forgot to include this in my last post...I am not so sure what was in those immunizations, but they have already done some good. When we got home from church yesterday, Braden cleaned his whole room. His room is not very big, but this is a HUGE job. He is a take out a toy, play with it, drop it on the ground, read a book, take ten books off the shelf, put on a clean shirt, put seven shirts and two pairs of pants on the floor kind of kid. When "we" clean his room, I usually clean really fast (just to get it over with) while he completes one task like putting all of the books on the bookshelf. It was amazing and we were so suprised...what a big boy!

Kindergarten better be AMAZING!

Seriously....four immunizations and bloodwork for kindergarten admission? Wow! I remember being so glad when Braden was done with his baby immunizations (around 18 months). I was sad to have to take my sweet baby in to get all of those shots. Well, let me tell you something, taking a four and a half year old for shots is WAY worse. Babies cry and then you give them a cuddle and then they're over it. Big kids can TALK and run away...
Here's how it went for us last Friday: Braden had a great time during his physical telling the doctor all about how he's going to be a doctor and a fireman and asking "what's that?" and "what does this do?" Then the fun was over. Nathan held Braden tightly in his lap for the (FOUR!!!!) shots. He was so brave. He didn't even cry. The awful part was hearing him say, "Ouch! That hurts. No, please no more!" Broke my heart. He was shaking. So sad.
A few minutes later, he was feeling much better after some colorful band-aids, a few super hero stickers and a cuddle. He got a big smile on his face when he remembered that we had told him we were going to go to Chuck E. Cheese after the appointment. He cheerily annouced, "It's time to go to Chuck E. Cheese!!!" Ugh...we had to tell him that first we were headed to the lab to do the required bloodwork (blood lead level and check for anemia) and urinalysis. We tried to make it sound interesting by telling him that he would get to pee in a cup (which he actually was excited about). He tried to run away in the lobby of the doctor's office. Unfortunately for Braden, there aren't a lot of good hiding places in the lobby and Nathan is bigger and stronger, so he got captured and carried to the lab next door.
At he lab he was nervous, but trying not to show it while we waited. I had some bloodwork to do too, so he came back with me and watched because he wanted to see what it was like. Then it was his turn...I tried to hold him, but he is SO strong! I got Nathan to help me and Braden was sitting in the floor refusing to get up (it was not fun...made me really thankful that he has never been the temper tantrum type). Nathan had to carry him, crying and screaming, to the chair. Nathan held him tight with one arm and covered his eyes with his other hand. I had to use two hands to hold his little arm out for the lab tech. I was crying, he was crying, it was terrible! I was praying that the girl would get it all done with one poke...and she did! When he realized that it was over, he hopped up, wiped his eyes and the pulled down his pants right there in the little cubicle at the lab to pee in a cup! We had to let him know that he needed to wait until we got into the bathroom!!!
After it was all over, we picked up Leila and had a great night at Chuck E. Cheese. Sorry to say that it is definately not as cool when you are an adult...oh well! Fortunately, it is REALLY cool when you are four. Braden had a great time and has been begging to go back (suprise, suprise!).
Anyways, sorry for the long drawn out description of our traumatic afternoon. Just had to get it out! I remember reading somewhere a quote that said. "when you are a mother it is as if your heart is walking around outside of your body." That doesn't sound quite right, but it was something like that. Anyways, you get the idea and it is definately true. I would have gladly gotten 20 shots and given a quart of blood to keep Braden from having to go through that...maybe I'll have to homeschool Leila! Just kidding, but seriously not looking foward to going through that again. Good thing we've got four years to prepare.

And from the West Coast....

Hey All! I suppose it's time that I chime in from out here in California. There is really nothing new to report. We've just been relaxing and catching up with friends and family after returning home from Virginia. I still have a few weeks before I have to return to work (2/2/09) and so I have been focusing on enjoying time with my kiddos...and trying to keep myself from feeling sad that I have to go back to work. I love my job, but nothing compares to being with these two amazing little ones that God has blessed us with!

Last Friday we had quite the adventure. Braden had been begging to set up our tent, so we put it in the back yard and then he convinced Nathan that they should sleep out there. We decided to make a night of it...camp fire, hot dogs and s'mores! Leila and I opted to come in around 9:30 for bed, but the "men" slept out all night (it was 30 degrees outside!!!). The following morning we took a "hike" to the donut shop at Braden's request. Here are a few pictures of the festivities...

As you can see..Braden enjoyed the hot dogs and Leila looked quite cute all bundled up!

In other news.....Braden has his kindergarten physical on Friday. I can't believe that he will start school in the fall. He is very excited to go to school and Nathan and I are in awe of how fast the time has gone. Seems like he was a tiny baby not very long ago.
Speaking of tiny babies, Leila is getting bigger every day. She is nearing 14 pounds and continues to be very happy and smiley. She is getting more interested in the world around her and loves trying to stuff toys in her mouth!

Nathan's is currently in winter term for school. He is very busy, but is doing well. He will graduate this spring and we are all very excited!

Okay, I suppose that brings us up to date.

Have a happy day!