The Breakfast of Champions

We had my family over on Sunday for an amazing breakfast! I can say that…because I didn't make it. Shirlee did. And even a few hours after everyone had left, Tyson was still talking about the biscuits & gravy. So was Josie (we just couldn't understand her).

After a very filling breakfast - it is best to wrestle your uncles. Both Uncle Jon & Uncle Joe got "the smack down" from Jack & Josie. Uncle Jon escaped before the camera came out.

 Josie has learned a thing or two about holding her own in this family...

Of course, the canine children were SO happy to have their Grandma here.

 Before they left - Uncle Jon had to show Jack how to use a toy he bought for him in Thailand. It shoots really high in the air…and Jack was impressed.

Uh OH! Look what Josie was wearing… The ever famous FROG boots! No word on Jack's reaction to his kid sister stealing his most prized possession.

Maybe I'm partial - but I think she wears them well. BONUS: They are WAY too big on her, so she doesn't really move when she wears them. Which means she doesn't run away from me...

Peek-a-boo, Monday...

 Josie says, "Peek-A-Boo, Monday…I see you."

Like my new shoes? Grandma Nancy got them for me. I can run REALLY FAST faster in them.

We Are BORING

It's pretty sad when the most exciting part of my day is watching my children fight over play with bath toys. Jack is really into having his picture taken while making silly faces. And Josie actually says "Cheee" - when I tell her to smile for the camera.

 Thanks for the new bath boats, Aunt Debbie!

And so help me God…if it snows here tomorrow…I'm packing up this house and buying a place in Florida. (dig, Jaime, dig)

(Side story - when we visited the Moses family in March - we discussed how FL houses don't have basements. Tyson said we couldn't move there unless we could find a house with a basement…and Jaime promised that she would personally dig one for us.)

Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

The weather was MUCH nicer this weekend and our house never floated away…so Jack and Josie had a chance to try out their new playground! They gave it TWO thumbs up!

How cute is that dino hat on Josie? I know it was meant for Jack…but really, who can resist Josie with a dino head?? (thanks, Carrie!)

Apparently, I thought I was 15 again…and agile. So I did this. That was dumb. Not pictured: the kink in my neck. As you can see - Jack thought it was hilarious.

And for the record…Tyson ALSO played on the playground…I just don't have the pictures to prove it, because they mysteriously disappeared.

Looking forward to summer days outside!

Touch A Truck

We went to a Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday. Jack was IN HEAVEN! He got to sit in SO many different kinds of trucks, including his favorites: a dump truck, a crane truck, and a fire truck. 

(Sidenote: we have been REALLY working on saying the "TR" sound with Jack. It comes out as a "F" sound…which is pretty embarrassing at times. Lots of F-Bombs flying around at an event like this!)

Sometimes he got to honk the horns. Double awesome.

 Josie. Not impressed with trucks.

She did get her picture taken with Mater though. (however, still not impressed)

Ohhhh - the Dump Truck. So this one is really great because he says Dum Truck (replace Tr with F). Fabulous. "I like the…!" "My favorite is the…!" "Can we go see the…?"

We met up with the Carstens along the way. Here the boys are touring a vehicle we hope NONE of them ever see the inside of for real - an ambulance.

And after all those trucks, we needed some lunch. So we visited one of Fort Wayne's finest: Coney Island. Delicious.  Although Josie was…not impressed. Go figure.

iPhone Upload

Some random pictures from my phone...

This was taken on Jack's sick day. He had to come with me to Meijer for dog food (and a few other things). He was very good and, therefore, got to ride on Sandy. It cost a penny. Best penny I ever spent...

The Easter Bunny actually brought Jack & Josie a late "gift" this year. Remember when our old playset got demolished by the derecho (100mph wind) last summer? Well, we replaced it and upgraded. Unfortunately, it was put in on a really rainy day. Jack was pretty sad. BUT we will both be excited this summer when we can spend our days at HOME playing outside!

And finally, Brooke posted a self-portrait of Molly - so I thought I would share this ONE of Jack. There were 40 more of this EXACT picture on my phone. Thanks, buddy.

One more thing…if it doesn't stop raining soon…the pond is going to be in my basement. Insurance Agents (hi, I know you are reading this) - send over some sandbags! And a boat.

Sick Days

Bet you can't tell which one of my children is running a 102 degree temperature…(2 days straight). I've decided I'm just going to flush my sick days down the toilet for the next few years. We are thankful for Grandmas (and Grandpas) who help us SO much!

By the way, Jack is the one who is sick. The cookie (dessert) made him feel SO much better…according to him...

Sign of Spring

Happy Friday!

After our return from Florida - I thought it would be pretty cruel of Mother Nature to throw us back into Indiana Gloom. So she was kind - and on Sunday the sun was shining. We went over to Nancy & Denny's to say hi and take a walk.

Tyson did most of the heavy pulling.

Jack showed Grandma and Grandpa how strong he is...

And then there were these. See, in the end, Spring always conquers Winter. Always.

Bon Voyage - Florida Part 5

 The final leg of our trip was the journey home. We had to leave rather early, but Jack convinced his Grandpa to take him on one final ride in the golf cart.

Jack looks sad.

 Josie was trying to figure out how sunglasses work. Fail.

Waiting for Daddy to return the rental car. Jack was being a 3 year old, again. Josie is showing off how she learned to cheese it up for the camera. Also - please notice how my "personal item" (aka: over - flowing purse) is about to bust at the seams. Think I was carrying enough stuff??

I'm happy to report that both kids were AMAZING on the flight home. Josie took a bottle. (See! I told you we'd regress) And then she was OUT for over an hour. (Bottle = worth it) Jack watched a movie and then fell asleep for the last 30 minutes. We will cross our fingers that our next trip is as successful.

Siesta Key - Florida Part 4

Friday morning started off gloomy and rainy. I'd had enough of it and made the call to pack it up and head west. It turned out to be a good call. We drove over to Siesta Key to see my dad's friend, Hively. They had a place right on the beach and it was AWESOME!

I was curious to see how my kids would react to the ocean. They say a picture says a thousand words, so:

Josie thought the waves and wind combo were terrible. Good news: She warmed up to it in time. Jack on the other hand LOVED it.

I think Jack would fit right in on a beach with a surf board. He's been asking to go back since we got home.

Josie eventually loved the beach, the ocean, the waves, and especially digging in the sand. She did not, however, enjoy the hat I wanted her to wear… And so it begins…wardrobe fights.

It was fun to be with my Mom and Dad! They made our trip SO easy and enjoyable. They have a beautiful place in Sebring and we really loved being with them. Thanks!!

Family pics.

Oh - and look who we found. That's right. It seems St. Nick is enjoying his vacation post-Christmas. Get back to work, old man! Christmas is 260 days away.

Cake - Florida Part 3

Have I mentioned that it rained ALL.DAY. on Thursday? Well, Mom, Josie, and I hit up Marshalls for some steals on Summer Wear and Dad, Tyson, and Jack ventured to Hammock State Park - where they hunted gators, but came up empty (again).

That night we celebrated my Grandpa Clev's 85th birthday!

Of course, the golf cart was our preferred mode of transportation. And Jack did his best to act like a 3 year old.

"Grandpa Gigi" with his cake. We told him it was HIS cake, but we all knew it was Jack's. Josie liked the cake, too. But her favorite part is singing Happy Birthday. She ALWAYS thinks we are singing for her. Always.

Four generations of Clevengers, four generations of blue eyes. If you're wondering where all of us get our blue eyes - just look at my Grandpa. (FYI - my dad has blue eyes, and so do my brothers and I…and Jack and Josie). Brown is definitely not dominant in our family.

 Jack was missing Tucker, so he found this guy. Not the same.

Oh wait - back to acting like a 3 year old.

Gator Bait - Florida Part 2

We were promised a few things (by my parents) before we left for Florida:

1. It NEVER rains ALL DAY in Sebring.

2. There is an alligator that lives on the 18th hole.

3. Lots of cake & cookies (that was for Jack).

So - how did those promises pan out?

It rained ALL DAY on Thursday. All.Day. We searched and searched for that gator and thought it was a Sun N' Lakes conspiracy when we couldn't find him…yet everyone we met on our {many} gator hunts told us to look in the 18th pond. FINALLY - on the last day we saw him. 

And Jack got plenty of cake and cookies (more on that later).

We were wise to take a dip in the pool on Wednesday after our visit with Mickey. As mentioned, it rained ALL.DAY. Thursday, which meant no pool. But it was an excuse to shop.

 Jack loved the pool. It's safe to say he will be a little fish this summer when we open our pool.

 Josie liked sitting in the shallow end, but didn't enjoy getting her face wet.

Jack and his Grandpa Jerry on one of their MANY gator hunts.