A SUPER 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Jack's 3rd birthday with some of Jack's best buddies on Friday night. I'm not exactly sure what I was thinking...working all week and having a party on a Friday night, but it worked out great. Of course, it was a SuperHero Party...so all of Jack's SUPER friends came to celebrate.

Josie and Greta discussed world politics and Indiana Hoosier Basketball. Jack had a blast opening his presents - and then playing with all of them (thanks to Julia for opening them). Maddox and Jace helped Jack figure them all out.

It was a FUN night! Jack was so tired - Tyson and I had to wake him up on Saturday morning to say "good-bye" before we left for Bloomington. 

Looking forward to watching my little man grow during his third year! Hey, maybe he'll get on board with potty training, too. Maybe.

Toddler Art - Couch Edition

I mentioned the other day - Jack's affinity for "ink." Well, he decided to make some "art" on our couch a few weekends ago. I was NOT a happy mommy. Thankfully, the internet AND my Aunt Suzie came to the rescue. Both said that rubbing alcohol would take ink off micro-fiber. 

Jack's "tool" of choice was a ball-point pen - but my Aunt Suzie recently had her couch vandalized decorated by my cousin's son, Elliott (aka: an older version of Jack), with a SHARPIE! And she said rubbing alcohol took it out perfectly.

So - if you have a toddler, know a toddler, or think a toddler may try to "spruce up" your couch someday - go ahead and invest (a whole dollar) in some rubbing alcohol! I'm telling you… IT'S MAGIC!

Shot of Jack

Why are you smiling like that?

I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite.

best.movie.ever.

Jack, what did you do at school today?

When I picked Jack up from school the other day - his teacher "Ms. Jaci" told me that he "had a little fun with markers when he was supposed to be napping." I thought she meant he drew on the wall…again.

That night Tyson went to put his PJ's on him - and had quite a surprise! Let's hope this obsession with ink ends soon…because at this rate he'll be wanting a tattoo sleeve by the time he's 5.

The Birthday…before THE Birthday

Last night we celebrated Jack's birthday with Grandma Nancy & Grandpa Denny…and Joe, Gina, Grandma Shirlee, & Grandpa Jerry via Skype. Jack was beside himself with excitement! Pioneer Woman provided the dinner (I wish) the recipe for dinner - Lasagna. Yum! Both of my kids ate every bite - so thumbs up to Pioneer Woman & her rockin' lasagna.

Jack insisted on having a Power Ranger birthday. Very hard for me to do. But I caved and bought some Power Ranger candles to go on his cupcakes - and he was THRILLED. 

Josie thinks Birthday Parties are amazing. She loves singing Happy Birthday - and always assumes it's for her. We let her believe it...

 Jack's goal for his 3rd year of life: to learn to blow out candles. Dear.Lord. He can't blow air out through his mouth. Finally, after a few minutes of trying - Tyson had to come through with a candle-blowing assist.

I think he liked the cupcakes! And the presents! Thanks for all of the texts, phone/Skype calls, emails, messages, etc. Jack is very loved - and Tyson & I couldn't feel more blessed to have him in our lives.

And now we prepare for Round 2 - the SUPERHERO party with Jack's buddies on Friday. Let the craziness continue...

Yipeeeee! Jack is 3!

Hard to believe we have a 3 year old! But today is our little man's birthday! He is funny, strong-willed, and most definitely - energetic. He keeps us laughing. He keeps us guessing. He will ALWAYS keep us on our toes. We can't imagine our lives without him.

Happy 3rd birthday to our very own SUPERHERO, Jack! We love you!
XOXO, Mommy, Daddy, & Jos

(can you guess what his birthday party theme is?!?!)

Feeling Better

Josie is on a new medicine for another ear infection…and I'm happy to say she's feeling better! She's back to being her ornery self!

We had a low key weekend and tomorrow - it's back to work. I can't say I'm anxious to get back - but I do miss my students! Tomorrow is a "Teacher Work Day" - which will help ease back into our normal routine.

Have a great week! Look for some pictures of our SUPER 3 year old on Tuesday!

U-G-L-Y

 Getting new teeth HURTS (everyone).

Poor Josie is getting some new molars and she has been in pain! I feel so badly for her. Our usually happy, easy-to-please girl had been miserable.

To top it off - she learned she inherited my "UGLY Crier" gene. I have always been an ugly crier. My face turns red and blotchy, my eyes get swollen - and it looks like I've had some sort of allergic reaction. It's U-G-L-Y! Bad news to BOTH of my kids - but especially Josie - you have inherited this from me.

With poor Josie not feeling so great - there has been a WHOLE bunch of U-G-L-Y around here lately. We will hope those teeth pop through soon…

PS: Proof Josie is an U-G-L-Y crier - I got a phone call from daycare one day and they thought she'd had an allergic reaction. Her teacher said, "Her face is really red and her eyes are swollen." Ohhhhh - no, that's just because she's been crying. Sure enough, her teacher did acknowledge she'd cried during her nap (switching from a crib to a cot isn't what Josie had in mind).

New Year's Eve

We spent our New Year's Eve at Nancy & Denny's - for a special FAREWELL, SAFE TRAVELS, WE'LL MISS YOU dinner with Devin & Kristin. They are now back in Idaho (or Die-da-ho, however you choose to pronounce it).

Our night was CRAZY - lots of partying and drinking. Oh wait. That was 10 years ago… Our night was very low key. Tyson and I watched the ball drop from our bed. Then Tyson said, "One more year, hun…" (And I'm still not sure what that meant.)

Here's to a HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS 2013!

Happy 2013!

We hope your year is EXTRA sweet!