SB2K13

Josie's just gearing up for Spring Break 2013! The Sun N Lakes Community Pool is about to get CRAAAAZZZYYYY.

Happy Easter! More pics to come…Shirlee.

Brotherly Love

I snapped a picture at the perfect moment to catch Jack squirting Josie in the bathtub tonight. He is such a great big brother! He loves teasing her (but it's always done lovingly).

ONE.MORE.DAY.   I think I can...I think I can...

Snow Over It

 Nothing screams INDIANA more than a few inches of snow - 5 days into Spring. 

Josie didn't seem to mind the white stuff. But I did. I shoveled our driveway, cussed under my breath, and vowed to find a snowblower (on sale) this summer.

 delicious.

I had another snow day yesterday…which means my summer is dwindling before my eyes.

We definitely took one for the team. Michigian friends, you're welcome.

Milk Strike

You've heard of a hunger strike? Well, Josie is currently on a milk strike. I'm embarrassed to admit (especially on the internets) - but she has been taking a bottle and she's 16 months old. I said it out loud to someone the other day and just having the words roll off my lips was enough to shame me into eliminating it from the bedtime routine.

Tonight I tried to give her a sippy cup. But she adamantly refused. Except for a couple quick swigs (because she was really thirsty). But mostly she was waving it away and yelling at me in a dialect I'm unfamiliar with...

We'll see how long this lasts. Actually, I can already feel myself caving during an upcoming plane ride that just happens to fall right at bedtime. Who planned that??? Oh wait, me.

One Nice Day

We had A nice day this weekend. A day where the sun was shining - which isn't a common thing these days. I hear we have snow on the way, but I'm pretending that it won't actually happen. 

Jack enjoyed digging in his pit-o-sand. Just more affirmation that we really need to get a new playground. I may lose my mind this summer without one...

Josie experienced #winterbabyproblems when she tried to walk on the grass and in the mulch. She definitely doesn't like walking on new "textures." The beach in Florida next week should be a REAL treat...

Needless to say, the Beckers are ready for more sunshine and nicer weather. Bring it on!

Towers

We are happy to have Tyson home from the Academy. He's been in Chicago since Tuesday. Jack really misses his daddy when he's not home. But I'm pretty sure Tyson misses Jack (and Josie) more...

 Jack and Tyson built a pretty amazing tower this morning.

It didn't take Josie long to realize that Jack didn't want her anywhere near his tower. So, being the little sister, she walked as close as she could to it…just to get a rise out of him. Her grandparents think she has a halo…but they don't know the other side of Josie...

A tribute to Oak

Yesterday we lost a member of our "pack." Nancy and Denny's dog Oakley passed away. He was 15 and lived a great life. He was such a sweet boy and will be missed by all of us!

Oak loved sleeping on the back of chairs & couches.  He was adventurous - often leading Nancy on fun games of "catch me if you can" - around the lake and in their West Central neighborhood (aka: The Hood). He was on the lam on more than one occasion.

Tyson bought Annie (Oakley's sister) when he was in high school. Oakley was thrown in as a "bonus" and most definitely sweetened the deal.

Coop & Tuck will pour one out for their homie. Hope there are lots of delicious treats in Dog Heaven, buddy! XOXOXO

A Wee Bit Irish?

Even though we had another "snow day" yesterday - my children still went to their school. (Our motto: "If I'm payin' - they're playin'.")

Tyson was working from home and I was doing report cards. Jack & Josie put on their St. Patty's Day gear and were off to see their friends.

Josie loved her tutu….a little more than I would have liked, actually. She only gets her "girlie" items from her Grandmas (both of them).

Just before I broke the news to her that she is 0% Irish. Sorry, kid, you're (mainly) German. 

Bad News: NO "Kiss me, I'm Irish" shirts for you. 

Good News: Germans think it's okay to drink EVERY DAY. Prost! (Great Aunt Becky & Great Uncle Bill will teach you the official "family drinking song" -  someday…)

Cooper - photo bombing Josie. Look how ashamed he looks back there.  Stop being such a creeper, Coop.

Jack wore a festive t-shirt, too. But was completely uninterested in getting his picture taken. Typical.

Tucker - serving as Jack's booster seat on the couch. They are really cute together. Today when I picked Jack up from school - the dogs were in the car. Jack gave Tuck a big hug and said, "Hey, buddy! How are you, Bud?"

Cereal, please?

Josie always seems to know what she wants when it comes to food. And in the morning she wants cereal…in a ziploc bag…to go.

I wanna be like Jack...

Josie wants to do whatever her big brother is doing. Yesterday - she saw him pull up a chair (too close to the TV) to watch Little Einsteins. So she trotted off to the playroom and tried to pull her own chair into the TV room. Daddy had to help her. But you can see - she was PRETTY happy with herself once she sitting next to her big brother, even if she didn't care about watching TV.