Father's Day

For Father's Day this year Paul wanted to go for a family hike and have sushi for dinner so we did just that.  We packed up the truck with water, snacks, the hiking backpack and the camera and headed east to Rattlesnake Ridge.  We were both very impressed with how far Jack hiked on his own before asking to be carried, he did a great job!  I told Paul that as a Father's Day gift to him I would carry Jack in the backpack - I really should have thought that one through.  Let's just say it was a GREAT workout :-)  It was a great day for a hike, the view at the top was breathtaking (and also a little nauseating), and we even got to hear thunder, so cool!! 

Happy, happy Father's Day to the man of my dreams and the father I always imagined for our child.

What can I say, the boy likes to eat!

Summer fun!

I know it's not officially summer yet, but the weather has been so nice that it sure feels like it is!  I love our new house and all the extra room we have, but I am most thankful for our yard.  Watching Jack play and run and find bugs and get dirty and drive his trucks through the yard makes me such a happy mom.  Our upstairs deck is a perfect play area for him while I'm making dinner (much better than him pulling on my leg) and today we brought his water table up to add to the fun.

 

The end of an era

Last week was Jack's final preschool day of the year.  He and I have been attending a co-op preschool through North Seattle Community College since he was 4 months old and it has been fabulous in every way!  At first it was just an hour and a half every week that I got to spend with other adults while Jack rolled around next to other babies, but it turned into much more than that.  I made friends, Jack made friends, we both learned songs, Jack learned routines (his favorite routine being as soon as the teacher sings "scarves in the basket" that means it's time to wash hands and have SNACK!), and it was his first introduction to school.  School has always been a place I love - I love to learn, to teach, and to be part of new experiences.  Of course I want Jack to do well in school but even more than that I want him to love school like I did (and still do).  I pray that he is confident in his abilities, comfortable with himself, and has a desire to learn.  That's not too much to ask of a toddler, is it?

My fuzzy-headed little guy on his first day of co-op.  January, 2012

And here he is on his last day of co-op, looking so grown up!

Tulip fields

We might have a lot of gloomy days here in the Northwest, but we also have some spectacular sights to see!  One of which is the tulip festival is LaConner where you can walk through huge fields filled with rows and rows of gorgeous tulips.  This was Jack's first year going (ok he "went" when I was pregnant but I'm not sure that counts) and he had a great time splashing in puddles and smelling the flowers.

Jack made sure we took the time to stop and smell the flowers too

Pointing at the school bus with Gra-Dave

Paul, Jack and Gra

Here's us as a family:

And here's the two of us 4 years ago:

Wow.  A lot changes in 4 years.  Notice the motorcycle gear?  Yea, we drove our car to the tulips this year complete with car seat and diaper bag.  We've both lost weight, gained a fabulous son and ditched the motorcycle gear (at least on the weekends, Paul still rides to work).  Memories are wonderful but I also love the life I'm living today and wouldn't change it for the world.  I'm thankful for the past and look forward to everything the future has in store for us.

Outside

I am positive that if, given the option, Jack would live outside.  From the time he wakes up in the morning till the moment he goes to sleep, the word "outside" is spoken (or whined) at least once every ten minutes.  He loves to run, smell the flowers, climb, slide, splash in puddles, and even pick up the occasional piece of poop (we're working on not doing that).  By far, the hardest part of my day is getting him inside.  But don't get me wrong I'm MUCH rather have trouble getting him inside than getting him to like the outside :)

 

 

Yes, we are getting him a bigger slide soon :)

He loves to climb up and down the stairs on the deck

On the porch of the playhouse at GG's house

One proud momma

Ok, I have to take a second to brag about my ridiculously smart child.  

Jack turned 19 months old this past weekend and is shocking us on a daily basis with how much he knows.  He now knows all his colors (at least the basic ones - we haven't gotten to "periwinkle" or "burnt orange" yet), he can count to 14, recognizes and names numbers 0 - 9, can tell you his right from his left, and knows almost all his letters.  Yes, that's right his letters!  He has a set of alphabet flashcards (My kid has something educational?  Shocking, I know) with capital and lowercase letters.  He loves to sit and go through the box of cards and name all the pictures and letters.  Last night, out of curiosity, I pulled out the flashcards to see how many he really knew and out of 52 cards, he correctly named 42 letters!

Paul, Jack and I were out for a walk the other day and out of nowhere, Jack said, "two five".  Paul and I weren't sure where that came from until we looked up and saw a 25 mph speed limit sign.  I can't explain how much I absolutely LOVE watching Jack grow and learn every day I am so thankful that Paul has blessed me with the opportunity to stay home and raise our incredible child.