So Jack

There is a hard thing to explain to other people about Jack.  Jack is an organizer of events.  He likes to organize and be in charge of activities.  He is really good with coming up with a grand activity, just needs a little guidance in making the concrete plans of how it is actually going to come about.  I took pictures not because it was above and beyond what he normally plans but because it was so Jack and we do stuff like this all the time.  I wanted document the regular life of my boy.

Yesterday night he organized an activity for us to do that is just such a Jack thing.  We had fireworks, but with less heat.  He planned and got ready all afternoon.  He set up chairs for everyone, got refreshments ready, lights from the garage so we could all see better, hand sanitizer for those who wanted it, lids and spoons for everyone so we could make the noise of the fireworks (since “fireworks are really really noisy”), and assisted me in getting the fireworks assembled (the fireworks were strikingly similar to baking soda/vinegar volcano explosions).  Everything went off flawlessly and he was pleased with the results.

Charlotte was absolutely enamored with it afterwards.  She loved making her own bubbles.  Every time she would add her baking soda her face would light up in astonishment, her mouth in an ‘o’ and her expressive eyebrows as high as the could reach.  It was absolutely adorable.  My little scientist.  I had left my camera inside and didn’t want to disturb her by leaving, so I didn’t get a proper picture.  The picture I did take of her is just before clean up and not as excited, but still captures the moment. 

The set up:

 

The action:

 

The aftermath:

Cabinet Glimpse

 

 

In addition to the kitchen, front room and 2 kid rooms, Katherine painted one of our built-in cabinets for us.  I have always liked painted furniture, always been drawn to the red or green ones.  I wanted some color in the house, but all the colors I liked would have been overwhelming on the walls.  So we decided to do neutral on the walls in the main areas and to add the color on the built-in cabinets and in the curtains.  I love LOVE it so far.  The cabinet pictured above is in the kitchen/eating area.  It is not the color I expected, so I was a little weary as the paint started going on, but the more I see it the more I love it.  The handles were outdated.  Fortunately the oval backing was separate and just the handle works better than expected.  I’ll take more pictures as I finish the curtains to give a more completed look.  Eventually we’ll do an overhaul on the flooring and countertops and what not.  Exciting stuff!

Before and After – Sneak Peek

Bill and Katherine have been machines since they have been here…here is a sneak of one of the MANY things they have accomplished…

 

First Day of Kindergarten

Wednesday was the beginning of the end…Jack started school.  I can’t tell you how crazy that is.  Having him home seemed forever but now that it is over, it flew by so fast.  Getting ready he wanted gel in his hair and so I put it in, and he wanted it in a mohawk, but then looked in the mirror and asked if it looked stupid.  I asked if he liked it, but he wasn’t completely satisfied, so we laid it down.  This is the very first time that Jack has ever EVER been concerned about his looks…

There was no crying from him or from me when I took him.  We got there early so we were able to play on the playground for a little bit.  Then I gave him a hug in his classroom and that was that! 

Pictures before we left the house:

 

Pictures at school:

  

So, how’d he do?  Well, when I picked him up in the loading zone, he was next to the teacher and when she saw me she turned around and said that Jack did great.  Then she looked at me again in the eye, nodded her head and said, “No, he was awesome.  He did really, really good.”  I am so proud of him.

All that Jack could tell me about was that they played, ate snack and lunch, and what the hot lunch for tomorrow was.  He said it was good and seemed so happy and excited to go back tomorrow.  Someone accidently took his lunch but he told the teacher and they found the culprit only after the kid drank his juice box but before he got the fruit snack.  I asked him if was worried about it but he said “no”.  He had 3 different name tags and Katherine tried to take one off, but he slapped his hand over it super quick to keep it on his shirt.  It was funny.

When he got home he got to watch a movie  but then he was super duper helpful with the dinner he picked out (pork steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli and pavlova) and set the table by himself, and there was no fighting, and during scripture time before bed he was really insightful with what he read.  He goes to Kindergarten one day, then he is all grown up!  What’s up with that?!  

Jack, I am so absolutely proud of you.  You are an incredible boy.

Spoiled

I feel so special that my inlaws drove 16 hours to be here for a visit and my parents and lil bro were in Long Beach for the week and drove 4 hrs to come up to see us. We had a hobo hot dog bbq at the river, walked the property, and then mom, dad, and Thabo left. They drove 5 hrs or so to San Diego. I felt so special that they came do far out of the way to see me. It was SOOOO good to see them. It was their first time here.

Can I tell you how much I love the river? It is about 7 mins away and has a HUGE shallow area. It has sand that looks like gold and tadpoles and a large sandy area. It is crazy because it is also extrememly underused. We are usually there by ourselves, and occasionaly there is a handful of other people. We brought our dog (Bill and Katherine brought her down) and Bill and Katherine's dog Bella. Thabo threw the ball for her the entire time and both dogs had a great time. We go to the river several times a week. Geni is going to love it.

Camera Face

 

Charlotte now has a camera smile.  It is pretty endearing, but getting a decent picture of her is now not likely.  What a funny girl she is. 

Lately we’ve been thinking about Charlotte.  In the past 4 months or so she suddenly turned from this sweet happy little baby to this adorable, pushy, bossy toddler.  But yes, totally funny, adorable, beautiful, and full of personality. 

Charly is a girl of routine.  Not a routine that we enforce, but one that she is quite adamant about following.  We had family home evening on yesterday and Joel usually makes popcorn for treat.  We changed it up and ate ice cream instead.  While we were serving up and started eating, Charlotte had gotten tupperware out for everyone and was walking around holding hers waiting for the popcorn.  It was pretty cute, in a sad sort of way.  Joel felt pretty bad so he made it up for her Tuesday night.

It is her bedtime routine that she makes us do that she is very particular about.  Joel and I have never sat down and talked about what we are supposed to do for her but she communicates and we both have the same routine with her:

*Read book in chair with blanket from crib in her lap.  (I give her a choice of books, and she is always very careful to pick the one she wants and then chucks the reject over the side of the chair.)  After book, she chucks that one too over the chair.

*She folds her arms for personal prayer, flips over in your arms, gives you a squeeze, you rock 3 times to get up, and then you carry her over so she can turn off the light.

*Sing her a song while you twist and bonk her head on the crib and say “ouch” every time her head hits.  She loves this.

*You plop her in bed, blow kisses, kisses on her hand, then smother her face with your hand.  She rolls over, you make sure her blanket is situated, then you tickle her and blow kisses at the door.

Whew….Love that high maintenance girl.

*

Saturdays

Shhhh....I am home alone, and what am I doing? Writing about it on the blog! I'm supposed to be cleaning and doing laundry, but no, I got all excited and got on the computer...as long as Joel sees some sort of effort made, I think I'll be safe...

I love Saturdays. LOVE 'em. It is really Joel's only day off. (Sundays don't really count.) He sure makes everything better. We are all happier when he is home. But where is my familia? Well, Joel took the kids out for breakfast, like he does every Saturday. I LOVE that tradition. Every once in a while they go to the diner, so I go with them. I thoroughly enjoy the 30 - 40 mins to myself and the morning off cooking. The kids eat donuts like crazy and LOVE being with dad.

When they come home we can start doing a project around the house or outside. I LOVE working with the family! I don't know why, but it does bring me so much happiness. Well, if everyone is happy, that is, and the kids and I actually get to work and not just watch. And if it is not too hot outside. (And, and, and....maybe I'm just hard to please, too many ' and if's to make me happy...sorry Joel.) But when it all falls into place, it is heaven.

Ahhh, okay. I had a breather. Now I need to get myself into gear...maybe I can exercise before they come home too! Now that would be cool...

Happy Saturday!