Thanksgiving

It was my baby's first Thanksgiving. We had a great evening. Our family has practically doubled in great grandkids since last thanksgiving. Jack and Nathan spent thier evening playing with the pool table balls, and the babies took turns napping. But at one point we did have them all awake for a quick pic. We sure missed having Kyle, Amy and the kiddos home.

Bedtime

Jack has always been really good about going to bed at night. Sleeps well, as long as he has his water and blankies. Lately our bedtime routine has been that while I am attending to Cole, Chris will take Jack up, pray, and tuck him in, then he comes to get Cole, and I got pray and say goodnight. Last night as Chris was getting Jack in bed, Jack sits up in bed. Not being defiant, but kind of dropping over with his arms resting on his legs and his cocked to one side and says, "I don't want to sleep, I already took one last night!" He says these things so cute you almost want to let him get out of bed...but then you remember that you have a childless date with the couch for a few minutes of R&R. At the end of my part of the bedtime routine, I always tell Jack sweet dreams as I walk to his door and he replies with "sweet dreams, you too mommy."

Santa Clause?

I bet there are a lot of parents who have memories made at McDonalds. As we ventured back to Chicago form Kansas City we stopped off at McDonalds for lunch. We picked this for 2 reasons: Convenience and the McRib is BACK BABY! We sat near the window that was closer to the construction next door. A Skid Steer was working away building a new KFC. Jack and his tractors. As we watched the building being built a pickup truck pulled up and parked.
The door opens and out comes and older gentleman with a belly and a pretty heavy white beard. Jack points out the window directly at the old man and yealls, "Santa Clause!" The excitement in his voice. He immediately identified this character (just some retiree getting lunch) from what I don't know. But one thing is for sure...this Christmas is going to be fun.

3 Months

My sweet baby, I can't believe that you are already 3 months old. You are forever changing and developing your unique personality every day. Things to remember when you were 3 months are:

-how you have this half laugh half cry thing
-how you love your blue swing out in the garage
-how when something really intrigues you, you stare at it and start cooing
-your smile that goes from ear to ear
-how you love to suck on your fists, but just can't seem to get that thumb in there
-how strong your little legs are and that you can stand up in my lap
-how chubby your little thighs are
-that you love it when daddy plays his guitar
-how nobody can quite calm you down like mommy can!

Goodbye KC, Hello Home!

Chris's family all lives in KC, so a couple times a year we make the trip down to visit. This past weekend was the first time was had been down since Cole was born. We were quite nervous about driving with Cole since he usually likes to cry, no scream, the whole time we are in the car. But both kiddos did very well on our trip down and back. We had a great time seeing lots of friends and family. Grandma Joyce took Jack to the santa land at Bass pro. He loved driving all the remote control race cars and trucks that they has set up all around. He even crashed the monster truck so hard it broke the rear wheels right off! Grandma Joyce even got Cole to fall asleep.



Of course Chick-fil-a was on the to do list for KC. They had, for a limited time only, peppermint chocolate chip shake! YUMMY! I am now in love with peppermint ice cream, sorry babe! :)
Friday night we got to visit with the Booz's (that a long o). The Booz family helped out the night that Chris and I got engaged and always makes time for a visit when we are in town. The guys were jammin' on the guitars, and Jack got to play drums with D.J. for the first time. He loved it so much, he pretty much ran back and forth to the drums all night. It was awesome, he actually had some rhythm.


Sunday we went to watch Chris run the Gobbler Grind marathon. Jack is such a good spectator. He claps and cheers on the runners and gets daddy's water ready to had to him. The runners always smile when they see him standing on the side. It really was adorable. Thanks to Grandpa Gerald for driving us around so we could see daddy about 8 or 9 times on the trail. Much more relaxing that Chicago marathons where you can only see his about 3 times and I think I am more exhausted from walking all around then Chris is from running!


Most of all Jack had a great time playing with his cousins, and loving on his grandpas and grandmas, as did Cole!



But as nice as it was to visit, it was wonderful to wake up my own bed this morning, know that the kids got a good nights rest, and not have to put them in the car today!

Best Friends

As Jack was eating his breakfast this morning, I was unloading the dishwasher and trying to clean up the kitchen a bit. He looks over at me and out of no where says "Momma, you are my best friend" then just smiles at me. I love this kid!

John Deere, it's the better tractor, John Deere....and un-potty training!

It's amazing how children's songs will stick in your head. Jack son has a few John Deere videos that play this goofy song and for some reason this morning I woke up with it in my head. I can't wait to sing it to Chris and get it stuck in his head as well. :)

More about John Deeres...We have resorted to bribing our son to try and get him potty trained. (by the way, it hasn't worked yet) Chris told Jack if he goes potty on the big boy potty he will take him down to Big R and pick out any tractor he wants. Now you would think that a boy who loves tractors as much as Jack does would take us up on this offer, not so much. He does however remind us several times a week that if he goes big boy potty he will get a tractor. The other night while driving to pick up our van after getting 4 new tires (ugh) Jack reminds us of the deal. (another note...my dad has started collecting some 1/16 tractors and just got a John Deere D that cost him over $100) Chris procedes to say, "that's right Jack, if you potty daddy will let you pick out any tractor you want, my wallet stands open for you." Jack thinks for a minute about what Chris just said and replies with this, "I want tractor like Grandpa's." We just about died laughing in the front seat. Chris was quick to add 'any plastic tractor'!


Jack got to watch a real John Deere combine harvesting corn