Breaking Point

Last weekend was fun filled and ended with a big trip to the Zoo. Little did we know that getting to the Zoo would be a Zoo. With all of the flooding in Chicago, the heaviest concentration was right at the Brookfield location. 2.5 hours or so to drive to the zoo and find parking (the bulk spent on finding parking) due to road closings and parking lot closings.

Well, we got there and found great parking, for free, near the Zoo. Several hours spent inside and walking aorund, etc. On the way home Alissa and I were exhausted. Jack on the other hand was catching a second wind and going 100 miles an hour with questions and talking. After 12 solid hours away from home Al and I were quickly becoming grumpy parents. Asking jack to "PLEASE be quiet!" and other requests that were met with "NO! I won't be quiet!"

We were at our breaking point and close to losing it to be quite honest. Well we decide to give Jack his toy we bought at the Zoo whcih was a Giraffe head attached to a long stick with a handle that would make the Giraffe's mouth move and talk. He saw me using this toy throughout the day talking to people and animals and having fun with the toy (For teaching purposes only...really). So the moment before Alissa and I start yelling and becoming demanding parents Jack takes the Giraffe head (attached to an 18 inch stick) and plops it to the right of Alissa's face while she is trying to relax in the car.

She looks to her right, sees a Girrafe head and Jack pulls the trigger moving the mouth and says loudly, "Heh-Wo" (hello). Instead of losing it in anger we laughed so hard we cried until we got home. Jack, seeing that this pleased the crowd, maintained form and let the Giraffe eat Alissa's hair, mouth catchy phrases and put on an act for the tired crew up front.

I guess our breaking point was near the funny end and not the angry end. Jack - You are a funny kid. Thanks for the great weekend and very talented entertainment!

ROI

Another weekend gone by and my co-workers give me a hard time because I look exhausted on Monday's with puffy eyes. It is true. The weekends are non-stop fun for Alissa and I with the boys. We don't watch the kids, we invest in their lives. We are constantly at their level, i.e., on the floor, on the knees, in the swing set, on the baseball field, etc. You see, watching is something you do while doing something else. On the weekends its all about Jack and Cole. Gardening, Tractor..ing, Mowing, Playing, Fort..ing (building forts), Eating, Reading and any other "ing" you can think of.

There is a lot of excitement and energy in young kids. Everything is new to them. The tractor ride to come is more exciting than the previous one. Listening to the John Deere song never gets old, it gets better. It is in the times where I am busy doing something else, pulling weeds or whatever, and Jack says; "Good job Daddy" or "Good eye Daddy" do I realize that all of the time spent with him and investing in him and building him up is paying off.

Some investors like to play conservative and invest a little here and a little there in hopes of modest returns over a long period of time. When it comes to my kids I like to take a high risk mentality; Invest everything I have in them now with no reserves. I'll get to see the payoff now...and later.

Colorado, Here We Come!

Tickets are booked, there is no turning back now. The first weekend of November we are heading to Colorado Springs to spend a few days with one of my dearest friends. We tried to do it last fall, but couldn't make it work, and now I am so excited to go visit. Lisa and I were roommates all through college, and although we live half a country apart, when we get on the phone it's like were just a few towns apart. It will be so fun for the boys to play together. Cole and Wilson were born 1 day apart last fall. Jack and Lilian are 5 months apart and I think were 1 when they saw each other last.

November seems like a long ways off, but it will be here before we know it!

10 Months

Only 2 months left until we celebrate Cole's first birthday! Time....you can stop now! This summer has been so much fun with both boys. Cole is crawling and getting into everything now. Jack has fun, sometimes too much fun, chasing and playing tackle with Cole. Cole's newest thing is to look between his legs. He will be crawling, then just stop and touch his head to the floor and look between his legs at whatever might be behind him. He says "ba-ba" and "ma-ma". AND he shakes his head no. It's so funny to watch. If you start shaking your head, he jumps right in starts shaking his. Then usually keeps on going as long as you are laughing.

One really sweet memory that I never want to forget is how he sings. I have these Praise Baby videos that Cole really likes to watch. It's worship music playing with pictures of babies doing things. So a lot of nights I put that on while I am making dinner. Now as soon as the voices start singing, you hear him start this gentle hum. And he just keeps humming with the music. It is absolutely precious. I love that he is already learning to praise the Lord.

He is standing and pulling up on everything, getting up a stair or two, still eating everything, drinking from a sippy cup, loves tortellini, does not love the pool, and still only has 2 teeth.

Here are a few pictures from last night when we took Jack and Cole to the Fun Park to go mini golfing and drive go carts. Cole did so well, just strolling around while Jack loved every minute on it.

Swimming

We have officially begun our swimming adventures at Aunt Meggie's pool. In her subdivision is a really nice pool and it has a zero depth kiddy pool with a mushroom waterfall. Jack LOVES it! The jury is still out on Cole. He did better yesterday when we went. Hopefully when the water really warms up he will like it much more. Jack got a noodle today at walmart to take with him to the pool next time and he can't wait. Here are a few pics of our little fishies.

Cole really preferred the comforts of his own chair as to cold water

Father's Day Weekend

We had a really nice weekend for Father's Day. Saturday night we went down to Grandma Marge's and Grandpa's Ronnies. We had a picnic out in the backyard and all the kids got to play on the golf cart. Jack and Nate brought thier power wheels down so they were zooming all around chasing each other on those. Then Sunday Chris did a Father's day 5K with both boys. He got many looks for pushing the double BOB in the run. He did awesome! I forgot what his time was, but he could tell you. Then we grilled steaks and chicken for lunch. YUMM-O!

Chris I hope you enjoyed your Father's Day. You are such an amazing dad to Jack and Cole. No matter what time you get home at night, you change your clothes and head right outside to play with Jack. Cole is starting to get in on the fun of playing with you guys, and loves every minute. Jack thinks so highly of you and jumps for joy when he sees your truck pulling up at night. Every day he asks if you don't have to go work the next day in hopes of having a full day to play with you. The time you invest in your boys is more important than anything else, and I love you for that!

My 3 racers!Jack and Grandpa swinging togetherDaddy and his boys!

Mmmm.....I love sweet corn!Dreaming of a whole field of sweet corn I could chew on :)

All by yourself

Jack you are just getting so big. I can hardly believe that you are almost 3 1/2 already. Yesterday was momentous! You drove the big John Deere all by yourself! I could believe it, but I could because you are such a visual learner. You see something once and know exactly how to do it. Grandpa walked in front of you and drove the JD right behind him. You even know how to put it in neutral, throttle down, and turn it off. You amaze me every day.