Shadow Pic - a bit overdue

And my tradition of the fall shadow picture (yes, it's now winter) is finally posted!

Unfortunately, David wasn't with me when I took this. Kind of telling of 2011. It was a very busy year and many times David and I felt like two ships passing in the night.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jack!

My baby is three today!
Jack has been such joy, blessing, and gift these last three years. He has such a personality. It's been so fun watching him blossom into this wonderful preschooler. Jack reminds me a lot of my Dad. Not only does he have my Dad's stick straight hair, he has my Dad's loving side and temper!
Jack, I love you more than you will ever know little guy!

A bit about Jack these days:

• LOVES LOVES LOVES the movie Cars and Cars 2. 99% of his day, Jack is holding one of his Lightning McQueen cars in his hand, even at time night!
• One of Jack's favorite foods are Cuties. He can put them away!
• Jack has also moved from his favorite ice cream flavor of vanilla to chocolate!
• Jack continues to wear his Lightning McQueen swim trunks (cars trunks) during the majority of the day.
• Jack loves his big sister, Lily. They play so well together. We often find them at night, sleeping in the same room.
• Jack can almost dress himself. He needs a little help, but he pretty much has it down.
• No interest in potty training quite yet. He told me the other day, "I don't want underwear, I want my diaper!" Perhaps in a few months.
• Jack loves to run and be chased. He asks me "Can I run and can you get me?"
• Jack speaks so well now, he can basically get any thought across to us. He still says "Wiwwy" for "Lily" and this year is "Cwismas".
• Jack enjoys going to Mom's Morning Out (school). And his favorite toy there? Lightning McQueen!

I love you little buddy! Thank you for being born! :)

12-22-2008

 

 

 

3rd Birthday Party

Picture by Lily

Sayings

My kids crack me up with what they tell me and I overhear.

Today I noticed a very large mess, along with a torn up diaper box in our living room. I asked Lily, "Why did you make such a mess?"
Lily, "It wasn't me! It was Jack and me!"

Cracked me up

Another common saying is when one kid tells the other what to do, the response is:
"You're not the parent. You are the kid!"

Santa 2011

This is the first year both kids did "okay" with Santa. Last year was quite a disaster! Lily wouldn't look at the camera and she was face down on my chest. Yes, I had to sit with them for the picture. This year, Jack was a bit shy at first, but he warmed up to Santa once Santa asked about his Lightning McQueen car (Jack is holding it with his right hand). Happy Holidays everyone!

Testing Testing

I don't consider myself a great cook. I grew up eating a certain amount of Mexican dishes (quite tasty Mexican dishes - Thanks Dad!). I can make a mean bowl of beans and rice. However, anything outside of Mexican and a few choice breakfast meals, my dishes don't always turn out very well. I don't have a lot of patience in the kitchen. I want meals that are easy and quick to make. Watching my husband roll out pasta for 10 minutes for ravioli at Thanksgiving wore me out! When a recipe is the slightest bit complicated, I take it to David who will most likely enjoy making the dish.

Tonight, David was running errands during the normal dinner prep time. I decided to venture into the land of cooking. I felt like something warm and comforting. I decided to go for vegetarian chili. I used this Weight Watchers recipe as my inspiration.  I changed up a few things. I used real onions instead of the suggested dehydrated. I added a bay leaf and added some boca crumbles and white beans. I also added a few more spices in my cupboard. The moment came when it was time to eat and it was DELICIOUS! Yahoo!

December 2011

I hope in 2012 I will be better with blogging. I want to keep this as a diary of sorts to remember all the crazy moments being a Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend.

We remain to stay quite busy. I am going to be picking up another 4 hour shift at work in mid-December, so that will move me to 16 hours/week. I'm excited to take on more responsibilities (more pay) and yet a bit nervous with the time away from my kids and house.


For Halloween Lily was a witch and Jack was Elmo.

For Thanksgiving, we had a quiet dinner of homemade ravioli. David rolled out the pasta and made a squash filling and a spinach/ricotta cheese filling. David's Mom visited us from Las Vegas and the kids really enjoyed her. We "visited" North Carolina on Skype and "hung out" with Bonnie, Mark, Grant and my parents. My nephew, Grant is now walking all over the place! He turned 1 on November 7th.

We plan to have a quiet Christmas here in Colorado Springs. My hope was we could go to Indiana, but finances won't allow it this year. We still own the condo David had before we got married. We are now talking with a property manager and are hoping to have it rented by end of year.

Some pictures....

A few months ago the kids and I went to Helen Hunt Falls and then to ice cream. Our favorite ice cream shop has a chalk board and Lily showed us her drawings...

The final masterpiece. This is Lily and Jack by the way.

I always look forward to playgroups. Unfortunately, with our school and nap schedules our playgroups are few and far between. This is Zoey and Zach. We've known them since the older kids were just tiny babies!

Jack became much more mobile and daring in 2011. Many headstands and lots of running around occurred.

We have some awesome parks in Colorado Springs. This park has an awesome running hill.

Jack's obsession: Lightning McQueen

Note Jack's trunks and slippers. These are a constant. If he is home, he is wearing at least his Cars trunks. I'm digging Lily's eye mask as well.

Had my fair share of ear aches/infections this year. This was my latest one. Feeling better finally!

And the eye mask again

Visit from Grandma D