What does the Easter Bunny do the rest of the year?..

..He is a Safari Bunny of course. Jake wrote a story at school about what the Easter Bunny does the rest of the year and we had to make the bunny to go along with it at home. Jake loves animals and is full of facts about them. When he was 4 he wanted to be Jeff Corwin (from Animal Planet...he is the snake guy) for Halloween. So naturally, Jake's idea of the Easter Bunnies other profession was not a surprise at all. Notice the snake in his hand and one coming out of his pocket. Also the real feathers in his hat. (Amaron- these are the feathers from the Grouse Joe shot last fall...yes we still had them.) The tubes attached to his hand are his binoculars, but you knew that, right? How cute is my sweet boy?

The monkey in my house.

Ignore the mess and enjoy the pictures of the monkey that lives in my house. Jake takes off his socks and runs around so he can get his feet sweaty. Once they are sweaty enough you can no longer touch the carpet because it will wipe the sweat off and you won't be able to climb as high...This in a few words sums up the fact that Jake never gets bored...

Notice Bella laying on the floor not even phased by Jakes climbing abilities...She is used to him by now.

Out of the mouth of a 7 1/2 year old...

Jake cracks me up! On Sat. Aaron, Jake and Matt (Aaron's brother) went hiking. They took our dog Emily and along the way came across some other hikers with a dog. Well, as dogs do-they sniffed each others bums. To this Jake said "that is like a dogs high five."

Way too close to the edge...Jake told me "Daddy was holding Emily's collar because she might fall off"...

I was not very happy with Aaron when I saw this picture... Evidently Daddy's are not as paranoid as Mommy's...


I think Uncle Matt found the safest place to enjoy the view...though I am sure he ventured to the edge too.

Thanks for the memories...

In the past 5 months I have had the chance to throw all responsibilities to the wind and act like a 13 year old again. I spent months anticipating the events to come. I spent time with good friends preparing for our adventures by making crazy t-shirts and laughing until our sides hurt and we had tears in our eyes. I screamed until I was horse (...for a couple of days) and I thought the ringing in my ears would never go away because of the loudest noise I have seriously ever heard in my life...Yes my friends, I have had the chance to see The New Kids on the Block in concert again-TWICE...Life is good! I loved them the first time around (in the late 80's early 90's and saw them in concert 3 times back in the day) and still do! I saw them in Atlanta in Oct. and seriously thought my hearing was going to be impaired the rest of my life! My friends and I were obviously not the only ones excited about it...It was crazy and wonderful! Greenville on St. Patty's day was a smaller venue so the ringing in the ears only lasted for a few hours...but the memories will last forever. They are true entertainers!
I didn't realize how much I needed to act like a 13 year old again. I highly recommend it! I never thought I would have the chance to feel like that again...I never even knew I needed it...A break from cleaning toilets, helping with homework and PTO was greatly appreciated. Thanks to Aaron, who thought I was crazy before and now he knows for sure it is true and still loves me! Thanks to Jake for being the only person in the house to like the music I love! Thanks to my mom and dad for chipping in for "round two" as an early birthday gift! I needed a break from reality, but now I am back and remembering I am 32 (almost 33...) and that my life is so much better than good-it is great...Now excuse me...I have to go clean my toliets...





...One more thing...I may post a picture of us in our awesome t-shirts...I am still trying to decide how much of my "crazy" I am willing to let you all see! And these little pic's give it no justice-we had great seats! So great we got to high five the guys as they left stage "B"-and yes I screamed (everyone did) like an insane person. If it had been 20 years ago you would have had to pick me up off the floor! This time around I just screamed...I am making progress toward being a grown up...right? (By the way the new first song on my "playlist",that you may or may not have paused, is NKOTB. If you like pop/R&B you will love it! If not...just humor me, it won't kill ya!)

Holding Hands

After school yesterday Jake and I went to Target to find a birthday gift for one of his best friends birthday party. As we got out of the truck Jake looked at me a little nervously. Then he walked a step behind looking a little sad. I asked what was wrong and reached out to hold his hand. He looked up at me and with a look of relief took my hand. Then he said "Mr. Vaughn (his gym teacher) told us today that our parents aren't going to hold our hands anymore and that we had to start doing more for ourselves...So, I was worried you weren't going to hold my hand." How sweet is that!?! We talked and I explained to him that Mr. Vaughn was using a saying that people use, that kind of means we won't always be able to do everything for them and they have to to take responsibility. He understood and felt much better.
I love how children take things so literally. I remember one time when Jake was probably 3 years old and I told him to go jump in bed and I would be right there to tell him goodnight. Well, when I walked in his room he was jumping up and down on his bed and he said "thank you Mommy! I always want to jump in my bed and you never let me! Thank you!"
I also love that he was sad I might not hold his hand. I will be sad when he doesn't want to hold my hand for sure!

Why so many pictures?! Just because....

For anyone who is wondering why I put so many pictures on my blog there are a few reasons. A friend of mine uses lists to make her point and I think I will do the same...

1. I am officially retired from scrap booking! I don't have enough space to store all the things that go along with the hobby, enough money to buy all the paper, markers and cutting tools, or enough time to keep up with it. My mom and sister made out like bandits a couple of years ago when I made this decision and let them take what they wanted from my scraping supplies. Plus, I have a scrap book that I filled with so many pages that the ring broke on it...it was the first 5 months of Jake's life...I could never figure out what to scrap and what not to scrap...

2. I need to journal more...I decided when I got pregnant with Jake that I would document all my inner most thoughts, all the cute things he said and on what date, when he first did whatever it was that was so important...you get the picture. And, I would do all this so he could read it to his children. Well...sorry dude I am really just starting now. I have about 20 started journals and 0 completed. I am a slacker and I am not afraid to admit it. So, if I randomly write a post that is about something from 4 years ago it is because the guilt has gotten to me.

3. I take about a bazillion (yes that's right I said a bazillion) pictures at every event and I do nothing with them... In fact I am kicking myself for going to Spartanburg this weekend and not taking pictures with the Martin cousins. What was I thinking?

4. Aaron keeps telling me that cleaning is not a hobby and I need to get one...He means it in a loving way of course! I pick up a hobby here and there but don't stick with it. I crocheted about a million scarves at Christmas and I am so done with it...for now. I used to have lots of hobbies and then I had Jake. He is a great hobby! But I also need something to do when he is at school or sleeping.

So, this is my new hobby that helps me journal and scrap book all in one! Another friend mentioned to me that at the end of the year I can print my blog into a book! I love that idea! So , this is kind of my disclaimer to let you know that my blog may sometimes bore you and I am okay with that. Just skip it if it is long and boring and you can tell that I am posting to myself. That being said...How cute is Jake? He is about 3 1/2 in most of these pic's...notice they are firsts and other things of importance...this is a guilt post...you have been warned! :)

Jake is a soccer playing fool! This is a picture of his first season of soccer. He was one of the big kids that year because of when his b-day is (since then has been one of the younger ones!) He scored 6 goals in one game and was very competitive...He felt the weight of being the big kid and had to help his team win and was bummed (to put it lightly...) when they didn't. My timing is so great in this picture-he was getting ready to score and he knew it...I wish my camera hadn't been to slow to catch his reaction after it went in!


Jake loved Thomas the tank engine when he was little. We surprised him when he was 3 1/2 and took him to see Thomas at Tweetsie. I love this picture! This is after a fun filled day, when we got to ride on Thomas a 2nd time because he wasn't full! Jake was sooo tired but still enjoyed every minute of it.


This is Jake's first time bowling! It was a birthday party for a little girl in his "3's" preschool class. I still remember that she was wearing a princess costume that didn't cover her stomach. Jake whispered (luckily) that she wasn't dressed modestly...


This a picture of Jake on way to church for his first day of Primary as a Sunbeam (at our church we call the children's Sharing time and Sunday School "primary". You are a "Sunbeam" when you are 3 and leave nursery and move up to Primary").

What a difference a week can make!

From playing in the snow one week to playing in the river the next! While Aaron went to Leadership Training on Saturday, Jake and I took Emily to play in the river. Jake of course ended up getting in. I only let him go in up to his waist...I know the water was probably a little colder than usual, but it really is always cold! I remember as a child going to the beaches in Maine and playing on the very rocky shore. We wouldn't realize until we were done playing that our feet were all cut up and bleeding because they were so numb. I figure we all survived and he will too. Jake bumped his knee and it was bleeding but he didn't even notice. There are so many memories I have from my childhood that Jake won't be able to have because the world has changed too much to let him wonder and explore the way we did. I figured the no pain because you are numb memory is one that we can still share.


There was still a little bit of snow left in some shaded places.

Emily

Emily is our black lab who doesn't have a bone in her body that will allow her to disobey. If you look up loyalty in the dictionary there should be a picture of her! She loves us all for different reasons. Aaron is the pack leader. Emily stares at him until they make eye contact because as much as she wants to, she will not go over to "bug" him for attention unless he is aware of it...Does that make sense? If you make eye contact you are in for it-she will come over to you. She loves Aaron's attention even if it is just pat on the head...With me she is totally different. She will come over and lean on me until I almost fall over-she has to be as close as possible. She loves to lay her head on me no matter where I am-standing up, sitting down...she knows if she gives me the pitiful puppy eyes I will not be able to resist hugging her or patting her. She is my feet warmer in the winter.

Jake is her best friend. I just caught her sneaking in to Jake's room to try to sleep with him. Keep in mind that Jake sleeps with his door closed, but if you push on it, it will open and Emily has figured this out. I told her to come out, so I know she won't go back in...the whole must obey thing that is a part of her makes it impossible. Earlier today Jake was playing across the street with his friend and Emily watched this for quite some time from the front window until she just couldn't stand it any more. She came over to me and acted like she had to go to the bathroom. So, I let her out she quickly "went" and then headed around to the front of the house and across the street to play with Jake. I called her and because she just has to be obedient she came back reluctantly.

One more example of her love for Jake and I will stop...Last week I walked to school to pick Jake up and I brought Emily. On the way back home we walked part of the way with Jake's good buddy Cameron and his mom and sister. When we got to their house we chatted while the boys ran to the back yard to play for a while. Emily was on a the leash and I was holding it. She could only stand it for so long...she could hear Jake, but not see him and she started to whimper. Finally I let her off the leash and she tore off around the house. A minute later she came back. She just needed to make sure he was okay and she was okay. Emily is a great example... Just look at her sweet mug-how could you not love her.

Emily and Bella, one of the little sweethearts I babysit. Bella loves Emily and Emily loves Bella...sometimes...she is not big on the pinches that she occasionally gets but she lives with it.


Jake fell asleep with his head on Emily one day while listening to his "shuffle" and even though we came in and out a couple of times to get pictures she still didn't get up.


This is Emily staying close to Daisy on the day we had to say goodbye. Daisy was my first "baby" and everyone in the house knew we were spending our lasts hours with her. It was hard on all of us, especially Emily.

I will save the Daisy story for another day...She was a mess! And we miss her.

Jake's school rocks!

I love Jake's school! They always have something fun going on. On Friday they had a "Bug Guy"there, that did magic tricks and talked about insects. Jake got to go up on stage and help with part of it. He was so excited! He was also wearing his PJ's that day because his class had received 100 compliments! They get rewarded by having a PJ party. The week before was the 100th day of school so they got to dress up like 100 year old people. For the month of March they are having a read-a-thon to raise money and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday. To kick it all off they get to dress up as Dr. Seuss characters today. Mrs. King the principal even gets in on the fun! What an awesome school that remembers it is important to learn, but it is just as important to be a kid!

Jake on the 100th day of school...his bow tie is drooping a little. Notice the black socks...He wouldn't let me draw wrinkles on his face.


Here is Jake in his PJ's.


Jake as the boy with a "Wocket in his Pocket!"


A close up on the wocket...yes it is a sock-I procrastinated.


Jake and Mrs. King, as the cat in the hat!

Snow Day

Finally we had snow that amounted to something! Jake has loved having 2 days of school off to play and hang out. Sunday I can only imagine how our primary leaders and teachers kept the children in their seats at church when they noticed the snow outside! We never seem to get as much snow as every where else, so we were excited to see almost as much snow at our house as there was in Asheville. We were so excited and had fun making a slushy snowman! We spent the evening in the dark (the power went out for a couple of hours) and had fun camping out in the living room. The topic of conversation was who we would be if we could be a super hero, and if two super hero's had to match up against each other, which one would win. Don't you think Batman would kick Spider Man's butt? We didn't all agree on that one!



Monday was an all day play date for Jake with his friend who lives across the street, Cody. From 8:00am to 4:00pm they went from our yard to theirs...hot chocolate at Cody's...back outside...lunch at our house...back outside...You get the picture! Jake was tired but happy at the end of the day. We love the snow!



You can't tell but it was dark in the house except for the candles and head lamp!



This is what it looked like outside Sunday evening!


Our little snow man on Sunday in the nice slushy snow!



Our little snow man the next day...after a couple more inches of snow.





Jake making a snow angel.



Jake and his buddy who lives across the street, Cody.



Wind blown checks at the end of the day!