Easter Weekend 2010/Friday Five

Yay, it is happy Friday even though it seems like it was just the weekend.  We haven't had very much going on this week.  Jack started back at preschool, and he is really enjoying it.  He has a new building and a new classroom.  They are very nice inside.  Jack, really enjoys having something to go and do every week.  Tuesday they rode the bus to the library, and he told me they got to learn about a bearded dragon, and they got to pet one with two fingers.  Except Jack called it a bearded yizard because he has trouble with his L's, and it is just too cute.  I need to get a video of him describing his yizard experience.  We have been spending lots of time outside enjoying the warmer weather, and getting some fresh air.  Really it has been hot here the past week in the near 80's.  I have to try to remember to sunscreen Jack before he goes to preschool because he has come home with a little sunburn on his neck and face.  Poor thing just burns so easily, and I am diligent about sunscreening him when we go out and about, but I forget he spends a good portion of his day outside when he's there.  

I will go ahead and update about our Easter weekend even though I won't be able to include pictures until the computer is fixed, and I have them scheduled to come out this Sunday.  We had a really nice Easter weekend.  Zach and I worked around the house Saturday morning, and then we all walked to the exchange so that Zach could get his haircut.  Something that Zach and Jackson always used to do, but I started tagging along, and I really enjoy it.  Jack, loves going to the barbershop, and he really loves Barbara the nice lady that cuts Zach's hair.  They have quite the little relationship going, and he is so happy to see her.  It doesn't hurt that she supplies him with all the candy he would like while he's there.  We let Jack take a nap while we got the eggs ready for dying.  I was very proud of myself for getting them done early in the afternoon this year instead of late in the evening like usual.  We had a great time dying the eggs.  This year Jack was old enough to used the tongs to put his eggs in the dye and take them out.  Even though we had tons of eggs we got done pretty quickly because he couldn't put them in the dye fast enough he was having so much fun.  We all cleaned up and headed out the door to Adam and Whittney's house for her Easter dinner.  As usual she made tons of food, and it was all very good.  We had lamb which neither of us had ever had before, and it was very tasty.  

Sunday we woke up pretty late despite needing to get up early to finish cleaning the house, and get ourselves ready for church and the Easter Bunny.  Some Marines had some trouble the night before that took them to the hospital and had Zach gone until 4:30 in the morning taking care of things.  Trying to pry him out of bed that morning was near impossible.  It was a good thing we were going to Adam and Whitt's church instead of our very early service.  Running around ironing shirts and throwing on clothes we managed to make it there on time.  It was a very nice service, and Jack really enjoyed his sunday school.  Adam and Whittney kept Jack there for their after church egg hunt while Zach and I ran home to make sure the Easter Bunny had done his job.  Jack, loved everything in his Easter basket he had it all strewn across the living room.  The lucky little boy had so much stuff that he had to have two baskets this year.  We had a fun time watching him find the hidden eggs.  I must say that Jack's Easter Bunny just loves the holidays and tends to go a little overboard!  Not just with the eggs, but with the candy Adam said he doesn't remember there being so much candy when he was little.  Well, none of the candy went to waste while everyone gorged themselves on it while I got the BBQ ready.  We had a delicious traditional bbq, and Zach really worked some magic on the chicken legs they were so yummy.  

Oh my gosh I almost forgot to include the little story about the earthquake we had.  We experience it while we were at the barbershop that morning.  Adam was getting his haircut, and Whittney and Jack were over near him.  Zach andI were in the waiting area sitting down.  All of the sudden my chair started to shake back and forth really hard.  At first I thought maybe someone was horsing around and running making things shake.  Then someone shouted, "Earthquake!" Despite this not being very safe I shot out of my chair, and ran to grab Jackson.  My heart was going 90 miles an hour.  I scooped him up and got under a doorway.  I think they said it lasted all of 45 seconds to a minute.  It ended up being a 7.2 quake, and that is fairly large.  We had a few mild aftershocks later in the day that we felt too.  We didn't have any damage in our area, and things were fine at the house.  While it was scary it was an exciting thing to experience.  Zach, and I felt one when we first moved here, but we were so new to California that neither of us knew what it was, and it was certainly nothing like this one.


 Due to the continued aftershocks I was more worried about Jackson and I told Zach to keep an eye on him.  Well, two Marines decided to be smart asses and make sure Jack was really really safe.  Using issued gear; elbow pads for knee pads, and a knee pad for a chest plate, and Jack's bike helmet they demonstrated how safe they could really keep Jack.  In his Sunday best at that!  It was very amusing, and Jack kept saying, "Look I'm a turtle."  

Friday Five

1. What is your favorite spring flower?

2. Do you do spring cleaning? If so what does it entail?

3. Do you plant anything or plan to do any gardening?

4. What is your favorite outside activity?

5. Do you have any projects you want to get started that you waited for the warmer weather to do?  

Getting older/Friday Five

I am amazed at how much Jack has changed in the past few months. He is so independent now. Mostly, I have seen change in the way he plays. No longer is his Thomas table a place to make his trains go round and round, but it is now a place for him to create dramatic play. I listen to him make up stories about joining the race, Daddies and their babies, getting a wash in the river, and it never fails to hear “Don’t worry I’ll save yoouuuu!” Such boys play always the savior. Now, when something goes wrong he says, “Mama can you pwease help me?” instead of having a meltdown. I love that he is starting to create imaginary worlds for himself. Some of my best childhood memories are playing for hours with my Barbies.



We have had a good week back home. We have tried to get outside every evening as a family. We went back to the lake and fed the ducks. The house is still a crazy mess, but I’m just trying to do a little each day. I am thinking I need to revamp my routine which is basically nonexistent since spending time in Missouri. I am so not a morning person, and I tend to just get up when Jack does. Lucky me this kid loves to sleep too and sometimes won’t get out of bed until 9:30 in the morning. While I love sleeping in this seems to leave me groggy for the rest of the day with my energy zapped. They say the best way to get better sleep is to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time even on the weekends. I am going to attempt to set my alarm, and get up early. The idea of having a few minutes of peace while Jack is sleeping appeals to me, and maybe I can even adapt to being more of a morning person. Pictures because a post isn't a post without pictures.



He is the runing machine.  Except this time he did get tired, and had to be carried some of the way back.


Not sure where he got this, but he decided he could "whistle" with his fingers.  This consisted of him shoving all of his fingers in his mouth and then making a hooting sound around them.  We finally convinced him that just two fingers would do the trick.  Also, if this is huge sorry I'm trying to decide what size I want to post pictures.


Is this my child looking at the camera? Take a good look because you might never see this again. 

Friday Five


1 What time do you go to sleep at night, and wake up in the morning?


2. What do you do when you can’t sleep?


3. What’s the last thing you’ve purchased?


4. What is weighing on your mind?


5. How do you de-stress?

Another week

We are still in Missouri. Enjoying our time here very much. We have had a bit of snow. We are supposed to get more, but I'm not sure if it will be much. Jack and I took the time to go outside and play for a while. I was glad to have a reason to pull out my camera. I'll be glad to get home and get some editing done.

If I have a computer to come home to. Our computer was attacked by a bunch of viruses. I guess there is something going around that is getting through the security programs. All I can say is backup your stuff people.

Do you watch Oprah? Have you heard about her trying to get people to stop texting and talking while they drive. I usually hate how people jump on the Oprah bandwagon, but I like this one. Before she started this whole thing I heard that texting and driving is like driving under the influence of 4 drinks. That opened my eyes. Also that 6,000 car related deaths were due to texting or talking while driving. No life is worth a text or call. I hope you will put down your phone and drive.

Friday Five

1. Any Valentine's Day plans?
2. Do you text or talk while driving?
3. If you do would you consider stopping?
4. Any movies you are hoping to see?
5. Will you be watching the Olympics tonight?

Missing my blog

I haven't been able to blog since I'm not close to a computer. Why I don't have a laptop considering all the travel I do I'm just not sure. We keep saying we will get one, but it get's put at the bottom of the list. Either way I can't imagine I have any readers considering it has been so long.

I'm still in Missouri trying to get my grandmother's things sorted out. I am really missing Zach and our home, but at the same time I am very at peace here. Maybe I can do a little more blogging now, but then again maybe not. Here is a Friday Five. Please feel free to play along.

1. What is your favorite Disney movie?
2. What is something you hope to accomplish this year?
3. Are you excited for spring?
4. What's for dinner tonight?
5. Have you read anything good lately?

Friday Five

It is the same old stuff around here. We are all loving on Diego. He’s doing really well here, and he’s getting bigger. His little tummy is starting to get fat. He’s a little eater, and he lets you know when he’s hungry. He and Jack are getting along really well, and they’ve even adjusted to the same schedule. Every day when Jack goes to take a nap Diego goes and curls up in his bed downstairs, and he naps the whole time Jack is napping. I think it is their little break from each other since they have started playing so much. That’s fine I think it takes a two year olds energy to match that of a kitten.


I LOVE my photography class so far. Mostly this week has just been about her philosophy on photography stuff like that. I haven’t had to have my camera this week thank goodness. I should be getting it back today though. I can’t wait! When I told Zach I had to ship it off he said he betted I would miss having it. I figured it was a short time, and I wouldn’t miss it, but he was right I did miss it. I hadn’t realized how much taking pictures has become a part of my life. I’ve been printing my lessons, and she also has MP3s of the lessons so you can listen to them and read them. I really like that. I hadn’t realized she had that when I signed up for the class. As excited as I am to be taking the class I still have to push myself to participate in it. I tend to be a wallflower rather than jump right in and speak up. I always hated having to post things on the boards for my online college classes. I had read in a flickr group though that some woman that had taken Karen’s class said they really regretted not participating in the class more. Even though it is a class of around a hundred women Karen said you tend to see only about 25 people really get involved in the class. So I’m sticking my neck out there and making myself do it.


Jack is still up to the same old stuff. We have gotten a bit off of our schedule, and that has made for some grouchy days. We had a good day overall yesterday, bit it had some bad moments. He has become a little food beggar. Constantly going into the kitchen opening the pantry, or asking for something else to eat, and usually he hasn’t eaten a very good lunch or dinner. Also, begging to watch something on the tv or watch a movie. I’m pretty sick of that too. It had made me so tense last night. It was one of those nights where I was ready to clock out on my mommy time card by 7. He finally figured out he wasn’t going to get to watch something, and he brought out his blocks to play with.

I almost forgot it is Friday. I can do a Friday Five. Hmmm, I haven’t even thought about what
I want to ask.

1. Which television show are you most excited to start back up this season?
2. Are you ready for Fall to be here?
3. Do you have a favorite beauty product?
4. What is your favorite place to go to eat out?
5. Do you have a hobby?

Okay that is pretty random. Just knocked those off the top of my head. I’ll be reading your comments!

The Beach/Friday Five

We went to the beach the other day late in the afternoon, and kind of impromptu. We just haven’t been very much, and our weekends are always packed with things to do, or we are super tired from the week. I didn’t gather up much a few snacks, something to sit on, and Jack’s beach toys. Of course the sunscreen, we have to slather that stuff on.

It was really crowded when we got there, and I couldn’t figure out why so many people were there in the middle of the week in the afternoon. Zach, reminded me it is vacation time. Duh! I forget we live in a vacation destination spot. It was super crowded, but we found ourselves a little piece of beach and claimed as our own. Jack had a fantastic time running, and playing in the water. The water was warm and felt great. You never know how he is going to react sometimes he hates the water, and other times you can’t get him out of it. Zach took Jack deeper into the ocean. Jack didn’t like that very much, but he was brave and didn’t cry.

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He was soaked when they came back in. Jack said the water is salty, and tastes good.

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I snapped some pictures, and relaxed in the sand. Jack came back to our spot to build a sandcastle, and we had forgotten his buckets and things in the car. Poor kid only had a ¼ cup measuring cup to use as a scoop because I couldn’t find the shovel before we left the house. He made do and got busy digging holes, and burying his pigs in the sand. We are hoping to head back this weekend, and really make a day of it. Take our beach umbrella, chairs, and all the supplies.

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It was the first time he was brave enough to chase the gulls.

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Jack is really flourishing on our new routine. I hope it keeps up, but two year olds change on a dime. I’m letting him wake up whenever he wants to, and the other day he slept in until 9. He loves his sleep. I’ve put a time schedule on his two snacks, quiet time, and nap. I was having problems with him going to the pantry, and opening it begging for something to eat. He’d snack on different things at random times, or fill up on things like chocolate milk, and he wasn’t eating as well. His naps were getting shorter and shorter. So I just scheduled everything into my phone, and a little reminder goes off throughout our day. He’s figured out he has to eat at his snack time, or he won’t get to eat until the next meal. Knock on wood he’s even napping an hour longer. It was stressful the first few days. Lots of whining for food and such, but he’s over it now.


A Jack Funny: The other night we were eating smoked sausage, macaroni, broccoli, and salad for dinner. Jack turned to me and asked, “Mommy can I have some more ostwich (ostrich) please?” We had to bite our tongues to keep from laughing. He really just wanted more sausage. I had no idea I was making wild bird for dinner, ha-ha!


Friday Five
1. Who is making a positive difference in your life?
2. Where would like to be right now?
3. What is the first thing you would do with a $5,000 gift?
4. What super power would you really like to have?
5. What’s your favorite sound?

New Routine/Friday Five

We have had an interesting week. I changed Jack’s routine around, and we started it Monday. I wanted to add a little more structure. A few more planned activities and a little less movie/tv time. I researched some preschool activities for two year olds. Gathered up some craft supplies, and bought some play-doh. The first day was horrible. He spent the day crying begging to watch word world, and I spend the day pretty infuriated and ready to throw in the towel. It has gotten better as the week has gone by.

We played with play-doh for hours yesterday. Literally for hours, and let me tell you your day drags on when you do that. Unfortunately he is at that age where his imagination isn’t developed enough to make up his own little world and play by himself for a while. He still has to be entertained. I know he will love the art and craft stuff. That is some of his favorite things to do. We’ve been working with his building blocks, and working on puzzles. He just isn’t one for play. Even outside he just stands around unsure of what to do, until you give him some sort of direction. So I’m hoping to expand his imagination, and hopefully teach him a few things in the process.

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Here are some of Jack's projects he does at school. I know I won't be able to keep everything he does so I decided to take pictures of it for our memories.

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Friday Five
1. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
2. When was the last movie you saw at the theatre?
3. What do you get at the concession stand at the movies?
4. Why do the movies cost so much?!
5. Where do you prefer to watch your movies?

I have been having a mental block when it comes to blogging. Everything is just a summary of our boring day to day, and I’m a little bored writing about it. Jack went to school a few times this week. He loves it; he gets so excited to go in the mornings. His teachers have told me he is doing so much better. I can tell because I drop him off with no problems. Next week will be the last week he can go three days a week. They’ve implemented a new 2 day policy that kind of ticks me off. Apparently, they have 300 kids trying to get into only 175 spots a week. They said they tend to see the same kids every week, and this they hope will rotate kids in a little better. It just frustrates me because Jack loves to go, and we pay for it so I don’t think it should matter. It should be first come first serve. If you want your kids to go then maybe you should wake up and call at 6:30 in the morning like I do, and like I’m sure the other parents do that continually get their kids in. I love this place, but lately I’ve been having frustration after frustration with them. Soon it will be time to decide on a more permanent preschool program.

I went to the dentist this week after not going for a few more years than I would like to admit. Ick! I know, but I’m not a big fan of the dentist. I went religiously when I lived at home, and I slacked off when I didn’t have my mommy here to force me to go. I was having a few problems that indicated I needed to go, and I had put it off long enough. I had picked out a practice out here, and went to yelp.com to see if I could find reviews just to narrow it down to a particular dentist. Thank goodness I checked them out review after review was saying what an awful dentistry, and they couldn’t believe they were in business. So I just used yelp and found a dentist with some of the best reviews and made my appointment. I went and it was so much better than I thought it would be. I thought I’d come out of there needing 5 root canals and 5 cavities filled. Everything checked out fine no cavities, no lectures it was great. Her office even has tvs on the ceiling. I watched Paula Deen and Rachael Ray while I got my teeth cleaned, and it is a relief to have it done.

Friday Five
1. What’s something you will not eat unless you also have ketchup?
2. What’s something you will not drink unless it is served on ice cubes?
3. What’s something you will not eat unless it is served between slices of bread?
4. What’s something you will not drink unless you have a straw?
5. What’s something you would not eat as a kid, but love to eat now?

Friday Five

We have been really busy around here. Trying to do all of the fun summer things. Getting outside more, and doing some swimming. I haven’t been able to find time to blog this week, and now that I am I can’t think of a single thing that I wanted to blog about.

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Eyeing the kids that showed up at the park. He wasn't very sure of them.

One thing new is Jack has been wearing big boy underwear all week. We started it last Sunday. Zach went to get Jack some new pull ups and instead of the learning designs he got him the cool alert kind. I didn’t realize this or we would have exchanged them. We have had trouble with the cool alert in the past. They seemed to have upgraded them by making them softer and taking out the rough strips that used to be inside them so I thought they might be okay. He wore them on our trip to the mall, and a few hours later Jack was grabbing at his parts screaming that they hurt. So when we got home I had to put underwear on him. I had no plans to do it longer just for the evening. Then I realized he had a week that he wasn’t going to school so I figured we’d give the underwear and potty training a try.


He really still isn’t showing signs that he is ready, and I don’t want to push him, and don’t really mind if he’s not ready. He has done pretty well. He goes potty every time he sits on the potty, and hasn’t had many accidents, but I think that’s because I have to ask him or take him to the potty so often. He won’t tell me when he has to go, and doesn’t seem to mind having an accident in his pants. I’m going to give it a few more days, and if things don’t click for him we will try again later.

Friday Five

1. How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?
2. How many cousins do you have?
3. How many bones have you broken?
4. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
5. How many things that belong in the kitchen are in your bedroom?

Random Fun/Friday Five

I’ve been trying to take Jack outside a bit more during the day. He isn’t your typical kid that likes to run around and play, he seems to get bored. Jack has had allergies or a cold all week. Just a runny nose that turned into a little cough, but the cough is gone now. He missed earlier this week, and every day since then he has been asking me if he can go to school today.


Due to his not feeling well he has been overly grouchy with the world. To get him out of his mood I have been letting him help me cook more. The other night he helped me make brownies, and then licked the bowl and spoon. He kept saying, “Mommy this is too great!” I’m glad something makes him feel better.

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We played outside a few days ago, and he figured out we have a little curb he can jump over. He got busy running and jumping, and I just silently prayed he didn’t fall and break something open. Then he and I sat down to draw with some sidewalk chalk. I told him we were going to write his name so I started saying the letters, J. Then Jack piped in with the letters A,C,K. What the heck? When did you learn to spell your name? He’s got hidden talents. Thinking it was a fluke I asked him to spell his name, and he spelled JACK perfectly. He finally has his ABC song down too. He doesn’t annunciate all the letters, but they are all there. Then I decided to do something I used to do when I was little. I got some paint brushes and some water so we could paint outside. We got busy painting the driveway. This was hours of endless fun for me as a child, and Jack loved it too.

He painted this and said, "Look a hand!"

More pics on the flickr, and I'm trying to upload a little video. We will see if it works.

Random Friday Five

1. What is your favorite sweet treat?
2. What is your favorite store to shop in?
3. What is your favorite thing about Friday?
4. What is your favorite tv show?
5. What are your plans for the weekend?

Concert Fun and Friday Five

We went to the David Cook concert last night. It was great! I was coerced into making a sign saying that I am from Blue Springs, his hometown, and that we all love him from there. It didn’t do me much good in the way of autographs or moving up in seats, but that’s ok. It kind of stunk because we were in a bit of a dead section. The people around us were all just sitting there. I thought it was weird because most of them were teenage girls who the entire time we waited for him to come out talked about how much they love him. Hello? Have you never been to a concert before? This is supposed to be fun! I heard he will be on the home turf in a few days for Red White and Boom. Hope you get to see him!

Zach has had the week off this week. We haven’t really done very much. We’ve pretty much just wasted our days away. It did take us a few days to recover from all the going the week before. It took another day to catch up on all the cleaning, laundry, and unpacking. Jack went to school twice this week. He did awesome no crying or anything. He has loved being there with tons of stories to tell us when he gets home. I’m still trying to get through all the vacation pictures. I’ll be popping them up on here from time to time, or be sure to check the flickr. As always feel free to leave your comments here or on there.

Time for Friday Five! Sorry I missed last week. In the comments answer as many or as few as you would like.

1. What is your favorite band?
2. What is the last concert you went to?
3. What is the majority of the way you listen to your music?
4. Do you have a favorite golden oldie?
5. If you could see any band together/broken up alive/dead who would it be?

Frustrations and Friday Five

Things are busy as ever around here. Still trying to catch up on the laundry, and get ready for company. They arrive tomorrow. Very frustrated because I just got a courtesy call from Jack’s daycare telling me he has been crying since I left. Then they add you don’t have to pick him up, but we wanted you to know. Gee thanks. I can go get him and relieve you of a screaming kid, or leave him there and feel like a crap mother. It just drives me nuts that they can’t control the situation. I worked with kids all the time I know what it is like, and yes my kid can be difficult, but you figure it out. You get through it, and you help the kid get through it too. It is your job. If I was at work they couldn’t call me hoping I’d just come pick him up they would have to figure out how to deal with it. Ugh! Sorry, it just frustrates me, and makes me feel bad for Jack. He has to go though to be social, and get away from mom for a minute or two.

I am going to try something new called Friday Five. I have been meaning to do it for a few Fridays but can’t seem to get to it. I’m going to list 5 questions, and you answer them however you would like to in the comments. You can answer as many or as few as you would like. Just please play along it is fun to read the comments. I have faith in you. You can do it!


Summer Friday Five
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
2. What is your best summer memory?
3. If you could go on vacation anywhere this summer where would it be?
4. Do you have a favorite summer food?
5. Do you do anything special during the summer that you don’t do the rest of the year?

Have a fantasitc weekend!

Sleeping while bike riding.