The Grass is Always Greener...

Jack,

I was looking back on the pictures from the Christmas that we just had and noticing the international readership of this blog. There are times when I go to the map and see where people are signing in from to take a peek into our lives and I think - what do they think when they see these pictures? Are we sparking international anti-American feelings when I post these pictures and detail the good fortune that is our lives?

The purpose of this blog, of course, is for you to look back on your childhood and feel like you know a bit what it was like to be a part of those memories that you may have no recollection of later on in life. Preserving the past and letting you know yourself when you were very young.

In the meantime, I realize that the portrayal of this experience through the eyes of our friend, Paul, from India will look quite different than through the eyes of family that live right next door. (We love you, Paul!)

And there is always greener grass, too. I was reading our Christmas cards from family and friends and found in particular that reading about our cousins in Connecticut and Virginia - I found myself thinking how do they do that? when I read about their international travels and their partnership statuses in agencies when they are younger than me.

I guess that's the thing. The grass is always going to be greener and circumstances are always different because no one comes from the same places. People come from different backgrounds and there are different styles of living, etc. You just can't compare them. If you do, you wind up unhappy and - honestly, when you look at your life - don't you feel lucky? If you have health, friends and family that love you, and a future that you look forward to - there isn't anything better, is there?

Now - because it's my nature to be absurd, I am going to post about a very benign topic just to be ..... well.... me.

The topic is your apple eating technique. Yeah - that's right. Your APPLE EATING TECHNIQUE.

Buckle up, Jack. This is going to be some nail-biting, edge of your seat exciting posting to follow!

Truly, though. It is an art form.

It's like you can't take a bite right next to the previous bite. It's spaced out all the way around the apple until there is no more room and the little nibbles start to run together like the beginning drips of a rainfall.

You call Apples "balls" because they are round and ask for one virtually anytime they appear on television.

You know those cartoons where the characters put the entire apple in their mouths and then magically extract the core perfectly? I half expect your technique to evolve into something like that.

Okay - and now I have to go and wash the guilt away of my cute blog posting by drowning myself in highly caffeinated Diet Coke so I can get so hyper that I manage to finish a full day of work in the next couple of hours because I miss you too much to stay one minute past my designated end of the work day.

For those of you that are reading this and hating me, I understand and I'm sorry. If it helps any - I currently have a hell of a painful hangnail. Serves me right!

Love,

Mommy

Here are some art projects that you did recently related to a Pet theme in your room.

Here is a paw print painting you made:

And here is a pet collage you made:

And a painting you made:

KC comes to town

Jack,

Last night we got a visit from my cousins and Aunt Jane and Uncle Henry.

It was great to see them. You were a tiny bit on the tired side when they came, but you found the energy to put on a show of going down your slide and demanding videos while they tried to get you to smile.


Here are some pictures of you showing them a little Saint Louis/Shrewsbury hospitality:

Apparently the St. Louis/Shrewsbury hospitality is to squirm and try to get away from your Momma:

You are GOOD at it:

And here are the rest of the holiday pictures from your school that I want to keep forever:

Coloring Christmas Elmo's:

Gingerbread cookie spongepainting:

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer Spongepainting:

Christmas Train Spongepainting:

And your Christmas Reindeer Creation:

The Day After

Jack,

It's the day after Christmas and all through the house not a toy was put away, not even the boxes they came in.

The holiday hangover - so you know - has NOTHING to do with alcohol consumption. It's the day after a holiday that was so special that you find yourself wandering around in a daze because in comparison to the holiday high you are coming off of from indulging in everything from presents to sweets and delicious foods to friends and family and good times - that everyday life in comparison seems so... well.... slow.

Don't get me wrong, there are still remnants of the holiday that stay fresh for awhile. The toys are still new and fun and exciting and the decorations stay up for awhile longer, too. I guess it's the realization that there aren't any parties coming up to get ready for and getting back to your normal routine that brings you right back down to earth. Daddy had to go to work today and I didn't, so I don't have anything to complain about. It's almost noon and I'm still in my pajamas so life is pretty sweet.

I don't want to let go of the holidays just yet so I haven't started to take down the Christmas decorations. I'll start that on Friday. Until then, I'm going to pretend it's not over. I love Christmas and taking a day to show everyone that you thought about them and that they are special enough to deserve the extra little treats that come with the holiday.

Today you and I are hanging around, taking it easy and I'm trying to convince you that you will still need to take a nap later. You giggle when I say it and go back to playing with your pretend food and plastic animals while I imbibe more soda and flip clothes from the laundry to the dryer and unload the dishwasher while the television provides white noise in the background of all the kids videos that we ever owned or were gifted.

What makes today so special is this little extra time with you because between loads of laundry, I get to come over and pull you in my arms as you struggle to break free and whine "MOMMMEEEEE" with legs moving in mid air like Scooby Doo. Still, I get to steal a kiss which smells like Cheerios and bananas and then watch you return to playing with your toys. Happy as a little pig in a mud puddle.

Come to think of it, the slower pace of the day after the holidays is also a nice breather. But I still can't wait for next year!

Love,

Mommy

P.S. - As you know, April has been sick too and on medicine to stop the vomiting and diarrhea which it did.

But, there's nothing grosser than watching her eat her soft food now that she is given it only twice a day. By the time mealtime comes, she is convinced that she is starving and the minute the food hits her bowl it goes something like this.


Gross....

Reminds me of myself with any junk food. Watch your fingers....

A Rosie Christmas

Jack,

This afternoon we spent with your Daddy's side of the family.

We jumped right into presents!

You got foam bath animals which you will love, a movie and a dancing Pablo from the Backyardigans. When you saw it, your face lit up with such excitement, it was adorable to see.

We played with Hannah for most of the afternoon and you loved it!

Hannah is a great little friend and I am really starting to see the family resemblance between you and her and your other cousins, but mostly with Hannah because I see you guys together so much.

We played with her in her room where you thought she had the coolest bed in the world.

It's a bunk bed and your Aunt Mary had to help by hiding the ladder because you were convinced that you were going to climb it insisting: "UPPY! Up! UP! UPPEEEEE!"

We also played with your Cousin Brent and Grandpa in the family room

Played some Peek-a-Boo

and had some good eats.

It's been a great Holiday, honey, and now it's time to go home and sleep and start the countdown till next year.

Love,

Mommy

Merry Second Christmas 2006

Jack,

Today is your second Christmas and this morning was fantastic. Your Daddy and I know our boy and what he likes. Apparently, we told Santa all the right things!

Here is your Christmas before you came down the stairs.

Wow!

Here you come!

Whoa!

You couldn't believe your eyes and wanted to get down immediately so you could check out this fantastic setup in your own house!

Oh, MY GOD! THOMAS the Tank Engine AND Bob the Builder?!? NO WAY!

You HAD to try them out!

The track was SO much fun because it's made of big DIPLO Lego blocks and it is easy to put together.

Plus, because Thomas and Bob the Builder are BOTH DIPLO, they can be played with together!

It looked like too much fun, so you let me play with it, too!

Daddy shows you the Mr. Krabbs from the Spongebob show - a gift from Santa:

AND a Backyardigans Movie which you LOVE:

AND a Thomas the Tank Engine movie with a train car!

Then Daddy showed you that you had a full stocking to check out:

Here I am helping you empty your stocking (oh, and CHECK OUT that stocking! I hand-made it for you with love!):

Here you are checking out your new dinosaurs that you can take in water with you.

I think you were a little shocked at seeing what being such a great boy can get you!

Daddy showed you the Thomas Trains: Jack and Rosie that you got from Santa:

The only time that we encountered a drawback was when the packaging for the trains didn't open quite as quickly as we would have liked:

Those Troublesome Engines!

We got them out of their packaging, though, and got back on track (pardon the pun)

You were excited by a bunch of monkeys with little bananas that you got:

You got a fun tub of animals which you were amazed by:

Here you are checking out the lion in the set:

Here you are making a roaring noise like the lion would make.

Grandma - Look at the Giraffe I have now! Just like YOU!

You got some barnyard animals, too, but here you are cracking me up by pretending to eat the plastic bananas as though you were a little monkey, too (while holding your real banana in your other hand).

A chunky animal puzzle...

and some plastic food for your kitchen...

I opened your first present to Daddy and myself:

It was an adorable picture magnet

Best Present EVER!

and last but not least - your biggest present from Santa which Santa spent over an hour assembling (he sent a note letting us know...):

A toddler Trampoline!

BOING!

Well, Santa must have been impressed with how good you were this year, Sweetie! I know I was!

Merry Christmas, Jack!

Love,

Mommy