Valentine's

Jack,

I think you had a wonderful time at school yesterday with Valentine's.

I know I felt very lucky to have you and Daddy in my life! Daddy was very thoughtful and got me a box of chocolate and a card from him and a box of chocolate and a card from you. I was touched and - to show my appreciation - I have already eaten half of both boxes of chocolate! :)

You got some Valentine's yesterday from your little friends that I want to put here so you can see them through the years as these are items that get lost over the years because, let's face it - you can't keep everything.

That's the beauty of the blog, though. Virtually - YOU CAN! So, here are your first Valentine's you received from your friends (since last year you were too young to have little buddies to give you Valentine's):

Your Valentine from your best friend, Ty:

A Valentine from your favorite little girl-friend, Abby:



A Valentine from another sweet girl in the class that you speak of often, Deanna (you call her "DD"):

A Valentine from your friend, Ryan, and his mom who is a teacher in your room - Ms. Melissa:



A Valentine from your morning teacher, Ms. Kathy:


Here are some pictures from your school party. Here you are eating a Valentine's Day snack. That's your friend, Ryan, behind you to the left whose Mommy is Ms. Melissa, one of the teachers in the room. Then, to the right behind you is Deanna, or DD as you call her.

In this next picture, at one head of your table is Ally, on the right across from you is Tori and next to her is Audrey who is wearing a back and neck brace and at the opposite head of the table is your best friend, Ty.

Mmmmmmmmmm

Another party picture of you, Ally, Tori, Audrey and Ty:

Also, you sent the following adorable bookmark to Daddy at his work:


(I LOVE THE LITTLE THUMBPRINT HEARTS!!!)

and sent this to me at home:
(front)
(back)

And here is some of your latest artwork:

Your Circle Sticker art picture:

Smiley Faces Sticker Art:

and this pretty heart collage (which hangs in our kitchen window so the light can show through the pretty middle of the heart):

I love you, Jack!

Love,

Mommy

Snow Castles

Jack,

Another snowy day. We started the day off with a trip to the photo studio at Macy's downtown. Today it happens that was the last thing you wanted to do. We didn't get one successful picture before we called it a day.

Then, I had locked my keys in the car and there was a lot of ice and snow, so Daddy had to drive downtown to bring me his keys and take you to Grandma's. When he got there, I left my cell phone in the diaper bag that I sent with Daddy so I couldn't check in on you guys. Daddy was smart and ended up taking you home because of how dangerous the roads were.

I went into work, but they sent us home at 1:30. Since then, it's been a lot of fun!

We made fun refrigerator magnets out of ads of our favorite toys and out of leftover Valentine cards.

Then we went out on our first play adventure in the snow.


Hercules was SO excited at you venturing into the snow and ran ahead of you challenging you to chase after him. You were only too happy to comply.



It was so cute.


You are still a little too small to be a part of a snow man, although I would have tried anyway if it wasn't SO COLD!



So, instead we got out the beach supplies and made snow castles!

I HAVE to say - this is a PERFECT activity in the snow for little ones!


We both really enjoyed this project!



After we had shoveled snow into buckets and created and destroyed multiple snow castles, we were both frozen and had to go inside for warmer play activities.

Since then, we have watched a record number of Curious Buddies and Baby Einstein videos which you love and I know are at least somewhat educational so I feel a little less bad about the sheer volume of movies we watched today.

I've been so exhausted lately and I can't put my finger on why. I don't know if it's just stress from work or a virus or what, but I'm pooped. :) We still manage to dance to all the songs on your videos, though. I love dancing with you because you aren't as snuggly anymore as you used to be, but you are at dancing time.

It's only 5:30, but it feels like 10PM. I hope I can outlast you, little man!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and you are having a party at your school and giving Valentine's cards to your little friends. I can't wait to hear about your day - provided you have it with the bad weather we are having.

Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetie! Will you be mine?

Love,

Mommy

Numero Uno

Jack,

You are in a phase of recognizing roles on television and assigning roles. You know "Mommy" and "Daddy" and anytime you see a couple acting in love with each other on television you call them "Momma" and "Dadda". This is so flattering because it tells me that you recognize that Daddy and I love each other and think of us when you see this on television or in stories.

This also works when watching your favorite movies like Cars which you call "Taow". The hero Lightning McQueen is Dadda because he is the hero of the movie.

Your Daddy made the sweet remark that it's nice that he always gets to be the hero in everything because he's your Daddy. This warmed my heart because it's true. You have us up on a pedestal and think we are wonderful.

I always get to be the nice and pretty ladies. Thanks, Buddy! :)

Just so you know, your father and I couldn't be more crazy about you, so the ball rolls both ways!

Thanks for the love, honey, and for showing us how much you think of us in your own toddler way!

Love,

Mommy

Poppa and Grandma Dough-zarks weekend!

Jack,

Boy - I can't believe how hectic things have been lately. I just can't seem to keep up with my everyday things - both at work and at home. It's crazy!




Here I am JUST getting to blogging about last weekend. But - it's better late than never because last weekend was one of those times you HAVE to record. It was so much fun!



Poppa and Grandma let us come down to the Lake with them on their weekend. It was a lot of fun.


Not pictured here: Grandma shoveling ice off of the balcony with a metal spatula (no - I'm not making that up) and the time that she almost climbed out on the balcony that same evening to remove a wind chime that she had just discovered was driving her crazy. What would the neighbors think?!?


You had fun playing on the playground with Poppa and Grandma and, of course, Mommy and Daddy!


The highlight of the weekend for you may have been playing with a measuring tape that Poppa brought down. He would slowly pull the entire roll of measuring tape out and then let you carefully push it back into the holder.

It was adorable to watch you two play together.






Although Bailey was pretty freaked out by it and chose to distance herself in the farthest part of the room - JUST IN CASE.


So - last weekend was a blast and this weekend is Super Bowl weekend and we are all cheering for Bobby's team THE COLTS! GO COLTS!


Other than that - it's snowy, icy, windy and a good time to be indoors with you!

Love you, honey!

Love,

Mommy