Flight

On Tuesday morning we loaded the car and began our 12 hour trip to Washington to visit my parents. Jack was so excited that he was sleep walking the night before and we think he must have been dreaming about leaving. It took us 4 hours to get to Chicago. 94 was closed from Valparaiso to the Illinois boarder b/c of the 10 in of rain we had over the weekend and the highway was covered in water so everyone was detoured to the 80 90 toll road. The traffic was HORRIBLE and with a screaming baby it seemed to take forever. It took us about an hour and a half longer than usual. We were all very glad to get out of the car! We picked up Aunt Mary and drove to Midway. Thank you Mary for assisting us in getting everything to the airport, we couldn't have done it without you!! Here is a picture of Jack watching all the airplanes land. We had to remind him to use his indoor voice b/c he was alittle loud everytime a plane landed. This is Jack's 12th flight and it never gets old for him, but it was Wade's 1st flight...

and here is Wade and me by our flight number to document his first flight!!

Here is Jack watching Curious George. He watched a few differnt DVD's, did a little coloring, and listened to his Fisher Price MP3 player, note to parent's, the MP3 player is awsome, Jack's loves it and so do I. Great gift for any toddler. I don't think we could have paid him to take a nap but he did great without one.

Wade, thankfully, did take about an hour nap and was the happiest baby!! No issue with his ears and loved that we could hold him the whole time, unlike in the car. We landed in Seattle at 7pm and had a 2 hour drive to my parent's. We stopped for a quick dinner and when we got in the car both boys were sound asleep within minutes! So far the time change has been smooth. No one has been up before 6am!! We are so excited to finally be here and Jack hasn't left his Oma's side since we got here. He even sleeps in Oma and Papa's bedroom, a great little treat for Chris and me, too!! He sleeps in a sleeping bag on the floor which he calls his bean bag!! I'll do my best to update the blog everyday!!

1st Day of Preschool

Today was the big day, Jack's first day of Preschool!! He was so excited yesterday that I can't believe he slept so well! When I went to wake him up at 8am he rolled over and said that I should leave and he would wake up when he was ready. I thought we would have no problems getting him up and ready for school, but apparently we are starting young with not wanting to get out of bed for school! Once he was out of bed we couldn't leave fast enough. I packed Jack's lunch and he put his coat on and he was ready. On the way to school he did say that he would miss Wade and me. We had calls from Daddy and Sara before we left for school wishing us a good first day. (Mom, I know you would have called but it was 6am for you when Jack was leaving for school and when we were driving home you were the first person he wanted to call so he could tell you all about his first day.)

Here we are by Jack's name tag. We had orientation last week so he knew right where to go. You would have thought he had been there a hundred times! (He also learned to say "Orientation" perfectly and used it everytime he talked about going to school.) We got him all signed in, washed his hands and waited for the doors to his classroom to open. Jack was the first one in and the teacher had to remind him to tell me goodbye.

Jack had a great first day and when I picked him up the first thing he said in the car was, " When do I get to go back to school?" He didn't want to leave the playground and he helped his teachers pick up all the toys, he was totally putting off leaving. His teacher said he did great and that he is such a little man! He can't wait for Thursday to come so he can go back to school. I think his favorite thing about school is going outside to play, totally normal, right? He did say he made one friend, Sammy, so that is good. Jack has 8 kids in his class, 7 boys and 1 girl. Jack you are such a wonderful kid and I am so happy and blessed to be your Mom. I am so proud of you kiddo!

6 months, and such a big big boy!!!

Wade had his 6 month appointment today and everything looks good! He is now 16lbs 2oz, totally thought he would be bigger than that, and is 26in long. Can't believe how fast these first 6 months have gone. The Dr asked me if he is rolling over or close to sitting up and I told her he rolls from his stomach to his back and that is it so far. I guess I really do need to start putting him down more so he can practice sitting up and rolling from his stomach to his back. I think I haven't been doing this because then it means he is growing up and no longer my little baby. Why do they have to grow up so fast? Jack can't wait for him to grow up so they can play ball together. Yesterday at MVP they had a free clinic to introduce there new childrens basketball program. The kids are suppost to be in 1st grade but I thought why not let Jack try, he has been dribbling a ball since he was 18 months. I talked to the gentelman running it and he looked at me like I was one of those crazy Moms who think there kid is the best at everything. But he let Jack play and Jack did GREAT!! He said Jack totally hung with all the big kids and thought Jack would do just fine in the program!! So proud of him!! If was really cute to watch and it made me realize just how big he is getting!! Jack starts school tomorrow and couldn't be more excited. I have to pack his first lunch tomorrow, probably one of many over the next 15 years!!

Jack's Teacher

Yesterday Jack has orientation for school. We are sending him to Children's Workshop for preschool and he couldn't be more excited!!! After orientation Jack's teacher Miss Sherri came to the house to visit Jack. She got a chance to see where Jack lives, see his room and to play a little candyland!!! I think it is so great that she goes to all her student's home's for a visit. Here is Jack with Miss Sherri. He starts school on Tuesday and he can't stop talking about it. I am also excited about having two morning a weeks with only one child!!

Tag

A- Attached or Single? Married.
B- Best Friend: my sister's and Mom
C- Cake or Pie: the apple pie from Costco!!!!
D- Drink of Choice: diet coke and pomegranate martinis.
E- Essential Item: my cell phone and diaper bag.
F- Favorite Color: blue, that is the color of the boys eye's.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: worm, b.c then Jack can fish off the edge of my bed for sharks!!
H- Hometown: grand rapids.
I- Indulgence: shopping, mannies, peddies, heath and butterfinger flurry
J- January or February: January, the new year and all that college football the first week, hopefully Michigan is playing!
L- Life, for me, is incomplete without: God, family, dear friends, my children, husband.
M- Marriage Date: 01.06.
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sister's whom I can't imagine going through life without.
O- Oranges or Apples? apples, but only Fiji apples
P- Phobia/Fears: losing a child, strange noises, talking about strange noises,
Q- Favorite Quote: "You have given me a gift such as I never dreamt of finding in this life."
R- Reasons to smile: my boys, my husband comes home from work on time or early!!!
S- Season: Fall, cooler days with bright blue skies, great driving weather to have the windows down.
T- Tag Ten: Libby, Justin, Bethany, Jane, Becky, Mary, Mom, Dad (seriously, Mom and Dad, on your blog!!)
U- Unknown fact about me: i think i pretty much share everything....but I'll keep thinking...
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? I eat meat, tried the vegetarian thing for about 6 years but when I tried a burger again it was all over!
W- Worst Habit: putting off cleaning my house, saving everything for the last minute!
X- X-rays or Ultrasounds? Ultrasounds, so I could see my babies beating heart!!
Y- Your Favorite Foods: candy, that's a food right??, sushi, steak from Jeff Ruby's
Z- Zodiac: Scorpio

Labor Day Weekend cont...

Here is Wade and I at the beach. I forgot Wade's hat on the table at home so we had to make and hat for him out of my Aunt Nancy's tank top. It worked great and no sunburn!!! Wade loved the beach and even took a short nap under the umbrella. It was a perfect weekend at the beach. High 70's, low 80's and the water was wonderfully refreshing! We did put Wade's toes in and he did cry, still too cold for him.

Here is Jack with my cousin Lydia. Her brother Joe was there too and the three of them got along great all weekend. It is so nice when there are other kids for Jack to play with. They had so much fun at the beach and Jack loved buggy boarding in the water.

Labor Day Weekend!!!

Can't believe the summer has come to a close, but a perfect weekend it was. We went out to the lake on Friday and on Saturday we took Jack and Wade to the Country Dairy Farm which is just North of the cottage. Or as Jack likes to call it the "Fairy". He thought it was going to be like the fair we went to in Lowell so I guess he put the two together and came up with "Fairy".Jack loved seeing the cows!! (Oma and Papa, Jack has made a request to go and see Rod and Carols BIG dairy farm when we get to WA.) He didn't even want to come in for lunch, I think he thought the cows would miss him.

Here is Wade who seems to get bigger every second. He is such a little hunny. And I can't believe he is 6 months already!!

Here is Wade trying to get my attention to let me know he is ready to eat!!!

Jack loves the "All you can drink" chocolate milk that comes with his lunch at the dairy. He wanted me to take a picture of his chocolate mustache but I don't think you can see it too well.

Labor Day Weekend cont...

Another beautiful sunset at the Lake. What a way to end the summer!

This is how Wade ended his weekend, with a nap. The kids don't always sleep well at the lake and our baby that was sleeping 12hrs at 5 weeks now thinks it's fun to get up at night. He usually gets up once a night but this weekend he thought 3 times would be super fun!! I am looking forward to a good night sleep now that we are home. This picture was taken at 10:30 am and I think he had gotten up at 9am!

When we got home from the Lake I had a package from my dear friend Sara in KY. There was a disk of photos from the shoot Sara did when Wade was 6 weeks old, love those pictures, and this super cute t-shirt!! Love it Sara! You know my boys oh so well!! And if Wade is anything like Jack he should be dribbling a basketball in about 9-12 months!!

Gifts

I have wanted to post some of these baby gifts b/c I really love them and wanted to share them with you. The first one is a Sugarboo Photobox that I absolutly LOVE!! I think it took me 3 or 4 weeks just to decide which one and what color to order. It hangs in our living room and I read it everyday. I will treasure this gift forever, thank you Linda and Jane!

These are too cute! And even thought Wade can't walk I just love putting them on him. He looks so old wearing them. I did get them in a size to big so maybe next summer when he is walking he will still be able to wear them. Thanks you Luanne!

This is Wade's baby announcement. Linda came into the hospital when Wade was 4 hours old and took pictures of our family. Linda also does our Christmas cards and I always have her pick out the pictures that she will use and let her amazing creativity take over. I think the baby announcement has to be my favorite so far. Linda, you out did yourself. I actually framed the annoucement and hug it in Wade's nursery. I will treasure these pictures of Wade when he was so brand new. He grew up so fast and I can hardly believe he was ever that small.

Chicago!!!

Jack, Wade and I just got back from spending 5 days (Wed-Sun) in Chicago with my Aunts, Mary and Jane. They live right downtown so it's so fun to be able to walk around and take advantage of all the fun things the city has to offer. Chris was going to be in Chicago all week working at U of C but had to go back to GR on Thursday monring. Here we are at a local park by where my Aunt's live. Jack had a blast and didn't want to leave so we bribed him with Jimmy John's.

Here is Wade being super good as always in his stroller. He loves his backseat in the stroller and if you try and put him in the front he cries. Maybe he feels safer back there.

Jack loved pushing Wade in the swing. Wade didn't really know what to think about it but it gave the 3 1/2 year old a good big brother moment!

At dinner that night we went to Hackney's in the South Loop. I, of course, still think of Wade as a newborn, even though he is 16 lbs, I just don't want him to grow up, and I forget to pack toys for him to play with. So at dinner we had to get creative and he loved sucking on the carafe! Today I did clean some of Jack's baby toys so Wade will have something to play with when we are out.

Chicago cont..

On Thursday we went to Millennium Park and to Blue Cross Blue Shield where Jane works. In order to get up to her office we had to get out pictures taken and they printed out these passes we had to wear while we were there. Jack got to keep his and he was very proud!!

After visiting Jane we went to Starbucks because Jack had been begging for a milk. These are his favorites so when ever I tell him we have to stop so Mommy can get coffee he responds by telling me we have to stop at Starbucks b/c then I can get coffee and he can get a milk!

Wade still isn't old enough for Starbuck's but I am sure he will follow in his brother's footsteps and beg for milk from Starbacks!

Chicago cont...

Here we are on Thursday in Millennium Park. Jack loved the Bean! And the pictures turned out pretty fun too!

We had lunch in the park at the outdoor grill and it was wonderful. I highly recommend the burger! It was super good. You could try the Kobe burger for $18!! Here is Jack with Mary being silly as usual.

Lincoln Park Zoo

On Friday we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Jack had not been to the Zoo before but has been begging!! The gorilla's were his favorite. He didn't want to leave. We had gotten there early which was really nice b/c we pretty much had the zoo to ourselves.

At the children's part of the zoo they had a thing that the kids could climb up in and of course Jack was all over that.

It was also the weekend for the Air and Water show and while we were at the zoo they were practicing and they were so loud!! Jack loved it but a few passes were so loud that Wade started screaming! We could also see some of the Air Show from my Aunt's apartment which Jack thought was great!

Here is Jack on the bus ride home from the zoo. I still can't decide if the Jack liked the zoo or the bus ride more. He said next time we go to Chicago we have to go on the bus again and to the zoo and we have to ride the boat on the river (the Water Taxi) and ride on the train (the "L"). Jack loves going to Chicago and he reminds that he wants us to move there. I think he just likes all the tall buildings.