Jake in Motion

Jake ran around with this tin container on his head for a good half hour a few weeks ago. I wanted to share a little insight into life with Jake.

Valentine's Day

I can't remember now, since Valentine's Day was actually 2 months ago... but for some reason Cam and I decided against gifts for each other for Valentine's Day, but that wasn't stopping me from getting a little something for my other valentine. Plus, I already had this cute robot bag and I HAD to use it of course!

wait for it...

Some Wheel Pals from Tonka.

They go with another toy we have but always lose the lone car too... so he was really excited. :)

Day Out With Thomas

My little guy suddenly fell in love with trains. One day I picked him up from the babysitter's house and she mentioned that her older son had been playing with a train set and that Jake had been really interested in it. So, I took him home and pulled from our toy stash (everyone has one of those, right?) an Ikea train set that we bought who knows how long ago. From that cmoment on he has been HOOKED.

This train set was a craigslist find that we bought before our Thomas trip, but gave to him after. It helped us not feel the need to spend one single cent at the actual event saving us a ton of money! :)

Here is the event! It basically consisted of a prop Thomas train that goes around the country to different train stations to hold this event. You pay for a ticket to ride the train at a specific time and then spend the rest of the day enjoying the toys and games they bring in. Ours was in Globe on March 12th this year.

Jake loved playing with the electric trains with Daddy.

Jake got a James tattoo.

James is vain but lots of fun! (That's how the song goes....)

Grandma and Grandpa we able to come along too!

We moved all the way to the front of the train and were able to ride in style in the luxury car. Plus, we could see the back of Thomas and his engineer waving to people on the streets.

The ride was only about 40 minutes. 20 minutes one way and 20 back the other way.

After the ride we went back to playing games like mini golf...

and bean bag toss...

The event also had story telling, bounce houses, a mini train, coloring, sand tables, train tables, building blocks and a photo ops with Sir Topham Hatt (who Jake calls, "A Hat!!") and Thomas. The line for Thomas was ridiculous, so we didn't wait, but we did get a photo with Sir Topham Hatt and participated is almost everything else. I highly recommend it. Also, we did an early train to avoid toddler melt-down city and it worked out well. We left the event and drove down to a little mexican place (recommended by the firefighters. always ask the firefighters where to eat.) After lunch, we put Jake in the car and he slept on the way home! Perfect. I love it when a plan comes together!

Easter

Today is Easter Sunday, but the festivities for this Easter started earlier this week with the (now) annual girlfriend's egg hunt! Look at all those kiddos! Jake is on the left holding Carrie's hand. :) He's in love. She, not so much.

Jake found all but one of his eggs. Each family brought their own eggs and marked them with the child's name or design. I wasn't so sure how Jake would handle me telling him to put eggs back, but he did pretty well and it made the hunt last a little longer!

After the egg hunt, Jessica, my amazing friend who thinks up all of these amazing activities had a craft for the kids and some cookies to decorate. Jake ate a cookie that I frosted for him and then stole my camera. I found him later. He took this as I was walking up to him. He took other pictures too, which I saved, but this one makes me giggle. My arms are full and I am chasing Jake who is having a grand 'ol time snapping pictures with my camera... in the sand.

Yesterday (Saturday before Easter) we had Cam's parent's come out and have dinner with us and to see our new place. The Easter Bunny thought that it was time to pay a visit. He left Jake with a giant bucket full of books and stickers. Toddler Heaven.

Also, we got this little egg from the hob lob that you hide and it repeats things over and over like, "yoohoo! Come find me!" Grandma and Jake played that for a long time either before or after dinner. He loved every minute of it.

Cam is working today, so our Saturday dinner was our Easter feast.

Then, I decided that we needed to dye eggs and frost cookies, so I passed out the aprons and we did. :) Thanks Mom and Dad for indulging me.

After all of the festivities were over we got jake read for bed and had him say prayer. He has been more and more interested lately in HIM saying it and not Mommy or Daddy. Last night he showed off for Grandma and Grandpa with:

Cam: Dear Heavenly Father,

Jake: Church!

Cam: We're thankful for church.

Jake: bapa, mmapa (grandma... he has a hard time with it)

Cam (following his lead): We're thankful for Grandpa and Grandma

Jake: Mommy

Cam: and Mommy and Daddy

Jake: and Daddy.... BUZZ!

Cam: We're thankful for Buzz... (cam continued with some bless me to be goods and sleep wells... in the name of Jesus Christ)

Jake: AMEN!!!

This morning, Jake got to wear a new suit to church! (ebay 7$ baby!)

And, somehow we got ready early, so we took a series of pictures with a timer and our coffee table. This is my favorite. (excise the boxes)

I am so grateful for holidays and the slap in the face reminder they give me to remember my Savior and his atoning sacrifice.

Start Where You Are

I don't know if anyone even reads this thing anymore, but it is such a great journal for me that I really want to post about a few things that we have been up to. "They" say that when you are feeling behind with something (like blogging) to start where you are and then move backwards from there. So that is what I will do.

(Photo from our old house the day before we moved.)

We've moved! We are renting a house. It is still in Maricopa and so far I am happy with that decision. The new house is in a nice community with a pool, gym and splash pad. It is 100sq ft larger than the last house and the layout is really accommodating to our current place in life. Jake's room in huge! All the rooms have walk-in closets. The loft houses our play room and there is even enough space for me to have a craft room!

(Photo from our old house the day before we moved.)

The change from being homeowners -- to post-foreclosure renters has been a little hard, but not nearly as difficult as moving, unpacking, and caring for a two year old all while maintaining our full time jobs!

We are looking forward to finishing this unpacking thing and getting on to the summer where we have some awesome trips planned!

Renaissance Festival 2011

We made it out to the Renaissance Festival again this year. I have been going with my sister every year for about 10 years now. I love the people watching and sunshine the most, but the food isn't bad and there is plenty to do and places to shop!

Cute Boys.

Laying down the hammer!

Aly and I rode with Ember and Jake on the swinging swan!

We also fed some animals in the petting zoo.

We pushed the kids into the later afternoon without any major meltdowns! And, I think they got in some good cousin bonding time. Yay!

Truths Jake Has Taught Me

Apparently these toys that I thought were out of reach are no longer out of reach. :)

A laundry basket is the new Lazy-Boy.

Ketchup and orange juice bottles can be stacked just as easily as rectangular shaped items.

A two year old can eat an entire apple right off the core.

Oh, and the couch is just too far away.