Big Boys Make Big Messes

Although it was wonderful having my brother, his wife, and his 7 year old son Bremen here to visit, there was one draw back. Since most of the year, Jack is an only child, I forget how much of an influence older kids can be on little ones. While they were here, our entry light was delivered to the house. The box was huge and Jack loved playing in it. It was padded with a layer of styrofoam in the bottom. He hid in the box and had a great time.

Then, Bremen discovered the box and decided to join in the fun.

He quickly taught Jack that if you rub your feet and hands across the styrofoam really fast, you make snow.

It was so funny, until it was time to clean up. OK, Stuart and I previously discussed having more kids, but this may be the best example of a reason not to! (Or a reason to have more, depending on your attitude!)

Weird and Wacky Jack Fact #7

Jack loves eggs. LOVES them. He likes to hold the carton at the grocery store. He likes to crack them. Of course, he doesn't actually like to eat them...unless I scramble them and put salsa on top. I always catch him trying to take them out of the refrigerator. He is so silly.

For the record, I have never made brownies from scratch. (I use a nice boxed mix.) He is quoting the cookie recipe. We make cookies all the time.

Blogger Problems

I have so much that I want to share about little Jack, but it is difficult to do. Taking pictures or video of him is almost impossible, because he wants to be the photographer. This video shows just a portion of one of his tantrums because he wanted to hold the camera.

Before you think I am the worst mom in the world, let me explain that I did let him use the camera. This tantrum started when I told him his time was done. Apparently, he didn't agree.

Mmmm Brownies

Jack is always eager to help mommy cook.

Weird and Wacky Jack Fact #6

Jack has some strange bathroom habits. Every few days, after going to the bathroom, he will turn to me and ask, "Say hello?" When I tell him yes, he turns to the potty and puts his face in the bowl and and says, "Hello everybody," then turns to me and says, "everybody gone." Weird, I know, but it gets weirder.

A few times, after I have put the toilet paper in the potty, he has cried. He doesn't want it in the potty and he is very upset when we flush it away. I thought he was doing better about this since he hadn't gotten upset about it lately. He has even gotten really good and wiping himself and flushing with abandon. Last week, however, while my brother was visiting, we could hear Jack crying in the bathroom. He came out sobbing. When I asked him what was wrong, he finally explained that the toilet paper was gone. I asked him if he flushed it down the potty and he said yes...between sobs. He was inconsolable. I swear people, I can't make this stuff up. (I'm so glad my brother was there to witness it.)

Important Announcement

We interrupt our regular blog posts to share some important news. Jack is officially a big boy now.

He has been begging for a big boy bed for a long time now. This morning he was in rare form, asking for it non-stop. We relented and modified his crib to convert it to a bed. He was thrilled! I was a little nervous, but he went to bed for his nap with no fuss...and no getting up! (Let's hope he does the same at bedtime tonight.)

This meant that I had to remove the motion sensor monitor from his room. You know, the kind that sets off an alarm if no movement is detected after 20 seconds? It was a reassuring device, letting me know he was breathing during the night. Pathetic, I know, that I kept it on his crib until he was almost 3 years old. I can't help it. I worry. I love him.

REALLY?!

Lately, I have been surprised by some of the direction I have had to provide Jack. I know he is an active, curious, inventive little boy, but I still never expected him to try some of the stuff he tries. A few examples of my admonitions to him:

• No Jack. Do NOT lick the windows.
• Put your clothes back on Jack.
• NO! The can opener does not go on your penis! You will hurt yourself.
• The refrigerator is not a hiding place. Get out now!
• Why are you naked again? Put your clothes back on please.
• We do not bop people on the head. (This is my fault for teaching him the Little Bunny Foo Foo song.)
• I'm sorry you hurt your head, but I can't get you a new one. Stop pulling on your head, it won't come off...you are not WALL-E and do not have spare parts.
• Put your clothes on now!
• Do not play the drums on mommy's butt.
• Do not chase your aunt Tina with the corn on the cob.
• Only give your cousin gentle hugs...don't squeeze so tight. Stop chasing him. Ask him if he wants a hug first.
• I mean it! Clothes on now!!!

Always a new adventure around here. But look at his cute face. I can't help but love him.

Apple Kevin

We have had a busy couple of weeks here with Jack's uncle Kevin, aunt Alena, and cousin Bremen staying with us. Jack is loving it. Although he doesn't see Kevin often, he is clearly Jack's favorite relative. It's because my brother Kevin is awesome with kids. He is never hesitant to get down and play with them.

He has taken the boys swimming, out to lunch, and to the indoor inflatable bounce place. Jack adores him. He is constantly talking to "uncle Kevin." I think it sounds like he is saying "apple Kevin." Bremen thinks it sounds more like "appocado" or "avocado." Anyway, Jack has adopted the phrase and often calls Kevin, avocado now.

Man of the House

Stuart was recently out of town, visiting family for about a week. Jack really missed him. He often insisted on wearing his dad's clothes while he was gone.


It certainly was a nice change of pace from the alternative.

Cheap Summer Fun

I thought you might like a glimpse into how we are spending our summer. Since Stuart and I are pretty cheap, we have looked for some inexpensive forms of entertainment with Jack.

We made our own Caillou shirt. This was a surprise while Jack was napping. He was so excited that mommy "painted" his shirt for him.

What do you do when it's 115 degrees outside? You bring the pool floaties in the house. They provide loads of entertainment.

Jack asked for a spider tattoo last month. (I guess he remembers getting one at the Spring Festival we attended months ago.) Eye-liner is a cheap way to do tattoos. Lucky for me Jack didn't ask for anything overly complicated; he was happy with a snake and a spider.

Peanut butter play dough is still a hit. He really just likes to make snakes with it.

He wanted to play with his tractors in the dirt, so we came up with a compromise...macaroni. It was a great idea until he added water to it.


The splash pad in our neighborhood or at Desert Ridge is always a good way to cool down.

The results have been fabulous!