Jack's Doggie Room

Tuesday morning, something wonderful happened: after a year and a half in this new house, I finally finished Jack's room! Yea!

This room was much harder than his nursery because he is an active little boy and I just couldn't seem to get any time to work on it. Before we left for Hawaii, I became determined to complete the room. I came up with an idea that allowed Jack to participate. While I finished off the murals, Jack used his washable paint on a poster in the corner of his room.


I finished the murals last week and the last of the paw prints were painted over the weekend. Once I get close to the finish line, I get super motivated to finish and was determined to have it completed immediately. Monday and Tuesday I sewed the pillows and basket liners. (I have to say that Jack loves my sewing machine. He thought it was the coolest thing ever.) So, here is the finished room:

As you can see, Jack loves it and insisted on posing for pictures in it.

I know at some point he will outgrow this and want something else. But, after doing 2 different rooms for him, I think when he is old enough to want to redecorate we should use posters and stickers instead.

Valentine's Day Party

After watching an episode of Calliou about a Valentine's Day party, Jack became very excited and continually asked to have one. So, I relented and agreed to change his normal Friday play date to a Valentine party. There were only 3 other kids coming, so it wasn't too difficult. We bought Valentines, special treats, and filled the front room with balloons for the kids to play with at the party. Jack didn't like that the balloons weren't filled with helium, so we picked up some at Party City to add to the festivities.

We had some great treats to share (and more arrived with his friends.)


We decorated the house.


Jack was so excited. He asked me to tie a balloon around his waist while he was waiting for his friends to arrive.

I bought some lunch bags and heart stickers for the kids to decorate. This was Jack's bag.

After the party he insisted we rearrange them because he suddenly realized all of the stickers were crooked.

The kids had a blast. They were so cute. I don't think they totally have the concept of Valentines down yet. When Jack's friend (also named Jack) gave him a Valentine, my boy said thank you and handed over the one he had just received from his friend Connor. Too cute! Jack talked about his party non-stop for a week. He is already ready for the next one.

Scars

So, during an impromptu Super Bowl party with our neighbors, Jack did some rough playing. Their youngest is just a few months older than Jack and has a very similar personality. (Translation, wild and crazy boys.) Jack walked away with a scratch on his face. It was pretty deep, but he was doing alright....until he decided to pick the scab off a few days later.

After that, I insisted he keep it covered up with bandages.

He is such a typical boy. He always has a cut or a scrape. I just wish he could let one heal before getting the next one because I am pretty sure people are going to start thinking I am a neglectful mom. And you all wonder why I never get anything done...it's because, even at 3 and a half, I can't leave him alone for even a minute or I am certain he would hurt himself.

Phoenix Snowman

What do you do when you live in Phoenix and your 3 year old begs to make a snowman?

You improvise.



When I was a kid, my brother made some very cool tumbleweed snowmen that we painted white. (It's what you have to do when you live in the valley of the sun.) I can't wait until Jack is old enough to do that!

Hawaii: Aloha

As fun as it was, our trip had to come to an end. (I'm sure those of you tired of reading about it are breathing a sigh of relief.) Jack didn't want to leave. Neither did mom and dad.

Our last night there, Jack gave us a little present. He fell asleep in his stroller at about 5pm and took a 2 hour nap. We took advantage by having a nice long dinner with drinks while he slept.


We walked away with only minor injuries from the trip. (A real surprise with Jack.) He banged his eye pretty good one day when he tripped over his dad's flip flops in the room and went face first into the dresser.


He also got his first sunburn. Stuart is very meticulous about sunscreen application since he has already had skin cancer. We applied it to Jack frequently. Unfortunately, his swim suit kept slipping down as he played in the water, so he got a slight burn along the top of his bum.


We walked around and picked up some last minute souvenirs and took some pics.

Jack didn't want to leave, but the idea of riding a bus and a plane again cheered him up immediately.

He was very good for the 6 hour flight home. Awake the entire

time...falling asleep just as we landed. Figures.

Hawaii: Vacation Room

One of Jack's favorite parts of our trip to Hawaii was the hotel room. Or, as Jack calls it, our "vacation room." He loved it! It was a very small room, but I think the idea that he got to be in a bed next to mom and dad was just so exciting for him. If he ever got tired of our activities, he would beg to go back to our vacation room. We didn't mind. Jack could rest and watch some PBS while mom and dad had drinks on the balcony and enjoy the view.

Jack asks to go back to his vacation room all the time.

Hawaii: The North Shore

I know I'm getting a little carried away with the Hawaii posts. I can't help myself. Although this blog was started to share info with distant family members, over time it has become more of an on-line scrap book for Jack. Despite my best intentions, I haven't done any scrap booking for my boy so this is my only documentation of his life. Since this was his first vacation, I really want to capture as much as I can. I promise I am almost done.




We rented a car for one day of our trip so we could explore the rest of the island, specifically the north shore. Jack had a sucker and and cartoons, so he was good for the trip!


It was beautiful.

Of course, after the calm beach by our hotel, this was loads of fun for Jack. Huge waves. Strong waves. Big fears about your kid being swept out into the ocean. Jack loved it, but he was difficult to contain, so we had to go. Jack threw a fit. A weird surfer tried to calm him down, but it didn't work. So, we dragged him away and stopped at a calmer beach. Luckily, it was secluded because Jack ditched his shorts when they got wet and I didn't want to go back to the car for his swim suit.

Stuart helped Jack find lots of shells and coral for his collection.



As part of our day trip, we decided to do a "food crawl." (This is what happens when you have little kids. The traditional "pub crawl" is replaced with a food crawl.) We stopped at various food trucks throughout the day to eat. Most of it was yummy. The best was the garlic butter shrimp. Mmmmm.

We even watched as they fished for shrimp while we ate.

Behind this gate is the location where the TV show Lost was filmed.

A few days before we left, we found out you could go on a Lost tour. It included the temple, the polar bear cages, and the plane where Boone died. (If you are not a fan of the show I realize this means nothing to you.) We were disappointed. We weren't about to drag Jack on another 8 hour tour, but had we known, we would have done the Lost tour instead of the island tour. DANG! Since all beaches in Oahu are public, Stuart was tempted to park nearby and try to sneak in from the beach, but we decided against it. Better not to drag your 3 year old with you on a crime.

A sign of a good day? Sandy feet. It doesn't get any better.

Jack had so much fun he wore himself out and slept the last 2 hours in the car.

Although, he didn't look very comfortable.

Hawaii: Pearl Harbor

Our second tour was only a half day. We saw Pearl Harbor. Jack loved it. It's hard, however, to really take a solemn moment to reflect on it when you are with a 3 year old.

Jack loved playing inside the submarine. It was hard to tear him away.

Once again, the leash came in very handy.

Jack loved the ferry out to the U.S.S. Arizona.

I know this one is difficult to read, so I included the text below the picture.

Dear Lord/ Lest I continue / My complacent way / Help me to remember

Somehow out there / A man died for me today. / As long as there be war

I then must / Ask and answer / Am I worth dying for?"

-Poem Eleanor Roosevelt kept in her wallet during World War II

Of course, Jack fell asleep on the ride back to the hotel... for a whole 10 minutes.

He is so precious. Wouldn't it be wonderful if he grew up without war?