In Search of Myself

Read this book

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant.  This is the single most beautiful book I've ever read.  Years ago -- maybe 2 or 3 -- my dad handed it to me and told me I should read it.  I took it home and put it on my bookshelf.  I glanced at it several times but never picked it up to read until this week.  If you ever find yourself with the chance to read this book, do it.  But be prepared to be overwhelmed and moved, and for every understanding you thought had about the early books in the Old Testament to be replaced.  It's so worth it.

Look what I made!

I just finished up a very fun album!!! Jake is really into asking me lately about days of the weeks, months of the year, trying to put it all together in his mind. And of course, I think the easiest way to help him understand is a scrapbook project! So this is an album I made to be printed as a 8.5x11 landscape Shutterfly book. Each page spread will have a full size picture on the left, then on the right, 7 pictures plus text. I used various kits by Dani Mogstad (DesignByDani.com) to add a little interest to the right hand pages.

The boys

 

Remember me?

Ever have one of those days where you just can't seem to get it together?  Yeah, I've had about 6 weeks like that.

So how about a picture catch-up entry?

Here's my favorite picture of Jake lately:

He definitely has his Pa's nose.  (Lou's grandpa.)  and Lou's smile.  All he really has from me is the eyes!

1.  Mom (and Priscilla!) forgot to get pics of Jake on the 1st day of school, so this is a picture of the SECOND day of school.  I don't know WHAT the look on his face is about, he is such a goober.
2.  Me and Jake on the day of his birthday (yes, I realize I should have pulled my shirt up a bit before posing for a picture.)

 
1.  Nana made Jake cupcakes (from scratch!) on his birthday.
2.  We had a birthday party for Jake on Monday night at home, then his big party was on Thursday at the Bounce Factory!  Seven of the people who were supposed to come were either sick, or FORGOT to come (whatever), so the party was smaller than we had planned.  But we still had a good time.

 

These pictures are from Zoe's birthday party back in August.  Aowyn was afraid of Chuck E. Cheese, so she sat with me.  Now Zoe, she was seriously STALKING the poor guy.  Followed him around the whole place, to other people's parties . . . oh man, it was funny.  And HOW CUTE is Priscilla in this picture?!

Happy Birthday, Chicka!

Today is Aowyn's third birthday!  This is me, Aowyn, and Zoe a few weeks ago at Zoe's bday party.  We had a small party for Aowyn last night at my mom's house -- and I forgot the present I bought her a month ago (because I'm a genius.)  Ah, well . . . she'll get it eventually.  :)

Happy birthday, girlie!!!

5 year stats

Yesterday was Jake's 5 year check-up.  He had to get 4 shots, which sucked, but he seems to not have any reactions to them.

He measured 47.5 inches, which is off the charts for a 5 year old.  The doctor said it's the average height for a 7 year old.

He weighed 53 pounds, which is at the 97th percentile.

Big kid.  I'll post pics from the parties later this week (I'M SO BUSY!!!!)

P.S.  I just double-checked his stats from last year -- in the past 12 months he has grown 3.75 inches and gained 5 pounds.

P.P.S.  Clothing sizes: he wears size 1 shoes, size 8 undies (really!), size 5/6 pants, size 5/6 shirts, and size 8 or 10 pajamas because I can't get his arms in the sleeves otherwise.

Today and yesterday

When we got home yesterday, I pretty much let Jake do whatever he wanted.  (It was, after all, his birthday.)  For some reason he wanted to watch both Shrek and Shrek 2 (he has never seen either one and has never been interested in watching them.)  So we did that, ate some chocolate cupcakes Nana had made him that day (FROM SCRATCH!), played a lot of board games, and when Lou got home from work, they played Monster Trucks on the Nintendo Wii for a while before bed.  Good day!  Jake's party with his friends is tonight, so that will be fun (and stressful.)

Oh, and here's a page I made yesterday:

5 years ago today

  . . . Jake made his debut, at 4:24 p.m., 8 days late.  I can't believe he's FIVE now!

(and yes, the nekkid picture has been censored.  LOL)

I see you

Paint!