I Did It My Way!

For Jack there is only one way to make an entrance into the den, and that is over... or, i guess under... maybe  I should just use the word through 

THIS end table...

Here is proof: with a little extra footage of Jack with his new oversized racecar.

This is his route EVERY time he enters that side of the den.

GOT to love little boys, they are so adventurous!

First Haircut

Today was a very special day, it was Jack's first haircut. We went to Millidines in Madison where I get my hair done and Anna was so good with him. I came armed with cookies, juice, books, toys and a sucker. The sucker was an obvious choice because, really,  how many pictures of "first haircuts" have you seen WITHOUT a sucker. I figured they had to be on to something.

Jack is 10 months 3 weeks and as you can tell was in much need of a new do... 

he was so sleepy...

This picture is right side up, he was completley bent over, which turned out to be a good angle for Anna...

Finished product...

Concert in the park

Monday Stuart, Jack and I went to the concert in the park down by the river. Jack had a blast. Of course we took the "danger cart" and it was a huge hit we had so many comments on it.



When Stuart told me that there were concerts in the park on Mondays I have to admit I had my doubts. (He really meant the people from the assisted living homes hop in their rascals and head over to listen to a few guys pick at their guitars) (the same guys, in fact that could also be found in your local bar on any given Saturday, a group with a name derived from a bad movie)



I started getting curious when we had to park a mile away (lucky for Stuart it was not hot, or Lord have mercy upon his soul.) Then when we finally got to the park there were probably 100 plus people there, and yes the old folks DID migrate over from the assisted living homes, but there were young, old and very very old (guy in the rented rascal who tried to talk to Jack through the hole in his neck, Oh and who was also chain smoking cigars.)



Blankets, chairs, kids running around, babies, strollers, coolers, and lots of clapping to the beat were to be seen. A group of guys (with a bad movie name, that escapes me now.) were just picking away producing some really great bluegrass music, so good in fact Jack decided he would get down and boogie for the first time (see video at the bottom of the post.) Sorry for it being sideways I was unable to rotate it. But if you turn your head it looks straight up and down :)





He looks like woody woodpecker here, this was on our mile walk to the park from the car.



This was the band (with the bad name that escapes me.)

The crowd... I blame the zoom on my camera for this one the crowd REALLY was quite large, but this was taken from pretty far away too.

He giggled and blabbered the whole time, not sure if it was the actual event and all the sights because he kicked and babbled the whole time through dinner at Chilli's as well. He was in a really good mood yesterday!

He loved to look at the river but when we took him out of the "danger cart" all he wanted to do was climb all over it and was so over looking at the barge and the water after a few seconds.

See, climbing....

See, still eyeing the "danger cart"...

This was him crawling on the grass... to ... the... you guessed it...

NOT being cooperative, at all. He wanted back in the... well you know

Here is the video of Jack getting down with the "danger cart" to the bluegrass in the background, not sure if you can hear it that well but he was going at it...

Project Tutu

UPDATE: this is the newest edition

I am proud to announce this project has been in the works for a full 5 days and has yet to be abandoned. Also, our dinning room has been overtaken with tulle, which will probably sit there for another week, then be "put away" never to be heard from for about the next year.

NO, I don't know what I am going to do with them and NO, they are not for Jack... Those are the two most popular questions to be asked about this project.

Jack Goes to Birthday Party

Saturday Jack, Stuart and I went to Savannah Coviak's 2nd birthday party. We had so much fun this was his first non family birthday party. Happy Birthday Savannah!



This is her in the outfit that Jack got for her from Eloise and Henry.

Jack is 10 months and 10 days in these pictures...

He loves to play with other kids, his favorite was a puzzle of Savannah's...

Getting ready to stand up...

Showing daddy the puzzle pieces...

San Fran-To-Far-Away

While Andrea was waiting to go to San Fran she had a little off time and every morning I would sign on to my email account and wait for her to sign into hers. We would talk about everything from shopping to what we ate for dinner the night before.

When someone is logged into chat, the little circle by their name turns green.

Now that she has moved and has to work I sit at my desk and look at her little grey circle everytime I log into my email. The little grey circle that says "no Andrea is not available to talk she is too far away and much too busy for you!"

Well all I have to say to that is BOOO and I hate San Fransisco! :( I miss her and I miss her chats... stupid San Fransisco!

Jen Commandments of Shopping

Although I don't commend all of these commandments (mainly because I am on a budget.) If I had unlimited funds I would totally agree with Jen on these...

Thou shall not buy on sale. Because sale? Is another word for stuff not good enough to be purchased full price.

There's no such thing as too many twinsets. And you shall not rest until you have them in Every. Single. Color. (except orange, because , you know, ick.)

Remember the three most important things when buying shoes: Italian, Italian, and
Italian.

Life is too short to wear synthetic. Our Heavenly Father would not have placed all those goats in the hills of Kashmir if he wanted you to put on something fashioned from a recycled Mountain Dew bottle.

Salespeople are there to carry the heavy stuff for you. So let them. See also: Cold Beverages, Running to fetch.

Coupons are for amateurs. What good is a $400 sweater if you can't tell people you paid $400 for it? See also: Commandment, First.

"Outlets" are for plugs and creative expression, not malls. Is style so trivial to you that you're willing to purchase your clothes at a store situated between the place where they sell the deformed Goldfish crackers and designer impostor perfumes? I think not.

Only shop in stores that have a philosophy. Heck, yes, you should pay 10 percent more for a store with a philosophy (Even if that philosophy is, "Let's sucker our customers into paying 10 percent more.")

The harder to pay, the better it is. Self-explanatory. See also: Marcus, Neiman.

People who say "less is more" are simply jealous. More is always more. This is precisely the reason people go gaga over twins and litters of puppies and why a matched set of Kate Spade luggage is so much better than a single piece.

The Jen Commandments

I came across this book, "Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smarta**,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office" by Jen Lancaster. I have been following her blog for a while. Which is hilarious by the way. My friend Rachel turned me on to the book series and the blog.

Don't worry I am not going to give you a book report on it. However, there is one section called "The Jen Commandments" that I loved and think that it sums up every woman. If Stuart and I wrote our own vows at our wedding I totally would have plagiarized this section of the book.

So here they are: The Jen Commandments:

One: I loathe cooking. Therefore anytime I am forced into meal preparation, expect it to be done as loudly, profanely, and grudgingly as possible. (Angry: It's what's for dinner.)

Two: I hate holding anything heavier than my purse. If I have something in my hands, I will attempt to trick you into carrying it for me.

Three: I am not a great listener, although I might appear to be. Sure, I may be nodding and saying, "Mmm hmm," but usually I'm just trying to think of a way to steer the conversation back to being about me.

Four: It is always about me.

Five: I complain. A lot. Be particularly cautious if I am hungry, hot or tired. May God have mercy on your soul if I am all three.

Six: I am fashionably late for social obligations. The only exception is when I have brunch with Melissa. You must chauffeur me to the restaurant and I will shriek the entire time for dawdling, also known as obeying traffic signals. If it means getting me there on time, you will be expected to drive on the sidewalk.

Seven: Speaking of friends, many of them are cuter or thinner than me. You are not allowed to notice this.

Eight: There will be occasions when you breathe too loudly for my liking. Ditto on chewing.

Nine: All men's socks look the same to me. If you care about wearing a matching set, please double-check them yourself before crossing your legs at a business meeting.

Ten: I enjoy rearranging furniture. You need to enjoy moving bookcases.

Hope you enjoyed that as much as I did.

How to tie a bow

I don't know about you but my bows are always upside down or lop sided (those that are not Christmas bows which I consider myself a proffesonal Christmas bow tier. Anyway I ran across this video and now EVERY bow I tie a perfect...