The Adventures of Jasper the Elf

(First of all, I can't even begin to tell you how very happy I am to have my computer fixed!  It has been a L O N G two weeks!!!  Thank you, James!!!)

A couple of weeks ago, Jasper the elf came to stay with us again this year!  He is one of Santa's elves!  He is VERY silly and Jak just LOVES to see what kind of mischief he gets in to!  He comes to life while we are all sleeping, so every morning is a new adventure!  I've posted just a few things Jasper has done.  He has two more nights of mischief before he heads back to the North Pole with Santa.  We will miss him...but not his mess! :)

Watch out!

Frank is crawling!  It's official!  He has been working on it for a few weeks now, but has finally gained the courage...or knowledge!  It's so cute, but we still aren't sure why we are so excited :) Just kidding.  He's already gotten himself in to things he shouldn't.  Jak is not a big fan, already!
He doesn't really crawl the typical way.  It's more of a scoot.  He leaves one knee on the floor and pushes with his opposite foot.  It's hilarious!  I'll try to post pictures soon. 
(I am still without a comptuer during the day, so I don't have naptime to get pics posted.)
Way to go Frankie!  It's fun to watch him grow and develop!

Who's who?

Jak

Frank...obviously since Jak is in the background!
 I was impatient and didn't want to crop!

 

Jak

Frank

Frank

Jak

All is well!

Thank you ALL so much for your prayers yesterday!  Frank's surgery went very well!  The total surgery only took 10 minutes, but it was about an hour until we got to see him!!!  (He decided to take a nap after the surgery and they let him sleep:)  We never once saw him cry and he was giggling and cooing when we put him in his carseat to go home!  He was a champ!  We are so proud of him and so glad it is all over and behind us!

Frank was great all day yesterday.  He didn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort, which is amazing!  He slept well last night and is still sleeping this morning, after an early morning feeding :)

Thanks again for your prayers...they were answered!

Getting Frankie dressed in his surgery gown!

Sweet baby, Frank!  He is wondering why I won't feed him! :(

Frank helping the nurse!

All done! :)

Fighting sleep...

Frank's Surgery

For those of you who do not know, Frank will be having a minor surgery tomorrow.  Please pray for him, and us! 

He will have general anesthesia, but shouldn't be out for long.  They are going to separate some skin that has grown over where he was circumcised and also stretch his "pee hole" since it is too small.  I have the technical medical terms if you need them :)

His surgery is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning in South Bend.  It should take an hour total.  I really don't think it will take that long after talking to the doctor, but that is what I was told.  Then he will be in recovery for a while.  I'm nervous for him, but know it is a minor surgery. 

I'm also worried about him since I won't be able to feed him tomorrow morning.  Hopefully he will stick with my plan and he'll sleep the whole way there and be ok with not eating when we get there.  I'll have to wake him up and feed him in the middle of the night if he doesn't wake up first...which he probably will.  :)

Please pray for Frank and the doctor!  I'll let you know how it goes!

Dynamite!

I just have to share this!  I think it is so cool! 

You have to understand, my only news source is the Today show (plus I have a secret, or not so secret, semi-crush on Matt Lauer) haha!! If the news is not on the Today show, I don't know about it.  It's my only source of information, and I'm lucky if I get to watch it.  It's usually just on while we are home if we are not listening to music. 

Here is a video the anchors did yesterday! It's a version of Mike Tompkins' "Dynamite." I put up the link to the Today show version and Mike Tompkins' version.  Super fun!  The song will probably be stuck in your head all day, though! :)

MIKE TOMPKINS' VERSION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjCLQaTFXx0

TODAY SHOW VERSION:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40193433#40193433

Smile Crocodile...(and open wide like an alligator!)

Jak had his first dentist appointment yesterday!  It went great!  I HATE going to the dentist, but loved the fact that Jak got to go.  I was REALLY nervous!  It's a struggle sometimes to get him to brush his teeth, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was just looking forward to "Jak and Mommy" time!  I don't know if I have had time with just Jak away from the house without Frankie since Frankie was born!  We were due!  I think it meant more to me than it did to him.  He must ignore Frank because I don't even think it phased him that he wasn't with us! Ha!

When we got to the dentist we had to wait a little, which was good. It gave Jak time to play and for us to read a couple of books before heading back.  He was so brave and excited until it was time to go to the "room."  He didn't like the chair and all the stuff at first.  He creeped in to the room so super slow!  Thank goodness Kelli was his hygienist!  She was WONDERFUL!!!  We finally got Jak to sit in the chair on my lap.  He refused to wear the "bib" which was fine.  Kelli showed him all the tools she was going to use and introduced him to "Mr. Thirsty."  Mr. Thirsty is the straw.  He got to hold it the whole time and turn it on and off!  He was a pro!  I didn't think he would like it, but he LOVED it! :)  After that, it was a breeze!  His teeth were counted and cleaned (with bubble gum toothpaste) and even flossed!  I was so proud of him!  He kept wanting to close his mouth, or he got tired of holding it open because she kept having to tell him to open wide like an alligator! He thought that was funny!  Dr. Record even had to tell him to do the same thing!  He walked away with sparkling teeth and no cavities!  Hallelujah!

Afterwards, we went to Dairy Queen for a treat for being a good boy!  He got to choose where we went.   He wanted a strawberry milkshake (which we weren't even sure he'd had a milkshake before to know what one was!), but that is what he wanted!  We had a great time.  I didn't realize how "hard" Frankie is!  It seemed so easy with just Jak!  It was great!  I love that boy so much!!!!

On a side note...we played our first family card game last night.  Jak likes games, but doesn't like rules to games, so we don't usually play.  Last night we decided to try Go Fish!  It was a BLAST!  Jak and I were on a team against Daddy.  We won both games! ;)  Jak really had fun, in between the meltdowns when Daddy took his fish away! Ha!  He figured out that it's just part of the game and was fine. 

I loved yesterday! :)

Jak all done getting his teeth cleaned!  He is waiting for Dr. Record to come in.  He finally sat up in the chair without me!

Jak got to pick out a prize for doing so well!  He chose a ring!  It is gold with an orange square! :)

Jak waiting for Dr. Record to "count" his teeth and check for cavities!  Check out his face! LOL!

Gone Fishing!

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE Jak's preschool?!  I LOVE Jak's preschool!  :)

Today, they learned the rhyme, "Fish Alive."  They talked about fish, their characteristics, habitat, and counted the fish and other things.  They also talked about magnets!  They had a little fishing pole with a magnet and they had to figure out what a magnet would pick up!  Love it!  It is so cute!  Here is what he made today along with the lesson!



Jak's picture and fishing pole and the fish they caught! :)



Jak's picture...he said that the water was spraying out!  Clever! :)



After school, I get Jak buckled in and he whispers, "Mommy, can we go to McDonald's?"  I'm a sucker!  So, we went to McDonald's with the Halloween gift cards from Grandma and Poppy!  Jak bought today...with a little help from Frank!  He thought it was SO cool I let him swipe the card and he made sure I remembered he "paid" today! 

I must also look very helpless when I have Frank with me! haha  No matter where I go...everyone is ALWAYS asking me if I need help!  Especially when Jak is there, too.  I got asked at the grocery store if I needed help to the car and to put my water in my car! ha!  Then, at McD's several people asked if they could carry my tray for me, or help a very independent 3 year old get his drink! ha!  This happens all the time and I just chuckle!  I LOVE that everyone is so nice and willing to help, but when it's just Jak and me, they don't want anything to do with me! LOL!  Baby Frank is a "magnet!"  I appreciate everyone and the kind man who helped me today, but it kind of throws off my routine!  I had to frantically pick where we were going to sit that would be approved by Jak and I was so flustered that I picked a booth, where Frank doesn't fit with his carseat...so we had to move a chair over!  Then, I had to go back up to the counter to get napkins and ketchup b/c I forgot!  I was out of my groove, but thanks for the help everyone! :) haha!

When we finally got settled, I tried to get Jak to tell me about school.  I asked him what magnets could pick up and he told me his fish magnet and that they stick to the refrigerator.  That's all he remembered.  haha  He tends to not say much about school.  I later got him to talk to me about show-and-tell.  He took his "microphone" he got on vacation.  Before school we talked about what he could say about it, but he never wants to tell us what he actually says during show-and-tell.  He did, however, add that he passed it around today and everyone talked in it! haha! I wish I could have heard that! :)  So cute!  He was pumped that he took it today!

Then, his new thing is to get a cookie after he eats all his lunch and is a good boy!  He is for sure my son!  I'm all for a cookie after lunch, or any time! :)

We had a great morning!  One the way home, Jak closed his eyes when we were five seconds from home and started snoring.  Then said, "I already took a nap in the car, so I don't need to take one when we get home."  Ummm...YES YOU DO!  He's napping now :)

Frank 6 months

Frank turned 6 months last Thursday!  That was the fastest 6 months in my life, for sure!  Frank is so sweet and reminds us so much of Jak!  He was a trooper yesterday at his appointment!  Here are the stats:
                            Frank 6 months        Jak 6 months
Weight                  15 lbs.  8th %         18 lbs.  50th %
Height                   27 3/4" 87th %        28"  90th%

Jak was a much better eater!  Obviously!  Frank is too busy watching Jak and wondering what he is missing! He's following his "curve," though, so all is good! :)

'For the Beauty of the Earth'

'For the Beauty of the Earth'

Last night we went to Burgess Falls State Park.  We all walked around wondering how we had never been there before!  It was breathtaking!  We enjoyed a 3/4 mile hike around the falls and to a couple overlooks. Jak is Jak, so I was nervous! The trails were maybe a foot to a foot and a half wide at times. There were signs everywhere that said 'high bluffs' or 'rugged terrain!'  Probably not the best for a 3-year-old and a 30-year-old with a baby in tote!  We had a great time, though!  It was beautiful! 

On the way home we were talking about how neat it was and using all kinds of adjectives to describe the falls...amazing, spectacular, wonderful, beautiful, etc. So, we asked Jak what he thought...how would he describe them...he said "it looked like hair!"  :)  Yeah, I guess it kind of did! So, I had to put my teacher hat on and told him he should be a writer some day!  What a great description!  He told me "no." haha  

We had a great time and enjoyed the falls very much!!!  I'm just glad Jak was able to see them and appreciate them.  Not many three-year-olds are blessed enough to do and see all the things he has!  

At the end of each day, we always ask Jak, "What was your favorite part of your day?"  Last night, we all had the same answer..."The BIG falls!"  Great day!

Please excuse the picture postings.  The internet connection is slow here and I'm impatient.  They are on here, but not in any order!  It's kind of a mess! :)  Still beautiful, though!



Cascading falls...



Mommy with her boys!

Bridge?  No thanks!













The "Big" Falls



The "Middle" Falls



So beautiful!  I wish you could hear it!

Tennessee

The boys and I are in Tennessee!  The trip here was great!  Jak sat still the whole way and didn't even want to play with anything we brought!  He enjoyed just watching the traffic and taking in the scenery!  Frank, on the other hand, didn't care for the drive.  He screamed and screamed until I took him out of his car seat and then he'd just grin!  Little stinker!  I didn't mind holding him, even though it is against the law!!!

Jak is L O V I N G it here!  So much, that I'm not sure what we are going to do when we get home! haha  He loves to ride his bike, go to the gym to play basketball, the arcade, play at the playground across the street, go swimming in the pool, putt-putting, going to the mall, and taking a bath in Grandma and Poppy's Jacuzzi tub!  FUN!  Mom and I are able to walk pretty much everywhere with the boys, so we are having a great time and getting lots of exercise!  Which is GREAT!!!

I should have taken pics of the villa before we "moved" in so, I'm posting a link of what our place looks like.  They are obviously not my pics, but you will get an idea of what the place looks like.  It is super nice and PERFECT for all of us!  We love it here!  I always think it is funny when people post pics of their homes or where they stay, but I ALWAYS look at them and I ALWAYS like seeing them! Ha!  So, here is a version of where we are staying!
http://www.tripadvisor.in/ReviewPhotos-g55040-d97849-r8364202-Fairfield_Glade_Resort-Fairfield_Glade_Tennessee.html

I will upload pics later. We are planning on going to some waterfalls tonight, so I'm anxious to see if we can get some great pics from that! The falls we normally go to (Ozone Falls) is dry...so we are going to another spot.  I'm excited, but sad not to be able to see the Ozone!

Wii, Wii, Wii...

Jak loves the Wii!!  Mario Kart Wii, actually!  He is pretty good at it, when he tries!  Well, he will be DONE with the Wii for a few days.  (Wish me luck with that!)
I was in the kitchen with Frank getting lunch today and I hear a huge bang!  It sounded like Jak took the controller and slammed it on the ground...which actually, isn't that unusual for him.  I told him to settle down and not throw the remote or it's mine!  It was quiet and then I heard the game start to play again.
THEN...after lunch I came through the living room to get ready to go outside and there is a white mark on my RED wall!  I went to brush it off, thinking it was a scuff mark from a football or something thrown against it, but it was the drywall showing through!  Great!  I asked Jak where that mark came from and he didn't say a word!  He just looked at me.  So, I aksed him if that was the sound I heard?  And if he threw the remote against the wall...and he just looked at me.  Now, if you've been around Jak enough you know this look....it's his I'm going to act all serious and look at you only out of the very lower corner of my eye!  It drives me NUTS!  I can't stand that look! haha  Well, that's the one I got and I almost started laughing while talking to him about not throwing the remote! 
He no longer has the Wii.  He is grounded from it for a few days! 
It may not seem like a big deal, but he throws EVERYTHING!  UGH!  And my RED wall now has a WHITE dot! :( 

Julie and Julia

I just finished watching Julie and Julia.  For those of you who do not know, it is a movie about a woman (Julie) who cooked her way through Julia Child's first cookbook ...524 recipes in 365 days and blogged about it!  Here is the Wikipedia summary of it...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_%26_Julia

It took me 4 sittings to finish it due to Frank and Jak and daily chores! :)  Regardless, I loved it!!  I now feel the need to read Julia's cookbook!  I so wish I had time and patience to do 524 new recipes in a year! haha 
For those of you who have not seen the movie, you should!  I am now intrigued by Julia Childs and want to know more.  I'm just not sure Nick and the boys are up for me experimenting with French cooking! :)  I probably should stick with watching the Food Network! ;)

Day 10

Jak has been going to preschool for nine days.  Today was day ten and the WORST!  Bless his heart!  I think he is just so super tired!  He woke up whining today and it pretty much continued all morning until the car ride to school.  The car ride was crying/screaming the whole way!  I don't even want to tell you why, but those of you who know Jak well could probably guess...Star Blanket!  He wanted "her" so he could sleep on the way to school! HA!  I guess he will just get an extra long nap today!  He has got to be tired if he is telling me he wants to sleep!

When we got to school he was still crying so I had to carry him, and Frank, up to school.  By the time we got close to the door and he started seeing some of the other students, he stopped crying at least.  I'm sure he'll be fine, but I hate leaving him when he is sad.  Hopefully school will perk him up a bit! 
We are going to the park today to play and have a picnic.  We have had a park day/picnic each week for the last month!  I love it and he loves it!  I pray for no meltdowns there!

It's going to be gorgeous today!  

Family Photo Session at Lincoln Farm Photography (a.k.a. Grandma and Poppy Chaney)

Last night was our very first "professional" family photo shoot.  I LOVE photography studio pictures, but have never wanted to pay for them.  So, we came up with the idea of borrowing a high quality digital camera and using Kevin and Donna's land (Lincoln Farm Photography ;)) to take some shots!  It was so so so so much fun!  So much fun!  But, after completing the session, I realized there is NO WAY we would have been able to contain Jak in a photography studio.  We are going to have to stick with the outdoors!  He had a blast!  We had a blast!  Thank you, Kevin and Donna for taking the pics!  I've posted a few on here but I have put up a link for you to view them all if you would like.

Here is the facebook link.  I deleted the ones that weren't any good. 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=39803&id=1843000474&l=4699649a54

Here are ALL of them!  Snapfish link.

http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=5763895013/a=90173811_90173811/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

The first one...

Ok.  So, I have decided to blog.  I never would have thought that I would be doing this.  Blogging was a new word to me two years ago, and now it seems as if everyone has a blog!  I have some friends who have wonderful blogs and I love reading them!!  I'm not promising to live up to theirs, :), but I would like to give this a shot!  I am hoping this will be an easier way to communicate my daily happenings with my family and friends, because my boys are just so busy!!!  Let me know how this works out for you! :)