Week Thirty Three

NEWSBREAK!!!!!!!!! Jack's first tooth decided to make an appearance this week. It was pretty funny how we found out about it. Tom was drinking some water out of a glass, and of course Jack wanted some (he LOVES to drink out your glass). After he had taken a sip of water he started gumming/chewing on the glass, and we heard a chink, chink noise. Tom and I just looked at each other and started laughing. After we confirmed the surfacing of the tooth with a "finger check," we understood why Jack had been a little clingy lately. So far things are going well, as long as we keep the Motrin and Tylenol schedule up!


Move over Beethoven...here comes Jack to tickle the ivories!


Jack shows Tom how to get out of the way of the boom when the boats tacks & jibes. It is a good thing that Jack showed him this, as Tom left on Friday to compete in his second Chicago-Mac Race. If you are interested you can check out how they are doing at www.chicagoyachtclub.org. He is crewing on Mosquito.


Emmie spots and airplane, while Jack is busy trying to dig to China.


I wasn't sure how the sandbox was going to go over. As soon as I saw Jack's hand up to his mouth, I knew it was time to be done.


After breakfast I ran out to get the pool set-up. When I came back into the kitchen I found Jack fast asleep. I guess he is pretty set on keeping 11:00 nap time!


Brrrrrr.....


Uncle Marc will be so proud! Jack tried asparagus for the first time this week. He wasn't quite sure what to think about it.

Week Thirty Two

Where's Jack?!?!?!?


Here I am!!!! Jack's new game is to hide under the blanket and then pull it off...he giggles like crazy once he is finally able to get it off.


So the parenting books suggest that children can start feeding themselves some "easy" finger foods at this stage. As you can see "easy" is code word for MESSY!! Jack had a blast attempting to eat the banana, we thought that it was also time for him to learn that the Chiquita sticker must be worn on your forehead while eating a banana.


We were invited up to Great Uncle Dana's and Great Aunt Sherry's for the 4th of July. We had a great time visiting around the campfire, boating, swimming, fishing, and watching the fireworks out on the lake. Jack was able to meet Great Uncle Dale and Great Aunt Donna for the first time, as they made a detour on their way back to Texas from Alaska.


Oh geez!! Here we go on that crazy boat thing again! Great Aunt Donna will keep me safe though! The first PFD we purchased for Jack was not a hit with him. In fact he screamed as soon as it was on. We decided to try a different one, which works out much better for him. It is too funny though...as soon as the PFD goes on he is very serious (he won't crack a smile at all!), and as soon as it comes off he is all smiles again.


Jack made it through most of the fireworks before he fell asleep. We weren't sure what to expect with the loud noises, but he really enjoyed all the bright lights.


Jack was very interested in Great Uncle Dana's cell phone ring tones.


Here kitty, kitty, kitty! This was the first time that Jack has taken an interest in Grandpa and Grandma Dresel's three cats.


Thank goodness I am safe in the laundry basket! I think Louie likes to eat little baby toes!

Week Thirty One

Come on Mom! I can do this all by myself!


Where did all of my cereal go?


I like drinking from water bottles much better than sippy cups! Sippy cups are for babies! (As you can see Jack is into doing things by himself lately. Up until now he has been easy going like his dad. Now we are starting to see signs of mom...independent, or as most people say...stubborn!


Hanging out at the Brewers game with Jen. Jack LOVES hanging out with Ryan and Jen. His favorite thing to do is pull Jen's hair. He can't wait until Sunday when she comes over to watch him while Tom and I go out on a date to Summerfest!


Being at the Brewers game wears you out! My two boys couldn't even make to bed before falling asleep!


Jack and Emmie went to the "big kid" pool for the first time this week. They had a ton of fun watching all the older kids run around splashing. Just think...next summer that will be them!


Check out my new pool! Dad says it looks like a circus tent, but too small, so he calls it the flea circus! Anyone want to come over for a dip?


Airing out after a refreshing dip in the pool.


Can you tell how excited I am to go on the boat?


The Captain and his Skipper! I am sure this will be a regular sight in a few more years...once we pay off all Jack's diaper bills and can afford to get a boat of our own!


Wait! Dad we need to turn back...there were some hot babes back there!


While Jack took a little snooze in the cabin of the boat, Tom and I set out to see how much horse power the boat really had!


Yumm!!! I LOVE butter, just like Grandma Jane! (This is an inside joke...Tom can tell you that you never want to sit next to my mother at Thanksgiving dinner and ask her to put some butter on your potatoes!)

Week Thirty

So the room that we use as an office had become the official dumping ground for anything and everything. We finally tackled cleaning the room up, and decided that it would be wise to turn it into a playroom for Jack. While Tom and I cleaned and put stuff away Jack played "Jack-in-the-box."


I LOVE my new playroom! Now when I tip over I don't clunk my head on the hardwood floor.


Water tastes much better when it is bath water!


Jack found Tom's chest hair... Tom didn't think it was as cool as Jack did!


Jack showed Tom where he wanted to go.


Apparently Tom didn't get moving fast enough....Jack looked at him and seemed to be saying, "Can we please go now!"


Are we there yet? (For those of you thinking we're the worst parents right now...of course Jack and Tom were just sitting in the truck. They were not about to go anywhere without Jack's carseat.)

Week Twenty Nine

Emmie invited Jack over to play in her pool. As you can see Jack REALLY enjoyed himself.


So serious! Jack and Emmie were very serious about their water toys. It was pretty funny to watch them pass buckets back and forth, as they each took a sip of the water.


Happy First Father's Day to Tom...the best dad a kid could ask for!

So this is your first Father's Day,
Your first one as a dad;
Get ready for surprises now,
The wildest you've ever had.

Just when you think you've got it down,
There's a new and different stage;
This little person changes a lot
With each fascinating age.

Being a dad takes all you've got;
Your heart and mind you'll invest;
It's the hardest job you'll ever have,
And the one you'll love the best.


Father's Day turned out to be a gorgeous day. We decided to put up our pool in order to keep cool. Tom and Jack found a new use for the Bumbo.

Week Twenty Eight

I know, I know! I'm a little late on the post again this week, but I have a good excuse. We began yet ANOTHER home improvement project this past week! We replaced doors, windows and siding. Before saying anything more I must thank a few people for all of their hard work and generosity. A HUGE thanks to Ryan, Nick, Bubba, Dayon, Mom and Dad Hanks, Mom and Dad Dresel, and to Jack for being such a trooper on this project! We couldn't have done it without all of you!


Jack got to experience the truck for the first time this week. As many of you know Tom and I do not drive nice vehicles, so needless to say escorting Jack around in them is always a little worrisome. Yes, yes, yes the airbag was turned off!


Look at me sitting all by myself! We can't believe how strong our little man is getting.


Look mom...no windows! As if we didn't do enough to this room already. We completely gutted and redid Jack's nursery, and once it was all complete we decided to replace the window, along with five others in our house.


It is a good thing Tom and Grandpa Tom aren't afraid of heights!


Jack enjoys eating lunch with Grandpa Tom.


Grandma Jane and Grandpa Tim were roped into another of our home improvement projects. Since the purchase of our house they have learned to tile a floor, install a ceiling fan, install a furnace, replace windows, and reside a house. We're just waiting to break the news to them that we are going to build our next house ourselves! JUST KIDDING...I hope!


Grandpa Tom and Grandpa Tim take a few minutes out to enjoy Jack.


Jack didn't have any troubles napping during the project, even with all of the hammering and sawing.


Tom had a little too much hammering and sawing for one day. I'm sure the old fashions didn't help!


Supervising the "crew" with Grandma Jane.


This damn tool box! It never fails that it will get opened the wrong way and a bunch of tools will spill out all over! This time the culprit was neighbor Dan and not Tom. Poor Grandma Jane gets stuck putting everything back into the rightful place.


Entertaining the grandparents.


Look out AARP here I come with my Blue-Blockers!


Grandma Nancy entertains Jack while the rest of us sit down and take a break. No wonder the woman is so skinny...she doesn't slow down!!!!!!