All about JACK

video to follow…happy birthday Mimi thanks for my new pajamas….I call em’ “cah-jamas!”

Everytime we have a package at the door step Arlin squeals like a little girl (or pig) Uncle Joel! sent me toys! Open Mama! Open Papa!

Thank you Uncle Joel and Uncle Kirk…you guys are still spoiling him even all the way from Denver! He loves it…later that day Arlin pointed out that the toy man on the pirate ship had “art” (tattoos) just like Uncle Joel does on his arms! I was blown away by his observation…and that although we haven’t seen Uncle Joel in quite some time he remembers the little details very well.

We miss you guys. Come visit soon.

this is what happens when you forget the book you gave him to read after dinner has a secret stash of stickers in the back!

“Look Mama!”

then he hollers….”Sticker Power!”

If you notice he’s got his fist out but no pointer fingers…I’ve been trying to teach him it’s rude to point at people…so he points to things he wants and me with his fist closed…it’s pretty funny actually.

but it’s still cute, just turn your computer screen if you can…or your noggin’ that would work to duh (me)…chad shot this with his i-phone yesterday while Mama was cooking dinner.

this video is a couple weeks old…just getting around to uploading a few videos. We had fun in the sun today and took Otis to a nearby football field for some ball chasing. We’re anxiously awaiting Sissy’s arrival tomorrow!

Summer is still here. We’re still busy and YES, I’m still taking pictures of Jacker pants, just finding time to blog them is another story.

trip to Ikea play zone and lunch with Mama

only a face a mother could love (or everyone else in the world!)

he built this all on his own. who said you couldn’t build rome in a day?

“the dozer help us mama!”

lounging in buddy Ben’s pool

in buddy Ben’s sister-Taylor’s pink inner-tube.

the escapee! Yes, we lock Jacker’s in his room, with a big boy bed (freedom) there’s trouble to get into!

Arlin gets a sucker for eating all his sushi (and half of mine!)

now this is a face only a mother could love!

Arlin starts his new PreSchool for the Arts Sept. 7th!!! YIPEE! Mama is counting down the days. We’re very excited about this new program close to our house. And thrilled to be getting Jackers back to a similar school schedule/routine (five days a week) like he was on back in Denver. He’ll for sure miss his buddies at the Cove but it’s time to plant some roots in a full time program with a few more tots.

Sorry, been lagging on Jacker’s blog…seem to be lacking that “extra” time lately, Arlin has become quite demanding of my attention in the every waking moment, this boy keeps us busy- always!

Anyways…

Arlin Jack paints his first canvas with Mama in her studio…

not so easy holding my EOS in one hand to snap a pic…:)

Arlin barked the colors out loud he wanted the paint dispenser (Mama) to put on his palette…

Mama: “Arlin, We just did green.”

Arlin: “Ummm…uh, a SPECIAL GREEN! Mom”

Mama: “Oh, o.k. I’ll get you the “special” green color, coming right up!”

Arlin: “Thank you Mama”

(I’m very proud of Arlin’s politeness with thank you and your welcome, I just wish it was a 100% percent of the time…you know, like the times when someone takes “his” shovel at the community toy sharing park!)

how cute are his little munchkin feet on the ladder? (that he decorated with Stella’s bottle cap magnets!)

surprisingly he was patient with this project…he listened and followed instruction well…I’d say he painted for a good 10 minutes, and for Jacker’s (his latest nickname) that’s fantastic.

We’ll be painting more often now, I think I was afraid of the mess, but really he was a champ about the whole process!

Arlin’s new favorite music to jam out to…The Backyardigans episode; Surf’s Up, this kiddo loves to sing & shake it! And of all the cruddy cartoons out there, I really like this one; the music and dancing is hysterical, I caught myself singing right along and doing the moves with Arlin!)

a picture taken by Mrs. Renee at Arlin’s school…looks pretty mischievous if you ask me! But cute nonetheless!

After a 4.5 mile family run!!! (So, exciting Papa is running with Mama!) We headed over to the Lake Union annual Boat Festival to show Arlin some pirate ships…he thought they were really cool, but didn’t quite understand why he couldn’t play the role of the”Captain” himself.

It was a first for both Arlin and Papa to see a handful of different boats at the festival (being a California kid, I forget that a lot of people don’t easily have the opportunity to see these types of boats)

the weather was gorgeous and with the sun out till almost 10pm days are FULL!

Dinner at Circa, a local pub by the house after the festival…Arlin says…”You talkin’ to me?” (wearing Mama’s glasses)

instead of a weekend get away to Gearhart which we thought would have been really nice-we opt’ed to stay home for the holiday weekend and save the money instead. However, we made a small splurge and treated ourselves to a barbecue grill for the balcony (nothing too fancy) and Chad made us our yummy jalapeno burgers…along with the barbecue, Arlin scored this new t-ball set. The boys have had some real  fun with it….

of course Arlin had to pause and adjust his baseball cap every three seconds…it must be backwards! Don’t know who could have shown him this fashion sense? (papa!):)

looking for the ball. He actually whacked one outta their “playing field”

**This weekend also marked the Captain’s graduation from his baby crib to his “big boy” bed. I know, a little late, but finally the piece to convert his crib was discovered in the garage from the move…We made a big deal out of it, got out a special “pirate” themed blanket Mimi made hung his pirate flag up on his door.

First night:

EPIC fail.

These are pictures of us sneaking in to capture the mischievous behavior. There were lots of noises coming from his bedroom! He managed to pull all the blankets and stuffed animals out of trundle drawer below his bed.

Getting the business from Papa. See the snow mittens on the bed?! I’m telling you he had everything pulled out! (I’ve since gotten smarter and put all these things up in his closet where he can’t reach them:))

Ugh, the first night was a looooong one. At about 2am the Captain awoke, seemed he was a little lost sailing his ship…crying for Mama…he ended up sleeping in our bed-keeping everyone awake with his paranoia of the smoke detector light on the ceiling?!

Arlin:” ’twas dat Mama? Do you see somp-thin’??! Look at dat Mama!”

Mama & Papa: “GO TO BED ARLIN JACK!!!”

Second night- we brainstormed a plan to out smart the Captain’s new found freedom and we put up a doggie gate in his door way and “kid proofed” his room the best we could. It worked, I think he figured if he can’t bug us, he might as well sleep in his bed…

He did wake up with a pile of books in his bed…Can’t be upset about that!

Hope everyone had a fun fourth of July!

Meet Captain’s new buddy…Ben, he’ll be 3yr. in November, he’s a happy little guy.

Ben lives two doors down from our house…Arlin thinks he’s pretty fun to play with.

..this is the two of them in the alley riding Arlin’s gear….I think Ben thought he hit the jackpot when he saw all of Arlin’s wheels in the garage. It’s good practice for Arlin’s “sharing”

Meet Arlin’s new hair cut…this is what happens when Mama looks away for more toys to entertain-because he won’t stand still….yep within two seconds El Capy-tain had the guard off Papa’s buzzer and whacked a big chunk of his bangs off…I sniveled with a few tears as I buzzed the rest of his hair off to match his handy work. I guess I should find humor he actually did it on Summer Solstice, maybe it’s his way of celebrating summertime is here. Now he really looks like Papa’s mini me!

I tell ya’ we 100% boy here. We have two healing boo boo’s on both of his elbows from massive wipe outs. “He who runs with sticks” that’s his new Indian name incase you were wondering. Everything he can find is turned into some type of jousting sword…the vacuum cleaner extension pieces, the bubble maker wand…you name it.

He’s been a trouble maker today…and Mama is feeling tired because of it.