Our Weekend

To start this past weekend off, J-Man spent Friday night with his Nana and Papa. They hadn't seen him in a week or so and I knew I had a cake to complete that would take some time, so off he went. Friday evening, Daddy J and I spent some time together. We had dinner and ventured out to see a friend's house that is being built. Their floor plan was adapted from ours so I wanted to see the changes that were made. Daddy J and I still like our plan best. 

I had already had the opportunity to bake the cake that I had to decorate, so when we finally got home that evening, I iced the base layer and drew out the picture on top before heading to bed for some rest. All of that took two hours. I haven't really ever counted the hours that pass while I decorate cakes and I got a rude awakening this weekend when I did an official count.

This cake was definitely one of the more difficult ones I have done. However, for this little girl - it was worth it. I did her first and second birthday cakes as well so her Mommy is a repeat customer. They are always great to do. Saturday, I started up again at 6am. Made the icing and colored it. Twelve colors to be exact - shown here and I had to make two more to finish it! Whew! I wanted to take a picture of my kitchen to show you the disaster that I make when decorating cakes, but I just couldn't. It is quite embarassing.

The finished product - Dora and friends - Swiper, Boots, and Bennie the Bull. Haleigh was pleased when she saw the cake and her mommy almost cried. I told her she better not - I didn't want to cry too. However, when I got home and saw the catastrophe in my kitchen, I was pretty much in tears anyway. I will say I am very glad J-Man wasn't there. After spending 2 hours Friday night on the cake and another 6 on it Saturday, I realized that I wouldn't have ever gotten it done with him here.

In a few moments of down time this weekend, I did take some time to go bird watching. However, I didn't have to go very far. A bird has taken residence above one of our outdoor speakers and has apparently recently laid her eggs. I have watched her sit on the nest for what seems like hours lately. One day very soon, I hope to get a taller ladder so that I can snap a few pictures of the inside of the nest.



 I am so glad spring has finally sprung. It is nice to be reminded of all the new life that comes with the new season. I enjoy taking moments to sit on my back deck and watch birds, look at all the new greenery in my backyard, and feel the warmth from the sun and the cool wind from the breezes. Gentle reminders that God is awesome through his creations. That he is the ultimate provider of life.

And last but most definitely not least! A "woo-whoo" moment occured this weekend. If you don't remember me mentioning J-Man's chart, you can read all about it here.

He received his 10th sticker this weekend!

Can I hear a "YAY"?!?!

I am so proud of him for working so hard on this. I am glad that we don't have to fight over trying to go. What is even better is that we don't have to worry about tears much any more. He just ventures to the bathroom when I tell him he needs to go try. This is such an improvement from two weeks ago I am glad the chart process is still working!

So, before church tonight we made a trip to the dollar store. It had to be this specific one. I am not sure why, but last week he told me this one was the one he wanted to go to. I didn't dare try to go to an actual dollar store - where everything is a dollar. Sometimes we, as moms, just have to choose our battles and that battle was not one I wanted to fight.

It didn't take too much time to find the toy isle and they really didn't have much to choose from. The first thing that caught his eye? Handcups (or handcuffs for those of you that don't know J-Manese). This set of "handcups" even had a set of keys. I was a little hesitant on those - only because I could see the keys getting lost and someone with handcuffs around their wrists and not being able to be freed. So, I quickly offered - "Are you sure that is what you really want? Did you see this really cool Iron Man and Captain America?" As he was getting ready to look at what I was looking at, he noticed a transformer... and that is what he got.

He told me next time he would get the handcups.

Today started his next round of ten stickers and so far, we are on the right track as he was able to put one sticker on his chart this evening!

Monuments, Memorials, and All Things USA

Before our marriage retreat weekend, we took a day to drive up to Washington DC. We stayed in Virginia Beach for the weekend, so spending the day beforehand in DC wouldn't be too much out of the way. Daddy J had never been to DC and the one time that I went was for a pretty short visit the summer before my senior year of high school.

Spending time together, of course, was a highlight of the day for me. We walked until we almost couldn't walk anymore. The rest of this post is best described in pictures, so enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

I'm Still Here...

... and you will find me on blog overload tonight! I have been out of sight since last Wednesday, I believe and boy have I missed it. I have wanted to post something every. single. day. but I was on a marriage retreat with Daddy J and he was definitely more important than pulling my computer out. Don't you think?

Anyways. To catch up, I will start with a beautiful afternoon outside. It was about two weeks ago and we were spending the afternoon relaxing under the setting sun. Bocephus has been doing much better about staying at our side when his is with us outside the fence, so I let him roam a little bit. 

J-Man was playing with a couple of his toys and Daddy J had just finished cutting the grass. Bocephus was panting pretty badly so I pulled the water hose out to give him some water. Once he realized that I wasn't going to give him another bath, he was elated that he could drink some water from the water hose. Well, maybe not because he was getting it from the hose, maybe just because he was getting water in general. He gulped it in as quick as it was coming out. J-Man watched every moment and you know what they say...

Monkey see. Monkey do.



Spring Has Sprung...

... and the high temperature today is 55 degrees. Tomorrow will be 46. I thought we were supposed to be getting warmer. I shouldn't complain though because I know in about a month or so, I am going to wish the colder weather back.

Yesterday was beautiful. We were able to ride in the car with the windows down and enjoyed the wonderful breeze. I picked J-Man up from daycare and he had a juice bottle sitting in his car seat from the morning. I told him the juice was probably hot and it wouldn't be very good. He asked me something about making it cold, I didn't quite understand what he said, and I just agreed with him.

As I was pulling out of the parking lot, I saw this...

He wanted the wind from the car to make his drink cold again. He had asked me if the breeze would cool his juice off. Oh, how I wished this would have actually been true. I told him we could put it on some ice when we got home.

A Spring-Like Saturday

A morning with tempuratures in the mid sixties means that we are able to spend some time outside. I had to work for a few hours but J-Man sure entertained himself. That is one thing I love about that kid, he does play well by himself. However, you better be ready to play with him when he asks... because he doesn't ask often. Most of the morning started off with Rescue Bots...

That picture appears blurrier and blurrier every time I look at it. :(

Yes, I believe he now has every Rescue Bot that was made, and he is asking for the fire and police stations now. Grandma has her eyes out on radar for them. Oh, I sure wish I could have taken a picture of how J-Man dressed himself today to go outside. That... was just hil-ar-rious! Maybe I can capture one of those another time.

After Rescue Bots, J-Man and Bocephus spent some time outside playing. I was still working, but the few times I checked on them, Bocephus was just chillin' and soakin' up the outdoors and J-Man was digging in the dirt or throwing balls in the yard. Just a few moments where I was glad to be able to watch him without him knowing I was looking. I just sat back and smiled. He is getting so too big. Time is flying by too fast.

I was finally able to get off the phone and out of my computer for work and I grabbed my camera and went outside. I took a few pictures but J-Man really wanted me to play ball. So we rolled a ball back and forth on the deck. After he got tired of that, I took a few more random pictures of him. This one included:

He did change his clothes because he was too cold with what he had on originally. :)

Oh, and he wouldn't let me just take all the pictures... he had to take some as well. I got a few random ones of the deck boards and the grill. Then, he wanted to take a picture of me. I think he is going to be quite the photographer. :) Hopefully he will get a better model for his pictures though. :\

I guess that is as good as it gets when I am still in my PJs.

Then, it was time to play with Bocephus for a little while. I kept calling his name but he would just simply ignore me. That happens often. I wish I had the tone that Daddy J has - let him speak, and Bocephus jumps! Then after a few minutes, I had just the thing that would get him motivated! One word you don't say out loud in my house is PRIZE. Unless you want a doggie all over you, drooling, begging, and nudging you to go get him a prize (treat). I wish I had a video camera for this, but I since I didn't, this series of pictures should suffice:

1) "You said what?" "Are you sure you said 'prize'"? 2) "Oh, here I come, you better be ready" 3) What are you doing, lady? Aren't you going to go get the prize?" 4) "Please?!?!"

Bocephus finally got his prize and we were all happy again. J-Man decided to hammer some of the nails back down on the deck for a little while. Then he pretended he was painting the deck with his hammer and his spit. Oh, the imagination. I absolutely love days like this! Happy Saturday to all of you!