Good Times

We got to spend the evening with Adays this weekend. It had been way too long! We were starting to think that one or both of us were in Witness Protection!

In celebration of the dawning of summer, we snuck in a trip to the local splash park - an hour is about all our kids need.

Jackson checked out all the splashers.

And then he was on to more excitement.

Duck-riding requires ferocious concentration.

Everyone loves a good duck ride, right Brian?

Hanging out with the guys.

Giving rides to one of his favorite little ladies, Ella.

When you've been friends this long, it's quite a switch to call it a night at 8:30 (it wasn't long ago that the night started then), but we were all plenty tired.

** Update on the BBB: Jackson has been doing great in the Big Boy Bed. However, he did start Thursday off with a bang by falling out of the BBB at 3:45 AM! He's a mover, so we hear shuffling and such from his room all the time, crib or not, but this crash was a little more significant. He was stunned for a few seconds and then turned on the wail full blast. I tried to hang back so that both parents weren't rushing in and elevating things to code CRISIS. Jonathan went in and checked him out, talked to him, and put him back in bed. He went straight back to sleep. Seemed more offended that the bed bronco had bucked him off in the night than anything else. It wasn't until the next morning that we realized that he had gotten a yucky cut behind his ear. He didn't even tell us! What a trooper! Since he launched himself off of the head end, it is now relocated securely against the wall. I guess we were being a little optimistic about that.

B3 Weekend

Yesterday was B3-Day at our house! Big Boy Bed Day! Jackson has probably been ready to give up the crib for quite some time, but I just couldn't make the leap. He is growing up SO fast! So even though I put it off as long as I could, this weekend was selected as THE weekend for the move - just in case things went horribly a miss, there is that extra day of rest! Yesterday, Jonathan and his dad went and picked up the bed. Then my dad stopped by for a visit and helped us set up the bed. Everyone knows that when you are taking such huge strides toward manhood, it is imperative that you surround yourself with all your favorite guys! As soon as the bed was set up, Jackson was leaping in, laying down on the pillow to show us how it is done. We went through the normal bedtime routine and helped him get in the bed, half expecting that we would see him soon. He was a complete no-show. Slept all night in his big boy bed and rushed into our room at 6:30 this morning. We are so proud.

Molting Motorcar

The word you are looking for is SAD. Just pitiful. Xzibit called and that sweet, hot pink faux fur dash with matching seat covers could be mine if I play my cards right. In its defense, we did promise the Altima that it just had to make it through the MBA. We just didn't think it would hold us to that promise by literally falling apart. Oh, and that superior craftmanship above? That was all mine. It would only be better if I could have worked in a hairclip of some sort.

Surely not

You know, I was thinking just the other day that there is no better way to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ than with . . . car-related tackiness. I wouldn't have known where to start, but fortunately I saw this. . . in the parking garage . . . at my office!

Yeah, you better hide those in the parking garage. You just never know when Elmer Fudd will go on the hunt.

And if your car isn't bunny-ready, you could always dress up your goose. Apparently they are back from migrations. Check out the nose. These two are better than a guard dog any day. They eat less anyway.

Gas-Guzzling Gladiator

Some of you might remember my love-hate relationship with my car. Well, yesterday she managed to up her cool-factor quite a bit. A little Honda Civic tried to mess with her and she rearranged his grill. It was a typical girl-fight - she crumpled up his license plate and shoved it into his front bumper. Seriously, I did get rear-ended yesterday night and when I got out to inspect the damage, I was amazed to see that the Equinox was in pristine condition (as pristine as a car can be when it gets a bath twice a year). Apparently, Equi prefers her trailer hitch as her weapon of choice. This is only funny because it is the wimpiest trailer hitch ever created. I would be surprised if it could tow a Rascal scooter. But everyone was safe and the damage was not mine so it really was a minor speed bump in my evening.

I've saved the funniest part of the story for last . . . When I called 911 to ask them to come and file an accident report, the first question the operator asked after checking for injuries was this: "Has the accident already occurred?" Umm, no, but I was just about to go on a rear-ending rampage and I thought you should be the first to know. Here's your sign.

Toddler Vocabulary Quiz

Q1. Jackson wants a "tish". What should you do?

A1. Bring him the Kleenex box. Let him pull the tissue out ALL BY HIMSELF. Hold the tissue so he can blow his nose. That's right . . . he blows his own nose. My daddy claims that he thought I would never learn to blow my nose. Apparently, I was a snot sniffer. I promise I am over it now.

Q2. A "mo-mo" has been spotted. Where are you?

A2. You are more than likely hurtling down the highway, but don't think that excuses you from your responsibility to express your extreme excitement about the motorcycle that just went whizzing past you. The little guy LOVES motorcycles. He searches them out whenever we ride in the car. He begs to check on his Grandpa's bike every evening. He can spot a Harley symbol at 50 paces. Indoctrination? Maybe just a little.

Q3. How many times will Jackson repeat no before he thinks his slow-witted parents are able to understand?

A3. Exactly 3 - no, no, NO. At this point, it is really adorable. He starts in this sweet little voice and shakes his head. We are feeling the expiration date on this brand of adorable quickly approaching.

Q4. Which is more important - the names of items or the sounds they make?

A4. Obviously the sounds, and you should give anyone who tells you otherwise the crazy look.

Q5. Jackson keeps announcing "peas" and seems to be playing air guitar on his chest. What is going on with this kid?

A5. Isn't he polite? That's please . . . and you better figure out "please, what?" soon . . . or else things could get ugly. Incidentally, he prefers his peas frozen. Umm, whatever it takes for you to choke them down, I guess.

Hugs and Kisses from Dark Helmet

Preparing to go ludicrious speed?

May the schwartz be with you!