Photography by Jack

So Jack got his camera for Christmas and he has definitely put it to good use. He really cracks me up with the things he finds important enough to take pictures of! Really gives you a view of the world from his perspective! I think of the 450 pictures I uploaded off of it 300 were of my wall decorations, 50 were his self portraits, and the rest were of the most random things you could ever imagine. I love that he tells you how to pose before he takes your picture and if he isn't satisfied with how you did it he makes you do it again!
I think he could have some definite potential as a future famous photographer and a special thanks to his dad for beating up (okay not really beating up but outwitting) 125 people vying for 5 cameras at the Wal-Mart black friday sale! He really loves his camera and has definitely gotten our moneys worth out of it!

(I hope I was itching my eye not picking my nose! You never know when your picture is going to be taken by Jack!)

He must have been fascinated by this seat tray on the plane because there are about fifteen other pictures just like this one!

One of the many pictures of the television!

Do fish lips K Mom....

Close up!

Smile Grandma!

Say Cheese Nate and Jenny!

Our Weekend really STUNK....

Literally!

Maybe after this experience Pax will learn his lesson about chasing "cats!" Well... hopefully at least "cats" with a stripe down their back!

My Jacker Man...

They are growing up way too fast so I wanted to take a minute and write a few things about how much I love them and the stages they are in right now!
(photo stolen from Julie.... blurry but I love it!)

Oh boy what can I say about this monster.... I just love him (most of the time)! He is such a jokester and I can't believe half the stuff he comes up with most of the time. Most days are filled with the following conversation happening about 75 times...
Jack-"Mom, can I just ask you a question..."
Me-"what bud.."
Jack-"I just love you so much!"
Me- "Love you too..."
Jack- "no, I really just love you so much!"
Cute right... then in the next breath he will call me stinky mom or tell me not to back talk him... so it's short lived but it's sweet while it lasts!
He is loving school and asks me EVERYDAY if it is school day... it could perhaps be that Grandma picks him up from school once a week so he really is just excited to go to Grandma Nette's house.... but at least it gets him happily going to preschool!
He watches everything and soaks it all in... even when you think he is paying no attention he really is. Ryan and I will be having a conversation in the car and Jack will be in the back seat watching a movie with headphones blaring and he will suddenly pipe in and start talking about what we are discussing. My favorite time is when we are discussing (quietly) if we should go do something he would find fun and he will just immediately put his own two cents into the conversation even though we think there is NO WAY he could be hearing what we are saying!

He has the most efficient internal alarm clock I have ever seen. He wakes promptly at the same time EVERY morning and on most mornings then showers on his own (we turn the water on for him) while Ryan and I attempt to wake up for the day!

Some of his nicknames right now... Jacker man, Cracker, Jack Rabbit, Buggie, Handy Andy and according to him... His cousin Taylor calls him Freak!

He is a firecracker and he keeps us VERY BUSY but I love that my days are never boring or quiet and he keeps my budget in check because he is impossible to take shopping ANYWHERE!

We love you cracker man.... attitude and all!

My Little Missy...

(photo courtesy of Julie..... we were on her favorite ride at Disneyland!)

I can't believe how rapidly we are approaching my little babies second birthday! It seriously makes me sad that they are growing up so quickly! Everyday she learns new things and is talking so much more. One of my favorite things she has started doing lately is when you pick her up she will put you in a slight headlock and give you a big squeeze. Seriously it melts my heart everytime.... she totally has me wrapped around her finger. I look back at when Jack was her age and we expected SO MUCH MORE from him because he was already a big brother and he just seemed so much older. (I do feel a tad bit guilty about that one!) Ella could get away with anything pretty much because she is just too darn sweet to do anything about it let alone try to discipline her! Unfair I know but for some reason it just seems like Jack needed more discipline at this age.... and partially because I feel sorry for her that her brother is so mean to her most of the time that I don't really get all that angry when she finally gets back at him! :)

Her nicknames right now... Melsa Moo-Sister Sue, Melsy or Melsa, Smella, and of course, Little Missy.

My favorite things she is saying...

When she burps she says "scuse me"

If she runs into me or she is in trouble she will tell me in the sweetest little voice...."I sorry mom" (see why she's hard to discipline!)

She will ask me "Where's Dada?" and before I can even answer she will tell me "he work!"

She loves the little neighbor girl and will all day long ask me "Where's Hay?" and then she will reply with the same answer I always give her to get her to stop asking me about it... "she's sleeping!"

She loves her uncle Nate and if she doesn't know your name she will just call you Nate.

One of her friends names is Maddy and Ella is convinced that her name is MANNY just like her favorite show Handy Manny. Oh and speaking of Handy Manny... there is a little hispanic guy that works at Wal-Greens and Ella always (Very Loudly Might I Add) points at the poor guy and says MANNY!

Luckily, most people still can't understand a thing she says!

I just love her so much!

*** I forgot to add but thought I should mention is how happy Ella wakes up after her naps...Okay actually she is an emotional wreck upon waking and you would have to see it with your own eyes to believe it! I think every person in the LAX airport was wishing and hoping they were not on her flight when she displayed her finest emotional breakdown EVER while we were trying to get through security after she was awakened from a shot nap on the bus! She can really let herself get out of control and she is sight to see when she is in this fine mood! (I was reminded of this as she is screaming and rolling around on the floor after waking up from her nap... and no there is nothing you can do to console her... she just has to get it out of her system!!)

Once there was a snow deer...

I went out to run a few errands on Saturday and this is what I came home to. Not your typical snowman but a snow deer. It was so cute and I am sad that it is melting but NOT sad that the weather has been so beautiful the last couple of days to make it melt! I love that Jack gives Ryan an excuse to spend hours playing out in the snow!

On my errand voyage I went into Hobby Lobby to use a gift certificate I got for Christmas and can I just say I am seriously in love with that store?? I spent almost 2 hours in there (childless) and could have stayed much longer! It was almost as good as going on a vacation.... almost! There were so many crafts I would love to make.... If only I were really crafty, had more time and no budget. One can dream right?

BOWLING

I'll admit that Ryan and I struggle when it comes time to get out of the house to go do something entertaining with the kids. With the two children who aren't the best in the behavior department we are always trying to find activities to go do that we can reasonably manage and not need a tranquilizer when we are done. There are very few things that we can actually go do and enjoy with the kids. But we can now add bowling to the list! We went awhile ago when Ella was still immobile and Jack was still a terror but haven't tried again recently because it seemed like too much of a challenge. We went the other night with Aunt Jenny and Uncle Nate and Uncle Cory. With five adults and two children the ratio was just right and we managed to actually enjoy ourselves! The kids had a blast and Jack did not want to leave. Ella did well for the first game and then lost interest but she lasted way longer than I even expected!

This is his excited I just hit the pins face! Hmmm..... I wonder who he learned that one from?

She LOVED bowling and would get so excited when it was her turn!

Her pink ball that was as heavy as she is!

We then let them spend a few dollars at the arcade where Ella proceeded to cheat at SkeeBall by climbing all the way up the ramp and then depositing her ball. I didn't feel too guilty because everytime she would put the ball in the hole that counts for no points because she didn't quite understand the whole concept of the game. Jack then as usual proceeded to throw a huge fit when it was time to go and screamed the whole way home about wanting to go back. We told him it was closing for the night and we would go another day when it opened. The next morning not ten minutes after his eyes opened he asked if the bowling alley was open and if we could go back. I think he had a great time and we already are making plans for a return visit!

She hit her head on one of the rounds of depositing her ball!
Caught red handed cheating!
Seriously, what kind of grownups let their kids climb all over the games?

Oh, I guess these ones do!

We had a great time and can't wait for the bowling alley to open so we can go again! :)

DISNEYLAND

Okay, there are a ton of pictures but between everyone taking hundreds of pictures there were too many cute ones to choose from. So enjoy lots of them....

Jack and Minnie... He wasn't too sure what to think about her at first!

Ryan, Jack and Captain Hook... Jack is actually really into Hook now and whenever he sees anything about him he squeals in delight!

Ella finally crashed after someone (okay it was me) threatened her that if she got out of her high chair a monkey was going to get her! I JUST wanted to enjoy my meal!

Jack loved driving around Toon Town.

Us... waiting in line... we spent a lot of time doing just that!

Ryan, Tigger and Jack at the character breakfast!

Ella loved this pickle that Ryan bought and would pull the absolute worst faces and then take another bite!!

Winnie the Pooh loving Jack!

Probably Ella's favorite part of Disneyland. Throwing money into the fountains and then we would scoop a handful back out for her to throw in again! She is easily entertained!

One of my favorites of the whole trip! They loved riding on the flying Dumbo!

Jack on Splash Mountain. He only looks slightly TERRIFIED and doesn't want to go on that one again!!

More waiting in line and taking pictures to pass the time!

Jack's favorite ride! Autotopia!

Jack and Chip... or is it Dale??? Never figured it out!

Jack with the Fox that scared Jack... Which cartoon is the fox from??? Anyone know??

The whole gang besides Nate and Grandma Nette!

She was so happy!

Ella and her Nate who felt bad for her when we were ignoring her at 6AM so he got up with her every morning while we were there! She loves him!

She also LOVES Minnie!!

Riding the flying Dumbo!

Ryan and Jack on the bumper cars. Another one of Jack's favorites!!

The boys and Minnie Mouse!!

I'm glad they are all mine!!

She LOVED the carousel!!

This was the trip we had been waiting for and anticipating for months and it didn't let us down! We had such a good time and can't wait to do it again. The kids did fantastic (okay maybe a few exceptions) and enjoyed getting to ride all the rides, see the characters and to have four full days of undivided attention from some of the people that love them most. There were 8 adults on the trip and two children so you can only imagine how spoiled they were!

When we first arrived at our hotel the only thing Jack wanted to do was swim. He demanded that he didn't want to go to Disneyland he just wanted to get in the hot tub! We convinced him that he might want to go check out Disneyland first and then Ryan was a sport and took him to the hot tub after we returned even though it was late and all we wanted to do was go to bed!! After his first visit to the park he never demanded to go swimming over going to Disneyland again!

Grandpa and Grandma completely spoiled us on the trip and we were able to go to a character breakfast with Minnie and we even attempted Rainforest Cafe again with success! (If you remember our trip to San Francisco this summer and we tried to go there and they were terrified!) I took tons of pictures, ate delicious food and we made some great memories!

Jack was so brave and was tall enough to ride most of the rides although some of them only once. He went on Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad, Soarin and his most absolute favorite was Autotopia which he took us on several whiplash inducing rides! After we put him on Splash Mountain he proceeded to ask us everytime if the ride we were going on was going to be fast. I think we may have scared the poor fella just a bit! Ella was just tall enough to ride most things too although she wasn't nearly as brave and on any ride she didn't like she would pull her hood over her head and pretend she was asleep. She loved the flying elephants, the carousel, the trains and her favorite was the spinning ladybugs ride! She would laugh and squeal and it was so cute to watch her! Everytime she saw any kind of a train she would yell out "Choo Choo!" She surprised me and wasn't too scared of the actual Minnie Mouse and gave her a hug and was mesmorized by her for several minutes. She also humored us at the character breakfast and gave most characters a hug but only once and then wanted nothing more to do with them!

Jack loved flying in the plane and riding the bus on our travels to and from. He did great and sat patiently in his seat for a majority of the flight and I was surprised at how intrigued he was. I can't say so much for the little missy who immediately figured out how to unbuckle her seatbelt and then would scream "help, hand, help" to whoever was sitting in the next row so she could move to another row to see what was going on! Luckily with all of us and a flight that was only half full she had plenty of seats to crawl over and people to entertain her! Jack did have a slight mental breakdown at the LAX airport on the way home but finally I convinced him to just come and sit by me and it wasn't two seconds of me rocking him and he was out! Our flight was delayed about 20 minutes so it gave him time for a much needed nap and then he awoke a new boy!

To add to all the excitement Ryan and I also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary while we were there. It was especially fun because we actually went on our honeymoon to Disneyland so it was fun being there again and being there with our kids! We had a fantastic vacation and can't wait to do it again.

*** Thanks everyone for all the pictures I stole!! :)