Gross!

This is why boys need their fathers...


Pat & Jack find a mouse

 

Jack LOVES animals...especially gross ones

  

No we did not let Jack touch this...but he REALLY wanted to

All dolled up!

It is very rare that Pat and I are both this dressed up at the same time so thought I would share a few pics from our friends wedding a few weeks ago. 

...And yes...I know his pants are too short.  I tried to get him to try them on after we picked them up but of course he did not get them on his a** until an hour before the wedding.  Sorry T!  Why is it that dressing a man becomes the woman's responsibility after you move in together?  Because I always feel like it is my responsibility when his shirt is not ironed.  Oh well, he still looks very handsome...short pants and all ;)

Awwwee!

Trying to do a cool photo booth pose and failing miserably!

These photos were taken by Fredericton, N.B. photographer Andrew Kelly.

Mommy for a day (or 3)..

Last week I headed out on my first business trip since Jack was born.  It was difficult to leave my boys at home alone but I was excited for some alone time, shopping and to allow the two of them to bond even more.  Being a mommy in my household means working from sun up till sun down, something you may hear me complain about from time to time.  I have to laugh at how much I missed doing all of that work while I was gone.  It just proved to me that this is what I live for right now, working and caring for my family.  A little reminder is always nice though ;) 

Turns out daddy and Jack made out just fine without me around but I know they were both happy to see me walk through the door Friday night.  They may have made due without me to cook, clean and do bedtime routine but one thing is clear....they both need my fashion sense.  Below is a photo a friend took while I was away.  Notice Jack dressed from head to toe in Camouflage.  Daddy's Touch! haha This is a keepsake photo for the album :)

Uncle Matt and Mike

As most of you know Jack has twin uncles. I never really thought much about how he would react to them…whether or not he would be able to tell them apart. I have known them for so long that I take for granted they look so similar. Jack now knows both of their names and can say both names he just mixes them up. What else can we expect I guess?? We went to visit Uncle Matt last night and Jack proved just how smart he is. After calling Matt Mike a few times and being repeatedly corrected he decided to come up with his own version and combine the two names ‘Maat-ike’. After thinking about this I am completely amazed. Yes - there is a chance this was coincidence however I am going to choose to believe we have one smart cookie on our hands who decided to combine the two names to make one (after all he can't get it wrong that way). Perhaps this could be Jack’s potential nickname for the two of them?? Time will tell.

One thing is certain he definitely gets his love of motorized vehicles from the twins. I can’t keep this kid out of the truck or off the lawnmower. He is 110% obsessed. I swear it has to be genetic.

ALL Boy!

I would like to think that I have not pushed BLUE on my son. I think no matter what he would have turned out all boy anyhow given his family tree. Jack is crazy about anything with wheels, a motor or a steering wheel. It amazes me how he is attracted to certain things at such a young age. Here are a few shots of him doing what he loves driving and getting wet & dirty :)

Getting wet on a hot day

Watching the cars drive by on the road

Soaked!

Sin City

Sin city, a perfect escape for a couple leaving their 20's and heading into their 30's who have been tied down for far too many months thinking only of family matters.  A selfish week escape from life (work, babies, parenting, bills, chores, etc.).  After having Jack I was not really able to imagine a break from parenting but with the help of our family this is exactly what we got and after getting over the intial seperation anxiety we had an amazing time - this was a fun way to re-kindle.  We take far too much for granted in life.  Everyone needs a getaway!

Thank you Grammies!!

First night walking the strip. Pat loved that he could walk around with a beer in his hands.

Some lights on the strip at night.

Las Vegas Blvd

At the Reid-Dyment Wedding.  Already in my flip flops :)

8am...105 degrees...off to find some water!

Tourists!

No surprise...Pat loved the water show at the Belagio.

We're in Vegas baby!

Fremont Street - My Fav part!!

Bus touring like the 80 year olds.  Best way to see it all at once though.

Shark Reef - Loved the jellies behind us!!

Pat's 31st

Off to the lake this weekend for Pat’s 31st birthday (our annual North Lake visit). It is hard to believe that he will be over 30 this year. It has been 15 years since our first kiss, 14 years since our Junior high prom, 10 years since we found each other again, 5 ½ years since we bought our home and 1 year since we had our baby boy.

Certainly we have had our ups and downs over time, like all couples do, but look how far we have come and what we now have together...a love that has endured time & change, a beautiful home that couldn’t suit us better, an adorable happy little boy, careers that make us happy and family all around.

Happy Birthday Honey. I couldn’t imagine myself doing this with anyone else but you.

xo

Happy Father's Day 2011.

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." ~Clarence Budington Kelland

I have a feeling that this quote will sum up how Jack feels about his daddy in a few years.  Happy Father's Day to a great daddy!

Bruins Baby!

It has been a day or two...Life took over this week and before I knew it here I am already half way through my Friday.
A few random updates from our family….

Jack has his first molar. It just poked through this week. Thank heavens! Now that I can see the tips of it shining through his gums I am back to getting a full night’s sleep. It has been rough in the sleep department for both of us for over a month now.  Makes getting up for work in the morning very difficult.

GG has made it home from her successful surgery in Halifax. We are all so happy to have her back and on the mend. My Aunt Karen came from Ontario to be with Gram for a couple of weeks so it has been really nice to visit with her. We are all enjoying having her around.

Not only is it Father’s Day this weekend but it is Tractor Pull weekend!! We always look forward to the party and the crowd the tractor pull brings to our little town each year. Mommy and daddy are getting a night out alone.  Should be a good time. We are really in need of getting our social life back. It has been a struggle to say the least but it is coming day by day.

Pat has started working his summer hours as his company can have very seasonal type hours/work. Summer keeps him busy, thin and very tanned. Hahahaha. I swear he loses at least 20 lbs every summer from working long hours in the heat every day. I have no clue how he does it????

As for mama – I have lost 20 pounds since Christmas! I am so happy that I am finally feeling back to normal and comfortable in my own skin (and clothing) again. For those of you out there struggling to lose the ‘baby weight’ my only advice is be patient, keep active…it will come. On the work side of life: Although being a working mom is tough I am loving being back at it. It is strange how much appreciation this past year off has given me for my job. It really made me realize how much I love what I do and who I do it with.

And finally...the Bruins won the Stanley Cup!!! Our father has dressed us in Bruins wear since we were born and of course he has done the same for Jack. We were all Bruins babies.  After waiting all of my life thus far, I finally get to hear Dad brag about his team (our family’s team now) and not curse them! It is great.

Jack in the Box.

Now my living room has not only been taken over by John Deere tractors but an enormous piece of garbage. One man’s junk is a little boys treasure…


Pat, the cutest dad in the world, came in the other night at 11p.m. from his shop with the box that our new BBQ was delivered in. He had transformed into a playhouse for Jack. This is one of the many things I love about him. Even though the man works from sun up til sun down he still finds time to do the simple things for his family.

Jack discovered the house when he woke up the next morning and we have had a difficult time to get him out of it since. He opens the door, crawls in, closes the door and waves at us as he peeps out through the little window. It is priceless and just plain good ol fashion fun!

I'm One!





Mommy's BIG baby boy turns 1

...And as you can see Jack is very proud to be ONE!  He had a great birthday party with family and a few friends this past weekend.  He really felt the love with all of the visitors and gifts.  Grammie Simonson outdid herself once again in the snack department.  What a beautiful spread she put on (as always)!  Jack even received his very first truck, yes a REAL one!  Grampie Simonson gave him a 1961 GMC.  It is very special to our family as it belonged to Harry Simonson who would be Jack's Great Great Grandfather.   What a lucky little boy!  Daddy feels pretty lucky too as he thinks he should get to drive Jack around in it until he is old enough to drive it himself.    Thanks everyone for making Jack's big day so special.

Here are a few of my favourite moments of the day:

Opening gifts

He loved everyone singing to him!



Jack's first sugar!

Clean-up time!

Merry Christmas Da Da!

Pat got an early Christmas present this week. Jack is now calling him Da Da and it is as clear as day. I woke up this morning to him repeating da da da da over and over. The boys were down stairs wide awake playing while mama got an extra hour of sleep. Pat said he just started as soon as he woke up and continued saying it for the entire hour. It is adorable. He is so proud of himself!

Jack is off to his sunday school Christmas concert tonight at 6. Wish him luck in his first theatrical debut!

My World.

My Family, My Life, My World! Just had some family photos taken by my sister. Jack is now 12 weeks old. Where does the time go? As hard as this life adjustment has been I wouldn't trade these 2 for the world!