Mini Pete

As many of you who’ve recently viewed Pete’s Facebook page can attest, Jake is the spitting image of Pete at this age. But the proof keeps piling up as to just how much Jake is like his Dad.  Take dinner the other night, I was in the middle of cooking and trying to help Kate with her homework when Jake asked for some more food. So I dropped off a pile of baked peas on his plate–mind you, a big, jumbled pile. The boy doesn’t have them for any more than a few moments when I turn back around and encounter this.

A fully arranged and aligned row of peas. Next thing I know he is going to spend his time following Dad around the house straightening the “Elmotes.”

Mmm…presents

Kate and Jacob got gift cards to Target from Auntie Leah and Uncle Josh this year, and daddy finally got around to taking them out to spend their presents.  Kate had a very hard time choosing just one thing…it was between a Littlest Pet Shop playset, a Dora lego playset, a motorized truck lego set, a Disney Princess pony, and a new game for her Leapster.  The game for her Leapster ended up winning out (Dora’s Camping Adventure) which she had played with my Godson Ryan over the summer.

Jacob on the other hand is a more difficult shopper, but there were some guidelines inside the card, “Buy something Noisy!”  Kate, as always, wanted to help out.  We kept an eye out for something that fit.  Jacob has always had a fascination with all the remotes in the house and when we came across the “Sesame Street Silly Sounds Giggle Remote” we knew we had a winner.  When we got home, I handed it to him and it took about 3 minutes for him to figure it all out.

Kate and Jacob both say Thank you Uncle Josh and Auntie Leah!

Traveling across the country for the weekend

This past weekend I travelled across the country to North Carolina to spend the weekend with some people I’ve know for years, but never physically met.  The massive amount of travel was balanced with the seats in first class.   I got into town around 12:30 in the morning (thanks to a few missed turns while trying to drive and be co-pilot at the same time).

Saturday was the history lesson day, and we went to the Reynolda House Museum of Art.  This was the house built by R.J. Reynolds, founder of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.  We got a personal guided tour of the building which was very cool and allowed us to go at our own speed and get all of our questions answered.  The coolest part of the house was the basement which had a heavy duty rubbery floor where the kids were allowed to rollerskate around.  There was a single lane bowling alley and shooting gallery, and most importantly…a fountain bar.

Sunday the plan was to go out and see some of the more beautiful parts of North Carolina and visit some winerys.  As we travelled towarsd the first winery of the day, down the freeway was a giant outcropping of rock which I was informed was Pilot Mountain.

After a bit more travel we jumped onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This was one of the New Deal public projects created by Roosevelt.  It is a 469 mile parkway that is only for non-commercial vehicles.  It was very beautiful even without any leaves on the trees.  I can only imagine how crowded it gets in the summer and fall months.  We ended up a Chateau Morrisette for our first wine tasting of the day.  My favorite taster was the Sweet Mountain Laurel (a tasty desert type wine).  The red we really wanted to taste, Chambourcin, they didn’t have open so we had to make do with the other reds.  After a dozen tasters of wine it was time to move on to another winery.  This is where our luck turned.  We tried going to two more wineries while enjoying the scenery of Virginia (Villa Appalaccia and Black Wolf Winery), but even though their signs said they were open they were obviously not.  After all the driving, it was time for some food so we hit up a local restaurant chain, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and caught the end of the Eagles, Cardinals game.

The trip was great, the people were great, and I am very appreciative of my hosts.  Thank you!

You are my sunshine

The hundred days or so of “not-rain” we get a year are a blessing but when we get the truly sunny days, Western Washington is the most beautiful place. Luckily we had one of those days today and the kids and I just had to take advantage. So, with grandma Roo’s help (Pete’s out of town this weekend) we dressed for the park.

Jake spent much of his time following Kate from toy to toy. Here’s Kate showing off the “boat.”

And then Jake and his mysterious ways taking us on a trip.

Then Kate moved on to the rings.

Jacob was able to follow with an assist from Gma Roo.

And then finally, the best for last, the tire swing. Big sister Kate took a very wild ride first–this is the clearest shot of her I could capture.

And Jacob then got his turn on the tire swing. Much more sedately but with a constant chorus of “Wheeeeee!!!!!”

Soapy Mohawks

It is a time honored tradition in our family to have sudsy hair fun at bath time. But we just finally captured evidence of Jacob’s participation. So without further ado, Jacob’s Mohawk.

Then Kate wanted in on the photo evidence.

 

And finally we have Miss Kate in her inaugural hawk from April of ‘04. It’s not really fair on the height comparison as I always let Kate keep her hair longer.

You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!

Kate’s first day back at school after the holiday break was splendid! Not only did she get see all her friends and Miss Traci but she got to build her very own gingerbread house. With Miss Traci’s help it was made with real gingerbread, icing, and candy decorations so she also got to bring it home to share with her family. While Kate is still not sure that gingerbread is her favorite of the cookie genres, she is very proud of her creation.

Random Jake-ing, Part Trois

Happy New Year!!!!