scenes from our friday night

Jack is wild. Crazy, busy, wild. He's always on the move and has so many activities he "HAS" to do! So when we finished playing superheros last Friday (I'm pretty sure I 'lost' even though it wasn't really a win/loss-kinda game), I went to change into my home uniform (sweats) while Jim (unintentionally) napped on the couch and Jack picked up our game. When I came back, Jack made himself nice and comfy snuggled up to his daddy...and the very heavy sleeper never knew the difference...

How endearing. Whether we're unaware or fully present...it's all the same to our children: we are pillows and wrestling partners and best friends and snuggle buddies...awake or asleep, it's all the same to them.

in stride...

I love, love, love that I caught Jim and Jack locked together in stride...in one another's exact footsteps...

Jim is always saying how he wishes the kids looked more like him (unfortunately, the “Christman nose” and face shape are solely my doing), but I think my features are just a tad bit overtaking. I even think that Jack has been cursed with my textured hair (major boo because Jim’s hair is perfectly straight and smooth…hopefully Lila will inherit that...fingers crossed).

As time goes on, I see more of Jim in them: his eyelashes, his athleticism, his sense of humor...but my goofy smile…

and the footsteps of his father...

Father & son

A man's desire for a son is usually nothing but the wish to duplicate himself in order that such a remarkable pattern may not be lost to the world. ~ Helen Rowland

Transplant

We recently cut down 3 large trees and removed the stumps. The next step was to buy sod and/or seed to fill our patches. Jim was just excited to use heavy machinery, even though he was reduced to wearing my sweet sunglasses for protection! Minor detail, in fact, I think he secretly stashed them for later use...jk, he broke them instead.

This past weekend, on a whim, I started to dig out the grass around our mailbox because I’ve been wanting to make a flower bed. After a few digs, a light bulb went off: why don’t we dig up this grass and transplant it in our bare areas! Brilliant!

I didn’t think it would take more than 30-45 minutes. And we would be reusing just like Bob the Builder suggests...yeah! Little did I realize that “digging up grass” to transplant was a much more heavy-duty, time-consuming feat than I realized. I always underestimate projects! It took more like 3-4 hours! Good thing Jim was up for the challenge! ;-)

Since Jim was in charge of the heavy digging/lifting, Jack and I had the job of watering the area to be “sodded”, splashing in the mud, and watering the sod once it was placed. Needless to say, it was “work” that was more fun than actual "work".
Note: Yes he is watering the grass in his diaper. After splashing in the mud to the point that his shorts were too muddy/sticky/wet to wear, I resorted to this. Luckily, he's happier with little/no clothes!

Now we just have to hope the sod takes. Water, water, water! Good thing we have a professional sprinkler-operator on site!

a trip to the zoo

...I said to my father one afternoon, 'Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?'
He answered, 'If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.'
- Jerry Lewis

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy birthday, to...

my best guy...

the bearded man...

the cowboy...

the best Daddy...

and guys'-guy...

the joker...

and friend...

Love you so, so much! Jack is so excited to celebrate, that he made you a birthday cake out of a hamburger and french fries (100% on his own!) and proceeded to sing "Happy Birthday..." He must really love you!

just like Dada!

Just two men, shaving...

And being goofy...

The great man

The great man is he that does not lose his child-heart. - Mencius

(This is one of my new fav. pics! We were riding on the tram up to Silver Dollar City. It melts my heart how Jack and Jim are both making the same "Choo! Choo" face...ahhh-dorable!)

another monday...

Between the innocence of babyhood and the dignity of manhood, we find a delightful creature of a boy. (unknown)

Happy Father's Week, Jim!