John's 2 year old b-day party!

So as John is about two and a half months shy of turning 3, I figured I should catch up and post pics of John's two year old birthday party! Being born in July means of course you have to have some kind of water involved in your party, so we had some buds of John come over and splash in our backyard in two pools (one with a slide) and a slip & slide. Funny how most of John's buds at this party are girls. I think Jarrett & Ben were the only other little boys there. Hmmmmm. Already a lady's man! Chris's folks made it, but my family was all with my sister, eagerly awaiting the arrival of my nephew who unbeknownst to us would start coming later that evening and arrive the next day, the 27th. John's b-day is the 29th! How fun that they have b-days so close together!


Emma, Lily & John splish-splashing in the pool.


Natalie & John timidly walking down the slip and slide, while Lily showed us how it was done by sliding on her belly.


Emma having a blast in the puddles of water created!


Again, Lily showing us how it's done, sliding down the slide into the pool! Unfortunately John & Jarrett were looking at something else.

Emma styling in one of the boys's hats


She spent most of her time playing in the pool at the end of the slip 'n' slide


John & Ben enjoying some time in the kiddy pool!

Brothers!!


Erin, Jarrett's mommy was such a big help feeding Ben so I could scurry around making sure everyone was taken care of. We had tacos, since at this time they were John's favorite meal!

The birthday cakes! Much better looking than last years. I figured out how to do the frosting where it wouldn't run near as much, and I expanded my artistic ability and drew some of John's favorite things on the cake: balls! Chris did have to do the football, cuz apparently I can't draw a funky oval football shape.

John's cake- made in a mini bundt cake pan. I think this is the last time I'll make him a special cake, b/c he barely ate any of it. I'll just give him a piece of the big cake next time!

Ready to blow. He loves blowing out candles, so he was super excited to blow out his very own!

Listening to everyone sing "Happy Birthday!"

In action

Ta da!

Such a big boy eating with a fork

Ben, next to his buddy, Erin!


Emma was fascinated with our books! When I would watch her all she wanted to do was read. Apparently it's not much different at her house! Travis & Amy say they have to go get her new books all the time, cuz she loves reading so much!

Jarrett patiently waiting for some cake


See what I mean. He barely touched his cake, just moved it around his plate.

Evie Pflug made it too!

Sisters, Natalie & Lily from across the street! So fun having neighbors who have kiddos to hang out and play with!


He doesn't eat his own, but he'll go around and beg. Go figure!


Chris's dad & JR made it. Penny had to work. :( I think she had to work last year too. Boo. We've gotta plan better!! :)

The birthday boy!

Presents!

Cool!

The other kiddos had to help show him what he got! It was too cute!

Ashley getting a taste of being a mom of two/three would be like! Kept trying to convince her b/c she did so well, that they need to have more, but she wasn't convinced!

Action shot of opening a present

He had a blast!

Saying thank you!

Opening one of his big presents from Nana

Daddy putting together his racetrack.

Showing off his toy to Natalie!

So John gets all these toys, and what does he do, the minute everyone leaves. Finds one of daddy's screwdrivers and goes to work figuring out how his lawnmower works. He loves tinkering with things and figuring out how they work.

Such a mechanic

Happy Birthday my dear, sweet John! The past two years have been full of life, as we watch you love and embrace every moment to the fullest (sometimes a little too much!!) We love you!

Excursion to Nana's!

So last summer a couple of weeks before John's b-day we went out to visit Chris's mom and Jerry who live just a little outside Temple. They live out in the country a little ways, so they can have animals. Well they have chickens for the moment. They used to have goats. Their neighbor Tom, has cows, and pigs, and goats, and chickens, & dogs, & bunnies, & horses, so every now and then we go over there & visit their animals too.

Nana showing John the chickens, particularly Eagle, her favorite!

Ben & PaPaw hanging out. He loves Jerry!

John was fascinated by the chickens. He didn't want to leave!

Nana & Eagle!

Ben thought it was great to pet him, although he was a little too grabby, and almost started beating him!

It's so nice to have family close by to go visit!

Summer fun & the loss of the beard!

So, alas, all good things must come to end. Not only our wonderful vacation to MT, but Chris had to go back to work, so the handsome mountain man beard, had to go byebye too. I did cry, not gonna lie. I had a hard time kissing him for a little bit, cuz I felt like he was a highschooler. :)
My handsome man!

Being silly before the razor


Yep, the looks on John & my face show everything


John thought he'd be helpful, and got the electric toothbrush to help daddy trim his beard.
And b/c I couldn't handle the thought I didn't take an after pic, but I suppose I should've, so you could've seen my highschooler hubby.

Instead, here are some random summer pics
John having a blast in the water


Kebap loves to attack the water, so John had a blast spraying him and watching him bite at it.


Just a cutie on a couch! Wow he looks a lot like me when I was his age.

Kids say (and do) the darndest things!

Today when we got home from the Super Bowl party, John laid on our ottoman and started whimpering. I asked him what was wrong, and he pointed at his belly, and said "Belly, owie." "Did you eat too much?" I asked him. "Uh, huh." Then when he was getting ready for bed, he did the same to daddy. When, daddy asked him why his belly hurt, he said, "Baby in belly."
In the midst of all this, Ben is patting his belly, saying "poopoo!" Then he went to John's belly and patted it and said, "poopoo." Yep, Ben that's where poopoo is.

Last night was a first for Ben. He was standing up in the bathtub, and then all of a sudden we heard a noise like a faucet had been turned on. Ben looked pleased with himself, and we looked down, and he was peeing. Whod've thunk he would be the first one who started peeing standing up?

Ben has learned a new word, "No" and says it to everything. Chris got into him, and said, sternly,"We don't say that word." So Ben responds by pointing his thumb and finger at Chris and sternly says, "TACO." We cracked up laughing.

John is learning synonyms. The first time I noticed this was last week. I told him not to touch something b/c it was disgusting. He repeated me, and said, "Disgusting." Then he said, "Icky, nasty." Yep, John! A few days later, I said something was "Gross," and he said, "Icky, nasty, Disgusting." Yes, John. Now it's a continual thing. Everytime I say one of the words, he will say all the other synonyms! Too cute!

John received a new book for Christmas, "Snuggle Puppy of Mine." It's a book you sing. He was holding the book, and I started singing the song. He looked at me and said, "No, mommy, read it," and handed me the book. I said, "John, I don't need to read it, I have it in my head." He looks at me quizzically and then sticks the book on my head!