New playing ideas?

Lately I have felt like Jack and I are in a playing rut. We play with puzzles, cars, blocks, and books, it doesn't vary a whole lot day in and day out. These are his favorites, why ruin a good thing? So I decided to try something new. This morning I got out the colander and some angel hair pasta, turned the colander upside down, and showed Jack how to put the pasta through the holes. Then I got out some tupperware and put rice, sushi and white, in them along with a small cup so he could scoop. We had a pretty good time. I realized I have failed him on the scooping front because he had no idea how to scoop. He decided to forgo the cup and use his hands. This then turned into just dumping the containers upside down and putting a few handfuls back in the tupperware containers. He also tried putting the rice on top of the colander. I showed him how to put the rice in the colander along with the pasta, the colander being right side up, and this was fun, but not as fun as dumping it on his head and then doing it again!

Here are a few pictures to show you what Jack has been up to this week.

Jack has discovered lotion-- he wants to put some on all the time.


He also discovered my eye patch and decided to become a pirate-arrr!

Finally, Jack has become obsessed with the vacuum cleaner, swiffers, and the broom. Here is Jack helping to clean up our mess.

Forts, Pumpkins, and Fun Times

Life around here is always a ton of fun. We are truly blessed- we enjoy each other's company so much. Here is a taste of our fun. Jack LOVES to hide. He loves to hide his stuff, himself, and us. So Pete started building him forts made out of sofa cushions,then I decided to build a fort the way I remember building them when I was younger. So the first two pictures are Jack hanging out in the fort. He loved it because he could walk around, play with toys, read books, and the whole family fit-even Tigran.


Where's Jack?



This week for playgroup we went to a place called Millennium Farms. We had originally planned on going on a hayride, but those are only offered on the weekend-Friday didn't count as a weekend. We still had fun. We went to the petting zoo and Jack was very brave from far away, but when we got inside the barn Jack broke down and demanded to be held. When we posed the kids for pictures Jack was screaming and crying. He was better as soon as we left the barn. They had this little trough filled with corn kernnels and all sorts of shovels, trucks, and other toys--this is the area that Jack enjoyed the most. They have pumpkins you can buy, and as you can see Jack thought he could pick his pumpkin up all by himself. There were other things to do and we had a great time.

Labor Day

We spent our weekend in Morehead, and Jack had the best time he has ever had there thanks in large part because of the geen tuck or mamowah or for those of you not schooled in Jack talk- the green lawnmower. Oh yes many many hours were logged on the various riding lawnmowers by Jack and those who have not learned how to say no when he looks up at you and says- peese, outside peese.

Sean, Cassie, Pete, Danny, and I went kayaking at Cave Run Lake. We stopped by the Bike Shop to pick up our kayaks and off we went. It was a great day to be out on the lake- it was so pretty. Pete and I shared a double as did Cassie and Sean, Danny was all by his lonesome. I did better this time than I did the first time-- that was not so fun. There were tons of people camping right on the lake, so we were able to get someone to take a group shot after we were done with our afternoon fun.

There were other fun activities going on as well- Pete took Jack on his first bike ride. However, Pete did not factor in the oppressive heat and humidty so it wasn't a very long bike ride, but I think they both had fun. We played ladder golf, and while Sean was ladder golf champ, Cassie was the champion at knocking balls off-especially Sean's winning point balls. There was also a ping pong tournament that Pete dominated in, and a softball game that caused Pappy's knee to swell and fill with fluid of some sort-- we are still waiting to hear. We hope he is feeling a little better at least.

Jack started calling Danny- Daniel or Un Daniel. He really loved saying Cassie and Sean. He still isn't saying Granny but would also take to calling Granny- Daniel. He said Mimi in a very high-pitched voice followed by Poppa in a lower voice. We had a great time and were glad to see everyone.

Way to Go!!

This is a great and momentous day in the Weigel household. My brilliant husband has passed all of his quals!!! He had to pass four exams before he could move on to finding an adviser and a thesis topic--so now everyone better watch out, Peter Weigel is on the loose. Just for anyone who wants to know-Pete is interested in Differential Geometry. I am so proud of him for passing them in a one year time period-that is a great accomplishment. Go Pete!!!

On a side note-- Setting: Pete getting ready for school. Jack and I laying in the bed. Conversation: P: Yeah I kicked butt on those exams! J: Butt , Butt P: oh man it starts already.

It does.

Trip to Henderson

Jack and I went on a solo trip to Henderson. I was a bit worried about driving that far with my son and no back up, but we both did a great job! I had some family come to town that we haven't seen in 5 or 6 years, and there was a 4.5 month baby involved so of course we couldn't pass that up. (The very bottom picture is of Jack with baby Kate) We had a great time and were pretty busy all 4 days. We had pizza and cake at my uncle's house on the first night, bbq at the park on the second night, and grilled hamburgers at my aunt's on the the 3rd night- we also got to spend a little one-on-one time with my nanny. The 4th day was more of a packing and saying bye-bye day. (top picture is me, my dad, nanny, and jack)

I must say that I haven't been so tired in quite a long time. It wasn't even due to all the family togetherness-it was the fact my dad's house is not suited for a toddler. I am used to knowing Jack is pretty much safe in our little apartment so I don't have to constantly get up and down, but my dad's house was a different story, by 2pm every day I was just exhausted.

Jack had a blast! My dad has two dogs-they are both labs--Jack loves dogs. This meant he was in heaven the whole time. He learned Dixie's name on the first day. Rex was a bit harder and was pretty much just called dog or Dixie while we were there. (The second picture is Jack with Rex) Jack also loved the cat- Poojah. He ended up calling him Poojie. It was pretty cute. There was a lot of petting, ball throwing, tailing pulling, and chasing animals around the house. He also enjoyed the dog' s kennels. I think he spent more time playing with them than anything else. (The third picture is Dixie and Jack in the kennel)

Mary got him a little police car that makes noise if you touch the siren and a dinosaur shirt that lights up when you move. Jack LOVED these gifts. When he would get tired or cranky he would want the police car and he would just sit there turning the siren on and off over and over again. The shirt was also a huge hit-- he wore it to my aunt's house and showed everyone how it lit up. He would get this huge smile on his face. He usually showed people that both his shirt and his car had moving lights. Way cool!! (The fourth picture is Mary, Poojah, and Jack showing off his shirt and car)

Jack made some great strides in language while we were in Henderson. He started speaking quite a bit more and stringing two words together. He was saying- Up please-- All done-- That's funny--See baby-- and quite a few other things. He was even saying things after only hearing them a few times. It is so exciting to be able to start communicating a little more with him.

round and round we go

Jack really loves spinning around and around in the computer chair. As with most children, the faster we go the more he delights in it. When the spinning ceases he looks up and says more both verbally and with sign language. So we just keep on spinning. I don't know where that joy and thrill of being so dizzy you want to puke goes, but somewhere along the way we all seem to lose it. Today we were spinning around and around when Jack manages to fall sideways out of the chair behind the armrest. I am able to grab his foot, with the chair still spinning, and his head hanging upside down. Once in an upright position he looks at me and goes --more?

I had a birthday, and Pete made me a cheesecake. The above picture is of this wonderfully delicious treat. So thanks Pete for the yummy cake and the great steaks!

We went to Turkey Run today with some friends- it was so much fun. We had to leave before everyone else because Jack needed a nap but we still were glad to go. There were three families total with 4 kids and 1 on the way. We started by hanging out in the nature center then we went on a 1.7 mile hike. It was a great day for hiking because it wasn't very humid at all--thank goodness! Pete probably wasn't as thrilled with the hike since he has some sort of foot fracture, bruise, or something, and he had to carry Jack. So I am sorry Pete :( After the hike we were pretty hungry so it was off to grill burgers, eat fruit, and the three of us moms pretty much ate a whole bag of Ruffles. None of the kids wanted their burgers--how can you play all day and then not be hungry?! Oh well. The food, conversation, and bonding were wonderful.

Then finally, Jack likes spinning so much that I thought I would teach him Ring around the Rosies. He loves it. When I say --ashes ashes-- he starts to fall down. Then right back up, hands extended, and we do it all over again. Ashes ashes we all fall down-- and down we go with a huge smile. I am glad he loves it so much but I am sort of regretting teaching it to him because we have to do it over and over for 10 mins. Spinning and falling--oh to be a child once more.

A to -and -fro kind of weekend

This weekend saw us in the car everyday, for hours, starting Thursday night. Pete got us tickets to see DMB at Deercreek. It was a wonderful, thoughtful, and generous gift, but as is the case with men, sometimes, the execution of said gift wasn't fully thought out. We have Jack and so the first question that came to my mind was, "What are we going to do with Jack?" Pete responded, "Take him with us." Yes so as you can see right away that men and women do not think alike at all. After quite a bit of discussion, frustration, and many alternate plans it was decided that we would just have to drive to Granny's house on Thursday. The concert was Friday night so Friday afternoon Pete and I got in the car and drove back up to Indy. We ate a early dinner at Harry and Izzys. Then drove to Deer Creek to watch Dave. We had a great time and noticed the huge age gap among the audience goers. Either you were 18 or you were not. We came to the conclusion that to go to a Dave concert in college must be a rite of passage. As we were in the not 18 group we were part of the older minority, but what singled us out the most was the fact that we were probably the only two people who were not drunk. So the concert was fun and the people surrounding us were just as amusing.

The next morning after breakfast we drove into Louisville to eat lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, mostly because of the green chili wantons, the Bristol. Then we headed on to Lexington to watch Danny and Jon play in the Bluegrass State Games. Then it was back to Granny's. We learned that Pappy and Luke were having travel troubles getting out of Haiti so we were all a bit tense since we had no way to communicate with them. Sunday after church Pete and Danny were playing frisbee when Pete fell and maybe sprained his ankle. He couldn't get up or put weight on it for quite some time. Once inside it started to swell some and my grin and bear it-never takes any medicine for pain husband- took some pain medicine. I knew it must be bad. Luckily, his mom had an ankle brace in the house to help him out some. We left shortly after that. I drove 2 hours and Pete drove 3. This is also a big deal because I am not ever allowed to drive the long distance drives-- I think my driving scares him a bit. :P It wasn't until we were back home that we learned that Pappy and Luke were safe in Miami. Pete went off to study and as soon as Jack was asleep I went to sleep. I haven't been that tired in a long long time.

So a quick note about the pictures- Jack and I eat breakfast at Einstein's Bagels pretty often and the table in the back has I Love Becky scratched into the table. Well I saw it this morning and thought that even though this weekend was tough, and I still could use some sleep and/or caffeine, the whole inspiration behind this weekend was exactly what that table says.

* In trying to go back and find said I Love Becky table carving picture a couple years later- I could not so it is not really on here.* The second picture is of Jack at the BGSG where he loved playing with the cars. We also saw a couple more boo-boos Jack had acquired while we were away. One was a slightly busted lip from trying to do something with Tigran under a table and the other was a cut on the head from the corner of the ping pong table. I told you that kid is always getting hurt or into something. He can never go a day without some scar of the day on his body.

The last picture is just of Jack standing on the dvds trying to turn up the music so he can dance up there. That only lasted a few minutes and then he used that position to lecture to Tigran-- using his hands to show he means business.