Re: Just for Tara

Correction
For those of you who have seen the 'Just for Tara' video. After going back and watching and listening a couple of times I think Jake really did say "miss you" like Mike thought. Tough to tell but he didn't say "my turn" until cued by me. Sorry Tara. Jake is getting much better at saying your name. He points to pictures and names Tara, Kristi, Mommy and of course Daddy most of all.

Things that go bump and jump

While we had central air and heat installed at the house I had to find places to take Jake to keep him occupied for about a week. This is a place called 'Fiddlesticks.' It's an indoor playground. They even have a couple of rooms divided by half walls; one is an art room where the kids can color with chalk on walls or color at tables or even paint and the other room is like a sand box. It was filled with what I think was refined plastic from old tires. Mike said "Why do you guys smell like plastic?" when we got home. They had a boat in there and dinasaur fossils you could dig up and even child size working excavators. The rest of the place was open with all kinds of stuff. Playhouses, musical instruments, the same clubhouse we have in our backyard, tools, dolls, etc. We can bring our own food and eat in the designated areas. And of course the ride in the video. All of this in the AIR CONDITIONING. I know the ride doesn't look like much but the little ones just love it.

San Antonio Children's Museum

Here we are at the Children's Museum of San Antonio. We bought the yearly membership and it has paid off. Jake loves this place. On the top floor they have a miniature airport with a plane and all. The kids can play pilot to ticket agent to baggage handler. On the main level is the bubble room which we usually need a change of clothes for and the basement level is revolving. Last season they had a 'Jump to Japan' exhibit and the new one has something to do with trains. I'm taking Jake tomorrow so we'll have to update the blog again soon.

The Big Slide

This video was taken at 'Inflatable Wonderland' in The Rolling Oaks Mall. Jake is jumping in the stairwell and the slides are on either side. They have about 15 different inflatables. Some had slides, some had obstacle courses. Lots and lots of benches for the parents to sit on because we aren't allowed on the inflatables. They also have a mini movie theater with a pretty big screen and some arcade games. He had such a good time and was very mad at me for taking him out. Not for long though. We started driving for about 30 seconds when I looked in the rearview mirror and watched him pass out. He was sooo tired. Mike cannot wait to take him. I think it's because he wants to sneak onto the rides.

Just for Tara

This one is just for Tara. The video is too big to send through e-mail and some of you may not even be able to download it at all. Tara, I hope you are able to download and save this one because I'm probably going to delete from the site since its kind of big, but I wanted you to be able to see it.

The Summer Begins

So we decided to bring out Jake's pool but discovered overnight that it was deflating. We went out and bought the same pool, different color. Needless to say that now we can't go outside without wanting to go in the pool. Jake just loves to splash. I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of pool toys and the biggest hits were the blow up beach ball and the sinking dive toys. On extra special days daddy gets into the pool with him and that makes for an extra happy Jakester and a cooled off Eskimo (Mike).

Barbeque at Arts House

Jake and Abby playing with bubble makers. It's amazing how bubbles can entertain the little people. While Art was grilling the meat we all sat out on the patio. It's covered and the weather was breezy. It turned out to be a nice day. This part of the yard was a nice spot to take pictures of the kids. The little ones have started calling the toys "mine" but have been doing well at sharing.

This is Abbygale's kitchen. It's on the porch in the shade. The doorbell works and well that's another button for Jake. They ate their lunch here and played peek-a-boo through the window with me. There are two little seats inside, a sink with a faucet and a phone. Also there's a mail slot right underneath the doorbell.

Here's Jake sitting in Abby's wagon. Abby tried pulling Jake, the wagon didn't budge. After we got in the car and down the street Jake passed out and was pooped for the rest of the night.

May 4th, 2008

For any of you who have ever been around Jake, you already know how much he likes to play with buttons. Well, he got hold of the camera and just started pushing away. This was the best picture he took of himself. I love the thumb!
He loves to be outside with daddy. Here he is helping daddy water the flowers out front. "outside with daddy, outside with daddy."
This is Jake's cousin Abbygale, Art and Cheryl's daughter. We had the family over for dinner while David was down from Houston for a couple days. Jake didn't want to do anything without Uncle David and kept calling "Uncle David, Uncle David." Even after David went back home he kept calling for him. Jake and Abby had a good time playing with just about every toy in the house. Jake would call "Abby, where are you. Abby, where are you?" Mike and I just loved seeing Jake so happy playing with another little person. He had a really good time.