Nudie Cutie

Jack was Nature Boy this morning. Another beautiful day in Ventura, so he was running around this morning in the backyard with his birthday suit on. If you had to wear diapers all the time you'd be this happy too if you were naked. He ran all around the patio table and then chased the dog. She hates to admit it's fun!

Plan E?

Picture the scenario...Rob, Jack and I were relaxing over the end of a nice dinner last night when the phone rang. No big deal, right? Oh no. Our wonderful day care provider who NEVER gets sick had been throwing up all evening. Well, stuff happens, go to Plan B. Rob will stay home with the baby, work out of the house and I'll go to work. Problem--Rob has back-to-back meetings all day for the gigantic housing conference he is hosting Saturday through Tuesday. He can't possibly stay home! OK, Plan C. I'll call in for a substitute teacher. Happens all the time, right? Problem--I was scheduled to take my class on a tour of the Reagan Library! This is way beyond just writing sub plans! Plan D, my mom has come through more than once to get us out of a scheduling snafu, we'll call her. Problem--she won't be back from Houston until Saturday. Plan E...oh for the love of God! Who has a plan E!?!?!?

Well, we managed to survive. As it turned out, my teaching partner took our class to Reagan Library, my sub took the class she was supposed to be teaching and Jack and I met them all at the library. Jack had fun touring Airforce1, eating lunch with the students and playing with all those big kids at the park! He has been napping for 2 hours now, so we might take a field trip every day!!

It's good to remember...everything will be OK in the end. And if it's not OK, it's not the end! Have a great day!

Popsicle

What better way to beat the heat? Yesterday Jack played in the backyard in his little wading pool, ran around naked for most of the afternoon and then had his first popsicle in the evening. If you haven't tried Trader Joe's Dixie Peach Juice, try it. It is really good for drinking AND making into popsicles. We all loved it!

Wild Weather

It was hot as a blaze here today, 93 degrees at 4PM. Still, Jack insisted on wearing his rainboots this morning! He finally gave them up for these funny sunglasses after lunch. We cooled off at the beach for an hour this afternoon, doing our best to stay cool. You know how Rob loves the heat, according to him it was "disgusting" in Santa Barbara! I've got to check the weather forecast...it'll get cool again soon, won't it?

Backyard Fun

It has been a beautiful weekend for playing outside. Rob had Friday off, so we feel like we are playing hooky today...three days in a row, WOW! Aside from getting blood drawn Friday (ouch!) Jack has had a great weekend. After the lab, Jack discovered the joy of frozen yogurt and we discovered a great frozen yogurt shop just a block from the house. Gracie got to come with us, but she cried outside while we ate inside...oh, that dog! We pretended for a while that we didn't know her (HA!).

Yesterday we decided to walk both Jack and Gracie to the dog park in the afternoon, but Gracie was OUT OF CONTROL, even with her Gentle Leader on. While crossing the street it became clear that it would not be a fun walk, so I decided to take her home and catch up shortly...but she had other ideas. She broke free of the collar just as the light was changing and BOLTED across the street to Rob. There I stood helplessly on the other side watching Rob pin the crazed dog down without any collar to grasp and then Jack decided to STAND UP in his stroller and watch me across the street! I don't know where Rob got his calm demeanor, but he managed to hold it together until I could get there and retether Gracie. Jack thought the whole thing was hilarious and laughed at his crazy dog all the way to the park. Once we arrived at the park, I took Gracie to frisbee in the dog enclosure while Rob took Jack to the kiddie playground. And of course, Gracie decide to poop when Rob had the bags in the stroller with him! For those of you who aren't familiar with Gracie's potty habits, she hates to "go" when we aren't home, but it was a special occasion I guess! Thankfully a man gave me one of his bags offering, "Wow, she really left a trail. I've got two more bags if you need them." Thanks. Rob chivalrously offered to walk her home for me.

Well, the video is from Friday when we were braving the wildlife in our own backyard. We have two bluejays that are apparently nesting in one of our trees. Anytime any of us venture into "their" territory, they DIVE BOMB us! One of them even chased Gracie into the house and Rob and I had to coax it out. Furthermore, it sits just outside the windows and stares at us when we are in the living room or eating at the dining table. They are very territorial. It's a bit amusing now, but Lord help the bird that takes a shot at my son!!!

Hope you've all had a nice weekend too.

More from Palm Springs

I know this one is a week old, but I HAD to post this video of Jack swimming with Daddy and the two dogs, Bella and Gracie. He had SOOOO much fun. This video is really adorable. We are already looking into a membership at our neighborhood pool because the kid loves the water. Gracie loves it too, so I'm sad she won't be able to join us at the pool here. Kim and Lorenzo treat their pool with salt instead of chlorine, so the dogs can swim in it without skin issues. It feels much better than chlorine. Jack will get his first swim lessons this summer too! FUN! I guess he got the swimming gene.

Big Boy

Jack had a great time this weekend at Auntie Kim and Uncle Lorenzo's. He is becoming such a big boy...he walked, played in the pool, loved Bella, and impressed us all by eating vitello tonatto and quail for Easter dinner! He has been rationing his kisses to Mommy and Daddy lately, but was in full pucker for Great Tutu. Wonderful trip, beautiful weather and fabulous company!

Back home this morning he really proved to be a big boy by eating his breakfast with his own spoon...no more baby! It is truly something new everyday around here.