Fun

Ava is always trying to talk Jack into playing something new. Lately she's been the teacher and I have to say he gets his name on the board A Lot. While he generally plays whatever she suggests, the other day I heard her trying to talk him into something and he wasn't having any of it so she said, "c'mon, it'll be fun." And his little face perked up and he said, "Fun? I like Fun!" and off they went.

Baby Update

Here is one of Ava's pictures of me (sorry no scanner so just a pic of a pic). If you look closely you can see the baby (yes, those are her giant eyeballs) as she floats in my tummy.

So it occured to me yesterday that Jack was born less than two weeks from now and while this baby has already been much more cooperative, I promised myself I would be more prepared this time around. I didn't even get to pick out Jack's hospital clothes--Paula and Susan had to come get them and wash them and deliver them to the hospital. And Ed painted his room and set up his crib while I was at the hospital so I was completely unprepared which frankly ruined the whole concept of bedrest! Should I be on bedrest this time around, I plan to enjoy it so I spent the last two days getting everything ready for the baby. Her room is done, her clothes organized, her bed made, and I spent a fortune last night at Wal-mart buying such essentials as diapers, wipes, and a baby tub. Then I dreamed all night that She was actually a He. And that is exactly why my babies come so early.

Monsters!

We stopped at the fish hatchery at Bonneville Dam on the way home and Jack LOVED the fish. Here he is looking at sturgeon which he called "monsters".

He was mesmerized!

And, we of course stopped at Multnomah Falls


That's Ed and Jack waving up on the bridge

Hotel Fun

Jack loves the hot tub!

He actually sleeps with the lights on! And while taking the kids on a major shopping trip is not my first choice, it does have it's benefits when pregnant--we actually went back to the hotel for a full two hour nap!

On the last morning Jack packed up his toys and stood by the door and said, "Ready to go get Ava!" They both really missed each other and they played together for hours without a peep the day after we got home. And don't worry about Ava, she had a good time here at home with Emma (they even got Starbucks on the way to school in the morning!).

Our kids LOVE hotels and this is our favorite in the Portland area--it is within minutes of the Gap Outlet, Red Robin, IKEA, and the Clackamas shopping center for me and it has a huge breakfast and pool for Ed and the kids. Ava is a little tricky to sleep with as she is a major tosser and turner and she wakes at the crack of dawn but Jack will actually go to sleep while you watch TV and not wake till you do.

A really, really long way

We took Jack to Portland this week for a work trip for Ed and a shopping trip for me. Here he is at the beginning of the drive cracking himself up because he could hold the book with his toes. A few hours later he looked like this.

Finally Ava called to talk to us and after about 10 seconds with me she asked for Jack and they chatted away. Jack's first question after school is always, "you get your name on the board?" Here he is telling her we went a really, really long way!

He is actually amazingly patient in the car (as long as he is well stocked with food and drinks). In fact Ed would tell you that I complained much more than Jack!

Cozy

It was a great fallish weekend and we had our first fire of the year. Jack said it was "so warm and tozy!" Then this week landed us back in the 90's for one final shot at summer but I think starting today Fall is here to stay.

Next big project

The front yard is the next item on our to-do list and Ed started last weekend by pulling out the hideous, gangly '70s shrubs lining the house. This involved the pick-up and some big chains and Jack loved it!

Arrgh...I miss her during school

Desperate times...

Here's the thing--I'm not really a sweets eater (I stick with salty) but the other day I was seriously craving a little something sweet and of course we had nothing and then I remembered some leftover s'mores stuff on the top shelf and found that while plain ole Hershey's chocolate is too sweet for me, it is somehow just right sandwiched in a marshmallow.

After nap snuggles

Gone Fishin'

Jack went on his first steelhead fishing trip this weekend and he LOVED it! While Ed and Ava are morning people, Jack and I are not but Ed said he popped right up at 5:00 am and bundled in his fishing clothes with his (favorite) Carhart coat and headed out in the dark. They stopped for some McD pancakes to eat on the boat and they were off--three generations of Driskills.

Ed caught the first one.

Grandpa Ed caught the next one.

And Jack didn't get one but it's a good thing because it would have pulled him overboard!

Ed said he was a chipper kid the whole time and that's because while he loves to do anything outside, he loves being with his daddy the very best!

Fun at the Fair, Part II

The kindergartners took a field trip to the fair today and Ava got to wear her school t-shirt (with jeans!) instead of her uniform. I had to get this shot before we left for school because she looks so tall--seriously, at the beginning of the summer, these jeans were at least three inches too long.

Ava with some of the other kindergartners. They got to ride the bus to the fair and we met them there to "chaperone". Poor Jack was immensely sad not to get on the bus with her--he loves the "skoo bus!"

Poor Sara got drug back to the fair too but she's making the best of it with her popcorn and comfy seat.

All of our fun completely wiped me out so while the kids played this fun game with their balloons from last night, I actually fell asleep on the couch. The good news is I have a special mom ability to be able to sleep and still somehow sense if the kids leave the room or get too quiet. It's a nice skill to have.

Fun at the Fair, Part I

This was our first trip (of many) to the fair this year. Night One was animal barns, food, and rides! But we haven't seen the exhibits or had an elephant ear so we'll be back!

On the Ferris Wheel! This took some persuading for Ava but I reminded her that she had been talking about it all day and she wouldn't be able to do it again till next year. She loved it!

Jack LOVED this ride--he was too busy "driving" to even wave to us.

And we ended with a ride on the carousel.
On the way home Jack said, "me really really brave!" And really, really dirty!!

Homework

Working hard but still a mommy!

Lately you can find Ava sitting at her desk or at this little table doing "homework" at any time of the day. She LOVES school and it is amazing how much smarter she is already getting--she notices sounds and letters everywhere and points out many interesting facts like how her nostril looks like a "D" with it's straight side and curved side. Jack is getting use to her being gone although on the first day of carpool last week when she left without us for the first time, he walked back to his room and shut the door (which he never does!) and I found him sitting on the floor taking off his shoes with two big tears rolling down his cheeks.

Fall = Football

Eating cookies and watching Monday Night Football

The wedding was Friday night and I finished cleaning up Saturday and then we had our first Cougar game of the year (I need some video here of Jack yelling, "COUGAR FOOTBALL SATURDAY"...it's his new favorite phrase). I have no pictures and it's a good thing because it was the worst game in Cougar football history (that's no lie--I read it in the paper!). Our seats are in the sunny side of the stadium and it felt like a hundred degrees with all the people packed in and it made my feet and hands swell worse than any wedding work could do--the good news is that people started leaving in the first quarter and by halftime we had the section to ourselves and I could put my feet up and stretch out nicely. So while the second half was just as bad on the field, I was doing okay in the stands!
Sunday brought another whole day of games, this time from the comfort of my own home, and I gotta say there is nothing better than watching football and eating nachos on a great fall day. Of course the comeback of Brett Favre made it even better (forget what happend this spring, he's still my favorite player). I won't bore you with any more details but it's safe to assume this is exactly how you will find me every Sunday (and Monday night) for the next four months.

Almost done...

We ended up with perfect weather for this one!

I have two more events in October but since I hope to do the planning for those in the next two weeks and then delegate the actual work to other people, I am calling last weekend's wedding the start of my almost-"maternity leave". And thank goodness because I have lots of important things to do here to get ready for this baby--like clean behind the fridge and choose a name!

Take a picture of me!

This morning I heard Jack yelling, "I made my bed, I made my bed" So I went to check it out and sure enough it was almost perfect! Then he said, "take a picture of me!" and I said, "Why?" and he sighed and said, "because I'm cute!"

An old lady at the store told me the other day that he was delightful and that is the perfect word for him! As a two-year old, he has his own set of problems but 95% of the time he is a pure delight--he is extremely cuddly and affectionate and he has the funniest sense of humor and I am so glad to have these couple months before the baby comes where I have him all to myself!
Waiting to help daddy fillet his fish!

Last Weekend...

I've had many requests for this Martha Stewart punch table but this one had the addition of Orangina...new to me but yummy!
Mmm...oranges dipped in white chocolate

These cakes were the centerpieces--the mother of the bride made them all(!) and then had someone else frost and decorate for the big day.

The head tables

They have the most amazing tree that was like a roof over the party.

Last weekend was a doozy--I had this wedding which was my 10th event of the year and was a beautiful sit-down dinner for 300 in the backyard of the bride's home. Then I spent (wasted) four hours on Labor Day at the hospital for a glucose load and many, many blood tests only to find that I am A-okay and my false glucose test last week was a fluke. Good news is no problems with my abilities to handle sugar (that would have been sad!), bad news is that I missed out on a day of fun with Ed and the kids because following my 18-hour fast (pure torture when pregnant) all I could do was eat some peanut butter toast and head to bed!