Sunday, September 28, 2014

Big Boy, Getting Bigger

Jak has grown and grown in the last few weeks.  Finally, we've noticed a huge jump in his vocabulary.  He still doesn't use his words as freely or easily as Lillian but "they're" in there!  Every once in a while, he'll just look at an object and call it by it's name, plain as day.  The other day he points and says "pumpkin".  I had no idea he knew what a pumpkin was, yet he can say it.  He's says 100's of words all the sudden.  Now if only he could start stringing them together into a sentence, or better yet use them to tell me something important like what he wants when he's crying and pointing at god knows what!
Jak's also grown almost a whole inch since his birthday, and the biggest news of all.....he's given up diapers!  Just like his sister, he made the decision himself.  We were at the Alzheimer's Memory Walk in City Park last weekend and Lillian had to "go".  Our only option was a porta-potty so she and I ducked inside.  We could hear him crying and when we stepped out, Jak was pulling at his diaper and saying "self, self".  Self is Jak's version of me, mine or my turn.  He uses that word for almost everything these days!  So, I took Jak in and sure enough...he peed.  After his nap that afternoon, I asked him if he'd like to take his diaper off and go potty.  He got down and grabbed a pair of underwear from his drawer.  So....here goes nothing.  Bye bye diapers and hello laundry!  
It's been a few days now and we and Jak's teachers have discovered, the term potty training doesn't refer to training the child....it completely refers to training the adult!  As long as I remember to take Jak to the bathroom every hour or two, we're successful (or if we're at home, letting him hang out naked).  But if you ask Jak if he has to go....9 times out of 10 the answer is no (or "No Way!"), and then a couple of moments later...we have wet pants!  This may take a while...
Jak is in love with any toy that has wheels - but he especially loves matchbox cars!  Everywhere we go Jak has at least 2 cars - one for each hand - and sometimes more!  I feel as though we're leaving them all around town but some how they've multiplied!  I only bought 5 to start, but Jak went a whole day at school this week without an accident so Mike bought him a few more.  My assistant at work found a stash in her basement that used to belong to her son, he "lifted" a couple from our neighbors and Megan said, "just keep them!" and so on and so on.  We now have matchbox cars in every room!
Jak continues to be such a lover.  He especially loves his momma right now and I'm soaking it up!  He gives the best hugs I've ever seen a 2 year old give and the wettest, open-mouth kisses.  When I pick him up from school everyday - he runs to jump in my arms like a wife to her soldier returning home from war.  It's the best feeling...

Jak's picture face..."Smile Jak"!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

New Pillowcases For Jak....Will he ever sleep again?

Thanks Mary Scott for the handmade pillowcase!  Jak touches each one and talks to the cars before bed every night!




Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Summer's Over - But The Kids Don't Know It!

The weather has been so nice!  We just can't get enough of the great outdoors this fall in Colorado.  And thanks to great neighbors and great friends we've had lots of fun get togethers lately.  
First the Abote's invited us and the Cabral's over for yummy Italian Sausage sandwiches.  The kids found a snake in the backyard - and all 7 kids were completely enamored with it.  Even Jak was diving in.   The snake bit Vince - but he didn't even flinch....Lillian can't stop talking about it!




 That same weekend - Ben turned 4 and the Crowley's hosted a nice dinner and birthday party for us.  It was great to catch up with the Crowley's and the Sanfords.  Now that they live in Littleton it's harder and harder to get together.  But always well worth the drive.



Sunday, September 14, 2014

New Discovery...

We haven't been to the zoo much lately, since we have had the pool to keep us occupied.  But now that it's closed, we met the Bergner's at the zoo this weekend.  And they introduced us to a whole new section of the Denver Zoo, the bird aviary!  You can buy Nectar and these beautiful little birds come eat right out of your hands!  Such fun...





Sunday, September 7, 2014

Happy Birthday Momma!

When your birthday falls on a weekend, and it's a beautiful fall day, you HAVE to take advantage of it!  The Colorado Kerschens took a day trip to St. Mary's Glacier.  Mike and I are so proud of our little hikers!  Jak hiked 90% of the way up the glacier, Lillian about 75%!  Passers-by were also impressed.  It was a slow hike - but we are thrilled to see our kids have the Colorado hiking spirit!
 We stopped in Idaho Springs, snuck in a little playground time, and picked up Subway sandwiches.
And threw a few rocks in the river...


 Jak loved the boulders he got to climb as we hiked up the trail.
 It was windy at the top, but we found a great little spot to lay out our picnic blanket in the woods.  Food always tastes better in nature!
This is one happy 37 year old Momma!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Summer's End...

We had a pretty pathetic end to the 2014 Summer Season.  The whole month of August was cool and wet.  If it wasn't raining, it was too windy or chilly to put a bathing suit on.  So we had limited opportunity to use our pool these last few weeks. I optimistically packed our pool supplies, snacks and sometimes dinner every morning in hopes that the kids and I would go straight to the pool after work/school. But more times than not we ended up coming home.  We did spend a couple goose bumped evenings taking a quick dip in the pool - struggling to make the most of it!  
Last Sunday, Holden came for a sleep over.  Instead of attempting to go to the pool, We all hopped in the car and explored Standley Lake some more.  This time we ventured up to the North side of the lake and discovered a great little campground, boating and fishing docks, and a bunch of ducks. Should have brought some bread crumbs!


We've taken advantage of the cool evenings and spent more time right here on our cul-de-sac riding bikes  and hanging out with our neighbors.  We loved meeting the newest addition to our neighborhood, the Souza's.  They have 4 girls!  Can you imagine???
Baby Penelope is not pictured here...she's just 6 weeks old!  But these guys are enjoying fresh apples from the neighbors tree.  They each had 3 or 4!