4th of July

We had a busy day for the 4th of July - we started out at the parade with Ella and her family. It was a bit much for the kids - they loved watching bits and pieces of it, but I think it was too much excitement and new things for them to really get into it. They also got really hot and the end of the parade was right around nap time.

So after the parade we packed up, and Jack took a nap in the car on our way to the carnival.

At the carnival, Jack got a soft pretzel, rode a train, stared in wonder at the rides, and decided that he didn't like snowcones (which was fine with me, because I got the rest of his!)

After a few hours of rest, we headed over to the Berndts for a bbq. Jack loved playing with Julia - she taught him how to "sword fight", which he quickly picked up. He'd take his "sword", walk purposefully out of the room, then all of a sudden turn around and storm back to her were he'd play fight with her, then just as sudden, turn back around and storm back out! He did this for about 20 minutes!

Yum

In an attempt to get Jack to eat something other than grapes or melon, I coated his fruit in whipped cream. He somehow managed to eat all the whipped cream, and none of the fruit. Oh, and most of the fruit ended up on Lola's head, where Jack threw it and Lola attempted to catch it. You can see a few splatters of whipped cream on top of her head!

Alien baby

Father's Day

For Father's Day, we had brunch with the Franklins, then took Jack to the Science Center. He loved watching the cars drive by under the bridge and sitting and reading truck books.

Jack and the ladies

Now that Corey is no longer "the man about town", Jack is doing his best to fill those shoes.

Baltimore fun

We traveled to Baltimore with the Reach family (Nana, Pop-pop, Uncle Jesse, and Uncle Jake) for the NCAA Lacrosse Championships (continuing a fine tradition of almost all Reach family vacations centering around lacrosse).

Jack had a great time -

exploring the hotel room (especially the telephone) . . .
Looking out the window to the Inner Harbor and watching the boats (Elmo liked watching the boats too, apparently, since Jack left him on the window most of the weekend) . . .

Playing video games at ESPN Zone . . .

Enjoying the great big bed . . .

Going to a Baltimore Orioles game . . .

Going to the Children's museum with mom and Nana . . .

Getting to sleep with mom and dad in the big bed . . .

Eating out all weekend . . .

Cheering on Johns Hopkins in the Championship . . .

And reading books with dad on the flight going home . . .

Talking on the phone

I think I'm going to call Nana and say hi. I bet she misses me.

No, mom, you can't talk! I'm talking to Nana!

Oh, she says hi to you though.

I'm done talking now. Sorry I didn't let you talk, mom. Nana didn't want to talk to you anyway - I'm her favorite. :)

Reading

Jack loves to read - he'll sit for 20-30 minutes just reading books to himself. Here he is with "Pat the bunny" book.

And the final birthday party

Jack, Ella, Trent, and David celebrated their first birthday together with a day at the park, followed by dinner out together (the parents chaperoned). They had a great time, especially with the cupcakes (which were really good - thanks Janell!) and throwing food on the floor.

I should get a raise for all the overtime I've been putting in

"I think I've figured out the problem - you've got a jam in the phlangey. "

(ten points to whoever can comment and provide the correct source for "phlangey" You'll either know what it means or you don't. Teresa, you better guess this or all my birthday presents and Christmas presents for the past few years must have gone to waste.)