My Own Photos Of The Des Moines Trip

Jack putting the cookies under the tree. He wasn't sure what to think off all the pokies gettin' all up in his grill!
Pleasin' with some cheesin'!
Uncle Dan checking out what kind of shenanigans the Bluth family are doing in this episode of "Arrested Development". Shameless plug: best show ever. Watch it. Laughing will ensue.
Whoa...there's stuff in this stocking!
A SpongeBob-marshmallow-on-a-stick thingy, Cars cup...
Umm...Santa...ix-nay on the amming-cray...
Part of the loot.
Playing with soapy bubbles with Aunt Susan.
Oh, Toodles! Jack got this pair of Toodles ears. I love the adorkable look on his face in this picture. Now, he can do the "Hot Dog Dance" anytime he darn well pleases.
Taylor got ahold of them for a while.
Playing with his buddies Tay and Kealey.
Ca-ching!
I made Daniel a bloody mary. I wonder if he liked it...
...AFFIRMATIVE!
The ladies doin' some cookin'. It was so delicious I coulda died.
Umm...how's the gravy, Smiley McNeckBones?
The table of deliciousness!

Pentecost is officially over today, so it seems a fitting time to be wrapping up my holiday posts I guess. I totes planned it that way...

Our Fave Fotos 2008 Edition: Numbers 50-41

50. The cowboy hat has been a recurring subject in most of our photos from the latter part of the year. Still wanting to play outside after his ears got cold and never one to give up the c'boy hat, Jack tests out a new look. 49. You'll see a lot more of these two in the countdown and probably for years to come too. Jack and Peyton are inseparable. Here they are on the Fourth of July getting ready for the fireworks display.

48. Jack loved blowing on dandelions. I'm just happy we had so many on hand for him!

47. Sacked out on Gampa Jerry earlier in the year.

46. Hanging out with Aunt Susan in Des Moines during the summer.

45. Hangin' out at Tori's volleyball game. With sugar.

44. Sippin' up on some apple j.

43. Givin' some love to the stuffed ones.

42. One of the few photos of all three of us taken last year. Wassup with that?!

41. Jack went to the circus with Mommy and the Staab's. Amy took this photo herself. Good job, Mommy!

Miscellaneous Moments Of Late

Santa brought Jack this Black & Decker tool bench for Christmas after we got home from Des Moines. It has a 'running' circular saw, a band saw, a vise and a drill. Also comes with a hammer, wrench, screwdriver and saw. You can actually build a little birdhouse with it. Santa's got some amazing elves, no?

This is a picture of the carpet in the dining room/parlor. I got a wild hair (actually, I just couldn't take it anymore) on New Year's Day and ripped it up uncovering a nice hardwood floor underneath. Only problem is that in the olden days of yore (before that carpet was popular), they didn't stain and treat the entire floor. They'd leave a part in the middle where a large block of lino would sit. So, we have beautiful floors on the outlying areas of the floor, then a big square in the middle. We're currently gathering information on how to redo the floors to make them fantastic. For a while we're gonna have to cover the bare spot with a rug I think.

Joe, Sarah, Peyton and Baby So'er have spent a lot of time with us lately. They were over for a couple meals and Amy and Sarah went to a movie in Wauneta last Saturday. Here is Baby Sawyer bein' smiley and wiley. She's way adorb.

Isn't she the chubs? She is doing much better after getting some medicine that works finally. Obvs she's keeping the food down. Pretty soon she'll be weighing as much as Jack!

Our little Jehovah's Witnesses, ready to hit the town.

These backpacks have been wonderful. Connie Lawless got one for us and I got another from a book club I accidentally got involved in. We put all Jack's Happy Meal toys and miscellaneous other smaller toys in there and he takes the bags with him when we go places. That way he has something to play with wherever he is and if he loses a toy or two, no harm done.

He got done with his bath the other night and his hair took on a life of its own. I think he might actually have potential for wavy hair!

These jammers were from Grandma K so I was trying to get a picture of him for her to have. He barely cooperated. Of course, he was eating a brownie--just what every kid needs before bedtime.

Here you can kinda see the floor. Right on the outside of that area rug you'll notice the change in color on the floor. I think they'll be lovely once they're worked on, but until then, they're just alright. And we all agree that they're a big step up from the Spinach Artichoke Dip carpet.

Hooligans at heart. They were watching The Wiggles and gettin' funky. Funny story about Peyton: Joe had to take Baby So'er home 'cuz she was fussy, so Peyton and Jack played until the mommies got home. I was tired so I asked them what they wanted to watch. I asked if they wanted Smurfs and Peyton looked at me and said, "I don't like them. They're funky."

Another funny story while we're viewing photos of our kids acting crazy. At church, we always have treats afterwards and Jack and Peyton literally have their own table on the far side of the treat table. They're there every week like clockwork after church is over. The other day, Pastor Judy went up to the two of them and asked what they were doing. Peyton looked up and said, "We're eating cat poop. Watch." She then proceeded to take a bite of a cookie and went 'patooie' and spit it out. Judy had a really good laugh and quite enjoyed retelling the story to us at the other table. Yeah, that's how cool she is.

Wacky kids.

Here's a picture of me relaxing Saturday, watching "Arrested Development" with Uncle Dan. He is as addicted to that show as Amy and I are. One of my Christmas presents from Amy was the first two seasons of "30 Rock" on DVD. I, in turn, snagged all three seasons of "Arrested Development" for her. We've seen all the episodes once before, but they're mos def worth re-watching! Funniest show ever? Quite possibly. But "30 Rock" gives it a run for its money.

Our Fave Fotos 2008 Edition: Numbers 60-51

60. He looks so mature and sophisticated in my glasses. Then you see the binky. We had really good luck getting rid of the binky. We told him to put them away and he never really asked for them again. It's weird how cooperative he is at times.

59. His buddy Owen gave him a little peck before we left the park one afternoon.

58. Hanging out on his slide.

57. The ole Easter Egg hunt was a good time for Jack. He had a blast. Here, he stops for a chocolate egg break.

56. Heading to Des Moines this summer with his own pair of shades. And, of course, the binky.

55. Hanging out with Uncle Dan this summer outside the Olive Garden. I love seeing his little summer outfits in these pictures. Dang, he was cute in them! (Jack, that is. No offense to Daniel. He's just past that 'cute' stage.)

54. At Sesame Street Live in Lincoln last January. He fell asleep shortly after the show started.

53. Getting ready to go caucus in February.

52. Hangin' out with Mommy at his birthday party in GI.

51. Sliding with Tori Rae this summer. I think this was around the same time as when we saw the 'duck incident'-- the one that still gives me nightmares (AND day mares).

Jack's Baptism

I just wanted to let everyone know that Jack will be baptized this coming Sunday at the Methodist Church in Palisade. He and Baby Sawyer will be baptized with four others. You're all welcome to attend services and a potluck dinner after church at noon.

Bring yourself and a dish and come celebrate. We'd love to see you there!