Jack's New Playroom

We have converted our guest bedroom into Jack's playroom. We were tired of having all of his toys clutter the living room and we never use the guest bedroom. We got rid of the bed and made a couple trips to goodwill to get the room ready. We got a bookshelf from IKEA along with a rug and his room came to life.
Jack loves his room. He is fully content to play in there by himself. You will occasionally hear, "Mommy" and then when I answer he says, "Hi Mommy". I think he is just making sure I'm still in the house. It's nice to sit in there when he plays too. I don't have the distraction of the TV or anything else so we get some good play time.

Getting started on the bookshelf. Jack has to help...

Jack likes to drive his cars on  his new rug.

Out of all the toys he has in his room he likes to pull the bin out and sit in it. Go figure!

4th Annual Terry Bourland Golf Tournament

The Terry Bourland Memorial Golf Tournament is an annual tournament that is held at ASU and it is to fund an engineering scholarship in Terry's name. Terry's former company, Aztec Engineering, always does a great job planning and preparing for this day. Gabe also has a big part in it when it comes to decision making and finding gifts to auction off. This day of golf normally brings in about $10,000 when it is all said and done.

I love driving around and watching Gabe and the guys golf. They get so excited when one of them hits a great shot and make fun of each other for all of the terrible shots. This year Gabe played with Scott, Joe and Craig. 

The day was absolutely gorgeous! (The best weather we have ever had on this day). It was overcast and humid but it wasn't hot. There was rain all around the valley but it didn't hit the golf course until 9:45 am. It didn't just rain either...it POURED! The rain didn't let up and there was lightening so the golfers weren't allowed to finish their games but the party just continued at the clubhouse. The golfers sat outside under the patio and drank and had lunch. I had to leave for a volleyball tournament but it is always great to see so many people playing for such a good cause. 

Joe, Gabe, Scott, and Craig

Getting Caught Up!

Holy cow I can't believe it has been over a month since I have blogged! School and volleyball is in full effect so my time has vanished. After August being the month from hell with Gabe working nights and having volleyball after school I haven't had any time to relax until now.
My schedule is pretty hectic while Gabe's has started to slow down. My day consists of getting up at 4:30 am to go to the gym, heading straight to the school to shower and eat breakfast (I kinda feel like a homeless person), teaching classes, then having practice or a game. On an early night I am home by 4:45. I have to try to rush to get quality time in with Jack before he goes to sleep and then get ready to start another day. Gabe has started Daddy Day Care and has taken on my Pinterest projects and is getting ready to start on Jack's play room. I am so jealous of the time that Gabe gets with Jack while I am at work, but now I know how he feels all baseball season. I have to remember that Jack doesn't hate me even though he now turns to Daddy for everything. (Breaks my heart a little...)
Gabe has taken on the never-ending task of painting all of the doors black. It might sound a little weird but it looks really cool! He thought it would take him a day to get it all done but once he started he realized just how hard the job was. Paint doesn't go on well and there are so many doors! You never realize how many doors you have until you decide to paint them! He is also going to convert the guest bedroom into Jack's play room so we can finally clear some toys out of the living room. It will be nice to have a house that isn't so cluttered anymore.
Jack has been talking up a storm! You really have to watch your mouth in front of him now...he repeats everything, even the bad words! He is putting together sentences and some of his OCD tendencies are starting to come out. He has to close all the doors and turn the lights off (which includes the switch for the fan) and he hates it when he has dirt or crumbs stuck to the bottom of his feet. He sits down and wipes his feet off if he steps on something. The weather is finally starting to cool off...high 90's instead of triple digits so he is able to help Gabe do the yard work. It is so cute to watch Gabe and Jack mow the yard. Jack has a bubble lawn mower that he pushes in the same lines that Gabe cuts. I swear he is his father's son!

First ASU game of the season!

Jack knows who Sparky is.

We moved Jack into a booster seat at the table with us. He was climbing out of his high chair. He  loves it!

My sister gave us this table that her kids grew out of. Jack likes to color at it and play with his stickers.

Mr. Fix It

Our dishwasher is on it's way out...It runs but it doesn't drain all the way. I'm not too upset about this because I don't like our dishwasher. I feel like it leaves a film on the dishes. Gabe is always up for a challenge and has been working on it for the past 3 days. He is bound and determined to fix it. He always tells me how Jack tries to help him when he's working and today I was home to witness it.

 After all of their work today the dumb thing still doesn't drain...  :(

Munds Park

Jack and I finally took a day trip up to visit my Grandma in Munds Park. I had wanted to go last summer but Jack was only crawling and he wouldn't have had any fun outside. I'm so glad we went because Jack got to play outside on the deck, we took a walk, and did more playing outside. This kid loves to be outside and he must be tortured during the summer because we are forced to stay inside.
We picked up my Dad and Vicki and escaped the heat for a day. It was a great trip and my Grandma was so glad to see Jack again. (She hadn't seen him since he was 9 months old!) We will have to go back when Gabe has some time off.

It was hard to get a picture of Jack standing still! He found one of he dog's balls and he was off.

If you have a broom Jack will find it and play with it!

Loved the fact that the deck was secure...Jack could run around the house and he wasn't going to get into any mischief. 

He would periodically come back and check on me.

Practicing his soccer skils

Grandma, Dad, and Vicki

Jack playing catch with his Great-Grandma

I think Jack was showing Vicki how to work her phone. :)

Having a ball. 

Pacifiers, swim and molars

Well, I think we have successfully weathered the storm and are done with pacifiers. Jack only had them at bed time, but we still didn't want him to be the 4 year old kid who needed them still. Plus, our doctor told us we should wean him off of them in the next couple of months before he turns 2 but I'm more of a cold turkey kind of gal.
The first day without pacifiers was so easy! I was shocked! The 2nd day wasn't as great...This was also the first day of swim lessons so he was traumatized and had some weird rash going on. I am a mean mommy and didn't give in though. Now it's a week later and he is done with them! (He even spent the night at Grandma's house on Saturday and didn't need them!)
I'm glad we stuck to our guns because life is easier without them!
Jack had his second day of swim lessons today and it was much better. He still cried when Bonnie took him but during his "rest" time he wasn't crying. We go 4 days straight this week so I'm hoping each day gets better.
I think Jack is on the verge of getting his first 2 year molar...He has been so whiny lately and is constantly chewing on his finger. We have had to use Tylenol for a couple of naps to make sure he gets good sleep. I am ready for all of these teeth to be in...I am not a fan of the teething process!

Playing outside on the 4th of July. It was the "coolest "4th I can remember with it only being 83 degrees.

I'm never in any pictures but this makes me laugh because Jack is saying "cheese" when the picture was taken. Of course I had just gotten home from the gym so I looked lovely....

He is becoming obsessed with sunglasses. I had to give him an old pair of mine to wear around the house. The other day in the store he rode around in the stroller with them on. 

He still loves his books. He calls this book "Amy book" because my sister gave it to him. He likes to put 2 words together when describing things now. 

He can't be sweet all the time...Here is the start of the tantrum when I wouldn't give him my phone.

Meltdown time...

Swim Lessons...aka Torture

I have been looking forward to this day since January 2nd...Jack's first day of swim lessons. I was lucky enough to get Jack swim lessons with Bonny Holtorf who has been teaching swim lessons out of her backyard for years. These lessons are pretty exclusive which is why I had to call on January 2nd (which was even late for booking with her)!

With all of the drownings we hear about I was bound and determined to get Jack swim lessons to teach him his basic survival skills. I don't see him being the next Michael Phelps (although I wouldn't mind...) but I want him to be able to stay afloat if he falls in the water. Bonny told me the first 3 swim lessons would be hard to watch because he wasn't going to like them and he would cry alot. Well, Jack didn't disappoint! Lucky for me I had Gabe go with us for the first day and he ended up getting in the water with Jack so I could take pictures. 

Here is Jack and Gabe getting used to the water. Jack doesn't know what is about to happen...

Now the fun starts...

Going underwater a couple of times

Turing to the side of the pool and getting ready to swim to it. 

He was such a strong kicker!

Made it!

Definitely doesn't want to do it again!

Jack "graduated" to getting pulled in from the side and having to swim back. He wasn't thrilled.

Not even Daddy could soothe poor Jack when Bonny was done with him.

I wish I would have gotten some "after" pictures from today but the poor guy was so traumatized. The video I got was classic though...Jack basically cried the entire time and kept calling for Mommy or Daddy. Basically, anyone but Bonny. We go back tomorrow so we shall see how much he hates me as we pull up to her house...