"Workin' NINE to FIVE"

Well, I guess I forgot to include a huge piece of info on this here blog, so I thought I'd catch everyone up... (whoever reads this thing, that is.) Jeff and I have been praying about my return to work for several months now. We both agree that Mommy working full-time is not for our family; we are not ready for Jack to be in full-time daycare/preschool, especially as his health has so dramatically improved over the past few months and winter is approaching. I cherish my time at home with him, and the pros far outweigh the cons. However, financially, working part-time will help us get back into saving/investing more actively. (Dave Ramsey is making us do it!) It's also fairly obvious to us that Jack is not learning to share very well here at home, so it is our decision to outsource this part of parenting a three-year-old.

I brought home an application to work at Hallmark Greetings, and another from Barnes and Noble. I thought it might be nice to get just a fun job, for a change of pace from corporate America. I considered working nights and weekends while Jack Everett would be home with Daddy. We prayed about it, and never felt a peace about it. We both remember the days when I was at school while he was home at nights, and it is way too hard on a marriage. We won't do anything to get back to that place of simply passing in the night. We want Jack to see us work together, eat together, and play together.

Well, God answered our prayers recently when my good friend Tracey was in an HR meeting at Harcourt Assessment and the Recruiting Manager mentioned needing help. Tracey told her, "I know just the person for the job!" So, I sent over my resume, interviewed that week, and started work as a Recruiter working Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. It has been wonderful. The team is great, I am learning a lot, and I am furthering my career while getting to enjoy being home with Jack Everett two full days per week and every weekend. My boss, Robbi, is so incredibly nice, and we work very well together. It's a dream situation for us, really.

I am working as a Contract Recruiter on 6-month contracts. At the end of this contract, I will renew if the opportunity remains. Harcourt is in a time of transition as it was recently purchased by a competitor. Who knows how long this amazing position will be available, but I will soak up the knowledge and experience and enjoy the ride while it lasts. I was excited to work with Tracey again (a coworker and friend from Human Resources at American Funds), and my mother-in-law works there too, so it's good to have familiar faces there.

It's funny, the first few weeks on the job, I had to shift gears from Mommy to HR Professional. I heard myself ask Tracey, "Do you think I have enough time to go potty before the Staff Meeting?" I was tired at my desk one morning and thought to myself, "I really need to go night-night." Another funny thing was when I drove my coworkers to lunch one day and they couldn't get out of the back seat of Honda because of the child locks.

So, that's the scoop on the work situation. Jack Everett will be in Preschool Mondays and Wednesdays, and continues to stay with Meemaw (My grandma) all day on Fridays. I feel so lucky to have such an awesome arrangement.

Jake's First Day of Church.

I thought it was going to be harder than it was. I think Open House did its job - it allowed the Moms to get used to the whole idea and gave it time to sink in that our kiddos are growing up. Jeff and I took him to school, signed him in, took a few pictures, and stood side by side watching through the one-way glass as our big boy entered the classroom for his first official day of PreSchool at our church home. It was sweet, and I am so glad we both went. (Frankly, it took two people to lug all the stuff we over packed for him. One mom showed up with nothing but a Ziploc with a few Pullups... we had a big ol' Santa Claus lookin' bag of snacks, Rice Milk, outfits, lunch, meds, etc. "just in case.")

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Jack Everett DOES NOT let us call it school. He insists, "It's not school! It's church!" That's what he has called this awesome place his whole life, and he's made it clear that he is NOT changin' it now.

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Daddy gets Jack Everett ready for school. He's wearing his shirt with a drum set on it which says, "I'm with the Band." (Wow, he's pretty tan.)

Jack, who has called this particular stuffed animal "Lion" for almost a year, all of sudden insists on calling him "Leopard. " We say, "But Jack, he's not a leopard, see his big mane? He is a lion." He says, "I know, but I just wike to call him Weopard." So, Weopard the Wion rode with us to school on the first day.

Jack loves his new Diego blankie Mommy bought just for school, I mean, church. He wrapped himself in it and walked in this way.

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I wonder what she thought when she opened the gate to this little one, complete with "I'm with the Band" T-shirt and Diego wrap skirt.

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I'm proud of myself... I didn't call the church one time all day! So, I go to pick him up, pleased that it took only 35 minutes to get there from the office. I get there, and before he sees me, the teacher tells me that aside from one potty accident, he did great. He ate his lunch, took a good nap, and played well with the other kids. She was so super kind.

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It's time to sign him out. I anticipate him running up to me smiling, saying, "Mommy.... I am so glad to see you, While I thoroughly enjoyed meeting my classmates and diving into the curriculum, I missed you a lot today. I love coming to church, but can't wait to spend quality time together tonight when we get home. I will tell you every last detail about my day, Mom, and look forward to reviewing today's lessons before bed."

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Instead, he runs up to me, and I see this little art project hanging from his neck...

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* SIGH *

I got there this morning thinking, "I wonder what techniques they'll use to encourage him to share... I wonder if they'll think he's advanced... I wonder if he'll integrate himself socially..."

I left there this evening thinking, "I wonder if they called him Jack."

Jack Everett's First Open House!

Tuesday night was a big night for me as a Mommy. It was Open House for Jack Everett's first year of Preschool. We were so excited when we got the call that Jack's name had come up on the waiting list at our home church, GracePoint Church, two days per week. What an answered prayer!

I have always had a hard time leaving him in the care of others, and have special anxiety surrounding mealtime and snacks. Oh, and about bug spray. Oh, and naptime. Oh, and diluting his juice and pottying. Anyway, other than that.... Oh, and his schedule and sunscreen, I am pretty much easy-going when it comes to parenting. *sigh

I have been so excited about him starting school at GracePoint because I already know the director, Julie, and most of the Childhood Ministries staff, and they all know and love "No Snack Jack" as they nicknamed him at just one year old. He has really grown up in their care, and we have experienced nothing but love and extreme caution with his diet.

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So, given how thankful I am for his spot in the young 3's classroom, I was surprised by the flood of emotion, okay tears, that welled up when I arrived in the church parking lot Tuesday evening. I saw the other children getting out of their cars, most were just like Jack - wearing new, dressy clothes, hair extra neat, and all seemed really excited. Some were timid, and others looked like old pros. (And I'm talking about the Mommies.)

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When I got into the room - a room I have been in several times on Sundays and during VBS, it looked completely different. (And not just because it was blurred from tears.) I saw it through different eyes. This was where my baby would have his first true classroom experiences. This is where he would first have a Valentine's party, where he would first have workbooks, a curriculum... He has been in daycare before, for short stints, but never a "real school." When we went in, Jack Everett immediately dropped my hand, ran over to the toys, and planted himself at a small table to play. I know he is ready. He kept an eye on me, but seemed really comfortable. He will love it there.

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The teachers gave us a daily schedule, a copy of the monthly Abeka curriculum, a list of the Bible memory verses of the month, and a menu. For most children with allergies (there are 6 at the school who also have to have EpiPens with them at all times) their parents just cross out what their children cannot eat, and provide a substitute for those items on those days. For me, there are very few things that he can have, so I plan to provide all of his breakfast/lunch/snacks every day. This requires more preparation and organization on our part but gives us a peace of mind while he is there.

So, one of the Moms sees that I am a little weepy and comes over to put her arm around me. I didn't think anyone could tell, but I guess they could... So, she says, "Well, Community Bible Church is hosting a Bible Study Monday morning when school starts for Moms with Separation Anxiety." I felt embarrassed and had to laugh, especially when I told her he was just coming two days per week! I told her I would be just fine.

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Jack Everett's classmates in Room 101.

(I figured I was the only Mom who would take a picture of the roll sheet. Then, Heather sent me her Open House pics and she had taken a picture of Lawton's name on Room 103. So, maybe I am not so crazy after all.)

...Jack thinks he sees someone eyeing "his" zebra...

Jack got a bit worried when a classmate started getting too close to "his" legos. Good thing the "Fruit of the Spirit" for August is SHARING.

Mommy and Jack meet his two teachers. They were great!

Lawton Marie, Jack's best friend since birth, will be in the class right next door. After touring her classroom, she came to check out his class too!

I can't believe they are three! Jack and Lawtie look so cute together.

Ready for big boy school! Who can resist that face?

"You're embarrassing me. Noone else's Mommy has a camera!"

So, another adventure of Mommyhood begins. Monday, the 27th is his first day. Just in case, I am going to keep a box of Kleenex at my desk.

"Has it really been 10 years!?"

So, when I received the first notification of MacArthur High School's Class of '97 Reunion, my immediate reaction was: "Has it really been ten years!?" followed quickly by: "How much weight can I lose in five months?"

As the event approached, I started getting back in touch with different friends from high school and enjoyed reminiscing about four of the most eventful years of my life. Overall, when I think of my years at MacArthur High School, I remember that we had a total blast. Jeff asked me if I was popular. I wasn't sure how to answer... I was popular, in a different kind of way. I mean, I had a lot of friends, and fit into a lot of different crowds, but you would never find me on the homecoming court. Or in anything that involved a dress for that matter.

• I remembered Freshman volleyball, practicing at like 6am every morning. Two-a-days. Man, were we in good shape back then.
• I remember Varsity volleyball... I wasn't as nervous about the crowds and the games as I was about being made fun of while dancing to the "Tootsie Roll" in the locker room beforehand. [It's funny, my niece Lacey (16) played the "Tootsie Roll" for me and asked if I had ever heard that song!]

Nicki Harris, Mac volleyball teammate turned attorney

• I remember having some really bad haircuts. Really bad. Virginia was kind enough to bring a scrapbook of pics in case anyone had forgotten any of them.
• I remember skipping school so often that I attended the maximum number of Saturday School days Northeast would allow. On that very last day - the last make-up Saturday School day of the year, I had received two strikes for falling asleep. One more strike and I would not have graduated high school. It was the longest day of my life.
• I remember my first day back at school after my bad car accident late Junior Year. I couldn't walk, and everyone thought I was playing a practical joke. Laura laughed when she first saw me!

Laura and hubby Travis, parents to two of Jack's closest buds, Grant and Jake.

• I remember hitting a fire hydrant with my Nissan and telling Mom that someone must have hit my car and left the scene.
• I remember writing something..um...inappropriate... on a note and passing it to John Kimbrough. When Mrs. Heston asked me for it, I almost panicked because I knew what it said. So I crumbled it up, stuck it in my mouth and ate it. I swallowed the whole wad of paper. It has become a classic "Melissa" story that was told at the reunion a few times.

Blake Ewing, and fiancee Julie, who had already heard the note-eating story before we even met.

• I remember being voted "Wittiest" in the Sr. class and accepting the award (and huge painted wooden "M") at the Senior Prom, with Garrett as my date. We took the worst Prom picture that night! Thanks, Virginia, for including it in your scrapbook.

Garrett and me at dinner before the reunion

• I remember getting into a trivial argument with Amy Degollado in the Girls' Gym. If I could have found a way to talk to her about it back then, maybe it would not have been 10 years since I have seen her. I have missed her. When you are 17, you don't realize life is too short to sweat those small things. I wish she had made it to the reunion...
• Dad and Trey moved away and Mom and I moved into an apartment together. Mom and I drove every Friday night to Houston and back to watch Trey play, and see Dad coach the Westfield Mustangs football team. I remember crying at the National Anthem at one of his games.
• The volleyball team moms "kidnapped" each of us at like 6am one morning and took us to a breakfast party at Leigh Anne Owens' house to kick-off the season. I wondered why Mom had insisted on making me clean my room that night before - out of nowhere.
• I remember making tons and tons of copies and T-shirts for Gerald's ska band, The Resistors, while I worked at Kinko's. Ironic that I am now in Human Resources, where we counsel folks for misuse of company resources.
• I remember looking forward each year to Trinity Baptist Church Camp. I was in some super-embarrassing skits, the worst of which included me and Virginia hosting a fashion show wearing matching Kinkos' aprons, fishing hats, and Mickey Mouse pajamas. Nothing would embarrass me back then. Nothing.

Virginia flew in from California and stayed with me for a few nights. I loved introducing her to Jack Everett.

• I remember like 15 of us spending the night at Garrett's or Blake's house making murder mystery videos, or sketch comedy videos. We'd watch them over and over. I was the WORST actress every time.
• I remember Mom setting up and scheduling huge (one time overnight) ping-pong tournaments at my house and even having brackets and prizes. I also remember that she won every time.

We enjoyed dinner at La Posada Del Rey before the reunion. Seven out of these ten people have been beaten at least once by my Mom, "Mrs. Lynch", in ping-pong. The other three have never played her.

• I remember sitting with Dad on the bench of MacArthur basketball games keeping stats. I would give Blake and Garrett extra assists and rebounds because they were my faves. I think Coach Lynch knew it. I remember Dad saying some embarrassing things to the team, which consisted mostly of my closest guy friends.

High School was such a fun time for me. We stayed out late, stayed out often, and really stayed out of trouble. I had tons of guy friends, but never a boyfriend. (Everyone's lined up to date the crazy football coach's daughter!) I try to tell my nieces that it's the best way to enjoy high school. Lots of love, but no broken hearts. No drama, no commitments, no pressures. At the reunion, several people laughed... they never thought I'd be the first to marry and have a baby.

I am so glad I went to the reunion. (Yes, I lost about 17 pounds for the occasion.) It was fun to relive high school memories, get back in touch with old friends, take time to remember where I came from, and quite honestly, realize I haven't changed that much after all.

Virginia and I put on our MacArthur Reunion T-shirts for one last pic just before 3:00 am. She had to leave for the airport at 5:30am. We are too old for these late nights.

To see all 60 pics from the Reunion: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=s5k5l03.6uftec8n&Uy=-n5mxu5&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

"Tengo mucho calor..."

Today we scheduled the first of a list of home improvements to be completed: The air conditioner unit replacement. I have known about this all-day affair but did not ever really think that the whole time that we would be without a/c. I know that sounds silly, but it never crossed my mind. It's super humid and steamy in here.

To make matters worse, the unit is just outside Jack's bedroom/playroom, so he can't access his toys or his bed either. So, Jack is on my bed, in his Tow Mater undies, trying to stay cool... watching his second movie... I am burning up, but decided to take this time to catch up on my blog...

In a moment of boredom this morning, Jack tried on Mommy's nerd glasses.

New outfit from Auntie Em.

"Where's Jack?!"

"Peek-a-boo!"

Handsome boy

"Thank you, Emily!"

Lookin' for sand in all the wrong places...

At Sea World this Tuesday, while I took Kim's girls, Kristen and Allison, to ride the "Great White" rollercoaster - TWICE! - she took the boys to the giant sandbox. She took these fun pics while I was away...

Jack and his buddy Logan having a blast!

"Weee... this is so much fun!"

Jack decides to make sand angels on his belly!

Logan and Hunter join in!

"Wow, wait until Mommy sees me! Aunt Kim let's me get totally messy... She's so cool..."

Time to wash it all off in the water park!

"Jack, can you say 'Scholarship?'"

The estimated total costs (as of today) for Jack Everett Griffin:

To attend The University of Texas at Austin starting in 2022 would be $174,098.
A lump-sum investment of $54,883 today or monthly investments of $553 would grow to $174,098.

To attend The University of the Incarnate Word (like Momma) starting in 2022 would be $269,932.
A lump-sum investment of $85,094 today or monthly investments of $857 would grow to $269,932.

To attend Princeton University starting in 2022 would be $476,100.
A lump-sum investment of $150,087 or monthly investments of $1,512 would grow to $476,100.

Assumptions:

• Jack begins college at age 18, and attends just four years.
• Rate of annual college cost increase - 6%
• Money earns 8% compound interest

Want to calculate this info for your kiddos? Click here: AmericanFunds.com

(Yes, you can choose maroon schools too... if you would want to do that to a child.)

"Is her talking Spanich?"

Jack Everett was just over two years old, sitting on my lap while I was getting a pedicure one afternoon. He always loved going together. We'd sit on the "shaking chair" and he'd watch them wash my feet and paint my toenails while I read books to him, or gave him a snack. (Yes, I went because JACK enjoyed it so much. SAHM of the Year!) All three pedicure chairs were full. While I was reading to him, the technician painting my toenails started speaking in Vietnamese to her coworker one booth over.

Jack looks up from the book and says all loud, "What is her saying!?" I was all embarrassed. I said, "I am not sure, she is not talking to me. She is talking to her friend." The other patrons giggled a little. Of course, Jack does not take note of my soft, evasive tone and drop the subject. "What is her saying with those words?!!" I said, "Honey, I don't know. I am not sure what she is saying. She is not talking to us."

All ears are on us now. "Mommy, is her talking Spanich?" They all giggled and looked at me. I said, "Isn't it pretty? It's another language, called Vietnamese." The technician nods and says to him, "Yes, Vietnamese."

He looks at her matter-of-factly and says, "No, it was Spanich."

Night out for Jodi's "29th" birthday

A couple weeks ago, Jeff and I enjoyed a night out with some friends and ate at "Perico's" and then went to "Chango's" Havana Club (fancy word for Cigar Bar). I thought it would be super smoky, but it was well-ventilated. (Wow, am I getting old.) As Jodi promised, it was a really classy place with great live music. One of us - take a guess which one - enjoyed hitting the dance floor for a few songs. We ran into our neighbor's son, Steve, who used to be the young highschooler who mowed our lawn every once in a while for $20. He was bartending that night. We really felt old then! Here are a few pics from the night.

THE GIRLS!

Back row: Lisa, Melissa, Heather... Front row: Tracy, Jodi, Jennifer

Me and good friend, Lisa

Yes, we ended up being the matchy couple in red that night. We weren't thrilled about the idea, but I knew I wasn't going to change, and I thought Jeff looked awesome, so we just went with it. We had forgotten that about a week before, we had both worn white and denim with this same crowd, so they were sure to poke fun at us for it...

After that night, we said the same thing we say every time we dress up and go out together: "Let's promise ourselves that we'll do this more often..."

Mommy heals ONE of the ankle injuries in this house...

So, this has continued for a few days...

Anytime he would hear us talk about Jeff's ankle, or pain meds, or anything on the topic, Jack Everett would start up again... "You talkin' 'bout my weg? I hurt my weg, wight here. I need a Lighteen Akeen (Lightning McQueen) band-aid! Watch out for my weg, okaaaaaaay?"

The cuteness had (almost) worn off, so I said, "Jack, If your leg hurts so badly, we probably need to go see Dr. Purnell and get a shot."

His immediate response: "Wook! It's all better!"

"Watch out for Daddy's weg, okay?"

For those who already know, Jeff turned his ankle tagging third base during Friday night's Bjorn's Softball game. (Yes, he was safe at third.) The MedClinic doc took x-rays and told Jeff it could be fractured, but that "he couldn't tell from the films. Go to a specialist if it's still bothering you in 5 days. That will be $75 big ones, thank you very much." [So, maybe I paraphrased a bit.]
So, since it's all huge and purple 6 days later, we took him to the Ortho Surgeon this morning and he has torn ligaments and a 3rd-degree sprain (apparently the worst kind) but the good news is, it is not broken.

While we waited, Jack repeatedly sang the chorus of "Deep and Wide" at the top of his lungs in the waiting room. He does the hand motions, but just holds them at "Deep" until the very end of the song when he comes to a loud finish with "There's a fountain flowing deep and WWWIiiiiiiide!" and extends his arms to the sides, getting louder as he notices people watching. (Where does he learn this type of behavior?)

So, no surgery, no cast, and no more medical bills! Poor Jeff, he is in a grey boot that helps with the pain when he walks, but will just have to heal with time.

Jack keeps saying, "You guys watch out for my weg, cause I hurt it. Watch out for it, okay? It's my weg. I hurt my weg. Watch out for it. Okay, Mommy? Watch out for my weg. I hurt it, okay. You watch out too Daddy, okay? For my weg, Daddy, you have to watch out...." on and on and on... and on...

"Spiderman, Spiderman..."

Jack Everett, once in his new jammies from Aunt Sharon and Uncle Greg, is suddenly NOT tired!

Allergy Update

Jeff and I visited Jack's Allergist today for a 3-month checkup after his last round of skin testing. She was pleased with the weight Jack had gained and how healthy and active he looked. We really like her. (Dr. Priyanka Gupta, part of Ratner, Dilley and Associates)

When we last met with her and she reviewed the test results, the intention was to start a round of trials, one food at a time. Maintaining absolute control of his diet (in order to truly isolate one food at a time) the plan was to try each allergen for a few days and then record the results. The idea is that while certain allergens may show up on a test, we might find that those same allergens don't actually cause a physical (gastrointestinal in his case) reaction.

We told her about the wheat trial we had conducted (per her instruction) on June 1st, and shared the disastrous results. We started with the wheat test because he had had prior exposure to wheat, so we needed to know for sure whether that exposure was resulting in the inexplicable recurrent vomiting. If taking it out resulted in no change, we would have had to conclude that something else was wrong (digestion issues, gastro problems, reflux, etc.)

We gave him about 6 pretzels every morning for three days, and all three days he vomited within a few hours. Other than those three days, he had essentially stopped vomiting since his test two months prior. This (oh so enjoyable) wheat trial helped us to conclude that wheat was still definitely off limits.

Because of the results of his trial, (when you're cleaning up vomit out of your Sam's shopping cart, you realize why they call it a trial) and his dramatic improvement over the past 3 months, she stopped any further food trials. She instructed us to continue to eliminate all allergens until he is re-tested in April 2008. We were really hoping to try to introduce milk next, but his milk allergy is even stronger than wheat, so she did not want to try this too early.

She said that this next year or so is his best chance of outgrowing some or (God willing!) all of his allergies. So, while we were a bit disappointed that she did not feel comfortable continuing with the trials, we completely understand, and agree that it is best just to give him time to heal and build his own resistance. We are thankful for answers and so glad that he is as healthy as he is!

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For Mom's documentation sake only (sorry to bore with so many details...):

Pediatric Epicutaneous Test results: Taken 04-27-07

100% Avoidance:
Egg White 22
Soy Bean 18
Milk 17
Pistachio 17
Wheat 13
Mesquite 11
Almond 8
Peanut 7
Pecan 7
Peas 7
Cat Dander 7
Oak 6

Positive results, but just keep an eye on:
Bermuda Grass 7
Chocolate 6
Corn 6
Peaches 6

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On a lighter note, when we were leaving the parking lot of the Medical Center, we had to pull up between two toll booths to pay the parking attendant. They were painted blue, and Jack says, "Mama, are we at Sea World!!??" It was too funny. These kiddos are paying attention to everything!

Hey, Batter... Batter...

Aunt Sharon bought Jack one of his favorite birthday gifts: His first real T-ball set. She said that it was one of Kyle's favorites when he was three. Now that Kyle's has turned him into a college baseball player, we have great expectations from this T-ball set and Jack's future in baseball. Had to share some pics.

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Such concentration...

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Strike one...

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Of course, Daddy plans to make him a switch hitter.

A hit on his first try left-handed!

Awww, who needs a tee when Uncle Greg is pitching?!

It was a fun afternoon at the ballpark (Aunt Mel's front yard.) Jeff and I look forward to many more "at bats" this summer. Wow, hard to believe Little League is just around the corner! By then, hopefully he won't still be running the wrong way around the bases.

To see all 19 pics from the day: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=s5k5l03.658mnxvj&Uy=-ajfi5j&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

Larger than Life

Jeff and I (and the Griffin family) took Jack Everett to the Dinosaur exhibit at the Witte Museum this week.

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Of course he is outfitted for the occasion in his 'Dino shirt' from Mamaw and his 'Dino hat' from Aunt Mel.

Jack wanted Daddy to hold him at first. It was dark, and the roars were loud. I couldn't really tell whether he thought they were real.

Lucky for us, the baby dinos were hatching that day. :)

He got closer, but not too close.

Crawling in a dinosaur footprint.

Jack Everett finally gets up close and personal.
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I remember visiting the Witte Museum on many a field trip growing up in San Antonio. I remember it being very very big, and I remember the exhibits being AWESOME!

All these years later, the experience was so different. I was struck most by how very small the Witte was compared to my oversized memories. I mean, we were there for an hour, and we had definitely seen every exhibit. It is similar to when I went back to our house in Boerne, TX a few months ago, and it seemed so small compared to what I remember from my childhood. I remembered this HUGE hill in front of the house we used to fly down on our bikes and in wagons. Today, I see that it's a low-grade slope at best. The same was true when I remember my Great Grandma Burkart's "Treasure House." Trey and I used to go through the Treasure House and find awesome things like calendars from the 1940's. When I went back a few years ago for her funeral, it was really just a shed. Trey and I could hardly believe how tiny it really was. As a child, I loved the Witte Museum, loved our "cottage" in Boerne, and loved exploring Grandma Burkart's Treasure House.

As a Mom, it's so much fun to see the world through tiny eyes again. I can see that Jack Everett is making memories just like the ones I made when I was little. I see the excitement when I allow him to get a Happy Meal toy, or the wonder when he gets to see the "animals" at the Bass Pro Shop. It's easy to let my adult realism creep in. It's easy to think, "It's just a small museum and it's all the way across town." or, "He does not need those McDonald's toys. They just end up in garage sales." It is easier to keep a room clean without a HUGE Lightning McQueen tent in his room and Thomas the Train track spread out all over the rug. It's cheaper not to buy the Diego and Dora Dixie cups. Sometimes I have to remind myself to let him live large and have some of these special things. I have to make myself go ahead and buy the pajamas that actually turn him into Spiderman (Thanks Aunt Sharon!)

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One thing is for sure: Good or bad, he will have memories of his childhood. I just want him to have memories like the ones my parents created for me; Memories that are larger than life.

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To see all 32 pics from the day:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=s5k5l03.8rebza5r&Uy=-ne4w7x&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0