Birthday Party with Grammi & Papa

We had a little party with Grammi & Papa via skype on Jack's birthday. 

It was fun to celebrate with them, even though they couldn't be here in person.

A party with absentee guests makes the baking easy! 

Grammi & Papa's version of "Happy Birthday" was a bit easier
on the ears than Mom & Dad's wake-up version that morning!

Water table for a January birthday = a snow table!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK AUGUST!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our little man today...what a joy he is!

One proud daddy...

January 31st,  2011
(9:00am according to the clock in the back ground)

...almost exactly 2 years later...

January 31st, 2013, 8:35am
(actual birth time)

He's BAAAACK!

Thank you Skype for keeping us connected for the last month, but I can't say I'll miss you!

Fishin' with Connie

Jack got an early Birthday present from our friend Connie last week...she made him a magnetic fishing pole and fish...SO fun!!  Here they are trying it out for the first time...

Got a bite...

Caught it! :)

Jack's Snow Guy & A New Coat Cubbie

Dad & Mom came down for a day or so last week.

Jack and Grandma Nan built a snow guy...

Meanwhile, Dad transformed the hole in our front entry way into an awesome coat cubbie!

BEFORE...

(I actually remembered to take a before picture...woo-hoo!)

AFTER...

(minus a coat of paint, some baskets up top...and Ryan's coat!)

Pretty great, huh?!

Little Chef

Any time I start cooking lately Jack pushes a chair over to help.  He likes to do his own thing so we cook side-by-side, which works quite nicely! :)  He's always needing "more pice [spice]" though...not sure what he's making that takes such a concoction of spices!

Workin' Boy

Ryan traded efficiency for time with Jack as he put together his new desk...

The workers and their 'matching' drills

Learning to pound nails in

Alisa was here this weekend and she and Jack did some chores together, which was super helpful 1. because of the chores she got done, and 2. because she took Jack along!

It's not all work with Alisa...had to stop to play in the snow a little!

In his work overalls...which were just used for playing today!

Hands in his "pockets"