Surprise!

Last week Daniel informed me that he had a surprise for the whole family.

However he also told me that he was not going to divulge what the surprise was. I should just expect to be surprised sometime during the week.

So I waited. And waited. And waited. Then on Sunday I reminded him that it had been a week. Then I promptly forgot.

Monday evening I came home from picking up groceries and Daniel took me upstairs to show me his surprise.

He had set up a new 4-man tent {the Kelty Teton 4} that he bought so that we could go backpacking. It is big enough to fit all of us {he thought I would want to go backpacking sometime and our old 10-year-old, 2-man Northface tent probably wouldn't fit us anymore}. Plus it is light enough to carry into the backcountry. Extra bonus is that he paid less than half price for the new tent.

This was one of the best surprises ever!

Thank you Daniel!!! I can't wait to go backpacking as a family. I have missed our overnight excursions into the woods. Has it really been almost 2 years since our last backpacking trip?!? I believe our last trip was in February 2011, when we did an overnight in the Sipsey Wilderness Area in North Alabama.

Lately

After Jack's birthday last weekend, we have chosen to take it slow. I know that Thanksgiving is this week, but since I am not hosting, I am not in that frantic world of trying to figure out menus or feeling like I need to get my floors clean.right.this.minute.

The Monday after the party, I told Daniel I was off duty. No cooking. I needed a break.
So we went to Cracker Barrel.

It was so worth the 30 minute drive. Just to eat buttery vegetables and sit by the warm, crackling fire. Jack was very interested in the fire. And the deer head hanging above the fireplace.

We spent the week being lazy. And the weekend. It was great to do next to nothing.

Sunday morning, Daniel's dad drove down to spend the day with us. He met us in Huntsville for church.

After church we went to Cantina Laredo – one of our favorite Mexican restaurants (we went there for both Mother's and Father's Day this year!).

Wesley then took Jack for a stroll while Daniel and I finished up our meal. The two of them came back with a teddy bear :) That is what grandparents are for, right?

Then we walked through the outdoor mall at Bridge Street. It was such a pretty day, so we decided to ride the carousel.

I'm not sure what Jack thought about this contraption that went up and down and round and round.

I do know that it made me a bit dizzy. You won't find me on the teacups any time soon!

 
It was a beautiful day. We enjoyed just taking it easy.

We are looking forward to spending more time with Daniel's family later this week. 

2012 Book 26: Anne of of the Island

I have been on an Anne of Green Gables kick lately – probably since my mom loaned me her books. 

Earlier this week I wrapped up Anne of the Island. While the first book by Lucy Maud Montgomery will always be my favorite, Anne of the Island is a close second because it takes us into Anne's college years and ends when Anne finally realizes that she really does love Gilbert Blythe. 

I adore the fact that she discovers that marrying her best friend is a much better option than marrying her preconceived idea of a knight in shining armor.

Excerpts from the book: 

"We have come to a parting of the ways, I suppose. We had to come to it. Do you think, Diana, that being grown-up is really as nice as we used to imagine it would be when we were children?" – Anne to Diana

"Most of the trouble in life comes from misunderstanding, I think..." – Anne to Ruby

Anne walked home very slowly in the moonlight. The evening had changed something for her. Life held a different meaning, a deeper purpose. On the surface it would go on just the same; but the deeps had been stirred. It must not be with her as with poor butterfly Ruby. When she came to the end of one life it must not be to face the next with shrinking terror something wholly different – something for which accustomed thought and ideal and aspiration had unfitted her. The little things of life, sweet and excellent in their place, must not be the things lived for; the highest must be sought and followed; the life of heaven must be begun here on earth.

"Miss Stacy told me long ago that by the time I was twenty my character would be formed, for good or evil. I don't feel that it's what it should be. It's full of flaws." – Anne to Aunt Jamesina 

Aunt Jamesina to Anne: "So's everybody's... Mine's cracked in a hundred places. Your Miss Stacy likely meant that when you are twenty you character would have got its permanent bent in one direction or 'tother, and would go on developing in that line. Don't worry over it, Anne. Do your duty by God and your neighbor and yourself, and have a good time. That's my philosophy and it's always worked pretty well."

To be told in rhythmic cadences that her eyes were stars of the morning – that her cheek had the flush it stole from the sunrise – that her lips were redder than the roses of Paradise, was thrillingly romantic. Gilbert would never have dreamed of writing a sonnet to her eyebrows. But then, Gilbert could see a joke... She recalled the chummy laugh she and Gilbert had together... and wondered uneasily if life with a man who had no sense of humor might not be somewhat uninteresting in the long run... 

"You can marry a rich man if you like, but you won't be happy. Folks can't get along in the world together without a little bit of love." – Sarah Crowe to Anne

"You'll feel differently about a good many things when you get to be my age. That's one of the things we learn as we get older – how to forgive. It comes easier at forty than it did at twenty." – Janet to Anne 

"I can never forget the night I thought you were dying, Gilbert. Oh, I knew – I knew then – and I thought it was too late... I don't want sunbursts and marble halls. I just want you... Sunbursts and marble halls may be all very well, but there is more 'scope for the imagination' without them. And as for the waiting, that doesn't matter. We'll just be happy, waiting and working for each other – and dreaming. Oh, dreams will be very sweet now." – Anne to Gilbert after finally accepting his proposal  

Earlier reviews of Anne books: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea

10 Products We Regularly Used for Jack (9-12 Months)

This is a list of some of the products that we found useful for Jack during the 9-12 month stage. These items are in addition to things I have written about previously. See 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-9 months for more info on products we have used over the past year.

1. Jack really loves his Lillabo wooden toy car set from IKEA. He has learned how to push cars around – which quickly became a favorite pastime. His cousin, Izzy, also introduced him to smashing cars together which he thinks is great fun.

2. We picked up the Fisher Price Rock 'N Go Pony at a consignment sale and Jack seems to like it. He will stand next to it and rock it. Since turning 12 months, he now likes to sit on it and is more inclined to push it around.

3. I am a big fan of footie pajamas at this time of year. He hates to keep socks on, so I know he will stay warm in his footies.

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4. The bulb syringe aspirator has been with us since the beginning, but with the onset of cold season, we have used this sucker more times than I can count. Jack hates it, but it does help to clear the mucus from his nose.

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5. Likewise, in relationship to sickness, we are very fond of our Safety 1st Fever Light Ear Thermometer. I have learned that I can typically determine a fever by kissing Jack's forehead, but I like confirmation from the thermometer.

6. Instagram has been great for uploading photos of what Jack is up to "right now." I love being able to share day-to-day things with our loved ones.

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7. Tommy Tippee Explora 9 Training Sippy Cups from Target -- Jack has never had a bottle and as he ate more, we introduced him to a training sippy cup. Thanks to Jack's Aunt Emily for picking out a good cup.

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8. Chick-fil-a turned us on to disposable placemats, but instead of stealing extras any time we visited this fastfood establishment, we decided to order some online. The Neat Solutions disposable placemats have been a welcome addition to our eating out arsenal. This particular brand has adhesive on four sides so Jack can't really pull it off the table... at least not easily.

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9. Gerber Puffs -- Jack basically eats what we eat. Since we have followed the baby led weaning approach, we have never purchased baby food, with the exception of Gerber Puffs. They feed the toddlers this as a snack at church and he really likes them. We have found that they are great for on-the-go, especially as a pre-meal snack when we are at a restaurant.

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10. We still are huge fans of our cloth diapers, but for nighttime we ended up upgrading to the BumGenius One-Snap Closure 4.0. We love our other cloth diapers, but found that they leaked at night. The BumGenius diapers NEVER leak.

 That wraps up our year of products that we have found useful for Jack. He continues to love books and toys and I will post again later this year with a list of his favorite toys as a toddler. What are some of your favorite baby products at this age?

Thursday Things You Might Not Know About Me (fluff)

Because a friend said I had to play if I "liked" her list of Things on Facebook...
 
Favorite song right now?
"All I Want Is You" by Tristan Prettyman (cover of Barry Louis Polisar song)

Last movie you watched? Did you like it?

I have no idea... does this happen to all parents? 

Three things that are super-annoying at the moment?
1. I'd say the election, but that is (thankfully) over and done with.

2. Having to wipe Jack's snotty nose multiple times a day. The poor guy hates this.

3. Suctioning said snotty nose... this may be worse than wiping.

Three random facts about yourself?
1. I am a control freak.
2. I still bite my nails. It's a horrible habit that I cannot seem to break.

3. I hate buying presents or cards for people (my love language is NOT gift giving).

Three things that scare you?
1. Tornadoes. 

2. The thought of an intruder in my home. 

3. Something terrible happening to someone I love.

Three things you wish you could be:
1. Funny. 

2. Better at making friends. 

3. More thoughtful before I speak.

Top five words/phrases you use?
1. Jack... Daniel... Sophie... Whatever your name is.
2. Whatcha doing buddy?
3. awesome *this is almost always sarcastic
4. Definitely

5. I read in this book...

Two things you're excited for:
1. Mountain biking (I have no idea when we will be able to do this, but I would love to get on my bike and get out in the woods).
2. Taking Jack on his first camping trip – we'll probably have to wait until spring, but I can't wait.

Your favorite ice cream flavor?
Currently TCBY frozen heath yogurt that I can buy at Walmart

Guiltiest pleasure movie?

Dan in Real Life

What movie have you seen the most?
The Sound of Music

What never fails to make you smile? 
When Jack grins at me.

Worst movie you've ever seen?
???

Best way to relax? 
Hiking, paddling or biking.

Favorite quote/lyric?
This is a tough one... but I would have to say this quote has really stuck with me for a long time: "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." – Aristotle

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter?
I love spring and fall the best, but I appreciate them even more because of summer and winter.

See Jack {end of October/early November 2012}

This is an ongoing series of videos that I am sharing so that our extended family can keep up with how Jack is growing and changing in these early years.

See Jack swing... we should do this more often.

{end of October}

See Jack play with Sophie's dog bed.

{end of October}


 See Jack go down steps by himself.

{end of October}

See Jack play in the kitchen.

{end of October}

See Jack get the mail with Daddy.
{early November} 

Trucks Go Birthday Party, Jack's 1st Birthday Party

Other possible titles for this post:  
Birthday Mania or This Birthday Brought to You by Pinterest

That title was actually suggested by my brother-in-law. Thank you Robert. Most of my ideas were actually from other blogs, not Pinterest, but Pin Boards do tend to drive this mania to have a great, well-crafted party. Though I was planning/organizing/creating stuff like this long before the advent of Pinterest.

Plus my sister, Angela, does over-the-top, creative birthdays for her kids, so I have that to live up to, right? Daniel would emphatically say, "NO."

Thankfully Angela also volunteered to help me out since I always help her the night before her kid's parties... we typically stay up way too late doing things like blowing up balloons and sewing together streamers to make cool-looking decorations.

After going through the birthday party creation as the one in charge, I have come to the conclusion that I go over the top with food while still having fun decorations, while Angela goes over the top with decorations. Between us, we make a pretty good team.

The week before the party, Jack came down with a bad cold. Running nose and cough. He would wake up every night coughing. So for an entire week neither he nor I actually got a good night's sleep. By the time the party rolled around, I was running on fumes. Thank goodness for my sister. We have teamed up for so many of these kind of get-together's that I know she will make decisions like I would want without me having to tell her what to do. I think everyone needs someone like that it their life.

Anyway, we decided to have a Truck themed party. I have been taking monthly photos of Jack with Daniel's childhood Tonka truck for the past year and I knew I wanted to incorporate that truck into the theme. Then I came across this cake idea on Pinterest and I knew we would go this route.

I designed the invitations around the truck. I also created 5x5 prints that I mounted to foam board and hung on the wall to show how Jack has changed over the last 12 months.

From there I scanned the words from a favorite book, Trucks Go, and pulled out letters to make a sign that read "Happy Birthday Jack." I sewed the letters together to form a banner. I also used construction paper to make the pendants for the banner.

We decided to use CAUTION tape instead of streamers. For balloons, we just blew up a bunch and let them lay on the floor -- the kids had a blast playing with the loose balloons, so that worked out.

One other thing I did was have engineering prints made at a local print shop (one 3x4 foot sheet cost me $3.50). I printed 12 of our favorite photos on one sheet and then mounted them to 12x12 inch foam board. I painted the edges of the foam board black and hung them on the wall. The whole project was super cheap and was a great way to display photos gallery style. I got this idea from the blog, Bower Power, though I modified it for what I needed.

For Jack's first birthday, we opted to only invite family -- which was still a pretty big party. We were sad that my parents and brother were unable to attend, though we did Skype my mom for the cake eating. We will have another celebration with them later.

Jack's two cousins were in attendance and many of Daniel's family were there. Jack is one loved little guy. We feel blessed to live closer to both of our families. 

Confession #1: The night before the party I had a panic attack that we didn't have enough food, so I went to the grocery store and picked up more ingredients. Note to self, don't panic, we had way more than enough... stick with the original plan!

Confession #2: I ran out of icing sugar while making the cake... I read that you could substitute granulated sugar, if you ran it through a food processor with 1 tbsp on cornstarch for 10 minutes. FYI -- I was able to ice my cake, but the icing was kind of sandy. This was ok since I was doing a dirt-style cake, but I wouldn't do it again.

I'll let the cake pictures speak for themselves:

The party was a success, though we do need to work on Jack's sharing skills... He loves his cousins, but does not like sharing!