Family Reunion

 We took Anna home and went to the Porter family reunion a few weekends ago. Jeffrey enjoyed the crafts all the kiddos got to make and being able to hang out with cousins and aunts and uncles he hasn't seen in several months (some in years!). Here are his pet rocks, the one on the right is a puppy and the one on the left is a baby. Uncle Steve and Aunt Sherri helped him paint and finish them since it was so hot and mommy was trying to keep cool.

 The kids also made paper rockets and then launched them from a launcher Uncle Scott made. Jeffrey didn't want his to be launched but he cheered and yelled when everyone else took a turn and let their rockets fly.

 With  such a whirlwind trip we had to bring along a lot of things to entertain Jeffrey during the 15-16 hour car trips. He knows a few of the rest stops by the treats they have. There's one in Kansas that has popped popcorn and was a mandatory stop both ways on the trip.

Here he was watching a movie and repeating all the lines to the previews. He's such a funny kiddo.

Our feet are firmly planted in Kansas for the next few months. With baby coming in 9 or so weeks and then a wee little girl to keep healthy through the winter we won't be making any more forays into the wide world until Daddy gets home.

Hi-Ho Silver! Away!

Jeffrey is a fun kiddo. When he decides he likes something he really gets into it. A few weeks ago he bought a toy gun and mask from a store. When Po (Grandpa Brown) commented that he looked like the lone ranger he asked who that was. I've been listening to old time radio podcasts on my iPod in order to fall asleep at night and one of them is a western show and is playing the entire series of The Lone Ranger. So on our way home from the reunion I played an episode for him. He LOVED it! He listened with his mask on and gun in hand, probably not too unlike kids who listened to the show during the original run. I am supposed to call him the Lone Ranger whenever he's wearing his mask and tonight after his bath he requested listening to an episode. As I write, he's on my bed listening to the iPod wrapped up in a blanket. I love my Jeffers, he has got so much personality and he makes me smile.

The Fourth of July

 So I love the fourth of July (and not just because it's my birthday). When I was little I HATED having a birthday on the Fourth. My parents always insisted on going to fireworks or lighting fireworks in our front yard and I was always indignant over the fact that they were not honoring my "No Fireworks on my birthday" edict. Maybe they, like I have now realized, thought that I would get used to them and they didn't want to have to miss out on everything just because they had a kiddo who was scared stiff at the sound of them.

Well they say karma exists and my friends I'm here to tell you it's true. Jeffrey doesn't like loud noises. So much so that at movies or public events he spends most of the time with his fingers in his ears or trying to get me to cover his ears from the sounds. I am going to just take headphones along next time and he can listen to music or something or earplugs so he won't have to be so nervous.

As you can see here, he threw a few snappers. He liked them but had to throw them with one ear plugged and the other against his shoulder. My friend thought it was funny so she took a picture (because I forgot my camera) so we could send to daddy.

We had a pretty good night and survived the fireworks intact. Every year he gets a little braver so maybe one day we can just watch without having to hide under a blanket. And yes we do match, I'm a sucker (teehee or maybe a seersucker) for matching and if daddy were here, he would have been matchy-matchy too!

The Solar System

 So for the last three weeks or so my niece has been here in Kansas with us. She has been awesome, she will play with Jeffrey while I take a nap every day and entertains him the rest of the time. She likes to be crafty and creative and so I gave her free reign of the craft room. She made her necklace and earrings just a few days after she got here.

 Jeffrey got this solar system to go with his Leap Frog Tag reader for his birthday. He is OBSESSED with the solar system now. He has listened to all of the facts about the planets several times and has even renamed our family after the planets.

 Dad is Mercury. I don't know exactly why but Jeffrey says "He's supposed to be little."

 Jeffrey is Saturn and he's the ringed planet. I've had to call him Saturn more than once.

I am Pluto. Once when I told him I wasn't even a real planet he offered to change me to Uranus. I told him I'd be Pluto.