Random Fun

Griffin found a cozy spot to hide and enjoy his thumb (he's not supposed to suck it anymore). This is the towel cubby in the master bathroom. Apparently it was laundry day.

"Oh, drat! You found me."

"Move over, Rob Lowe, I am a total stud."

Look closely and you'll see Bryan's new friend -- a turkey vulture (we think) who needed a rest on the roof of Jack's dormer.

He was an ugly critter, and hissed at us each time we made a noise to try to scare him away. So far, he's not come back to visit. With any luck, we'll keep it that way. 

"Put me in, coach!" Griffin loves to be the catcher for Jack during Daddy Batting Practice.

Go Rockies

Jack played as #13 for the Rockies in T-ball this year. We decided he didn't need to start and crazy superstitions early in life and kept our mouths shut about his number. So far, it seems to have paid off; he's doing pretty well hitting the ball off a pitch, even though it's only supposed to be T-ball.

Jack got some hitting advice from his personal coach.

"Did you see that great hit? I want to play too!"

Jack practiced fielding the ball at his first game of the season (far right in gray).

Spring Break in Arizona

Bryan had a meeting in Arizona in late March, so the boys and I tagged along and escaped the last blast of icy winter in Des Moines.

While in Arizona, we got to see one of the last Cubs spring training games against the Colorado Rockies. As a strange coincident, while at the Cubs/Rockies game, I received a call from Jack's T-ball coach letting me know he'd be on the Rockies this spring, so even though the Cubs lost, Jack was happy "his team" won.

We sat on the lawn, which allowed both boys to stand right at the outfield fence to catch the action.

Daddy was in meetings so Jack, Griffin and I took advantage of nearly 100-degree temperatures and swam in our hotel's five pools. Considering it was snowing in Des Moines while we were gone, the sun felt great!

Sponge Bob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer were also staying at our same hotel!

We beat the heat one morning with a round of mini-golf and at the same park was a large golf-ball shaped dome with bungees and trampolines inside. Well, the boys couldn't wait. They were hitched up and allowed to jump almost 20 feet high (with some help) for a few minutes. Griffin was brave in theory, but didn't like to be hooked up to all those cables.

Jack had a blast.

Afterward, the two discussed their experiences.

Put Me in, Coach

Jack enjoyed his first experience with organized sports when he participated in the YMCA t-ball league. He wasn't great at waiting for his turn at bat, and really didn't like playng in the outfield, but hit a couple of home runs (the other teams weren't great at fielding either) and got a feel for teamwork. His favorite part of the whole deal: snack time.

I-Cubs Season Opener

Jack and Griffin enjoyed an early game on a particularly hot April day. I'm sure there are pictures of Jack somewhere, but he was busy playing catch with Cubbie most of the time, so we'll post those later.

Memorial Day Weekend, or the day my parents Buzzed my hair

Obviously, we started this post with shock and awe -- Jack's first buzz cut or "summer cut" as Bryan called it. It'll grow on me, literally. Sally, quit crying, it is just hair. We had a busy day after the haircut: digging for dinosaur bones at the Science Center, lunch at the Cub Club with Cubbie Bear (our new best friend), followed with a quick nap (not pictured) and a dip in Grandma Patty's pool. You can tell by his pool outfit he's a big fish in a small pond.

Weekend in Chicago

We spent a weekend in Chicago with Aunt Meredith, Uncle John and cousin Sofia in Chicago. The plane rides are always a good time, but the real treat was a Cubs game on Saturday. Thanks for a fun weekend, Natales!

Strike!

Bryan has been working with Jack and his pitching. Notice the professional way he lifts his leg before throwing. This, my friends, is a star in the making.