Brett & Sarah: June 2014

father's day 2014

Father's Day now comes right smack in the middle of craziness with Wave Runners, and although Brett spent the days and morning leading up to Father's Day working his little hiney off, we were still able to take a little time and celebrate the holiday.

I really wish we could have done more, because Brett truly deserves the recognition.

He is a better dad than I could have ever hoped.

He brings fun and adventure into every situation, and provides our boys with such a fantastic example in everything he does.

They are lucky... and I know they're going to be great dads one day because of him.

We spent the evening at my parents having a BBQ, and the boys had a particularly great time with the s'more making.

Little rats.

I was glad to be able to spend the night with my own papa and celebrate him and my grandpa as well.

The older I get, the more I realize just how lucky I am to have the dad I do, and to have had him my entire life. He's done nothing but love me and support me 110%, and he's provided me with more than can ever be measured.

My dad provides me so much comfort, as do these lovely ladies.

Sure love my family.

Jack's Birthday

Man oh man oh man oh man.

There was a whole lot of excitement leading up to Jack's 5th Birthday.

We had to make a paper chain just to help him understand how many days were left before the big day. Pretty sure there were 50 chains on that baby.

Jack woke up at a fitting time of 5:55 am on the big day READY TO GOOOOO!

We threw him in bed with us for an hour to give us all a minute to catch up with the birthday boy, and then we were off!

He was happy to see the Star Wars decor we had put out the night before... and was quick to critique any missing details and characters.

He could not WAIT to open his presents.

I was pretty excited, too.

Giving Jack presents is totally awesome because he has such specific interests and likes that I knew without a doubt the things he would LOVE to get.

Unfortunately, he was SO excited about getting through all of them, that he took approximately 8 seconds with each one before he moved on to the next!

I'm lucky I even snapped any pictures in the middle of the chaos.

We gave him:

Buzz Lightyear Legos

Emperor Palpatine Lego Minifigure

TMNT Legos

Jack Sparrow Costume and Accessories

Sword

Harry Potter Wand

Hooded Cape

Disc Frisbee

Mutagen

Darth Vader Shirt

Peter Pan

and....

A BIKE!

He pretty much hated it.

No seriously.

His words were, " I really don't like this bike."

In fairness, he didn't ask for one.

I think he's still a little nervous on it, it'll just take a little warming up to it!

The moment when he first put on his hooded cape was pretty fierce.

He easily could have holed up in our house for the entire day with his new loot and played contently, but we weren't about to stay home bound on his birthday.

I had to run to Springville for some Wave Runners biznass anyway, so we recruited my mama and the Griffin's and we went to the splash pad.

The kid liked it... for like 5 minutes.

Note to self: kids don't really like splash pads.

Jack, however, had a blast just being with the boys and especially enjoyed chasing Annie around the park smacking her butt.

We came home in time for e a little Jack Sparrow action before naps, and man... Jack had that character down in about 2 seconds flat!

Nailed it.

After some quick zzzzz's, it was time for Jack's birthday party!

We took the cousins to see Maleficent, and it was such a perfect way to celebrate Jack!

A dark show that left everyone a little bit nervous... sounds like a Jack party to me!

We all ended up loving it, and Jack was thrilled to have all of his best buddies with him.

Wrestling Tucker through the movie wasn't enough to wear me out! It was time for more partying at our house!

Everyone came over for pizza, cake, ice cream, and presents.

Jack (again) was spoiled by so many people who love him so much.

They all know him so well and he received so many perfect gifts tailor made for this nut.

Legos, skeletons, ghost garbage trucks, sand sculpture kits, TMNT figures, etc!

He had so many new toys, it was insane!

For some reason, the non-eater was exceptionally excited about his cake.

I ordered (per his request) an all white cake with all white frosting.

(totally gross, btw).

I added some Star Wars decor, and he was a happy camper.

Jack and his party guests:

It was such a great day.

Jack was a happy boy, and was with all the people he loves most.

He's a lucky boy, and I'm an even luckier mama that he's MINE!

Jack the Five Year Old

This little bundle of awesome is five.

And man is he something.

I know I quite frequently do little spotlight posts on my boys, so there probably isn't much that I haven't already made mention of... but, then again... with Jack... the details into his crazy little mind and world are endless!!!

First off... he's damn cute.

Ok, now that's out of the way.

Next importantly is this picture Brett snuck at church the other week when Jack was being sung to for his birthday in primary.

haHaHA!

Oh my disheveled.

So hilarious.

This expression about sums up Jack's feelings about primary these days.

Let's just say come primary hour, Jack would rather opt for a nap.

He's got plenty of theories about "Father Jesus", I think he's doing just fine. :)

Next, Jack at 5 (and 4 and 3...etc) cannot be described without bringing the zombies, skeletons, coffins, Halloween, and beyond into it.

You know how some kids grow out of their phases?

Not Jack.

They just get more intense.

Still rockin' the Judge Hopkins garb.

The other day, I found Jack not only dragging his little brother down the path of darkness, but also pushing their wagon around the neighborhood.

WITH A COFFIN IN IT.

nbd.

Jack is also incredibly lucky to be surrounded by so many people that will indulge in his nuttiness. Just the other night he got to go to a big kids sleepover at Grandma Jackie's, and one of their activities was walking to the cemetery just for Jack.

Oh man, he hit the jackpot.

Especially when they found a JONES grave.

Little morbid?

As I have posted often in the past, one of my very favorite things about Jack is his love for dressing up and his incredibly vivid and wacky imagination. I often joke that one day he is going to make us all millions with his creativity either on the stage/camera or behind them. He is super dramatic, sings like a mockingbird, and man...when this kid gets a vision... WATCH OUT.

(pretty sure I've exhausted all my costume photos of Jack along the way, so this one of his shadow in their zombie shirts and sunglasses should suffice.)

Jack is a wonderful older brother.

He really is so kind to Tucker, and genuinely loves that he is getting old enough to play.

They spend all day every day together, and would be lost without each other.

Tucker is usually the one ganging up on Jack, but he's quick to forgive and move on.

He's very patient with Tuck, which is quite a stretch for Jack...as patience isn't his strongest suit!

Jack is an active boy and he LOVES to jump on the tramp and ride his scooter most. He has recently discovered sprinklers under the tramp, water balloons, and the combination of the two.

Another one of my most favorite things about Jack is the fact that it is now the FIFTH birthday post I've written him, and I'm still able to brag about his NAP TAKING!

Every single afternoon STILL, this boy settles in and takes a multiple hour nap.

He's a real dream.

He also loves to come and snuggle with me in the mornings or afternoons if I'm taking a nap, and it's a highlight in life for me.

Who's gonna wake up first? We're both faking.

One thing that I really really really do not like that I will again be including in Jack's birthday post is that he is STILL A PICKY PICKY PICKY eater.

Man, it's a real issue.

And we fight it every day.

Little dude struggles like mad on the eating front, and he's practically as picky as he was 2 years ago. Bleh.

By 6 will he grow out of it?

(please, please, please, please, please say "yes")

Along with Jack's awesome imagination comes with a boy who LOVES HIS TOYS.

Really. You will never meet a 5 year old that takes better care of his toys.

And he doesn't just have toys, he COLLECTS toys.

Rare ones.

Nut all around.

Currently, Legos are his #1.

I have a feeling that won't be changing any time soon.

As zany as Jack can be with his toys, I really love watching him play.

He has yet to enter the electronic/video game addiction phase (which will come I'm sure), and it really is something to see what he can built, create, and come up with on his own.

Jack is also really coordinated for his age.

He's getting really good at climbing, is great at hitting a ball with a bat, and can skip like it's nobodies business.

(can you tell I taught Kindergarten PE... I check off milestones in my mind constantly!)

Jack is a social boy... loved by all.

Seriously, he's so easy to adore.

He has the most endearing little personality, and he is just overall a really nice boy.

He loves meeting new friends, and is not an ounce shy.

A few minutes at a park, and he's introduced himself and is playing with new kids like their part of his family. That is so NOT like me as a kid, it kills me!