Mexico...The first 24 hours...

beer...that is all I can get to upload on this computer...I'll put the rest of the pictures on Facebook I think. Happy Birthday Abbey Krause! Can't believe you are 15 today!!

Memorial Day Weekend in Review & Zoo Day...

Summer is in full swing...lots of swimming and playtimes with friends! Jason, Jadon and I had such a fun Memorial Day weekend...a great mix of adventures and hangin' out at home! Date night for Mommy & Daddy at The Mission on Friday night...seriously...the best chips, salsa and Blood Orange Juice Margarittas ever! On Saturday, I dragged Geegu (Uncle Ryan) to the gym with us. We ran a mile and then did a crazy 90 minute spin class. It was awesome and a serious workout! Then we got to have some adventure time at Encanto Park with friends from Tucson and their daughter...sorry no pictures-bad Mommy!! A neighborhood BBQ that night and we were all beat. Sunday we were LAZY and hung out at home, but had a fun swim with Auntie KK, Amanda and Will...again no pictures...gonna work on that. On Monday we all hit the gym early, went to our first Summer Movie, swam more and made some yummy grilled fish tacos for dinner!

Today we ventured the Phoenix Zoo with Amy, Connor & Elizabeth. Jadon was cracking me up today having full on conversations with the animals and continuing to tell everyone about his new super star shoes...I can NOT get him to take off or stop talking about his new Converse Shoes that Candy, Michael & Camden gave him for his b-day! He watched some Zoo Maintenance guys snake the Rhino drain to their swimming pool (that was super exciting)! He made friends with a squirrel when we first got the the zoo, then he found another one over Rhino/Baboon area. He and this squirrel were playing cat/mouse and chasing each other all over the place. Then we found this turtle who looked lost and we were worried...but we asked a Zookeeper and I guess its a Mama Turtle lookin' for a spot to lay eggs.

Mother's Day 2009

Jason and Jadon took down the crib, officially proclaiming that a big boy is in the house! Of course that night, the big boy was wandering in our room and up from 3:30-5am, but we haven't had too many nights like that since. Jadon isn't much a snuggler, he likes his space and REALLY likes his own space to sleep.


Jadon and I bounced outside in the bouncy for a little bit in our pjs, we were just waiting to leave at 10:00 for a surprise breakfast. Jason made reservations at the Morning Glory Cafe at The Farm South Mountain. It looks like a fun place to go, that day happened to be very busy and very hot, so we all kind of spent time chasing Jadon around. Our friends Dave & Susie came with, along with Uncle Ryan Geegu, Grandma Kate and Grandpa Doc. After breakfast we had tickets to the D'backs game, where I had my hopes on getting one of the 5,000 D'backs Mother's Day bags, but by the time we got there they were all gone! Such a bummer... I guess a lot of Mommies came to the game. The little boy was tired, hot and pretty grumpy, so we ended up leaving early and just hanging out at home. Jason got my favorite Oriental Chicken Salad from Wildflower for me for dinner and everyone went to bed early!

This is quite delayed but I hope everyone had a very Happy Mother's Day!

Our First Quinceanera

So...If you read my blog then chances are you've probably read my posts about Javier, who is a VERY special person to the little boy of the house. Javier is our garbage man, from Parks and Sons Co. He comes by our house on Wednesdays and Saturdays...usually...but the last few weeks his been on vacay...getting ready for his daughter's Quinceanera (Jadon understands that Javier is "on vacation" just hoping that he'll be back on Wednesday b/c Jadon is REALLY missing him!!!) Javier came by the house to drop off an invite for us one evening, then came back the next day b/c the invite was all in Spanish to explain it to us. It was so sweet... So here are some pics of my little monkey at the big party, where he partied the night away with Javier's nephew, Marco and watched as Javier and his wife, Norma, walked Marina around the dance floor. We were so honored to be their guests at this special event, it was totally amazing! Wish I would have gotten a better pic of her dress and a picture of Javier and Jadon...but he was pretty busy! Just kind of bummed that we didn't stay long enough for cake! Darn...I'm still thinking about white cake!!!

Jadon and Marina
The cake! Wowzers...

Jadon and his buddy Marco and the little flower girl

Special toast (complete with NASCAR's)

The BIG BOY BED

Jadon got a big boy bed this week... The Famous Race Car...Lightening McQueen-straight from my cousin Luke. Luke (being a big 5 year old now) has outgrown his bed, but gladly passed it on to Little Cousin Jadon. Oh-boy...Jadon's been so excited about it he could hardly wait for Grandpa John to get it out of his car. Here he is putting his bed together (with his new Star shoes as he calls them...Thanks Creel Family!) with Dad. Later that night, Pilar came over to bounce on the new bouncy and Jadon read her a story...bad news that the boy already has a girl in his bed at age 3!!! Will work on a b-day party post soon...it was such a fun party!

p.s. Jadon "redecorated" his room by switching out the rugs a few weeks ago. So his rug is now in the family room and the family room rug is in his bedroom...not sure why he insisted on this, but we're working to bring back the original rug. As he settles into his new bed, we're going to make some more changes to his Big Boy Room...but right now we're just happy that he is sleeping well at night in his new bed! :)

Busy...

Things have been busy around here...we went to Little Rock, AR for my cousin Charlie's wedding April 23-26th. We were there over Jadon's actual 3rd birthday, so I have trip pics, b-day pics, more b-day celebrating pics...the party just keeps going and going and going.... Tomorrow is Jadon's Birthday Party at the Train Park. He is so excited for his friends to ride the train with him. I hope the day is nice and that everyone has a great time.

Right now I'm making Jadon's b-day cake....mini train cakes to be decorated with frosting & candies tomorrow and placed on a black licorice track. Round one with the first 9 cakes overflowed a little bit. Round Two is in the oven right now! Many pictures to follow... Until then here are a few...

Charlie & Amanda's Wedding Cake

Luke (ring bearer) and Jadon at the Church


Whole Hog Cafe in Little Rock...Award Winning BBQ

Lovin' his "All Star" card at his "fancy" hotel...

Random Pics...the last 2 weekends...

We took Jadon to see his D'backs on Easter Sunday. He HAD to buy himself this batting helmet, which now is a crucial element in his t-ball games down at the grass. He and this little boy had fun together, but we didn't last too long in our seats. In the 3rd inning they advertise the "sandlot" area and its all over when he sees that on the jumbo-tron...plus too much Easter Candy that day had him pretty wired. He was more into the game when we sat in our seats the time before...these seats didn't have a good view of the game to really hold his attention...well and let's face it...the seats in the 2nd level have service. btw...if you go up there I suggest trying the new healthy salmon burger...it's seriously yummy!

Jadon and Uncle Ryan (with his Easter Lamb) who now has the name Lucy....Lucy and Lamby...don't leave home without them... Ryan has a funny picture of Jadon he took on his camera phone at the game on his blog...here is the link: http://ryanparrott.blogspot.com/2009/04/1-week-down-14-to-go.html

Jadon got 3 Easter baskets...one from the Bunny first thing in the morning (but Dad was gone) so then the 2nd basket Dad brought in when he got home from work. This one is from Grandma Kate & Grandpa Rashid. It had little balls in it, which Jadon thought were pretty fun. The way to the boy's heart is with some kind of a sports ball...hmmm.... I don't have a pic, but Jadon got a 3rd basket a few days after when my Dad and Ellen brought him a McQueen bucket full of goodies like a bunny on a bicycle with JELLYBEANS and a Hot Wheels Motorcycle (still a fan favorite after a week!) What a lucky boy to get so spoiled!

Here is Jadon with his "loot" from the morning egg hunt. He got lots of money in his eggs, put most of it in his piggy bank, but did buy a cool rocket from the dollar section at Target.

I took Jadon to Disney On Ice...it was the story of The Incredibles saving Disneyland from Incredi-boy and his "pincher" thing. Jadon becomes "Dash" every now and then and he was completely speechless the whole first half. His favorite part was when Buzz Lightyear blasted through the air and there were planets up on the roof. Buzz and Dash went through Space Ranger training. We had the most amazing seats...2nd row on the ice. It was a last minute thing to take him, but he loved it and it kept him busy and distracted on the last weekend of tax season, when Daddy was REALLY busy.

Jadon met a new friend at the end of tax season party...it was love at first sight as he shared his glow sticks, stretchy snakes and Curious George whiteboard markers with her. By the end of the night he wanted his stuff back...so working on the whole concept of sharing. But just like his cousin Alli he loves his collections of "stuff" and the stretchy snakes are REALLY exciting.

We (Jason, Gee-gu aka Uncle Ryan and I) took Jadon to NASCAR...he loved every minute...the pit crews, the people (whoa...seriously...interesting people out there), the cars, the noise, the shopping (2 new NASCARS), the treats and especially the sparks of "FIRE CAME OUT" when the cars made the turns. We stayed for 75 laps, until the high from ice cream was too much for the 3 of us to handle. Plus we needed to get back to the car before the sugar wore off and the "hit the wall" sugar crash happened.

This week we're getting ready for our trip to Little Rock for my cousin Charlie's wedding. Jadon's really excited to be going on a trip! We'll be there over his 3rd...yes 3rd Birthday on the 24th. We plan to spend the day at the Little Rock Zoo. I can't believe that he is going to be 3...he has big plans to be a big boy very soon, which maybe I'll get to post about soon. This many plans include:getting married to Pilar (next door neighbor girl), going to school, riding on a bus, getting his 2nd cousin's Luke Big Boy McQueen bed and a whole slew of other things.... He has already got this big boy party started by wearing what he calls "Big Boy" Shoes... Daddy bought him flip flops. They had to be a size 12/13 so his fred flinstone foot would fit under the straps. Walking in them is a learning process...and we're learning. If I could remember to charge my camera battery I might have a picture soon of the big boy in his big boy shoes... oh yeah...and the shoes aren't camo (I know...I'm shocked too) They have FIRE on them!!