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!!

April 15th...Ode to Tax Season's Finale-In Honor of Daddy!

So today is April 15th...its a day that is pretty important in our house! It's the day of the tax deadline and for us that means that Daddy (Jason) won't be spending extreme hours at the office anymore. Most people probably don't like this day b/c they have to send their checks in to Uncle Sam...but for us it's a day we countdown to, circle on the calendar and talk about a lot!

Jadon tells everyone he meets this...seriously every teacher at the gym childcare knows his story and today he announced this to the cashier at Target and his friends at Starbucks..."Tax Season is ALMOST over! and afterwards we're going on an adventure to Little Rock, Arkansas and then it's going to be my birthday-and I'm having a party at the train park with all my friends!!!"

When Jason and I were dating/engaged I got little hint of what tax season might be like, but I was very busy with my teaching job in Kyrene and doing my masters. Jason's aunt Jeannie, instructed me on being a "tax-wife widow" and the first few years we were married with no kids, I kept myself busy with teaching, scrapbooking and cardmaking.

I have to admit that this year has been a little challenging as its hard to rationalize with an almost 3 year old about why Daddy has to work so much. Jadon has really missed his Daddy home days the past few months and the past few month or so, he's really missed his nighttime play sessions with Dad. But like most things he's taking it all in stride. Tonight, we'll celebrate the end of another tax year with the other employees and families. It will be quite the celebration.

And so in Honor of Jason...I want to say how proud we are of what an amazing husband and father you are and know how hard this time of year is on you! How I can't quite fathom how you function on 4 hours of sleep and put in 90+ hour work weeks...your work-ethic and determination is pretty amazing! We've missed you a lot and we know you've missed us too! We love you!!

This post wouldn't quite be the same if I didn't also say a few funny things that Jadon's come up with the past few weeks... Jason's back often bothers him when he works so many hours and at times when he comes home he lays around on the couch with his heating pad (and usually falls asleep...) So one day Jadon tried to negotiate taking a nap on the couch and told me "But Mom! my back hurts!" One day at naptime he also tried to pull this "Sorry, Mom...I just have to go back to work" and tried to tell me that he was "working" in his playroom. You can see a general theme here of trying to avoid his nap...but that's a whole other post!

Hope it's a Happy April 15th for most of you...

Opening Day

Jadon and I celebrated Opening Day a little bit early on Saturday...we wanted to go to Opening Day today, but didn't want to go without our Dad! Jason & I have actually been to every Opening Day since 2002 and have all the "commemorative pins" but I guess this year they were giving away t-shirts, not pins...oh-well... They were playing their last Spring Training game vs. the White Sox at Chase Field. Daddy had to work (only 8 more days of tax season left...we aren't counting down or anything...) so Jadon and I went for a little "adventure". Here is my photo diary... Checking out the new gear at the Team Shop...must have soft ball & bat...we're still sporting the camo gear almost everyday! New favorite t-shirt with BAXTER!!!

Wow...Chase Field is amazing...Sitting in Grandpa John's new seats...Sec 211, Row 5, 17 & 18

Found Mom & Dad's brick!


Hard to see, but Jadon is sitting by our wedding brick! Got a new shirt for joining the No Chew Club...and got free kids tickets for Sunday games and some other D'backs Kids Club Prize, which we didn't stand in line for...

Jadon's guess is 12...gotta work on those estimation skills

Things I would like to remember about the day...

*Driving down Jefferson St., Jadon asks "Is this the city...like New York City?" He was in awe of the big buildings, which is funny b/c it isn't the first time he has been downtown, but I think it was more of the view that we were driving into the buildings that really amazed him!

*How totally fascinated Jadon was with the parking garage and that it was just like his garage at home...and when I found a good spot, he announced "Great Job finding Rock Star Parking Mom!"

*How Jadon made friends with everyone next to, behind and in front of our seats...social much?

*How completely interested Jadon was with the game & who the "thrower" of the ball was...wanting to know every players name on the Jumbo-Tron... what position they played... when the music was coming on again ?, cheering for the Relish Hot Dog...trying to find Baxter the Bobcat...and repeating EVERYTHING the man behind us yelled..."Come on!" "Strike him out!" "Get there!" "Watch the ball!"

*That is took Jadon about 10 seconds to remind me that there is a really cool playground with a "neat" slide at the ballpark (that was the 4th/5th inning stretch and potty break...)
*Singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" yes...we made it until the 7th inning stretch!

*That we CAN'T WAIT to go back to Chase Field with our Daddy...very, very soon!!