Pizza, Pizza!

There comes a time as a parent that you have to let your kids make their own decisions. And despite guiding and teaching them, they will make choices that differ from our own expectations. It's just time to step back and let them be individuals. 

We ordered pizza tonight.  

And even though both of the kids watch us eat pizza "normally" and have been coached in "normal pizza eating techniques".... neither of them chose to eat pizza "correctly." Jackson has eaten his pizza upside down for years! No idea why! Belle, well, she just forges her own path no matter what she's doing. She's a bit stubborn independent that way.

I felt it appropriate to title this post "Pizza, Pizza" because we ordered a second pizza solely for leftovers! I can't wait to have some cold pizza for breakfast! 

Love

I woke up to Jackson saying this morning, “I want to snuggle Mommy!” What a great way to start this day! I love being a mommy!!

Jackson has been telling people “Happy Vawemtimes Day! I love you!” all day. He’s such a sweetheart. He has made some valentines and has been giving them to different people and today he said, “I’m a nice boy because I give the people stuff.”

As per our normal Valentine tradition, we had pizza. But with our crazy, hectic schedule at the moment it was a little impromtu. Cooking would take to long. We stopped by pizza hut but there was an HOUR wait. So, we had our super fun Valentine dinner at Target! Which was perfect! They have little pizzas already made {no waiting} and Jackson looooooves the popcorn. Plus, he thinks eating there is such a treat!

Pizza, breadsticks, and popcorn = a perfect Valentine dinner!

Being creative with our pizza choices is the fun part of Valentine’s for us anyway. It started out with Domino’s. We’ve eaten at Pizza Street {my fave KC pizza place!} and Original Pizza {my second fave}. Last year, with Derek being on active duty in Georgia—we celebrated when he came home for Belle’s birth with some pizza goldfish. I had hoped to make some pizza tonight, but that will just have to wait for a time when I’m not a full time grad student!

Valentine Pizza Celebration 2011

I just love celebrating Valentine’s Day! I know some people have very strong feelings otherwise, but I like to embrace the fun, creative side—not the expensive, commercial side. Plus, I use it as the time to do special things for my friends and other people we come into contact with on a regular basis {nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, nurses at the doctor’s office}. I am too overwhelmed to make treats around Christmastime, so I let the kids bring a treat around Valentine’s Day and they {the kids and the recipients} love it!

I love my hubby {and the sweet roses he got me}. I love that Jackson told me that he is a nice boy for giving his Valentine’s to people and that he gives me sweet snuggles. I love my precious baby girl and her sweet kisses! I love being a mommy. I just love our family and our crazy, busy life!

Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day. To quote a blog friend, "I love LOVE!" It's a super fun time to just let the people in your life know that they are loved. And it's not even just about having a significant other because honestly, maybe sadly enough, Derek and I just sent a couple of mushy emails to each other and that was the extent of our Valentine's celebration this year! (We do have a pizza tradition that we will make sure to fit in sometime over the next weekend-- somewhere between having a baby and him going back to Army duty 2 days later... we'll make it work!). Regardless, we still had plenty of Valentine's Day fun!

Jackson worked hard on a Valentine's card for Daddy the other day. We mailed it at the perfect time- Derek received it today!!

Jackson also has a very important message for Daddy too!

Elizabeth and I decided last week that because neither of us get the opportunity to spend this romantic holiday with our husbands, that we should let Jackson and Chacey celebrate together. After all, they are total BFF's and miss getting to see each other every day!

We met at McDonald's. The kids sat up at the bar all by themselves (we wanted to give them privacy). 

Jackson made Chacey a card that simply had the letter "W" on the inside. That really is Chacey's favorite letter, no joke. We have a book that she used to turn the page and point out every "W" with excitement. He also made her a fruit loop necklace, but it only had about 7 fruit loops because then he got distracted quickly. It was pure joy for each of them to realize that they could eat the cereal off their necklaces!

Lastly, they played. At this point, Jackson wasn't a very good date and took off to climb and play without Chacey. She's not much for climbing and being around the hoards of other children. Jackson on the other hand was sliding down the slide before I even realized he had entered the tunnel! 

They hugged goodnight and each said, "I love you."

Aww.....

Our Springfield Vacation

I have just gotten around to importing my pictures from our trip down to Springfield/Branson several weekends ago! We had a fabulous time escaping our typical routine and visiting some of my favorite things and people from my college years (which I just realized was a long time ago... I will celebrate my five-year college graduation next week.)

Our fabulous friends Jeff and Missy always open up their house to us when we travel in their direction. It's really brave of them to let a very active two-year-old roam around their house!!

Jackson helped Missy cook spaghetti for dinner. 

We went to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Jordan Valley Park (a favorite place from my college days!) and went over to the Cardinals stadium to watch some fireworks. Jackson's first experience with fireworks was comical. He watched the entire show on my lap without making a sound or moving a muscle... just stared. About two or three minutes after the show was over he looked at me and said "Boom! Boom! Fireworks!!" and he continued to talk about it all night long.

We headed down to Branson on Sunday. We spent the afternoon shopping at the outlet shops and then we went to the Dixie Stampede for dinner. Now, let me tell you I was really worried about paying so much for a ticket to a show that I bringing my two-year-old to. I had expected to spend at least half of the show back in the back letting him run around while I missed all of the good stuff... but really, Jackson was wonderful!! He loved eating the food with his hands and watching the animals! We all had a super fun time.

Jackson enjoyed getting to look at all the horses before the show started!

Jackson stole the heart of one of the lady-riders and she threw him a flower (which he promptly threw right back at her)!! She gave it back at the end of the show.

Before we left Branson, we drove through the Festival of Lights. The synchronized music to the snowman lights was really neat! We watched for almost three songs.

Some friends drove down from KC to meet us at The Home of the Throwed Rolls (Lamberts) for lunch on Monday. Even though I've worked there and know the vast amounts of grease required to make all of that yummy fried okra-- I can't ever stop loving to eat there. I was really craving a salad (stupid pregnancy) so I didn't get any of my favorite mashed potatoes, but I still had some okra, rolls, and fried potatoes. Delicious.

Julie and Jackson with Trey and Carter

Jackson had fun with the olives from my salad! He ate them off his fingers one by one.

I love this picture!! A roll was just thrown and even though he is completely ready with his hands out, it bonked him on the head. He laughed. :)

That afternoon, we went to the Palace (read: $3 movie theater) and watched MegaMind. Cute movie. Why can't we have a (non-disgusting) theater like that here in KC!? We had a nice relaxing night in on Monday night. It was fabulous! 

Tuesday for lunch, we met up with my friend Higgi (or as Jackson would say, "piggy") for lunch at Incredible Pizza. I seriously love that place. Unlike other nasty-tasting pizza kid places, this place has a great buffet and the play area is a lot of fun. With bumper cars and race track, it's fun for big kids too! 

Sarah Higgi and Jackson!

Playing the toss-the-ball-into-the-garbage-can game. 

Sarah, Me, and Jackson

I apologize that this post is so super long, but I wanted to get it all in here so I can move along to get back to blogging about current issues and not always playing catch up. I finished my class this week (woo hoo!) so that should help too!

Where a kid can be a kid (and the food is disgusting)

With the end of the semester schoolwork (yes, I have had all semester to work on these papers and yes, I should have started them sooner) and the never-ending yard work that accompanies home ownership I have fallen behind in posting events as they've happened. So, I have some catching up to do.

As we are now counting down the days before Derek leaves, we are trying to capitalize our time together and work on making memories. (Shouldn't this be the goal in everyday living and not just when a significant separation is in the future?) Well, a few weekends ago, Derek wanted take Jackson to Chuck-E-Cheese and I said, "why not?"

We had a lot of fun. The pizza was gross.

Jackson loved the horse game. Well, he enjoyed riding the horse and couldn't care less about the race.

Like mother, like son- Jackson loved Skee ball.

But, he has a different technique when it comes to the getting the balls in the targets. Though, despite being inches away, he still only put the balls in the 1,000 point slot.

And when Jackson lost interest in a game while it was still going- Derek took over. He did awesome at toddler whack-a-mole game.

And of course, being one and all, sometimes he was more interested in the buckles and other random things instead of the actual ride.

We had a really good evening. But next time (because somehow I know there will be a next time) we will be sure to grab pizza somewhere else and then head over to Chuck-E-Cheese just to play the games.

Derek's Golden Birthday

This year was Derek's Golden Birthday- he turned 26 on the 26th. (How ironic that our bill was $26.03 when we went to Arthur Bryant's that night!) Of course, Derek didn't really care, but I think it's fun to celebrate. So, I threw a last minute surprise party together for people to get together at his parents house after church on Sunday night. Thanks everyone for coming!!

His birthday loot:

• 26 dollar bills (x2)
• 26 Dr. Peppers (x2)
• 26 bags of Cheez-Its
• 26 Mini-Snickeres
• 26 Bite-size Snickers
• 26 pieces of candy (x2)
• 26 pistachios
• 26 facebook wall-posts (haha!!)

And of course, a few pictures!  Instead, his mom made his favorite chocolate chip cookies. So, we opted for candles in the pizza (we had eight of them!). And we didn't have a six either, so we improvised with  4+1+1. 

Jackson going through Derek's gifts

And finding a use for the cans that are just lying around. He got them stacked 5 high on top of the coffee table. Pretty impressive.

So when Derek goes to buy something for $26 in ones- what type of job will the cashier think Derek has?

Me and the birthday boy!

Aunt Laura and Jackson!

Dad has plenty- why can't he share?!? I bet I'd like Dr. Pepper if you'd let me have some.