Friday Nights at the Park

When we can tear Mike out of the office at a good time on Friday's we love to go to the park. Jasper loves the big kids play areas and especially the tallest slide at Mission Hills Park.

This was the first time he went down the tube slide. Until now that has not been his favorite. I think because it is enclosed and he can't see out. So Mike stood at the top, and yelled up from the bottom and he realized that he would eventually come out.

I love to watch Mike and Jasper play together and it is fun for Mike to see all of the crazy antics Jasper pulls at the park.

A couple short videos at the end here. Yes, I am video happy these days. :>

Just a Babe

Mike's current computer wallpaper is a blast from Jasper's past.

I have to think hard to remember back to when this photo was taken -- during his first few hours here on earth.

He looks so tiny, so peaceful, so perfect.

It seems like a lot longer than 19 months ago.

What a great reminder to be better about my journal and our family history.

When We're Helping We're Happy

Jasper LOVES to do chores!

He is currently enamored with the kitchen floor sweeper. He wants to vacuum all the time. He can even turn it on by himself. The above photos are of him sweeping after right he came home from church and first thing this morning after he got out of the shower. He loves to vacuum!

If you open the dishwasher, you better believe Jasper will make a mad dash around the island to help you out. Don't even think about unloading or the dishes solo. He takes it as a personal insult.

The videos below showcase his unloading assistance from a few days ago.

Diaper Change Please

For the last month Jasper has been letting us know when he needs a diaper change.

I think this is a good step in the right direction towards potty training.

His cue for a diaper change is shown at the end of this video.

18 Month Check-Up

I'm over a month late here, but I wanted to record Jasper's 18 month check-up.

Height: 31 inches -- 10-25th percentile
Weight: 22 bs. 7 oz. -- 10-25th percentile
Head Circumference: 48 1/2 cm -- 50-75th percentile

We tried to keep busy while we waited for Dr. LaMotte by reading one of our favorite books: "How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms?".

And our all time favorite source of entertainment while waiting around...the orange bouncy ball. Which we affectionately refer to as "Orangie".

I am posting video of Orangie the bouncy ball at the end of this post. I tuck this ball in my purse at all times just in case I need it to entertain Jasper. It is a lifesaver!

Mike met us for a nice lunch at Cafe Rio after our appointment at the doctor.

I always ask for limes for my water. Jasper tries to eat them and feed them to us. Silly boy!

Bandanna BOY

We set out to run 2 errands. One thing led to another, and we ended up being gone all afternoon.

I had no extra outfit packed, and by the end of the day Jasper's shirt a great big mess. So I dressed him in whatever I had in the car -- which was an extra bandanna in my gym bag. We were just driving home so I didn't think much about it.

We ended up running one more errand to Costco. The plan was that I would run in and grab a few things while the boys fueled up the car.

There I am, grabbing Dr. Laura's new book, when I turn around and see Mike and Jasper coming down the aisle. Yes, Jasper is in the store, clad in a bandanna.

After we left the store I told Mike, "Someone told me I have a beautiful daughter. They think Jasper is a girl", I squawked.

Mike quipped, "Well I am sure that had nothing to do with the fact that Jasper is wearing a halter top :>

Give Me a Yellow Balloon

In my attempts to cure some afternoon boredom I blew up a punching ball balloon for Jasper and it did just the trick. He bounced it all over the house and had so much fun.

He was having so much fun that I got out the video camera and got some pretty entertaining footage. If Jasper keeps up these antics we may be on our road to "America's Funniest Home Videos". (The funniest part is near the end).

We have been playing with our exercise ball lately, and Jasper must think the big yellow balloon is an exercise ball just his size.

Ding Dong - Who's Home?

Jasper LOVES to ring the doorbell.

Mike usually indulges him a few times too many when they come home each night after walking down to the mailbox.

We snapped these shots on Easter Sunday. I am sad to say that they are the best photos we got of any of us! Not exactly your traditional Easter photos.

Traveling Family Home Evening

Tonight we walked over to my friend Kerri's house. We gave her some yellow roses from our backyard and enjoyed having Family Home Evening outside in her backyard.

The weather was perfect and we enjoyed seeing the fruits of Kerri and her husband's labors in their newly landscaped backyard.

We had a lesson the Resurrection and then we went inside so Kerri could play "Jesus has Risen" for our closing song. Jasper had a great time plunking away on the piano with Kerri.

I am posting videos of Jasper at the piano for my folks. Enjoy!

Helping Hands

Today I was standing at the island writing out some Thank You cards, and of course my little buddy had to get in on the action.

Jasper climbed right up on his stool and clamoured through the cards.

I decided the easiest way to help him feel a part of things was to trace his tiny hand on the inside on each of the cards.

Jasper was thrilled to participate and be in on things.

Favorite Reads

Jasper's current favorite reads are The Friend magazine and some Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme cards.

Jasper likes you to read him ALL 26 of the Nursery Rhyme cards at nap time AND bedtime. So...I now hum "Three Blind Mice" and whistle "Mary had a Little Lamb" all day long.

The Nursery Rhyme cards are 8 x 10 and laminated. Jasper can manhandle them with minimal damage. Which is good, because I think that Jasper has a crush on Little Miss Muffet. That's his favorite card.

His favorite part about The Friend is the "Friends in the News" section with pictures of other kids.

The neighbor girls are on Spring Break and they came over to play with Jasper today.

When I went upstairs I found all 3 girls and Jasper in his play tent. They were taking turns reading Jasper his nursery rhyme cards one at a time. It was really sweet. They also took him on a bike ride around the neighborhood, which he loved.

Easter Egg Hunt

This morning was Jasper's first Easter Egg Hunt hosted by our church's play group.

Jasper was thrilled when he spotted the big slide as we pulled up to the Mission Hills Park. He went up and down slide over and over and over.

Miss E. joined us on our adventure and was Jasper's personal egg hunt assistant.

I was able to distract Jasper from the slide for a few minutes and so we could have our own little egg hunt while the adults were still hiding the eggs.

There were a lot of kids there, and I figured that once the big kids were let loose Jasper wouldn't have a chance to look for any eggs.

It took Jasper 2 seconds to figure out that the eggs popped open and candy spilled out. He shoved as many jellybeans in his mouth as he could.

But after that it was back to the slide for Jasper.

He had his ball radar on at the park and ran over to see if he could join the kids who had a baseball and the family who was playing with a beach ball.

More Hummus Please

Jasper is addicted to hummus. I've blogged about if before, but his love of hummus seems to be increasing. This morning during our morning snack Jasper kept reaching out for more!

I gave in and bought some Babbas Hummus and chips at the Costco roadshow last week. It was sheer torture to drag Jasper away from the sample table. We ended up getting the Jalepeno and Cilantro and Avacado and Cliantro hummus. It is so good!

Piano Man

Jasper pounded out the notes for the opening and closing songs for Family Home Evening tonight on his little star piano.

Our lesson tonight was "I Will Be Reverent". It went right along with the fact that we are trying to teach Jasper how to fold his arms and sit still during prayers. If you have any suggestions --please let me know.

Berry-licious

Mike treated us to his famous Belgian waffles on Saturday and Sunday.

These huge strawberries made them even more delicious!