Photo Update

I posted some pics of Jaden last month that were "possibles" for the 2010 Hope Calendar coming out in October. Here are two more that Debi took but we still don't know which one she is going to choose! Can't wait!

Too much?

I was looking at all the toys in Jaden's playroom the other day and it seriously looks like we have 3 kids at least! Do you think kids have too much these days? Really! My brother and I grew up in a 3 bedroom house, the four members of my family shared 1 bath until I was in Jr. high at which time they converted the 1 bath and parts of 2 closets into 2 full baths. We didn't have a playroom either! My toys were in my room, my brother's in his and the outdoor toys were kept to a minimum in the backyard. Today, kids have their own bathroom, playroom, a giant climbing structure in the backyard that resembles Mt. Olympus and battery powered ride on cars with their own parking space in the 3 car garage! It's crazy! Who is to blame for all this craziness?! Oh yeah......we the parents buy all this stuff for them. Hmmm. Nevermind......=D

Jaden in Toy Land

In Memory of Gordon

Gordon

1993 - 2009

A week ago, we took Gordon to the vet for a check up. The Dr. said that the arthritis in his back legs was getting worse (more shaking than usual), he had lost more weight (hyperthyroid & was about 5 lbs) and the Dr. thought he had a mass in his chest which was pressing on his heart. Said that Gordon's heart occasionally stopped or skipped beats when he took a breath (arrhythmia). Because of his advanced age, medication wouldn't make him better...only prolong his condition. I knew this time was coming but nothing prepares you for having to say good-bye to a family member. We made the difficult decision to put him to sleep before he suffered anymore pain.

Gordon was my baby before I had Jaden. 16 years we spent together. Before the husband, before the move to TX, before the kid.....lots of history together. To say he was my favorite "furry kid" would be unfair to Katie but we did have a different relationship. Katie was the "Diva" in the house, content to come find me only when she needed something. Gordon was the "softie", sneaking into my lap while I was watching t.v., sitting at my feet while I was working on the computer, patting my leg if I was drinking a glass of milk, Pat, Pat, Pat, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme. =D He loved sleeping on my tummy when I was pregnant with Jaden and once Jaden was born, he was Jaden's shadow. It's strange how quiet the house is now without Katie and Gordon.....I really miss them both.

The night before we took Gordon in for his appointment.

I think we knew that the Dr. visit wasn't going to go well so we made sure that Jaden and Gordon got to spend some time together.

Jaden even kissed Gordon good-night.

Katie and Gordon

Jaden and Gordon's naptime

Gordon watching Jaden play

"Look! There's Gordon!"

Gordon watching us play with the iMac camera

when Jaden was 10 months old - at the old apartment.

Flying with a Super Hero!

Super Jaden and his sidekick Mommy!

This is what Little Man thinks of pickles...

No!!!!

Product Endorsement

Who doesn't love a dazzling smile?!  I owe a big thanks to my orthodontist and my parents for my straight teeth but I must confess, I haven't taken very good care of them color wise....I'm a big coffee drinker!  I've tried bleaching trays through my dentists office (MANY years ago) and Crest White Strips but I've finally discovered something WAY more effective!

 

After experiencing gum sensitivity with the trays and strips and being shocked at the $600 I would have to spend at the dentist for some ZOOM whitening, I was cautious about this product, especially since I've never heard of it.  I saw an ad for Luster in one of the magazines at the hair salon, so I did some research online and read all the user reviews I could find.  I always, always, always read user reviews before purchasing ANYTHING online and I must say everyone was right!  After only 5 applications, I noticed a difference and NO sensitivity AT ALL!  You can apply it up to 20 times and are supposed to see up to a 5 shade difference.  My teeth were the lightest shade of yellow on their "color chart" to begin with so I didn't have a lot of work to do.  I guess I should have taken before and after pics but it just seemed kinda weird.

I doubt I'll do the full 20 applications (want to avoid that ultra bright smile from that great Friends episode...you know....when Ross' teeth glowed under the black light?.....no?  o.k, moving on) but I think 10 will get me where I want to be and then it's just monthly maintenance from there.

I have no plans on giving up my Iced Lattes or the occasional iced tea so this is perfect for me!

Yeah!  Now I'll "smile more because my teeth are white", I'll "be happier because I'm smiling more", "It's like a feel-good virus-before I know it, I'll be making other people smile too!"  (that one really cracks me up!) and I'll look like I've "turned the clock back years, even decades"! Hey!  Wait a minute....I don't look THAT old.  =D

Lost My Mind!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am pretty laid back and not easily upset.  But this morning........I lost my mind!  

Jaden and I were taking the back way to the dry cleaners from our house.  The road winds back by a subdivision that is still under construction so there are a lot of big trucks pulling in and out all day.  As I approached the intersection to the new construction area, a LARGE semi was easing out, I thought he was slowing down to let me pass before pulling out.  I was wrong!  He either didn't realize how far out he was or how fast he was going....or really didn't care!  I swerved and honked and then pulled over when I realized he had stopped behind me.  I threw the car in park, jumped out, ran up to the front of his semi and started yelling expletives at him and telling him that I was taking down his information to report his driving (while he just shook his head and threw up his hands), I got back in my car, waited for him to pass so I could get his tag number, once I had the tag number and the name of the company, I passed him and we went on our way to the dry cleaners.  Then it hit me.....WHAT WAS THAT?!  I don't lose my temper!  I can't remember the last time I was that mad!  You know the scene on the Incredible Hulk when Bruce Banner gets mad and starts shaking and turns into the the Hulk?  That's how I felt!  Crazy!  I was so glad Jaden didn't hear or see me because I think I would have scared him!  =D  

Anyway, I called John and told him what happened and gave him the information and he said he'd call in the complaint.  I was to the point of being so mad that I would have cried on the phone which is horrible!  I don't like crying, in front of people or on the phone with people, especially with people I don't know.  

Once I got off the phone with John, I did something sure to make me feel better....we drove to Starbucks!  Jaden asked for pumpkin loaf (his fave!) and I told him, "whatever you want honey, we've had a very traumatic morning! "  A Latte and pumpkin loaf make everything better!   Ahhhhhh!

Super J!

The Husband and I found this Super Hero in a Box at Borders book store last night while on our "date". We thought Little Man would enjoy it! Well, after putting on the Identity Concealing Mask, The Thrill Packed Wrist Bands and attaching the Action Filled Cape, Little Man posed just long enough to get his picture taken and then announced, "I don't want to be Superman anymore" and took off the mask and wrist bands! He left the cape on and we asked what was wrong and he said, "I'm a Queen".......not sure we heard him correctly, we asked him again. Again he said, "I'm a Queen". Little Man looked and me and said, "Mama, what have you done". =D I laughed and explained to Little Man that girls are Queens & Princesses and boys are Kings & Princes. He seemed confused as were we until we figured out that he associated a long cape with the Evil Queen (who has a BIG cape/robe) from the movie Snow White, which he's been crazy about for months. But even after explaining the difference to him, he just got frustrated and took the cape off and decided that his Handy Manny Toolbox was much more interesting. Oh, well!

Reluctant Super Hero.

And then an hour later.....

Super J!

Who is that masked man?!

Fun Night Out

Normally we stick close to home in the evenings.  Like to wind down after dinner before Jaden's bathtime/bedtime.  But last weekend we decided to take Jaden out to one of the weekly kids events that they're having in town right now.  Summer Nights, Waterway Lights!  Music, face painters, trick ropers, etc.  So we had dinner nearby and walked over to see what was going on for the kids.  Jaden loved it!  They had a jazz band, a face painter and a trick roper in the square by the spray fountains.  We pretty much wore him out and took him home for bedtime.  =D

Love this pic!

John and Jaden watching the musicians.

Playing in the spray fountain.

Jaden later said that the little boy next to him was his friend.

He just met the kid but it was so sweet!

Jaden walked right up to the cowboy, turned around and then kind of zoned out while the cowboy did his rope tricks around him!

Let's All Go Bananas!

Jaden has been a big fan of The Wiggles since he was about 18 months old and we were SO excited when we found out that "The Wiggles Go Bananas" show was coming to town!  I have to admit.....John and I were a little "wiggled out" for a while after Jaden first started watching the show/videos but he seemed to taper off on wanting to watch them after a few months.  Dora, Diego, Little Einsteins, Max & Ruby to name a few became his new favorites.  But last week when we told him that we were going to see the show, he was REALLY excited and wanted to watch his videos all the time again.  Ah well....

I have to say that the guys really put on a good show.  And yes, I sang along to all the songs.  I'm sure John was thinking to himself..."is this what she does all day?!"  No, it's not.  =D 

We recognized some of the dancers from the videos and Jaden clapped his hands when Wags the Dog and Captain Feathersword took the stage.  Henry the Octopus and Dorothy the Dinosaur were there too.  The show was an hour and a half, which I think is good for this age group.  It held their attention with songs, dancing and acrobatic feats and the time went by fast.  After the show, we stopped by the souvenir table and Jaden picked out a Captain Feathersword hat.  But while we were standing in line waiting for our car, he saw all these kids with light sticks and he kept begging for one but John and I held our ground.  We said 1 souvenir!  Of course, I was thinking, "I wonder if John can run up and get him one before the car gets here?" and by the look on John's face, I think he was thinking the same thing.

The pictures were taken with my phone so the quality isn't that great.

Murray, Anthony, Jeff, Sam & Captain Feathersword.

Murray came out into the audience to see the kids.

The Wiggles and the Wiggly Dancers.

Jaden wearing his Captain Feathersword hat and looking through his program.

He's saying, "that's Sam".  (the yellow Wiggle)

I love, I love, I love my calendar boy!

A couple of months ago I submitted some pics of Jaden to be in the 2010 Hope Calendar and he was selected as one of the kids to appear in the calendar!  

Here's some info:  

Life's Images Partners with It's My Heart for 2010 Hope Calendar

The Hope Calendar is published by photographer Debi Gomez (Life's Images) as a charitable fundraiser.  Over $9,000 has been donated to charities in the first 2 years.  The calendar features Houston area children in an inspirational photo calendar reminding all of us to hope

for a cure...

for a better life...

for the simple pleasures of a child's smile.

The 2010 calendar is themed "Hearts of Hope" and the calendar sales benefit It's My Heart, a non-profit organization providing support, awareness, education and advocacy for those affected by Acquired and Congenital Heart Defects.

So his "photo shoot" was Monday morning and the kids were supposed to be "well rested, fed and clean", so I loaded him up on breakfast, was happy that it was scheduled well before naptime and wiped him down with a wet wipe before we went in.  Well!  Of all the days for him to decide to be shy!  He sprawled out on the floor, rolled around and had his hands over his mouth.  But he soon warmed up enough to sit on the sticker (the mark) and have some pictures taken.  Probably helped that I was

 bribing him with money to sit still....that kid is all about loose change for his bunny bank right now!  But he was soon needing quarters instead of pennies so what started out as bribery ended up being extortion by a 2 year old!  =D

Here is a picture that Debi, with Lifes Images, took back in 2008.

Amazing how much he's grown in such a short amount of time!