Happy Easter!

I figured I better get this round of pictures up before someone else took center stage for awhile. I hope you all had a very Happy Easter!

Coloring Eggs.

Being very easy putting the eggs in the dye.

Making his Easter nest with Daddy. This is a German tradition that Jarred's family always did. We made one for the first time last year when we spent Easter with Jarred's family and decided to continue.

Decorating the nest with flowers.

After prepping for Easter by making eggs and a nest, you have to get the yard ready. Jack's taking a break from helping Popo pull weeds.

Ready to go back to work.

Pulling weeds makes a boy very hungry! Saturday was beautiful so we enjoyed supper outside.

My tulips bloomed just in time for Easter!

The Easter Bunny found his nest!

Searching for all 23 eggs. 11 hard boiled and 12 candy filled.

Isn't he super cute?

He got a new spotting scope from the Easter Bunny (AKA Grandma & Grandpa) and he's searching for the woodpecker in the tree.

This face is still cute even with chocolate all over it.

Yep, I'm still pregnant.

Rolling a few cars with Daddy.

He's trying to close one eye to see better, but I have a feeling both eyes are closed.

Taking a break from the sun. The weather was beautiful once again today and we spent nearly all of it outside.

Chillin' with Moma Jo.

Being silly with Popo.

We had a wonderful Easter weekend! Now, for our next order of business.

A Few Videos

Here are a few videos of Jack singing and playing his drums. In one he's singing "Big Green Tractor" and in the other, "Hotel California". You have to listen pretty closely to hear what he's singing but you can get the gist of the song. The other video is of Jack and Abbott at about 10:00 pm on the Friday night they came to town last week. You can see how much fun they have and how silly they are together. Unless we do something super exciting between now and the time Jacey's born, hopefully the next blog post will be to show her off to you!

Zoo Day

There were 2 reasons to go to the zoo on Saturday. 1) It was a beautiful, sunny day and 2) to get me to go into labor. #2 didn't happen but it was still a great day. It started out with a manicure, pedicure and lunch with friends, then a trip to the zoo and ended with one of the best hamburgers in Knoxville from Litton's and Kentucky losing in basketball. We didn't take the camera to the zoo, mostly because we have a lot of pictures at the zoo and I didn't want to lug it around. I'm already lugging around enough. :) Jarred did take some with his phone, so I thought I'd share those. We also have a new baby chimp at the zoo who is very very cute, so we got some video of him playing around.

A bear, chillin' in a tree.

George, the baby chimp.

On of the red pandas soaking up the sun.

Jack checking out the river otters. They were very playful and he could have stayed and watched them all day.

A river otter, showing off.

Helping groom the goats, which I might add are the best groomed goats in town.

George playing with his tire.

Funny Stories

Today, I dropped off Jack at school and his first words to his teacher were, "I have a song that I like to listen to and it's called Hotel California." Funny thing about this is that he is obsessed with Hotel California. Kelly & I grew up listening to The Eagles so I figured it was my responsibility to raise Jack listening to great music, too. He thinks that Don Henley only sings and plays drums on Hotel California and had a little meltdown when I tried to tell him he played drums and sang on lots of songs. He is slowly agreeing to listen to other songs, but Hotel California is still the favorite. He's almost got all the words and most of the drum parts learned. I've taken video so I'll try to post it soon. Anyway, back to school... when I went to pick him up one of his teachers told me that he wanted to play the drums and wanted the class to sing Hotel California. Unfortunately, no one knew the words. This upset him, of course. How could no one know the words to Hotel California?? Especially 3 years olds. Gees. Fortunately, a teacher from the class next door knew some of the words so I think that satisfied him.

When we got home, Super Jack mowed our driveway. :)

Another funny story is about my super huge baby belly. I was at Target on Sunday and as I walked around a clothes rack a woman looked at my belly and said, "WHOA!" Thanks, lady. It doesn't end there, of course. The check out lady at Office Depot today said to me, "How are you walking around?" I know I'm only 8 days from my due date, and I AM big, but I don't really need to be reminded of it! Since I'm so enormous, I thought I'd post some belly pictures for you to gawk at. Go ahead, tell me how insanely big I am and that there's no way I should be able to function right now. :) Here's my belly 8 days out from my due date.

Welcome, Spring!

I convinced Kelly & Abbott to come to Knoxville for the weekend to help celebrate my birthday. The weather was gorgeous and we had so much fun playing outside, finally! Kelly made me some more cupcakes and we ate birthday lunch at Abuelo's, it was a perfect weekend! The only thing that would have made it better would have been for Jacey to make her arrival! Just look how much fun we had!

Abbott rocked out on Jack's guitar.

They ate dinner together at the "kid's table".

Is he cool or what?

They are trying to get a limb out of the tree.

Waiting to catch the frisbee.

Kelly got it!

Discussing life over suckers.

Just chillin'.

Playing Candy Land with Moma Jo.

If you didn't really believe that these boys had fun together, just look at this face!

Taking a picture of Popo taking a picture of me.

Party #2

Saturday was Jacey's day. We started out watching Tennessee beat Kentucky in basketball, which always makes for a good day, and snacked on fruits, veggies, chex mix and cupcakes and watched the Olympics. It was a very laid back, casual shower which was pretty nice. Jacey got lots of goodies and we should be ready for her arrival soon. Jack and Abbott had a blast together as usual and it was a very fun weekend. Even though Kelly lives just 3 hours away, it's always a little sad when it's all over! I'm trying to get her to come back for my birthday and make some more cupcakes! Here's the rest of our weekend in pictures!

Snacking.

My party food fixers.

Decorating the goodness.

Icing is soooo goooood!

Hoping they're a success. Since they're all gone now, I'd say they were!

Strawberry cupcakes on the left, red velvet on the right.

Look at the tower of heaven.

What a beautiful presentation!

Abbott approves of the cupcakes. Jack was not a fan because they are so messy. I really don't know what's wrong with my kid. He had carrots and fruit instead.

Tim & Janet came all the way from Nashville to help party!

Jack helped open presents. I think he got a little tired of all the pink.

Lucky for him, he got a few gifts, too! Puzzles from Jennifer, a Lightning McQueen book from Janet and a new John Deere movie from Aunt Lissa.

Checking out the goodies for Jacey.

It can't ALL be pink, even though she did get a pink Tennessee outfit!!

I think it's almost impossible to pass up cute pink baby clothes!

Popo, Moma Jo & the boys.

Abbott was "stuck" under Jack. He said, "Help, tuck!"

Riding the choo choo train.

Ryan's whole family was here, but Ryan was missed. :(

These boys love their Moma Jo.

Maybe they're a little worn out from all the playing and running?

Abbott took some time to "cheese" for me.

We went through some old boxes to see what old baby girl stuff we could find and we found this old house with all the accessories. They had fun with this for a little while.

Jack has a pretty nasty cough and has all weekend so he was kinda worn out from that and the playing. He's been pretty still today, which is NOT the norm!

Despite coughing and a few other incidents, the weekend was a a success and we had a ton of fun. All the other little things are insignificant.

We also found out that the benefit and auction that was held for my uncle's kidney transplant was a MAJOR success, they raised over $50,000! It is so amazing! He has his transplant on Tuesday, so please keep him and his donor, Barbi in your thoughts and prayers. I'm sure it will be a very emotional day for everyone involved.