Jack and Cate Update -- June, 2004

Sunday, May 23, 2004

One evening we decided to do our Spring planting as a family. Jack and Cate helped Mommy with the planting, and I recorded the event photographically to aid future generations and their anthropological research.

Sunday, May 23, 2004

Cate also celebrated the planting season with an impromptu ballet dance sans music.

Sunday, May 23, 2004

Jack displaying the fruits of not getting to go to New York with Mommy and Cousin Brian.

Sunday, May 23, 2004

The kids were a great help. They not only helped put a few plants in the ground, they also helped clean up all the plastic containers.

Sunday, May 23, 2004

Getting to help water the newly planted flowers was their favorite part (as you can no doubt see on their beaming faces).

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

It was a big night tonight -- we disassembled the cribs and replaced them with big-kid beds. We had actually intended to get them each a twin-bed, but we decided (at the very last minute) that toddler beds would fit much better in their room while temporarily saving us a lot of money.

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Cate spends an amazingly small amount of time with her head on the pillow and her body lying perfectly in the center of the bed. More on this in a moment...

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Jack too is awfully proud of his big-boy bed. He "helped" me put them both together this evening. Since it was getting past their bed-time, we had decided to wait another day before dismantling their cribs and letting them sleep in the new beds. They were so excited, however, that we got it all done in one night.

Tuesday, May 25, 2004

Jack is becoming a professional model -- swing your head to the right, look at the camera and smile.

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

This is what happens when super-curly hair is constrained in a pony-tail all day.

Monday, May 31, 2004

We had a big day on Memorial Day. First, we visited Sun's RFID Test Center in North Dallas. Other than letting your kids ride their tricycles, how else would you use an unoccupied 17,000 square-foot warehouse?

Monday, May 31, 2004

Both kids did much better pedaling their tricycles once they had some open space to explore. Unfortunately, we just don't have a good place for them to ride at home. Note the sippy-cup full of milk tagging along in the rear basket.

Monday, May 31, 2004

While Jack also enjoyed riding around the warehouse, he quickly discovered he could get a lot more speed by pushing his tricycle or abandoning it altogether.

Monday, May 31, 2004

Unencumbered by those tiresome pedals, Jack could build up a lot of speed. After our warehouse adventure, we visited Dallas Love Field to watch the jets take-off and land.

Wednesday, June 2, 2004

It's not unusual for us to find Cate hanging out of her bed while she sleeps, or (as in this case) lying on the floor next to her bed.

Sunday, June 6, 2004

A few nights later, she was at it again. This time, she was partially under her bed and their rug.

Monday, June 7, 2004

This cannot be a comfortable way to watch television.

Monday, June 7, 2004

Don't get too comfortable in that diaper, Cate. We started serious potty-training the next day.

Monday, June 7, 2004

No, we didn't pose the kids in the chair for a photo-op -- it's simply a magnet for post-bath television watching.

Monday, June 7, 2004

Yet more evidence of Cate's ability to find unique sleeping positions.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

This has become a very rare event, so we needed a permanent photographic record. After getting up early for church and the "excitement" of a car wash sponsored by the church youth, Cate fell asleep with me on the couch.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

On Sunday evening, we had a picnic with the Cooks at Lakewood Park. If you enjoy high temperatures and even higher humidity, we picked the perfect evening.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Jack is normally very cautious and not much of a risk-taker, so he really surprised us when he climbed the monkey-bars.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Thank goodness Karen is both tall and alert since I was so busy photographing Jack's near-calamity.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Olivia led a second expedition to scale the monkey-bars, but she too succumb. A few moments later, Jack requested Karen's assistance rather than risking descent.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Cate too decided to join the climbing act. Her spirit was willing, but her body was just plain pooped. Ever helpful, Jack tried to help Cate with her ascent.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

In an incredible display of resolve and endurance, Cate climbed high enough for a photo-op.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Jack is completely infatuated with he lawn mowing (and bubble blowing) machine. I'm sure he's expounding on its near-perfect design and exacting engineering. Jack was so tired by the time we got home, he was literally screaming to go to bed. He cried and fought through much of his lightning-fast bath and wasn't happy until he was lying on his bed with his favorite blankie.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

By the end of the evening, Cate was absolutely covered with dirt. As you can clearly see, the girl was seriously late for a good shampoo. On the way from the park to the car, we had to climb a short but steep hill. I told Cate, who was following me, that we'd need to climb it. She immediately responded, "I think I can. I think I can." as she climbed.

Monday, June 14, 2004

He's got a rubber duck stuck to his tummy! He's not wearing pants! That's crazy!

Monday, June 14, 2004

Now that they've mastered the kiddie pool, we've decided to register them for swimming lesson at the YMCA. They start after the Fourth of July.

Sunday, June 13, 2004

Jack never lacks for entertainment -- he creates his own. He repeatedly stood up and then plopped down in the water creating a big splash. He cracks himself up.

Monday, June 14, 2004

Cate wanted to make big splashes too but not badly enough to actually resort to sitting in the pool. She preferred splashing with her hands.

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Grandma Irene and Grandpa Dick visited us so they could attend the kids' third birthday party. The kids were so thrilled to see and play with them, and we were so thrilled for the extra help with potty training.

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Amongst the innumerable gifts for the kids, Greg's parents also brought a pair of shoes he wore as a toddler. With a good deal of effort, Grandpa Dick was able to get them on Jack's feet.

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Believe it or not, these were actually custom-made orthopedic shoes. I'm not sure if they did me any good or not, but I certainly did my best to wear them out.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Before the official birthday party, we opened (and opened and opened) gifts from the Grandparents. Here Jack opens a big book about trains -- one of his favorite subjects.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

A set of trucks and trailers for Jack -- another gift precisely attuned to Jack's sensibilities. On a side note, don't you think we could've put pants on the boy? or at least covered his plastic training pants?!?

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Cate also received a book from the Grandparents, but I seriously doubt she can read it through all that hair.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Grandma Irene presents Cate with a Mr. Potato Head. The kids know him simply as "that guy from Woody and Buzz." He's been a big hit with the kids.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Grandma Mary Kay gave Cate a pair of angel's wings to accompany her ballet costumes. Cousin Johnny couldn't be more proud to help her model it; I think.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

We celebrated the kids' birthday at The Little Gym. Just as the kids were getting started with their teacher, Miss Kiersten, the Cooks arrived. Jack used a tone of voice that can only be described as rueful to welcome them: "Hi, Uncle Jim."

Saturday, June 19, 2004

One of their activities used a parachute. They had an absolute blast.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Cate approved of the parachute too.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Cate loved it when they raised the parachute up in the air. They ran under it while it floated above them, but I suspect Cate's uncontrolled laughter interfered with her running skills.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Jumping isn't just a hobby for Jack; it's more of a calling. He found plenty of gym stuff upon which he could practice his art.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Before each activity, the kids had to recite the rules of the game with Miss Kiersten. "Rule number one, ..."

Saturday, June 19, 2004

When the moon walk came out, Jack was in jumping heaven. With fifteen kids jumping at the same time, it still amazes me that we could get through this activity without a serious injury or lawsuit...

Saturday, June 19, 2004

It wasn't just the little kids who enjoyed the afternoon. Cousin John got into the spirit of things too.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

It took us a week to get the kids to stop saying "two-and-a-half" and start saying "three" when asked their age.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

I'm not sure if Jack is blowing-out or spitting-out the candles. Either way, John offers his moral support to the effort.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Cate uses a more traditional -- and saliva-free -- approach.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

It's been twenty months (that's more than half a lifetime!) since Priyanka's third birthday party and Jack's now infamous cake-eating incident. But little has changed -- he's still a hands-on, stuff-your-face-with-cake kind of guy.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Cate uses a much more lady-like cake eating technique that actually involves utensils. This is living proof of the power of genetics over environment -- after all, we didn't teach one child to eat with dignity and grace while teaching the other to simply stuff his face.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Yet more things to do and try in the gym... As a side note, Jack displayed an irrational (and never seen before) fear of balloons at the end of the party. He pleaded with me not to bring his balloon home with us. By the next morning (of course), he was asking where his yellow balloon was

Saturday, June 19, 2004

Betsy went well beyond the call of duty for the kids' birthday. She brought the Russell twins to the party and then showered them with (way too many) gifts.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

I have no idea what this means, but I do know the chicks dig it.

Saturday, June 19, 2004

While I can't explain this either, I do know Johnny and Olivia were inseparable that day.

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Cate showing off her ballet costume (and dancing skills) with Grandma Mary Kay. Grandma was obviously in-tune with Cate's interests when she purchased this gift.

Sunday, June 20, 2004

And the angel wings are simply the icing on the [birthday] cake.

Sunday, June 20, 2004

Cousin Johnny was great with the kids -- he was like a patient older-brother all weekend.

Monday, June 21, 2004

The Kruger's gave the kids a set of animal masks that were a big hit. The kids have found two different ways to wear them -- with one eye covered or with both eyes blinded by the mask.

Monday, June 21, 2004

We snapped a few photographs the night before Grandma and Grandpa headed back to Minneapolis. As I tried to corral Cate to go to bed, she told Grandpa Dick, "I'm just trying to enjoy myself."

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Jack went camping in his own bed! He was accompanied by his trusty lantern (important because our power goes out if the neighbors sneeze) and protected from the elements by his NASCAR-inspired tent (I'm not sure why inclement weather would suddenly appear in his bedroom, but let's just go with it).

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Meanwhile, Cate roughs it in her Barbie-inspired tent.