Oh.My.Goodness

it sure does look like someone is having a good time.

Memorial Day Weekend '09

*Warning - very long post ahead. You might want to grab a drink and a snack.

We had a great Memorial Day weekend! On Saturday we headed down to the National Mall for a picnic. It was great weather - hot in the sun and breezy in the shade! Mark and I could have laid there on our blanket all day, BUT for the two year old in our family not so much. We let Jackson run wild, play soccer, and ride the carousel.

Jackson playing soccer - such the athlete!


Mark took Jackson over to ride the carousel so momma could be lazy under a tree. And yes I did give Mark some lazy tree time also. I let Jackson splash in the water fountain in front of the National Gallery of Art. Then we went inside to the bathroom and on our way saw naked statues which is always fun for a curious 2 year old boy.


Where's Jackson?


Here I am!


Since we had officially passed Jackson's nap time, we thought we would lure him into his stroller to go see space ships at his favorite museum. About a block later, he was out! However, when we got to the Air and Space Museum, the lines were really long, so we decided to just head home. Well, lil boy woke up just as we were arriving at the metro, and boy was he mad!!! (I guess he really wanted to see those space ships!) So here he is riding the metro - I think that look is a mixture of tired and sad . . .


On Monday, along with every other tourist in DC, we headed to Arlington National Cemetery. This is one of our favorite places to visit. It gives me goose bumps every time I visit along with such pride to live in this great country. When we were headed into the cemetery they were telling us that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is closed. So of course I asked if that was because the President was there speaking - Yep. We thought that he was on his way, so we just started wondering through the cemetery and happened upon this:


Here it is up close and personal.


There were many soldiers lining this road at attention. So we decided that this is where President Obama was going to enter the cemetery. We couldn't cross the street, so we were stuck. Then all of a sudden we heard loud cannon shots. Then we saw this:




It might not look like much, but that is President Obama's caravan. AND we actually were close enough to see him in the car. (His driver is in the above picture) I love just happening to be in the right place at the right time. If only I was better with my camera . . . .

Here are the soldiers "picking up" the rest that are lining the streets.


Each grave had a flag in front of it.


Of course Jackson wanted a flag. We couldn't find one for him, and he kept asking, "Can I touch one finger momma?"

First Set of Clubs

Happy Mother's Day (a couple of days late) to all you moms and moms-to-be out there! I hope you had as nice of a day as I did! Jackson came running out of Sunday School towards his daddy saying, "Happy Mother's Day, daddy!" He was so excited to remember what his teachers told him to say, but he just forgot who to say it to!

Jackson's Emmy and Poppy came to visit last weekend, and we all had a great time. I love when family comes to visit!! They spoiled us by taking us out to dinner and lunch, and we repaid them by making them help us work in our yard! I always have to take advantage of Martha's green thumb while she is here. My thumb is slowly turning from a deep black to a hunter's green. Parks helped Mark install some outside lighting along our sidewalk leading up to our front door. It looks great! I will definitely take some pictures of all our hard yard work. Between my flowers and Mark's new grass (he grew from seed), we should be in the running for "Yard of the Month!" We can dream, right . . . . .

Emmy and Poppy also had some surprises for Jackson - new golf clubs!! He was thrilled to say the least. After he saw them, we had to immediately get in the car and head to the golf course. You might be asking yourself, hmmm, what about the back yard? Well, he is just way too good. Our back yard is small and his shots are too long. And that just makes for a bad combination. We were playing in the front yard a couple of weeks ago, and he almost put a dent in our neighbor's car. So we moved it to the back. Then he kept whacking it into our fence, and that is just not a fun noise to hear over and over and over again! I was afraid to turn my back for fear of being knocked out cold by my two year old! Thanks Emmy and Poppy for everything!

Can he get any happier? And yes, that is golf on the television! I am surrounded by it . . .


"I go golfing with my daddy." I am not sure who is more excited - Daddy or Jackson or Mommy for all the free time these clubs are going to bring her!!


I present to you the next Tiger Woods . . . .


And one last bit of news - Jackson's going to have a new cousin! YIPPPEE! My brother and his wife, Becca, are expecting a little girl the end of September. I can't wait to start buying pink!!!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Jackson is starting to say some pretty funny things, so my hopes are to keep a running list of quotes. Hopefully I can keep this up. I tend to start things like this and never quite keep it going. (Yes, I still need to finish his baby book and photo albums and his 2nd year video!)

"Umm, I have an idea!" - Just picture Jackson saying this with his his finger up to his mouth.

"Those aren't bo-bos, those are just cookies momma." - This was in reference to his splinters that we needed to get out of his hand.

"Get the bo-bos out next week, daddy." - Again a reference to those darn splinters.

"That's my favorite one ever" - Jackson says this anytime he is playing with one of his cars and his favorite seems to change daily.

"I rip it!" - Anytime we are playing t-ball and hits a good shot, which seems to be quite often, he shouts this.

"1, 2, 3, 6" - I don't know why he doesn't like 4 and 5??

"I show you something" - He kept saying this to Mark the other day at Lowes, so Mark finally decided to follow him. Jackson took him back through the entire store to show him some kid sized garden tools. Of course, Mark was impressed that 1) he remembered seeing the tools and 2) that he could lead Mark back to the exact spot in which they were displayed - we bought the tools.

"Look mom, a birthday candle. Where's the birthday cake?" - He brings me one of my rather big decorative candles?!?