Oh how time flies......

...when you're never at home! Mommy has several legitimate reasons for taking so long to post an update. First, she spent the beginning of last week in KC with Grandma and Erin...that's right, no Jacer. He stayed at home (happily so) with Daddy and Ozzy. Mommy returned home late Tuesday night only to turn around and (with Jace in tow this time) head down to Grandma and Grandpa's for some more quality time. Mommy and Jace didn't return until yesterday afternoon with just enough time to make some deviled eggs for the BBQ they attended and then hit the fireworks. Whew! There is no rest for the weary however, as Grandpa Steve comes to town tomorrow, followed by a weekend at Nana's to visit with Aunt Alisa, Mavi, and Keenan!
As you may guess, with so much activity going on, Mommy has been her usual camera happy self...and she has pictures to prove it! Read on.

Last weekend (like before Mommy ever even went to KC) Jace's town had it's annual festival complete with a swimming pool full of bubbles. Mommy is still unsure as to why Jace is the only kid reluctant to get in the real pool but is the 1st kid to try and jump in the bubble pool.



What kind of festival would it be without a parade...with SUCKERS!!



When you are as busy as Jace, you always must find time for some good eats. With a silly boy to make you laugh.



Checking out the water and rocks by the river.



Having a picnic with Grandma.



Giving or getting (???) a big smooch from Chuck.



There is nothing like totally annoying ANOTHER (after Oz and Reggie) dog. Poor Chuck.



Jace being a rebel and going down the curly slide. There was some 6-7 year old girl there cheering him on. In the end, he was going down on his back. It's good to know that all it takes is a little peer pressure to talk Jace into something.



Jace lovin' teeter tottering with Tracy.



Jace was ready to go to the BBQ a little early last night and proceeded to come to Mommy wearing his winter hat and a vest and proclaimed, "I'm leaving"!



Fireworks!!


Yes, Elmo loved them....in case you were wondering.

It started out like this......

After a few weeks of desperately trying to encourage Jace to get in the water, Mommy decided to leave well enough alone. If Jace was happy splashing from the side, never getting those trunks or cool swim diapers completely wet, so be it. So, on this beautiful Friday afternoon, Mommy left Jace in his regular clothes with the little pool (actually it's Ozzy's) empty and a sand bucket to play with. Wouldn't you know, it took about 5 seconds for Jace to want water in his pool. Done. About 5 seconds later came this:


You will probably notice there is very little water in the pool (we're talking like 1-2 inches tops) but lets allow Jace his moment of brave glory.

Ok, that wasn't so bad...how about this:



And this:



Can anyone say DAREDEVIL!



Oh yes, Jace went all the way! Shoes and Shirt came off next!



The culmination of Jace's swimming escapade was this:



A new 'do' Mommy refers to as the Kate Gosselin:

98 degrees

98 degrees. That's what the temperature read in Mommy's car on the way home from the pool yesterday!

What? Oh, you thought Mommy was going to do a clever post about the 90's boy band called 98 degrees?

Sorry. No such luck. But while we're on the subject, maybe a moment of silence for Nick and Jessica. Oh what the heck..how about one for Jon and Kate as well. Ok, now that Mommy has severely gotten off course (and revealed her horrible addiction to reality tv shows) lets get back to the topic at hand.

It was 98 degrees (according to Mommy's car) outside yesterday. WAY. TOO. HOT. What is a boy to do? Go swimming you may suggest. Good idea, Mommy would say.
The problem however, is really 3-fold. First, Jace does not, under any circumstances, take off his shoes. He has spent many a night wearing them to bed.
Second, Jace does not, under most circumstances, take off his shirt.
Third, Jace continues to be haunted by the 'turd incident' last fall. If you aren't sure what Mommy is referring to go here.
This traumatization (not sure if that's really a word but there are red squiggly lines underneath so Mommy is guessing not) caused by Mommy herself has reared it's ugly head again this summer at the pool. Jace is terrified of Mommy letting go of him in the water.
Ok, so you are beginning to get a picture in your head. A water park filled to the brim with brave teeny tiny babies and toddlers jumping and splashing in the water. To your left is the crazy 2 1/2 year-old who refuses to take off his shoes, shirt or get in the water. At least we know he will be served in most gas stations.
In the end, after much coaxing (2 days worth,) Jace will get in and sit with the water slightly covering his shoulders (but not too much!)on Mommy's lap. Baby steps.

In other baby step news....Jace has decided he has no need to go on the big boy potty because..and Mommy quotes, "I have a diaper on". Really, what is a Mommy to say to that?! It's all about the common sense.

Happy Daddy's Day!

Happy Father's Day to Daddy, Grandpa F., Papa C., and Grandpa Steve...and to all the other Daddys out there! Jace is such a lucky dog to have so many great male role models in his life. Just today in fact, he grabbed Daddy's headphones, put them on his ears, and went for run around the house....just to be like Daddy. Mommy cannot argue with that....she would be just fine if Jace turned out exactly like his Daddy.









Oops, sorry about that last one Daddy. You didn't think Mommy could do an entire post that was nice and mushy did you?

Florida 2009

Jace had an awesome time on his first 'airplane vacation'! He was gone a little over a week as he had to drop Ozzy off to stay with Kona. Of course taking Ozzy to KC meant also having a little time with Tom and Erin (2 of his favorite people).



After a restful night with Tom and Erin it was off to the airport (Thanks Erin) to get on the plane.



And be silly with Mommy.



Jace did very well on the plane. His ears bothered him on the way up and down (both times he offered to go in the car or on a boat) but once he was up in the sky he was loving it.

High on Jace's list of things to do in Florida was 'play in the dirt'. He spent many hours sitting under an umbrella just digging in the sand. Actually getting in the water was a little scary but he did get his feet (and maybe half a torso) wet several times with much coaxing.



Of course all that digging takes a lot out of a man....and there's nothing like eating by the ocean!



Ummm, and eating some more!



Of course Mommy had to try her hand at snorkeling(and fail miserably if you really wanted to know).



In the end, the beach was a favorite activity...especially walking on the boardwalk scoping out the chicks!



Another favorite of Jace's was the boat ride he took around the inter coastal waters and out to the ocean.





Jace was not limited to sand and surf on his vacation however. He also visited the Palm Beach Zoo..



..where apparently he knew more than this 5 or 6 year old kid he is telling the ways of the world to.



Jace also went to the Lion Country Safari which was super sweet! He was able to drive through the park first and see some awesome animals (like these rhinos) up close.



After the drive-through portion, there was even a petting zoo!



Jace even made time for some shopping...which you will notice he thoroughly enjoyed.



If you know Jace's Mommy, then you know lots of good eats were involved in this trip. One of Jace's favorites was the Rainforest Cafe....when the monkeys weren't yelling and pounding their fists.



One of the best parts of Jace's trip was getting to spend time with Aunt Denise and Uncle Chuck.





Of course who wouldn't love an Uncle who let you paint the walls?



And that's it folks.....you have now viewed about 1/12234234th of the pictures taken by Mommy's camera happy self!

Simply a Preview

Jace has only been back from vacation for a few hours yet Mommy is so dedicated she figured she had better get a preview of pictures up! Here is a small sampling of Jace's Florida getaway. More to come....after Mommy gets some shut eye!