Surprise!!

Auntie T and UK planned a big surprise for Gumpa's birthday. They decided to fly up to NH to surprise Gumpa for his birthday. Nena was in on it and helped plan the whole thing. Auntie T and UK invited us to join in the surprise, but the kicker was, even Nena didn't know we were coming. So on Friday, October 16th, we flew from Atlanta to Boston to surprise Nena and Gumpa. Surprised is an understatement, I think. Auntie and UK met Nena in baggage claim, then Sean, Jackson and I surprised them at Legal Seafood by calmly asking Nena if we could join her for lunch. Her reaction was the best and we all enjoyed lobster rolls in the Boston airport as we told Nena about how we had planned this since May. Lunch was good, but we were anxious to get to Keene and surprise the birthday boy. Gumpa was working, so we went there and sent Jackson walking into his office. Jackson wandered in, then out, then we all went in and yelled "Happy Birthday!!" Gumpa's reaction was great and man oh man, was he surprised! We immediately left and went home to start celebrating. The whole weekend was a blast. We relaxed at home Friday night, wandered around downtown Keene on Saturday during the annual Pumpkin Festival and then surprised my Great Uncle Dick, who came for dinner. Uncle Dick knew Auntie T and UK were going to be there, but not us! I'm so glad we got to see him, it had been since Thanksgiving of 2007 since we got to spend time together. Our weekend was a quick one and we had to leave right after lunch on Sunday, but every minute we were there was fantastic. We even managed to drive through some snow on the way back to the airport! It was a remarkable and memorable weekend and the only thing that would have made it better was if Uncle Chipper, Aunt Sara and Tyler would have been there to celebrate with us.

Playing with "Larry" the lobster. (He tasted delicious!!)

Jackson was facinated by that lobster and asked about it first thing Saturday morning.

It isn't a birthday without cake! Nena got Jackson his own personal cake since he loves it so much!
Building castles with tinker toys.
Helping Nena make frosting for Gumpa's birthday cake.
Tastes delicious!!

Are we looking at the next Ace of Cakes?

Playing with the "train" that Mommy made in junior high.

Coming back from the basement. Jackson's the only 2 year old not afraid of that basement.

I see you, Gumpa!

Pumpkin Patch!

Since it's fall and Halloween's around the corner, we decided to meet some friends and drive to Louisville, GA to the pumpkin patch at Kackleberry Farms. It was such a fun day! In addition to the great company and pumpkin patch, there was a petting zoo, corn maze, tractor ride and swings and slides. We didn't make it to the corn maze, but managed to do everything else, much to Jackson's delight. His favorite part was the petting zoo, where he got to pet a bunny, lambs, donkeys and even feed a horse! The tractor pulled little cow cars and all the boys loved it. I think all the kids were sad to go - Kackleberry was a hit and it's definitely a new tradition, at least for the Morris'.
Loving on a donkey.

So happy!

Checking out the chickens.
Lovin' those little lambs.
Petting the bunny.

Little lambs lovin' on Jackson.

Horses!

Big, fast slide!!

Riding on the tractor see saw.

Checking out the tractors. Those boys couldn't wait to take a ride!

Rock and Roll!!

Jackson having the best time!

All tuckered out after a fun day at the farm.

New Room!!

Jackson's been sleeping in a toddler bed since the middle of the summer so we decided it was time to get him a big boy bed. We also decided to move his room since it seemed easier to leave the crib and everything else where it is for the new baby. To sweeten the deal, we got him a "fast car" bed and he loves it!!

All ready to go!

The drawing and cross-stitch that Auntie T and UK made, and Sean's handprint and a poem from when he was in preschool.
Books! And the prayer that I said when with my parents when I was growing up, which Jackson and I now say together.
So excited about sleeping in a big boy bed!
One of the best books ever!
Jackson and Daddy reading together.

1/2 Birthday!

Jackson loves cake. Any kind of cake, but especially cupcakes. He hardly ever gets it, but almost every day he asks for some. Specifically, birthday cake. What better way to spoil the boy than to celebrate his half birthday with cupcakes and candles? We were at Grandie Phi and Pa Paw's and who better to celebrate with? There was some convincing to do with Sean, since Jackson really didn't eat any of his lunch, but with grandparents around, how can you say no to an adorable kid who kept saying, "Cupcakes, pweeeease?" So Jackson got his cupcakes and was a very happy boy. Only 6 more months for another birthday celebration, buddy!

Cupcakes, really?

Here they come...

"Mm mm mm mm mmmmm"
"Yummy yummy!"
It doesn't get much better than this!

Auntie T's and UK's house!!

We went to Atlanta to hang out with Auntie T, UK and Bryce last weekend and had a blast. Besides lunch at an awesome Irish Pub, there wasn't much on the docket so we spent most of the time playing and hanging out. Jackson always loves spending time with his aunt and uncle but this weekend was a bonus because Bryce was there! Jackson loved laying with Bryce on the couch, crawling all over Bryce and trying to sit with him in front of the tv. We wanted to stay to watch the Patriots on Sunday, but with all the rain Atlanta was getting, we decided to leave before lunch, much to the boy's demise. He spent all day Monday asking about Bryce, Auntie and UK. That's always the mark of a great weekend!

Matchbox cars and UK - it doesn't get much better than this!

Trying to figure out how to get in Bryce's chair with him.

Bryce is game, but is there enough room?

Nope, but it didn't stop the boys from having fun!

Snuggling with Bryce on the couch.

Summer 2009

It's been too long since I've updated. I guess pregnancy is the best excuse I've got. That and since we've moved to our house, I've met a ton of new friends and have been so busy hanging out that I forget about the blog. Here's a long one, complete with lots of pictures. We really have had the best summer. We missed Chip, Sara and Tyler at the reunion, so we had a mini reunion here, with the Pettapieces and the Funks. We decided to take the boys bowling. Tyler loved it and he's pretty good! Jackson, not so much. He likes to be in control too much to have to wait his turn and then watch the ball slowly roll down the lane. He spent most of his time in the arcade with one of the adults while the rest of us bowled.

Daddy showing the boy the ropes.

Hanging with the best entertainer of them all, Auntie T!

Thankfully, we brought other distractions with us. UK and Auntie T, plus matchbox cars is the perfect combination.

My attempt to show the boy how it's done.

Here we go...
How do you explain to a two year old that you can't run down the greased lane to chase after the ball?
Scrap bowling, Yahtzee is where it's at. Tyler scored a record high - 518! He rolled 3 Yahtzees!
Chillin' on Sunday morning with UK.
Tyler and UK having one more bit of fun before the weekend came to an end.
Jackson helping UK build a birdhouse.
The next weekend, Grandie Phi and Pa Paw came to celebrate Grandie's birthday. Jackson's love for birthday cake was renewed that weekend and he still asks for a piece every day.

Jackson could barely contain his excitement over that cake!

We actually made him eat dinner before he had a piece. Mean mommy and daddy!
He was trying to convince Grandie to give him a piece before dinner. She almost gave in and would have if we hadn't stopped her. That's what grandmother's are for, right?
Finally, cake! It was so good, the boy couldn't be bothered to stop eating and smile for the camera.
We also spent the morning at one of our local fire houses with my mom's group. The tour of the station was fun but the most exciting part was sitting in a real firetruck!

Waiting, waiting, waiting to go see the big trucks.

In the meantime, Jackson was pretty impressed with his fire hat.

In the truck. Again, the boy was so happy to be checking everything out, he couldn't be bothered to stop and smile. Who can blame him?