What I Like

I like going to the park. I like playing soccer. I like riding my bike. I like going to my grandma's. I like going places with my dad. I like going to art at school. I like swimming. I like fishing. I like going on walks. I like my mom. I like watching TV. I like going on RAZ Rocket. That's all I like!

Just Jack

Jack takes over...

I have been a LAME blogger! Today I decided to "hand" over the Hands Family blogging to Jack. This will be a wonderful "real world" experience for him to practice writing and reading. Looking forward to seeing what unfolds.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband. Thanks to Matt I get to stay at home full time with Jack & Josie. The kids and I often bust out the flip camera to record our good times. In attempt to capture some father's day love messages from the kids, I had to do multiple takes. Josie is acting SOOOOO TWO, even though her birthday is in July. Everything is "NO". She is also obsessed with looking into the video camera, not being in front of it. Although I did capture her doing one of her favorite activities, jumping on the bed with Jack, I was not able to get her to talk to daddy...sorry Matt! All in all the kids love their dad very much. He keeps our lives happy and exciting with Saturday dance parties in the living room, Sunday morning family time in bed, tickle attacks, towel whippings and fun family vacations. Happy Father's Day honey, hope you like the videos. We love you!

Now, it's time for a big "Happy Father's Day" to my doo da daddy (yes I call him that!) Big Dave Decker! Dad, I wish I could be there to give you a big hug and a hard time. I miss you and thank you for being such a great dad. My kids love you too, and have a message for you. Well, Jack does...again, Josie did not cooperate. She did, however, draw some lovely pictures in your card. When we were working on it, I said, "Come here Josie, come color for Grandpa!" She came right away (which IS a big deal at this age) and said "grandpa, grandpa, grandpa..." as she colored. Jack chose the song "You are my sunshine" no coaxing from mom! Big hugs and kisses from the whole family. We love you!

We are not forgetting "P"! He gets a personal message at Aunt Katie's house and plenty of hugs/kisses too. Happy Father's Day to all the dads in the family.

Memorial Weekend

Eat, eat, eat! That's what we did over Memorial Weekend. Sunday we attended a fish fry (you have to say it with a southern drawl) at Aunt Katie & Uncle Hunter's house in the country. They fried up bass, potatoes, hush puppies and the cat. No, but Matt suggested it! They also boiled some shrimp, sausage, red potatoes and corn on the cob. There was enough food to feed an army. We hardly put a dent in it...but we tried. YUM! The kids had a blast chasing around the baby chicks and terrorizing the mama hen. Mattie and her friend Aubry treated Josie like a giant baby doll and hovered over her the whole time. She loved the attention. We always have fun at aunt Katie's and can't wait for our next family gathering.

Memorial Day brought sunshine and lots of outdoor play in the yard. I bought the kids a slip n slide...a poor man's pool as Matt calls it. Setting it up was quite a comedy act. Were we the peaceful, fun loving family outside for a fun afternoon? NO! Jack ket crying and yelling because he was sticking to the slide and not making it to the end. Matt and I were frustrated with him and trying to calm him down, which ended up being threats if he didn't stop acting like a spoiled brat. Josie started crying because she got knocked over, then Jack slid into a pile of ants and started screaming. I ended up inside with 2 crying, wet kids. What fun! I was so glad I bought the slide!

The evening was much better, as we invited our neighbors Karol, Bill and daughter Ava as well as our neighbor Judy and her famous dog Daisy over for a bar b que. The kids had fun getting wet and running wild in the yard. The picture is from a brief still moment when they all settled in one chair for a rest. We are very blessed to have wonderful neighbors in our hood and enjoyed their company very much. Hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend. Summer is here!

The bow is in!

When I was a little girl, I was obsessed with long hair. I wanted long hair! I wanted to brush it, curl it, put bows and bobbles in it. My favorite swimming teacher, who taught me to swim when no other could, had looong hair. I would have jumped off the highest high dive for her. One of my early childhood friends had a collection of decorative hair rubber bands in her top drawer that I would beg to look at every time I went to her house. My favorite "toy" as a young girl was the giant barbie head with hair that you could style. You get the picture.
So, when I had a little girl, not only was I thrilled that she was happy, healthy and adorable...but she would be able to wear pigtails, and bows....so I thought! My first issue was that until approx 5 months ago, Josie didn't have enough hair to put in any type of clip. Now that she has her "almost two attitude" putting anything on her is a challenge. I finally figured out that if she is watching a Baby Einstein show and totally transfixed, I can sneak in 30 seconds of "styling".
Here is a clip proving the bow is in! She looks sooo cute too! Little pill!

Jack vs. The Golf Cart

This blog is supposed to be about the family, not just Jack...but he sure does give me a lot of material!

This past Friday, Matt took Jack golfing. They had a lovely morning until the 17th hole. Matt had just finished his putt when he told Jack to drive the cart to him. From the report I got from Matt and Jack, they had been enjoying driving the cart TOGETHER the whole round...together being the missing key component to Jack's driving on the 17th hole. Instead of heading straight for daddy, Jack turned the cart where it proceeded to go up and over the hill and straight for a water hazard. Part way into the downhill descent, Jack got scared and bailed out...the cart ran over his foot and cruised straight into the pond. No, it's not a joke...I asked the boys that at least 10 times as they told me their story.

No worries, Jack is ok, foot in tact. The cart however had to be removed with a tractor by a not- so- happy golf course worker. I am not sure the Hands family is welcome back at Keaton and could still be asked to pay for damages...we have yet to get the call. All in all it's one for the baby book! Jack will never look at golf carts the same way again. Either will I!

May Day

The kids are growing up fast. I love it when Matt gets out his camera and captures them interacting. Thank goodness we have a talented photographer in the family. Here are some May Day pictures to enjoy. Also, a big HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of the moms out there. I am blessed to know each and every one of you.

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