Big boy...big blog.

Welcome back! We've been very busy since the last post and have lots of news to share. We had to make a special trip home because our dear friend Dave passed away after a courageous battle with lukemia. He was such a fighter the whole time and we miss him so much already. He was like a second father to me and Jack was an "adopted" grandson of his; with six other little boys for Dave to love, he still had plenty of love for Jack too. We were grateful to be able to be with his family to comfort them, and to celebrate Dave's life.

Dave with Jack as a newborn.

Vickie and Dave with Jack in November.

We were so sad to have to go home, but it was nice to be there. Jack had lots of friends to play with both at our house and at Lawrence's. Jami brought Shay and Caden over one day to play and I did manage to take a few pictures. I don't have any pictures of Jack with his other friends from the week home, but he sure enjoyed all of the boys, especially Quincy and Grant.

Jack and Shay playing.

Shay's idea of a cool hat.


After our week at home, we detoured to Juniata for Brandon's graduation. Not too many 23 year-olds have nephews graduating from high school. Jack, Cori, and Caitie played all afternoon while Bill, Laura, Natalie, and I went into Hastings for some real fun. Laura needed an orthodontic adjustment, so we stopped at Pershing's and Uncle John took 3 of us down to his office in his new Porsche, it needs leg room in the back seat, but what a snazzy ride! After Laura's torture session, we went to the water slides (indoors of course).

That evening was the great graduation party. Brandon built a huge smoker in metal shop last year (big enough to stuff Blake into) so they smoked a mere 100 lbs. of pork and a couple of chickens for the party. They also had a homemade ice cream vendor come to make yummy ice cream to go with the brownies. It was a really fun party.

After the party it was back to study land. I had only finished one final before I went home, so I still had four to go at that point. So I did lots of studying and passed all of my classes!!!!!!!
My friends finished their finals a few days before I did because I had to postpone two of mine to go home, but I didn't mind celebrating with them when they were done.

Here we are at Lazlo's. Our friend Ross was celebrating there too, so we got one shot with him and one without.

Jack also returned to school.

Once I was finished with my last final, we still just had too much fun to take pictures or blog. We went to a couple more Husker baseball games, and then Jack, Grammy, and I went to Red Oak for Natalie's violin recital. It was a fun little trip; I might have taken a few pictures, but I thought the camera was lost by then, so I didn't even take it.

After we came home, our days were spent getting ready for Nonnie to come. You see, since I am a master housekeeper, my house was already spotless, but I, er just had some "touching up" to do? Needless to say, I did my spring cleaning, and I felt so much better when it was done.

Nonnie came to meet Jack. We had a great day together and I got lots of good video, and a few pictures too. We just spent the day playing with Jack until supper time.

We met Steph P., Cathy, Sailor, and Tagg at Tico's so Nonnie could have a reillano while she was here (because I'm sure there are no restaurants that serve them in Arizona). I thought I had pictures of the kids, but I must have imagined taking them, because I found none in my camera.

When we haven't been traveling, cleaning, studying, or entertaining, we have been taking lot of walks in our "new" jogging stroller. We have had to do a "little" shopping since I finished school, and one day was spent garage sailing, where I had wonderful luck!

Jack's not always sure how fun the walks are, but he doesn't complain, and I still have some baby weight I'd like to get rid of so he goes with... and looks darn cute if you ask me.


We have had a couple of fun lunches with Jess too.

**Disclaimer - This is the first video I have uploaded, hope it works**

Jack has a tomato to play with in his high chair/cart cover.
He even loves to eat his play veggies!

We took a picnic to Nelnet one day to eat lunch with Jess.

Yes, he is on his hands and knees, but he hasn't coordinated it into a graceful crawl yet. He looks like he is about ready for basic training though, he has mastered the army crawl.

Jess is showing Jack the fountain downstairs at Nelnet.


Grandma and Grandpa tore themselves away from their gardens to come stay with Jack so we could have a date night. Jess and I went to a restaurant where they don't offer high chairs, and went to see the new Indiana Jones movie. It was a good movie, but no Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Jack has been "corralled" quite a bit since he became mobile, and I think
we are getting the major "baby proofing" measures taken care of.

He doesn't mind playing in the playpen, and we
have even practiced standing up in there.



All of the fun things we have been doing have required
lots of napping...

lots of eating...

lots of baths...

and did I mention lots of napping?

I'll try to get it together in June and maybe have a few periodic blogs, not one mammoth blog... but we'll see.