A Tribute to Tenley (Jaxon's best bud)

Back in March, I took Jaxon to Gymboree at our local mall so he could try out the "Play and Music" program. We got one free trial day and he really had a good time. Additionally, we met a really nice mom and daughter also there for their free trial - Michelle and Tenley Park.

Since that day, Jaxon and Tenley have become attached at the hip and are best buds. The kids are about 2 months apart in age. Tenley just turned 2 on the 13th of September and is in full "Terrible Two's" mode. See their blog for proof (www.yoichoichoi.blogspot.com). Michelle and I have toured large areas of So Cal with the kids in tow. We're constantly seeking out the best places to take kids to run amok and have a good time. So far they've visited parks, fairs, malls, fountains, Disneyland (multiple times), petting zoos, asian markets, merry-go-rounds, ferris wheels, and many a restaurant. All have been a great time!

Needless to say, Michelle and I have become very good friends as well and I have to say, she probably the best thing that has happened to me since we moved down to So Cal. She has given me the mom-friend that I so badly needed and was praying for. It is so nice to have someone who is going through the same things with their kid and works as a sounding board to bounce things off of in times of uncertainty. So, thanks Michelle for being such a great friend and companion. I wouldn't trade our friendship for anything in the world!

Anyway, back to Ten and JT....these two are alike in so many ways but also different. Ten is very spicy and fiesty. Jaxon tends to be more laid back about things. The kids also love to torture each other, much like a brother and sister. Tenley will touch him incessantly in the back seat of the car, just to annoy him and Jaxon loves to take a toy and run away with it when he knows that Tenley wants it. It is pure joy to watch the two of them get along so well and have a good friend - even at the tender age of 2.

The other night, I mentioned Tenley's name and Jaxon went running to the front door thinking that his friend was waiting for him outside. After crying and pointing to the door, He was crushed when I opened it and no one was outside to greet him. I was amazed that his little mind was able to comprehend this whole scenario and that he was actually sad and disappointed when Tenley wasn't on the other side of the door.

So, to Tenley from Jaxon, thank you for being such a good friend and I love you!

Selling wares in Adventureland

When we visited Disneyland last Wednesday, we all stopped at the Adventureland Bazaar shop. At the front of the store was a large stand filled with very kitschy bamboo windchimes. The tops featured monkeys carved out of coconuts or other animals. Kind of tacky but fun nonetheless. Jaxon and Tenley decided it would be better to run through them. So, the two kids giggled and traipsed around and around the stand, running their fingers and heads through the windchimes. Luckily, none of them broke so we weren't forced to buy one of these tacky treasures and take it home with us!

Gimmie Five!

Yesterday morning I brought Jaxon back into our bedroom to wait until I got ready for the day. Our dog, Bauer, likes to sleep on the bed with Zak and I and will typically lounge around until I head downstairs to let him out.

For a while now, Jaxon has loved to give anyone and everyone a high five. Once you ask for one, he also insists on giving a high five to everyone within a 5-mile radius as well. This includes the dogs. Zak and I have repeatedly tried to explain to Jaxon that dogs don't have opposable thumbs which leaves them with 4 toes on each foot. Therefore, it would be impossible to give them a high five. Our words have fallen on deaf ears.

While Jaxon was watching Sesame Street and hanging out with Bauer, I noticed him talking to the dog. I walked around the corner and found Jaxon with Bauer's leg in one hand and his other hand raised for a high five. This kid wasn't going to wait any longer for the dog to give him a high five. He was going to MAKE Bauer do it. I almost fell over laughing and asked Jaxon to give Bauer five again. He repeated the leg lift and promptly slapped Bau's paw with his hand.

This is one of those priceless kiddo moments that I never want to forget. Now, if only we could train Bauer to lift his paw for Jaxon. We could take the show on the road!

Jaxon's Marathon Sweater

For those of you who know me, you know that I am an avid knitter and love to make things for my family and friends.

Over the past nine months, I've attempted to finish my very first sweater project - a sweater for Jaxon. Complete with cute roll neck and wrist bands. My sister-in-law, Jamie says it looks very "J-Crew".

So anyway, I chose this pattern that does not require me to sew any pieces together and is very simple to knit up. My mom had made Jaxon this same sweater but in a smaller size and different colored yarn. However, she made his in a few weeks. I envy those people that lack small children in their lives so they can spend time on their hobbies. Not, that I would give Jaxon up for the world, it would just be nice to have more time to knit. :)

After picking up the project and knitting a few rows and putting it back down again and doing this many times, I finally finished!! Yeah!!! Above is a picture of him in the completed get-up. He was less than thrilled to put on a sweater in 100+ degree heat (the A/C was on in the house mind you) and even less thrilled that I was doing it while he was eating string cheese. So, it was a short lived event but it fits him and is even a little big. This is a plus since he can grow some this winter and I won't have to make any alterations to it anytime soon.

Michelle and Tenley, if you are reading this....Ten's sweater is next on the list and I DO NOT intend for it to take 9 months!

The Family Goes to Disneyland...

On August 30th, with Zak's sister Jamie and my niece, Jesika and nephew, Jake in tow, Jaxon and I headed off to Disneyland. Jamie and her family are due to move up to Portland, OR next week so this was kind of a last visit (at least for a while) to see us. We thought that this deserved a visit to the "Happiest Place on Earth".

After rousing the kids from their slumber we headed out early - 7:30 am to get to Disneyland and enjoy the day. My friend Michelle and her daughter Tenley were to meet up with us in front of the kennels at 9 am.

Upon arrival I called Michelle to find out where she was at and was informed that they were just rolling out of bed since Michelle had to work the previous night until midnight (poor thing). So...Jamie and I were on our own until they could meet up with us.

Jamie and I were kind of skeptical as to whether or not there would be huge crowds considering it was the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend. We kept our fingers crossed and were not disappointed. Pleasantly enough, there were very short waits for the rides and little in the way of crowds. What a relief!! We were able to get in a lot of rides and Michelle and Tenley greeted us as we exited Pirates of the Caribbean.

Overall, we had a great day and the adults were even able to get a few of the "big kid" rides in thanks to multiple adults in the group and Disney's invention, the baby-swap pass. This magic pass allows one adult to wait in line, in this case with FastPass for Space Mountain, and then give a paper pass to one or two other adults that wait outside with the kidlets. The waiting adults are magically allowed to enter the ride through the exit or disabled entrance with little to no wait in line. Jamie's ride was cut short when the ride abruptly stopped and all the lights came on inside the ride. She said it was quite a sight to see all of the track, twisting and turning in very little space. Since they were inconvenienced, the riders were allowed to go a second time. Pretty cool. If you are going with a group of children, I highly recommend investigating the baby-swap pass option.

The kids enjoyed all of the Fantasyland rides as well as Pirates, the Haunted Mansion, and the Winney the Pooh ride. We even stayed for the fireworks which Jaxon relayed commentary for. I got an earful of "Oooo's" and "Ahhhh's" all in the correct places. Of course he did all of this with a huge grin on his face. There was no evidence that he was scared at all by the explosions.

Jaxon of course, promptly fell asleep as soon as his head hit the seat back of his stroller and was zonked out before we even passed through the gates to leave.

We had a great time and look forward to the Conner's coming back to go again.