The Landers' Life

Mr. Jingles

3/20/13

At Christmas, we added another member to our family - a winter hamster that we named Mr. Jingles (borrowed from one of the girls working at PetSmart the night we went to buy him as a Christmas present for Jake). He began to beeeeg and plead for one the night before we flew out to go on vacation after we decided to kill some time in a pet store versus sitting in our hotel room.

I was hesitant at first because I really thought the love he had for him in the beginning would fade. The newness, I worried, would wear off, he would no longer be interested or want to spend time with him, and I would become the lone caregiver of the hamster.

Eventually I gave in, and Mr. Jingles was the last minute thing on our list of Christmas presents to buy.

So far, I'm so glad I did. Between the look on Jake's face on Christmas Eve morning and the fact that he's really a piece of cake to care for, it's been a win-win.

I should have known he would sit still for a few of his fruit snacks. Gotcha!

pins and strikes

3/18/13

On the morning of his sixth birthday, Jake woke up to balloons in his bed, streamers and a banner on his door, and all of us singing Happy Birthday to him. Oh he loved it!

As for the rest of the morning, we tried to make it as least "business as usual" as we could on a school day by taking him to Krispy Kreme...because donut holes first thing in the morning is totally acceptable when you're six.

That night we had dinner at Chick-fil-A, we played and out-smarted the claw (another stuffed animal...just what we needed...but when it's your birthday...), and then sang one more verse of Happy Birthday over cupcakes.

The following weekend, his grands and cousin, Emily, came over and met us at Bama Lanes for a couple of hours of bowling (one of his six choices of things he wanted to do to celebrate his day).

Ever since he went on a Summer camp field trip last year, he's hooked, and I have to say, he gets it honest. Two games still isn't enough for me, and Jim owned his own ball before we ever met (His back isn't what it used to be; so thankfully for us, he lays low and we dominate).

We all had such a great time. Even Parker. He took turns for everyone including the dad and daughters playing in the lane next to us. Nice.

Sigh. I'm still getting used to this six thing. Blows me away...and so does he.

breaking the silence

I haven't been here in a while, and in a lot of ways, I don't really care. It rolls right off my back and hallelujah to that because more things don't. Like the fact that Parker is two and still has no baby book. Dear God, Woman! What on Earth?! Shout it out for real. I'm okay with it because I do about once a week. Makes me feel better.

While the silence has been good, the reality is for now this is my scrapbook, and I've missed filling up the pages of it with things like - what loose teeth look like. He's got two on the bottom that he "wiggles", and they're beginning to turn sideways. I have a feeling it won't be much longer. Sniff. Sniff.

Oh! One more thing about this...I was trying something new with my settings, and he had had it. His neck was "killlllling" him and I had taken "over ninety-nine pitures" (I really hadn't.) so to try to keep his attention, I asked him to show me his loose teeth. Booyah! Except for the fact that I cut off his hand. But for those awl nat-ur-al baby blues...I can live with it!

six candles

3/7/13

Our Internet connection is at its worse this time of night, so I only got one picture to upload, and I'm keeping this short so I can hit publish before the connection goes down. Two thumbs down for sure. But here is the birthday boy on the night of his birthday blowing out six birthday candles.

I can't believe it's been a week already. Sigh. Where does the time go?

I guess that's what happens when you start celebrating one weekend and don't stop until the next. So there's more birthday stuff to come.

counting down

2/25/13

This weekend we got the heck out of dodge beginning on Friday. Jim and I escaped to the rainy, soggy beach while the boys escaped to their grandparents' - but not before we took care of some birthday business. Because he's one of the lucky ones to have been born in the dead of Winter and because we're running out of boy-appropriate birthday options for this time of year, we've decided to let Jake choose six places he'd like to go, and he'll open six gifts total from us (he's already gotten two - we're spacing them out a little just to make the fun last and last)...all to celebrate the big six.

We all took the day off from work and school on Friday; and after we fulfilled our appointment with a photographer I still use in Montgomery (even though he's two hours away) and a quick trip to PetSmart (one of his "six") to get something for his hamster (I'll do my best to get pictures soon and formally "introduce" him. That sucker is fast.), we all went to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch (also one of his "six).

This time around, Jake and I found the best game for racking up a ton of tickets. We were winning anywhere from one to forty with just one token. By the time he had run out of tokens to spend, he had enough tickets to get a ball for Parker (a nice, big one), two bracelets and a ring for his cousin, Emily, and enough candy for all of them to share. By the way, I love his giving heart - whether it's Build-A-Bucks at church, dollar bills at Target, or tickets at Chuck E. Cheese, he always thinks of others and uses his earnings to gift something to someone else. I have to put my hand over my chest just thinking about it.

Since we were about ten days out, he's been asking me to count down the days until his actual birthday with him. Only two more to go. I simply can't grasp it...six.

on Instagram since September 2012

2/22/13

If I was keeping it real, I would say I couldn't wait to upgrade my phone just so I could use Instagram. I wanted so bad to take pictures with an iPhone and then turn them into little tiny square ones with old Polaroid style borders and special effects. Now I do - but not as often as I thought as I would...probably because I just don't think to pick up my phone to take a picture. But I'm getting there. Here are a few that I've made so far.

Parker eating cookies on the table during his two year check up and playing on Grandma's iPad, our Valentine's Pinterest-inspired teacher gift (Thanks for sharing the idea, L!), Jake getting his grill polished at the dentist, Happy Valentine's Day to me! (He's taken. Don't even try.), and a impromptu breakfast with Jim at Panera Bread (one of our favorite breakfast spots)

To see all the rest, my user name is calanders1105. Let me know what yours is so I can follow you.

(almost) six

2/20/13

hasn't lost any teeth

loves beyblades, Star Wars, MarioKart, and the game of basketball

still crawls into bed with mom and dad on occasion

has a heart of a hundred pots of gold

believes in Jesus and Santa Claus

prefers for someone to be watching while he plays his DS

has (so far) earned his orange belt in karate

doesn't let a day go by without saying, "I love you, Mom" and "I love you, Dad"

gift from God

the one who makes my heart walk around outside of my chest

Mr. Jingles 3/20/13

3/20/13