ice cream cake

It was John's birthday on Sat. so Jay and I whipped up our own recipe. Jay crushed the oreos:

Our cake was made in a bread pan. We coated it with tin foil, put about 1/2 of the whipped cream on the bottom. Then we layered ice cream sandwiches (4 or 5) on the bottom. Then we poured 1/2 a jar of hot fudge on it. We put 2/3 of the oreos on that and smashed them down. Then we added a layer of cookies and cream ice crem. After that we put the remaining hot fudge and oreos. After freezing, we flipped it over on a pan and frosted with the remaining whipped cream. I drizzled chocolate on the top. Jay LOVED it and this is what he looked like after eating it:)

Our Day of Trains

When I thought about what we would do today I realized we didn't have any plans...and since I had exactally 3 days left of summertime with Jay...I decided we had to do something. One of the things left on my list was to go and ride the mini-train in Loveland. So after nap time we headed over there and right away Jay was IN LOVE with the train.

After buying our ticket (he was free and I was .75) he climbed in a car and sat patiently taking it all in:

He rode by himself with a few other little boys in the back car the first time. Andy and I chilled in an open car where we could fit.

The next 2 times he rode with me and thought the bridge and the tunnel on the tracks were SOO cool.

He yelled "all aboard" along with the conductor and got to ring the bell.

(the videos that my camera takes aren't working..they are pixely with no sound..I am looking at getting a little handheld video camera- if you have any suggestions let me know:) After that we went to goodwill (which doesn't have to do with trains, but he carried his ticket for the train the whole time in Goodwill), and then we went to ToysRus because he had a gift card/coupon from his birthday. After being amazed by all the Thomas the train toys, I let him pick out a movie to buy. He also put on his conductor hat when we got home.

What a fun day, I know Jay can't wait to go back.

Jay honks the big rig horn

Trip to NY

We had a fabulous trip to Salem, NY where we went for John's grandfathers funeral this past while. We left the house at 5am and Jay got his normal cup of milk. Wrong move. On occasion Jay gets carsick (especially around turns) and this was one of the occasions. He puked twice on the way to the airport. The first time we stopped and changed his clothes and switched out the car seat and got him as cleaned up as we could. The second time we did the same, but just washed up the carseat as good as we could. So when we go to the airport we were late, and Jay was on his third outfit, but we were ready to fly! Andy's first flight. He didn't love it or hate it.

Jay loved it He said "wow" quite a few times especially during takeoff and landing and hated it (because we wouldn't give him milk on the plane)

His absolute favorite was the escalators and moving walkways!

The view from the driveway.

Jay was facinated when the guys were cleaning out the old barn.

Grandma took Jay for a walk in the creek behind the house.

Some of the tractors at the house lined up.

Some family hanging out on the porch.

A bath in the tub with feet.

With John's cousins Brett's kids. We forgive them for being patriots fans:)

My favorite picture ever. Jay by Elwoods (John's grandfather who passed away) woodpile

Our family before the funeral.

Jay is playing outside before the visitation.

The funeral was beautiful...except the part where I was singing the processional with a few other ladies up front and Jay started screaming the second he sat down in the pew. John took him out and when I got done I went out to hang out with him. We had tried to give him a nap earlier in the day but he climbed out the pack and play he was in, opened the drawers of the desk that was in front of the door in the room we were staying in and locked himself in the room. After we got him out there was no point in putting him back to bed. So back to the funeral...I layed him down in the stroller that I had taken along and circled the fellowship hall about 5 times. Then I brought him to the back of the church and listened to the service until he fell asleep. John read the verses I was supposed to read during the funeral and I had a funeral service director watch jay sleeping in the stroller in the back of the church while I went up to sing another song with Davina. When I returned to the back of church I read in the bulliten that said: "Elwood's son Jack will recess out carrying the ashes along with his son and granson. This will be the last time four generations will walk together." It was cool to have the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th J.E.S. walk out together so I woke him up (still half sleeping) right before the recessional and walked to the front of church for John to carry him out. John's 2 cousins and him each drove tractors with the funeral processional to the gravesite. Here they are getting one of them going.

His cousin Brett.

John in front of the shed at his grandfathers house.

Jay loved to "drive" the tractors.

Andy looking handsome by the woodpile. His tie was not for looks...it was for grabbing and eating:)

Jay got ahold of a couple of chocolate chip cookies and had it all over his face.

One of my favorite things about the property.

Jay's second birthday party (literally the second one)

I can't wait to post pictures of the first one, but I want to quick post these pictures of the party with our neighbors. I used a lot of supplies from the other party.

I found a birthday cookie in the reduced section at the grocery store- half price!

I love the fabric flag banner I got from goodwill.

I found some "summer fun" toys for 50% off at Target and used some of them as party favors.

I created an obstacle course in the backyard as one of the games.

Andy had a blast at the party. Well, he didn't really participate, but he was there.

Jay (with his new haircut) playing with one of his presents:)

videos

Warning: the begining of the video of Andy has a loud buzz and then no sound (my computer is doing strange things and after trying to fix it for over an hour I gave up. It is still cute.) Jay has LOVED the "Happy Birthday" song ever since his birthday. We wrapped a birthday present for his friend Christian and he decided to sing happy birthday to him at the table:

Zoo

We with our neighbors Chris and Julie and their kids. It was hot, but we had a lot of fun. I love that this picture has both of our xterra's in the background.