Merry Christmas 2013

"The wolf will live with the lamb,
   the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
   and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
   their young will lie down together,
   and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra's den,
   and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy,
   on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD
   as the waters cover the sea."

Isaiah 11:6-9

 MERRY CHRISTMAS

and our wishes for PEACE for you, yours, 

and all mankind 

this season and all seasons.

18 Month Update

Wow! 1.5 years!  This time next year she'll be 2.5??

Our beautiful, coy, opinionated little girl continues to be full of life.  Here are some highlights:

The Expressions

ADORING: She loves him!

OFFENDED: She loves him not!

ENTITLED

COY

FULL ON CUTE: Watch out Daddy!

(Side note: she only asks for a "bop" once a week, because she thinks it's cool to be like Jack)

INTRIGUED

DOE-EYED: Notice how she is wrapping her Poppy around her little finger :)

EXCITED

EPIC EXCITEMENT!

OBSERVING

"CHEESE!" FACE

OFFENDED AGAIN

TORTURED

HAPPY

HAPPY AGAIN

USUALLY HAPPY :)

The Loving

The Mischief

Where should I get started on the absolute destruction of this tree?

No photo evidence, but this child can frequently be found standing on the table, at the top of the stairs, climbing on the sofa, etc.

We've learned that coloring must be confined to the high chair!!

We Love You Cora-bell even if you are a Cora-stink!

 

Birthday Week Festivities

December is a great month for Jack :)

December 1 - The Jesse Tree Project kicks off; Jack loves this new Advent tradition

Our Jesse Tree on day seven

December 3 - Jack turns 4!  Breakfast in bed, Mommy and Cora bring special toppings for Waldorf Nursery's oatmeal snack, and the day ends with a Mommy-Daddy-Jack game of Memory

December 4 - Jack and Mommy make a special trip to the "big" (main branch) library

December 5 - Fire Museum visit with friends Jack and Sam Harmon and Warren Candler

December 6 - Special day with Grammy and Big Papa who are in town for the big party!

December 7 - Meemaw, Tante Molly, Uncle Tony, cousin Wyatt, friend Mattie, Poppy and Tante Sara ...and a new bike arrive!

Jack's "Four-Alarm Fire Birthday" - after four years of outside park birthdays, we now know that you have a 75% chance of having great weather in New Orleans in December.  This year was the other 25% - in the 40s and misty - ouch!  We started off back at the Fire Museum watching the antique fire engine load up for a parade and then had a bounce-house birthday party in the park.

December 8 - Time to test out the new bike

And now the big four year old is in time-out.  He's having a little trouble reentering the real world :)

My favorite little boy

There is so much to love about this little boy. 

Jacob was out the other night and Jack and I sat side by side, sipping hot chocolate, just chatting about all the excitement of his birthday week.  In his red and green Christmas pajamas with a chocolate mustache and shining blue eyes, he just made my heart melt.  When he's sweet, he is SWEET.  The rub your arm-give you a kiss-light you up with his excitement and energy-kind of sweet.

He plays librarian. 
He plays school. 
He puts out record numbers of fires. 
He reads and reads and reads. 
He is so smart. 
He's my champion.
He loves routines and rituals. 
He loves fire.
He LOVES food.

We have challenges and it's so easy to talk about those, but on the eve of his birthday, I want to say that Jack Landry is an AWESOME kid.  A gift from God.  A potential force for good in this world, God-willing we can do our duty as his parents.

I love him so much...    

Happy 4th Birthday Jack!

Some of my favorite pictures of Jack: