Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2008

Christmas in Houston (12/20)

Jack's Play Group Christmas

A Christmas Miracle

Jack actually sat in Santa's lap at a Christmas party today!!! It was, indeed, a Christmas Miracle. Even though he sat in The Big Guy's lap, he still wanted Mommy to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas (a Tony Womo #9 jersey and helmet). Mommy was very happy to oblige in return for the great photo opp! When we left the party, Jack said, "I love Mommy, Daddy, and Santa! Oh, I forgot to give Santa a kiss goodbye!" (He'd already given him a goodbye hug!) Maybe next he'll overcome his fear of potties. Nah....

More pics with Father Christmas....

The Nativity.....according to Jack

This is Jack's nativity. We set it up and talked about The Christmas Story. Awhile later, Jack asked me to come look at the nativity with him. I thought, "Oh, how sweet." Well, he'd added his NASCAR cars to the scene. Notice how all of the nativity figures seem to be reverently "worshiping" the cars. Our sweet little redneck boy.

Jack Bon Jovi

Thankful Tree

At preschool today, Jack's class made a "Thankful Tree". Each child had a leaf on which was written the thing for which they are most thankful. Jack had 2 leaves. He is thankful for Jesus AND Santa. Smart kid - he's covering his bases. I guess it was too sacrilegious to put those ideas on one leaf as other kids in the class had several things written on one leaf!

In other Thanksgiving news, his friend Abby (who's in the older 3's class) showed me a list of things for which she's thankful. Beside the blank for "friend" that she's thankful for, she put "Jack". Awwwww. When I told this to Jack, he said, "I'm thankful for Abby too, p'tause she's my girlfriend!"

Say hi to Champ, our new 8-week old Black Lab puppy. Champ joined our family this past week and has instantly bonded with all of us. Jack is excited to have a puppy and is learning about puppy energy and licks. Champ spends 50% of his time being incredibly adorable and the other 50% trying to chew everything within reach (my hand is a favorite target)....

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Jack "Dale Jr"

Lucky Dog: Oct 20,1997 - Oct 29, 2008

Today our hearts are filled with sadness as we had to say goodbye to our beloved Lucky. We were lucky to have her for 11 years but her time had come to leave us.

Jack has lost his best friend and Amy and I are deeply saddened to see our sweet Lucky go. She had a massive tumor in her spleen that ruptured and we had no other choice but to take the pain away from her this morning. I am remembering all the fun we had together, knowing she had a wonderful life with us and we were blessed to have Lucky all this time - even if the end was unexpected and didn't leave us enough time to let Jack say goodbye.

We rescued Lucky from a shelter in January of 1998 and she filled our lives with joy in Austin and Chicago from the moment we found her. She was kind spirited and spent every night watching over her best friend Jack, either next to his crib or just outside his door. They played together every day and I know Jack will miss her just as much as all of us will.