Come and See

It's February?

2011-02-11T16:13:00.007-06:00

A lot has happened in the last six months, but I will focus only on the most exciting so as not to overwhelm my readers. First off, we have been doing alot of house hunting. Mom thinks we may have found the one. Isn't it gorgeous! It even has a playhouse in back for Little Sis and I.

In this community we would also need a stagecoach.
Here we are checking out the local one-room-schoolhouse. I love it!
With all this snow we have been enjoying, it's good to stay busy around the house so as to avoid cabin fever. I have taken a liking to unloading the dishwasher,
playing dress-up with Little Sis,
spending long hours reading,
celebrating Christmas,
showing everyone just how fast we are,
hanging out with Little Cousin,
playing board games with Daddy,
playing in the snow,
snuggling,
and, my new love, bowling.

The Long, Hot Summer

2010-08-22T12:10:00.006-05:00

Ahh, blessed summertime! So much to blog about. But first I need to address a question which many of you are probably wondering, and that is how I have suddenly found so much time to blog as of late. The reason for this bumper crop of blogs is a password. That's right, I've discovered the password to my parent's computer and have been blogging ever since. Although I suspect that soon I will be found out, do not despair if you do not hear from me for a while.

Little Sis and I have recently discovered our passion for painting. I don't mean the weak watercolor variety, but the more vivid tempera paints which leave their mark much better.

We have enjoyed lots of quality time with our grandmas,

grandpas, carousels,

aunts, uncles, and cousins.

This summer I've found time to drive a boat and do a little fishing.

Little Sis sure enjoyed it when I drove the boat.

I've been working in the kitchen a little with Mom. This sure seems like a lot of butter, but Mom says to trust her.

We even had a few visitors this summer, I think some of you out there may recognize this little lady to my right.

No summer is complete without a visit to the water park. The green tube is the water-slide Dad let me go down. Don't worry, the water is inside the tube and you end up in a little wading pool inside that building. The first time was a little rocky, but after the 2nd and 3rd attemps I am a pro.

We've spend a lot of quality time at home relaxing together. Little Sis and I are great playmates — most of the time.

We have all caught up on our reading,

and Mom says I'm honing my imagination. With this outfit, not only am I ready to go swimming, but I am prepared to take a cake out of the oven, and chop down a tree with my new chainsaw.

Urgent Message

2010-08-18T14:10:00.004-05:00

We have updated our blog! I don't want any of my fans to miss my 3 NEW POSTS — I know you have been waiting months for this — so make sure you click below on the link that says "older posts" if need be (one is slightly back dated).

Birthdays

2010-08-18T11:09:00.003-05:00

The annual event I love most is my birthday. And since it only comes once a year I try to make the most of it. I typically start planning my birthday party well in advance.

My little sis is catching on and I would say this year she really started to enjoy her birthday properly,

with my help of course.

Springtime

2010-04-28T14:56:00.009-05:00

What a spring we had (yes, I know I'm a little behind, but my parents are really limiting my internet access lately)! My little sis is growing so fast these days you wouldn't recognize her. She's outgrown everything!

I keep telling Mom it's all about the portion size.

Little sis stays busy too, speed walking about the yard and taking care of her baby dolls.

We managed to take a family photo at Easter,

dye some eggs,

and go on TWO egg hunts.

The best part of spring was all the flowers, really. Here is little sis in front of Mom's tulips,

and at Botanica to see more tulips (can't you see our excitement).

Big Girl

2010-02-28T20:04:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year! My New Year's resolution is to let my kid sister have one blog post... enjoy:

Hey, blogosphere, it's me, Mary. What should I talk about... well, how about how hard it is having a big brother? Sometimes it can be hard to express my femininity.

And sometimes he gets real territorial and I have to put the hurt on him.

Then I kick him outside to play baseball in the snow. This is my house. Don't bring that weak action in here.

And while the boy is away, the girl does play... with all of his tools! Extreme Rental Home Makeover!

I guess you could say I'm getting pretty big.

But not THAT big - yikes!

Holidays?

2010-02-28T19:32:00.006-06:00

Okay, listen up. I pity the fool that still follows this blog. You like the new layout? Yeah, you bet you do, because you don't want to have to mess with this -

So here is another update! Still have some catching up to do. One great activity that we've found to, you know, release our destructive impulses is to blow, and then blow up, bubbles.

Maybe it is just a little bit of cabin fever setting in, because it has been a long winter. If you've been reading this blog, you might be confused into thinking it is still pumpkin-patch season... not so much.

In fact, Christmas has come and gone with many exciting visits and presents. Some geared toward the chores we are growing into:

Mom and dad say that the dustpan is the "new hot item" this Christmas. So exciting.

There is also our new kitchen set where we can hone our other domestic skills. Homemade (if you can't tell by looking at it) and you'll notice there is no microwave. We're like time travelers to the past! Best Christmas ever!

And what's a kitchen set without dishes! Mom says, "Clean," but we say, "Boring!" Tea parties (not the political kind), here we come!

More to come!

So behind

2009-12-17T10:38:00.015-06:00

As this blog has been badly neglected, and much time passed, I suppose the best place to begin this post is where I left off:
At the end of summer we finally got a few eggplants to show for all our hard work in the garden. Mom made Mary pose with them hoping it would give the illusion that the eggplants were larger than they really were.

After visiting with Uncle Will this fall he informed me plaid was "in" this season. So after rummaging through my dresser drawers I put together this little outfit that I sported all fall.

Mary has been busy, playing the part of "family princess" quite well. She keeps all of us on our toes and insists that I pull her around the yard in our wagon...I believe she has put on a few pounds too!

When the weather got colder we turned to new forms of play indoors. (Mom really seems to hate this game.)

Another new game is our mechanic shop. Mary is the assistant, but I don't have the heart to tell her a saw is highly unnecessary for an oil change.

My favorite storybook this fall was "The Five Little Firemen". Here Mary and I are reading it first thing in the morning. Since Mom and Dad are tired of reading it, I am trying to commit it to memory.

We met our newest baby friend. Mary and I have what Mom calls "baby fever"!

While visiting a pumpkin patch we took a ride on a school bus,

cannon-launched pumpkins,

and made regular fools of ourselves.

We've learned a lot this fall too, but most importantly how to play together.

And pose for the camera.

Family Excursion '09

2009-09-16T10:41:00.012-05:00

Mother and Father packed our little car full and we went on a trip. It was both educational and recreational. Here we are in a city made famous by a 19th century author.

Here I am in another city, at the home of President Abraham Lincoln. (Mother and Father must be great friends of his because we were given a tour of his house.)
Here we are at the couch where President and Mrs. Lincoln were married. Can you imagine being married while sitting on a couch?!
Here we are playing in the Lincoln's backyard. Too bad they don't have a slide.

Here I am between attempts to climb to the top of this boy. I know I could have gotten to the top if Dad would have stopped pulling me back down.

Here we are at the old capitol building. One of the many buildings I ran around in.
And this is President Lincoln's tomb. There are guards stationed in here at all times, so I'm on my best behavior.
Here I am in the hotel room, ready to crash after a long day....don't let my smile fool you.
Here we are in the steepest, shortest cable car in the United States. Mary is doing her impression of Cousin It.
At the very top it is very sunny.
Thank goodness Mom and Dad purchased a round trip ticket. This incline looks too hard for Mary to walk down.
After many days in the car we made it to the Northern Woods.
However, Mary was banished to a baby pool for fear of her safety.
Also in the interest of safety, Mary was banished to wearing this ridiculous costume when on a boat.
A family outing on the lake was a paddle boat excursion.
And there was lots of time to try out my new fishing pole.
Mary was spoiled with attention.
We even went to a aqua show.
I had lots of fun with my G-ma and G-pa.
I think Mary got in trouble with Uncle Kris again though.
After many days in the cold up north, we finally made it to the Land of Large Chairs...

to see some dear friends...
and their new baby. I can already tell we're all gonna be best friends.

Summertime Recap

2009-09-16T10:12:00.003-05:00

This summer I discovered a wonderful thing, cherries! Although I was warned by Mother that I have to be very careful when eating this delicious fruit. As you can see, I think I did pretty well.

A long awaited milestone was reached this summer, I FINALLY learned to drive. (Thank you for your help Grandpas, because we all know where Mother and Father stood on this issue.)

I don't have much to share about little sis. She was pretty much a sloth all summer.

Hot Summer Days

2009-06-19T19:07:00.011-05:00

I guess like always I've got a little catching up to do. So we talked about the big birthday blast, but we skipped over some good stuff too. Like all the people that stopped in to visit. Grandma Kay not pictured

And how happy mommy used to be
And the sweet chair Mary got all to herself...
...pause...NOT!

Well, every now and then I let her alone with company of her choosing.Apparently the baby doll comes with less bruising.

I also got to see a major league ball game with Daddy and Zach Greinke - who wasn't pitching, but was in attendance.Boy that new ballpark is fancy. You could even watch the game from above the fountains in the outfield.Special thanks goes out to my "twin" and fellow popcorn aficionado, Joachim for hooking us up with some company (literally... it was his daddy's officemates).
Overall, I would have to say it was a great time, even though I asked to go home by the 2nd inning. Things did get a little crazy during the hot dog race. Apparently Daddy has this little obsession with Relish. Not in real life, just in the hot dog race. And since the Royals weren't winning, I guess he needed to back a winner. And that he did, screaming like a little school girl when Relish finally pulled ahead down the stretch - much like he says he used to do when the Royals would get 12 hits.Look closely down on the field just over the rail. It was a close one.Relish is having a good season. Hopefully all those rumors about performance enhancing growth hormones are false. That would crush Daddy.
Daddy did say that it was the first Royals game he had been to in a long time that didn't involve misguided fans initiating the Wave during critical innings. Which was nice... I guess...

Now with all the hot weather we've been gettin' a little bit wet.Here's me in total ecstacy
And finally what all you readers are really here for - a super cute picture of my kid sister. Enjoy.

Birthday Blast

2009-05-23T09:35:00.009-05:00

I recently turned three years old.
Mary had a birthday too, but she's only one year old.
Mary was given some new shoes....she really likes them.
I got a tackle box and fishing pole!...
and some cool new accessories!

Mary likes my new shades!

Sibling Love

2009-05-23T09:27:00.000-05:00

Easter and Flowers

2009-05-15T17:53:00.002-05:00

Mom and I decorated eggs again this year for Easter. Maybe next year Mary or Dad can join us.

Here we are all dressed up.

Mary on the egg hunt.

Mom drags us to the "gardens" to look at flowers...a lot.

Stunt Baby

2009-03-25T09:34:00.002-05:00

Mary can get a little wild these days. Here she is with her new favorite toy. Mom and I tried to tell her this was not a good idea.

Christmas and Family Time

2009-03-02T19:08:00.008-06:00

Getting Settled

2009-01-28T09:25:00.012-06:00

A lot has happened since that last post. Obviously. The biggest of course is that Daddy's boss lost his election. So Daddy hit the job trail. And we moved! Winter came, holidays, ER visits, found a new home, more ER visits, lived with Grandma and Grandpa (which was awesome in case they are reading ;-) and finally unpacked. I think these pictures really capture more of the fun times:

Lots of play time with Dad.

It's off to the broiler for these fine farm animals.

More fun with Dad.

Cuddling with Mary.

Dressing Mary like a boy.

Wagon rides for Mary.

And then there was Christmas. Ahhh

I spent a lot of time entertaining Mary as Mom packed up our house for the big move. This game is called "bucket hat".

Mary with her favorite toy. Rrrrr. (Thanks Rory!)

And finally, the new home. I know it doesn't look like much from this photo, but stay posted!

Stinky Mary

2008-11-05T15:36:00.008-06:00

Sometimes we have to clean her. I usually assist Mom because it's such a big job.

She likes a bath every now and then.

Or maybe she's scared of the water.

No, I think she likes it.

Visitors

2008-11-05T13:53:00.011-06:00

It's always nice to have visitors, but the paparazzi always show up.

A Perfect Afternoon

2008-11-04T13:20:00.004-06:00

Smiling Faces

2008-11-04T08:05:00.003-06:00

Pumpkin Hunting

2008-10-19T13:59:00.002-05:00

We've been going to a lot of different farms lately, so mom and dad decided to change things up a bit and take me to a pumpkin patch.

Lotsa Catchin' Up To Do

2008-10-09T21:14:00.012-05:00

We had some good times this summer. Let's do the quick run down.

Well, I had to move out of my bed finally. Mostly because somebody else...*ahem*... was trying to move in.
But I guess it worked out okay in the end, seeing as I got a big boy twin bed! Which is great for training for the Olympic Trampoline event. You can never start training too early, and given my parent's athletic ability, the Trampoline might be my only shot at qualifying for the Olympic team.

But I digress. Mary and I actually had a swell summer. I took time out of my busy day to read books to her.
I got to climb into my very first outdoor tent. Mom and Dad acted like this was a major event. Something about how the tent was a wedding gift from Uncle Will, but that this was the first time they had ever opened it.
They had just celebrated their third anniversary the week before, so I guess it had been sitting around for a while. I didn't really care about all that stuff. I just loved playing my same old toys in the sweltering heat of the tent. So much more fun than inside.

And really the tent in the backyard was just a warm-up for vacation!! To the magical land called Nebraska! Where we didn't even go camping...

After a brief visit to a Kansas City farm
And possibly some violations of child labor laws...
Mary started to look bored,
so we hopped back in the car and headed north. Through a hail storm and into Nebraska.

Where we ended up at another farm! What a sweet trip. There were lots of woodland creatures.
And I was able to run free like the buffalo. Which was awesome for Mom and Dad!

(video dedicated to my boy Ryan) So rather than being out in the wild, they figured, let's try a zoo...

Which was great too, because we met up with Simon and Lucy.

And I had a new mom for the day...
Seriously, I couldn't stop holding her hand. What's up with that? At any rate, I was pretty much running the show if you know what I mean.
Seeing the penguins was a dream come true for dad.
And I did get up close and personal with some of the beasts.
After all that excitement we dropped in for a visit with Uncle Steve and Aunt Molly, along with cousin Ava. Thanks again for the hospitality!
Well that was vacation in a nutshell... or maybe it was more like a novel. At any rate, enjoy.

Siblings

2008-09-17T13:44:00.000-05:00

Sometimes Mary and I play games together. She holds the puzzle pieces and I do the puzzle. (I know all about sharing.)

I have acquired a few new toys that she can't play with, namely plastic clothespins. How does that song go?.."I have something in my pocket, it belongs across my face..."

Mary doesn't usually play with toys. In fact, she just likes to lie around and look pretty.

Or even worse, steal all Mom's time.

In Memoriam

2008-09-14T23:21:00.003-05:00

On a recent family vacation (our first real one), I was finally able to visit the man my parents named me after.

I never met him, but I hope that I will grow up to be the kind of man that he was.

Summer So Far

2008-07-22T09:12:00.023-05:00

Being a Big Brother keeps me busy during the days and exhausted at night, so I dictate this post during tub time in order to give my fans a well deserved news update.

So far this summer I've spent a lot of time making sure Mary develops a good sense of humor.

I've even learned how to pacify her.

But after all the long days and evenings working as a Big Brother I decided I needed a little R&R.

A little boating can be so relaxing.

There's nothing like a good book.

And a visit to Grandpa and Grandma's is always nice...even if I have to share Grandpa with the Cousin.

...and the Sister.

Yep...the Cousin even steals my time with Grandma.

Even though I'm a bit disgruntle about the "sharing of the Grandparents", I do love to have my picture taken.

Well, we all know this is MY blog, but I know what you all came here for. So now I give you pictures of Mary. All I can say is, she's getting fat!

Preparations

2008-05-17T17:22:00.005-05:00

Now that we know that my younger sibling is a girl, I think we can look back on recent events with greater insight. For example, when you see this picture
does it make you think that mommy was anxious to have a little baby girl?

Then there was all that time I got to spend with my cousin Ava. I think they were trying to get me used to having a younger girl around. At first it was pretty cool. We got along great.

Then things started getting pretty intense.

Then awkward.

"We're cool, right?"

But I have tried to preserve my masculinity in spite of mommy's efforts to the contrary. For instance, I love trying on daddy's stuff.

I soaked in a ton of college basketball this year.

And of course, I drive trucks. Heavy-duty trucks. All they way across the house.

And for those of you who thought this blog was going to switch over full-time to cute baby pictures of Mary... no way I'm letting that happen. We're not so much changing formats as we are introducing a mix. However, the Baptism is soon, so stay tuned because that will be something to see.

But before that, expect some stuff from birthday number 2!

Big (little) News!!!

2008-05-14T18:47:00.010-05:00

So I was going to get on here and tell you all about how my 2nd birthday was super sweet, but then something amazing happened.

My kid sister came along. Not this kid sister. This one:

I admit, it was a little bit weird for me at first.

But I would like to think that I'm warming up to it now.

Mommy and Daddy explained that having a little sister means one thing and one thing only for me: Responsibility.

Between you and me, I sure hope there's some fun involved along the way, too. Anyway, try and guess by looking at this picture who has slept the least over the past 48 hours.

If you guessed me, then you are very, very wrong, but its understandable given my early-evening bed-head.

Well, thanks for being patient. And for that I'll leave you with this little snippet of my baby sister's first few days out in the world.

Customer Service

2008-04-26T11:48:00.006-05:00

You want it, you got it!!! We aim to please here at "Come and See"! Pics of "adorable Jared and adorable mom-with-baby-in-utero" for your viewing pleasure!!

I'm Ready for My Closeup

2008-03-08T17:09:00.005-06:00

For those who haven't heard yet, this might come as somewhat of a surprise... well, scratch that, so far no one has really been surprised. But I'm a big brother! I can't wait to meet him or her. We'll just have to wait an extra month longer than we originally thought... don't know really how to explain that, but thanks in part to this picture here the doctor decided that the due date is June 3rd! Can't wait!

My Aunt is Crafty

2008-01-23T09:48:00.000-06:00

Look what I got in the mail from Aunt Ellen. I love it! It doesn't really go with the outfit Mom dressed me in, but I have a pair of cords it's gonna look great with. Thanks Aunt Ellen!

The Lost Art of Air-drumming

2007-12-23T15:38:00.000-06:00

Here's what I do when I'm left alone with a boombox, Nelly Furtado and some cardboard (for all those Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo fans out there)

I've never seen anyone else airdrum like that before, but my parents have told stories about their friend Em and her air-instrument skills. They say that they are sure she would proud.

All I can say is that I've been watching this and practicing a lot:

Merry Christmas!

HoHoHo

2007-12-16T20:20:00.000-06:00

Let's see... this is my first update for a while. Well, I guess we were busy with the move and... yada, yada, yada... Christmas is almost here!

I'm kidding of course. Here's what you've more or less missed. We had some serious cleaning to do to get the house ready to sell:

Here's me cleaning my bedroom. Yeah... you thought I was in the nursery... so did SRS.

Here's Daddy doing his part around the new place:

I hope I grow up to be just like Daddy. He's pretty amazing.

Then there was the Christmas parade downtown. Some kids roughed me up over some candy that was getting thrown about, but I still made out alright. Here's a shot of the the downtown holiday decorations:

Then there was the Last Supper, a.k.a. Thanksgiving dinner (special guest appearance by Jesus):

A brief stint in Arkansas:

Those are some funky lookin' locals if you ask me.

And then our very first live Christmas tree. After hours of marching around in the freezing cold at a fancy Christmas tree farm, we finally found the perfect tree... later at Home Depot. Don't you just love it!

A regular old Griswold-family Christmas tree!

Well, enjoy your Christmas, and see you in three months!

JP(II?)

Big News!

2007-09-19T21:09:00.000-05:00

So if you haven't heard we are moving! We've got lots of work to do:

* older picture

Everyone is pretty excited about it, like my new cousin:

Can't you tell!

If you want to learn more about where we are going, check out this sweet project.

Dear Coach Weiss,

2007-08-08T21:51:00.000-05:00

I'm writing this letter to express my intention to play football for the University of Notre Dame. I have alway dreamed of playing football for the Irish. I think that I would make a great defensive end. I have explosive speed and an insatiable drive to sack the quarterback. I have been training with my father, and while I am not going to graduate high school until 2024, I believe that I am the kind of player that you are looking for. Though I am small, I have more than doubled my weight in the past year and my height is increasing exponentially. At this rate, by 2024 I will be a force to be reckoned with. I have sent in the following video to rivals.com in the hope that I will be the first player ranked in the class of 2024. I think that you will be impressed with my skills.

Sincerely,

JP(II?)

P.S. I realize that you may not be coaching in 2024. If so, please forward.

Dad's Other Job

2007-08-02T22:13:00.000-05:00

So Dad has been pretty busy with a little side project that he's finally ready to come out about. He made an appearance in the made for television Disney Channel original "High School Musical". I had no idea that he could sing and dance like that, and if you watch real closely towards the end you'll see his ever-popular jazz hands.

Tiny Dancer

2007-07-30T21:03:00.000-05:00

Here is my impression of a knighted British male pop vocalist and pianist (that narrows it down a bit).

And here is a video of Rory, Mommy and me playing Dance-Dance revolution. I've got mad skills.

And if you don't know about the Revolution, here's another taste:

World Class Traveler, Jr.

2007-07-23T21:52:00.000-05:00

So it has been a pretty busy month. We have been visiting lots of friends and family. Seems like everytime I turn around Mommy and Daddy are throwing me into the carseat and driving off somewhere. But that doesn't mean that we haven't been hanging out in the backyard. Tons of space to roam and play, and I get locked up in my highchair.
I've also been practicing dressing myself. Here's my new, trendy inside-out swimwear.

I got to go to my first play, Romeo and Juliet. I'm the one on the right.
But back to all that traveling. First we went to Simon's house to see his new little sister. Isn't she just precious?

It was a lot of fun, especially because we really play well together:

And I really look up to him too.

We've been to grandparents number 1:

And grandparents Number 2:
And that's just the order that we visited them, not the order of favorites. They are both favorite.

But the best part of all of this traveling is that when I am really good, Daddy lets me drive the car. Zoom, Zoom!

Summertime

2007-06-25T22:07:00.000-05:00

So I admit that it has been quite some time since my last post, but I have a good excuse. I've been away from the computer waiting for daddy to get home from work.
Only he has been working overtime so he leaves before I get up and comes home after I go to bed. So I spent an awful lot of time waiting.

There were days where I would just sit around in my tub.They're not just for baths you know!

These shoes remind me of him:

Mommy and I like to call him at work. "Daddy when are you coming home?"

And then just like that, he was here!

I'm so glad that's over.

I Wanna Go Fast!!

2007-05-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

But not too fast...

Rocketsled

2007-05-12T19:18:00.000-05:00

When we got back from our birthday/zoo trip last weekend, I snuck into daddy's rocketsled. It was super sweet!

I haven't figured out what powers it yet, but boy does it go fast!

I think we set a new land speed record on that last run! Someone better get me a new diaper.

P.S. Stay Tuned! Birthday videos coming soon!

A Little Ahead of Myself

2007-05-12T18:48:00.000-05:00

So in the rush to get birthday photos up, I forgot to share with you my great trip to Jeff City a few weeks back. My daddy had more swearing to do, but I had way more fun just playing on the capital's steps.

The trip was also fun because I got to "have it my way." We went to my favorite burger joint, the BK, and I chugged a large Dr. Pepper!

It took a lot of mental focus and preparation, but then I just threw it back:
What's the big deal?

Then when we got back home I got to play Burger King too. It was the whole package!

DING! Fries are done!

Happy 1st Birthday

2007-05-10T10:08:00.000-05:00

I made it to my first birthday!

You're not going to believe it, but they gave me an entire cake...with my name on it.

Then they lit my cake on fire and wanted ME to put it out!

Even without the fire it was good!

But a young man like me has to maintain his figure. "No more, please."

After all that, we opened presents! The night just kept getting better.

I must say, the presents were worth all the unwrapping.

To all my grandparents, aunts and uncles near and far, thank you for all the cards and presents! What a wonderful birthday. I love you all and can't wait to see you again.

Attack of the Fan

2007-04-24T18:52:00.000-05:00

Watch me face my fear.

Tongue Twister

2007-04-24T18:50:00.000-05:00

Look what I found. There is something in my mouth.

This game is exhausting.

I Have A Forehead

2007-04-18T11:45:00.000-05:00

I was taking my bath last night, minding my own business, when Mom decided to assault my head with a pair of scissors and a comb. The whole ordeal seemed to last forever...I was thoroughly wrinkled by the time I got out of the tub. What do you think?

Real Food

2007-04-18T11:36:00.000-05:00

While Mom is preparing my lunch I like to keep myself occupied by a little light reading. It says here that my mac & cheese is made with "real cheese".

Only the best for me!

Stunt Man

2007-04-18T11:25:00.000-05:00

Since I broke a plant pot the other day, Mom thought I should start wearing my "I do all my own stunts" shirt.

Thanks for the shirt Aunt Meg!

Proper Hygiene

2007-03-31T20:36:00.000-05:00

If you haven't noticed yet I finally got all I wanted for my first Christmas. Two front teeth! Only they're on the bottom.

Mommy didn't waste any time teaching me how to take extra good care of them.

And if you look closely at my awesome haircut, you'll notice that I'm fresh out of the bath. When it comes to proper hygiene, this guy doesn't play any games.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy playing games. My daddy taught me this awesome one called Pick up the Blocks! We played it over and over again. What a great day that was.

Telephone

2007-03-29T09:36:00.000-05:00

Let's see, 2..4..3..9..9..9..9..8..0 How do I get a live person on this thing.

Oh, hi Mom...

I was just making a few phone calls.

A Lot Goin' On

2007-03-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

So I've been up to quite a bit the past few weeks. First, I went to sleep one day and woke up in a magical land called Lincoln. My friend Simon lives there, so we got to play lots, but I guess that he thought I was being too loud.

We did have a great time sharing the enchanted guitar (as long as Simon's dad wasn't playing, right, Simon?)

My dad on the other hand spent the whole trip eating snacks, watching college basketball and trying to squeeze in naps. I want to grow up to be just like him!

Let's see. Then I went to my first baseball game ever! I went to go see my dad's cousins play on their college team.

Oh boy did I ever get into the action! Go team! Score a goal unit!

And now that I'm walkin' all over the place, I figure that I should probably help around the house a little.

Dad says if I don't pull my weight that I'm gonna get kicked to the curb. I don't know what that means, but I better start watching my weight!

What I Like

2007-03-06T09:16:00.000-06:00

While visiting my grandparents for a few weekends in February, I discovered a few things I like. First, I'm crazy about hats...this little number was whipped up by my aunt Ellen in the course of 1 day!

I also love bananas...

Dr. Pepper...

drinking out of a glass...

the color green...

and rock music.

Good Luck Dad

2007-02-26T21:29:00.000-06:00

Mom and I said lots of prayers for your big test. We love you!

Thank You

2007-02-26T21:16:00.000-06:00

I've been sent here to give a formal "thank you" to all the aunts and uncles (Molly, Steve, Will, Ellen, Pete, Leo, Ed and Jimmy) who were very generous and gave my Mother a digital camera for her birthday. She is enjoying it immensely and you all will reap the rewards as most of the photos will be of me...and I will make sure they are being posted to my blog!

Thank You!!!

Grandma's Little Helper

2007-02-22T15:32:00.000-06:00

I just love going to Grandma's house. She lets me help in the kitchen.
Today we are washing dishes.
The best part was that the top of the dishes were coated with what Grandma called "bubbles". I call them magic!

Latest Endeavor

2007-02-18T15:26:00.000-06:00

Christmas

2007-02-06T11:31:00.000-06:00

I realize Christmas was several weeks ago, but my parents still haven't hired an assistant blogger, so I'm stuck with waiting on my slow-poke parents.

I was given a lovely suit for Christmas, complete with a red plaid vest and black tie. I looked dynamite. All my Uncles wanted to take a photo with me. Well, all but Leo, but it's a good thing he wasn't in the photo because he's prettier than me, and frankly this photo was all about me. Unwrapping presents was a lot of fun, even when they weren't for me. I have to admit, I was pretty upset when it was over. (P.S. Don't worry, Mom cut my hair after the holidays.)

Now Hiring - Part-time Blogger

2007-01-06T09:29:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the Office of JP(II?), Son of Esquire. Please come in and sit down.

Apparently, my parents have not been able to meet the strict demand's of this blog's audience.

In order to increase blogging, I have decided to hire a part-time blogger.

Required Qualifications:

1) Must have a digital camera or camcorder.
2) Must take daily flattering photographs of JPII? showcasing his miraculously rapid development and ridiculous good-looks
3) Must write incredibly witty and entertaining posts to correspond with aforementioned photos
4) Must be willing to live in my parent's extra bedroom and pay many hundreds of dollars a month in rent
5) Must babysit me all day while mom gets her "To Do" list completed... or wait... turned over... it never actually ends

Position to commence immediately, as there is a current demand for Christmas photos. Salary = time with me.

Do you think you have what it takes?

No More Pictures Please

2006-12-20T20:05:00.000-06:00

IT WASN'T ME!

2006-12-19T21:30:00.000-06:00

Tis the Season

2006-12-16T19:42:00.000-06:00

Shhhh.... I'm under the covers with a flashlight and its way past my bedtime. I don't want to get caught.

Have you heard the news?

My parents tell me that someone is coming. Somebody important.

So I have been on the look out. I don't want to miss this.

I have been looking high and low.
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to find him anywhere.

Oh dear, this is exhausting. Who is this guy anyway?

Oh...

My True Joy

2006-12-02T09:36:00.000-06:00

I must tell you my true joy is learning to walk. I want to be vertical!

Nothing makes me happier than a stroll around the house.

Mommy and Daddy probably enjoying helping me learn this skill more than anything.

I'm determined to master this art before my first year is over. I know I have a long ways to go though, especially since I haven't finished learning how to crawl.

On My Way

2006-11-29T10:44:00.000-06:00

I don't want you to think I have been resting on my laurels.

I have been working on other skills as well.

But no matter how much I rock, I haven't been able to move much in this position.

Any suggestions?

Busy

2006-11-28T08:51:00.000-06:00

Don't be mad at me...I've been busy.

I'm working on my skills these days. I know it seems like I might be a prodigy, but I'll be the first to admit I still have a ways to go.

What do you think?

Not only can I sit but I'm working on multi-tasking while I sit. As you can see I can play the piano, pray the rosary, and sit all at the same time.

But I still prefer to lounge.

Swearing In Ceremony

2006-10-26T09:28:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what we are doing here, Mom said something about Dad's swearing.

I see him raising his hand. Looks like they are reading him his rights for the swearing he did.

Everyone seems awfully happy for him even though he got in trouble for swearing. Mom even wanted to pose for a family photo. Are we in Canada?

I'm so confused.

Excuse Me

2006-10-26T09:24:00.000-05:00

Ah-choooo!

Mohawk

2006-10-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

I don't know how I feel about this hair-do. Good thing my parents gave my locks a trim, it will make it harder for them to replicate this hair-don't.

So Advanced

2006-09-27T16:17:00.000-05:00

I'm really getting the hang of this standing thing...nevermind those green arms and things that look like hands. She insisted on "bracing" me. I was doing fine by myself. Really.

Innocent

2006-09-27T16:15:00.000-05:00

Whatever it was, I didn't do it.

Proportion

2006-09-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

Must be all the compliments that gave me such a big head.

Magnum

2006-09-23T10:19:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?

Blanket Time

2006-09-20T08:59:00.000-05:00

Brrr, it's cold out there.

Hanging Out

2006-09-16T21:05:00.000-05:00

This is me hanging out with my friend Joachim. He can't stay up as late as me, but he let me use his changing table.

To Grandma Far Away

2006-09-16T17:24:00.000-05:00

I miss you Grandma. My parents won't let me come visit.

Momma's Boy

2006-09-16T17:15:00.000-05:00

I can't figure out why people keep telling my parents, "She's such a cute baby!"

Lounging

2006-09-14T13:46:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I like to just lie on the couch and take in a good movie.

A New Home

2006-09-14T13:32:00.000-05:00

So it looks like Mom and Dad finally made the plunge and bought me a house. Can you believe it?!

I'm practically crawling so it's about time.

I know Grandpa's going to miss me a lot, but I don't know if I would call him my favorite playmate...he can't seem to stay awake.

But who wouldn't miss this face...

To All My Adoring Fans...

2006-09-13T21:38:00.000-05:00

I'm busy catching some Zzzz's. I'll start blogging heavily tomorrow. I promise.

Whassap!

2006-09-10T20:41:00.000-05:00

Havin' a milk, watchin' the game.

College Gameday

2006-09-08T22:48:00.000-05:00

We're going old school (you know back when we had someone else's digital camera and I fit into this outfit), so you wouldn't know that I just turned 4 months old.

My dad keeps saying something about how the Jayhawks are going to go undefeated this year with their light schedule, win the Big 12 Championship, and force college football to finally eliminate the BCS when the Jayhawks get to play in the national championship against USC. I don't know what that means, but I'm sure excited to see the Hawk's get into this football season. Check out my game face

Strolling

2006-08-20T16:59:00.000-05:00

My friend Rory let my mom and I borrow her stroller the other day. I felt a little cramped in it, but i didn't want to hurt her feelings.

She seems to think she fits in it really well.

I'm Such A Stud

2006-08-12T11:39:00.000-05:00

Just look at me...
My hair is awesome.

The Changing Face of Jared

2006-08-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

Timid yet optomistic.

Grumpy and reserved.

Purely delighted!

Family Togetherness

2006-07-21T20:30:00.000-05:00

Aunt Molly and Uncle Steve's wedding was great, but the best part was being there with Mom AND Dad. I can't wait to have Dad back when he is done with his big exam next week. Can I get an "Amen" blogger friends!

(I don't know why Dad decided to wear my blanket, his tux looked just fine.)

Taking Candy From A Baby

2006-07-21T20:14:00.000-05:00

Today Grandpa offered me a whole box of Dots. At first I was hesitant, but I figured it was ok to accept his generosity.

I didn't even get my arm out of the box before Mom saw me and said I had to give them back.

Another Uncle

2006-07-14T14:34:00.000-05:00

Aunt Molly got married this weekend and now I have a new uncle, his name is Steve. My parents think maybe I will get a new cousin out of the deal.

Here I am with Dad and Aunt Molly on the streets of A-town. Usually I'm not allowed out this late.

Last But Not Least

2006-07-14T14:13:00.000-05:00

I've finally met my infamous Uncle Will. I even have a photo to prove it.

He is quite a guy. He took a lot of pictures of me and even made a movie of me kicking...I guess when you live in L.A. you make a lot of movies. Anyway, he said he would take my photos around town and try to get me some work. Mommy says he is my agent whatever that means.

My First Big Argument

2006-06-26T14:49:00.000-05:00

Admiral Flycatcher and I aren't speaking to each other right now.

Grandpa Tom always calls me frog-boy. According to the Admiral, you get tons of princess kisses. Like he would know.

Just Blogging

2006-06-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Dad and I have lots of fun on the weekends when he is not studying for the Bar. That's when we do most of our blogging.

For everything else in life...

2006-06-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

Race Car Onesie - $2
Burp Cloth - $3
Crib Sheet - $5
Mommy's Handmade Quilt - $15

Projectile vomit right before naptime - Priceless

(Disclaimer - May not reflect actual prices)

Blogger's Note

2006-06-25T20:11:00.000-05:00

So that my Uncle Ed's name is cleared, I would like to notify everyone that he has come to visit me (he's the giant one)... and Uncle Leo (the filthy one), who has taken up part time employment as an auto mechanic. Supposedly he is going to KU, but it looks to me like maybe he has been going to trade school. Then on the far right is the ever-loyal Uncle Jimmy. He tried to hold me once... it was akward.

If I try to explain what Daddy is doing in this picture it will set a precedent and I will be forced to explain his behavior for the rest of my life. This is an insurmountable task and I refuse to do it.

An Open Letter To My Uncle Ed

2006-06-11T15:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Uncle Ed,

Why haven't you come to visit me yet? Aren't I cute enough? I have seen everyone but you and Uncle Will, and my parents say that Uncle Will is in a whole other state. I don't know what that means, but it sounds bad. I got my hopes up when I heard you were coming with Uncle Leo last weekend, but then you never came. I cried every night in between the hours of 6pm and 9pm since I've arrived. That might not be so much because of you, but we'll never know for sure until you come. Don't you want to see me? I traveled 800 miles from Michigan to Kansas and my parents say that you only live 50 miles away. I hope that I don't have to wait until Aunt Molly's wedding to see you. Please come soon!!

Love,

Jared

There's No Place Like Kansas

2006-06-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

Well, bloggers, I am now in Kansas with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Kay. I love it! The house is so big that Daddy doesn't have to walk in circles when he tries to put me to sleep. I also have TWO beds here. Three if you count Mommy and Daddy's! I've seen almost all of my aunts and uncles. Thank goodness they have digital cameras or else this blog thing would have been very short-lived.

Daddy spends the week studying. I guess that he has something called the Bar coming up. I don't know what the big deal is. So I just hang out with Mommy all day, every day, 24/7, no breaks, just the two of us... oh yeah and Grandpa Tom, Grandma Kay, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Ellen, Uncle Pete (until last Tuesday), Vito (the world's greatest living dog), and a ton of visitors! I think Vito has been feeling down now that everyone is giving me so much attention.

Since it is my first summer, I have been trying to do some summer things. Here's a picture of me "sending out the vibe" by the pool

I try to stick to a daily workout, usually consisting of kicking my legs sporadically, flailing my arms around, and lifting my head up. If it makes me look this good maybe I should try to market the workout worldwide.

Busted! So I'm actually taking a bath, but as you can see, my parents are already teaching me crucial lessons in modesty.

Although sometimes it feels more like a probe than a bath

The best part is when I'm done and I get to play Star Wars.

Don't judge a Jedi by the color of his robe. I've got mad skills.

- JP

My Baptism

2006-05-22T14:30:00.000-05:00

My friend and role model, Simon, suggested that I get into this blogging thing. He told me that everybody who's anybody is doing it. I respect his advice because he is older, wiser and supercool. I guess that now that I am two whole weeks old I should start growing up and take more responsibility for things like blogging. So here is my new page.

My most recent big event was my Baptism. It was pretty incredible, but I wouldn't really know because I slept through the whole thing, especially during Father Orsi's homily :)

I had holy water poured over my head three times and I didn't even flinch.

I just slept all the way through, even during my pictures afterward. Father Orsi couldn't get me to look at the camera no matter how hard he tried.

These are my godparents, Andrew and Erin. That guy in the middle is my "god-brother" Simon. I can't wait until I am old enough to play Narnia with him. Although, it looks like he will always get to be Peter, which means I'm going to be stuck with Edmund.

My parents told me that everyone was so happy for me, but you wouldn't know it from any of these pictures. Daddy swears that he was smiling the whole time, but these pictures don't lie. Everybody looks so serious!

There's everybody after the Baptism and that's me in the beautiful gown Mommy made for me. It didn't seem to bother me too much that I had to wear a dress, probably because Mommy and Daddy keep a photo on the fridge of Simon in his Easter outfit to remind me of how good I have it.

That's it for now. Back to my favorite game: Waiting until my diaper is off to go to the bathroom. It's especially fun when I can land a #2, but those I save for Daddy.

-JP