Safety First

Jack took on a particularly noisy project this weekend - putting in a proper attic ladder. We'd like to use  some of that space for storage and figured a proper ladder would be a sound investment. Shelby wanted in on the action, but did not love the noise. Naturally - Jack hooked her up :)

Rrrrrroar!

For months and months I had heard rumblings of a Lion Habitat very close to our house. Recently I looked it up,  and it turns out it is 2.5 miles away, but for the three of us to go it was going to be $50 or so. Well, this week I saw on social media that with flyer X, entry was free! I thought it was the prime time to check it out.

It was great!

After living in zoo-less Las Vegas for more than a decade, this was a truly lovely destination. The sanctuary houses lions from primarily the MGM family, but it also has a giraffe and several birds. We were not there too long, but all 3 of us really enjoyed us. Man, or man - what a powerful beast!

So Fancy

Jack recently did a remarkable (and speedy!) overhaul on our laundry room. After we decided that we would stay in this house for several more years, Jack started to really focus on ways to expand our storage. He always saw a lot of potential in our laundry room, so in true Jack fashion.....he went after it.

When I left for a 6 day trip to London, there was freshly patched drywall from the plumbing addition in the laundry room, but that was it. When I returned, I had a lovely lovely laundry room - complete with new lights, a counter, cabinets, a wash basin, decor and more! My handy Jack strikes again!

For perspective - here is a before shot. We had started the project, but you get the idea....

Quotable Quotes

Shelby is full of hilarious one-liners. Honestly, I could have a blog dedicated solely to things that come out of her mouth. Here are a few recent things/dialogues that really cracked me up...

Me: Shelby, today is picture day at school!
Shelby: (with a completely powerless look on her face) But I don't have a camera?!

I put Shelby in a purple dress that her G-Ma got her. It has a colorful, confetti look to it at the bottom. She put it on and said "this looks like a kaleidoscope!"

She was watching the movie Frozen and out of no where she exclaimed:  "Frozen is my life!" In a different Frozen session (because there for a while there were many) she turned to me and asked "
"Mom, what's a Frozen Fractal?"

Me: Shelby, it's time to go to bed. Mama is tired and going to bed soon too
Shelby: No  you're not. You're going downstairs to clean the kitchen. It's your business.

Shelby: You gonna pick me up after work today Dad?
Jack: No honey, mama will probably pick you up today.
Shelby: Oh no - she does not know how to put my coat on the right way.

And my mom's favorite....if you ask her what starts with the letter B, she will likely reply: "Bump your Booty, butterfly and bumblebee."

Finally, she will just spout out phrases left and right that I am shocked she knows and/or can use in contenxt  -  "Oh gracious," "holy mackerel, "I offered that to you," "it's coronation day!,"

S-H-E-L-B-Y!!

Uncle Brent

My younger brother Brent recently came to visit for a long weekend. I sent him Shelby's tumbling video one day and as soon as he saw how much she had grown, he was on the next plane! Shelby had a little bit of a cold while he was here, but it did not stop them from having a great time. We all went out to the new basketball courts in our neighborhood and Shelby got a personal lesson in the art of dribbling as basketball. From there, we were across the street to the "new park," where Shelby and Brent enjoyed the swings together.

Family Pics X2

While in Texas over the holidays, Jack's sister arranged for family photos with his whole family. Here are some of the favorites. What a good lookin' bunch of kiddos!