Jackie turns 18!!!

John's sister, Jackie, turned 18 on the 10th! Happy Birthday, Jackie! Her parents were kind enough to host a surprise party in her honor at Berkeley Hall. We think she was really surprised. Unfortunately...I didn't take any pictures! She looked beautiful in her dress! I'll post some pictures if I can get some from Genie. Here Jackie and Jack are posing in her kitchen. Jackie is excited that Jack recognizes her and gets excited when he sees her. By the way, Jackie's going to NC State next year! GO PACK!!!

Chuck, one of John's UNC roommates, got married on the 13th! His bride's name is Angela. Dr. Angela. And Dr. Chuck. Nauseating, really. Just think how smart their kids will be.

The other day when it was 80 degrees outside, I thought Jack might like to mix art time with outside time. And I was right. He colored with his new crayons. The huge ones that are for little kids. And he loved it! He got more on the driveway than the paper, but he did manage to complete his first masterpiece, which is hanging in his Daddy's office. Scout went on the outdoors art field trip, too, as you can see by the hairy paw in the background. Scout and Jack continue to be best buddies. Every time we pull into our driveway, Jack begins his repetitious "doggy, doggy, doggy" chant that doesn't stop until we're in the door and he's received a few licks from his hairy older brother. It's cute.

This is Jack's Elmo doll that he affectionately refers to as 'Melmo'. My Mom and Dad got Melmo for Jack while we were on our vacation over New Years. Since then, he has not slept without Melmo. In fact, he gets fretful near bedtime when Melmo is nowhere to be found. This weekend my parents are coming to town and bringing a back up Melmo with them. Just in case. And I should probably start calling him Elmo instead of Melmo. I don't want to be one of those parents who starts calling people and things what their children do. John would be 'Da-da' and Scout would be 'goggy'. And I would be strange.


Jack is so full of personality these days, and I think this picture shows that. He had just gotten out of the bathtub and was getting ready for his post bath naked house run. It's seems to be his favorite way to dry off.

John and I are doing well. John continues to be busy with work, which is a good thing. Our New Year's resolution is to take our house, room by room, and get rid of the stuff we don't want or need anymore. So far, we haven't made much (any) progress on that, but hey, it's only January, and there's something freeing about that. Like the feeling of a Friday night once you've started a weekday, 9-5 job. You know what I'm talking about. The go to MiTierra's and scarf down an entire chimichanga and glass of sweet tea because no one will care if you are overeating cause it's Friday night feeling. Maybe I'm alone on that one.