As Promised

Jack's BBall Debut from Erin Ussery on Vimeo.

Hoops

I'm having a blog frustration.  For the past two weeks, I've been trying to upload a video of Jack playing basketball, but it won't work.  So what do I keep doing?  I keep trying and trying to upload it without success.  John likes to define "insanity" as doing the same thing while expecting a different outcome.  So, I guess it's official then.  I'm insane.  At least by John's standards.  While there is no video on this blog post, there are some fun pictures.  I promise to get to the bottom of this video thing, though.

Jack is enjoying his first go at basketball.  He might get confused about which basket is his teams and he sometimes decides to strike a fierce defensive stance in front of his own team mate, but it doesn't matter.  He absolutely loves it.  Here's our Lil' Hoopster....

Here's the man proudly sporting the number he chose.  I wish it had been 00 in honor of his mommy's elementary/middle school favorite, Eric Montross, but the single 0 will be my new favorite.  I think this little guy trumps all the others.

Squatting for a time out....

And here's Finny McFinnFinn refusing to believe that he's not part of this team...and also refusing to take off his toboggan.

If basketball doesn't work as a future career, then maybe Jack will be a chef!  He attended the coolest birthday party last weekend at a kid's cooking studio.  They made home made croutons and pizza and were then able to decorate cupcakes.  He LOVED it!

And this was so unbelievable I had to take a picture.  Jack voluntarily ate something green!  It was a miracle!

The boys absolutely love their time outdoors.  They can play with toys, side walk chalk, or just dirt and grass.  They're not picky.  On this particular day, they chose wheeled toys.  So, Finn and I ran alongside Jack while he pedaled his little heart out.  He's fast!  The training wheels have been scuffed down to hard plastic, which makes for quite a loud lap around the neighborhood.  

And just for old time's sake, here's my little bicyclin' boy four years ago at the same spot on the course.  He's grown a little bit.  In size and in hair.  My little Charlie Brown boy...where did those four years go?

Jack's Dictations to Dad

Hoppy the Frog

Once upon a time there was a frog named Hoppy the Frog.

And then he was hopping all around.

And then his mommy said ‘You obey the rules.’

And then he said ‘Yes.’

And then he walked by his self.

And then he was mean to someone.

And then an eagle was flying and it was the police.

And then he said ‘Oh no.  What we gonna do, let’s think.’

And then he think think and had a great idea.

And then he called the police and told them something and was so happy.

And then his mommy said ‘I saw you on the computer and you lied to me.’

And then he run run.

And that was the story of Hoppy the Frog.

Pirate Story

Once upon a time there were two pirates: Pirate Jack and Pirate Finn.

And they went sailing the seven seas.

And then they went to an island.

And then the bad pirates came.

And then they said ‘What we gonna do?’

And then they had a great idea.

Their sneak up to them and then shoot an arrow in their butt.

And then they jump on the pirate ship.

And then the pirate thing turned around everywhere.

And then they dig and dig to hear clank…

And you know what was in there?  Gold and candy!

And that was the story of pirate Jack and Pirate Finn.

(Finn would like to clarify the contents of the treasure in Jack’s story: “Gowd, Wessie Cups, and Wowy Pops”)

Pecan: "PEE-can" or "Puh-CON"

We're from the South, and we live in the South.  Rarely are we challenged with the pronunciation question of "toe-MAY-toe"/"toe-MAH-toe".  Cause, really, who says "toe-MAH-toe"?  Weirdos.  That's who.  But I have heard the pecan debate.  At our house, it seems there is a 3rd option:  "PEE-congs"  Yes.  My boys have added a G to the ending of their beloved favorite nut.  They are obsessed with cracking nuts, eating them, and picking them up at Gammy's house.

I had these fun ideas of dressing the boys up in really cute clothes for New Years with glittery top hats and other fun New Years Eve-ish things.  But this is what we got instead:  Spiderman with a nut obsession.

Note to all moms of boys out there:  If your son overhears you saying how you want to 'dress up' for something.  They're not thinking cute outfits with cool hats style.  They're thinking Marvel comics style.

Jack and Finn...er...Spiderman and Batman spent a good part of the evening on Gigi's porch with Uncle Jeff, cracking, hulling, and eating nuts.

And just so you know, Finn's favorite are pistachios.  He'll tell you as much.

And don't fool yourself into thinking this nut obsession was a one night New Year's Eve distraction ploy.  Oh no.  This is a love affair.  Today we came home from picking Jack up from school.  The boys started into their usual 'returning to the house' routine:

1.  Drop their coats and bags on the floor. (working on this)

2.  Take their shoes and socks off.

3.  Look for Scout.

After almost potty trained Finn finished these steps, he stripped down for a trip to the bathroom, completed that mission and grabbed his rain boots (his favorite) from his closet, went out the laundry room door into the garage and grabbed a bag of pecans that my grandmother gave to me.  He and Jack very quickly made up a game involving the pecans and very happily played with them for about 30 minutes.  This is happiness for Finn:

Can you see that the bag says "PEACE" on it?  How fitting.  Somehow no pants, rain boots and a bag of pecans can entertain my boys for a half hour.

Then a handful got launched into our sliding glass door.  Game over.  See guilt face below.

Funny Finn Story:

Today in between the Olympic Pecan Games, Jack grabbed a tiny, square blanket from Finn's bed and was walking around with it on his head.  He apparently forgot about the blanket because he started playing and asking serious questions all the while with this blanket on his noggin.  Finn and I thought this was so funny, and Jack began laughing when he realized he still was still wearing the makeshift blanket hat.  So I said, "Jack, you crazy blanket head!"  Finn said, "No.  He's a crazy HILTON HEAD!"

Funny Jack Story:

Jack no longer naps.  He takes a "quiet time" for an hour a day where he has to stay in the playroom and play quietly.  I usually set either the microwave or my watch for the hour so I can keep track of the time.  During today's QT, Jack called to me from the room:  "Mom?  I have a very important question to ask you."  Me:  "Okay, what is it?"  Jack, emerging from the playroom...."This is a favorite important question.  Did you set the timer on your watch or on that...that...food thing?  Because your watch is not loud and it might go off and I might not hear it and you might not tell me that it's time to come out yet."

He's onto me.

Twenty Ten

Happy New Year!  Wow...2010!  It feels so official...so important.  Like big things are bound to happen.  I almost feel sorry for 2010.  There are so many expectations for this cool number of a year.  And a special thanks to 2009 for teeing it up with added anticipation.  Here's to something better!

But, maybe because 2009 wasn't the most awesome of all years, it made Christmas that much better.  We slowed down, sighed, and realized that despite whatever crud went on in '09...we are blessed.  The best gift we will ever receive was given years ago.  We don't have to wait for it or hope we made the switch from the naughty list or move money around to pay for it.  Thank you, Father, for giving your Son.  Thank you for the 'Great Perspective Builder of '09' and for provision.  We can't bind your goodness in a  number, no matter how good it sounds or how many zeros it has.  But if you feel like knocking our socks off in 2010, go for it!

Onto the Ussery, Jr. Christmas...

We were very excited to see Jack in his church preschooler performance this year.  He learned the songs quickly and sang them incessantly.  You can find him below on the front row, first on the left.  We were so proud.

This Christmas brought a lot of traveling for us.  On the 18th we packed up and were NC bound, anticipating some potential snowfall.  Our family was supposed to meet in Raleigh for dinner, but as we were taking the exit to the restaurant we received the "we can't make it because the roads are too bad" call from my folks.  So...do we stay in Raleigh or do we forge on pioneer style in our non-4wheel drive car?  We went rogue and opted for the latter.  9.5 hours after we left our Bluffton driveway, we pulled into my parent's wide eyed and thankful that we made it safely.  Here's what we learned:  1.  Weather forecasts can sometimes be accurate.  2.  Pickup truck drivers think they can safely drive 40mph in blizzards.  3.  Those pick up truck drivers are wrong.  4.  DVD players are manna from heaven to road weary parents and children.

But after a night's rest and the realization that snow can be more than scary.....

we had two happy campers.

And here, we have three happy campers.  But, folks, this is reality.  You can try to make everyone smile at once, and it rarely happens.

This may look weird.  Because it is.  We reinacted a picture from our childhood.  Unsuspecting sister with crazed brother.  You see it all the time.

The G'boro trip was a lot of fun.  We saw family, ate good food, opened presents and enjoyed every minute.

We arrived back in B-town on the 22nd, ready for Christmas!  After Christmas Eve service (which was so cool), we hosted the Ussery Jrs, Srs. and Trevor Smith families for a Feliz Navidad fiesta!  We ate, broke into a pinata, and played with Austin.  It was a fun night.

His very first Bumbo sit.  Look at that lil charmer:)

Another look at an almost happy bunch.  Seriously, Finn.  Smile!

After everyone left, Jack and I made cookies for Santa and the boys got to open their annual PJs gift.  This year I let them choose.  Jack went for Spiderman.  Finn opted for Thomas.  They both acted like they had never seen them before.  I guess I was the only one that remembered the Target freak out just 2 weeks prior because I wouldn't let them put the PJs on IN THE STORE.  I'm such a bad mom.

Ten hours later.....

Even Scout was a good boy this year.  RIP pink pig.  You didn't last long.

After enjoying new toys for a few hours we went on to Gigi and Poppy Johnny's for more new toys.  These were a favorite for sure.  Bed tents!  (and yes, Finn is in the buff)

G.I. Jack wanted to hold his Santa Baby cousin on Christmas morning.  A child holding a baby is basically glorified propping, but Jack was content with it and seemed to enjoy the attention.  He really does love his new cuz.

Christmas night was spent dining and ping ponging with the Smiths and other friends.  My high hopes to win the annual table tennis tourny quickly dwindled as I found myself out in the first round.  Again.  Maybe that will be the big thing of 2010.  I'll go to the 2nd round.

December 26th was SO BORING after the build up and excitement of Christmas.  We couldn't stay put another day, so we found ourselves NC bound again.  This time for Mr. Gilead, my in-laws' stomping grounds.  Here we are...8 adults. 3 kids. 2 cars.  And you guessed it...a partridge in a pear tree.

Here's the Jordan crew.  This is Gigi's brothers and their families.  Since John and I have known one another (which 2010 marks TEN YEARS...since we met...not married) we have never been with this many of his family members at once.  It was so much fun!  We ate, played games and caught up on lost times.  We hope to go again.

To make our one night stay more enjoyable, we took a tour of Jordan Lumber the next morning.  I've always passed the mill, wondering what it would be like to go in.  But I shall wonder no more!  This place is a beast!  Very cool.  Almost as cool as the hard hats and science lab-esque glasses we got to wear.  The processes it takes to go from pine tree to 2x4 are many.  That's my summary.  I love watching the show "How Things Are Made".  This was the live version, and we loved it.

Meet the Builder Family.  Here we have Bill, Bob, and Betty Lou.

After some lumber educatin' and Burger Shack eats, we went to a hunting lodge where John's Uncle Jack keeps his antique tractor collection.  Our Jack was in virtual preschooler boy heaven.  Wearing a hard hat...sitting on tractors...it couldn't get much better...even though he looks like he's screaming in the next picture.  It's a shout of joy.  I promise.

Jack's Eutopia...

Poppy Johnny and his two older grandboys.

Did you read where we had 2 cars for 11 people?  I was nervous as John was cramming shot guns in the trunks while we were packing.  There was a point along the way when I wondered if he intended their use for recreation or something worse.  Turns out, we were safe.  Just for sport!

Ava Update:  If you missed the last post, you missed our newest relative's arrival.  Here's our niece, Ava.  In a stocking.  Could she be any cuter?

We were not able to be with Matt, Melissa and Ava on actual Christmas, but it has been fun checking them out on their blog!  Lil' Ava is growing and sleeping and still not screaming.  Seriously...any other mothers out there jealous???

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  If resolutions play out for me like I hope, there should be more posts on here.  A big motivation came in the form of www.blurb.com.  John and I printed our entire blog history (4 YEARS worth) into a book for our parents.  And we kept one, too.  It was super easy, fast and affordable.  I know cyber journaling is so cool and convenient, but it was so nice to hold 4 years worth of efforts in our hands.  Go to blurb.com for Mother's Day.  It'll pay off.