JC's Second Birthday - Part I

My birthday this year was a true celebration. It spanned multiple time zones and states this year! But, as with all my birthdays thus far, it started with a breakfast of pancakes. Who turned two? It's me!

My parents asked me what I wanted most for my birthday. I responded that I wanted to take a trip to VA to play with Gram's train set. Not an hour later, we were on the road and heading to the Old Dominion. They had a party ready for me there, too! Look at this awesome cake. I remind everyone who it's for...Great Grandma is so jealous of my cookie!

And it tasted good too!

After cake comes the presents. I have become much better at tearing open presents. Look at me open this present to find namesake trucks - "Chuck".

The cake, presents, and my hand, foot, and mouth disease did me in. Luckily, Aunt JKC bought me an awesome Backyardigans couch. We look like walking advertisements for Pepto!

With the end of my birthday came our return to the Ohio. I tearfully left Gram's train set and got into the van, ruing the day. When we got back I found that I had received another present - my very own train set. Here it is pictured with all my loot!

I quickly slapped on my conductor outfit for an added effect. Who wants to ride the choo-choo?

Thanks for all my presents and giving me a happy birthday!

Eatin' Park

Hi there! My mom said we were going to a place called eatin' park in Cincinnati. I became more excited when I heard we were stopping by Ikea to find my dad a chair. Alas, Ikea had no chair tall enough for my dad's back. But we took advantage of the cafeteria to eat just enough to whet our appetite for eatin' park! When we got there, we were all a bit underwhelmed...

What?!? No food...just idyllic, possibly edenic views. Oh! Eden not eatin' park! Well then, let's look at the views!


After so much walking, though, I became hungry. I had saved room while at Ikea in preparation for the feast. Wait! Over there!

Nuts! Those ducks got to the bread before I could! Well, I guess they did look hungrier...

At least Eden Park had all the water I could drink!

It was a fun trip, but by the time we left Cinci, I was starving. Luckily we made it to a DQ on I-71 for the perfect capper - chicken fingers!

Haircut Numero Dos

I'm sorry to report that this post will not be as catchy as Mambo Numero Cinco. As it were, though, a haircut is pretty big news. I, JC, am just about two and this is only my second haircut. My first experience at Disney World was really nice, but given the sheer beauty of my hair, I couldn't go back to a barber. This time I went to a stylist at Distinct Design Group as a tack-on to my mother's appointment. Here is my new do. Notice my Pablo outfit!

Everyone celebrated my new hair-do in different ways. My beautiful momma made bread. Notice the thick layers of melty cheese sewn into the doughy bread.

My sister, M, wanted to go to Chik-fil-a to celebrate. After eating her momma's bread, though, she was way to full. So, instead we found her an awesome new dress - Espirit!

Finally, my dad helped us celebrate by taking us to the Batelle Darby Creek Metro Park. With my shorn hair, I was really able to appreciate the views afforded to us by the chance sunny day.

Visitors from a faraway land...

We have been so blessed the past few weekends with visitors. They traveled by land, air, and sea to arrive. The first visitors was Grandma L and Grandpa J from southern VA. On their way here, their car broke down leaving them stranded in Ohio. What to do? While Grandpa J played the zoo course, Grandma L took us to the zoo to look for animals willing to take them home. The first animal, was a bit too small for everyone. To top it off, it was also intimidated by the unruly goose!

Then Grandma L had a great idea! Grandpa J had always wanted a motorcycle so we went and saw the Wild Hogs. Sure enough they were willing to take a long drive and even allowed us a test drive. Satisfied with their performance, we sent Grandma L and Grandpa J home in style after a fun weekend.
Who should visit us the next weekend? Aunt JKC fresh off of busy season and Aunt K! They were so fun! They took us to the park where I, M, promptly soiled the playground.

JC followed it up with his own...

We did other things besides the playground. We went to the Starliner Diner where we ate some wonderful food which lead to someone else soiling a Wendy's on the way home!

Finally, our last visitor, was Flat Stanley. He had traveled all over the world but had somehow missed the center of the universe, i.e. Ohio. We took him to The Shoe, also known as the Ohio State Stadium where we had him help us make the O-H-I-O. Thanks to Aunt JKC for providing the dot to the "i".

Thanks for visiting us! We love you!

Princess Girl

M is a princess...

Father knows best?

Easter weekend sure is fun. I was very excited for the Easter Bunny to visit, as I, JC, had run out of Halloween candy about five months ago. Saturday, my dad said that in order for the Easter Bunny to visit, we needed to do several things. The first thing to do was make cookies. Check!

The next thing was to dye eggs. Check!

The next thing was to wash the car...? Huh?



And then to build a bird feeder? What?

By now I was pretty sure my dad was just making us do chores. Easter Bunnys love eggs and cookies but they don't care about washing cars...right? I thought to myself, "Maybe my dad will get his comeuppance..." Later Saturday we had our Easter egg hunt. I found eggs.

My sister, M, found eggs.

My dad found no eggs.

The next morning our couch had three Easter baskets. One for me, one for M, and one for my beautiful momma! None for my dad.



Here I rub in my dad's face one of my awesome Easter gifts. I am reading all seven flavors found in a can of Pringles Restaurant Cravers Mexican Layer Dip to him. Whew that's a long name for potato chips!

M got a lot of neat stuff, too.

I sure hope my dad learns his lesson...the Easter Bunny knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good...so be good and get some awesome sunglasses for goodness sake!

Maybe next year my dad will learn!

VA Visit

Hi there! M is back after letting her mom write the last two posts. We spent a weekend in sunny Virginia with an emphasis on sunny. Here I am pictured with my Aunt JKC.

My brother, JC, also enjoyed the sun. Here you can see he took his hog out of the garage and took it for a ride!

When we weren't outside, I played with the dog Curly...

And JC played with an older model train set...

I also got to dance alot...behind me, NO Iowa is beating Kansas 38-30.


JC or Nick Markakis (it is unclear from this angle) played with an older model Hot Wheels City...



As the days would wind down, we would wind down too. Here JC is pictured with Uncle B. The setting sun has created a cool effect with JC's drool, no?

Finally, before bed, we would read books with Gram. This book is a keeper!

Thanks for letting us visit!