Blanket Game

Jaden under a blanket. Here's how the blanket game works (in case you want to play too!): Jaden sits on the couch, I swing the blanket over him just grazing his hair, making his hair stand up on end because of static electricity. Eventually I drop the blanket, covering Jaden completely. Then I peek underneath to tickle him all over while he giggles with excitement. Inevitably "again, again" follows and we repeat the process!

Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Jaden helping Mommy roll out the pizza dough. Jaden really enjoys being in my arms while I'm cooking. He likes smelling the different ingredients and seeing what's happening. He especially enjoys hands-on stuff: helping stir or taking napkins out to the table for mealtime.

Jaden Helping

Jaden, wearing his "Waffle House" Christmas apron, helping Mommy make pizza for dinner!

Snack Time

Jaden and Tyler sharing a Cheerios snack. Jaden had fun trying to feed Tyler. Tyler scrambled for every loose Cheerio that Jaden dropped in the process

Jaden & Baby Tyler

Jaden reading books with cousin Tyler while together at Grandma and Grandpa Bowker's house over Thanksgiving weekend. It was so cute to see the two interact! They didn't acknowledge one another very much initially. As the weekend progressed, however, especially after taking a bath together, the two boys began to have a lot of fun laughing and playing with one another.

Praising

Alan leading worship during our church's senior high youth retreat this fall. The retreat was held at Camp Fitch, a YMCA property, situated on Lake Erie. Jaden and I got to go along too. We had a fun weekend away, hanging out with youth and enjoying the quietness of our little cabin.

Fall fun

Jaden going on a Jaden-sized hayride in a radio flyer wagon behind Grandpa Bowker's lawn mower. Complete with a pumpkin and a warm soft blanket, he enjoyed the ride!

Jaden & Aunt Kim

Aunt Kim and Jaden playing outside during our recent visit to Indiana. While Alan was in Chile, Jaden and I spent five of his days away with my parents and sisters. We really enjoyed our time with them. Among other things, Jaden learned to say "Aunt Kim", "Uncle Tim", "Aunt Kelly" and "Markle". (Markle is my younger sister's little dog. Jaden still mentions his name from time to time, two weeks after our visit!)

"Don't cry for me, Argentina"

A view of the majestic Andes Mountains on Alan's 10-hour ride from Santiago, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina. The team traversed the Andes by bus, reaching a peak elevation of 13,000 feet. The team enjoyed an overnight excursion in Mendoza for a time of rest and relaxation after twelve full days of building and serving.

Chilean Chica

Alan spending time with a Chilean girl. Alan, along with fifty others from the US and Canada, traveled to an orphanage/group home outside Santiago for two weeks of hard work. The team constructed walls, painted playground equipment, laid ceramic tile, built shelving, hung siding and spent time with the girls between and after projects.

Important Discovery

Passing time on the long car ride south to Georgia and NC.

Big Shoes to Fill

Jaden trying on Daddy's basketball shoes before we packed them in the suitcase. The second weekend in October we headed down to Georgia and North Carolina to spend time with family and to attend homecoming at TFC. Alan played on the alumni basketball team and, yes, he can still tear it up out on the court! His college team, which took second in the nation one year, was remembered and honored at a special centennial awards banquet.

Looking Up

Just hanging out at home snapping a few pictures. In recent weeks, Jaden has become much more interested in the camera. (The trick most days is getting him to be still long enough to have his picture taken!)

Time with Daddy

Alan and Jaden sharing in a common interest...reading books.

Mama's boy

Just a little loving for my sweet little man!

Jaden Watching

Jaden looking out the living room window. Some of his favorite things to look for include trucks on the highway, Canada geese, the school bus and the neighbor kids.

Aftermath

What our living room usually looks like these days after a morning of Jaden.

Lunchbreak

Jaden chewing a blue Ikea spoon and Alan making a quick call following our lunch of Swedish meatballs with boiled potatoes and ligonberries at the Ikea cafeteria. We went to Ikea for a get-away, but also to scope out possible purchases for the "outfit" we will be gathering in preparation to go to Japan...next year! We're getting excited!

Day Off Outing

Jill and Jaden posing on a couch in a stylish Ikea display...enjoying our day off! Jaden had a great time walking and exploring at Ikea.

Leaning

Jaden learning to smile for the camera...cheese!

JWK

Jaden pauses for a picture...a daddy shot, I think.

In the Cockpit

Alan checking out the cockpit of an FA18 Super Hornet at the Cleveland Air Show. Our friends' daughter tours the air show circuit flying the Super Hornet, representing the US Navy. I also got to sit in the cockpit, while our friends' daughter described what it's like to experience so many "G's" that you have to fight to keep consciousness! Checking out the Super Hornet was definitely a highlight of our day together at the air show.

Bye-bye!

Parting pictures and hugs after a fun and special week with Grandma and Grandpa Kropp.

Wet toes

Jaden venturing to wet his feet in the waters of Lake Erie at Beulah Beach.

Beach Strolling

Alan and Jaden walking along Lake Erie at Beulah Beach camp. Yesterday we drove up to Beulah Beach so Mom Kropp could see where she and her family stayed after their return from Japanese prison camp during WWII. The same brick building they lived in still stands. We waded in the water, picknicked by the beach, saw the campgrounds and just enjoyed the day away together.

Toothy grin

Another rainy pj day picture! Jaden enjoys climbing up on to the couch and making himself comfortable, lying or sitting. He's learned that many objects, such as his drum, a pile of books and a small wicker chest we have sitting at the end of the couch, can double as a step making it possible for him to get where he wants to go.

Playing in PJs

Relaxing and playing in our pjs on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Interestingly, Jaden seems to enjoy being in upside down positions like this one. Part of our nightly bedtime routine for many months included another upside down position. While reading books in my lap, Jaden would, sometimes unexpectedly, thrust himself backwards with his feet dipping his head back below my arm exposing his neck in order to lure daddy over for a few wet, noisy kisses on the neck. I wonder what upside down trick will be next!?

Exploration

Jaden loves to explore. He really likes to find a small space just big enough to fit himself into, like the space in our closet where our laundry basket goes or under the telephone stand. Unfortunately, my snap of Jaden waving "bye!" as he went off to explore beside our bed didn't turn out or I would have posted that. He enjoys waving "hi" and "bye", even to strangers in the grocery store. The "bye!" that he says sounds like a little southern. Maybe he picked up a southern drawl from his cousins in North Carolina!

Up close

Just a snap or two from our very ordinary day of play, housework and time with Daddy. Jaden cried twice today when Alan left. Jaden was also very excited to ride in Daddy's truck. He's become interested in trucks and tractors this past month or so, but still calls both, "Trucks" when he sees or hears them. This week he's been saying, "Wow! Truck!" when we pass a truck on the road. (I'm guessing little girls don't do that!)

Homefront

Just enjoying some time at home with each other, hanging out and snapping a few pics. We tend to do a lot of hanging out at home on Alan's day off.

Architect Al & Apprentice

Alan and Jaden building with megablocks. Alan enjoys creating and Jaden enjoys destroying...they make a good pair when it comes to playing with blocks! One recent development is that, although Jaden still thoroughly enjoys destroying block towers especially the skyscraper versions that Alan builds, he's now learning to put the blocks together too.

Reading with Grandpa B

Jaden and Grandpa reading on the couch together. Jaden identifies several of his favorite books by a sound in the book. Scuffy the Tugboat he calls "Toot! Toot!". Another book he calls, "Aaaachooo!" because of a sneezing bear at the story's conclusion. Jaden really enjoys his books. Jaden had lots of fun playing with Grandpa and Grandma B when they detoured through Ohio on their way to DC this past weekend.

Jaden's favorites

As I was unpacking and washing up some clothes for Jaden, he spotted this dog hat so I put it on him. As I continued my work, he wandered away to play with toys, but would frequently return to admire himself in our bedroom mirror, obviously pleased with his appearance. Jaden enjoys wearing hats. Other Jaden favorites include reading books, eating bananas, playing outside, trying to say new words and dragging an orange and purple dollar store golf club all around the house with him. He is learning new words and doing new things every week, if not every day. We are delighting in his growth and enjoying each precious day with him.

Professor Jaden

Spending time with Grandma, Grandpa and the aunts and uncles was a highlight of vacation for Jaden. He's quite a social little guy so he thoroughly enjoyed all the attention and interaction. From watching cartoons to blowing bubbles and playing ball in the yard, Jaden had plenty to do and plenty of help in doing it!

Wakeboarding tutorial

The next best thing to snowboarding...Alan turns, cuts and catches air on Deep Creek Lake, Deep Creek, MD. During our weeklong vacation, we spent several afternoons water skiing, tubing and wakeboarding. Overcast skies kept us cool as we enjoyed the watersports and the beautiful scenery around the lake situated in the foothills of western Maryland's Allegheny Mountains.

Jaden at the beach

Jaden enjoying the sand and sun at the beach on Deep Creek Lake during vacation with the Bowker family.