Party! (2 years!)

Jack turned 2 this weekend! To celebrate, we had a choo choo party for him at Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay complete with train rides (luckily, he didn't notice that the track was missing), a jumpy house (which we had to drag him by the ankles out of at the end of the party), pony rides (Jack only wanted to "watch"), and a petting farm. And....there was another birthday while we were there....a baby goat was born!

Jack on the power play! (23 months)

Jack insisted on trying out his ice skating skills today in Union Square. Not many kids under the age of 2 get a rink to themselves on a 70 degree day in January!

Holiday Highlights (23 months)

Jack had a lot of fun celebrating the holidays at Grandma & Grandpa's house. These were a few of Jack's favorite activities....opening presents, visiting the train museum, and making cookies.

Trains and Up Downs (22 months)

Jack's current love is trains & even more specifically, "up downs" (crossing arms). So, we took Caltrain down to Palo Alto and Jack got to see about 30 up downs on the trip.

Artist in the making (22 months)

Jack has been working on his photography skills lately. In addition to quite a few shots of his shadow on the ground, here are some highlights.

First lesson--the lens needs to face the other way


One of MANY self portraits


Still life at the Academy of Sciences cafe


De Young landscape

Part of his statue portfolio

Image from the Alameda Flea Market

New ride (22 months)

A friend loaned us a cool new tricycle for Jack!

A block in the life (21 months)

What catches Jack's eye when walking around town? Here are his picks on 22nd near Mission:

Gelato!


Toy machine--specifically, the lock


Newspaper dispensers


Where is the rest of the body????

Farm Hand (21 months)

Jack & his friend Lila enjoyed a day of helping out on the farm at Slide Ranch on the Marin coast. He got to pet animals, milk a goat, chase chickens, bake bread, pick vegetables......

CHEEEEESE! (21 months)

Jack enjoys saying "cheeeeese" for the camera now, but it tends to make his smile look a bit forced....

Ready to check out the Alameda Flea Market


Posing with the GG bridge

Posing with a stick

King of the Hill


With his favorite obsession--the "up down" (train crossing arms)

Batty Halloween (21 months)

I think it is safe to say that Jack is a big fan of Halloween. He loved wearing his Bat costume to 3 parties and has discovered a new love of candy (which, he didn't know existed & had never said the word before 10/31). After a party with all his neighborhood friends at our house, we took the kids to Fair Oaks St. for some trick-or-treating. Jack only made it to a few houses though because after each one, he would just start yelling "candy, eat it, open!".

Who will be buying these apples if they know about CANDY?


Zoe & Jack post party #2


Jack & friends off for trick-or-treating


Jack approves of the loot

Halloween Readiness 101 (21 months)

Jack has been getting ready for Halloween this year. Stay tuned for the bat pics, but here are some highlights of the prep.

Practice your apple bobbing skills


All set!


Choose the coolest pumpkin in the patch


If you are going to be a bat, perfect your hanging style

80! (21 months)

Jack got to visit his Great Grandma Grace last week in Sacramento to celebrate her 80th birthday! Just one day later, his GG Jeanne celebrated her birthday in Pittsburgh with Jack's Nana.

Fun times running around GGG's backyard with fig, apple, and orange trees.


Opening presents together.


Emily came with us for the visit too!

The Barn

We stayed in a beautifully refurbished barn from the 1800's on the Cape in Barnstable & thought it was worth sharing:

Sunsets and Snails (20 months)

More from the Cape....all those black dots are snails!!

The Caped Cod (20 months)

Our trip to Boston & The Cape was a blast! We visited Amy's childhood friend & her 2 little girls and then went to Barnstable for a friend's beautiful wedding. Jack's Grandma & Grandpa joined us on the Cape too!

Jack & Caroline--finally standing still thanks to this brick wall that trapped them!


Hannah, Caroline, and Jack ready for Halloween.

Jack & Daddy at the beach

Happy as a clam after dinner!


Jack with Mom & Grandpa during low tide at sunset.

Jack's Favs (20 months)

If you asked Jack what his favorite activities are, he would definitely tell you eating ice cream (or "azoo" as he says) and riding trains (or "choo choo"). Some other favs include tacos, the color orange, cooking (especially dough), cake, dogs, cats, jumping (well, trying), and playgrounds.

Jack tried to convince me to buy an ice cream cake from the display, but he settled for gelato


Better hurry & get a bite if you want some too, Mom


All Aboard! Steam train in Tilden Park


Look how excited I am in the pitch black tunnel!!

Our little fish (19 months)

Jack's weekly swim class is quite fun! He loves jumping in (whether I am there or not), and going down the whale slide at the end of class!

Check out my goggles!


Motorboat, motorboat.....


Who needs mom when I have a floating ring?

Jack & his friend Alex(andra) have apparently had enough.

Too fast for the camera...you'd never know he was scared of this the first month of class!

An Apple a Day (19 months)

Jack enjoyed picking (and eating) apples at Gabriel Farm up in Sebastopol. He was particularly fascinated with the rotton ones on the ground, but we convinced him not to taste them.

A Peacock Slides under the Bridge into a Statue (19 months)

The Summer of Jack (19 months)

We are sad to see the summer come to an end, but hopefully the fall will be just as much fun! Here are the highlights from the last week of The Summer of Jack:

Drinking from a young coconut at Burma Superstar


The trendsetter making sure Eliza's headband is on correctly


Checking out the sand & waves at the beach with Aunt Emily


Lounging in the pool with Uncle Matt

Model Shots (18 months)

RL, here he is


City Toddler lifestyle shot

At The Ranch (18 months)

Jack had a great time on our vacation with Nana & Papa at The Sea Ranch!

Howdy!


Just a pinch of sand, & the masterpiece will be complete....


Beach walk with Nana


Check me out in the middle of a river!

Papa and Apapa (18 months)

With both sets of grandparents around this weekend, Jack enjoyed a lot of attention! Here he is munching fresh tortillas with Apapa Jeff & Papa Jerry at a local playground.

The Big 1.5! (18 months)

Jack is now 18 months old & still loves his giant bear, Great Grandpa Brewster! I think he may be bigger than the bear any day now...check out his progress over the last year & a half....

18 months


12 months


6 months


8 days

New Table (17 months)

I'm saving this space for someone important. Move along.

quote created by Uncle Matt

A Garden Stroll (17 months)

Jack enjoyed our visit to Filoli Gardens and getting to play with his old city friend, Miles.

Buy me some peanuts and garlic fries (17 months)

Jack found a new love at the Giants game--garlic fries! (Oh, and Snoopy too!)

Aisle Action (17 months)

Jack walking down the aisle at Beth's wedding

Jack's Wedding Debut (17 months)

We all went to MD this past weekend for Aunt Beth's beautiful wedding. Jack made us proud by walking down the aisle on his own! He refused to actually carry the ring pillow, but no one's perfect!

Jack & Daddy outside the rehearsal dinner


Beth, the bride, takes some time to make sure Jack gets all the cake he can eat


The family in green


Jack kept us all cool by spraying anyone that got too close


Jack shows us how easy it is to surf at the Baltimore kids museum

Jack's Secret (16 months)

Jack has a major (not so secret) sweet tooth. We usually reserve the binges for special occasions!
Ice cream at Bi-Rite on a hot evening


Cupcakes at a birthday party


Lots of smiles after the sugar


and lots of energy for running around!

Jack of all Trades (16 months)

Jack has many interests & talents these days:

World class sprinting on the beach


Cooking--rolling out dough for pizza (and eating it)


River fishing with Eliza


Spoon tricks on lunch dates with Clara

And of course, sweeping

Fun in the Sun (16 months)

We just returned from a trip to the extremely hot east coast for Beth's shower and a friend's wedding. Luckily it is not as hot here in SF, but it is just as sunny!

Jack plays on Gma & Gpa's deck


Enjoying the river rapids at the kids museum in Richmond


Chatting with Miles at the beach back in SF


Another perfect day here!!

Pesky Hike (16 months)

Jack enjoyed a hike down in Pescadero at Butano State Park on Memorial Day.

This is so fun!!


What big trees!!


Glad Nana & Papa could come along!!


Mighty thirsty after that hike!!

I don't want to leave!!

Hot in the City (15 months)

What's a toddler to do when SF goes over 90 degrees & no one has A/C???

Hit the kiddie pool at Damian's house


Check out the waves with my friend Alex


Sit directly IN the waterfall at Golden Gate Park


Take a lot of snack breaks at the playground

The good news is we were all wearing our fleeces again today!!

Me and My Stroller (15 months)

Jack just loves his new stroller! Hopefully this means no more brawls at the playground!!

Hooray!


Strolling down the avenue


Proud owner at the playground


This log is pretty fun too

Fairyland! (15 months)

Jack took a trip to Oakland to visit Fairyland yesterday. Just like tons of kids over the past 60 years (yes, 60), Jack had a blast checking out this fantasy park. Yes, it was a bit run down, but Jack didn't seem to notice!

Snow White & the 8 dwarves


3 Little Pigs open house


The brick one is by far the best--I'll take it


Alice in Wonderland carousel

Around & Around.... (15 months)

Jack decided to work off his dinner with a little sprinting around the table last night. He pushed himself a bit too hard though & threw-up in the hallway after about 30 laps!

Time Management 101 (14 months)

As a busy toddler, Jack is ready to teach a class on making the most of your time.

Never miss a call--it could be the next big movie opportunity.


Shop online so you don't have to worry about toy store hours.


When SF hits 80, definitely make time for the beach!

Land of Discovery (14 months)

Jack went to the Discovery Museum in Sausalito this past weekend & had a blast!

Trying to walk on the water bed lily pads


Inside a petrified stump


Making frog music


Resting on a turtle after doing some river fishing


Enjoying an all foam/no espresso cappuccino after a fun day & big meal at Greens Restaurant (note wardrobe change after river fishing).

Sunday at the Beach (14 months)

Easter was beautiful here, so we headed to a nearby beach in Half Moon Bay for a bbq picnic & some fun. Jack enjoyed checking out the waves, burying his feet in the sand, and crashing another family's party (apparently Mom & Dad were not enough fun for him!).

Strongest Baby in SF! (13 months)

Jack loved visiting the mechanical museum. & testing his strength in an arm wrestling contest!

Ok, I'm ready


Better clean my hands now


Here, let's clean yours too


Winner!!!

Backyard Fun (13 months)

Jack loves playing outside in our back "yard" (well, deck)! Hard to believe most of the country is covered in snow....

Snacking on his chair.


Hiding in zebra tent.


1st barbeque with new grill!

And the winner is..... (13 months)

In honor if the Oscars this week, here are the results of the awards at our house:

Jack for Best Dressed Janitor!


and Jack again for Best DJ of a Pajama Party!

A Day at the Zoo (13 Months)

The weather in SF has been kind of crummy, so we made a dash to the zoo during a short break in the rain. As you can see, Jack is a pretty busy guy and he's loved the barnyard petting zoo ever since he was just a wee baby, but now he can walk around and pet the animals. There were some mixed results on the train!

Jack's "new" chair (12 months)

Jack has rediscovered his bouncy chair & loves climbing in & out of it! Check him out now & a full year ago. Looks like he needs a new chair of his own!

Life after turning ONE (12 months)

Jack & Clara have their first fight--the telephone brings out strong emotions!

The piano man

Don't tell mom & dad I know how to use this sippy on my own!

Pretzel rods are a must for the cool guy at the playground