Boy Bacchus

Similarities no?

He is part Greek...

Guineas

We live in a neighborhood in Austin that used to be a farm. The owner's of the farm apparently kept guinea fowl by the dozens and when they moved out and the land became divided and sold, the guineas decided to stay. 

It was one of the reasons Jack and I decided to buy the house we currently live in. We liked the idea of living amongst these crazy birds. I mean, don't we all live amongst crazy birds?? At least we're being literal about it...

Surprisingly they don't really spend a whole of time in the trees so these pictures don't do them justice. They love grazing in our front yard, back yard, on top of our fences and we've even seen them sunning on our mailbox before. They keep reproducing so they're pretty much here to stay. They are loud, obnoxious, poop on the sidewalk and we love/hate them.

 Chaucer HATES them...

and Jackson likes to watch them, comment on them, and then go back to his bike.

Jackson gets Ashed

As you all know today is Ash Wednesday. We of course went to mass and received our ashes since we are NOT about to face the wrath of my mother, or the Catholic guilt that haunts us daily.

Jackson was a rock star at church. Which was surprising because he typically doesn't behave too well at Sunday services. He tells me he's turned a new leaf and promises to be good during this Lenten season. I'm not sure he realizes how long 40 days is, but I'm holding him accountable none the less.

Here are some pics after mass as we enjoyed in our 90 degree February weather outside... 

 Why so serious cub?!! 

 The boy has recently become OBSESSED with his bike. If we are in the garage for more than 5 seconds he walks over to it and starts pulling it out to ride it. The other day Jack and I pushed him around inside the garage because it was raining out (he insisted).

Here he is bypassing his momma to get back to his bike (he NEVER bypasses me people). We title this video, 'MAN ON A MISSION'...

Valentine's Day

Well....more like Valentine's week. Jackson's Valentine's began on Monday and has continued through today. 

We started our V day celebration at J's friend Samaya's house for a play date. I don't think I've ever talked about the cub's play group. It includes 2 girls; Samaya and Camilla and 4 boys; Malcolm, Jalen, Salvador and yours truly. Jack calls them the 'UN of playgroups' for obvious reasons... 

Camilla

 Samaya

 Salvador 

Anyways, we get together once a month and this month we decided to give pictures of each other's kids as a Valentine. The kids LOVED looking at pictures of each other. Jackson however LOVED looking at his own picture. In case there was any doubt, he is my child. 

 Tuesday (actual V day) we started off by going to music class and after came home to a nice surprise!

Jack got me some gorgeous flowers and got Jackson some new balloons. It was so sweet to open the door to that. Thanks doll! 

In return, I made Jack lobster pot pie (mami--click on this and you'll have the recipe) and bought a tasty bottle of champagne so once we put the cub to bed we had a nice relaxing evening. 

 Oh and Jackson had some lobster meat and LOVED it. It was gone 1 minute after taking this picture...

 And finally today we went to visit our Auntie Jo at the capitol where she had the most beautiful presentation of cake balls I have ever seen. Jackson and I LOVED them and I wish I had a picture to show y'all but we ate them so fast Jo didn't have an opportunity to take out the camera. FAT KIDS!

Instead I leave you with a picture of Jackson and I working off our cake balls this afternoon. Chaucer insisted on joining but after chasing some guinea hens we stuck him in the trunk for bad behavior...

Hope y'all had a lovely Valentine's day! 

This is not a Valentine's post...this is just a tribute

We were asked to make Valentine's to be handed out to the elderly at a retirement home. Obviously they don't know Jackson nor will they get to meet him, but I figured they'd appreciate something that they can look at for always.

I decided it would be nice to buy some canvases and paint and have the boy go at it. This was also (suprisingly) a lot easier then sitting down and glueing, cutting, glittering, etc regular cards. The pictures can speak for themselves...

Downtown for a day

What do you do when it's too cold to let a lion cub pounce around outside? You take him downtown to the Children's Museum! He got all his pouncing done indoors this past weekend and LOVED it. 

He completely surprised us with the light box display--I honestly didn't think he even paid attention to me when I showed him letters but believe it or not he made the letter J! 

Just kidding folks, I spent a little TOO much time at the light box and even fended off a few 4 year olds when they threatened to take apart my masterpiece before I took a picture of it. 

 

Once Jack peeled me away we continued on to the golf ball room, the room had all kinds of contraptions to put golf balls into. Jackson really wanted to throw the balls at the kids instead of the contraptions so we didn't stay here very long either.

I have to say Jackson's favorite display had to be the kitchen. This Gordo doesn't pass up a good meal...even a fake one...

Smelling all that plastic food got Jackson in the mood for some real food so after the museum we took him to lunch and then decided to grab a margarita/milk at the W across the street. 

He was realllllyyyyy into the fireplace but Daddy did a good job of explaining 'no toque' (do not touch) so instead he just tempted fate a few times.

 

 Jack got his attention though by telling him there was a Mardi Gras party going on outside and he had go see it.

Turns out there was a 4 year old having a Mardi Gras themed birthday party  at the W and they had a mini parade outside the hotel (Jack--idea for MY birthday....hello...awesome).

Since Jackson was watching in awe, one of the parents kindly invited him to join in and handed him some beads, but this cub was getting sleepy so we opted out.

This little lion had a heck of day and was tuckered out by the time we got home. He once again thanked us profusely for such a great day. What's more--after his nap his Tia Karla and Tio Tony came over for a visit and brought him a present! 

This boy had one GREAT day...