Providence, RI: Thursday March 13 - Sunday March 16

My mom called me on March 8th as we were headed to Hartford, CT to watch the Men's Hockey team play Amherst at Trinity. She said that Uncle David was not doing well and we should come down sooner than later (ie: don't wait until Easter). We were going to head down right after the game, but my car was sounding terrible and needed new breaks. So - Josh and I figured it would be better to head to the Cape Thursday 3/13 right after my early morning appointment at Baystate. He had a conference in PVD that Friday and Sat so we would just make a family trip out of it.

Thursday March 13th: 
We visited Uncle David with mom and dad and it was so hard. He looks so weak and has lost a lot of weight. He gets some results back today as to how the cancer is progressing (or not?). So we will know more today. He said he is not anxious to get these results back. His voice was just so soft, but his personality is still the same. It will be a rough few years for my family. We visited for about an hour then went to lunch (Sam Diegos) with mom and dad. After than. Josh, Jacob and I headed to PVD. Jacob slept in the car and we made a quick stop at Target for bathing suits for Josh and me and a swim vest for Jacob (forgot them!).

We made it to the hotel around 5. We stayed at the Omni Hotel, which was fabulous! It was connected to the Providence Place Mall, the convention center and the parking garage. Great location. Jacob got an activity pack upon checking in and the room was great. Josh and I on a king bed and Jacob on a pull out couch. We got settled, swam, and then headed to the Melting Pot for dinner (which we could walk to as it was in the mall).

Pond Hockey!

Josh and Jacob cleared off the swamp/pond we have in our back yard and used that as their own little skating rink! It was great to have this so close to us! Enjoy these pictures. One is Josh and Jacob skating in Greenfield at the same outdoor rink he, Grampie, and Auntie Kate skated on years ago.
Dear Jacob: These are very special times and special memories. Daddy loved skating with you, Cooper loved being outside with you, and I loved watching you! Skate on! XOXO, Mommy

 

Hockey

Jacob has LOVED learning to skate this fall/winter. We signed him up for the Learn to Skate program in North Adams and were excited to get all his equipment (they need full hockey gear!). He is just ADORABLE in his hockey equipment. Jacob was first a little sad that they were not playing hockey (like he does with Josh in the basement), but he quickly mastered skating with a crate and was soon crate-free.     

During the Season there were two parent/player games. The first one Jacob was just learning how to skate with no help, but it was still fun to watch - not really a game, just the kids skating with their parents. Sandi/Jim came down for it and took Jacob home with them afterward. Josh and I headed up to Burlington, VT the next day for a quick overnight. The second parent/player game was a few weeks ago when Josh was in Hilton Head. I asked Cape Cod Grandpa if he would come up and skate with Jacob. He did and they had a blast! Little story: Jacob was SO nervous to play saying that he couldn't get up so fast and that everyone else would be faster then him. I told him that it was just his learn to skate class and most of them are still pushing around milk crates! Well, little did I know Learn to Play was different then Learn to Skate. Learn to Skate was just playing "soccer" with nets, the older kids, learn to Skate, were playing a parent/player game. I just ushered Jacob out with the bigger kids and he did WONDERFUL! He really enjoyed how there were two lines of kids with each kid playing 2 minutes each. He got to sit on the bench during his "off" 2 minutes just like daddy does! :)

Dear Jacob: I had SO much fun watching you play in the parents/player game and little did you know, that you were playing with older kids! You did great! you improved each time your line went out and Grandpa just thought it was so special being able to play with you. I love you, my little hockey player! I look forward to watching you play for many years to come! And...so does Grandpa!
XO, Mommy

Jacob at almost 4 1/2

I want to be better at documenting all of Jacob's life, but I just can't seem to sit down and write. Maybe if I write him a letter at the end of each post, I will do better at documenting. I want to do it so bad. He is the best kid and I want to remember all of his moments, big and small. I also want him to be able to look back at his life. Early life. I get overwhelmed when I think about how much I have missed writing down, but, I think I will just start from today, maybe hit some recent big events but be better from here on out.

Jacob is just the best little man. He has such passion for all things, especially Disney movies (Frozen; Beauty adn the Beast; Little Mermaid are recent favorites). He has also gotten into Star Wars. This started when we went to WDW this past January. (Post on that to come later). We went on Star Tours (his first "big" kid ride that required him to be at least 40 inches) and from then on he has LOVED Star Wars. Josh just got him the Star Wars Trilogy today, so we might watch #1 tonight.

Jacob LOVES playing hockey. He started Learn to Skate in the fall and he has just gotten really good. The will play in the cellar and outside on the little frozen pond for as long as we will let him. (full post on Hockey to come). Jacob is also doing Dance right now and loving it. Recital is in May; his class is dancing to Rainbow Connection. He iwll start Tee Ball at the beginning of May as well.

Jacob has a heart of gold and takes such good care of his mommy. For instance, my glucomoeter was sitting across the room on the couch and Jacob brought it to me just in case I needed it. My neck was hurting the other day and he wanted to kiss and hug it. He always wants "one more kiss and hug" which is OK with me. Last Friday Josh was in Hilton Head and I told Jacob that we could have a movie night. Well, when I picked him up form preschool, he said he wanted to go eat at the Purple Pub instead. So - we had a mommy/son date night. It was great!

Jacob is really into College talk right now. He wants to know how he will get to his classes - walk or ride a bus. He wants to know what the different grades mean and knows that "if he wants to get into Williams he needs to get A's."

He is his daddy's right hand man and wants to be with him all the time. ADORABLE.

Dear Jacob: I hope you always have a sense of humor and a caring heart. Daddy and I are so happy to be your parents and we are so proud of all the things you have accomplished in preschool and in sports. We are looking forward to seeing you grow and to cheer you on in whatever you are doing. We love watching and supporting you! You make us so very happy!
XO, Mommy

Fun times with Daddy

About a month ago, I headed to the Cape for a Pampered Chef fundraiser for Kaiyla's Service Dog (Sunday afternoon). I left after Jacob's dance class and was on my way to the Cape. I was looking forward to hanging out with mom and dad (manicure and dinner) and visiting with grandma/pa and Uncle David on Sunday before the party. Josh and Jacob were on their own and had some fun!

Duck Hunting on the Nintendo (Old school!); Lego Movie; Friendly's (way past bedtime!); and naps. Josh and I oddly enough both came down with the flu on Sat night/Sunday morning. So - I couldn't go to the fundraiser or visit relatives for fear of spreading germs. Once my stomach had settled some, I got in teh car for a LONG 4-hour ride home. :( 

Beauty and the Beast (ie: Jacob)

Since we went to a local youth performance of The Lion King last summer, Jacob has been obsessed with performing, plays, and just acting things out. We will sit for hours on end and he will tell me who in his preschool class will be playing what part in The Lion King and that he is going to ask his teachers if he can put on a play for the school (but, Scar and the hyena's will not be in it because they would scare the babies). After Halloween, I found a lion costume for little $$ and got it for him. He loved it, but asked that I make another Baby Simba costume, because the costume I ordered had a mane and when Simba is young, he didn't have a mane. :)

Anyway, this is an interest that is lasting a long time, which I really love. We will turn on Disney songs/videos on YouTube and we will act them out. He even will want to pause the video and do an observational drawing of what he sees.

So - when we were at the MK in January 2014, we waited (and waited and waited) for Belle's enchanted encounter. We finally got in an it was so cute.....a group of about 30 people start by listening to a guy in a make-shift room where Maurice (Belle's father) creates his inventions. You then travel to a hallway to recreate the night that Beast and Belle met. The Cast Members pick some kids(and two adults) out of the audience to play parts. Jacob was picked to be the Beast. Everyone then moves onto the library to recreate Beast and Belle's dance. Jacob was just amazing and he was so excited to be chosen. He was "in his first play!" It made the 1.5 hr wait worth it. I have a video that I will add later.

Jacob: It was just amazing to see how excited you were to play the Beast. You did wonderful and it was so special to see you perform. The smile on your face was just precious! I love how you are interested in all things - from sports, to learning to read/write, to drawing, to acting. You make me so proud. I will never forget your special time with Belle.
XOXO, Momma

Interview with Jacob: four years 3 months

I missed this one back in October, but at 4 years 3 months it will still be fun to do. I hope to remember to do this annually, on Jacob's birthday from now on.

Here it goes:
 20 questions : answered by Jacob
1. What is your favorite color? Blue and pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Dinosaur you that I got when I was 3
3. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? Wild kratts
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Sandwich
 6. What is your favorite outfit? Pj day: dog jammies
7. What is your favorite game? Spy card game
8. What is your favorite snack? Graham crackers and apples
9. What is your favorite animal? Real: cow stuffed: bunny
 10. What is your favorite song? Old McDonald and baba black sheep
11. What is your favorite book? Dinosaur book
 12. Who is your best friend? Adele
13. What is your favorite cereal? Life
 14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play wild kratts
15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas morning
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Bunny and water
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday (since we are doing this late, I asked what his favorite thing for dinner was)? Cheese pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Daddy's team coach (Williams golf team)