Savoring the moments

Ga-Ma and Pop-Pop Heck quickly realized that I had favorite trucks and favorite books. Here they are enjoying a moment with me with "How do Dinasaurs Say GoodNight?" before nap time.

Aunt Kady figured out that I still love "Peek-A-Boo."
Believe it or not... I'm not perfect. Here I am with Mommy trying to take a picture and I wasn't going to have it. Yes... this is a tantrum caught on film. Oh well...

A few minutes later... I'm back to the sweet little boy that I am. This is definately a "keeper" because it is a 3-generation photo (Daddy, me and Pop-Pop).

Is this really Florida?

OK, OK, OK - most of our spring days are warm and sunny. Unfortunately for everyone this weekend, "warm" was not part of the equation. But because they came all the way to sunny (& warm) Florida AND because Aunt Kady wanted to get a sun tan, we went to the beach on Sunday afternoon. Brrrrrrr... it was chilly & windy (even though the temperature was 65 degrees). Here is our beach visit...

Can you see Ga-Ma's teeth chattering?

Aunt Kady is trying to put her brave face on - but really she is just as cold as Ga-Ma.

"Have you guys seen the guy back there with no shirt on? Is he crazy or what? He must be from Canada and thinks that this is hot."

OK... I'm cold now too Mommy!

Maryland & Florida Hecks

This last weekend - Aunt Kady (aka: "Te-Te"), Ga-Ma and Pop-Pop Heck came down from Baltimore, MD to visit. We had such a good time playing, shopping, eating good food and going to the beach! We love you and miss you already!

Aunt Kady, Ga-Ma, and Mommy at the beach

Playing with my trucks in the sand after eating lunch at the Back Porch Restaurant
Aunt Kady and me... should we dip our toes in or just enjoy the sand "Te-Te"?

One morning after breakfast, Mommy found me in the pantry with some new toys... all of her travel coffee cups out and lined up. I even had a little metal spoon banging on the metal sides of them making sweet music! Too funny!

Same morning... Pop-Pop and me enjoying the morning air on the back porch!

Potty Time

Video Clip - Our nightly routine for several weeks now has included "potty time". Thomas brushes his teeth and then we sit on the potty and read. It usually takes a few minutes but it is relaxing and helps him unwind (doesn't it do that for all of us?). This is all done before we take a tubby bath or wash up. For the last two nights, when we were all done and Thomas got up from the potty, we found a wonderful surprise.... Pee-Pee in the Potty! On the first night, when we made such a big deal about it and we all looked at "it", Thomas was not really sure what to make of it. You could tell he was excited, because we were excited, but he probably didn't put anything together. Last night, the same thing happened, but this time you could tell that he was excited and proud that there was "Pee-Pee in the Potty." I know that two nights in a row doesn't constitute any pattern, but I think we might be on to something. Even if that means we only go potty at night time - at least, it is a start for potty training. Anyways - exciting news in the Heck Household! Enjoy! By the way, the video clip is us reading Thomas favorite night time/potty book - "How Do Dinasaurs Say GoodNight?"

Ice Throwing

Video Clip - This was my last night with Jake tonight and we were "ice throwing" into the covered pool. I don't know who comes up with these things (Uncle Keith), but Jake and I had a great time playing. The Maslowskis are leaving tomorrow to head back to New Jersey and they will really be missed. I really had a good time - I just hope that it won't be long before I can see them all again soon.

Knuckles

Video Clip - Aunt Jenny showed me how to give "knuckles" tonight. Just in case you don't know what that means... its like giving high 5, but with your front knuckles. It just cracked me up and I just kept wanting more and more.

On my own turf

Finally - I got to have Jake come over to my house on Sunday for dinner. But more importantly, I got a chance to show him all of my toys. Mommy was a little worried that I wasn't going to share since they are all "mine." But I surprised her and shared everything - she told me later that night that I was on my best behavior and was a great host to my cousin. Matter of fact, I even let him sit at my table for dinner and ride my airplane rider.

After dinner, we were all out in the backyard relaxing before dessert and Daddy and I were tossing the frisbee to Ziggy. Obviously, I'm still learning how to throw it, but Daddy ended up helping me with my technique!
Jake LOVED my airplane rider... he hardly moved off of it all night.

Tubby Time

We had fun in the suds & soap the other night when we took a tubby at Grannie's house. At first, I thought it was a little wierd to be in the bath with someone else - but we each stayed on our own end of the tub and had plenty of toys to share! Can you tell I love tubby time?

The difference between Jake and me in the tub is I love water all over me; I'll dump it on my head, I'll put my face in the water, and I'll splash ALL night long. Jake, on the other hand, doesn't like any of that. The exception is if he does it to himself. Needless to say, there were a few times that he was upset with me. Sorry!

Dropped Watermelon

Video Clip - Here is a preciously cute moment between cousins. Both boys are enjoying some watermelon (this is the first night Thomas has ever tasted it... he really liked it). Look what happens when Jake accidently drops his...

Dirty boys

Have you ever seen such dirty boys? Grannie just let Jake and I go to town in her backyard. We each had a big planter of dirt, a table, and a set of shovels to play with. As you can see here - nothing was out of our reach nor our imagination. We had a great time.

The pictures do not do it justice with how dirty we really were. We had our planes & trucks in the dirt as well as the dirt in our hair, shirt and shoes - not to mention on our faces and in our ears. Mommy said something about being dirty than little piggies...

The airplanes positioned just right in the dirt...

The Maslowskis come to town

My cousin Jake, Aunt Jennie and Uncle Keith arrived on Thursday and we have been "partying" all weekend. Here I am with a mini-ice cream cone one evening... can you tell that I'm enjoying this dessert?

After playing a while together, Jake and I finally warmed up to each other. Mommy & Aunt Jennie actually sayed that we did a great job sharing our toys (trucks and airplanes) with each other. See... we even showed each other some love with a hug.
This is what I'm going to look like in 15 years driving. I know - scary.

Having a good time with the whole family visiting.

If you look close, you will see that I'm playing with my trucks AND Jake's airplanes that he brought with him. I have always been interested in airplanes, but all weekend long being around Jake who LOVES airplanes - I want to be like him and LOVE airplanes too.

Aunt Jen's Bridal Shower

I got to go to an all-girl party this weekend - my Aunt Jen's bridal shower. I know, I know - it sounds silly that I would go and be the only boy there. But, my Aunt Jen really wanted to see me... I couldn't let her down. I really did have a good time and I did behave myself among the ladies. Mommy and I even walked down to the water and looked at frogs, crabs, ducks and boats. That was my "boy time" while I was at the party.

The long walk down to the beautiful water.

Megan and Mommy cooking for the bridal party

The bride-to-be... Aunt Jen

Crayons & Cookies

Most afternoons when we come home from school, I get a chance to color. I have all sorts of crayons - fat ones, skinny ones, round ones made especially for little guys my size and I even use pens and markers. Some times I just lay right down on the floor & color; other times I go out back on the porch and color on my table. Either way - I love coloring. Mommy thinks my "work" is Picasso-like which is fine by me!
You know how you have seen the Oreo commercials where a little kid is imitating a big kid (or a grown up) and learning how to eat Oreo cookies the right way? Well... Daddy taught me how to eat them one afternoon a few weeks ago and I have been doing it the same way ever since. He taught me that you separate the cookie into two. The next part is eating the side with no cream. Finally, you eat all the sides with the cream last! As you can see here, I'm on the final part (all cream sides). By the way - notice Mommy buys the vanilla Oreo cookies so that I don't have chocolate everywhere - vanilla hides well.

Michelle is a real soccer mom now!

Video Clip - Here is a little Thomas/Daddy action this week with the soccer & basketball. I missed the really good part when Thomas was trying to dribble the ball with his hands and got frustrated, but as you can tell he loves watching Daddy do it. Notice in the background Mommy's new "ride" that is parked in the driveway. Yeap - I have converted. I got to tell you though... it is sweet. DVD system; electric dual sliding doors, LOTS of room for a toddler & a baby & Ziggy. Don't worry - you aren't hurting my feelings right now if you are laughing that Michelle is driving this - I'm used to it. All week my friends have been giving me a hard time. I just chalk it up to them being jealous! Ha-Ha.

A southern tradition

Mommy Blog - Those of you who know me well are aware that I am a military brat and have lived everywhere from overseas to east & west coasts. However, having been in Virginia and Florida now since 1985 - I'm pretty versed in southern ways. You know... sweet tea, "yes Ma'am, yes Sir", sweet tea, shrimp boils, sweet tea, and southern hospitality (can you tell I love sweet tea?). However, until last night, I had never experienced one of the deepest southern traditions - Cotillian. For those of you who are unaware, it is ettiquette and manners training. Kids down in the south do it from the time they are in middle school through high school. When they reach their senior year, they are "presented" (so to speak) to society at a Winter Ball. This is a formal ball - long white gowns for senior girls, white gloves, tuxedos with tails, etc.

OK, so you are probably wondering why I attended one of these fancy southern balls? I actually had the honor of presenting one of my senior boys - Bryce G. His parents are now stationed in Washinton State at Fairchild AFB and he remained here to finish off his senior year; unfortunately they were unable to come for this event. Anyway - it was a wonderful honor to be his "mother" that night, but as well to see so many of my students dressed so beautifully.

My Junior girls - Katie, me, Nicole, and Marlow

My seniors - Jason, Kayse, Bryce, Levi, Miller, Justin, me, Natalie, and Nick
Bryce and his "mother", me!

Trucks, Trucks, Trucks!

Video Clip - Nothing is better than trucks in Thomas' world. As you can see - he loves them. He is just too funny when it comes to anything "trucks". PJs, books, t-shirts, push trucks, Daddy's truck - anything that feels like a truck or is a truck is top priority.

Nice days and nice evenings

Nice days and nice evenings are now here! Here we are rocking on the front porch one evening this week after taking Ziggy for a walk. Notice the big "cheesy" smile I'm giving Mommy.

Coloring a beautiful picture another evening on the back porch. I love to color and doodle with crayons, pencils and markers on anything. Key word "anything" so Mommy is especially careful to watch over me when I have the markers. But really I'm really good about coloring on the paper that Mommy or Daddy gives me.

In tense concentration!

Notice my left hand use - Mommy & Daddy seem to think that I'm going to be a "lefty" because most of what I do is that hand. I guess we will see what happens...