The number worn by this year's Quarter Mile Honey Run Race (age group 5 and under) at Herr Park was this one:

Jack actually fell down half-way through the race...but he was still ahead, picked himself right up, and kept going.  His finish time was two minutes and one second, congratulations Jack!!!  To celebrate, we all headed over to one of the runner's favorite local eatery, Hot Z's pizza!

Jack has been riding his bike with trainig wheels for a while now.  He started with a very small bike (Thank you Silvia and Norma) that he recently outgrew.  We never really took the trainig wheels off of that bike since he was clearly not ready.  But recently, Kim bought him a bigger bike that is more suited for hiscurrent size.  With this new bike, Jack has been enjoying riding several times around the block, he can actually go pretty fast, but still with training wheels. 

We had suggested to him that perhaps we could teach him to ride without training wheels, but he was not up for it yet.  Yesterday, HE suggested that perhaps he'd like to try.  So we did.  I took the training wheels off and gave it a try in our backyard.  Although it was definitely a new experience for him...he did remarkably well on his first day. 

This morning, Mommy and Jack practiced some more and he could ride longer and longer before fallilng off.  But even though he still falls easily, he clearly has the has the hang of it and all he needs now is more practice, which won't be a problem since he is so excited about his new skill.

Pretty cool Jack!!!  Only 2 days to learn, not bad buddy, we are soooooo proud of you!!!

This afternoon Jack, Kate and I ended up at Ollie's Bargain Outlet (Good Stuff Cheap) and while we were waiting to checkout, the kids started talking to a friendly old man that was waiting in line behind us.  At some point in the conversation, Jack decided, as he has been recently, to share with this total stranger, the fact that he's very proud of his little sister Kate because as of today, she has peed in the potty a grand total of 22 times!!!  Nice work Kate.  The old man thought it was funny that he would share that, but nonetheless, he is  a kid.  So after that exchange, I turned back and asked him: "So, how many times have YOU peed in the potty sir?"  The old man smiled and said: "I don't really know, I kind of stopped counting after 100,000!

This photo is now some two months old, I had forgotten Kim had taken it.  We had visited a local place called the "Hands On House" where kids can explore all sort of interesting things, toys, machines, face pain, etc.  Initially Jack was reluctant to get his face painted.  But after he saw the pain on my face, he decided to try it. 

For what ever reason, it is important to Jack to wave good bye to me every morning.  I pull out of the garage drive into the street.  As I am turning right, going around the mail box, I lower the window and wave at Jack who is either in Kate's or his own room, waving at me and blowing kisses.  I used to not make anything of it, but now I kind of like it. Thank you Jack, I love you buddy!

Santa brought Jack a Nintendo DS, a hand-held video game console.  He absolutely loves playing that thing!!!  This is not news to anybody who knows him, but I just wanted to make this entry for the record. 

His favorite game is Mario Kart...but mostly because he doesn''t have too many games to choose from.  Needless to say, he's gotten surprisingly good at it!

Today, we got together for dinner at the Peterson's.  On the menu, was a delicious soup made from some leftover turkey from the big Holiday.  Rob asked his dad to say grace and he did.  Some five minutes later, our little Jack decided he wanted to say grace as well, so he asked everyone to join hands once again.  Kim and I just looked at each other, and were not exactly sure what he would say.  Everyone around the table was very curious.   We all bowed our heds and listered:

" Thank you God for everybody who was invited here today.  Thank you for my little sister.  Thank you for the soup. Thank you for all the toys.  And thank you for the big Christmas tree [the Peterson's got a pretty tall tree this year, hard to dismiss]. Amen"

It was so awesome!  We could not believe he did that.  We were all very impressed!

Kim has been taking Jack to swimming classes for a good while now.  He has made a lot of progress since he started.  He is not afraid of the water as he was when he started. He can hold is breath under water for a good few seconds and can push himself off the wall and swim towards his teacher at least some 5 feet away.  It wil be very cool when he can do it all by himself.  He is very very close, pretty cool!

Thank you jack!!!

Date of Event: 08/22/2010

Here at a park near by (~3 blocks from here), a 5K race for adults was sponsored.  As part of the event, a 1/4mi. race was designed for Children to compete.  Jack participated in the group for ages 3-5.  I was hoping for a trully competitive effort, since he seems to love running.  But for some reason, despite my encouragement, he merely jogged around the track and finished the race somewhere in the middle.  For his efforts, he received a beautiful light blue (his favorite color) participation ribbon.  He was very excited and we were very proud that he participated. 

I imagine they have been teaching him at school (daycare) or Kim's been practicing with him.  But lately, Jack decided to learn how to count all the way up to one hundred!  Pretty cool.  He can actually go a little beyond.  Jack, we are very proud of you. 

In fact,, we are pround you one one hundred thousand million killion chillion kikian!!! (kikian is a word Jack made up to signify a very very large number...perhaps similar in magnitude to a Google)!!!

Jack woke up this morning feeling pretty sick.  Although his tummy was pretty empty, he's been puking all morning.  Poor little guy.  He and mommy had planned to pick up some donuts for 'breakfast'.  Some days just don't turn out the way you planned.

Dear Santa,

I have been a good boy.  I have also been a little naughty.  I like to cook in my kitchen.  I share toys

with Katie most days.  I would like to ask for a pink kitchen for Katie.  I want a toy coffeemaker and I

have a toaster now.  I would like more toy dishes because I need more.  I also want more things

for my kitchen.  Thank you and Merry Christmas!

From Jack

It's sometimes hard to get a good picture of Jack because he often makes silly faces.  Today, however, when Mommy took the kids to "Picture People" at the Lancaster mall, Jack was the perfect little model.  He listened and posed very well for the camera resulting in some great photos we'll enjoy  for years to some.  Thanks Jack!

This past weekend, we got to visit Matt and Carin Kaag at their New York City apartment (Check out some of our photos).  For dinner, we had yummy Indina food delivered from a local place.  Shortly after starting the meal David suggested that someone should say grace.  After some back and forth, we all decided David should lead, and so he did.  He did a great job.  After the group said "Amen", Jack followed it by saying: "OH MAN!!!"  Everybody busted out laughing, which of course, resulted in Jack saying "Oh man" another 20 or so times.

Also, after visiting the Museum of Natural History located adjacent to Central Park, the kids were asked about what their favorite part was.  David said he liked all the dinosaurs.  Talie liked the Discovery Room (her favorite).  When our little Jack was asked, he said that his favorite part was "the pizza!", how cultured!

Today was another one of Jack's Favorite days of the week.  Wednesdays are knows as "Pizza Days" around here.  That is because all the kids get to have pizza for lunch at Chesterbrook Acacemy (daycare).  In addition to that, mommy often times has to stay late at work which means that the kids and daddy need to feed themselves.  Which often times, like today, means that we make a short trip up the Lititz Pike to get to Little Caesar's, Jack's and Daddy's farovite.

Yesterday, Jack and Mommy were spending time together in the basement.  Mommy was busy cleaning and Jack was feeling a little neglected, as always!  All of a sudden, Jack told mommy: "Mommy, you should stop all that cleaning and we should just love each other".  After that, mommy had no alternative but to stop what she was doing to play and spend some quality time together with jack.