Your eyes, they shine like the sun.

We have been aching for a break around here, and we finally got one.  When Eastertime hit, we packed up the car and sped away to the hill country of Virginia, where Chelsea's mother Robin lives, on a farm populated by her floral creations and hard work.  Seriously, that place is beautiful.  An enormous pond filled with fish, woods and rising hills, koi pond surrounded by bushes, flowers, and trees...it was rhapsodical.  We spent a relaxing few days there before jetting off to Tennessee for a day, where we got to hang out with Matthew and Isabel for a while.  They are so great, and their house is looking better than ever.  The last time we went there they had just moved in, so it was a little cluttered; you can imagine the difference a few months make.
Then it was back to Virginia to spend time not only with Robin but with Chelsea's brother Rocky as well, along with his crew (wife Diana and children Emma and Lily).  Easter egg hunts and all sorts of fun times.  Not to mention that we had awesome weather the whole way through--bright sun followed by impressive nighttime thunderstorms.  I loved it.  I hope you dig the pictures.

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No dusty relics here.

As part of Jack's fun birthday week, we took a trip on Saturday to Philadelphia (all thanks to the banking queen and travel guru, Chelsea Q. Fehskens).  She made the trip plans and it happened 'cause of her, so rock on!  The museum was a great time, an absolutely fantastic place to spend three or four hours (or more, if you don't have to crash for a nap).  You'll see in the video some of the amazing things they have for kids to play with there--wonderful themed areas and all kinds of activities.  If you're interested in more pictures, they have their own album on my Facebook page.
And then the zoo.  That was great too, because it was just drizzly and chilly enough that we had the place to ourselves.  Lots of the animals were out, too--I guess they liked not having a million sweaty freaks staring at them.  Just a few of us.  Hope you like the spectacle.

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Well it was two years ago in March...

We recently celebrated Jack's second birthday.  I know it's cliched to say, but it truly is hard to believe that it was only two years ago that he arrived in this world, wide-eyed and yelling (with a sizeable bump on his head).  The reason I say this is because he has impacted our lives so much, in so many ways, that I'm well beyond imagining a time when this boy wasn't part of my life.
I'm a better person because of him.  When I see the trust he has in me, the complete and utter trust, I feel incapable of making selfish decisions anymore.  Of course, I still do--part of my nature, and something I'm continuously praying and working on--but more and more, I think of him and the world I'm helping make for him and change my mind.
He is so sweet and loving and funny.  His eyes pierce my mind and I love playing with him.  I love reading to him and praying with him.  Baths are fun.  Walks are fun.  Writing down all the new words he knows is fun, and hearing him use them in life as he learns and discovers new things.  I'm flat-out in love with this boy.  He's my favorite person in the world, bar none.  And it's different--it doesn't mean I love Julia any less (I can't wait to devote an entire post to her as well, and soon) or that Chelsea is not also my favorite person--but this child, my first experience of eternally perpetuated responsibility--this child kills me.  And now he's two.  So how about that.
Below, find some stills from his party with tasteful musical accompaniment.

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