this is pure unadulterated joy...

This is what we call "dribbling."

That Miles is quite the multisport athlete! He played lacrosse and whiffle ball and finally basketball with Jack. Here they are working on the fine motor coordination involved in dribbling a basketball. Luckily, Jack is enjoying the journey because at this rate, the dribbling journey is going to be a long one!

What is this stick thingy?

If only there were a professional who could show me how to use it?

I think I am getting the hang of this. Where are my pads, Coach? I am ready to go in! Put me in, put me in!

Happiness is a blue balloon

Jack at the picnic at Mark's 20 year Law School reunion. (When you go to UVA, you always capitalize "Law School." It's like "The University" is how you refer to UVA. Thomas Jefferson and all that....)

More SLIDE pictures....

We had a pretty good time.

What you can't tell from this picture

is what's causing him to smile so broadly.

We were at my 20 year Law School reunion at the University of Virginia. For the kids, they had set up a big Moon Bounce and an inflated slide that was about 20 feet tall and has a pretty steep slide. This is Jack at the bottom of the slide after the first of many trips down!

That's a tattoo of an Easter egg...

Happy Easter!

This is Jack's first Easter Basket. He likes the concepts of a basket full of presents.

Grandpa Ray loves Jack

Jack loves Grandpa and Grandpa loves Jack!

'Til he POPS!

That's how much Grandma Ruth wants to hug him.

She's probably going to kill me for putting these pictures in, but I had to, given her unbridled joy. You can see how she's unable to keep her arms away from him, swooping him into a big fat hug.

Jack gets it. This is a rock, a safe place, a home plate, a safety zone, an overwhelming BOOM of love, Grandma Style!

He senses her joy and feeds on it. In a flash, he will be skipping around the garden, ready at a moment's notice to fling himself into her arms again.

Nice life, dontcha' think?

Rolling in the Building Museum

At one point, the running had become too much and so we decided to roll across the room. Again and again and again.

It's amazing what a two year old can get you to do if he puts his mind to it!

Daddy and Jack running.

Daddy and Jack played "Chase" in the suite of rooms.

Adventure at the National Building Museum

One day, Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Ray came to town. We all decided to go down to the Building Museum, which is always fun. On this day, the building was being used by the National Craft Fare (which is not nearly as horrendous as it might sound; quite the opposite - cool crafty things made by master artisans. Not a rug with dogs playing poker in sight). So we headed to the second floor with all the other urban parents with children. We found this empty suite of rooms. It apparently belonged to the building manager back in the day when the building was used for the War Pension fund (as in Civil War . . . .).

Jack saw it as a huge set of carpeted rooms where he could RUN...... This picture captures his first entrance into this magical land...

Jack's Bestie, Evan

So, I know this is Jack's blog. But Jack's world is rapidly expanding. This is one of Jack's bestie's, Evan. In the years to come, we expect to spend many fun times with Evan (and his parents Sarah and Tim).

What a good looking kid that Evan is. Personally, I think Ralph Lauren should be using him for his summer catalog!

Easter Egg Hunt at the Allen Powderlys

Sarah and Tim had a great Easter Egg Hunt the weekend before Easter. It was great fun. There were kids EVERYWHERE! Obviously some were more enchanted with the concept of hunting eggs than others. Is that Evan a sweet heart or what!

All in all, Jack thought it was the right time for lawn maintenance, a task he takes verrrryyy seriously.