Jax loves his little "foot power" cars, so Carolyn and Brent got him this Lil Tykes classic truck for his birthday.  He loved it!  He had a little trouble with his big sisters who hovered around him, impeding his progress.  They were really excited for him and tried to show him features of the truck, such as the horn and the working tailgate.  He kept trying to push them away, but they kept coming back, never giving him any space.  Brent opened the door so that he could go outside with it.  The girls helped keep him on the sidewalk until he was finally on the driveway.  The last picture I took of him, he was out of the truck and pushing it up the driveway.  It was very cute!

This battery powered Lightning McQueen car was from NaNa and Pa.  He likes that one, too and I can't wait to see him when the battery is charged and installed.  Till then, he's still happy not minding that he has to use foot power.  Actually, I'm sure he doesn't realize there's any other way.  Wayne and I still haven't gotten him anything.  It's hard to think of something he doesn't already have!

The final picture here is Jax the morning after his birthday. He's in his groundskeeper persona. With the lawnmower loaded into the back of his truck, he's ready to head to work!

Jax is 2 years old!

Jax is two years old today!  And what a fun two years it's been watching him grow and learn new things.  The videos below indicate how closely he watches what goes on around him.  He wants to do things the same way other people do them.  The first one shows him opening a drawer.  It's a drawer where all the random plastic bowls and cups for snacks are stored.  There used to be a handle on it, but it's missing now.  He has obviously seen everyone else use their foot to open it, so that's the way he does it.

Jax was really excited to see his mom and Carlee arrive home.  He brought Carolyn a little ride-on car and then got on his own so they could make a few circles through the house.  She told me to watch how he changes how he "pedals".  When Carolyn got ahead of him, he saw her style and began doing the same thing.

He's such an entertaining little fellow...as are both his big sisters!

Saturday morning at the Bubelas

Kate is having a little batting practice in the video below.  She got some nice hits, as you can see.

Jax is back to work at being the groundskeeper. Pushing his little mower around the yard. I don't know how he sees anything except the mower, he keeps his cap pulled so far down. After mowing, he walked up to Carlee and indicated that he wanted her to help him into the swing. Since Carlee couldn't do it, I helped him in and we all took a turn at swinging him.

I might be heading back over there this afternoon for more backyard fun...and margaritas!

It's sliding time again!

Jax loves adventures like these.  They set up a big, homemade slip & slide a couple of weeks ago, put him in a tube and he had a blast!

That's Carlee starting to climb.

I'm not sure what Kate is doing here, but Jax is letting her do it. 

The slide was at an angle, so all the water in the pool was at the other slide.  That didn't bother Jax.

Kate posing at the top.

Jax and Kate sharing a little face time.

Carlee sliding...that's Kate doing some weird dance at the edge.

It's official...I'm way behind!

I'm not even going to try to get caught up from last summer...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to remember much.  I'll see if I can go through my photos and try to get caught up from the first of this year.

Brent's friend Jeff, born and raised in Louisiana, sent all these jerseys to the family after LSU beat the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl this year.  Everyone (except Carolyn) seems to be cheering!

The video below was just cute. Jax stops at the little kitchen center then makes his way to the table to do a little coloring. At the end of it, he decides to sit down, but forgets that the chair isn't there.

I love this photo of Carlee, getting down with her music, dressed in fancy black tutu and pink crown, microphone in hand. It's so Carlee.

Jax must have had something on his mind here.  He looks deep in thought.  

 This was on Carolyn's birthday.  All are eagerly waiting for the cake ceremony!

Carolyn got roller-blades from Brent and the kids.  Kate is standing by for support, if necessary.

 This wasn't taken on Carolyn's birthday.  Jax was under the weather and Carolyn had a patient, so I was there to snap this photo of Jax, so ready to nod off that his head is held up by his lip on the edge of the cup.

Brent built the dollhouse/bookshelf pictured below to donate to the auction at the St. Philip Dinner Dance in February.  I should have taken the photo with a child beside it in order to give it perspective.  It might look small here, but it's probably about 3-4 feet wide and about that tall, too.  After he painted it, it was taken to St. Philip's where Carolyn and other mothers of children in Kate's kindergarten class finished it with paint decorations of flowers, trees, bees, caterpillers, etc.  Books and baskets were added to show how it could be used.  The childrens' fingerprints were used to form the painted decorations.  Click on the picture to enlarge it and see how cute the little decorations are.

This is a view of the back of the dollhouse/bookshelf.  The names of the children in the class are painted onto the leaves of the tree.

Kate and Carlee, just hanging out with balloons.

It's evident that Kate and Carlee have done some modeling for Aunt Robin.  Carlee seems to have that beauty queen/parade wave going on.

Bathed and ready for bed, the kids are rewarded with a little play time on Mom's and Dad's iphones.  Jax seems content to watch.

So, that's a little about what has gone on at the Bubela household since September.  I only looked in a few folders.  I'll bet I find a lot more folders to go through!