Jex/Ross family=0, Stomach Virus= 5

July 23: I will spare you all the details but I had to document this week’s unexpected and unappreciated visitor…the stomach virus.  We believe Austin brought it home from Daycare on Friday, not a normal school day for him it was just an unlucky random drop-in.  He got really sick Saturday night/Sunday morning and was over it- lucky dude.  We thought his tummy didn’t agree with dinner until we heard about other friends at Daycare getting sick too.  Monday night as I was working in my office in Jackson, I got it……by 4am Zach had it in Natchez and was in the hospital getting an IV by noon…by Wednesday Dad got it…and Thursday mom started feeling bad.  Oh and we can’t forget that we gave it to Mom’s maid, oops.

No good, very bad week!

Clark Kent turns ONE!

 

I will let these adorable pics of Clark Kent at his birthday party speak for themselves.  Austin had a great time with family as we celebrated the BIG ONE! No first birthday would be complete without a superman cape, a bunch of sugar, and a loving family to kiss all over our little sugared-up superhero.

Here are some of the fun shots we took while trying to get the perfect invitations picture.  It was hilarious.  Zach and I were jumping around like monkeys trying to distract Austin so he would keep the glasses on.  No dice.  He only left them on for one, but that is all we needed!

 

 

Birthday Party Time!!!!

 

What superhero is complete without a cape?

 Kellen and JuJu Bean 

 My new wagon from G Pa and Yeah Yeah

 Uncle Vic and Aunt Kate

New tradition- for his playroom wall.

We had "faces of Austin" everywhere!

 

Cake Time!

Austin needed help so Julia Claire was happy to step in and help eat cake!

 SUGAR RUSH!

The aftermath...

 The Jex kids and Grandkids

 Taking JuJu Bean on a ride in my wagon!

I love wagon rides!  I made mommy take me the next morning.

Annual Beach Trip

July 7: This year we stacked our vacations back to back and did something totally unprecedented in the world of Shannon and Zach and took an entire week of vacation!  It was GLOREAOUS.  We met Steve and Sue at the condo in Gulf Shores and took in some much needed rays!  At one point Zach and I were laying on a raft in the ocean and I thought to myself-  I have not been this relaxed or carefree in years.  Sue and Steve jumped at any opportunity to watch little man so Zach and I got a lot of quality time together on the beach and at the pool.  We had a great time with Austin and he loved the baby pool.  I have to brag on my sweet child so I can look back at this later when the tables may have turned---he was the most amazing child the entire vacation.  He took long naps in the car and would wake happy and giggly and rarely fussed.  Also everytime we went out to eat he was excellent even after having to wait over an hour for a table at most places. We couldn’t ask for a more flexible and easy going kid.

 

At LuLu's for Dinner

Early morning breakfast on the beach with my lil man

Mr. Personality around the condo, he just hammed it up for Yeah Yeah and G pa!

Our annual breakfast at Tacky Jacks 

Throwing them back

Let's close talk Yeah Yeah.  So sweet

 Sue and I went on a para-sailing adventure one day with Zach’s half-sister Dawn.  It was really fun and we could see for miles.  I recently decided that is about it for me, I always thought I wanted to skydive and/or bungee jump however with age came fear…or maybe it’s really wisdom.  Call it what you want but I have too many important people down on solid ground to chance jumping through the air.

Father's Day

 It was Zach’s first real Father’s Day and we had a very special day with 2 very special guys, our dads!  We went to Bastrop for a fun day in the sun by the pool at G Pa’s house.  Sue made us an awesome lunch and we spent the rest of the time relaxing in the pool watching Austin swim around. Austin loved being out there so much.  He actually fell asleep right there poolside and took a nap on his Cars cot.

As a gift for all 3 dads, Austin and I made these frames.  Each one spells their name…Papa. Dada and G-Pa.