Potty Humor

It doesn't take much to entertain my child, as is depicted by the pictures below. Ironically, Avery had been "reading" his potty training book that morning. This book was a hand-me-down from someone and the main character in the book who teaches you how to use the potty is actually a girl. This could be a confusing concept in the future, but Avery cracks up every time he presses the button that simulates the sound of a toilet flushing and a little girl giggling, so I keep it around for his (and my) entertainment. So anyways, that morning after playing with his potty book, he randomly decided to visit the toilet section of our bathroom and pull the toilet paper off of the roll, an activity he has never done before. Total coincidence? Or was he influenced by his pee-book? That's for you to decide. I personally think he is practicing for the future when he and his friends go TP'ing (or "rolling", which is what Phil insists it is called in the south). Note to Avery: I am not condoning this activity when you get older. This post better not come back to haunt me. :)

Toddler in Train-ing

Check out Avery's new toy from Ninny & Grandaddy Jean. Avery quickly figured out the appropriate ways to use the train....and the not so appropriate. Mr. Safety, he is not.

Summer Outings

The Children's Museum:
Cypress Gardens:

Downtown Charleston:

Summa Time

"How I Spent My Summer Break", by Avery Jean.

1) Hanging out on the beach with my ATL buddies
2) Hanging out at the pool
3) Wishing I was hanging out at the beach or the pool4) Talking to my girlfriend...
..."man, this chick is crazy!"
5) Taking piano lessons from my Mommy
6) Flying airplanes
7) Eating lots of fresh fruit
8) Looking cool like my Daddy
9) Snuggling with my puppy dog

Sam's Club = Free Child Entertainment

If you are ever looking for a FREE place to let your kid run wild and yell at the top of his lungs during the hot days of summer, look no farther than your local Sam's Club. With seemingly never-ending, wide aisles that are scarcely busy, your kid can run and run and run until he finds the aisle with the 8-foot giant gorillas that act as a makeshift pillow on the floor while he rests until he can find the energy to get up again and go searching for a powder that will absorb all of his sweat. And when all is said and done, he can take one last ride around the store while comfortably snoozing on a bright yellow shag pillow. Now come on, that's just good entertainment.

My Hound Dog, Haley

I often get asked, especially by people who know my dogs, how Avery gets along with the Jean canines. If you asked Avery, he would say, "Great! We have so much fun together and love each other very much!". He would tell you that he has a constant playmate in Willie, someone who will fetch the balls Avery throws or someone to chase in circles around the couch while Willie has a pilfered toy in his mouth. And when Avery is exhausted from all of his shenanigans with the white puppy, he would tell you that he has another dog who likes to cuddle and be petted at Avery's choosing. I'm thinking, however, that if you asked the dogs and they could actually answer back, you might get another story altogether. Willie might tell you that he and Avery aren't necessarily "playing", but that Willie is merely trying to escape yet another Jean member who wants to dominate him and boss him around. And Haley...Haley would straight up tell you without even blinking an eye that she is merely tolerating Avery simply because he is the one who feeds her at breakfast, lunch, and dinner times. Before Avery starting eating table foods, Haley has never eaten so well in her life. So, if she has to sit still for 30 seconds while getting awkward love-pets and the occasional open-mouthed slobbery kiss from a squirmy toddler in order to eat like a king three times a day...well, that's just one she will take for the team.

Safety Day

"Fort"ified Fun

When I was growing up, my brothers and I used to build forts when the weather was bad...in Cleveland, Ohio, this would be when it was either raining cats and dogs or when there was three feet of snow on the ground and school was finally cancelled. I think Avery is going to have a very different childhood than me. Apparently, we now build forts when it is too stinkin' hot to even think about leaving the house to go to the grocery store.

Fort Jean.

"Here I am, Mommy!"

No girls allowed!!

Avery makes an exception for Mommy (sorry, Haley).

Avery loves going in and out of the fort.

Our fort loses a little height after Avery starts tearing down load-bearing supports. Do you see Avery's head?