Craigslist rocks...

We've been trying to think of some good outdoor toys to keep Jackson busy. Keeping Jackson busy, means more time for yardwork and gardening for Mom and Dad. Yesterday I checked out Craigslist and found a basketball hoop for $10. I thought it was a pretty good deal, so after work I made a trip out to White Bear Lake and picked up our used, but in pretty good condition, Little Tykes Basketball Hoop. And here is Jackson's first basket, swish!

Ron is dressed in his softball uniform in this photo. Tonight was the first game of the season, and despite the unusually low temperature, we made it out for the first half of the game. Grandma and Grandpa Horwath even met us out at the game too. We left too early to find out if Ron's team won, so the results are pending (Update: They won 13-10). Ron is now out with the team catching up with the guys over cocktails, Jackson is sound asleep, and I am home on the couch watching the Twins (a game that looks promising).

A speedy weekend...

Our out-of-state readers are going to love this:

Despite the SNOW, we got out and had a fun, fast and memorable weekend. Jackson "helped" my dad plant a tree, we went to the MN Zoo, to the Woodbury Indoor Park (again) and blew bubbles outside. Here are some photos to document our fun:

P.S. The subject line of this post pays tribute to my tendency to always be in a rush, and the corresponding citation I received over the weekend. I think my weekends from here on out, shouldn't be so speedy.

Planting a tree with Grandpa

Look at those sharks, Mom!

Jackson's first solo slide

Weeeeeee!


And, Jackson's latest word: "Bub-lzzz"

Lookout boys...

Today my cousin Lisa and I took our little guys to Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground in Woodbury. What a place! The boys had a great time running in caves and hiding out in the tube jam. We'll be back there on the next rainy day like today.

Here is Jackson playing peek in the tube

As soon as his shoes were off, so was Lukey

A health update...

Jackson went into the pediatrician yesterday, only to find he has ANOTHER double ear infection. We've switched to a more general antiobiotic and are going to take it for a longer period of time (14 days). I hope this does the trick. But it was also suggested that we take Jackson to an ENT (ear, nose and throat)doctor to discuss to option of having tubes put in. We are going to do some research and ask some folks we know that have been through it to see if this is the route we'd like to take. We have an appointment with the ENT in early May, and we'll go from there.

Finally adding photos

It's been a while since I've uploaded photos from the camera. Here are some photos from last weekend.

Here is a photo of Jackson's newest trick, opening doors

Jackson helping to mop the floor

While Ron and I did yard work on Sunday, this is what kept Jackson busy for a couple of hours!

Ready to get his own chore list...

I have to share our latest "first".

After dinner tonight I was treating myself to a dilly bar, from the pack I bought when it started to show signs of spring. While sitting on the couch, my dilly bar wrapper in my lap, I was enjoying some good memories of my days of slinging blizzards and mastering the D.Q. curl when Jackson took the wrapper off of my lap, brought it to the kitchen and threw it in the garbage can!! All on his own, no prompting! We couldn't believe it. He learns so fast, without even teaching, it's amazing.

A fever again...

Jackson woke up with a slight fever yesterday morning, but seemed to do alright. We had a great day playing outside, going for a walk, getting yard work done, and having a scrumptious dinner off of the grill (steak, asparagus, and a salad). Jackson really loves the asparagus.

On a side note: We all know what asparagus does to our urine. I find it interesting though that the same does not happen for Jackson?!?!?

Last night Jackson had a fever again before bed, so we gave him some Tylenol. After every dropper full Jackson says "More, more" while signing frantically. When I was a kid, I was that way with Pepto Bismal, couldn't get enough of the stuff. Ick.

The Tylenol didn't do the trick and he woke up again this morning with a thermometer reading of 101.8. We tried Motrin this time. I guess we'll see what happens next.

It seems odd to me that he keeps getting these fevers without much else for symptoms.

Jackson learns his first Sesame Street character...

Our Friday night adventure consisted of dinner at Noodles and Company and a trip through Half Priced Books. While to some that doesn't sound like a good time, but for those that know me, know that Half Priced Books is in my top ten list of favorite places to shop. As Ron headed to the woodworking section, I took Jackson to the children's section. As I was looking at the book spines for some appealing titles, Jackson kept saying "em-o" "em-o" and pointing. I looked up to find a Sesame Street book with Elmo and Cookie Monster on the cover facing us. "Elmo?" I said to Jackon, and he repeated it back to me. I brought Ron over the Elmo book with us, and again Jackson said "Em-O".

Where did my kid learn who Elmo was?

I suppose it could have been at school. Or do any babysitters want to fess up?

So, our newest word to add to the vocabulary list is:
Elmo -- "Em-O"

Opening doors and a go bug...

Jackson's latest trick is opening doors. The bedroom, the bathroom and the upstairs are no longer off limits for this little terror. He has figured out how to turn our glass knobs on the first try, every time. It's a whole new world, for both Jackson and for Mom and Dad!

Spring has finally sprung! We took Jackson out for his first bike ride in spring, 2008. As we tooled up the street, Jackson complained and kicked his Stride Rites. I'm not sure if it was because by the time the bikes were taken down and the tires inflated, we were inching closer to bed time, or if he just isn't the next Lance Armstrong. More on this to come.

A Horwath update...

I'm hoping that with winter coming to an end it also means the end of our sickness. I can't wait to open up the windows and clear our house of germs. For the last week I have been sick. Dr. Scanlon decided to treat me for pneumonia; since I had all of the symptoms but one (I was still at 88% oxygen intake). A pneumonia patient typically has a much lower oxygen level than that. However, the rest of my symptoms and the sound of my cracklin' lungs led to her decision to treat me for pneumonia, anyway.

I don't think it's fair for moms to get sick. It feels never-ending since there just isn't time to sit back and relax and take care of yourself. On Monday Ron came home from work early to help out and yesterday he took Jackson to his parent's while he hit balls at the batting cages so I could get a little more rest. He even brought home Jello pudding pops for me on his lunch hour, what a swell guy!

But all of this is not enough... I just want to lay in bed for a week and get better! An entire week of dosing off in between horrible episodes of whatever daytime television has to offer is what I need.

But I will keep the ship running at 65% at least.

The latest stats...

We took the boy to the doctor again today, but this morning's visit was his 15 month check up. The stats came in as follows:

Height: 31.75 inches (75%)
Weight: 24 pounds, 14 oz. (50%)
Head: 47.4 cm (55%)

This has been about where he has been tracking all along, I hope it continues!

Jackson's latest vocabulary additions:

Owl - "owl"
Daddy: "What does an owl say?"
Jackson: "ooo"

No - "no, no, no" (all while shaking his little finger)

We've realized that his "no, no, no") has become a problem. While at Eagle's Nest earlier in the week, he told the other kids "no, no, no" when they were doing something he didn't like. This is something we need to nip in the bud!

A slight change of plans...

So my Tuesday's plan was a bit spoiled. Jackson did not go off to daycare while Ron went off to work. Jackson hasn't been feeling well and we just couldn't shake the fever come Tuesday morning, so into Dr. Mayrand's office we went. And as usual as soon as Jackson saw the first person in scrubs, he started screaming, and the screaming didn't stop until we got to the car. Not even while we stood in the lobby at the InstyMeds machine waiting for our antibiotic to come out to start clearing up Jackson's double ear infection. So no relaxing selfish day filled with massages, scrapbooking, reading and whatever else I felt like doing for me.

I had hoped though that the day at home and starting meds would clear up some of Jackson's symptoms. But no such luck, he woke up again today with a fever of 101.3... and Tylenol or the alternating Motrin doesn't seem to knock the fever out. Alas, we'll keep on trying.

A photo contest...

Here are some photos from late last week and this week. This little guy is just so cute in my eyes, I can't stop clicking the camera.

My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!
"I'm a lion, ROAR!"
Starring Jackson Horwath as Blue Bucket Head
"My Daddy can out-build your Daddy, he built me this super cool chalkboard/drawing easel!"
My Mom and Dad thought it would be real cool to make orange jello in the shape of triangles and stars, but I wasn't a fan

A little R&R...

Ron and I celebrated our three year anniversary by spending the weekend at Superior Shores, in Two Harbors, MN. It was a relaxing retreat, but we managed to keep ourselves busy, putting 650 miles on our Hyundai Santa Fe. We drove from Two Harbors, to Gooseberry Falls, to the International Wolf Center in Ely, to Sven and Ole's in Grand Marais. We learned a lot, ate good food, saw 138 deer, and spent some good quality time together.

Jackson spent the weekend at his Grandma Leier's getting spoiled! He took a trip to Como Zoo with his Great Aunt Mell, Uncle Terry and Cousin Luke... from the photos, it looked like he had a great time!

Ron and I missed him terribly, and were so happy to see him on Sunday afternoon.

We still have one more day together as a family, tomorrow. And on Tuesday while Ron is off at work, and Jackson is off at school, I will be home relaxing and heading to Maplewood White Bear Chiropractic, for a massage!

New vocab words...

Words
Ball -"alllll"
Duck - "du"
Hat - "at" while patting head
Hi - "hi"
Uh Oh - "uh oh"
Daddy - "daddy"
Peas - "eeeez"
Cheese - "cheeez"
More - "more"
Frog - "og"
Dog - "dawww"
Socks - "aaacs"
Diaper - "dada"
Fish - "ishy"
Water - "ah er" while pointing to cheek
Cookie - "cookie"
Broccoli - "acklli"
Keys - "eeeys"
Banana - "dada"
Apple - "ahh" (we are still working on the second syllable)

Signs
Hat
More
Milk
Play
All Done
Bye Bye
Sleep
Eat
Bath
Water

Sounds
Moo (cow)
Woof (dog)
Roar Roar (lion)
Vrroooom (car)
Ooh Ooh Aah Aah (monkey)

Smarter than a fifth grader...

You are 90% Smarter than a fifth grader.

 

You are smarter than a fifth grader. no doubt. There is no need for you to retake school. Keep on doing your brain excersise like sudokus and crossword puzzles, and you'll soon be smarter than a sixth grader! Good work!

are you smarter than a fifth grader?
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