Jackson

Jackson is definitely a bundle of energy these days making life a little challenging for those around him.  He doesn't listen and needs to be told again and again to do something leaving us pulling our hair out just getting out of the door.  Every day is a challenge but I'm hoping that these characteristics, while not great ones for a child will make him a very successful adult.

Thankfully when he's at school, it's a different story.  His teachers tell me he is always the first one sitting on the line with a bubble in his mouth (meant to keep him quiet) and follows directions very well.  I don't know what their secret is but I'm just glad to hear he is capable.

I wish that I had the time to write everything that he says down or the memory to hold onto the most entertaining tidbits.  For instance today on the way to school, provoked by nothing he says:

Jackson: I'm going to not live here someday.
Mom: Why?  Where are you going?
Jackson: Someday I'm going to live at college.
Mom:  Yes, you will someday.
Jackson: But it's okay, I'll bring a phone and call you guys.

I then asked him if he was going to go to college in Minnesota or if he intended to go somewhere in another state.  He assured me that he would stay in Minnesota so I didn't need to drive very far to go see him.  Thankfully we have loads good schools to choose from in Minnesota so I don't need to push him any farther from the nest.  It's hard to believe that someday we will be empty-nesters... right now as I look around my kitchen-- it's a mess!  Sippy cups lining the sink, a bucket of snacks under the kitchen table and breakfast scraps on the floor... I will miss all of these things greatly when the kids aren't making their messes throughout my home.

Grayson

Jackson is now getting to the age that having friends really matters to him.  He is happy to play with his mom, dad and baby sister... but playing with friends is far more exciting. He talks about which of the kids at school are his friends and who he likes to play with Joe, Ethan and Issac are some of the more frequently mentioned ones and he sometimes talks about helping Caley and Julia with the soap dispenser in the bathroom.

The other day we were looking at photos in Jackson's room. He has a picture of himself as a baby, one sledding with his dad and one of him and Grayson on his shelf.  He was telling me about them all and when we came to the one of Grayson, he said "this is me with my best friend!"  I thought it was cute and pretty cool that we have friends with a boy so close to Jackson's age to play with.

 A couple weeks ago we had Grayson over to celebrate his birthday. (Ron had mixed up the dates of Grayson's birthday party and so we had our own).  They both climbed into the toy box that Ron built for Jackson:

A horse named princess...

Jackson says: I'd like to wish wish for a horse, a horse of my very own. I want to get up in the morning and ride my horse every day before breakfast. When I get my horse, I will name her princess. That's a pretty name for a horse, isn't it mom?

Mom: Yes son, it is. It's a beautiful name for a horse. (snicker-snicker)

Likes and Dislikes...

Jackson likes: playing sharks at school, the color blue, drinking juice, wearing Woody (Toy Story) socks, anything pirates, trying to write his name, slumber parties at Grandma's, chinese food, watching Cars, swimming at the MCC with Dad, spiking his hair and playing Playmobil.

Jackson doesn't like: riding a bike with training wheels, taking long naps, pizza, grown-up toothpaste and sleeping alone.

Addie likes: feeding herself, cheese, tickles, pickles, dancing to music, swinging, hanging upside-down, green beans, playing with balls, bread, taking baths, eating paper, Jackson's bean bag chair, and her pacifier.

Addie doesn't like: baby gates, being hungry and teething.

Preschooler...

I've been meaning to write this post for some time now, but can't seem to find the time to devote to it. So before he enters kindergarten, I'd better make at least an attempt to tell you all about his first day of preschool.

Jackson started preschool a few weeks ago already now. We had been driving by his school for a couple of weeks telling him that it was going to be his new school, he was very excited. After a couple of times, he'd point out his "new school" to us.

The week before school started we brought him in for a free play time at his school so that we could meet his teachers and he could slowly acclimate a bit. I was very nervous that he would be too rough with the other kids and his new teachers would groan over the new boy coming too school that would be a challenge. Jackson did okay though and was excited about going back to spend more time with his new friends.

The first day of school went fabulously according to his teachers. Jackson however had a different story. He seemed to only dwell on the things he didn't like: He didn't like lunch (though he couldn't remember what was served) and he most certainly didn't like nap time. I'd ask what he liked about school and again he'd tell me that he "didn't like lunch and he really didn't like nap time." Day two and three got a little better. Then on day four Ron brought him to school, and he cried and cried and dad had to break free from his grip and leave him there.

Oh that's so sad, I felt horrible for both the guys in my life. I thought by the next week, it'd get better but we spent one full week of Jackson gripped to my legs as I walked out the door. He told me one day that he had to sit in the "sad area until he could stop crying." Oh if that doesn't make a mother cry. I even started to ponder how I could stay home with him.

But the next week was better! And ever since, he's been doing great: he loves playing with new friends, has gone on a field trip to Lookout Ridge, is great at making crafts, brought in a picture of his big apple for sharing time, has worn a cowboy hat for crazy hat day and showed up in his space shuttle pajamas for pajama day!

And a parent's proudest moment: Last week when I picked him up, his whole class was sitting in a row waiting for their name to be called to play. I walked over to one of the teachers who said, "he's so good!" I did a double take and thought to myself, is she speaking of my kid??!! What? And then she goes on about how well he listens and follows directions.

GET OUT?!?!

I'm so happy to learn that he's a good kid at school. I hope the listening improves at home in the process.

Camping at Lake Elmo

Well we took another camp adventure all the way to Lake Elmo! Along for the ride were: Grandma Pam and Bill, Mell, Terry and Luke, Tinker, Nancy and Malak. We've had some bad luck camping, but this one takes the cake. To begin with I have allergies, I don't like to admit this because I've never had allergies. Well it's time to face facts: whatever is in the air outside in August makes me sneeze and sneeze and then sneeze again. And while I sneeze I itch my poor throbbing eyes.

Things were going pretty smooth, the camper was set up, we'd had dinner and Addie took a bath in the dishpan! After dinner though we had some visitors at our campsite; the good ol' mosquito and friends came out to play and they didn't play fair and in the end we forfeited and went to bed early. After quite the task of getting kids to sleep in 90 degree temperatures with high humidity, we woke in the morning and got a good start to the day, however my allergies were getting worse. We enjoyed a bike ride, ate some snacks and headed to the beach. We had a lovely time swimming and the kids were great.

At this point I had made many runs back and forth to the bathroom with Jackson, which was a block away. Sometimes I would run with him in my arms, sometimes I would bike him down in the trailer, sometimes my mom or Ron would take him. Sometimes he would make it in time, sometimes he would not... wait... I think more often than not... he wouldn't make it. Oh wait, let's clarify: he never made it!

At 5:30 pm on Saturday night we were plum out of underwear or pants for the boy. We were frustrated, sneezing parents and had already decided that we would leave after bonfire that night. And then he pooped. He pooped and we packed up the camper.

We got kids in the car, hitched up the trailer, said our sad goodbyes and off we went, looking forward to our air-conditioned house and beds. While Addie screamed (too tired and hungry) Jackson fell asleep before we even left the park.

Thump, Thump, Thump!!! What the hell is that???

A flat tire.

You have got to be kidding me.

You're not?

Damn.

Flat tire.

We pull over and while the sun beats down on him, Ron works to change our flat tire on the trailer (without a jack). I hold a screaming Addie. Wait, she's screaming AND grunting.

Lovely. The girl has pooped.

So I change a stinky diaper and Ron finishes the tire change.

Two wheels! (Okay, four)

The boy is growing so fast and in some ways I feel sad for the toddler he no longer is, but excited for the boy he's becoming. As he rode away from me for the first time on his new bike tears rolled down my face. I don't cry easily, never at a Hallmark commercial but seeing my first baby turning into a little boy is hard for me to accept some days.

Jackson was a little leery at first about shopping for a new bike but he did show some excitement. He's a cautious kid and at this time scares easily and is afraid of new things. I was fully prepared to have Ron spend the time constructing the bike and Jackson refusing to get on it. However, this time was different, Jackson was excited to try out the new bike. He got on after some instruction from Dad and before we knew it, he was doing circles around Dad's van.

Jackson even rode down the block with me to get our mail and all the way back on his own. I'm so proud of that boy. And I think I told him so oh.... sixteen times last night!