Hi, from Jackson!

70 degrees = Must Play Outside!

Jackson and Ben - sweet boys. :)

Hex Bugs!

It's Jackson's new "thing" thanks to Uncle Dave and Aunt Carla. And now, it's Ethan's new "thing."  I love watching these two playing together.  Jackson doesn't realize the shadow he has with him now - but I know he loves his little buddy.

Bossy Bookworm

That's our new name for Ethan.  I keep being told, "that's so good that he likes to read books!" or "awh... that's so sweet." or "they say that's so good for them..." Yes, Yes, Yes... I know.  It IS good that he likes to read - and he gets an abundance of just that.  Ethan's desire - or should I say DEMAND - of book reading is a little extreme.  Ethan wants you to read to him nonstop and forEVER.  One day recently, J and E's nap schedule was all messed up so it was just me and Ethan for awhile - so I thought - let's see how long this can last.  It last AN HOUR AND HALF!  Finally, I had to call timeout.  Mommy needed a timeout!  One of those books - we read at least 10 times.  It's exhausting!  And if you stop reading, or get up to do something else... say to the bathroom, for instance - he screams his little red head off and throws a monster tantrum.... Oh boy... this boy... he's a one-of-a-kind.  I love Daddy's new nickname for him.. Very fitting!
 

Boo to Boo-Boos.

I've been properly warned - especially by my mother-in-law who had 2 boys who are 2 and half years apart - similar to mine.  I've been told all about how rowdy boys are and fearless.  I know all about how they hurt themselves a lot, etc etc etc.  ETC.  However, when it's actually happening to your "babies" - the shock doesn't go away.   This week has been one of those weeks for us.  Ethan hurt himself at school on Tuesday - he fell and busted up his lip.  Wednesday, we were playing at a neighbors' and Ethan walked behind a swing that was being pushed and landed a cute little cut on his head.  Then, he was getting down from a table and scraped up his belly from a splinter of wood.  Thursday,  I went to pick up Jackson from MDO and the teacher said he fell off the playset and has a swelled bump by his eye that was likely to bruise.  Then, that afternoon we were playing outside and Jackson and Ethan were riding around in Jackson's truck.  Jackson stopped to talk to a friend and while he had his head turned, Ethan started to climb out of the truck.  J didn't know and started the truck again and Ethan fell out of it - hard... landing on his back and slammed the back of his head.  NOT a good image for a mommy to witness.  I just don't think you can get used to it.  I like to think that I'm not a worry wart mom... I don't "freak out" when they fall - I think I've taught them to dust off their scrapes and bumps and get up and go back to play... But when Ethan fell that last time, my heart was racing and I can honestly say - I was scared.  Like most parents, I pray everyday that my boys stay safe and I know without a doubt at all, that Jackson and Ethan have little angels walking through this world with them.  I am very very grateful for that.  Those angels may be keeping me from having a heart attack. :)

We HEART Holiday.

Occasionally we get to meet up w/ our buddies in the neighborhood and play at the playground for a little while.. and last week, we got to play a little w/ one of Jackson's favorite people on the planet - Holiday.  :)  Holiday turns 5 this week and we absolutely adore everything about her.  She is the girliest tomboy on the planet.  She is a perfect girl to play w/ the boys and everything they do and then she can turn around and get dressed up and prissy - she reminds me of me.  :) Jackson thinks she's the coolest chick on the planet.   We had fun playing w/ her and Ethan tried really hard to keep up.  He enjoyed going down the slide on his belly.  And J and H did some acrobats for us!  Fun times!

My precious boys.

These two are truly best friends.  When I see them being sweet to each other like this, it makes my whole body smile - every bad thing that has happened is gone and anything I was worried about before that moment, disappears.  These boys are such great kids and I am truly so blessed to get to be their mommy.

 

Pajama Day!

Yesterday was Pajama Day at Jackson's school.... this is the pirate face he gave me.

Tulsa Aquarium!

Saturdays in the winter are usually one of our "lazy days" at home with Daddy or we decide to do something fun that we rarely do - so last Saturday, we decided to go visit the Tulsa Aquarium!  We had never been and invited Ben to go with us and we were excited when the Burrow's all decided to come!  I knew Jackson would enjoy it even more with Ben in tow.  :)  They fed the turtles and the stingray...It was a really nice aquarium!  Ethan absolutely loved it- and loved Daddy holding him through the whole thing.  Definitely a good place to visit!

 These pics didn't turn out well because it was so dark in this place and I couldn't get the lighting right - but if you look close in these pics - these crazy boys were standing in front of a HUGE shark exhibit... Giant sharks swimming all around them.  A pretty cool sight!

A Train For Mimi/Poppy

Imagine this:  Jackson likes to draw trains.  Surprised!?  Didn't think so.  :)  He made a special drawing for Mimi and Poppy this week to thank them for some special gifts that he has gotten recently. He was very detailed with his drawings - each train has a funnel, wheels, steam and a face - along with a track.  On Thomas, he wrote the "1" on it and on James, he "had" to draw the tender and then he put the "5" on the tender - exactly where it's supposed to be. After he drew the "5" he said, "mommy, that kind of looks like an s" - very true. And to my surprise, he agreed to write the names on the drawing.  So I was meaning that he should write "to mimi" and "to poppy" but Jackson found this unacceptable.  He said he would only write the NAME of the train that was on the drawing.  Well, ok then. So I told him the individual letters and he wrote them down to spell out "Thomas" and "James" - but other than that, he wrote it himself!  I'm really getting excited that he seems to be finally showing some interest in writing!  He was especially excited that the word "Thomas" has an O, A and S in them "just like MY name!"  Sweet boy loves Thomas.

Cat Crazy!

These adorable little fur balls are driving me crazy.  Ryan and I got Calvin and Hobbes when we first got married - one week after we moved to Sacramento.  They were 6 wks old, litter mates (meaning true brothers from the same litter) and we had been married about 6 wks by that point, so we always say our anniversary is their birthday.  That means that this May, they will be 10 years old.  They are driving me bonkers.  I do still love them, but after now having real babies, their constant need of attention weighs on me.  The last year or so, they have started puking up hair balls DAILY - and EVERYWHERE.  My bed has been attacked so many times and so we closed them off of all bedrooms now and more recently, they hit up my coffee table, dresser, and dining room chair.  Oh and the carpet in our house - ugh. Highly annoying.  Their cat hair fills our house - they are Maine Coons so they have tons and tons of nonstop shedding hair.  And Calvin - he's just a plain BRAT.  He will purposely destroy (bite through) any wire that he sees if he thinks it will get your attention.  You have no idea how many phone chargers we had to go through.  He will whine and cry when he doesn't get something he wants - including if he has been shut out of somewhere he wants to be. I'm complaining because after saying all that, they are still part of our family and should be included in this blog occasionally.  

However, if any of you are looking for a kitty....  Just Kidding.... 

I think.

Tube Time.

Ethan has shown a little more interest in the TV (again, I'm NOT encouraging it) but it is a little bit of a relief from two very hyper little boys who are finally feeling better... At least it's a help when I'm trying to cook dinner! I find it funny that Ethan sat on the table like this for about 45 minutes straight.  Obviously, Lightening McQueen caught his attention.  YAY for being able to prepare dinner again.  :)

Just chillin...

In our 500 Benz... I mean, our PJ's.

Jackson, the puppy.

Jackson's new thing is that he is a puppy... all.the.time.  Seriously!  It was great the first few days... but now this darn puppy wants to always play ball and eat and drink and play nonstop.  This puppy doesn't talk but grunts and barks all the time.... ugh. 

 

At least he's a REALLY cute puppy.

Happy Valentines Day!

 

For Valentines Day, I got a wish I've been wishing for for a long time!  Jackson wrote his name on a Valentine, all by himself.  I had to note it and take a picture because it's a very special day.  He has written his name w/ assistance many times - where I'd have my hand on the pencil w/ him and practice, practice, practice... but this time, he was insistent that I do NOT touch it and let him do it himself.  I did stand over him and encourage him to not get too big or too small w/ his letters so it looked like his actual name, but I did not touch his pen this time!!  I think he did a GREAT job!  Happy V-Day!!!

Jackson's First Sleepover!

On Friday night, Jackson got to have his first sleepover at a friends' house!  I didn't tell him until about 15 minutes before we left that he got to go spend the night at his best buddy Ben's house.  Emily was very VERY brave for taking on - not just Jackson - but Jackson AND Cole too!  I can't believe how great it went too!  They painted special t-shirts and got matching puppy pillows with their names on them! They had fun in the bath tub and everyone slept thru the night perfectly! Emily shared some pictures w/ me (thanks!!) and I'm sure on her blog she'll have complete details of this fun night!  Jackson is still talking about "if I'm really good, can I go back to Ben's house and stay the night?" Gotta love that!