So Jackson gave a talk in church this month and all I can say is his real talk was even cuter than his practice. He did a great job on it.  He's becoming such a good reader.

First day of school

I sobbed.  Maybe you're not surprised but I was.

When I picked him up he seemed a bit disappointed.  I asked him how he went and he said fine in a frustrated way then blurted out "I didn't learn anything new!  They didn't teach me anything."

squeezing it in

first day this summer we've played in the rain.  i love when he convinces me to let him have fun.  it makes me feel cooler.

So what is jackson doing?

Well, one thing he's not doing is going to preschool!  He finished up on Thursday.  He cried.  He might be too much like his mom in some ways.  

 He's also not playing baseball.  He finished that up Monday night.  It was such a great season.  I think he had fun.  Brent was an assistant coach and i think they had great bonding time doing it together.  Brent didn't really want to do it but when we realized if he volunteered we could be on the team with Jackson's preschool friends he did.  He was really happy he did though.

we told jackson to smile.

mildly inappropriate

this was jackson's first time to take a shower. (he's been taking baths with sam.) i'd say he was enjoying himself.

Jackson's 5?

I had a blast on Jackson's birthday. This is him and his friend Hannah Kramer decorating the cake. Jackson asked for a chocolate strawberry cake. When I was trying to figure out how to make such a cake with his grandma and aunt nienie he told me exactly how to make it, with strawberries in between the layers and strawberries on top.Dipping animal crackers in leftover frosting.
it turned into this. the things you get away with on your birthday.
The finished cake. The strawberries on top are in the shape of a 5.
Ok, this was my favorite part of the day. My gym has an indoor pool. We'd never been but it was a BLAST!! It felt so good on my pregnant body plus seeing the kids have so much fun was well worth the little bit of extra effort to get there. It was also so exciting to see Jackson swimming so well. (He's not touching) Can you find Sam? I'm probably a bad mom but he is so good at swimming independently with his float.

I am so so disappointed the audio didn't record for some reason on this video. I guess it screams for some sort of video music montage but it might be worth watching without sound. Sorry, its shaking because I was laughing.

he kept telling me to be careful not to cut his forehead

we went from thisto this.
not quite locks of love but pretty close I'd say. He's wanted his hair this short for a while but I've resisted. I love long hair on boys but I gotta say, I love seeing all the expression in his eyes.

Jackson's practicing for the primary program

my favorite part is when Jesus anointed that prophet in his ear.

The last first day of school picture.

He just started his first real preschool this week. He will not waste his time doing any pose but a cool one.

He keeps making me laugh

Jackson cracks me up. I just thought i'd share more of his thoughts.

He'll often come in our room in the morning before we wake up asking us to get up. Yesterday morning the door opened and he whispered "mom, i know what I want to be when I grow up." Just trying to dismiss him I asked what. (For months he's been telling me he wanted to be a garbage man. Even going so far as to ask for garbage man clothes for Christmas.) He replied with "an octopus." Then closed the door. When brent asked him later in the morning what he would do when he was an octopus he said "wiggle my arms of course. That's all an octopus does."

Last night we were having friends over. I was busy trying to clean up for them. He said "mom did you put on lipstick?" I told him no but thought wow my son thinks I just naturally look good. Then he said "I think you should put on lipstick. I think our friends would like it if you put on lipstick."

Ok, son. Thanks for the advice.

happy mothers day to me!

We had Sunday dinner over at our house for Mother's day. We were watching the Modern Family Mother's day episode when I could hear water and bowls in the kitchen. hmmm.... "Jackson, what are ya doin' sweetie?" "I'm making your Mother's day thing. It's a surprise. Don't come in here." Brent went in to assist with his masterpiece. When I was called in this is what awaited me. A bowl of water with peas, vienna sausages, some sugar, chocolate chips, pecans, and a strawberry (which jackson tasted before he put it in to make sure it was good.)
"Don't you want to taste it mom? I wish I could have some. It looks so yummy."
Then he came at sat on the couch with me and told me he made it for me because he loved me so much and he wanted me to know that.

Even a week later he'll still randomly say "remember that thing i made for you on mother's day? it was so yummy. i wish we still had some more of it."

pledge of allegiance

Jackson's 4!

I wonder whether his birthday is a bigger deal to me or him. Of course he's thrilled. I'm mixed. I know every age has parts that are really exciting and i'm eager to see what four will bring. Man, I loved three though. I mean it was hard but so fun. He says the funniest stuff. Just this morning he said to me "I'm so excited to go show Sam how big I am now!" He said in his prayers the other night "thank you for letting us get to the tree (tree of life after fhe lesson) and thank you that the nephites can't." He's so intense. Talks ALL of the time. He loves attention from anybody that will give it and the biggest compliment he can get is being called silly or funny. not very different from his Dad i'd say with that. In his world there are only best friends and strangers. That's what he tells me. He is so eager to learn new things, from electricity to new words he's embracing this world. He's so excited to be on earf. and, [literally i'm writing w/ my eyes wet with almost tears] I'm so glad he's here on earf with me.

Your son watches too much pbs if....

-he runs inside with a dandelion claiming he's found a between the lion.

-he tells you to turn on p-b-s dot org slash read

-whenever you get upset with him he says "be calm and think things through that is what you need to do."

-he bounces down to breakfast saying "its breakfast tiiiiiime."

-when he "works" in the ditch at the park he hums bob the builder.

-after you tell him he can't have ice cream he responds with "i have to mom. It's in my story see[and while pointing to an imaginary sentence below his face says ] Jackson eats ice cream!"

-if he sees a bridge approaching on the road will scream "time bridge approaching!"

yea-he definitely watches too much pbs. maybe i do too.

rest in peace

or pieces. white kiki was lost shortly after this post. i'm telling you that was the saddest night of my sons life. say what you will about how disgusting it was. i know. but it was jacksons best and dearest friend and comfort. seeing him cry, not out of anger, but genuine deep heart sadness made me cry. a few days later he picked up duckie. duckie has had several names since he joined our family but jackson insists it is a she duckie. i'm not sure how i feel about that.

a very best friend

this is/was what's left of kiki. (this picture was actually taken 3 weeks ago and it seems to be falling apart now at an exponential rate) for those who don't know kiki is is jackson's blanket. we used to swaddle him in it.

i found Jackson asleep like this.

I shouln't have taken the picture. I shouldn't have shown it to so many people. I shouldn't be posting it. I just think it's hilarious. Should I delete this post?

just some of the questions I regularly answer

what cranes can carry? what time it is? did you see that blue truck? what it has in it? why it has bread in it? did you know cranes can carry cars? did you know cranes can carry flowers? where does jesus live? up way high in the sky? when i get bigger i can fly rocket there? is big blue jet bad? can we take grandma rocket some soup? what that crane has? what are supplies? what are clouds? what are trees? what are flowers? what are seeds? and the chickens eat the seeds? what does woman mean? am i a woman? is daddy a woman? when i get big will i be a woman? is sam funny? is he a spitty boy? is he trying to hit me? can cranes carry me? can cranes pick up a house?

yes-my son really likes cranes and we seem to pass a lot of them.

i hear three is the age of questions. we're definitely there.

I sing to Jackson a lot. Did you know that? I guess I'm the lucky sort of mom who has a child who seriously believes that a kiss cures a boo boo and songs will, eventually, make us feel happy again. I don't know many children's songs besides the primary songs. So to all of you who are familiar with them I'll test you in the same way I've been tested over the last couple of weeks. Jackson doesn't know the titles of these popular primary songs just random lines of the songs. He also doesn't know the real words, just guesses what they might be. All of these completely baffled me for a full five minutes at least as he screamed "you do!! you do know it!" I'll give them to you easiest first.

Ponder pray

Always turn a tea

Her peas, her father

Answers:

Search, ponder and pray

Families can be together forever (all eternity)

Love is spoken here (her pleas to the father)

i've learned i need to call them by the real names to keep peace.

Goodnight Jackson

I love routines. I think it's how relationships are nourished and strengthened. Sometimes I'm guilty of rushing through them and not enjoying these moments. Not tonight. I want to remember these times.

Bathtime! He almost never wants to get in and then never wants to get out.

followed by doesn't want to get dressed.

For a brief brief moment my son has combed hair (still with a cowlick though). Also, notice the socks. Both my husband and son insist on sleeping with socks. Isn't that weird!

Daddy's shoulders is a must as well.

and good night kisses.