Overheard

Jackson on the telephone with his Aunt Lori.

Aunt Lori: Hi Jackson!

Jackson: Hi Aunt Yodi!

Aunt Lori: Did you have a fun day?

Jackson: Yeah, I have fun day!

Aunt Lori: Did you use your big boy potty today?

Jackson: YES! I do it! I did it! I say UUUUHH UUUHH (mimicking going #2)

Aunt Lori: Wow!

Uh, potty training.

Happy

Jackson: Mommy, I happy!

Mom: Really? Good!

Jackson: You happy, mommy?

Mom: Yes, Jackson, I am happy.

Jackson: Big Grin

Thanks for reminding me how happy I am, baby boy!

Lame Rules

Since Jasper is still a little kid, and still in Elementary School, we have rules that he doesn't like much. In short, we have lame rules.

Lame rule #1

No listening to your headphones in one ear, while pretending to listen to me with the other ear. While wearing your flat cap backwards and dancing/bouncing around.

This is lame because Jasper says he is really listening!

Lame rule #2

No wearing your shorts BELOW YOUR BUM. I thought this fad died out years ago, but no it is still very much going on.

This is lame because Jasper can't help it because his shorts are too small and we must buy him new ones.

Lame rule #3

Bed time at 9:00! Which really means close to Ten, after he gets in his jammies, brushes his teeth, and reads. Because remember Jasper is a master of delay tactics.

This is lame because he is too old for such a baby bed time.

Lame rule #4

Cell phone use. We have an extra cell phone that is super cheap and part of a super cheap family plan, that we let him use on occasion. When he is someplace without a phone, or someplace he is not too familiar with, etc, he gets to use it.

This is lame because ALL his friends have their own phones, and he NEEDS one ALL THE TIME .

Lame rule #5

On the occasions when he has access to the extra cell phone he loves to text his friends, which is fine. We did draw the line on texting girls however, since he is still just a kid. Mostly because we are scared of the idea of him and girls.

This is lame because he has lots of friends that are girls, and this means we are SEXIST.

When Jasper accused us of being sexist because of our no girl texting policy, we laughed and laughed.

Then we tried explaining how he had it wrong, and defined sexism for him.

He came back with my all time favorite argument. "It is SEXIST! I can even get a lawyer to tell you. And I can get a quote from a lawyer that says how SEXIST this is!"

Of course we laughed and laughed again. Sometimes it is super fun to have lame rules.

Funny Boys

I'm listening to my two boys arguing right now, over who is more funny.

Jasper: I'm funny!

Jackson: No, I funny!

Jasper: No, I'm funny!

Jackson: No, I funny TOO!!

And so on.

Jasper loves to get Jackson to argue with him.

It's pretty easy, all you have to say is "I'm ____" and then Jackson always comes back with "No, I _____," in return.

He thinks its especially funny to make him say silly things like "No, I snot nose," or "No, I booger face."

I love my boys.

Basketball boys

Jasper and Jackson are both huge fans of basketball.

Jasper is playing in his 3rd basketball league so far this YEAR. Yes, 3rd.

We are that crazy.

Honestly it doesn't take up much time, and he really enjoys it.

He loves LeBron James, no matter how much David and I try to talk him out of it.

Jackson in the meantime is loving his new basketball potty. Although it doesn't quite work the way he wants it to.

There are worse things for a kid to love than basketball, that's for sure.

It's a ...

GIRL!

I'm so excited for dresses and bows. She can like balls and snakes too, as long as she sometimes gets to wear dresses and bows.

We are all super excited.

20 more weeks to go!

What's your vote?

I’m pregnant - 20 weeks.

This Friday, I get to find out what our new baby will be. Boy, or girl.

What’s your vote?

Some facts to consider:

• This pregnancy has been remarkably easier than my first.
• The difference in pregnancies could be because it is a different sex than Jackson,
• or because I have been exercising regularly (as opposed to my sit and get fat exercise method last time).
• the difference could also be because I was just wimpier and whinier before and just thought I had it tough.

Boy or girl, we are very excited!

Tell me what your guess is in the comments below.

Middle School

Jasper starts middle school next year, and he is already registered. AAH! How did I become a mother to a kid in Jr. High? The school he goes to includes 7th, 8th and 9th, but is still called a Middle school, I'm not sure why.

I'm pretty excited for him, but more than a little nervous. 7 classes. How is he going to keep track of all that (how am I gonna keep track of all that). He has a hard enough time in elementary turning all his stuff in on time, and remembering all assignments (since he never writes in the planners they give him). Scary!

My cuddly bear

Jackson is the sweetest baby and loves to cuddle. We just moved him into his "big boy" bed and he has been so brave and has slept there every night for about 2 weeks.

When I ask him what he dreamed about he always says "Jesus!" I don't know how true his answer is, but it is super cute and I love it.

He is far from perfect, however. Try to get this kid to try a sandwich, a piece of bread, or heaven forbid the toddler staple Macaroni and Cheese - and you'll want to pull your hair out.

Jackson and Jasper sharing headphones in the car

Lately he has shown a lot of interest in going potty. I have been kind of lazy about it, and haven't really taken his interest and started heavy duty potty training.

The other day he yelled to me "mommy I poo poo ing!" So I ran him upstairs and he finished his poo poo on the potty. He was so proud. "Mommy I did it!" so I ran to get him a new diaper and a treat.

When I came back I unfortunately found two fresh piles of poop on the carpet outside the bathroom. He was so proud. "Mommy I poopoo on da gwound!"

I almost lost it. No, I did lose it, I screamed and he cried and it was a mess (literally).

I think potty training is a little overrated anyway. I'd rather clean up a diaper than the carpet any day!

One year old basement

I've had a basement now for one year! I had a whole "I love you basement" post written and ready to post, and then our water main broke and I got really angry and started to hate the basement.

It is all fixed now, so I can say again that I love the basement, but I am not looking forward to our next disaster, which will inevitably come.

That's what happens when you live in a 50+ year old home!

So, thank you David for my wonderful basement, my wonderful roof (which in May will have its 2 year anniversary!), and wonderful home. Hard to believe that just a little over a year ago Jackson was still sleeping in the dining room, and all our furniture and chaos was stuffed into the front room.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This was Jasper’s last year to give out Valentine’s day cards at school. I honestly hate buying them and getting them ready, but I tried to have fun with it this year.

I got him NBA valentines to pass out, which came with washable tattoos instead of gross candy hearts. So the evening before he had to pass them out, David, Jasper and I got them all ready, folded and addressed. I then told him to immediately go and put them in a bag, and put them in his backpack so he wouldn’t forget them. I then headed out the door for my nightly run (I’ve been going to the gym consistently, yeah me!).

In the morning as I was getting Jackson ready and yelling out reminders for Jasper to brush his teeth, I made sure he had his valentines. He hadn’t put them in his backpack immediately the night before (of course) but he did have them in a bag, so he quickly grabbed that bag and we headed out.


When I asked him how Valentine’s day went – and If he passed out his cards, he avoided eye contact and mumbled “It was fine.” I asked again – did you pass out the valentines?

He then went on to explain that when he went to grab his sack of Valentines that morning, he accidently grabbed the wrong sack. Once at school, when it was time to pass them out, he reached into his bag, only to find a bag of dirty diapers!!


I’m sure his class was glad he decided not to pass out what was in his bag.



I wondered why he didn’t question anything before, you know - when his bag was really heavy and smelled like poop!!

In his defense, our house has been a complete mess/disaster area since our water main broke and our basement flooded. Yes, that basement that hasn’t even been finished for 1 whole year.

Happy Valentine’s day! Here’s to a less stinky one next year.

Sunday Scribbles

I gave Jasper a sheet of paper to doodle on during church last Sunday.

Here is what he came up with:

Before Jasper, I can honestly say I would never have known what this drawing was.

But now I can quickly identify a football play when I see one. I still don't know what it means. . . but at least I know what it is!

Car ride fun

We are in the car A LOT.

• My parents live 50 minutes away.

• David's mom, sisters and Kazia live 60 minutes away.

• Aunt Anne-Marie lives 45 minutes away.

• Aunt Staci lives 35 minutes away, as do Uncle Todd and Aunt Heather

• Aunt Heather lives only 20 minutes from us.

• Aunt Lynn, Uncle Alex and kids live about 26 hours away

• Aunt Becky, Uncle Jon and kids live about 15 hours away

• Uncle Mark, Aunt Anna and kids live about 9 hours away

• Great Grandma, uncles and cousins live about 12 hours away

Lately we've gotten pretty desperate in finding new ways to entertain the kids while on the way to visit family. Lame as it seems, we made up a new game that keeps the kids happy for quite a while during car trips to visit family.

You are welcome to try it out yourselves.

I still have to think of a name for the game, but it's all about identifying parts of yourself quickly, and is mostly fun for 2 year olds, but 12 year olds also enjoy it, even though they pretend to be annoyed.

Everyone show your armpits, NOW!

Everyone show your mouths, NOW!

The game also includes showing eyes, elbows, tummies, knees and more, NOW.

I hope your kids enjoy it as much as mine!

Update on Becky

My sister Becky is now home, and so is the newest addition to their beautiful family, Ryan James.

On 1/10/11, Becky went into cardiac arrest while 36 weeks pregnant with her 4th child.

She had developed Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy is basically pregnancy induced heart failure. It can happen during your last month of pregnancy, or within 5 months after giving birth.

Its a rare condition, and Becky's was made even rarer by still being pregnant while going into cardiac arrest, and by living!

Her husband and the EMTs performed CPR on her for about 25-30 minutes, using the chest paddle defibrillator 4 times.

They performed an emergency C-section and baby Ryan was born early 1/11/11, at 7lbs 15 oz.

He is now home and thriving, and Becky is home, alive and recovering!

We are so happy for miracles.

Her husband Jon posted more details on their family blog.

Thank you for all your prayers, and love!

Staying busy

We’ve been staying busy around here!

• Jackson stays busy by jumping around, and riding his rocking horse (thank you D.I.).
• Jasper stays busy listening to his MP3, doing homework and playing some B Ball,
• Daddy stays busy by working hard and playing with the kids when he gets home,
• Mommy stays busy by working and enjoying her home time with the kiddos.
• Also, mommy is very happy that school vacations are over for now.

Some photos of Jackson and Jasper staying busy:

New Years PARTY

We partied HARD on New Years. Jasper even sported a Christmas gift from a friend -

onesie pajamas.

What to do when the fleece onesie gets too hot?

Just unzip it a bit - ask Jasper, it works!

Becky

My sister Becky is still in the hospital and so is her newborn. They are both doing better, but I don't know much more than that. I will update when I know more.

She had a seizure, and we still don't know why. The baby was born by emergency C-section, and is in intensive care.

Please keep the prayers coming!

Christmas Favorites

Since I can't sleep at all, I've been up since 3:30 am trying to figure out the new camcorder my wonderful husband got me for Christmas.

Below are two videos of two of my boys opening presents.

I'm getting better at using my new camcorder, and promise the next ones will be better in quality!

Cheese, Guys!

I dread pulling out all Christmas decor - although once it's all up, I wish I'd done it sooner.

This year I relinquished the trimming of the tree duties over to Jackson.

He did a good job, wouldn't you say?




Below are some wise men, tangled up with Santa Claus.
He talks to them throughout the day and calls them his "guys."








Here we have two Santas and a snowman face all on the same branch.
He calls the snowmen "munkins" or pumpkins.

I think Jackson should take over tree duty every Christmas!

He even warned the "guys" when I came over to take a picture.



He told them, "Cheese, guys!"

First Time-Out

Jackson had his first time-out last week.

Maybe this means I'm a mean mother, but I think this is adorable.