Happy Birthday Jackson

Jackson turned 6 on December 28, 2010. Jackson is our first born grandchild! Veronika is older, but we didn’t have the blessing of knowing her since birth. When Jackson was born, he was the first baby in the family for so long. Ron and I were ready to be grandparents!

I will never forget the day Jackson was born. We had all had a hard Christmas. Amanda had gone to Romania, not getting home in time. We had a ice storm. I was sick. But more than that, his Mommy had been working long hours as a nurse. Jackson arrived almost 4 weeks early!

It didn’t matter if everyone was ready or not, Jackson was ready to start his life! Jackson still has that attitude. Life is exciting and he is ready to get going! He is such an energetic, positive young man! Always ready for new adventures.

This past weekend Poppa took Jackson and Tucker riding on the 4 wheeler. Jackson wanted to go faster and faster! Tucker and Poppa were too cold to keep going.

When Jackson was so little, we were babysitting, I was reading to the boys. Jackson was young enough that he was still learning to talk. Jackson told me, “I love you Dodi”! That was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard! To have a grandchild tell you they love you!

Jackson started kindergarten this year. He seems to be a very smart young boy! And he is very friendly. Jackson was chosen as the “Ambassador” for his class, the child who helps new kids adjust to school.

Jackson became a big brother at a young age, 16 months. He is such a good big brother. He loves Tucker so much. He is sweet to his cousins, actually just sweet to everyone. Now Jackson gets to be a big brother again, where he will actually be a bigger brother. He will have a new baby brother or sister this summer! He is alreay concerned about taking care of another baby! Jackson and Tucker both are going to enjoy having a baby sibling!

You can tell that Jackson is going to be successful at whatever he does. He cares so much about his abilities, whether school work or sports! He wants to do it right! Unless it involves craft work, he doesn't really care about that. I find this really funny, because his Dad didn't really care about fine motor skills either, no coloring or cutting! I am convinced that it is perfectly fine not to color within the lines!

I have taken Jackson, Tucker and Veronika to the Childrens Theater this year! I love having special activities to do with the kids. Jackson has such a great imagination. He comes up with some great stories. His Mom and Dad read novels at night, so Jackson has a very sophisticated literary background!

I love that Jackson is brought to Awana and chapel at East Union. Jackson is learning more Bible scripture than most of us adults know! He has such a sweet heart! He cares about others and he loves Jesus!

We have been blessed to enjoy these years with Jackson.

2011 Spring Schedule

Last fall I posted about our schedule. We have had a great year, lots of fun, traveling and activities. We didn't make it to a couple of our destinations. I am still waiting for the trip to Mount Magazine. AND, I have added a destination, or two, Spring Pilgrimage at Natchez and Swamp Tours at Beaux Bridges!

We are not getting any younger! Ron would be happy to stay at home every night, every weekend! I feel the need to experience!

I want to visit with my sisters more! I see my grandchildren a lot! But I still want to see them more. I have not gotten to spend one on one time with any of them since last spring. That needs to be one of my goals, but I don't know when to work that in, but I will.

I am very excited about our spring schedule! I hope to add more to it!

Schedule Update 2011


January 29 Sat The Jungle Book

February 4-9 Friday-Wednesday Defense Meeting Big Sur and Monterey CA

February 25-27 Friday-Sunday Arkansas Flower & Garden Show

March 5 Saturday 34th Wedding Anniversary

March 12 Saturday Natchez Spring Pilgrimage???

March 19 Saturday Audubon Spring Pilgrimage???

March 22 Tuesday Phoenix Surgery

March 22-26 Tues-Sun ConAgg Las Vegas

March 11-27 Fri/Sat/Sun If You Give A Pig A Pancake JT&V

March 29- 31 Tues-Thurs The Aluminum Show

April 14 Thrus Fort Belvoir VA??

April 24 Sunday Easter

April Saturday Birthday ??? Violet and/or Tucker

April 29-May 15 Fri/Sat/Sun There’s A Boy In The Girls Bathroom

May 21 Saturday   Wedding Clint & Harmony. Sarah & Babysitting Duty

May24- 26 Tues-Thursday Beauty and The Beast

June 4 Saturday Dance Recital Veronika

Sledding 2011!

We experienced a treat this week, enough snow to go sledding! Ron braved the snowy streets to go to the hardware store to buy some sleds. The neighbors all joined in the fun! They went from house to house looking for the best hill to sled. I believe we will all remember this snow of January 2011!

More Snow 2011

Thomas House

Snow, we didn't measure until the next day, I think there was more the night before!

Fiona

Wish the pool was heated!

Evie

Snow Day 2011

I counted 6 cardinals in the tree at one time, in addition to all the other birds. They seemed to glow with the snow in the background!

The start of the snow, about 2 pm.

Back across the street, about 4 pm.

This isn't the most clear picture, but it shows how many birds were feeding. I will have to brave the cold in the morning for a refill!

These were all taken from inside the house, with my zoom lens. I read in my "Birds and Bloom" magazine, that you could place your lens against the glass and get some pretty good photos without having to brave the outdoors.

Great Wolf Lodge

Sweets for the sweet!

Veronika, Jackson & Tucker

In front of the HUGE Fireplace

Jackson, Paula, Tucker and Brad

Poppa, Veronika and Dodi

Audrey

Lizzie

Veronika, Mac and Cheese perhaps?

"Scoops" mani/pedi

Tucker, Genevieve, Jackson and Audrey, with their magic wands!

Christmas 2010 Fun!

Andrea made this for Fiona!

Ron has really enjoyed this Outhouse Santa!

Poppa's Lil Bucks! More baby names every year!

Phoenix and his new pick up truck!

These make for some quiet dinner time!

Violet enjoys her Christmas morning!

We actually made sugar cookies!

Yummy cookie!

Veronika and her "Responsibility Chart"! Yes, she wanted this!

Christmas 2010

Patiently Waiting!

We have had such a nice Christmas this year. Lots of fun activities, The Nutcracker, A Christmas Story, decorating, model train exhibits, still more to come, with a visit to Great Wolf Lodge!

Christmas Eve, Andrea and Steve cooked a nice dinner for us.

Christmas morning we had casseroles and more for breakfast. All the kids and grand kids joined us after enjoying what Santa brought them.

I am sure the most fun for the kids is when we finally get to open presents! Receiving presents is fun, but giving presents may be more fun. You have the anticipation of the excitement you hope the recipient will feel. I didn't wrap presents this year, I bought large gift bags. But I did picture what the kids would think when they dug something out of their bag or their stocking.

I just love the excitement on the face of a child, when they experience the fun.

I also love sharing the Christmas story with the children. All month, in Sunday School and precubbies, we learn about the birth of Jesus. I have to remind myself of the events that lead to the birth of Jesus, the wonder of the virgin birth, the sinless life, the gift that is made available to us through his birth and his death.

I didn't think about teaching salvation through the story of his birth. But when you tell the story, the subject just leads to the message. The gifts brought by the wise men foreshadow the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. And the gift of everlasting life offered when we accept and believe in Jesus.

Sweet Babies

Veronika

Violet

Phoenix

Fiona

Tucker

Evie

Jackson

 

Merry Christmas Sweet Babies!

Merry Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 has been a fun Christmas Season!
Early in November we agreed to have our house in the Christmas Tour of Homes. This is a community event fundraiser, the proceeds are used to buy gifts for local children in need. Our house and Amanda and Josh's house were on the tour. We spent the month of November getting the house ready. I paid a company to hang lights on our house. I cleaned, Andrea and Paula both cleaned on my house! I organized and decorated all month! The tour was December 4, I have never had my Christmas decorations ready that early.
The night of the tour was pretty interesting, we met people from the community, and welcomed many friends and family. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and have collected Christmas ornaments and other items for years. It was fun to share some memories that the ornaments bring to mind with others. I was also proud to show off the house remodel that we did last year. Ron was responsible for showing the pool house, he was a pretty good sport about the whole ordeal.

The Lights

The Bird Tree

The Nativity Stars

The after effect of all the hard work, is having the time in December to attend as many events as possible and not have any stress about getting ready for Christmas.

Sunday night was the preschool Christmas program. This was very special this year, Jackson, Tucker, Violet and Evie are all in the preschool choir! Evie didn't get to attend the performance because she was home sick. I may be a little prejudiced, but my Grandchildren are the cutest, most talented kids ever!

Thursday, we took a group of preschoolers to go see the school version of "The Nutcracker" Ballet. It was a little long for the toddlers, but I asked Tucker if he was bored, and he said no, he liked all of it.
Sunday, we are going back for the full version, orchestra and all. I am very excited about that. I have never seen the ballet with the orchestra. To add to the excitment, I was telling Jackson about the ballet, and he knew the story because they have learned about it in school!
Saturday, I am taking Jackson, Tucker and Veronika to see, "Junie B Jones, Jingle Bells Batman Smells!", at the Children's Theater.
The next weekend, Ron and I are seeing, "A Christmas Story"! at the Rep. This is one of my favorite movies, so I am so excited to see a live production.
We will probably work in a drive to see the lights, maybe visit the Garvan Gardens.

15 and Counting

This mantle hold the Christmas stockings that I have been collecting and adding to over the years. If you were to count them, there are 15 stockings! Next year, we get to add another stocking! Actually, I have alreay added the 16th stocking!
This truly has been a great Christmas Season!