Lucky Number Seven

I am so far behind on all my posts, but this one is important.

Today is a very important day. It's Jack's seventh birthday. I know, I know, I can't believe he is 7 either. So a lot of fun pictures and posts will have to wait. But for now, I have something to say.

I love that punk.

This has been a fun year for us.

Last December we were all settling in to the Kindergarten groove. Yes, all of us. Who among you has felt the excitement and the anxiety of going to school EVERY day. Excitement for him and extreme anxiety for me. First child, last child or both, Kindergarten is a weird and sad milestone.

He became a great reader.

He lost a bunch of teeth.

He got a "bird's eye" view of the life cycle with a pet snake, baby snakes and then no snakes. (Hopefully more about that later.)

Then began first grade. When did all day school become a welcome occasion?

Anyway, Jack turned this couple into a family.

He is loud, messy, often embarrasing, sensitive, kind, smart and loving. He's a great example of how to laugh at yourself, he is sure to make everything a little funner and stickier, and will make sure you get your money's worth at the movies. (Hint: laugh as loud as you want whenever you want and don't worry about spilling your popcorn. If it's funny, it's worth it!)

I love my son.

I'm grateful every day that I'm his Mom.

Happy Birthday.

Mommy


Dad here:

Today is Jackson's 7th birthday. Any parent reading this will understand the feelings I had when I walked through our hallway tonight and stopped to looked at several baby pictures we have of him hanging on the wall. Although every new year with Jackson brings both of us new challenges and joy, I think back on when he was younger and I wish that somehow, we could freeze time so that he wouldn't grow older and we could live in those picture moments forever.

I know that we are all placed on this earth to learn our lessons and face our challenges. Sometimes I wish I could do something to prevent Jackson from having to face his challenges. Protect him from having his heart broken, keep him from ever feeling fear, protect him from disease and illness or to suffer losing the ones he loves.

But I also know I can't do this.

His challenges are for him alone. I only hope that the lessons we teach him today can serve him when he faces them. I love him so much and hope and pray that, when he faces his most difficult challenges, he will face them with confidence and strength knowing that we love him unconditionally and that he will always have his Heavenly Father and his Spirit to guide him.

Jack, if you are reading this many years from this night, know that I love you and wish you strength when you need it most. As you sleep in the other room, cozy in your warm bed, a young feisty boy that just turned 7, I know that in the blink of an eye, you will be a grown man making your own decisions and facing the consequences that come with them. I know you will make the right choices, son.

I love you on you 7th birthday and always.

Love, Dad

Gotta Love Colorful Colorado...

So, we were lucky enough to get away up to the mountains a couple weekends ago and check out the leaves turning. I think we were a little early. We didn't see the bright reds but saw lots of amazing golds and brilliant yellows.

We headed West up to Silver Plume, which is only about 45 minutes from where we are, and stopped to check stuff out.









I think this is about where we heard Big Foot. There was some rustling in the trees and bushes and some growling noises. We were pretty freaked out and even though Jack is brave, it seemed like a good time to grab Dad's hand!



Luckily, after some investigation on Jack's part, we realized it was just Daddy being silly





We all had a lot of fun. Colorado is so beautiful. Gar and I are constantly amazed by the beauty that surrounds us and how lucky we feel to live here.

One of my favorite things...

Every week I look forward to Wednesday nights. Gar and a group of his buddies joined a city softball league. They're not too shabby, either. In fact they took second place overall in the summer.

But I do prefer fall softball to summer. The sun sets earlier, so its not as hot and we get to watch the sun set over the Rocky Mountains. And its fun to be out letting the kids play and burn off some energy before bed. Plus, all the moms get to sit and gab. I really do look forward to it, I think all of us do. Although, when they don't win, the drive home can be kind of quiet.

Q: What do you call a pig that does karate? A: Porkchop!

So Jack has been in Karate since this summer. He is a yellow belt and is getting ready to test for "high-yellow." One of the requirements is that they memorize a kata, or routine, that has about 50 moves in it. And they have to do it perfectly. Zero mistakes.



By the way, I wish I could've gotten a better picture, but for some reason I am the only Mom in there taking pictures so I feel like I have to hurry and I'm sure Jack is dying of embarrasement.

Anyway, yesterday the class had a chance to earn a stripe (which moves them closer to the test,) and Jack had worked really hard and really wanted to get this stripe. So they start the routine and I was watching him try with all his might, and just crossing all my fingers and toes that he would earn a stripe.

When they finished and sat down, the instructor had the kids stand that got their stripes. Jack was one of three who didn't earn a stripe. He did make a couple mistakes. But I could not have been prouder of him. He cheered loud for all his class mates and thanked his instructor for a fun class.

He didn't do it perfect, but he tried his hardest and was a good sport all the way. I was just bursting with pride!!

Growing up

So Jack has started first grade. (Due to a bad memory card, I've lost lots of pictures. Including his first day of school. Big bummer.) Anyway, it's been an adjustment for everybody, but probably most for me. I have been seriously missing my little sidekick and buddy.

We are lucky enough to have a neighborhood school that we can walk to (he still holds my hand, by the way, and I LOVE it). So every morning and afternoon we are outside enjoying the nice weather and chatting, and I hear it all on those walks. (In fact, that's when I learned about the little boy in his class who was calling girls "the B word" and telling them they are S-E-X-Y.)

Anyway, so after school the other day, we are talking and he says that a little girl at school is being mean to him. And I asked what she was doing and he said she keeps making this face at him:




And then he told me that her best friend came up to him and said, "she has a crush on you." I asked him what that meant and he said he wasn't sure, but did I ever have a crush on Daddy? I said yes, I had a crush on Daddy and that it just means she likes you. He thought about that for a minute and then said, "Eeew. Does that mean I have to marry her?"


It is so fun to see him learning so much and growing up. It is interesting to see him encountering different social situations and figuring out who he is and how he fits in. I love him and I love being his mom.

Tagged by Jas and Cath...

5 years ago I was:

Loving chasing baby Jack around.

Working in a salon that I HATED. The color line was awful and people stole tips.

I think 5 years ago is about when I took Jack camping for 10 days without Gar. That might also be the LAST time I took him camping.

My pet peeves:

Bad drivers

Bad breath

People who talk in movies. shhh

If I were a billionaire:

I'd have a place in Hawaii (don't worry, I'd invite you!!)

I would never shop at Old Navy or Target again.

I'd go around the world in a hot air balloon.

(Just kidding.)

My favorite foods:

Those big doughy pretzels from the mall

Nachos with tons of jalapenos

Green chile from the new Mexican joint by my house (they even deliver!!)

So, Trisha, Karen, Brittany and Aileen: Tag. You're it!!

While we're at it

Since we've been on the subject of why Jack is so weird, I would like to pose a question:



Why does he like to dress up like a fat kid?


He's had this fascination since he saw "Willy Wonka" A COUPLE YEARS AGO and became obsessed with the girl who turns into a blueberry.


For a LONG time now, he has been asking us to make him a blueberry. He has stuffed pillows, blankets, clothes and even lovey into his shirts and pants (although jammies are his favorite)to look like a blueberry. He doesn't even act out the part in the movie or anything like that. He just goes about his day. Only bigger.

See for yourself.







See. I wasn't kidding.









Sigh. Who knows...

This cracked me up...

These are old pictures (by about two years), but they make me laugh.


So, I'm on the phone trying to return all my work calls and Jack is tugging at my sleeve, asking me questions, tapping me, doing anything he can to get my attention. (By the way, what is it about me being on the phone that make me so popular with both Jack and Gar?)

Anyhow, I cover the mouthpiece of the phone and whisper "what, Jack?" and he asks if he can have some tape. I hand it to him and off he goes leaving me in peace for just a moment. Well, imagine my surprise when this walked back in the room:






What a weird kid...





He couldn't stop looking in the mirror and laughing at just how clever he is. What a goof ball. Where does he get it?

Our trip to Kansas

We were able to go out and see our Kansas family over Labor day weekend, and wouldn't you know -- I forgot my camera. Arrrggg!! Anyway, I got a couple with my phone but they're not great quality.

Here is Jack with a few of his cousins visiting Uncle Rick at work...






They got to see all of the trucks and had a blast trying on the helmets, looking up the pole, pushing all the buttons and ringing the bells!

It sure was great to see everybody. We had a blast!

Aloha and Mahalo

Aloha! Here are some of our favorite pictures from our trip this past spring. We went to Kauai, Laie and Waikiki.

My New Favorite Book

So, I have a new favorite book. It's called "Locked in the Library" by Jack Clark. It's an easy read. Only three pages. Take a look for yourself.




Jack's buddy Aiden won the chance to be locked in the library for a sleepover with some of his friends.

They had fun eating pizza & having the playground all to themselves. What a cute kid!!


Later on they played flashlight tag & got to sleep in a tent in their sleeping bags. Jack had such a fun time with his buddies!

Tag, I'm It...

Well, I've been tagged for the first time, obviously, since this will be my second posted blog... So, if you're interested, read on, if not, oh well.....

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

Considering marrying the wrong (but great) guy.
Waiting (impatiently) to meet Gar!
Wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up
Feeling a little scared living without a roommate for the first time and wondering if I would get caught housing the coolest cat ever (that thought she was a dog)>
Working part-time at a bank (and making $7.50 an hour, thank you very much!)

5 things on my to do list

Return work phone calls
Figure out my new crap-berry
See if I can get a sitter very last minute for our anniversary dinner (nine years!)
Get my first ever cavity filled. Not fun.
Sign up to take the chicks home that just hatched in Jack's Kind. class.

5 favorite snacks/foods

Rumbi's chips and mango salsa (Trisha, you know I'm right.)
Popcorn at a great movie with peanut M&Ms and a diet Coke
Eggo's waffles with butter and powdered sugar. mmm...
Fresh, salty macadamia nuts
Homeade PB & J, poolside

5 things I would do if I was a billionaire

Buy Jack one (or two or ten) of those like, $5000 cats whose DNA is altered so it doesn't cause allergies. I know it sounds weird, but Gar is deathly allergic and Jack really wants a cat.
Then I'd spend some money making sure Jack is not teased because his mom is "the cat lady."
Travel with my family
Travel with your family
Travel with the whole family


5 bad habits

I chew my nails
I crack my knuckles
I avoid eye contact when I feel uncomfortable
I snore (it is what it is, I wish I didn't)
I screen my calls (oh my gosh, I can't believe I just admitted that. Especially since number 1 on my to do list is to return work calls. Sorry.)

5 places I have lived

Aix en Provence, France
Chicago
Salt Lake City, Ut.
Ft. Collins, Co. (too fun)
Lake Peregin, Somewhere in Washington state. ( the longest 10 days of my life).

Being six is NOT for the Weak!

What you see here is a little boy who just doesn't feel good. I believe the exact words were "Mommy, I'm having an awful day. And I can feel my heart beating in my teeth."

We happened to have a dentist appointment scheduled and they told us that Jack was getting all four of his six year old pre-molars at once. I guess that explains the fever, headache and

'throbbing' in his teeth. Plus he had a loose tooth right in front that was putting a serious damper on what he could and couldn't eat.

So here he is with his lovey and his turtle (what else does one need?) just before what will turn out to be a very rough night. Being six is tough business and definately not for the weak!

If bed head is any indication, I would say Jack woke up feeling better. Plus that darn wiggly tooth finally came out, leaving him with a big appetite and a jack-o-lantern smile. Maybe six isn't all bad. Guess we'll keep at it, at least for now!