Tug-O-Rama & Pull-Ups...

February 27, 2009

TUG
TUG

The highlight of Jaroms "Blue and Gold" Banquet the other night was the game of Tug-o-War that they played, they had dads on one side against Scouts/siblings/and moms on the other. The Scouts won...thanks to the missionaries we hear- they had tugged so hard and the rope was so long it went out the door where it was found by the missionaries who came to the aid.

Even though I haven't felt that I've been quite ready for the potty-training thing with Josh. He has had a different agenda. I 've gotten so tired of him going into the bathroom to use the toliet by himself (that part wasn't so bad but he'd always need my assistance at the worst times putting his diaper back on afterwards.) BeforeI could just change his diaper (if it be #1 at my leasiure at convienet times for myself.) Anyways, last week I got him some pull-ups. He loves them and prides himself in pulling them up and down by his sole-self when he chooses to use the toliet. I told myself I 'd tackle this potty-training beast after I'm feeling 100% better- but, I need to jump on this...if he's ready I should be too.

MR. INDEPENDENT in ACTION!

Loving My Girls!

February 27, 2009

You've just got to love little girls and they are so honest and innocent, sometimes...however, brutally honest. The other morning, (Wednesday being a late start it allows all of us to sleep in a tad) Bre came and hopped into my bed w/ me and as I reluctantly rolled out of bed to get my day on she says, "mom, no offense but your stomach isn't really getting any bigger but everything else is." Thanks Bre...I told her I'd remember that when she was pregnant. (Plus she hasn't seen nothing yet, I'm just getting started!) Of course, she sees the lovely experience pregnancy is from her mother so she reminded me of what she has been saying for years that she's just not having any children. We shall see. Ellie on the other hand, I am certain will bear me enough grand children for the both of them so no worries...as a matter of fact, today after the kids had been waiting out for the bus a few minutes- Ellie came running frantically back into the house yelling "I can't believe I almost forget my baby (her doll.)" After she grabbed he doll and ran back out to catch the bus, Spencer goes..."mom, Ellie could have missed the bus and that's more important than her doll- it's not like it's a real baby." Sometimes, in her eyes I think she feels like her dolls really are real, it's actually quite cute. Ellie is sooooooo excited about her real baby brother or sister on the way. She looks forward to every Sunday when our baby "GROWS" (the baby ticker on the right hand side of the blog, the picture of the baby changes every Sunday, so she gets to see the changes it goes through.) So, on a side note- I think I'm starting to feel better...not to jinx myself or anything. We are into the second trimester, it just seems like whenever I have a good day...I'll be like FINALLY, I'm over the whole sickness thing and the next day bamb...uh, no, I guess not quite yet! Oh well, little miracles from above are always CERTAINLY worth the joys of the pregnancy journey.

"But I still want to be a Cop..."

Spencer's Preschool Field Trip

To The Pacific Fire Department

February 24, 2009Josh got to tag along with the older kids for Spencer's field trip also.As you can see, Josh at the bottom of the picture (the one with his hood on and hands over his ears- he was a bit concerned that the fire trucks sirens were going to go off... so he was all prepared.)Showing off those muscles!
Josh in a pair of firefighter boots, just his size...

The boys in action inside the truck. Spencer "ALL SMILES" stepping down from a up close and personal visit inside a firefighters truck.

What a fun field trip! I was actually thinking before we went today that Spencer would probably change his mind concerning his future career and what he wanted to be when he "grows up" because he might think that being a fire fighter looked pretty cool. It was funny becasue on our way home he informed me that he still wanted to be a cop when he grows up. I asked him why and he said, "because only cops can arrest people."

Into The Tub We Go!

Our Messy Guy...

or is he just expressing himself?

February 24, 2009 The other day as I sat in my bedroom doing laundry, this is what Josh was up to. Oh well, at least it was a crayola washable marker which he was able to wash off all by his little independent self in the tub!

Work em' while they're young...

February 18, 2009 Josh has decided that he no longer likes his clothes because he's "too hot" around the house? Like father, like son. Not that Matt doesn't wear his clothes around the house but he's a hot-blooded guys as well, (him, Spencer & now Josh.)

After sweeping down the floors today (Josh held the dust-pan in his efforts to help.) Our floors needed a desperate mopping down. As I prepared the swiffer Josh was so excited because he LOVES to help mop. I didn't feel that I needed nor wanted Joshie help today in this task but there was obviously no convincing HIM of this given fact! I just wanted to do the chore and get it over with...I finally gave in, just threw an old rag on the swiffer (so he wouldn't waste the actual cleaning product/pads...those things aren't cheap) and let him go to town. The only problem was that when ever he was done & put the swiffer down, I would try to take over- thus leaving him jealous that I wanted to "have a turn," so he kept on running over to take it out of my hands since he wasn't finished yet. After he was completely finished, I looked at the floors and I decided I was finished as well, too many other tasks that still needed to be completed plus surprisingly the floors looked good enough for today with his little boy helper efforts! I know the novelty and enjoying to help clean only lasts so long at this young age, I should just enjoy it while it lasts right?

Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice...

Valentines Weekend 2009

February 15, 2009

We had a fun weekend full of sugar & spice and everything nice with family and friends! Saturday afternoon Matt took the kids on a bike ride which they had been anticipating for awhile. Matt and I managed to squeeze in a bit of time to ourselves Saturday after the kiddos went to bed. Good thing they were all wiped out due to Bres slumber party the night before (staying up until 2am) which meant that they willingly went to bed at 9:30 which was wonderful! We picked up some Olive Garden "To Go" not to forget a slice of their white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for dessert and took it home for a very nice late dinner and DVD valentine night in.

BreAnnas Special Day!

It's Official, BreAnna's NINE!

February 11, 2009 BreAnna had a fun day celebrating her ninth birthday. Upon her request the younger boys and I picked up some of her favorite Lighthouse moist cookies with pink frosting for her to share with her 3rd grade class at school along with some McDonalds for lunch, a chicken/ranch snack wrap, four piece nuggets w/ two sweet & sours (not quite sure why she needed two...maybe one for her fries?) fries, and a coke. After school, G-ma Jackson picked Bre up for a special G-ma/Grand-daughter shopping and dinner date. Our family sang happy b-day to Bre and she got to blow out nine candles after her and grandma got home. Apparently, they sang to her over dinner at Red Robin as well which we hear embarrassed her. Bre has got such a fun personality, can't believe she is growing up so fast! She is a joy to have in our family and we all love her so much! Happy ninth birthday Bre Bre!

CUPIDS ARROW!

February 10, 2009 Looks like "Cupids Arrow" hit our family a bit early this year. Number 6 is due to join our "Jackson Bunch" in August!

We could not be more excited for our new addition to arrive, the kids are eagerly awaiting the gender factor that we should find out next month. I on the other hand am eagerly awaiting the throwing-up business, nauseousness, lack of energy and constant cravings to give me a bit of a rest. My goodness, with every pregnancy...the first trimester and my whacked out hormones have gotten worse and worse. This Sunday will mark the 13th week and typically for myself, by the 16th week things have pretty much leveled out so thankfully we should be feeling pretty good here shortly.

Hope everyone has a Great Valentines Day this weekend!

More Science and a Date

February 8, 2009

Jarom and BreAnna had their Districts portion of their Science Fair Fun this past Saturday. It's a very long day full of a lot of judging and Science. Matt took the kids along with his sidekick (Spencer) early in the morning. I took Josh and Ellie to Ellies' ballet class and met up with them in the afternoon when the Science Program and Awards started, we picked up some McDonalds on the way over to feed the hungry mouths. Here Jarom is with a tree starter that he promptly planted as soon as he got home from the Science Fair.Josh got to make a stomp rocket, they had these last year as well and the kids had a lot of fun launching them.Both BreAnna and Hannah, her best friend in Miss Hukees 3rd grade class made it to Districts this year so they had fun sitting next to each other during judging and the ceremony. Jarom ended up with an honorable mention being invited to the State competition in March. Here he is being presented his award with the rest of the 4th grade district winners.
After the awards were handed out, we stuck around going around to all of the science exhibits in an attempt to miss the mad parking lot rush of eager participants leaving.After getting home and putting Josh down for a late much needed nap I headed out to get our groceries for the week. Matt and I decided we would get an early Valentines Date in later in the evening (it's always so hard getting a sitter on the actual date, not to mention Bres B-day slumber party is next weekend over Valnetines weekend as well) so Grandma Jackson came over to watch the kids so we could get away for a bit of time to ourselves. We went out to a nice relaxing kidsless steak dinner. Grandma on the other hand, not sure of how relaxing of an evening she had...she asked for it, she came bearing a BIG bag of candy to share with the kids as they watched the RM for the evening...nothing like a good sugar high!