While The Cat's Away...The Mice Will...

Go Crazy!   That is what these past couple days have been without Emily.  We have had fun and eaten way too many treats, but staying home with kids can be exhausting.  They wear me out and I think I have worn them out at the same time.  I have dragged them to different places and through different stores.   I think what is frustrating, and now I see it in the eyes of Emily, is when you go to a store and get done with what you need, only to realize you forgot something on your way home and you think to yourself, "there is no way I am taking the kids all the way back just to get one more item".  We have had our share of fun though.  Last night was snow cone night and the night before was dinner with Grandpa while Grandma is also out of town.   We are going to try to hit up a family rivarly baseball game between a nephew and a cousin today at 4, which should be fun but hot.  After, we will make a solid effort to clean everything up before dinner.   This shouldn't be too hard as we have tried to clean up and do dishes as we go, but we will try to get a more thorough cleaning done soon.  The nice thing is Jackson has slept really well, or maybe I have slept really well and haven't heard him.   Eliza decided on Wednesday night that she would put herself to sleep and has been a really good girl so far.  I really can understand why Emily enjoys the peace and quiet after bedtime.   As I work full time, I tend to enjoy driving home because I consider that "me time" but Emily never really gets that until after the kids go to bed.   I have really learned to appreciate all she does for the kids and me.  So this is a pretty random post, but my point is that I believe I could be a full time stay at home dad, but Emily will always do a better job than I ever could.   T-minus 26 hours until the return of mom. 

Jackson turns 3!

7-8-9  That's how I remember Jackson's birthday.  Sunday he turned three!  I can't believe it.  In some ways it's been the longest three years of my life and in other ways, it's gone by really fast and I can't believe he's that old.  Here's what Jackson is like at 3 years old

• Would eat treats all day long if we let him
• Is finally staying in nursery by himself
• He will leap off anything and everything
• Loves to play with the hose outside and will drench himself with it.  But if he gets a drop of water on himself during dinner, he cries
• Loves basketball 
• Still won't drink much milk
• Is communicating much better but still has a long way to go
• His favorite shows are Star Wars and Curious George
• Is obsessed with Robots (pronounces it Bobots)
• Still sleeps in a crib and melts down when we try to change that
• Is a lefty like his mom
• Usually naps every day but it's fading
• Cannot sit still for more than a minute
• Wakes up grumpy 90% of the time
• Cries for at least 30 minutes when we have to put on church clothes.
• Has had 2 surgeries, a broken foot, and stitches
• Can point out a car wash no matter where we are
• Loves his 93 year old great grandpa and calls him "big grandpa"
• Sings along with I am a Child of God
• Has big, beautiful blue eyes and dark eyelashes

Jackson has been such a challenge for me.  A lot of the time I feel like I still don't know what I'm doing with him.  And I often wonder who thought it was a good idea to make me his mother.  But I love him so much and we can't imagine our family without him.  He has taught me patience and to be grateful for small accomplishments and miracles.  He's my sweet little boy and I am so happy to be his mom.  The good days and the snuggles make it all worth it. 

Those lashes...  Didn't get them from me.

  It's not Jackson's birthday until Sunday but we had an early party for him so most of my family could come.  I have to say...the majority of the time I try anything for the first time it just doesn't work out.  Recipes, crafts, anything.  So I was stressed about the cake I was attempting to make.  But I was so happy it actually turned out!  Minus the messy wax paper underneath...I couldn't get that out without destroying the cake. 

He loves his scooter from grandma and grandpa!  Can't believe this little stinker will be 3 soon.  


I actually did TWO things that turned out better than expected yesterday.  The cake and then this patriotic wreath.  I love the colors of July!

We had Jackson's IEP meeting today to get him all ready for preschool in the fall.  A couple of weeks ago I took him to the child development center to have him tested to see if he qualified for this "special" preschool.  And he didn't!  I couldn't believe it.  He was super uncooperative and was crying or hyperactive basically the whole time.  Hardly said a word.  It was obvious he needed extra help so they had me fill out an ITSEA test which measures behavioral issues as well.  And that got him in.  

So the plan is for him to go to the elementary school for preschool on Mondays and Wednesdays and then our neighborhood preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I hope it's not too much.  It's going to be a huge challenge for him.  And me.  But I KNOW it's what he needs.  He'll ride the bus to the elementary school.  Oh. My. Word.  That is not going to go well.  He's going to freak.  Just like he does anytime anything changes.  I'm hoping that if we take him to his school all the time and meet his teacher a few times, it won't be as traumatic.  But I doubt it.

It's hard because he JUST got used to his toddler class, which has been wonderful.   But now that is ending and we're going to have to start all over.  Nothing is easy with this kid.  Good thing I love him.  How sweet is that face?

Good Day Circus

Today Eliza graduated from preschool!  I can not believe it.  She has grown up so much these last two years.  For their graduation they had a circus.  It was so cute!

The all sang a few songs together

The tigers did tricks

The tightrope walkers performed

The clowns jumped out of a train and sang a silly song

Then the graduates got their diplomas!

The costumes

Proud mom and dad!

We love Eliza's preschool and her fantastic teacher.  There was never one day in two years that she didn't want to go to school.  She has learned a ton and is so ready for Kindergarten!  Eliza is such a happy, smart, sweet hearted, special girl.  We love her and are so proud of her!

Field trip

Eliza's preschool took their last field trip of the year to Wheeler Farm this week.  Jackson and I went to help/tag along.  The kids had such a good time.  They were so funny and kept asking if the animals would eat their fingers if they stuck them in the fence.  The answer was always YES.  

I hadn't been to Wheeler Farm forever and had no idea they had such an awesome new playground.  I thought walking around the hot, stinky farm and then playing on the playground would guarantee Jackson would take a nap.  No luck.

But that's a whole other post...  

I can't believe Eliza will be all done with preschool at the end of the month.  CRAZY!

By the way...I'm trying out a new font/look for the blog.  I'm sort of a techno tard but it seems easier to read now.  

Mother's day

Instead of posting about my Mother's Day (which was awesome), I want to post about my mother.  Her birthday is always around Mother's Day.  This year, it's the day after.  I feel like sometimes it all gets lumped into one.  Which I'm sure she is fine with but I wanted to tell her happy birthday (because I know she checks my blog everyday to see if I've updated - which isn't very often).  

I am the only girl in my family so I feel like my mom and I have always been pretty close.  But as I've become a mother myself, I don't think we've ever been closer.  We talk nearly every day and she is the first person I think to call when I need advice.  I honestly don't know how I would have made it through pregnancy and beginning to raise children without her.  She always makes time for me and my kids.  She is a good listener, generous, easy to talk to, loving, nurturing, talented, smart, and beautiful.  There is no one I'd rather go to dinner, go shopping, or just hang out with.  

I admire my mom for so many things.  First, she raised me and my three brothers in the gospel.  My dad was either the bishop, in a bishopric, or on the high council and yet she got us all to church every week and made sure we always went to our activities.  When I was about 10 years old she went back to nursing school.  I will never know how she did that, raised a family, and got straight A's. She is a great teacher and has patiently taught me so many things in my life.  

I don't want to make this so TOO sappy so I'll end by saying I love my mom.  She is my best friend and I hope that Eliza and I can have the same relationship that I have been blessed to have and that I can be as good of a mom to my kids as she was to us.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!