Quiet Time

Just recently we moved some of Jackson's toys and books up to his room. The first couple of times when he woke up from his nap over the monitor we heard him playing with his toys. Then he started climbing up in the recliner bringing along his books. He just sits there and reads until we come up to get him. I finally grabbed my camera to capture this sweet boy of mine! Normally he covers himself up with the blanket just like I do when I read or use my laptop.

I wonder how long he would read before he tried to get out on his own?

Sunday on the Farm

This morning we got up and went to church. After church we ran some errands, had lunch, and Jackson napped.

After his nap and Brian loaded up on his allergy medience we headed out to Dewberry Farm. I have heard a lot of good things about so I was excited to see what it was like. Good thing we didn't listen to the way the GPS wanted us to go because instead of a 20 minute trip it would have taken more like 45 minutes.

As soon as we unloaded out of the car Jackson was wanting to go see the animals. We spent a good chunk of time in the barn, by the pond, and feeding the goats!
Of course we had to take some pictures by pumpkins:)

Jackson was not in the picture mood today. I took what I could get!

Jackson spotted the tractor from a mile a way. Shh, don't tell Grandpa Gary it's a John Deere!

There were a lot of different things for kids to do. I was a little bummed you had to pay for a lot of the "extra things" after you pay $12 to get in. I guess I am accustommed to the good ole' Litter Farmer back home.

Jackson went down the roller slide with daddy first,

and then with mommy!

Then he rode on the cow train with Papa. He had a smile plastered on his face the whole time!

Because fall in Houston means 85 degree tempertaures we had to have a snow cone to cool off. Do you think Jackson liked it much?

We ended the day with a ride on the wagon out to the pumpkin patch. Jackson searched for the perfect pumpkin and used all his might to pick them up.

Jackson was done after the pumpkin patch, he needed his pacifier and Papa!

It was a great day spent on the farm, but I am sad there were no carmel apples! My Wisconsin friends please enjoy one from the Little Farmer for me:)

Fire Fest

Today we took Jackson over to the Cy-Fair Fire Department for Fire Fest. He loved all the fire trucks and especially the helicopter! We had a great time watching his face light up as he took it all in. Too bad Papa didn't get in a little bit sooner and he could have taken Jackson and showed him the ropes:)

However, I think the best part of Fire Fest for Jackson was the balloon he got right before we left. For the rest of the afternoon that balloon did not leave his hand. He did everything with it! It is the little things that often bring the most joy!

I Need More Than A Weekend

-To catch up after a full week. It wasn't a bad week, but Brian was on call and worked late almost everynight. I met Emily and Huntley for dinner one night, had Bunco another, dead battery one morning (Brian's car), asthma issues (Brian), and parent teacher conference 3 mornings this week. Thankfully the weather was beautiful this week and Jackson and I were able to play outside every night!

Sometimes life is rough even when you're 1 and a half!

-To get as far ahead as I would like at school. I am an over achiever and I would to have my lesson plans done for the whole year NOW! Just not happening!

-To catch up on sleep!

-To do all the things on my Fall fun list (we already did one this morning and hopefully more this weekend and next)

-To do all the random acts of kindness I want to do for people.

-To organize and go through my fall clothes. I broke out my brown boots this week and it was glorious!

-To really spend time with my husband. Since this past week I barely saw him due to the fact he worked so much and slept downstaris in the chair to help with his breathing. All though we should be able to to go on some "date nights" as his parents are flying in today!

Weekends should at least be THREE days, don't you think?

19 Months

Dear Jackson,

Why does 19 months seem so much older to me than 18 months? Maybe it is because now you are closer to turning 2 than just being 1. It just doesn't seem possible that this much time has past since you were born.

This last month you have really started talking more. You repeat almost everything we say and catche us off guard when you says things we didn't even know you knew. Some of my favorite things that come out of your mouth are "This fun!", "Where daddy?", "Me nook", "Fell down", "It hurt", "Brush teeth." Your voice is so sweet and I have been trying to take more video so I will be able to look back and remember what you sounded like.

You are very tall for your age, I wonder where you gets that from! I picked you up from daycare the other day and realized how much taller you are than the 13 month old and 3 year old!

You LOVE your daddy! Just so you know this one is bitter sweet for me. I am so thankful you have an awesome dad that you adore. But, I will admit it hurts a little bit when I get you up in the morning or pick you up from daycare and the first thing you say is "Where Daddy?" I know you love me but daddy has a special place in your heart.

You were a bit of a picker eater this last month than in the past. I think you may be getting your molars. You still love you some fruit and crackers! If you won't eat anything else you will always eat those things. You also ate carrots for the first time in a long time.

You are a sweet, sweet boy but do throw a good fit when you don't get what you want! You do a great job picking up your toys at home and daycare, setting the table with daddy for dinner, throwing your trash away, and bringing mommy and daddy their shoes. When you wake up in the morning you quietly get out of bed, climb up in the rocking chair in your room, cover up with a blanket, and read your books! We are working with you to be more patient:)

You are such a good reader! You love to read your books to daddy and me in the morning and at night. You also love to read your books in the car and have books read to you.

The park is your favorite place on Earth! You would spend the whole day here if we let you. However you do not like getting shocked, we learned that today!

Jackson, I learn so much from your life and love you more each day! I pray daily daily for you and also for me that I am and will be a Godly role model for you and be the mom that you need me to be!

I love you Jackson Oliver!

Love, Mommy

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...

of our Saturday!

The Good:
-An early morning bike ride and stop at the park that required pants and sweatshirts
-Finshing a couple weeks of lesson plans

-Sonic happy hour

-Getting Jackson's 18 month pictures back and finding a bunch of frames 75% off, now just have to find a place to hang them all

-Making one of my favorite chicken casseroles

-Nightime walk to put Jackson alseep and time spent talking with Brian

-Relaxing on the couch with my love


The Bad:

-Hours spent at the dentist for Brian and me

-The money spent at the dentist

-Jackson drawing on our couch with pen


And the Ugly...really, really ugly:

-Brian's canker sore (Sorry honey hope it gets better soon!)

In with the New

I am typing this post from my brand new laptop that Brian surprised me with!
My old laptop has been on the kaputiz (sp?) for some time now. However, just this last week my laptop would not turn on. I freaked out as I did not have everything backed up. Oh about 40 minutes later it mysteriously powered up! I quickly saved every picture and lesson plan to our external hard drive. The last week I have been waiting anywhere from 40 minutes to a hour and half for my laptop to turn on. Last weekend we went and looked around for computers. I am very cheap and didn't see anything I liked that fit my "budget". Brian kept trying to talk me in to just buying a one, but my dad in me said "it still works you don't need a new one!"

Brian knew I wasn't going to cave so he took it upon himself to buy me one that fit all of his standards. He justified it to me saying "you need it for work, you don't want to lose your lesson plans you spent so long on." So, now I have a much nicer and probably more expensive laptop than if I would just have picked one out last weekend. It is a nice change to type with a keyboard that is not missing buttons!

Brian's birthday is in 23 days and it seems to me I better come up with something grand for him. I guess I should start thinking and planning NOW!

I LOVE my boys (and my new laptop, thanks Brian)!!