I see…
a little boy
who is getting his first freckles…
—
mismatched pajamas on a little body
and
a stuffed rattlesnake around his neck…
—
and a very scared grasshopper
who
has probably talked with Larry.
Linked with Angie’s Wordful Wednesday post
Sep 082010
Sep 052010
Friday =
school spirit shirts
and home made popcorn
best friends
and movie nights
and a whole lot of memories.
Aug 122010
Jack.
Jackson.
Jack-Attack.
Jack-Mac-and the heart attack.
Jackson Johnathan Reese.
Jackson-Jack.
Jack-Jack.
Jr.
Seven years ago, we thought about you.
We thought you would be a good friend for Michael.
A good brother.
An additional member to complete our family.
Six years ago, we met you.
You tricked us. You were such a quiet baby.
When you learned to talk, you started asking questions.
So many more questions than your brother ever asked.
You said “no.” A lot.
You touched the things we said not to touch.
You ate the things we said not to eat.
For as quiet as Michael was, you were loud.
For as calm as Michael was, you were energetic. So energetic.
You don’t play video games.
You don’t really play with toys.
You don’t watch much tv.
You make decorated frisbees out of all of my paper plates.
You get excited when boxes come in the mail – because when they are empty, you can make them into things.
You make 20 paper airplanes a day out of computer paper, newspaper, receipts, and price tags.
Then you give them all away. To us, to your friends, to the dogs.
When I pick up one thing, you put two in its place.
You keep every “treasure” that you find.
You go and you go and you go until you can’t go anymore.
You have made our lives crazy, energetic, passionate, and noisy.
And none of us would have it any other way.
We love you, Jackson Johnathan Reese.
You are six years old TODAY!
Aug 112010
I’m early this week…
did you notice?
I’m posting early because tomorrow is going to be a busy, busy day.
It’s a certain someone’s birthday.
He’ll be 6.
And he wants nothing more than a craft desk.
That’s right.
Not legos,
not a Buzz Lightyear toy.
He wants a desk for his creations and treasures.
Michael, Daddy, and I have been working on it for the past week.
We found the perfect desk,
Daddy assembled it,
then Michael and I painted it.
Here’s Michael and I sweating in the hot, humid garage last night, putting the finishing touches on Jack’s desk:
Tonight, Michael asked Jack to sleep in his room so that Daddy and I can rearrange Jack’s room and set up his new desk. We’re all so excited for him :)
Pictures will come soon!
Aug 092010
Me: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss?
Jack: Huh?
Me: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss?
Jack: Are you talking to me? (looking through squinty, tired eyes)
Michael: It’s a joke. She’s talking to both of us.
Jack: Oh. What, Mom?
Me: What sound do porcupines make when they kiss? (SO over the joke right now)
Jack: I don’t know. (shrugging shoulders. done with the joke.)
Michael: I don’t know. What? (Thank you, first born!)
Me: Ouch!
Jack: Ouch?
Michael: Yeah, they say ouch because they are porcupines. And it hurts when they kiss.
Jack: Hee hee. Ooouuuuuuch.
Michael: Ouch, ouch, ouch!
Jack: Owie!!!
Michael: Hey, porcupine, I’m gonna kiss you. Muah! OUCH!!!!
Jack: Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
Michael: Ha ha. Muah, muah, muah… OWIE!!!
Me: Ok, guys. It was just a joke. Nevermind.
This joke brought to you by Lolli. Go thank her :)
Aug 032010
Meet Larry:
We found him climbing our house this evening.
Larry is a very brave lizard.
I know this because he obviously saw Jack from up there on the wall, and still decided to come down to say hello.
The boys had just dried off from swimming and were so excited to play with their new pet.
You see, we don’t get many lizards in our backyard (because of our lizard chasing dogs).
Can you tell how excited the boys were?
It’s funny… Larry moved a lot more when Jack was holding him.
I think he was trying to escape.
Here’s Jack concentrating on not. dropping. the. lizard.
When Michael held Larry, he didn’t move an inch.
Again:
Michael:
and Jack:
Michael:
Jack:
Do we all see how this story is ending?
We played with the lizard for about 40 minutes.
Jack liked the name Larry The Lizard (first, middle, and last), but Michael liked “Little Dude.”
Jack liked to see where Larry would “stick” to him.
Michael liked to watch the little dude breathe.
The boys took turns with Larry.
During Jack’s last turn, well… see for yourself.
Larry T. Lizard dropped his tail.
They do that when they’re terrified, you know.
It happened right about the time Jack tried to get the lizard to climb up his back.
Michael came to the rescue, and put Larry back on the house where we found him.
Minus a tail.
This post is linked to Angie’s Wordful Wednesday Carnival – go check it out!
Aug 022010
I’m dying to share some pictures of what I have been doing for the last 2 weeks!
Most of these are cell phone pictures, so bare with me…
Steve is visibly absent in these pictures because he has been spending a lot of time behind the closed door on the right.
Not to be mistaken for the open one on the left. That’s the bathroom.
He has officially started his Master’s program and is there every night and weekend. It’s just like he’s traveling for work, but he’s not. I guess it’s better to be behind the door because I can still scream and ask him to come kill bugs for me :)
I have been watching Jack make new friends and spend time with “old” ones… (I love the thumbs in the pockets look).
I have been spending a lot of time in my new classroom planning for the amazing kids that I have this year…
Michael has been coming to have lunch and play games with me on the days that I work.
We spent last weekend watching a friend take the Lindy’s Challenge…
and drooling over the mac and cheese burger (though I didn’t try it):
We waited (very patiently) for the monsoons to roll in… and they finally did!
We have spent a lot of time talking about how to deal with Jack’s hoarding…
This picture was taken today while we were rearranging his room.
I went to move his dresser and he said, “Well, Mom… there is some stuff under there… “
I don’t think I shared it with you, but about a month ago, we found this stash under Jack’s train table:
The funny thing is, these are items I had asked Jack to throw away at one time or another.
Anyone have any ideas about how to nip this in the bud? Because apparently, whatever I’m doing is not working.
Anyway… where was I?
Michael fell off of his scooter and banged up his hip and arm pretty good…
We had a few chances to see real Arizona cowboys in action:
Oh, and we tried to rescue a lizard from our pool, though it didn’t work :(
Tell me… what have you been doing lately?
Jul 202010
The first day of school brought new backpacks,
new sneakers,
new friends,
new hopes,
and new experiences.
Michael proclaimed that his 5th grade teacher is the “best teacher ever!… well, she’s tied with last year’s teacher.”
and Jack’s first (and second) day of kindergarten began with some tears, but ended on a great note.
Here’s to a wonderful, memory filled year for us all!
Due to the start of school and work for the year, I am taking a mini-blog vacation. I’m thinking 2 weeks will be enough time to get our routines started and relax a bit.
See you all soon!
I shamelessly borrowed my photo idea from Darcie, who took adorable first day photos of her little ones last year.
Jul 182010
Best picture in the world? No.
One of the best memories in the world? It sure is :)
Jul 142010
