Jackson's Baptism

Jackson was baptized this past Saturday. He was ready and excited, and so were we. The program was very nice, and we had a lot of family and friends around to share our day with. Jackson asked Austin to give a talk at his baptism program, and Austin agreed. Austin did a great job. When Bro. Stephenson was conducting, he accidentally omitted the musical number and announced that Austin's talk would be next on the program. Austin got a little nervous, and when Sister Harmon (our primary president) corrected Bro. Stephenson, Austin let out such a loud sigh of relief that the whole room heard it and laughed. He had a few more minutes to relax and then he was up. He did a great job, and I'm proud of him for working hard on his talk and teaching us about the Holy Ghost.

Mika Finau got baptized along with Jackson, and Mika's family was so nice to include Jackson in their traditions and presented him with a couple of candy-filled leis. He was so excited!

We are so proud of Jackson and the decision he made to get baptized. He is working hard to set a good example and make good choices. This was such an important day for him, and I hope he can remember how he felt.

Kayden congratulated Jackson with a big bear hug after the baptism. I had to be quick to get this one on film. How cute is that!

We enjoyed a nice day visiting with family after the baptism. Dave and I gave Jackson his first set of nice scriptures with a case, and we had his name put on them. We thought he knew they were coming, but he acted surprised and very excited. I like that. Jackson got his own monogrammed hymn book from Grandma and Grandpa Morton that he put to good use on Sunday. He has been wanting one of those for a while, so thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa Leatherwood gave him scripture stickers which he is very excited about. They also gave him some CD's of the Scripture Scouts. If you are as old as I am, you might remember they used to have them around when we were kids. There are three little kids and a dog that talks, and they all hang out in a treehouse. They sing songs and tell stories about the scriptures. They are really cute and fun, and my kids loved them! They listened to them all Sunday morning. It was a little nostalgic for me. I remember watching the little Scripture Scout show they used to have downstairs at the visitors' center at Temple Square. I'm glad they are back. They are so good to teach kids lessons about the scriptures, and the songs are fun and catchy and they stick with you (trust me - I couldn't get them out of my head).

Anyway, we are so proud of Jackson and happy for him on this special day. We love you Jacks!

Dog For a Week

So we had a dog for one week. Everyone who knows me realizes how improbable this was. It is kind of a long story, but it pretty much went like this: Dave went up to Sandy one night to help his brother move here from Arizona, and he came home with a dog, Riley. Since it was only for a week, and since my kids (and Dave) have been begging for a dog for years, I relented. They agreed to clean up after Riley and feed her and all of that. I'm not a dog person. Actually, lest you think I'm prejudiced against dogs, you should know that I really don't like any animals at all. I'm just not an animal person. I don't like to touch them or play with them or anything. I have smell issues and hygiene issues with animals, and then there is the whole poop thing ... I like to look at animals at zoos and take pictures and all that, but once they start to get close, I just don't like it. Sorry animals.

Anyway, as far as dogs go, Riley was really good. She hardly barked at all, and she always pooped in the same place, so it was easy to find for the boys to clean up. The kids and Dave had fun playing with her. London took the responsibility of keeping Riley's food and water full very seriously. T.J. loved her the most I think and really mauled her. Riley was very patient with T.J. The boys dutifully picked up the poop every day (almost), but after only three days announced that dogs were a lot of work and started grumbling about picking up the poop. It looks like my devious plan worked out after all ....

Our week as dog owners did not go without incident. T.J. came in one day covered up to his elbows in "mud" and proudly announced, "Look mom, I played in the mud." Unfortunately the "mud" had a very strong aroma and was quickly discovered to not be mud at all. And off Riley went back to John and Angie. Now we get to visit her at Grandma and Grandpa Leatherwood's house. Works for me. The kids really had a lot of fun with Riley, and I did enjoy seeing how cute the kids were with her.

Off to Kindergarten!

London graduated from preschool on May 29th. She has been attending preschool with Jen Diaz for the past two years and has loved it. We have been so impressed by all she has learned and happy to see her progress and growth. Jen has been great for her and has taught her so much. London really loves her teacher and we still get a lot of "My teacher says .... " around here. We don't mind. Their graduation program was so cute, and all the kids got a speaking part. Big stuff. They have learned so many cute little songs and did so many fun projects at preschool. Jen takes the kids on a field trip about once a month which is really fun. We got to go to the pet store, the park, Cold Stone for a tour, Smiths, the fire station, etc. We're grateful for Jen and all she has done for London these past two years.

London and Samantha. I couldn't pass up on this picture with Samantha's expression. It's almost like she saw me with the camera or something ....

London with her teacher, Jen Diaz. London will miss her and her "little school" as she calls it, but she is so ready for the big time ... Kindergarten here we come!

Discovery Park

London had her final preschool field trip the last week of May at the Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove. Paula and I went together with the girls and took T.J. along. That park is a lot of fun, and the kids had a great time.

Yes, T.J.'s shirt is at least two sizes too small, but he had his heart set on his "Cosmo shirt," so I gave in. It sort of enhances the football player effect anyway with his belly hanging out ... he looks tough, right? Linebacker maybe?

London is starting to look so grown up to me. I'm not sure if I like that.

It was hard to keep track of T.J. at the park trying to keep up with all the big kids. He thought he was pretty big stuff hanging out with all the "preschool graduates." He'll be going to that same preschool next year and the year after, so I guess at least two more trips to Discovery Park ... he'll be excited.

Down and Derby '08

With Jackson turning 8 at the beginning of May and Pinewood Derby getting pushed back til the end of May, we had two "racers" this year and quite a project on our hands. Dave and I are not exactly rocket scientists, but we are no dummies either. We figured out after one year and several complications with Austin's first car last year that Pinewood Derby cars are sold in kits at Hammond Toys. You get the precut car, paint, decals, axles, wheels, glaze, and weights. Are you kidding me?!! This was the greatest idea we have ever had. Actually it was a tip from Kelly and Janet Leth that inspired our curiosity about these so-called kits, so thanks to them!

I think we'd all agree that Pinewood Derby cars fall solidly under the category of "man's work," so off they went to select kits and get started on construction. Dave and the boys had a great time working together building their cars. Dave was good about letting them do the work and didn't take over or go crazy or anything. If you haven't seen the movie Down and Derby, it really is funny and pokes fun at the notorious Pinewood Derby over-zealous fathers. We had just seen it a few weeks before, so Dave was unusually good about coaching them through it. He is definitely the more patient of the two of us by a long shot. The boys had a lot of fun spending time with Dave and were very happy with the results. Honestly, I think they turned out great, and we had no major mishaps (remind me to tell you sometime about having to get Austin's car weighed a second time last year after adding one and a half bottles of super glue to keep the wheel axles on).

Austin's car turned out to be really fast, and he won third place in our ward. Way to go Austin!

The cub scouts all got to secretly vote on a car that was "Best of Show" and Jackson won that award. Way to go Jacks!

The final products.

Dance Festival

Eagle Valley Ementary holds a Dance Festival for all the second graders at the end of the school year. Each class prepares a dance and then families are invited to watch the performance. We have a lot of second graders at our school (five classes I think), and it was bad weather the day of the performance so they moved it from the blacktop out in back of the school to the gym (much smaller). Melanie and I went together and took Dallin, Chase, London, Cameron, T.J., and ourselves, and somehow we only took up four chairs. Fun stuff. They picked some really cool dances from countries all over the world.

Jackson's teacher picked the Electric Slide in Western Style for their dance. So just like last year for Austin's performance (some other Western hoe-down dance number), Dave was running around the valley seeking out a cowboy hat the night before Jackson's dancing debut. Turns out, my instructions of "cowboy hat" to Dave were a little ambiguous and he returned with a Zorro hat complete with flaming red Z. He claims he "couldn't find one," but let's be honest it is hard to find anything in a store when you are hyperventilating over the fact that you are actually in a store. I'll blog some other time about Dave's physiological aversion to shopping, stores, spending money, etc.

Anyway, Jackson did a great job with his Electric Slidin' and had a lot of fun. Who knew he had so much rhythm? Way to go Jacks!

AAARRRG!

I couldn't pass up sharing this one. This is London and her friend Samantha. Apparently playing with Barbies is funner when you're dressed as a scoundrel pirate. Who knew?

Happy 8th Jackson!

On May 12th, Jackson celebrated his 8th birthday. A huge milestone I'm sure you'll agree. He was so excited to be getting baptized, starting cub scouts, and having his first ever friend birthday party. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of hosting birthday parties for my kids, mostly because I think kids lack social graces and basic manners under the heavily overstimulated environment that a birthday party brings. I have gone as far as bribing them not to have parties with fun and exciting adventures at places like Lagoon and The Legacy Center, and have even thrown in extra presents on those years that they can be bribed out of the party mindset. But, he really really wanted to have a party this year, and to my credit I didn't even attempt to bribe or persuade him once I sensed his anticipation.

So he carefully drafted a list of his 16 closest friends (woah!) and off we went. Actually Jackson and I had a great time planning the party and getting all the invitations out and going to Partyland for party supplies. He had a wonderful time at his party and was actually quite gracious with his guests, offering more than one spontaneous "thank you" while opening presents without me nudging him in the back. It was really fun for Dave and I to see him having so much fun. Dave set up an obstacle course for the kids in the backyard and timed them going through it. Then they they played musical chairs to Alvin and the Chipmunks music (Jackson's favorite). Then presents, then cake, and off they went. I survived. It was worth it. I could do it again .... maybe.

Don't mind London's expression ... she's just in disbelief that someone else is getting this much attention.




The party crowd hard at work opening presents. Happy to report no injuries and lots of cool stuff.

We are so grateful for Jackson in our family. He keeps us all on our toes with his sense of humor and contagious laugh and teasing teasing teasing. He loves to learn and read and I believe is considered a "Pokemon expert" in some favored circles. Frankly, I'm impressed by all the cool stuff he knows. I'm lost a lot of the time. He got an Ipod shuffle from me and Dave for his birthday, so he's been rockin out on his headphones ever since. I'm not sure I'm ready for this whole walking around the house with headphones on and can't hear me calling him stuff yet. I thought I had a few more years. Jackson is such a good helper to me and really tries to do what is right. He is a good big brother to London and T.J. and really knows how to get them laughing when they are sad. He is always willing to push T.J. on the swing when I am trying to get things done, and I really appreciate that. He and Austin are the best of friends, and I love and cherish the bond they have. They get along so well and really have a lot of fun together. Most of the time they are inseparable. They share friends and toys and a room with almost no trouble at all. I so proud of Jackson and the good decisions he is making. He has been reading the Book of Mormon all on his own, and he has gotten pretty far. I'm so impressed. He is curious about the gospel and wants to know more about what he is reading and learning on Sunday. We are so proud of him and love watching him grow into a young man. This was such as important birthday for Jackson and I hope he has fond memories of it. I know I do. Happy Birthday Jackson (i.e., Jack, Jacks, Woog). We love you!