It's been a while............

It's always so intimidating getting back on here after such a long absence, but I am going to endeavor to improve the frequency of my visits here. In the meantime, here's some stuff that has occurred in hour home since my last post:

Jackson turned 5
Jackson began kindergarten
Jackson is doing really well academically (of course)
Jackson is doing so-so behaviorally (of course)
He has had some wonderful insights and 3 pink slips
Jackson came home last week with a note from his teacher regarding a letter he wrote in class:
"Dear Finn, Las foiyt on I hat you. From, Jackson" (Dear Finn, Let's fight and I hate you)

Thanksgiving was at my mama's house, it was delicious with the exception of a lack of hot, buttery white rolls for the 2nd year in a row.

Christmas was wonderful. We had a lovely tree. A tree that my husband picked out, purchased, and brought home for me. I made him pack the tree back up, return to the store, look at other trees, go to another location, make calls about a tree, changed my mind about a tree, made him re-purchase the original tree and unpack it one more time.

Finn is growing taller daily and we are currently looking forward to his 3rd birthday.
He is obsessed with school buses, city buses, and working trucks
He loves walking Jackson to the bus stop and then returning home to have the run of the place as the only child which I love for him.
His latest trick is becoming a persistent and insistent backseat driver. Shouting instructions from the backseat whenever a stop sign, or a red or green light is spotted anywhere in the vicinity.

Dilley Road Trip

We headed out bright and early Monday for our little 6 hour trek to the CA with enough luggage for 2 European vacations, for which I am completely and entirely to blame. In my defense, the boys wore all 4 of their sweaters and both jackets. Before even making it on to the freeway the boys had opened their snack bags and eaten pretzels, goldfish crackers, yogos, and were munching away on their apples - 6 hours worth of snacks housed down in 15 minutes! Piggies. Mike made quick work of our drive, the boys watched DVD's in the back, and I watched a movie on my ipod so I didn't have to listen to Kung Fu Panda AGAIN. We made it to the hotel and let the boys loose. It was like liberating caged monkeys - they had been trapped in the car all day with no naps and went, pardon the pun, completely bananas. We decided to take them swimming so they could swim themselves exhausted (goodbye straight hair, it was lovely while it lasted) but I hadn't packed floaties for Finn and he was angry that Mike or I had to keep a hold on him. Finn thinks he can swim and is thus a nightmare around any body of water. He usually has his floaties on and runs and jumps without a trace of fear, or sense into the pool and then kicks around on his own. After swimming we walked to Downtown Disney for something to eat and went back to our rooms where I spent my first ever night in a bed with Finn. He squirms. A lot.

Tuesday the excitement woke some of us up at 6 am and someone shouted "it's time to go to Disneyland!!!!!" Mike told me to keep it down and then the boys and I scrambled to get ready for the big day. We had a wonderful time at Disneyland / California Adventure and enjoyed amazing weather, short lines, exciting rides, parades, fireworks, and horrible overpriced food. Mike and Finn returned to the hotel at nap time but Jackson and I stuck it out from 7:45 am to 10:30 pm.

Wednesday we woke up and headed down to Seal Beach to my Aunt's house so we could hang at the beach for a few days. It was beautiful, 2 blocks from the water, fresh air, gardens, great food, and great family. Thank you Aunt Lisa, Uncle Mike, Aunt Julie, Bub (and your UK pal Eddie) and Gram & Pop, for hanging out with us and being so much fun.

We flew kites on the beach and the first day Jackson let go of the new kite Aunt Lisa had just bought him and it flew high and far. Lisa went running across the beach yelling "OH SHIT!!" and Jackson was right on her heels yelling "OH SHIT!!" (we discussed it later) It was crazy windy and we thought it was gone for certain, Jackson proclaimed it to be "the worst day ever" but Uncle Mike trudged down alleys until he spotted it in a telephone pole. Just as we were trying to figure out how to get a hold of the string it returned to the air, flew a bit and landed on the roof of a huge house. My Mike and Uncle Mike found the string across the way and were able to get enough string to yank it down. It was amazing that we got a hold of this kite - it was like hurricane force winds! We celebrated with fries and milkshakes.

We spent one fun day at the Long Beach Aquarium and walking along the marina, and then the next morning it was time to head home. I am happy to be back and less happy to face the unpacking.......... oh well :)

Happy Birthday Brother!

A big 26th shout out for my baby brother!!

Happy Birthday Bub - we love and miss you

The race

Jackson vs. Finn is never a fair match (at least not since Finn stopped biting) but look at the determination on my sweet son's face. I think it's adorable that he thinks he has a chance!

Jackson - Finn is supposed to turn out bigger than you - be careful. Finn - your time will come, my love.