Giveaway Ends Tonight

Don't forget about the giveaway ending tonight. Not many entries and it is for two free "green" household cleaners, so go enter. It's that easy. Oh, did I mention I am doing TWO drawings???

Jackson's Birthday Bash Part One, complete with fireworks!

The birthday cake. I used my cricut to cut the characters out. It was vanilla with yellow accents...Jack loves LELLOW. BTW, I will be buying a skinny straight tip for writing before I do my next cake.Jackson hanging out with Mickey Mouse...MM even sat at the dinner table with us. Thanks Kristen for letting us use him...if any of my blog readers in the Omaha area would like to own MM, let me know and I will put you in contact with Kristen, who is trying to sell him.The birthday boy and his birthday crown.Everybody loves a party...even baby Ethan.

Donald does not look like he liked the party.
Notice Donald's seared BUTT FEATHERS? Yep, Bart accidentally caught it on fire. It was pretty dang funny, if you ask me.
Next time, keep the candles AWAY for the paper decorations on the cake.
Oh, and don't you just love the expression on Donald's face? It's like he knew what happened.


Some of the decorations for the party:
The presents and the banner (made by me)

I hung MM heads and the #3 from our ugly dining room light fixture.Mickey waiting for the party to start.

Jackson turns three!

Jackson, April 6, 2007, One Year Old on the dot

Today, at 9:20 a.m., something magical happened.
It was quiet, not noticed by any but a mother who was looking at a clock.
Jackson Gabriel turned three.

He has fought growing older with a vengeance. "I NOT GROW UP" has been a phrase heard often at our home, along with, "I stay TWO! I not be THREE!"

Jackson, April 2008, age two

This morning, though, instead of saying "Good morning" to Jackson as he walks by Ethan's room as I nurse the baby (destined to grow up, one day...), I said, "Happy Birthday Jackson! You are three now!" I was expecting a fit to be thrown, but instead, I was greeted with a "Yes, Mama, I three now."Jackson, March 2009 (almost three)

I am excited for Jackson to be three. I think magical things will happen this year as he grows and matures. He is already a little charmer, just ask Trina, Candace, Megan, Joss, Cadence, Tessa, Meredith, etc, etc. He has a great sense of humor (must get it from me) and a very loving attitude towards his siblings.

So, my top three things about Jackson:

1. He loves to hold Ethan and play with Brennan. Nothing makes him happier then to be with his brothers. I love this devotion to them.
   
2. He is a total klutz, but has an amazing ability to not get hurt. He trips or slips all the time, and comes millimeters from major damage, walking away with merely a dazed expression, never knowing how serious the damage could have been. I can not tell you the number of times he's tripped and almost busted his head open. And he is great about "shaking it off", never letting an 'owie' get him down.
3. He is the cutest just turned three year old ever. He loves to snuggle, but he also loves to be a little rascal. He is the worlds worst "looker" when asked to find something, even if it is right in front of him. And he has the cutest voice, even cuter then Brennan's.

Okay, so that is more then three things lumped into three, but I just love the little guy so much, it is hard to narrow it down. Now I need to get off the computer...a cake is screaming my name, just waiting for me to turn it into a Mickey Mouse Masterpiece.

Babysitting Blues

Today I am babysitting for a friend. She has two little boys, ages one and three, and they are having a blast playing with Jackson. (Well, right now they are all watching "Polar Express") I don't really mind babysitting when my children get along with the babysat children. It actually makes my life easier. AND I love trading. It pains me to pay for a babysitter, though at times it must be done.

Today everything is going great...until...

I smell IT.

Why is it that anytime a child is babysat, they feel it is necessary to poo for the babysitter? I know my children do it, too, so I feel okay in posting this complaint. It's not just me complaining, but those who watch my children as well.

There should be a pill the children have to take before being dropped off that temporarily stops all bowel movements.

Any scientist want to tackle that for me? I'll be forever grateful...I might even bake you a cake as a thank you.

What do you hate about babysitting or childcare in general? Let me know. Or share a funny story about a babysitting experience you've had or a poo experience.

All this talk about poo is making me want to share about this time when I was out shopping while visiting Washington state with my mom, Brennan as a two month old, and my Aunt Julie...maybe next time, or somebody let me know if I've already shared the story of the poopy changing room.

Also, please click here for my NEW giveaway site...there is one going on right now.

He just doesn't get it.

This morning I was coaching Jackson on how to tell an April Fools joke. I told him to tell Bart and Brennan he was five years old and then say "April Fools!" when they were surprised. He got VERY upset, looked at me and said, "I not want to be big! I TWO!" and held up two little fingers.

Poor baby. I know the feeling sometimes.

But, the countdown to birthday #3 is almost to an end...4 more days and Jackson will grow up a little more.