Fun and Family

Sonny's parents Harold and Bobbie, came from Alaska. Sonny's brother Martin,from New York and Kath's brother Ryan from salt Lake City came to visit for Tday and meet little Conner.

There was lots of food, music, game playing, hugs, snow and lots of fun to be had.

We've HAD IT!!!

and it's a BOY!!

CONNER JAMES JACKSON joined our family on November 24, 2009, at 8 pounds 2 oz, and 21 inches. He looks like Heath did as a baby, we are really enjoying his sweet spirit and snuggling our newest little Jackson.


Dad....
hates leaving him, snuggles him every chance he gets, & says," I just love him."


Mom...
is so glad he's "OUT", kisses him every minute, & says, "He is the best"


Heath...
is a huge help,loves to hold him, & says, mom I'm done,after 5 min if he cries


Austin...
is not impressed with baby, but loves to hug him & says "put him in his bed".


Conner is truly a blessing, so glad he is ours forever!!!!

SEW Smart!!

I went on the annual quilt retreat with my mom in Navasota at Camp Allen for the weekend. It is three glorious days filled with quality time with my mom, friends, food, fun and of course lots of quilting and projects. This year I cooked up a great project for the kids.

YEAH FOR GREAT PROJECT IDEAS THAT TURN OUT TO BE SO MUCH FUN FOR EVERYONE!!!!

FIrst Day of School TOO/TWO

Austin was off to his first day of two's MDO with much enthusiasm. He had his new shoes, clothes and lunch box, knew where to stand for the annual Jackson first day of school photo. With out looking back he was off, leaving mom and dad standing in the doorway. To play on the playground, meet new friends, and have fun.
What a cute, independent little guy he has become.


ENJOY being 2 AUS!!!!!

FIRST day/grade

Heath started first grade this year with gusto. Black hightop converse, a smokin hot homework folder, P.E, music, computers, the big slide on the playground, and the darling Mrs. Hebert.


We are so excited for all the things this year has to offer. Good Luck to my cute first grade boy!!!!!

This summer

Sonny: Worked in the Heat
Played in Alaska
Turned on the sprinkler, too many times
Mowed the lawn twice a week
Took care of pregnant sick wife
Enjoyed hanging with his boys




Kathleen: Got to 28 weeks pregnant
Played in Alaska
Invested in a zoephran pump
Broke a foot
Lounged in the pool
Ate tons of ice cream



Heath: Won high point for his swim team age group
Played with friends
Lost 2 teeth
Played in Alaska
Went to art camp
Learned to dive


Austin: Got orthotics for his feet
Played in the sprinkler
Played in Alaska
Got his first hair cut
Ate tons of popsicles
Went swimming lots

Feast, Family and Fun

We had our second annual back to school dinner celebration. BBQ chicken, beans, salad and homemade rolls. We chatted about how just last year Heath was starting school, how his first day would go, ate chocolate cake for dessert, had a blessing from dad, and picked out the school clothes.

Feasting, Family and Fun. Yea for first grade!!!



Heath was not convinced going back to school had anything to do with celebrating!

DINOSAUR FEET

As most of you know Austin walks on the inside of his feet, or pronates. He has done it since he was little. There is nothing wrong with his feet, just a nasty habit he picked up as an early walker. Which has made walking really hard for him. He started out not even able to bend his knees very well, was for ever losing his balance and just plain miserable. Just getting around for him was really difficult. That's until the

Dinosaur Feet,as well call them, known as SMO orthotic inserts for pronators. Whew, that's a mouth full. They slip inside his shoes, on top of the sock and force him to walk on the full surface area of his little feet. I was so worried he would hate them, or be so uncomfortable. We ordered them, with Dinosaurs on them 2 weeks ago, and with in minutes, we could see a difference in his abilities and balance.

The answer to our prayers for sure!!!

We thought about calling them his special shoes, but that sounds so victim, so it's Dinosaur feet. He loves them and brings them to us to put on. He is a different kid!! running, jumping and in balance. We are grateful to Hope orthotics and his awesome PT, Michelle. He is getting around like a 3 year old, and we along with him, are so happy. He has to wear them all them time, except for naps, night or water. Not sure how long he will wear them, we are thinking a year.

"THAT STOOL"

I bought the cutest step stool from a garage sale last year for the downstairs powder room. You know the kind, red, sassy, and adorably perfect. I told Sonny it was for kids to reach the sink to wash their hands, or to step up to get water. Secretly, I just like to see it when I walk by. It would look delicatable in the boys upstairs bathroom,(matches my red and white stripped shower curtain). But the last few months, it has been used as so much more than the fascilitator to clean hands, and thirst free wee ones. It is out in the living room, dining room, kitchen, the stairs or any place it is not supposed to be, and everyday, the male Jackson's hear this, "Why, is this stool not in the bathroom, where it goes, patiently waiting to be thrust into action"?
The real question should be asked of me. Why, do I not move it upstairs, and why do I have the need to see that red stool. Who would think that glancing in on my little red stool when I walk by, could give me such joy.
I guess it is true what they say geogrpahy is validy, I guess, right? And, when did the craziness get out weighed by the cuteness. We all have adorable, sassy, red stools in our lives that make us crazy, but make us smile. The point is to just enjoy them for who or what they are, crazy or not. Or, where ever they may be.

We are having A....

SUPRISE BABY!!

We know how this aggrivates everyone, but decided we were up for a suprise. I am 24 weeks today, which gives us a Thanksgiving baby. All of us are very excited and can't wait for the baby. (Mom can't wait for the baby, cooler weather, and a smaller waist)!!!! I am feeling better, over the half way mark and not as nauseous as before. I am really feeling the effects of baby #3 on the body, but not too much to report. We are so excited and can't wait for Thanksgiving 09 and the blessings it will bring.


P.S. I gave in and put one of those baby widget countdowns on the blog.

I know!! I know!!, just could not resist.:)

Best things about summer

10. Watching the kids play in the hose

9. Swimming pools, everyday!!!!

8. Popsicles are considered a meal

7. Trips to the beach with the family

6. The sound of the starter on Saturday morning swim meets

5. Fresh veggies and flowers from the garden

4. Flips Flops in all colors

3. My boys in matching bathing suits drinking from the hose

2. BBQ'S with swimming, watermelon, and a big fat hamburgers

1. Late night trips to Sonic for ice cream

isn't summer sweet!!

Memorial Day

I usually think of Memorial day, as the start of summer, briskett and watermelon, swimming and a day home with my sweet husband. But today, there is much more on my mind. I just saw a kid running down the street holding an American Flag, flapping in the wind. He stuck it in his front yard. Suddenly today is more than deviled eggs and a day off from school lunch making. We are truly blessed to live here and have the freedoms that we do, so I think I will swim and eat and enjoy the start of summer, but with a more greatful heart for those who serve.

Family, Friends, Fun, FREEDOM!! Happy Memorial Day

EXPERIMENTos

This is just my little experiment to see who is really reading this blog. I used to get tons of comments, now I get lurkers,( You know who you are). Guess I have just lost that lovin' feelin!!!??

So, post a comment and I want to see who is really reading!! Plus the comments make me feel important (HA HA)!!!


LET ME FEEL THE LOVE FOLKS!

THE FAMILY, THE FUN, THE FINAL FRONTIER!!

Some of the reasons we liked living in Alaska

15. The mountains are your playground, 17 of the largest peaks in the U.S

14. Midday Moon and Midnight Sun

13. Barbeque's, bike rides, or backyard mowing at 11 P.M.

12. Never worried about the right outfit, Ca tour or Carharts, acceptable at
weddings, church, work, shopping, camping

11. NO SNAKES (enough said)

10. Moose, on the front lawn, front porch, front hood, freezer

9. Winter hats, always your best accessory

8. PFD, Permanent Fund Dividend, one for every person,every year.

7. Big city, small town feel, friendly, real, and down to earth.

6. FISHING, and Grandpa's awesome boat with the best views and the biggest fish

5. Snow machining, yes machining, is considered an art form

4. Never sweating!!

3. A view that never gives up, EVER !!!!

2. Jeans 365 days a year, all you need to own

1. THEM

Veggie Tales

Out of seats and atop the table, sharing a dish, generously squeezed ranch dressing bottle, overly wet lettuce, messy shirts and faces and hands, family sit down dinner a muck.

Best Bud Brothers and Volunteer Veggie eaters!!!

Isn't life sweet!!

Roller Sk8er!!

Heath got roller skates from Nana and Papa for Valentine's day this year. They are WILD!! The very retro kind for roller darby's, black with stripes, cobalt blue wheels and a stopper on the front. We took him to the school playground (equipt with short grass field and concrete covered area) and let him loose. He took to it quickly and loved it immediately. Sonny helped him get his barrings and then he was off. He only fell once, learning just how fast those wheels spin. He is officially a sk8er, and we are offically worried about all the ER trips. What is spring with out some bumps and bruises, right!!
He is our adventurous, athletic guy!!! tear 'em up Heath.

Morgan and Austin

Good friend, Better seats, Best view
The Perfect girl, who appreciates the sheer joy of a big rig in front of the house!!!

It's good to be 2!!!!!

Austin and his friend Morgan enjoying the truck!!

BE MINE!!

10 minutes to devour all the candy

9 conversation hearts stuck to couch

8 M &M's hiding in cheeks of little mouths

7 Valentines' from cute girls in kindergarten class

6 Lollipops in assorted colors

5 pencils with hearts and glitter

4 Beautifully wrapped sweet presents from NANA and PAPA

3 Handsome guys gluing pasta on homemade valentines for MOM

2 Sugar coated little boys

1 Great Love that started it all!!!!!

A THOUSAND HUGS TO ALL THOSE WE LOVE

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

LOVE THE JACKSONS

PERFECT PENCIL

Heath informed me today that he wanted the perfect pencil for Bethany's valentine card

(she's a cutie).

I asked him why?

He said I LIKE HER!!!:)

I said you do ? why?

Because she runs fast, plays hard and can spell all the names of the kids in our class including hard ones like Karishma. A sporty, smart girl, she's a keeper!!!

silence......

There is anothe reason, Oh yea!!?? SHE IS CuuuuTE!!

I said, she is indeed!!

silence...

There is one problem mom, what?,

THAT you are five and like girls,(heart attack moment)

No, Mrs. McDaniel moved our seats and I now sit by Audry,

Thinking (Oh, she moved you from your beloved)??? that is a problem:(

No, Audry is much cuter than Bethany, I just never noticed. Now there are two cute girls and only one perfect pencil?

Oh Heath, if only that is your problem when you are 16? Doubtful, but a mother can dream!!

I thought I was the only one who got his perfect pencil.

He's been DEPants!!

First, we see this.........

Second..... search and search and search for the missing pants (look at that develish grin)

Third we see this .....

BROTHERS ... Now THAT'S LOVE

For Aus, he gets to take his pants off (his usual)

For Mom, she gets to search the house for the missing pants (her waste of time)

For Heath, he gets to DEPANT his brother, and have crazy head wear (his favorite)

Yeah! Yeah!! Hooray! Hooray!
HAPPY HAPPY groundhog's DAY!!!!!

Heath was sad to find out he lives in Pennsylvania, not Kingwood!!!

PARTY planning!!!!

Heath is growing up so fast, almost 6, half way through kindergarten. We enjoy this age, and all the quirky things they say and do. We love the things he pretends, stories he tells, the way in which he sees things.

Today for instance........

K " Heath what are you thinking about up there in your fort?"


H "I am thinking I would like a surprise party for my birthday, so let's plan one!!!!


K (letting him down gently). "UM, those parties are not ones YOU plan!!!!"


H "UM, I know that, you don't have to worry mom, my friends will be planning it!!" I have all the details worked out, they will hide, jump out and yell SUSPRISE!!! and then there will be presents and a really large cake and that's it. You will tell me we are going somewhere else. Of course, I will think we really are, although we are not really going where you tell me we are.


K "WOW, that's an amazing plan.


K "If you know about it, how will it be a suprise"???


H " Well, OF COURSE!!! just don't tell me when it's April, and then I won't know it's my birthday. The reason this is perfect you see, is because I don't know the months that well".


K "perfect plan, I guess we don't have to do any work then, do we"????


Leave it to Heath to decide, plan and execute his own suprise birthday party,

and


Be suprised!!!!

Box of cheerios on the floor,

Forgot stuff at the store,

House lacking the right paint color,

No real vision of a dinner plan.

It is my life, I am feeling overwhelmed and uninspired until I think about what real blessings I have today in......

The friend that trusted me to watch her children.




The neighbor that told me they were glad we lived here.




The friend who embraced my unannounced visit with snacks



The brother who calls to see how my kids are doing



The two year old that gives kisses and love



The friend who loves my kids like their own



The parents who let my kids eat all the cherries from the jar they want



The friend who invites us to watch movies and feeds us candy



The five year old that smiles with out a front tooth.



The husband that loves me and listens to my needs



The friend that told me I was capable of painting my own murals for the living room



The in laws that tell me they love me like their own daughter



The brother in law that tells me I am great and visits my kids



The teacher who thinks Heath is smart and capable and great



The sister in laws that check on us in Texas, and teach us about parenting



The friend that posts pics of me from HS on facebook, to remind me of my glory and skinny days



The nieces and nephews that share a love of family and snow play with my kids



The best friend from HS who was my great competition, greatest cheerleader and still my friend



The life that is always only mine!!!!



It is full and rich and real, (and still needs a dinner plan)

Mountain Men

Our night with something like this........

7:36 P.M. home late from busy day, (Sonny work, kath mom duties, Heath w/nana, Aus being 2)

7:40 P.M. Mom," Bed time Heath and Austin"!!!

7:41 P.M. Heath, "NOOOOOOO, doesn't anyone care about drawing in this house"!!

7:42 P.M. Dad, "yes, Heath, we appreciate the arts, just appreciate kids bed time more"!!!

7:43 P.M. Heath rolling around on the floor.

7:46 P.M. Mom, "Time for bed for real this time"!!!!!

7:47 P.M. 13 minutes before Sonny's church meeting!, Mom, "Sonny draw quick and then bed"!!

7:48 P.M. Mom, thinks Dad is a sucker, Heath stalling, he is so putting him to bed alone for this!!

7:49 P.M. Heath, " dad I just need you to draw me one quick thing for my map"!!

7:50 P.M. Sonny," SURE!!!!!!! (ten minutes and counting til his meeting)!!

7:51 P.M. Heath hands over a piece of cardboard & one half dried orange marker

7:53 P.M. Dad, "ok Heath, draw what a river, tree, trails, thinking of all things map"????

7:54 P.M. Heath, "actually what is the name of the mountain with the 4 man heads called"??

7:56 Dad, P.M. "what mountain with 4 man heads? You are so stalling"??

7:59 P.M. Heath, "NOOOOO, you know that mountain with those heads, the important one?"

(total teenage attitude voice and tons of eye rolling!!!)

8:04 P.M. Sonny, WHAAATTT??????(officially late, and irritated).

8:07 P.M. Sonny, racking his tired brain for all known mountains with man heads????

8:08 P.M. Sonny, ??????BAFFELED


8:09 P.M. Sonny, "Oh Mt. Rushmore, Yea what about it?"


8:10 P.M. Heath, "could you draw it?"



8:12 P.M. Sonny, "AHHHH Heath"!!!!!

8:13 P.M. Sonny finished drawing the best fast abstract of Mt. Rushmore, satisfies Heath,


8:15 P.M. Sonny to meeting!!! Offiicially LATE



8:17 P.M. Dad the drawing hero, mom the bed time nazi

(typical)!!!!

ALL IN THE NAME OF ART AND ENTERTAINMENT!!!!

TOOTH TALES

So, Heath lost his tooth last Thursday, I mean actually lost it, both from his mouth and from our lives. That night we forgot the tooth fairy note, then Friday night, found the tooth in the dining room, but forgot to put it under the pillow, Saturday night, bought the gum for under the pillow, but Aus ate 3 pieces out of my purse, with the paper (mother of the year moment), Sunday lost it again, Monday night, dad puts the tooth under, and forgets to tell mom, you know where this is going, (once again MOTY). Tuesday night lost it, Wed tooth makes its debut under the pillow, 2 dollars, gum, happy Heathurs, gum all over house, mad mom.

Recap:

Lost it

Found it

Forgot about it

2 yr old gum swipper

Lost it again

Found it again

Tooth fairy slept through her shift (Her finest hour)

Fairy delivers!!!!Oh Happy Day

gum in carpet

crazy mom

Tooth fairy needs a personal assistant!!!!!