Thoughts by Jackson

I'm sitting in Jackson's room working on the blog right now. He tends to go to sleep faster if I just give in and sit in his room. His mind works in overdrive at night. I just had to type some of the questions that he has had for me so far:

Jackson: Can we go to the zoo?

Me: Yes, sometime soon. It is hot right now though.

Jackson: We can just get ice cream at the zoo to cool us off.

Jackson: Why do some people move their fingers fast on the keyboard like you, and some people keep their pinkies up?

Me: Some people know how to type better than others. I took a class and learned how to type correctly.

Jackson: Daddy keeps his pinkies up.

Me: Daddy didn't take a class to learn how to type.

Jackson: He can take a class now.

Me: Daddy is too old to learn how to type now.

Jackson: Oh.

Jackson: Mommy, Josie kept kissing me at school.

Me: Where did she kiss you?

Jackson: On the cheek. I had to keep wiping it off. She wanted to be Princess Leia, and I didn't want her to be Princess Leia. I had a plan, and she couldn't be Princess Leia.

Jackson: Why is air clear but you can feel it?

Me: (How am I going to answer that one???)

Galveston 2011

We went to Galveston for our summer vacation this year. We invited Mama J and Papa J and shared a condo with them. It was a WONDERFUL vacation and hope to make a trip to the beach a family vacation that occurs frequently! I didn't know how the kids would like the ocean, but they really liked it! We would get up in the morning, go to the beach, head back to the condo for lunch and naps, get up, head back to the beach and eat a picnic dinner by a pool at the condo clubhouse. The adults and the kids loved it all! One day, we headed to town to walk around the Galveston Strand. We enjoyed a fountain drink at an original fountain shop and ate sea food of course. The rest of the days were spent at the condo and the beach. Uncle Jeffrey came down one night and spent the day with us. We also were able to meet up with one of my dear friends Shelly, who was vacationing with her family in Galveston at the same time! We ended up not taking too many pictures, but here are some that we did take.

In the evenings, the tide would go down leaving a pool of water. This was perfect! The kids would play in the "pool" and then go to the ocean with the waves and then back again! After it got too dark, we would head up to the clubhouse and spend time in the swimming pool!

Cool picture!

Building sandcastles

They loved playing in the sand.

Splashing in the "pool"!

Uncle Jeffrey with Lauren and their sandcastle.

Pretty girl! She has LOTS of swimsuits, but this is her favorite. She insisted on wearing it every day. Oh well!

Running in the water.

Uncle Jeffrey relaxing in the water.

Lauren liked to float on the waves. She is taking after her mommy and Mama J!

Glamour girl!

Running on the beach!

Jackson loved to just lay and splash around in the "pool".

The money maker picture!! LOVE it!!

What a great trip!

Painting

Being a working mom makes summer lots of fun, and also very hard. I am only off (I know, some of you are rolling your eyes at the ONLY part) for 6 weeks. You add in things like Vacation Bible School (which Jackson loved going to for his first time), a vacation, and a trip to College Station, and I have a hard time getting a true routine down. One day this summer, I ended up breaking out the paints! The kids loved it! Luckily, I stripped down Lauren to paint because she ended up being covered in paint! I took her outside and sprayed her down with the water hose.

T-Ball Time

Jackson played T-Ball this year. He has been asking for years to play baseball. I told him at one point that he had to be in Kindergarten. Then I made a big mistake. . . he asked me how old that is. I told him five. Well, when he turned five, he reminded me that I said five years old. So, we went ahead and signed him up. Here are some pictures from various games throughout the season.

The Waters' family joined us for Jackson's first game! It was so nice having the girls there to play with Lauren!!

Brady and Jenny with Jackson.

The baseball stud.

Lauren with her baby. She loves her babies!!

The team cheer

Jackson and Lauren

Little sis cheers Jackson on.

Warm up

I thought this was a cool picture with the ball in the air.

Running to the next base.

He even played in the dirt at times!!

Yes, Jackson bats as a lefty and throws as a righty.

Little sis

Uncle Jonathan with the baseball player.

Aunt Kaci and Uncle Jonathan came to the last game to cheer Jackson on.

Snack time after the game.

End of School Water Extravaganza 2011

Last year, I started the tradition of the Last Day of School Water Extravaganza that followed with the Last Day of Summer Water Extravaganza with our neighbors. It was a hit, so of course we continued the tradition!! We are so blessed to have such incredible neighbors, but more importantly dear friends.

The entire gang, minus Colin who came later in the evening.

We set up the food and water games between our house and my friend Krista's house.

Let the games begin!! Water guns, water balloons and finally, we break out the water hose!!

Krista getting Thomas!

Melissa came armed this year!

Thomas with the water hose!

My mom was in town and took pictures for us. What fun times and incredible memories!