Dear Jack,

I took you in for your first dental cleaning and I was so amazed at how well you did!  Maybe it was because you have seen your siblings sit in this chair for so long, that you were anxious to do it too, but you would hardly sit still when it was your turn. 

You were pretty much the same way at the first day of swimming lessons.  All you wanted to do was splash and yell. You wouldn't listen to your teacher and sit on the step and ended up about drowning until I got her attention. She had to hold you in her arms because you just could not sit still.  Thankfully, as the days went by your excitement level did taper and you paid attention a teensy bit more.  On the first day of swimming lessons, you refused to put your head in the water, but by the end you were a fish.  I have taken you kids to a couple pools and all you want to do is jump off the side and into the water.  Already you are a better swimmer than your mom, and I am so proud! 

I have to add that although you were not easy for your teacher, you won her over with your cute smile and personality.  The last day of class she walked over and asked for a big hug on the way out, telling me how cute you are.

Your buddy is still Christian down the road, and you want to play every day.  You two get along most days, but you can only play for so many hours and then I hear you guys arguing over everything.  You have learned to ride the scooter and like to ride up and down the sidewalk or down to Christian's house.  You love our next-door neighbor, Warren, who is like a Grandpa to you.  You call him "my neighbor" and will often tell me you are going over to see "my neighbor" or "what is my neighbor doing, mom?"  Him and his wife keep a freezer stocked of popsicles and he lets you follow him around when he is doing yard work, so he is your favorite. 

A day or two after my surgery, Warren came to door and pulled your Dad outside.  I guess you followed them both out the front door and in our front yard.  Warren showed your dad that one of our sprinkler heads was gone just next to his property and he was worried that when the water came on that night his yard would be flooded.  Just as Warren said "if only we could find the sprinkler head" you walked over to just behind where Warren was standing and opened his gas tank door on his car that was parked there, grabbed the sprinkler head that you had stuffed in there and showed them with a smile on your face.  Warren and your dad had a good laugh, I am sure.  You are the first one I ask when I can't find something, because you usually were the one to misplace it.

We have been working hard on your letters with the "Mr. Pencil" app because I would like you to be able to recognize some letters.  I don't think you can recognize any at this point, which is probably due to your age.  Thank goodness you have one year of preschool left, and that I switched to a little bit more structured school.  I should not be worried because you are such a little smarty.  

You were hilarious at the Scofield cabin.  The "forest fairy" (aka Grandma B) left out some bows and arrows for the boys one night as a gift.  You quickly grabbed onto as many as you could, calling them "aer-rows" and would say you were going out in the woods to shoot "ba-ers" and zombies, of course.  You had the cutest little hillbilly accent.  You fell asleep just about every afternoon up there too, right on the floor.  One of the days your dad pick you up off the floor from under the table and took a nap with you on the couch.  The next day you were halfway under an end table.  What is it with you and tables?

You are my buddy and little snuggler.  You are my Jackie-bear.  I love you so much.

Love, 
Mom

Gerry, the assistant lunch lady who was your favorite from helping with school lunches.  She loved you too.

I forced you into the picture, hence your face.

Scofield Cabin

Texas Roadhouse

Jumping off the side with cousin Brycey at the Lindon pool.

At Scofield with your bow.

Hangtime

Swimming lessons

Your face when someone jumps off the diving board

Dear Keaton,

I love this first picture of you even though I didn't take it (I am guessing Sam did), because that is a classic Keaton expression and because this is what you look like almost every day.  That is your favorite shirt and day in and day out that is what you will try to wear until I gently remind you that you wore it the day before and to please go change.  It has all the stains to prove it too. 

Your favorite buddy is still Landon, but you like to wait until mid afternoon before you ask to play, and like to spend your mornings alone on the Xbox, your iPod or on my computer.  Although you do come out of your shell around most people, I have noticed that you often leave the group and like to just be alone.  To be honest, it worries your Grandma B because she thinks that you feel left out, but I know that is not the case.  I love that you are confident by yourself and don't mind being alone at times. 

You are still crazy about Birdie and like to call her "Boo-ey" which drives me and your Dad nuts so we try not to listen, but you do take really good care of her, and try to make her sleep on your bed at night. You also love to walk into the room and say "Hello.. chumps."  I think you learned it from Landon, but me and your Dad have started saying it to you to get you to smile; however, I think you say it the best.

You did really well this summer in swimming lessons and passed off Level 5.  You have already decided to be done with taking lessons, and that is fine with me.  You are a great swimmer and I don't think any more lessons are needed unless you choose to do swim team. 

I love how you take good care of me, Keek.  After my shoulder surgery last month, you and your siblings didn't quite know what the doctor did to my shoulder because I didn't really tell you.  One day a week or so after the surgery you asked to see my shoulder underneath the ice packs, sling and bandages and I showed you and the rest of the kids.  It is just two little scars, and really didn't look to bad, but I could tell that you felt sorry for me and knew that it hurt.   All of sudden you were bringing me my drink, getting me food, asking me if you could do anything else to help you, and this lasted one whole day! I was very touched that you wanted to make me feel better.  I know you had been watching what your Dad nurse me with and tried to shadow him.  You have a big heart.  It meant a lot to see you take the initiative like that.  One day when I am very frail and old I hope that you will still want to help take of me.:)  I love you, son.

Love, 
Mom

Another cute picture taken by Sam

Found you and Birdie asleep like this..lol.

 

Four-wheeling with Grandpa Hunsaker on the day of my surgery.

Playing at Hangtime.

Texas Roadhouse

Scofield cabin

Swimming lessons

Dear Kids,

Dear Kids, 

I have to document our little vacation to Scofield.   Your papa's boss and family kindly let us borrow their cabin for a week, and we sure made the most of it.  It was in a beautiful place surrounded by trees, very quiet and relaxing.

We went up on Monday with Grandma and Grandpa B, Uncle J, and their dog, Baby, and didn't come home until Saturday.  We watched movies, ate lots of food, read lots of books, took rides on the 4-wheelers, played ping pong, got in the hot tub, played games, did a puzzle, to name a few.  I paid a babysitter to let Birdie out of her cage a few times a day, so we left her home. 

On Wednesday, we were excited to have Aunt Midgie, Uncle Rob, and baby Eddie join us.  Then on Thursday, we got the Ames'.  It was more the merrier, and the cabin had plenty of room for all of us.  We were lucky to have Uncle Jeff come up since he has a fishing license and was able to take you fishing and even shooting with Papa.  

I loved roasting marshmallows, long late-night talks after the kids had gone to bed, playing Mexican Train with dominoes, and who could forget Jack out of the blue calling Uncle Jeff, Ralph? ha ha ha! I hope you will remember the "forest fairy" and how Grandma B and Uncle J made little sacks with your names on them for you to leave out every night.  Then, she would fill them with surprises for you to play with in the morning.  It was very sweet, and you kids thought it was so cool.  You have been blessed with such great families on both sides.  They love you so much, as do I.

Love, 
Mom