Aunt Mel is Fun...

Aunt Melanie was here this weekend and the kids got to stay home with her on Friday...they had a blast. Here are some pictures of the crazy kids playing outside...

Yes, Abby is not wearing a shirt...I was mortified...I mean, I know we live in the south--but come on, reallllyyyy??? No shirt!!! Oh goodness...

The kids are so funny...I love this picture of Hayden

Grandpa Jim came on Saturday and we got to go eat at my favorite place, Wild Horse Saloon...it was so good!!

Here are some pics...

Wow...a real stock car!!! In the restaurant...is that crazy or what?! (Abby's phrase)

Aunt Melanie with the kids...He just looks like he's crying--that look is a little scarey...I know, silly Grandpa Jim...but Abby is wrapped around his little pinky, that's for sure. Both the kids, really...but Abby is just cuddly and calls him her best friend...she knows how to play it.

Can you tell Hayden gets his rhythm from me?? Poor kid, doesn't have a prayer if he's looking for groove.

Abby doesn't have groove either...but she doesn't care. She gives it her all!

Plans that go awry...

Abby got a Big Wheel for an early birthday present from her Grandpa Jim when he was here last weekend...it's a great gift that she absolutely loves. It's perfect for her...she loves riding her trike, but is too big for it and she's too scared to ride the big girl bike we got her last year...so the Big Wheel is a great compromise.

Well, you know how these kind of toys come with stickers your supposed to put on the trike? I don't like putting the stickers on because then they get worn and look tacky after it's been outside for a few days. Hayden asked if he could put the stickers on (he helped put it together) and much to his disappointment I said no...we were going to leave them off.

Abby woke up from her nap and Grandpa Jim gave her the gift and she was so excited...but let me tell you...I think she was more excited when she found the stickers that go on they Big Wheel that I thought I had gotten rid of!!!

Here's the work of art from our almost 5 year old...

Abby is riding with Hugsie...her newest Bear Friend...and Hayden racing her on foot. By the way Hayden learned how to ride his bike this week without any training wheels--we're so excited. I am going to get him on video and put it on the blog in the next couple of days.

Please pray...

Please check out the link 'Bring the Rain' I have listed on our blog...and pray for this family. You will get all of the information there...but to quickly brief you they found out that their nephew who was 2 months old was found not breathing around 9:00pm last night...they were unable to revive him.

You will see that this family had lost their own baby daughter just 7 weeks ago...I think you will be amazed as I am at the faith they portray and I can only hope that I would respond in such a manner should our family be faced with situations like the ones they have had to endure.

Please pray and ask others to pray as well...I don't know this family, but I feel compelled to send this out.

Lessons from the Wii...

I learned a few things yesterday abotu the wii...playing does help in learning tennis terminology. I know what it means when Deuce is called or Advantage front...etc. I know tennis is scored in increments of 15-30-40-deuce...win...etc.

What else did I learn??? That just because you've reached pro status on the wii does not mean you can play worth a lick on the court!!! :) James told me he didn't know what to expect from me and I still think he was a bit shocked at how horribly uncordinated I am. You would think, of course, after almost 9 years of marriage he would have picked up on that, but it seems to elude him time after time. Luckily for me, I'm a bit stubborn and I won't give up...I am going to learn to play tennis if it kills me. I have never played a sport in my life...I am going to get this...I would be happy with just getting good enough to keep up in a game with Hayden. That's my goal!

:) Well, just remember that for all you wii players...just because you're an all star on the game doesn't mean squat!

Just some thoughts...

I'm sure most of you have heard about the tragic accident that took the life of Steven Curtis Chapman's 5 year old little girl this past week...it's heartbreaking to me.

We're not supposed to question God...but these circumstances make it hard not to ask why?? And I think most of us do...if we're honest...especially if it were one of our children, we would wonder...and although we know God can work all things to His good...it's hard to see the whole picture.

It's sad that it takes situations like these to be a wake up call and remind us that life is precious. We get so wrapped up in the day to day grind and lose sight that tomorrow is not a guarantee. We love all of you very much and if we forget to tell you how important you are in our lives, we apologize...

What a Girl Wants...

This is one of my favorite Mother's Day gifts...it's what every Mother wants--a helping child


It's a ticket book full of all kinds of "chores" that if I give the ticket I will have no complaints from my child to do whatever it says...YEAAAAHHHH!!!!

#1 I will help Mom by clean the bathroom

#2 I will help mom by clean me room
#3 I will help mom by tack the gdijs (Translation: I will help mom by taking the garbage) So cute!!!

#4 I will help mom by wosh the dishs.

I LOVE IT...

Mother's Day

I think so far this has been my favorite Mother's Day...it's the first year the kids were really into what was going on which was a lot of fun! I have my first piece of clay art from Hayden...he made a little bowl in art class and painted it...I love it. It's now my special paperclip holder at work and I must say I have had quite a few compliments on the handiwork of my talented child. :) Okay, just a little biased...I know!! He also helped write a poem with his kindergarten class...and made a butterfly. Very crafty...my little dude!

Abby made me a box and put all of her love inside...which I also brought to work, she had very clear instructions though to make sure that NO ONE OPENED THE BOX! (Make sure, Mom...was said several times) She went on to explain that all of the love would then go away...BY ALL MEANS...NO ONE OPEN THE BOX!!!!! I also got a few paintings and works of art...we call them abstract, I'm sure there is meaning behind the scribbles and one day we will decipher it.

Of course, I also got some other cool gifts t00...Hayden got me a kit to make my own sterling silver jewelry pieces. I also got a hanging flower plant (Abby told me "Feel the flowers...they're real!!) and a movie (PS I love you--which I cried thru the entire movie at the theater...James kept laughing at me, oh and then I laughed and snorted...the whole theater wast laughing at me then) :) But it's such a great movie...if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it.

We did have a little bit of a damper on the whole day though...Abby has strep throat (yes, again!) and we have a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat Dr. Looks like the tonsils are going to have to come out...bummer. Luckily, we were able to go out to eat (Black Eyed Pea--my favorite restaurant)...before it really set in and turned her into a whiny helpless child. I think God uses these experiences to remind us of what being a mother is all about. :)

I hope all of you mothers out there had a great day! We sure are blessed to have our kids...I can't remember what life was like before and I sure wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Little Slugger...

I thought this was a good picture of Hayden waiting for the hit...(yes, the other kid is picking his nose...what can you do?!?)

One of our kids was playing 1st base and the other team hit the ball...it rolled past and the hitter made it to 1st...our kid ran after the ball while the other one ran on towards 2nd...well, instead of stopping and throwing the ball to the 2nd baseman...our kid ran after him...and on to third he chased him...and on to home. It was hilarious...he was just running his little heart out trying to catch up to the guy...we lost that game 20 to 5...it was not a good night at the Jackson house...Hayden is pretty competitive and you would think he wouldn't know the difference but he does--he can tell you exactly how many games they have won and lost and the teams they've lost to. He writes on his schedule a W for a win or an L for a Loss.

Boys and sports...never gets boring, huh?

Abby..being Abby...

I found Abby sitting on the floor in the kitchen on Saturday eating Lucky Charms (my favorite cereal) out of the box...it was so cute I went to get my camera to take a picture and by time I walked back in there she was shoving the box back in place and giggling like crazy...when I tried to take a picture she ran away...so we played "camera chase" all over the house...I tried and tried to get a picture of her, finally I went outside and knocked on her bedroom window...this is what I got...

We had so much fun...I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. She's such a nut. The whole time this was going on here's what the boys were doing...

Hayden told us a couple of times to "Quit messing around! I can't play my game..."

I think we got him a little frustrated. :) Oh, well...it's creating memories!!

Field Trip Day!

Well, Friday was the field trip to the zoo...which I had volunteered to chaperone. Hayden had been so excited about it for the last month because I was going with him...it was a big deal. We got to the zoo and about an hour into the whole thing Hayden started complaining that his ear was hurting...oh, great was the thought that came to my mind.

Long story short...Hayden and I had to leave the zoo early and go to the doctor where we were told that he had a double ear infection. Of all days...the day of the field trip. It just breaks my heart for him...

Now, with him dopped up on motrin he is a happy camper...his daddy got him Mario Kart to play for the weekend to help make up for the fact that the long awaited field trip was such a bummer.

I did get from the field trip before we had to leave...

Date night...

I wish I had a picture to add to this...because it would be hilarious...but James and I had a date night the other night. And it was great...

First we went bowling...then hit some balls at the golf range (James was quite impressed with the power of my swing) and then we played a few rounds of tennis...all of which are some of James' favorite things...the great thing about it is we were able to do all of this in the comfort of our home...in our pjs no less.

You may be thinking...wow, they must have hit the jackpot and won the lottery...well, no...I wish...we played the wii, which I really think is one of the greatest things invented...especially for married couples. We tend to get a little too caught up in the whole thing and sometimes hog it from the kids...they've told us a couple of times to it's nice to share and we weren't being nice and Abby told me last night..."You don't always have to win, Mom...you can just have fun!!" Hayden can kick my tail at tennis...luckily I can still beat Abby--so game, on--girl!!! :) Just kidding...

By the way, if anyone finds a "skiing" game...let me know. James has been after me for a few years to go skiing with him and I figure if we could just ski using the wii he might be satisfied with that.