Jacksonisms

In honor of Jackson's 7th birthday, here are some of our favorite Jacksonisms:

• "If you see a white truck with a hooker (Jacksonism for "trailer hitch") say, 'white truck with a hooker'." He was really into trucks and wanted us to point them out to him! Gotta admit, that one's probably my favorite! (3 yrs. old)


• "So, mom's Japanese and Chinese and dad's just regular." (5 yrs.)


• "Braden can't play because he has refuse coming over." "What?" I asked. Jackson explained, "you know, grandmas and grandpas and cousins." "Oh, I think you mean relatives," I said. And then I added, "Jackson, do you know what refuse is? It's garbage." He laughed and laughed and laughed as he kept saying "Braden has garbage coming over!" (Last month)


• "So, when do we take the shower?" (Following a baby shower that Wally's co-workers generously threw us before Chloe was born. Poor kid, nobody explained what a baby shower really was.) 4 yrs. old


• "Mom, you just wrinkled my heart." (After a lecture I gave him about being a good friend and sharing. I try my best not to wrinkle his heart any more.) 5 yrs. old


• "When are we going halloweenering?" (Jacksonism for "trick-or-treating") 3 yrs. old


• When I was very pregnant with Chloe, I bent down to pick something up and Jackson whispered to me, "Mom, I can see your buffers." Now, in my non-pregnant or nursing state I am very flat-chested, so to be able to see any type of cleavage was a new and unusual thing. I must also explain that at 4 years old, Jackson was totally into Thomas the Train. On the front of each Thomas and Friends engine, there are two circles--yep, you guessed it, buffers--that prevent the trains from bumping into each other.


• "Call me Jack-A-Roo-Pumpkin-Pie." 2 yrs. old. Grandma Miyasaki always called him "pumpkin" and Aunt Nellie called him "Jack-A-Roo." One day I was calling for him and he promptly explained that his name was not Jackson. From that day forth he wanted to be called "Jack-A-Roo-Pumpkin-Pie" or "Jack-A-Roo-Pumpkin-Pie, kissed the girls and made them cry" for short.

Oh, Jackson, we love you! You are so very sweet and your easy-going nature really balances out your sisters! At the first PT conference with Jackson's teacher she told me that Jackson is "an old soul" in a little body. And he is. Couldn't ask for a better son than Jackson. Happy birthday, superman!

Overheard

Wally: Hey, Chloe, what are you doing?
Chloe: I don't know.
Wally: Yes, you DO know.
Chloe: I'm drinkin' your Coke, Dad. Is that just fine?
Wally: Yeah, Chloe, that's just fine.

What a softie that Daddy is becoming!

Double Digits!

Our little 5 lb. 6 oz. baby girl has grown into a beautiful 10 year-old. Where has the time gone? Poor Kelsie spent her big double-digit birthday driving back home from Florida. We took her out for a special birthday dinner at Burger King in Shreveport, LA, where we let her pick anything from the menu! Don't feel too bad, she did get to go to Florida and celebrate her birthday (a little early) with Grandma and Papa Wallace and the Burtons. It was the first birthday spent with family in 3 years, so it was extra special. The next day was all about Kelsie. She opened presents, feasted on her favorite foods--steak, raspberries, salad, rice, and chocolate cheesecake. The following day she received lots of gifts in the mail and we celebrated again.

In honor of her 10th birthday, here are 10 things we love about Kelsie:

1. She is kind-hearted. She is always thinking of others and just spent some of her birthday money to buy Jackson a birthday present.


2. She's active. She played soccer for a couple of seasons and this year is giving volleyball a try. She wants to run a 5K with me this summer. Go Kelsie!


3. Kelsie is fun. She loves to play games, make up games (and the rules), tell jokes and make everybody laugh.


4. She is entertaining. Kelsie loves to write scripts, put on plays, and record them on video. Boy, will she love those DVDs in a few years!


5. Kelsie is creative. I'm not quite sure where she gets her creativity, because it's certainly not from me! She loves to draw, sketch fashion designs, sew clothes for her American Girl doll, and do anything crafty. She just took 2nd place in her school's "Tar Wars" campaign and will now be entering the state competition.


6. Kelsie is thoughtful. She often leaves little love notes around the house for me to find.


7. She is a good big sister! She is so nurturing and good with Jackson and Chloe. Wally and I feel like our investment is beginning to pay off and we look forward to the days when she can babysit!


8. Kelsie is a wonderful example. After having a particularly hard day at school, I found Kelsie in my office reading articles from "The Friend" magazine. She came home and prayed and opened the magazine to discover an article about the same issue she was facing.


9. Kelsie is beautiful, inside and out! When she was a baby, Wally's uncle made a comment about how beautiful her eyes were because they were filled with the light of Christ. That light still radiates from her.


10. She is a blessing to our family! We feel so lucky to have such a wonderful daughter. We are so proud of her!