New Glasses

It has been a while since we've updated - mostley due to the fact that we have been without a computer for over a month. The desktop hard drive just died one day. We're back in business now, but we've been too busy to have time to catch up on everything from the last month or so. I'll keep trying though. At some point, I'll get the pictures of the soccer games, Spring Break trip, and general life from the past month up here but right now, I need to document the newest development - Jackson's glasses!

He went for his 5-year-old check-up on Friday. Yes, I know his birthday was back in February, but we just got around to it now. (Side note: he was 47 lbs & 45 3/4 in) Anyway, his vision screen only showed him at about 20/35 sight so it was recommended that we get him fully tested at the optomotrist. I swear, I had no idea he couldn't see well. He gave no obvious clues. I never saw him squint. He didn't sit too close to the TV either, although he did like to watch shows on the iPad which makes total sense now. He never said that he wasn't able to see something in the distance when I pointed it out to him. This lack of signal has me wondering if his vision changed rapidly? Like in the last 6-8 months or something?

Regardless, he ended up testing at 20/40 vision in his right eye and only 20/50 in his left eye so he definitely should be seeing better now! On the way to school this morning he commented that that trees looked different. I bet they did! Maybe this new develpment will improve his baseball swing? Ha! I am really just glad that Jackson is actually excited to have glasses. I guess he's not old enough to have heard of kids making fun of other kids with glasses. Does this still happen even? I don't know. I don't remember getting teased for having glasses. Maybe kids don't care any more? Jackson was smiling and so excited to pick out the glasses. He wasn't sad or worried or crying about them, which he might have otherwise done, so it's the small victories people!

When Jackson and I walked in the door after getting his glasses last night, Luke ran up to us, took one look at Jackson, then looked to me and asked "where are my glasses?" I said that he didn't have any, that only Jackson got glasses. This was totally unacceptable to Luke, so he ran to the junk drawer and pulled out a pair of old 3D glasses and declared, "I have glasses too!" He's so jealous!

Columbus, Indiana

While Chris was at a charity bowling tournament, the boys and I took a trip to Columbus, Indiana, on Saturday afternoon. We kidnapped and forced our friends Ange and Hudson to go with us and protect us from the scary Hoosiers that make up Columbus. We mostly wanted to take the 45 minute trek south to check out Zaharako's historic ice cream parlor, but we didn't want to have to admit that publicly so we also went to Mill Race Park for some exercise before gorging ourselves on root beer floats and green rivers. The park was fun, but I don't have to tell you what my favorite part of the trip was. And, NO, it was the local Columbusites. Columbusians? Colubusers? Whatever their name, they were most definitely NOT my favorite part. I couldn't count how many times I rolled my eyes while at that park.

Unfortunately, all of these pictures turned out overexposed. I'm such an amatuer.

Also, for the record - I don't think that any of us would recommend the green river. Better concept than execution on that one. BUT, the root beer float was classic and AWESOME.

Jackson's Been Sick a lot Lately

The week before his birthday, Jackson got strep throat. When I found that out, I was actually thankful since that meant we could get him some antibiotics and he would be good as new in time for his birthday party.

Now, this past weekend and Monday, he was sick again. He had a fever that just wouldn't go away for a few days and a nasty cough that didn't appear to be doing anything for him. It was just a dry, persistent cough, which was really annoying to the rest of us so I can't imagine how annoying it must have been for Jackson. Anyway, I stayed home with him on Monday and here's the result of our sick time together - a marble maze.

Stop the Presses: Jackson is 5!

I promise, I haven't given up on the blog. We are computerless at the moment, thanks to an untimely hard drive melt down. Although, I guess a hard drive melt down is always untimely. So, photos are missing, but not too many, and blogging is more difficult. But, here I am right now. :)

Jackson turned 5. It's funny, I really don't think he has changed much in the last 5 years. I mean, he's older, bigger, wiser, stronger, but his personality is still the same as when he was 2. I wonder if the same will be true when he's 10. I hope so. I mean I can do without the daily 5 year old whining and tears, but he's a funny, sweet, sensitive kid. He doesn't want to break the rules. Just this morning he admitted to me in a fit of tears that he had playfully spanked Luke's butt to get him to move out of the way. He was apologizing and crying to me because Luke came running over to me like a baby complaining that Jackson had spanked him. I didn't even have to ask if it was true. By the time I looked up, Jackson was crying, admitting, apologizing, and explaining that he just did it because it was fun and he wasn't really spanking Luke. Luke was definitely over it before Jackson was. Like I said, he's a sensitive kid.

He had a great time at his bowling party. There were about 12 bowlers at the party so that was plenty of kids trying not to drop their ball on anyone else's toes and I'm happy to report no toes were harmed at the party. Our good friend and neighbor accepted Jackson's challenge to make an Angry Birds bowling cake, which was a complete success and looked great. Jackson really loved that cake and there were lots of admirers at the bowling alley who stopped by to check it out too. The bowling party was a great deal that included an hour of bowling and shoes, tokens for their video games, lunch (either hotdog or chicken nuggets), and an autograph bowling pin. All we had to bring were the cake and goodie bags, which exactly as much work as I wanted to take on for the party! What a coincidence! ;)

Luke's Newest, Most Favorite Game: Buckethead!

Ice Skating Lessons

So I did take Jackson ice skating over Christmas break, as promised. We both had fun, but Jackson was disappointed that he couldn't really skate. At first he could just sort of stand there, sometimes. Sometimes not. He had a little goose egg on the back of his head from the "sometimes not".

By the time we were done, he did make it across the ice without falling, but he would only do it holding my hand, which was good enough for me but Jackson really wanted to be out there skating.

I'm glad we went skating when we did because after our adventure, I looked into skating lessons and found a class that started in just a few days. Great timing on my part, or do you think these skating acadamies know that lots of people try out ice skating over the Christmas break and may be interested in learning to skate after that? Hmm. I like to give myself credit whenever I can, but it looks like these skating teachers know what they are doing.

But, I do get credit for finding him a pair of ice skates on clearance for the same price that it would have cost to rent his skates for just this one 8-week class. AND, the skates are adjustable to 3 different shoe sizes, so we can probably get some use out of them. Pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Anyway, here are some pictures from his first lesson. I thought there might only be one or two other boys in the class with him, if we were lucky, but I think his class is actually evenly split - 4 girls and 4 boys.

Because my family is totally brutal and falling is part of learning to skate, I was definitely going to post a picture of him laying on the ice, but none of them really turned out. He was either on a bad spot on the ice or someone was in the way and you can't tell it is him. From the looks of things though, I'm sure he'll hit the deck again next week. And, I'll have my camera ready. Maybe even some video! :)

Fun on Christmas Break

Even after all the Christmas festivities, we still had another week and a half of days off to spend because Jackson was out of school. Luke's daycare wasn't closed nearly as long, so he only got to do a few of the outings, but he doesn't know what he's missing anyway.

Jackson, Luke, and I visited the Children's Museum the Monday after Christmas, which I guess was the 27th. It's a busy time of year there, but we went right when they opened and it was no problem. Luke hadn't been to the museaum in quite a while and he really had a grand time. It was fun seeing him get so excited to be able to do things that he was too young for the last time we took him. The obligatory carousel ride is always fun.

Of course, he was soaking wet and cold by the end of this activity., but he supposedly leaned something, right?
I dunno what this ball machine is called, but all the kids just love it.
Winter Wonderland: ice fishing, ice castle slide, and penguin sliding.

The next day Chris took Jackson to see Yogi Bear in 3D at the movies. Why do all of these movies have to be in 3D? Ugh. Glad I didn't have to go. We also visited Incredible Pizza Company during our break, which is WAY nicer than the Chuck E. Cheese's Jackson had suggested. We attended a 2nd birthday party for Auggie, who still claims to remember that Luke bit him on Labor Day weekend. It was too traumatizing to forget I guess. Ice skating is still left on the agenda - we'll try to tackle that tomorrow. I'm always glad to put that senior-year U of I class to use! I can still skate well, but I'm more out of shape and more sore by the end of it! I just remember my feet killing me last year.

Today, we went bowling in between running errands and I totally *killed* it. Good thing I told Jackson that he was playing the kid game and I was playing the adult bowling game, or he'd have been crying from the beat-down. :)

King of the Hill

2010 Preschool Christmas Program

I've tried to get the video of the program upload several times, but I can't get the stupid thing to upload here for some reason. Ugh, it's frustrating. I guess you'll just have to trust me when I say that it's cute. What's not cute about forty or forty-five 3- and 4-year olds singing and doing hand-gestures?

Singing.


Hanging with his buddies Bosco & Max after the big performance.

Polka Dots

Polka Dot Wishes Holiday

Turn your photo into this year's holiday party invitations.

View the entire collection of cards.

Santa & The Boys

Santa paid his annual visit to the Kelly Christmas Party last weekend. And, as usual, Jackson had no problems saddling up to the Big Man, dutifully telling him that he wanted a penguin Pillow Pet for Christmas, and posing for a photo.

Luke was a different story. He didn't want anything to do with Santa. Chris had to carry him up there to get his gift and Luke cried the whole way. Once they made it through the crowd, Luke (still crying) threw his hands up to his face and covered his eyes until they were a safe distance from Santa. I don't think Luke quite gets the concept that just because you can't see him, doesn't mean he can't see you.

Honest. We Weren't Doing Anything.

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is EVERYTHING IN THE ENTIRE TOY CATALOG. Well, at least the stuff on the catalog pages with the boys' toys anyway.

With Love,
Jackson

Happy Halloween, 2010 edition

Columbus Day was Invented to Spend at the Zoo, Right?

He loved the penguins. This video was taken after we had already spent a few minutes in the penguin exhibit and he was still this excited about it! (Translation Service: "Penguins!" [Some girl's high-pitched shriek.] [Luke's maniacal laugh.] "Swimming.")

I'm Getting Good Use Out of These Kid Clothes

FYI - Luke's growth is keeping pace with Jackson's, for his age. Each were 34 lbs and 36 in at their two year old check-ups. :)

Bikers

Note to self: Buy Luke a bicycle helmet, even though it's more than a wee bit dramatic to wear a helmet on a big wheel - especially when you're still trying to figure out how to pedal! I'm not really concerned about Luke hurting his big melon though; the helmet is necessary to avoid further jealous meltdowns. He was SO upset that Jackson had a helment and he didn't. JEALOUSY is rampant in these parts lately. Luckily, Jackson is so sweet and patient with Luke, that he finished his ride and gave Luke his helmet to wear for a while.

Sweet Luke at 2 Years Old