I found Jackson on the shelves of KMart!

We were at Toys R Us yesterday and randomly saw one of the my little pony toys that Madison modeled with last summer.  I was so excited to see if her picture was on the box but it wasn't :-(  They had chosen another little girl who was dressed just like her.  I remembered that she held a different version of the same toy but I didn't see it on the shelves.  When we got home I googled it and found it but the images online only show the front of the box.  I called another store that had them in stock and asked her to describe the girl on the back of the box but it wasn't Madison either.  :-(

But then I decided to search for the stroller that Jackson modeled for and found out it's on the shelves at KMart.  Again none of the images online have any kids in them so I had to go down there to look at the box myself.  I was so nervous but there he was!!!  I was bummed I was the only one int the aisle because I wanted to announce it to everyone.  Maybe it was a good thing no one else was there ;-)

Reading to Kindergarten

Madison took the summer and fall off from reading her books.  She wasn't asking to do it and I just didn't want to push her.  Last week she saw the book and asked to read it.  She was VERY excited to get more stickers.  I believe she had read 6 out of 10 books in level 1 last winter/spring and she finished the last 4 in one day last week.  I had Chris pick up the level 2 series and she dove right into that.  Nana came over one day and Madison read to her.  She was so impressed and asked Maddie if she wanted to read a book to her (Nana's) kindergarten class.  She said yes and was very excited.  She did it yesterday and did a fantastic job!  She still mixes up her b's and d's but (almost) always catches herself.  I took some clips of her reading to the class and put them together for family to see.  Jackson came up to watch her with me.  I was so proud of her!!

The best and the worst

I forget where I was or who I was with but I believe Jackson may have been acting a tad whiny. I was showing my annoyance and someone reminded me (I definitely already knew this) that kids feel so comfortable with us that they feel like they can completely let go in front of us (parents). As much as I knew this I don't think it really sunk in until that moment. It's really hard to be grateful they feel so close to you when the entire store is staring at you because your four year old is screaming at the top of their lungs. That will never be fun. But it did get me thinking on the flip side that some of their sweet behavior is only displayed for parents too. Not only that but things like singing and dancing. Things they would be too embarrassed to do in front of others I get to witness (unless I secretly video it and share it on the inter web). I can't help but feel like the luckiest person in the world that I get to be a part of their world like no one else. Oh and the snuggles and the out of nowhere kisses on the cheek and telling me how beautiful I am. I melt just thinking about it. As much as they love their grandparents and aunts and uncles they save those special things for Chris and me and I am severely grateful for that...even the tantrums.

Darth Vader the ballet

Can't wait to hear the crap I'm going to get for posting this.

Another birthday party

A few days after Christmas we were invited to our friend Olivia's birthday party.

Jackson in a new sweater from Santa.  It didn't last too long!

How much fun does this look like?

He got in trouble for going down head first after.  oh well.

After seeing these pictures of Maddie I realized how long her hair is getting.

God, I love her!

The birthday girl and her Grandmother.