Science Fair

Josh loves participating in the science fair. Science is his second favorite subject--after history-- and he likes getting the medal for his "medal collection". (His collection consists of two medals he's earned from science fairs and two medals I got as samples from award companies.) He got second place this year for his project on creating electromagnets.

The ER

This happened before Christmas (December 13 to be exact) but in the excitement of new toys and a new school semester, I forgot to post it in the right order. Poor little Jake took us on our first trip to the emergency room. The boys were getting ready for bed and in my room brushing their teeth. I was in the kitchen doing who knows what. Josh came running in and told me that Jake was bleeding. Since he said it in that special voice used only when things are bad, I went running. Apparently he had jumped off a stool and landed on the edge of the bathtub (which isn't rounded--sharp 90 degree angles around here). It wasn't big but it looked deeper than other wounds we've had so we grabbed shoes and drove to the hospital. Josh held a washcloth on Jake's face during the drive and Jake just laid there quietly. Kind of freaked me out to have him NOT scream so I kept asking him to talk to me. He was fine in the ER and as you can see from the pictures they had a good time playing on the doctor's chair. I thought he would need stitches but the doctor actually just super-glued his face. Both boys thought that was HILARIOUS. Jake's biggest concern of the night was the poster of smiley faces that depicted different levels of pain. He was very proud of himself that he was at a zero--happiest face on the page. What a trooper!

Christmas!

Lots of pictures in this one!

The boys loved having Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Susan come to visit (I did too). After a delayed landing in some intense fog, we picked them up from the airport in CO Springs and went to the Broadmoor to look at gingerbread houses which reminded Josh that we were supposed to make some. Then we went to Squeak's so Mom and Dad could try some weird flavored and weird colored soda pop. They declined. So I tried blue watermelon and Josh had green birch beer but we told him it was root beer. Everybody else had ice cream. The next few days were spent riding bikes, playing glow-in-the-day minigolf, eating and playing games (thanks for introducing my kids to war, Dad) and of course doing all the traditional Christmas stuff. Some people may not be too happy at the goofy pictures I posted, but I had to post one of me wearing my new cougar hat (courtesy of Kathy) and I decided I needed company. Everyone had to go home way too soon, but we sure had fun while they were here!

Jake loved having so many people to play games with!

Dad taught me how to tie the boys "real" ties. No more clip ons for us!

Mom embraces Jake's obsession with Batman.

Thanks Kathy! I love it!

Jake's new Batman hat.

And the Mickey Mouse bank he just HAD to have! (That he hasn't looked at since, of course.)

At Squeak Soda Shop

Josh's excavating kit to find precious rocks.

Christmas morning.

Gingerbread houses--boys will be boys.

Riding at the skate park.

Flying

I went skydiving with my friend Monica. Yep. It was awesome. My brother's reaction--"I still can't believe you did that!" Me neither.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving this year was spent in Utah with Kathy's family. Grandma Stott celebrated her 90th birthday and all the family that was near gathered for the party. It was fun to see cousins, aunts, uncles, and of course Kaylee and Kierra. The best part, however, was shopping with Mom the day after Thanksgiving. We stopped at Toys R Us around 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night but the line was around the building and they weren't letting many people in so we went straight to Walmart for the deals that started at midnight. Mom and I stood by the Wii games for an hour, got completely smooshed, and I had to drag her out of the crowd after I got my game at approximately ten seconds after 12:00. It was great! And I'm pretty sure Mom enjoyed it too.

Mood music

Just a little song to get us all in the Christmas spirit . . .

Sorry I don't know how to rotate the video. Next time I take it on my phone I'll keep the camera the other way. It's still awfully cute.

Five!

Jake turned five in November. Josh was adamant that Jake have a party so on his actual birthday we picked up two of his cousins and ate some cake and opened presents. Not a big celebration but enough for Jake since he wasn't even asking for the party guests. He was very excited to get his glow-in-the-dark Thomas train track from mom and the Joker and Penguin from Grandma and Grandpa Stott.

He is such a sweet kid. He loves to tease, joke around, and play tricks to get people to laugh. He's very quick to say "I love you" and still lets me kiss him but puts definite parameters on it (I can only kiss him at home some days and only in the car other days, etc.). He's my little daredevil who loves to jump off of everything--you'll hear more about that in a future post. We love our Jacob!