Christmas is A Time for Sharing

Kelly and Edward are so serious...











Kelly and Mommy...notice how Kelly couldn't resist holding Eddie's hand...












Wow, Edward is really tall

Just a little Christmas Kiss

How about this when you get to work?

I usually don't talk much about the interests of my parents; because honestly, you are all interested in just me, right?

I couldn't help but post this about my mommy. My mommy is madly in love with a little book series titled Twilight...have you heard of it?

Well, anyone who really knows my mommy knows that she has read the entire series multiple times and actually took a vacation day from work to see the first movie in the series titled Twilight when it came out in November. She has since seen the movie three times. She and her girlfriends like Julie and Kelly have followed the production of the movie and the actors staring in it, especially a guy named Rob Pattinson who plays Edward, the main guy from Twilight. Apparently all women are dazzled by him.

Well, in true Christmas spirit a package arrived on our doorstep a little over a week ago. it was an odd shaped package and sort of got pushed to the side for a couple of days due to larger packages rolling in. Finally one night while my mommy was rummaging around the house my daddy opened the package and low and behold it was a life-sized cardboard cutout of Edward!

Who would have sent my mommy such a fitting and funny gift you may ask....Ben and Brittan Barnholdt.

Ben is who told my daddy to first buy Twilight for my mommy...he thought she would like it...my daddy did...and my mommy loved it...the rest as they say is history!

The first night in our house was a rough one for poor Edward. I cried when I met him in the hallway heading to the potty and Munchkin and Wylie were on high alert growling at him. Then I told my mommy he was yuck, right in front of him, and asked why his skin was gray. Then I decided all that was left to do was give him a good Karate chop to the midsection and knock him down.

My mommy decided that Edward was for sharing with her good friends so he left our house to go on a promotional tour. He has made stops to visit Julie at the RSCVA, and to mommy's work at the Nevada State Health Division. First he stopped to say hi to Kelly, a true Twilight fan, and then a guy by the name of Jim and then Christine. Mommy has tried to take pictures along the way of everyone meeting Edward from Twilight. It is very exciting!

Finally, yesterday afternoon after a whirlwind of activity Edward found a home in my mommy's cubicle at work. He is standing tall for all to see. People my mommy has worked with for years, but has never really met are coming into her cubicle just to see Edward. Guys she works with are comparing themselves to Edward and seeing how they measure in height to such a dazzling guy!

Thanks to Ben and Brittan for such a great gift that has been making people laugh and smile for over a week and thanks to my mommy for sharing it!!!!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Pilot to Co-Pilot...we are wishing Jacob a Happy Third Birthday!

My Christmas was Out of this World

This is the very first year that I 'get' Christmas. I get that there is a man who along with little elves make my toys. I have watched many movies about this, leading up to today. I know that I must be nice to get a visit from this jolly old man, and I know that leaving a note and cookies is just what has to be done on Christmas Eve.

I didn't want to go to sleep tonight. I wanted to wait up for Santa and his reindeer's but I finally gave in. I woke up bright and early and was amazed to see that we had 'Christmas snow'. I was so excited to see Santa brought me a telescope. As well as glow in the dark planets and stars, and an Astronomy book. This Christmas plainly put was out of this world. Now if the weather would clear up I could actually use the telescope, but until then my parents painstakingly hung up the planets, stars and placed the telescope in a safe corner of my room.

I have to be one of the most fortunate little boys because not only did I get the telescope and gear, but I also got a smart cycle, V Smile video game player, Tent maze set up, movies, gift cards, puzzles, hot wheels ramps, and more. I'm so spoiled thank you to everyone who made this Christmas magical.

Getting Ready for Santa

Christmas Eve is a big night at our house. We had lots of preparations and a lot of anticipation that Santa would be here arriving soon. With help from my mommy I wrote Santa a note asking for a telescope again. You may remember after a visit to WNC Observatory I have taken quite a liking to the planets and stars. I have left treats for Santa and his team of Reindeer's and a big glass of milk. I made sure lots of pictures were taken of how I left the house before I finally tried to lay down.

Shockingly, I feel asleep and at some point Santa arrived and somehow these photos were taken of a telescope by the tree! Santa shared with me and left a cookie!

Bye, Bye Crib

Well, you may remember earlier this year that my parents decorated my 'big boy' room which at the time was amazing, but then about three weeks later, I decided that I no longer wanted to sleep in that room and wanted to be back in my crib. Being that I was putting the final touches on my potty training, nobody wanted to mess with something as simple as where I slept, as long as I was safe.
Well, I'm officially a big boy now, so my parents have pulled the plug on me sleep in my crib, by just removing it. I actually helped my daddy take it down and safely store it in the garage, but I'm still a little shocked that it is gone. Sleeping in my big bed has gone as well as could be expected and slowly I'm getting used to it.
What will happen to my baby room you may ask...It has been turned into a full blown play area complete with a secret hideout, drawing area, toy buckets, train, pirate ship and more. I'm having a great time and it has helped me get over the crib not being there. I even slept in my secret hide out the other night.

Are there deer in the house? Nope Just my tiny little fingers....

Today my mommy and I decorated a gingerbread house. It was much more difficult than we thought it would be, but we had fun adding the candies and making our house look like a winter wonderland cottage.
When we were done my mommy placed the house on our dinning room table. I kept quietly disappearing throughout the afternoon and when my mommy went to set the table for dinner she found out why. I had been dipping my finger in the frosting, so now our house has 'deer' or Jakie finger prints on one side of the roof and in the snow around the house. Funny!
I had a whole story about our little home and the people who live in it. Basically, I had Lindsey in the house watching me while my parents went to a movie, and then my parents came home to the non existing garage where I could hear them. Then they came into the house and I was so happy to see them, and we all stayed in our snowy house with bright lights one it.

We are going to Jinglefest

Tonight was the annual Jinglefest celebration at my school. Last year you may remember that me and my friends did an interpretive dance, but this year we were all about singin a song. We have been practicing for a few weeks and I think it really paid off. At first I was a little shell shocked at how many people were staring at me, but I warmed right up and began singing and shaking my bell with a lot of enthusiasm.

After the show I was having a blast running up and down this tiny little hallway with all my friends. It really was the highlight of the Jinglefest. My mommy and daddy took some video, but are having technical difficulties helping me post it to this blog entry. Here are some photos. Maybe we will get the video working soon.

Christmas Caroling

If you have ever seen the Christmas movie ELF than you know that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loudly for all to hear, and that is exactly what we did tonight!!! Some a little better than others....My Grandma and Grandpa had their annual Hootin, Hollerin, Hayride through Empire Ranch in Carson. About 40 people came together for a night of food, drinks, and caroling through the streets.

The weather was suppose to be horrible but amazingly it held out until the last five minutes of our caroling. I was able to sit in the back of the truck with Julie, Hannah, Jack, Char, Mark and Dean for a long time and then sat with Keith and Jolynn on the hay for part of the ride. I tried my hardest to sing the songs I knew such as Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa Clause is coming to town. Then after a couple of blocks I was tired and decided I would sit up in the cab of the truck with Grandpa where it was toasty warm.

Happy Holidays everyone, we should all sing and spread some Christmas cheer this year!

In Keeping with Tradition

Dear Jacob,
I never know how to start these letters, and before I know it I'm head first in the wonder of YOU!
In the past few months I have realized that the baby who entered my life on Christmas Day 2005 with his ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, and sleepy brown eyes no longer exists. In that beautiful baby's place is a beautiful little boy with a wonderfully spirited sense of self and life.
I wish I would have taken the time to hold that beautiful baby a little bit more, and stare in wonder at the smallest of features on that chunky little face, and rolling little body; for I didn't understand how quickly that baby would turn into an active little boy who would need to be wrangled for a hug or kiss.
I wish I wouldn't have been so afraid of the unknown on how to handle and care for such a wonderful little package, with its high pitch squeals and globs of drool; for now the package is a growing boy who doesn't need me to handle and care for him as much.
I wish I wouldn't have rushed through the small moments, and taken the time to capture more memories in my head verses using my camera to share the moments with everyone else; for now I feel like I'm forgetting even the largest of details.
Jacob, you have truly helped me realize this past year that life is speeding by, and in the past three years I haven't taken much time to truly sit in amazement of the wonders of that life now that you are in it. I have realized that we only have one chance at 'this' and sometimes opportunities that we thought we would enjoy or re-live again, maybe this time to right a potential wrong, just truly aren't in the cards.
You have my heart Jacob, no matter what your size or age, that will never change, you will forever be my 'baby boy' now matter how many times you remind me that you are a 'big boy'. You continue to amaze and teach me something new with each passing day! You really are an amazing soul.
Happy Third Birthday!
Love Always,
Mommy

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

It is that time of the year again...my birthday! Though this year, something very exciting has happened: I 'get' my birthday. I had a hand in the party that was planned and the guests invited. I was excited leading up to it and totally understand that on Christmas Day instead of holding up two fingers in the shape of a 'V', I will have to add one more finger to make three!!!
My parents planned a party for me, my friends, and family at Jump Man Jump in Reno. It is a big warehouse with three different type of jumping events. There was a traditional bounce house, huge inflated slide and bouncing obstacle course. I was completely blow away with how many people showed up. It was great!
I got so many great gifts. I got an amazing wooden pirate ship, tool box, magna doodle, books, clothes, remote control cars and train, paint your own soccer ball, and the solar system, and a recliner just to name a few things.
It was a great day! Thanks to everyone who came. You all truly made it a wonderful afternoon that I'm still talking about!