Vacation Lollapalooza 2008!

I will be seeing this view sometime in June. Ahhhh. Can't wait!

Finally, we are starting to plan our summer vacation. We are going to Destin, Florida, with our friends from Texas, the Flecks. I am soooo excited! I have been wanting to go to the beach since Jackson was born. I can't wait for him to see the ocean for the first time. I think he'll really love it. Cathy and Shawn have twins, Connor and Evan, (shown here):

Such cuties!

They are six months older than Jackson, so there will be all kinds of boy craziness going on. I really am excited for them to meet each other. I talked to Cathy this morning, so I feel like the planning wheels are beginning to turn! I'll keep you posted on Vacation Lollapalooza 2008!

We have Wesley's birthday party on Saturday. He'll be 3! Hard to believe. His party is at Pump It Up, so I will have lots of pictures to share come Monday. The last time we took Jackson to Pump It Up he was scared and didn't want to go on any of the inflatables. I hope it's not like that on Saturday. We'll see...

Until next time...

Potty Time!

Jackson hasn't ever been too excited about his little potty that we bought him that sings and does all kinds of tricks, so Tom decided to try this little potty seat that fits on the toilet. It's a Bob the Builder one, and since he's a huge Scoop fan, it might work. He sits on it, but he hasn't actually used the bathroom in the toilet yet. That's okay. He just turned two for Pete's sake! Once he's potty trained, why will he need me? Just kidding. I just see him growing up so fast, I'd like all this growing business to stop for a little while. He's really cute, sweet and funny right now. The growing can pick back up when he's a smart-alecky (sp?) teenager. Yeah, right.

He was really excited to put it on his toilet and he didn't mind sitting on it, but fully clothed, mind you.

We played outside on Sunday while Tom painted his shed. That project is done, thank goodness. This is one of my favorite pictures from that day. And then the next picture is a picture of Buster, in case people think he died or something since I haven't taken pictures of him since Jackson was born. He's still alive and well and as stubborn as ever.

Buster and Barney helped themselves to a bag of semi-sweet morsels that I bought to make cookies with. I came out of my room from my shower and there was the shredded bag all over the living room. They almost ate the whole bag too. Well, I had always heard that chocolate is toxic to dogs, so I panicked and then called my vet. They said it takes 10 lbs. of dark chocolate to be toxic to a dog, and since this was just a 7 oz. bag of semi-sweets, they said not to worry. Seriously, you can't leave anything even remotely close to the edge of the counter. These dogs are old, but they can go the extra mile for food!

Doesn't he just ooze orneriness?

Until next time...

Best Friends

We had a play date today with Wesley, thank God, since Jackson has been a raging lunatic here lately. It's been so cold out, and he really has some energy to burn! He had a good time with Wesley. In a couple of weeks, we'll be going to the Bounce House for Wesley's third birthday party! Unbelievable.

Last night was a nightmare trying to get Jackson to bed. We're back to him sleeping with me until he's sound asleep and then Tom carrying him to his crib. I tried to rock him in his room and he wouldn't get near me, he kept walking in circles clutching his little square piece of flannel, affectionately called "blankie," and crying. Finally, I tired of this and put him in the crib where he went completely APE. He was screaming hysterically. I let him do this for quite a while, then I couldn't take it, so I picked him up and took him to my room and laid down with him. He was physically shaking, trembling. I'm not sure why, except from pure temper. Anyhoo, I'll give it another whirl tonight!

Here's another layout I did from our Christmas this year. I promise it will be the last. I'm working on a layout of 2007, a recap of sorts. It's sad, because not a whole lot went on with us. I guess that's also a good thing, huh?

Anyway, here's the layout:

Until next time...

HELLO 2008!

Is it really a new year already? I have SO many pictures that I need to post so it was easier for me to do this slide above. I am sure that I have missed some pictures, but I have tons of them! I didn't know where to stop! We had a great Christmas in Missouri. Jackson got so many great things between his relatives in Indiana and his relatives in Missouri that we won't need to buy him any toys for a while! That doesn't mean we won't, we just won't NEED to. Santa brought him "Scoop" from Bob The Builder, and he just loves it. He wanted to sleep with it while we were at Mom's. I can't even think of all of the things he got right now. My brain is fried.

Jackson and I stayed on in Kennett until Saturday and then Mom drove us back to Nashville and she stayed through today, New Year's Day. That enabled Tom and I to go out last night and eat and shoot some pool, something we haven't been able to do in a couple of years. We still had to be home by 9:00 to get Jackson in bed, but it was nice to go out and not have to rush through our meal in fear that Jackson would have a meltdown and we'd have to run out of the restaurant!

I enjoyed Christmas, but I have to say that I am glad things are going to be getting back to normal. Tom and I took the tree down on Sunday and got everything packed away. I am staying really tired, but I'm sure it's due to all the traveling Jackson and I did over the holidays, and at Mom's he slept with me, which means no sleep for me!

Jackson is saying so many more words. I just heard him in there repeating words back to Tom that he was reading from a book.

Here's a layout I've done of Jackson's one-year pics. I'm going to have it printed and frame it in a 10x20 frame. I'm also going to print out the Christmas one and frame it in an 8x8 frame. I want to start getting some pictures hung going up the hallway as you go upstairs.

Tom has worked on getting the garage cleaned out and stuff put out in the shed, and finally he's done it; he's able to park his car in the garage! And the treadmill is now where I can actually fold it out and use it, maybe. I'd like to use it a little every day, but we'll see how that goes.

Oh, I almost forgot. A guy Tom calls on for work gave him a Power Wheels Jeep that is battery powered for Jackson to ride in. We gave it to him Sunday afternoon and he was really apprehensive about it. He just had a smile plastered on his face and was kind of frozen in it. I think he really likes it though. It's not in pristine condition, but it's good enough for Jackson to ride around the back yard in. Here are a couple of pictures I took of him first riding on it:

Until next time...

Merry Christmas Everyone!

First of all, I've been putting off blogging this week because I didn't have much to say and I've been tired. But since this is somewhat of a journal for me, or for Jackson someday, I have to write about the passing of my dear friend Marti's mother, Shirley Jones. I considered Shirley a friend of mine too. She always welcomed me into her home and I felt comfortable there. It was one of the few houses that I could just walk in without knocking. She also had a sense of humor that I appreciated. Shirley attended my wedding, having to travel to Nashville, just a month or so after she lost her husband Don, and that meant a lot to me. Her health had been failing for some time, but her death was something I wasn't expecting. I visited with her and Marti a little over Thanksgiving and I'm glad I was able to see her then. She is deeply missed already. I went home last week to attend the visitation and the funeral. I have copied her obituary from the DDD:

* * *

Shirley Jones, 72, of Kennett, died Monday, December 10, 2007 at Kennett.

Born April 12, 1935, at White Oak, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Alfred Arlin and Ethel Minnie Pugh Dye. On February 22, 1957, she married Donald S. Jones who preceded her in death August 7, 2000. Survivors include Dr. Rick D. Jones and wife, Judy, of Kennett; two daughters, Christy Jones of Jonesboro, Ark. and Marti Jones and fiancé Andy Lewis of St. Louis; two sisters, Brenda Hicks and Beverly Stone, both of Kennett; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

* * *

Last Friday, Jackson and I traveled from Missouri to Indiana to have Christmas in Jasper. What should have taken around four hours took six excruciating hours. I was about to twist Jackson's head from his shoulders. It's a long trip for a toddler, and I felt sorry for him, but there was nothing I could do but sit and listen to him whine. It was truly exhausting. I had Tom buy another DVD player once we got to Jasper because our other one broke. So now maybe the trip to Missouri on Sunday won't be as bad as it was last week, because now he can watch a movie!

Jackson got a lot of great gifts while we were in Jasper for Christmas. He got an easel from Grandma Hart and Papa John, and then he got some trucks and a digger that go with this Thomas the Train stuff, which he loves. He also got some Play-Doh and finger paints from Starla, Colby and Mitchell, and some "Cars" cars that he didn't have from Rob and Suzanne and family. His Great Grandma Leona got him a "Cars" patio set and some great books that we've been reading him. Here are some layouts I've done from the Jasper Christmas. I'm not done with the two-pager because I want to put little subtitles on it, but I knew if I didn't get this stuff posted that it would be after Christmas before I had time again.

We got some snow while we were in Jasper. I don't know how much, but Jackson liked seeing it. It had all cleared by the time we left on Sunday of last week. We're going to be traveling to Missouri on Sunday for Christmas in Missouri. I must say that I will be glad to finally stay put in TN for a while. All this traveling with a toddler just isn't my idea of a good time.

I love this picture of Jackson.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

No Santa Picture This Year!

Tom and I decided to take Jackson to see Santa Claus today and have his picture taken, like we've done for the past two years. I got him all dressed up in his Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes and everything, but I had a sneaking suspicion that once we got there and he saw Santa, that he would have no part of it and wouldn't sit on his lap. And I was right. It was the same Santa as last year, and a good one, too, I might add, but he wouldn't go near him. He didn't even want to turn in his direction as he sat on MY lap, not even on Santa's. But that's okay. Costumes really scare him right now. Here are a couple of pictures with Santa:

We did take several pictures before we took him to the mall, and here they are. Tom can't snap a good picture of me and Jackson to save his life, yet I can always get a good one of them together. I love this one of them that I took. But inevitably, Jackson's never looking at the camera when I'm in the picture!

Then Jackson rode in the race car and looked at the fish in the fish tank at Bass Pro while I was able to do a little shopping before the mall got too crowded with people after church let out. And here are those pics:


I had a little get-together last night, and it was really good to sit down with friends, let me tell you. Stacy and Michael were over, so Wesley and Jackson played like maniacs as soon as they walked in the door. Jackson was ALL OVER Wesley, it was so funny. I had never seen him that wound up. One time I heard Wesley saying, Mommy, Mommy, so I went upstairs to check on them, and Jackson was on top of Wesley, like wrestling with him, and Wesley was losing his pants in the battle. It was funny.

And I finally got the coveted Wood Family sugar cookie recipe, which I am very proud of. I LOVE those things, seriously. That will definitely become a Schneider Christmas tradition. I need to thank Ann's grandmother for convincing Ann to release it to me and a few others. Needless to say, I had a really good time!

Until next time...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Today is my dad's birthday, also Pearl Harbor Day. I am a loser and didn't get a card in the mail to you, Dad, nor did I get the gift finished that I wanted to send. I am still working on this gift, but I will give you the idea that I'm working on for you. I think I am going to change the layout a little because I don't like the size of this. But anyway, here's your birthday present:

HAVE A GREAT DAY, DAD! I WILL EVENTUALLY PRINT THIS OUT AND FRAME IT FOR YOU.