FHE

I decided it was finally time to get serious about Family Home Evening. Jackson is able to pay attention for at least short periods of time and play games and follow instructions. We were using the new Nursery Manual for a while, but he has a really good nursery teacher who uses that in Nursery, so I decided since I'm studying the Old Testament, we'll teach Jackson about it.  So of course, we started with the Creation, emphasizing that it was Jesus who created all things under the direction of Heavenly Father, and we let Jackson stick on all the different pieces while Steve read out of the O.T.   As you can see we have some flying fish and the cow is jumping over the sun. Instead of making Adam and Eve, which I probably would have done if I'd had more time, I just took pictures of us and had Jackson put them on too. I ended up in the sea. Here is Jackson standing next to his masterpiece.

Here is Jackson trying to walk around in Daddy's cowboy boots.  He doesn't usually get very far!

Fun Family Day

Last Tuesday Steven didn't have school so we decided to go on a little hike up to the Griffith Observatory. After a little trial and error, we found the trail and had a nice little nature walk. Jackson insisted on holding his football for much of the way!

After the hike Jackson ate a PB&J sandwich and then we headed to Porto's for lunch. Yum. Then naps all around! Fun, relaxing day for everyone!

Kitchen Helper

Jackson picked up a hunk of cheese tonight and started knawing away. Steve thought it was pretty great because Steve himself was a cheese-lover/eater as a kid.  Who doesn't love cheese is the real question! Don't worry, we took it away after the photo op, don't need that plugging up the system!

Last week I was baking frozen meatballs. Whenever the timer goes off Jackson gets excited and runs into the kitchen, this time he was saying "cookie, cookie!" I bake a lot more than cookies so I don't know why he thought it was cookies, but I put the cookie sheet on the stove and he thought they were cookies so I gave him one and he stuffed it in his mouth and ate it- then wanted more.  He is a picky eater and would NEVER eat a meatball if it was offered to him, so lucky day.  Don't try to give me a meatball instead of a cookie!

Basketball Jones

One thing we like about our new place is the common yard and firelane out front where Jackson and Madison can run around together. We hope to spend many summer evenings hanging out here.

Jackson doesn't actually want to hit the ball, just carry aroudn the raquet.

Tonight we (meaning I, while Steve was a scouts) broke down and bought Jackson this awesome basketball hoop. He played with one at a friend's house and loved it. I tried to make up a holiday it could be a gift for, maybe Jackson's half birthday, but that was two months ago. Father's Day is next month, it could be an early, 25 yrs early, Father's Day gift? Maybe we could start giving Memorial Day Weekend Presents in the Boyle family.  Although, really, it is a "just because I love you" thing.  And reader, maybe you can relate, but I am in an In-Love-With-Jackson phase. He has just grown up so much, he is saying so many words and he is my little buddy. We have been able to spend some extra time together because I've had some extra time off due to a schedule swap. It's been great.

PS This is the first time I've taken Jackson to Toys R Us since he came of age to be mobile and interested in things. DANGEROUS SPORT with an almost-two-yr-old!