Our Seven Year Old

 

Jackson, you have grown and matured so much in the last year.  Your dad and I are so proud of you!  With each passing year it has been pure joy to be your Mom.

There are so many things I love about you...

I love that you can still be all boy, yet pause to give me a hug or snuggle up on the couch beside me.  I love that you have Jesus in your heart.  I love to hear your prayers - especially how you pray for others in need so earnestly.  I love how you love to watch classic old movies with me (latest favorite is Swiss Family Robinson).  I love how you care after your sister - even when she annoys you.  :)  I love how you like school and work so hard.  I love how you approach life with such vigor and joy.

Happy 7th Birthday, sweet boy.  You are the best Christmas present a mommy could ever ask for!

The verse I pray over you most often:  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  - Joshua 1:9

Class party

We took in a birthday treat for Jackson's class last week.  He picked sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles to give out.  He has such a sweet class of friends! 

Seeing Triple?

Cousins Caleb and Ethan dressed just like Jackson by coincidence last Sunday!

Christmas in Pinetown

We celebrated Christmas last weekend in Pinetown with all of Mike's dad's side of the family.  It was so good to see his grandmother again (Great Granny to Jack &Hannah) along with all the aunts, uncles, cousins and more cousins.  Seriously, there are a lot of Windleys!  :)  Fun was had by all!

Me and my niece, Jenny.

Hannah and Elijah give Jenny a new hair-do with a set Aunt Norma gave her.  Jenny was a trouper!

Jackson & Daddy were really excited to see him get a marshmallow shooter.

Fun day @ Pullen Park

Before the crazy blitz of Christmas festivities began, we went as a family to the newly renovated Pullen Park.  It's by far our favorite park in the area.  Mike and I both have fond memories going there when we were children.  The excitement waned a bit when we discovered that the train, boats, and beautiful carousel were closed for the holidays.  
We still had fun on the new playgrounds, feeding ducks and walking around the lake on a freakishly warm day.  And windy! So grateful to have remembered my camera that day (since I usually never remember it!).

Is it sad that she makes her best smiles when she is being sneaky?!  She was jumping out behind the steps and yelling "Boo!".

Jack's favorite thing to do @ Pullen!

It's been a while, so I thought I'd update on the little quirks of the kiddos...

Hannahisms:

• "pink is my favorite color in the whole wide weird".  She insists that she needs at least one pink thing on everyday.
• Bottom = "bob-bum"
• Dora the explorer = "Dora the a stroller"
• excessive use (mostly incorrectly) of the word "actually".  Picked this up from Jackson.
• Pretends to go to her "little school" everyday just like Jackson.  At little school she "eats lunch, shares toys, and has a good day".
• Obsessed with talking about poop.  Ugh.  We are working on that one...ignoring it did NOT make it go away!
• She will hug, kiss, and tell you that you are beautiful and her best friend....and then turn and willfully disobey with a impish grin.  Such a stinker!
• She's utterly fascinated with the tooth fairy that comes to Jackson's room and talks about her all the time.
• I am so excited = I so cited. (squealing)
• She says the sweetest little prayers.  I love hearing her pray for her family, friends and church.

Latest and greatest with our J-man:

• Really thriving in school this year.  We are so blessed with a wonderful teacher!
• Favorite past times:  LEGOs legos legos, climbing trees, bike and scooter riding, joke/riddle telling.
• He is writing a Star Wars book with illustrations and everything.
• Jackson has just matured so much in the last several months.  I am really enjoying the more mature conversations (you know, things other than legos and Star Wars).  He's been given more responsibilities - and risen to the challenge in great ways.
• Still does NOT like the "fake Santa" at the mall.  He won't go near him.  :)

Y Guides

Shepherd Fox and Fire Fox @ the Camp Kanata closing ceremony

Mike and Jackson are doing Y Guides together this year (formerly "Indian Guides").  It is a wonderful program through the YMCA... kind of like boy scouts, but made for dads and sons.  Mike and his dad did it (many moons ago) and so did my dad and brother, Tyson.  

Mike chose his name to be "Shepherd Fox" and Jackson has chosen to be "Fire Fox".  So far, they are really enjoying their tribe, the Peak City Warriors, made of 8 other dads and sons.  Jackson's buddy Cole is also in the tribe.  They have already been on a campout, done some projects to earn badges and gone to a big tribal outing to Camp Kanata with all the other tribes.  Mike and Jackson assembled their vests all by themselves, too!  We will be hosting the December meeting in a few weeks.

How How!

My favorite Jack (o-lantern)

Love that snaggled-toothed smile! For the past week we have been teasing Jackson that we were going to put a flashlight in his mouth, set him on the porch, and let him be our jack-o-lantern this Halloween!  :)  He has two more loose right now.

Raising our little 'Heels!

Last Saturday, we took the whole family to the Carolina v. Wake Forest game at Chapel Hill. We are blessed to have a man in our church that offers us tickets to games. What great seats! It was both Jackson and Hannah's first game... and it was frigid. I was a bit reluctant to take them. But, they really LOVED it! Jackson said it was the "best day ever!". I wish I had video of Jackson's dance moves as he tried hard to get on the big jumbo tron. Oh my - SO very funny. The Tarheels pulled out a big victory, so Hannah had plenty of opportunity to yell "Go Heels" and shake her pom poms.

The Fair!

Needless to say, we love the State Fair!  Mike and I both have fond memories from our childhood of the rides, animals, and fun.  Even better is sharing it with our kiddos!  Jackson especially loves the rides - the faster and scarier the better.  (Takes after his mom)

fist pumping... must have been fun!

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Jack rode this dropping ride all by himself.  And loved it.

He couldn't wait to ride this ride so that he could fly like a super hero!