Jackson is a Gold Belt

 Jackson earned his Gold Belt in karate last week.  We are so proud of him.  He loves his class and we are thrilled he is doing something he loves.  Great Job Jackson!!!

Maddie Moo is a Dancer!

 I finally signed up Maddie for a dance class.  She is in the class with three neighbors so that makes it very fun.  She loved it.  She can't believe she is actually in a dance class!

 Here she is doing the Lizzy Pose!  Over the summer, cousin Lizzy was asked to pose and this is what she did every time.  We laughed and laughed over it.

Here is my beautiful daughter - growing up.

The Paris Room

 The burgundy and grey stripes are gone and the Paris Sky Line is up.  Yeah - now that the house is "in the family" we are starting to make it our own.  Jacee wanted a Paris room so here is step one.  I love it.  Now to finish painting her furniture and buy bedding.  It is so fun decorating for my girls.  They've ever really had a "decorated" room and I can't wait for it to be finished!

Oh - and yes, we are doing Maddie's room too.  If we can just nail her down to a theme.  Zebra, garden, polka dots...who knows what she'll finally decide on!

Jackson Turns Eight!

 We did a low key party for Jackson this year.  We took a few friends and cousins to Jump On It and then Pizza afterwards.  It was very very fun.  I can't believe my boy is eight!

The foam pit - all ours!  No one else was there and it was AWESOME!

 The three neighborhood buddies.  We sure love these Three Muskateers.

The party clan.

 We had a family bday party for Jackson the night before.  My parents were in town - so now they've been to Maddie's bday and now Jacksons.  How are we going to get them home for Jacees?

 Traditional donuts and chocolate milk breakfast.

 The biggest hit was the game Skylanders.  Jackson loves it!  (And so does dad!)

And now that he is eight he is officially a Cub Scout!  Here is he already for his first den meeting.  He has been looking forward to this day since he was five years 4 years old and John taught the Wolves/Bears.  Finally - it's his turn!

Next big event - Jackson's Baptism!

Pouncer the Wonder Cat

 So, we have joined the ranks of pet owners - and it's a CAT!  Never did I imagine we would have a cat because John is not a fan.  The timing worked out just right.  Jackson's fish died and he was so sad.  Then the neighbor's cat had babies and John, feeling vulnerable because of Jackson's sadness, consented to get a cat.  So - here is Pouncer the Wonder Cat.

 Grama loves the cat.  She is allergic but we haven't seen any allergic reaction yet so we're hoping that holds.  They nap together often.

Maddie has a love/hate relationship with the cat.  She wants to play with it and love it but does not like her claws at all.  We'll see if she gets braver and actually holds the cat one day.

Maddie's First Day of Kindergarten

 So, it if finally here.  The day my Maddie Moo leaves me for real.  She was nervous but excited.  She has waited for two years to be able to ride the bus to school.  She has Mrs. Ashworth - who was Jackson's teacher, so she is very excited.  Mrs. Ashworth feels like she knows Maddie because I was the room mom and always had Maddie in tow when we went to help in Jackson's class.

 Luckily, she has two cute friend at the bus stop so they all sat together.

 Yes, I did follow the bus to school, and here she is coming off the bus.

 Now another pic by the play ground.

 Now lining up to go into her classroom.

And her after the first day of school snack - square donuts from Lehi Bakery!  She's back, we have snuggled, she told me all about her day.  Shes sits at the purple table, she is with her two friends.  She red a book about a racoon.  She gave me a picture of a hand with a heart on it.  She Loves School!  (I'm glad, but I'm also glad she is home with me right now.)

Miss Independent Maddie

Oh what do you do with a child that likes to do things herself?  She likes to pick out her own clothes, do her own hair, fix her own cereal.  There is seldom a time she asks for help.  I am trying to convince John this is a good thing that will serve her well in life.  It is just hard when she is clean and dressed and she still looks like a waif because her clothes choice may not be what you would like and she had figured out how to  put her hair in a pony tail  - kind of. 

 Well, a few Sundays ago she let me help her pick out her Sunday out fit and she let me curl her hair.  WOWZA!  She looked to darling.  (Truth be told, Jacee has figured out she holds power over Maddie and if Jacee suggests something, Maddie is on board such as:  I think your hair would look so cute if mom curled it...etc.)

Anyway, it was nice to have her all cutey - tooty for church but I must stay, I will take her independent spirit any day over a baby gap ad child any day.

I love this girl!  (But thanks for the help Jacee - it is nice to have her like this once in a while!)