Wednesday October 31, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Happy Halloween!! It is your second Halloween although last year we didn't dress you up or do much.  This year we have had 2 parties so far and you wore your costume to both.  We have another one tomorrow!  Today you and I went to Liam's house and then to the park for a little bit. It was nice and sunny and you boys had a great time running around outside. 

Here is a picture of you in your Pumpkin shirt for Halloween that Grandma sent.  You really like looking down at it and saying your version of pumpkin.

I love you my little pumpkin!
Mom

Sunday October 28, 2012

Dear Jackson,

We had a fun fall weekend, full of birthday parties, Halloween, pumpkin carving, and playing in the leaves. It was a really loooong week as we all had the flu so we all needed some rest and relaxation. We stayed close to home but we still had lots of fun.

Saturday we went to your friend Abby's 2nd birthday, all your friends were there. Her neighborhood was also having a Halloween night so all the kids dressed up for trick-or-treating. You were a monkey! You actually let us keep the hat on you unlike the last time. You did so well but we think you got cold towards the end because you started crying, so we took you home. We all sang songs on the way home and warmed up together.

Our little monkey

Pictures with your friends Liam and Abby

Trick-or-treating!

Today was a beautiful fall day, it was a little cold but the sun was shining so we decided to take some fun pictures in the leaves! We took a nice long walk and played in a couple of parks. You had so much fun walking, playing in the leaves, and going down the slide.

Family Picture

Playing on the slide

Walking in the leaves



Playing in the leaves

This afternoon you and I carved pumpkins while mom baked pumpkin seeds. You loved watching me carve the pumpkin but you thought the inside was a little too slimmy. You shook a little when you stuck your hand inside.


Helping Dad carve the pumpkin

The Jack-O-Lantern!
 

We made the best of our last Halloween (and fall) in Holland! Can't wait for next year's Halloween :-)

Love,
Dad

Thursday October 25, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Today we finally got out of the house to do something fun!  We had the baby play halloween party.  You were dressed up as a monkey, you looked really cute but hate wearing the hat that completes the costume.  We made paper sacks for all the kids and you all got to walk around and "trick or treat" from the moms.  You were not interested in this yet but the older kids had a blast! 

It was so nice to be out of the house.  This is the first time we have done Halloween.  I'm sure next year you will love to dress up and get all the candy!

Love you my little monkey!

Mommy

Wednesday October 24, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Boy oh boy have we both been sick. You were sick starting Sunday night into Monday and then Tuesday too. I got sick Tuesday all day with you.  We were a hurting unit and have not done a thing.  We have finally gotten out of the house only to go to the grocery store.  I'm hoping tomorrow we're all back to normal and can go to the baby play group halloween party!

Love you,
Mom

Monday October 22, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Wow, it's been a long time since we have written. It's not without good reason.  We have spent the last 10 days in England and didn't have a lot of access to a computer.  Our trip was amazing, my favorite trip we have done so far. We got to see some amazing things, you were extremely happy and easy going the whole time and probably my favorite part. They spoke English there so we could understand everything!

Here are a few of the things we did.  First we went to daddy's boss' family's house for a few days. They had invited us to stay with them and also attend their little girls Christening.  We had a good time there and you were in Heaven, they lived on a farm with tons of tractors and combines or Mombines as you say.

Then Monday we were on our way to London.  We took the train in and you thought that was pretty neat. You are really into trains and cars, boats, well anything that moves :) We took a ride in the London Eye to see the whole city.  We were staying right across the street from it and were also just a short walk Big Ben and the Parliament.

The next day we took our bus tour around the city and went to West Minster Abbey and walked around Kensington Gardens Park.  There was a really fun playground for you to play on, it was the Princess Diana Memorial Park.  You really love playing on the playground and hardly needed our help at all.

Our last day in London we went to see the Tower Bridge as well as the Tower of London.  It was really fun to see and you played outside there for a long time.  The next morning we were headed back out to the farm.  We had a minor incident where your finger got stuck in the elevator. It was horrible. As the door opened up it seemed to suck your finger in with it and we couldn't get it out.  Daddy was holding you and I pushed the door to the side (with the help of another man) and we got it out.   You skin was scrapped off and your finger was all swollen. We were so scared that it could have been much worse.  You screamed and cried for a long time but then finally fell asleep and it never seemed to bother you again.

After we made it back to the farm we were off again to Wales. We had a minor setback again with a flat tire.  Daddy got it fixed and we were on our way just a couple hours late.  None of us were too impressed with Wales.  You woke up in the middle of the night really upset and it was the first time ever that we had you sleep in bed with us.  You seemed scared and were so sweet and snuggly in bed with me.

Our last day in England we drove from Wales to Dover.  Coast to Coast.  Along the way we stopped at Windsor Castle, the home of the Queen of England.  It was a beautiful city and place to see. We kept on our journey and made it to Dover and you got to play alongside the ocean.  You love the water :)

We had a great time on our trip and you enjoyed taking the ferry home! 

Last night and today you have been really sick though.  You woke up around 1 am and had thrown up in your bed.  You poor thing, I stayed up with you until about 4:30.  You said ni-night, I'm sure you were just exhausted and wanted to sleep.  So did I!  Today you seem to feel better however you have thrown up a couple of times!  It breaks our hearts to see this.  I am hoping you get lots of rest tonight and are back to normal tomorrow.

Well I think we're all caught up, your daddy and I had such an amazing time with you in England. You were so happy and fun to be around. You're such a sweet boy and we love you so much!

Night,











Mom

Tuesday October 9, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Today we had a play date at our house with Abby and Liam, you are always so excited to see them.  You can even say both of their names really well now.  They were here for a few hours but I think the highlight of your day was the construction going on across the street.  They worked all day long and had an excavator there which you watched for a good hour and a half.  You even cried when it left.  I am still amazed at how much you love tractors or anything resembling one.

Tonight I showed you your new winter hat and you had a great time putting it on and taking it off.  You look like a little gangster here :)

I love you so much,
Mom

Sunday October 7, 2012

Dear Jackson,

We had a pretty relaxing weekend as we prepare to go to England next week! Yesterday we got you a bunch of new toys; a tractor and wagon, a 4x4 truck, and a train set. You loved the tractor and train most of all as you played with both for hours. You even took the tractor on our daily walk with Grace (twice!!)

Playing with your new train

We also got you a bunch of clothes this weekend including some bright red rain boots. We played in the backyard with them today.

Wearing your new rain boots!

Today we went up to Marco and Daisy's house and we played outside in their backyard. They had a John Deere tractor that you could ride and operate the front loader. You loved it! I pushed you around the backyard, you kept asking for "more, more" I can't wait to get you one when we go back to the US!!

Love,
Dad

Friday October 5, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Today we had a really fun morning!  We went to the gym for me to workout and you didn't even want to leave when I came back to pick you up.  You were playing so well and even cried a little bit when I took you out.  I am so happy that you feel safe and have a nice time while you are there.

After the gym, we went straight to the swimming pool to meet up with Liam and Jessica.  You had the best time there.  You walked in the water until it was up to your chin and then I helped you and you floated there.  You were giggling away and thought it was great.  Then we played on the slides and just splashed around for the rest of the two hours we were there!  It didn't even take you 5 minutes to fall asleep in the car.

Love,

Mom

Thursday October 4, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Today we had a really fun morning.  We went to CoCo's house and played.  Kaelen was at school but he has all kinds of trains and tractors so you were in heaven.  When it was time to pick up Kaelen at school we all went on bikes to get him.  You rode in the trailer behind the bike and HATED it.  You screamed the whole way.  I felt terrible but there was no way to turn around.

After we had lunch with them we went to a place to pick out some pumpkins.  You all had a good time picking them up and even sort of stopped to pose for a picture.  There were also tractors at this farm which you loved of course and you even got to pet a baby kitten. 

Abby, Kaelen, CoCo, and Jackson picking out pumpkins

Tonight it was just you and me, I taught you how to march around the living room.  You thought it was really fun and kept asking me to march more.  I put you up on my shoulders too and we marched around the house. It was really fun and I think we will both be tired out after a long day.

Love,
Mom

Wednesday October 3, 2012

Dear Jackson,

Today was a great day at home.  It was rainy all day long and we just played inside with all of your toys.  You had a great time putting on daddy's shoes and walking around in them.  You had the biggest smile on your face.

This afternoon there was a break in the rain so we went to the store to get a few things. On the way home, it started to rain again.  So we ran for about a block and a half with you in the stroller.  You were so excited.  You kept turning around and smiling at me and were giggling the whole way home.  When we finally got home you said MORE!  I said oh no more, Mommy's tired!  :)

Love you!
Mom

Tuesday October 2, 2012

Dear Jackson,

I can't believe it is already October!! The time is flying by and you are getting so big.  Being away from you for a couple days really made me see how big you are. I made it back from my trip to Barcelona and I missed you and Daddy so much. Every time I saw a kid while I was gone, I got sad and wanted to see you.  We did get to Skype while I was gone for a few minutes, but it didn't last too long because then you just wanted to see tractor videos on the computer. :)

Today we went over to Liam and Jessica's house and CoCo and Kaelen came over too. You guys had a good time playing inside since the weather was yucky.  This afternoon we played allot and you just seemed so happy to be back to our normal routine. 

Tonight you were playing on the bunk bed in our guest room and hanging from the top bunk.  It looks like you will be ready for the monkey bars any day.  You thought it was so much fun!

I'm so happy to be back home with you and daddy!

Love,
Mom