So I feel totally guilty for not updating lately, and it seems like every day there are things Jackson does that I think I need to journal, and then never get to it. So this will probably be a totally rambling and random post, but at least it's new news!

"Tractor Tipping"
Jackson is not a huge TV fan, but will usually watch a cartoon in the mornings. However, at Nana's house, Jackson happens to love the movie "Cars" and has "Cars" books, toys, you name it. Well, Jackson loves re-enacting stories and movies, so Nana decided to help Jackson re-enact the tractor tipping part on "Cars" (if you've never seen the movie, just think cow tipping with tractors being the cows and a tow truck doing the tipping.) Jackson has a bunch of toy tractors, of course, and a toy "Mater" that backs up all crazy, just like in the movie. So he gets the biggest kick out of having Mater tip over all the tractors, then he gets chased around with the combine who is "mean". It's so darn cute! And reading comprehension will be through the roof when he starts school! (This coming from the teacher-mommy).

"Mean Mommy"
Jackson has already figured out how to pull the "mean" card. He has done it several times, but on Sunday, it had to be the funniest. (Shhh--don't tell him though!). A bunch of us had gone bowling at Cedar Lanes in Filer to celebrate the February and March birthdays that we and several of our friends have. Jackson was so good the entire time, but when we were trying to load up to leave, he had one of his "moments". Jake had grabbed the Sooper Ads and Jackson was carrying them around in front of the bowling alley while we all talked and started loading our cars. He started dropping pieces of the paper, so Jake told him to bring back the paper so it wouldn't blow all over the parking lot. Jackson ignored him and ran up the steps to the bowling alley entrance. Since Jake was in the middle of a conversation, I ran up after him and tried to grab the paper. Jackson ran to the other side of the steps and proceeded to throw pieces of the newspaper all over, and the wind was blowing them everywhere. So, I told Jackson, "NO,", grabbed him, and spanked him for not obeying or listening. Then I put him down and walked back the car and he shouted (while pointing at me with a very fierce finger) "MOMMY MEAN!". Jake scooped him up and into the carseat he was buckled with the door shutting closely behind so we could finish our chat. Our friends thought it was hilarious, but luckily waited to burst into laughter until the door was shut. What a kid!

"An Elephant Never Forgets"
Well Jackson is not an elephant, but I sometimes wonder. He has an amazing memory. Last summer he had one of those cheap little pinwheels and loved it. Of course, it got destroyed throughout the summer, so when I was putting up the outside toys for the winter, I tossed the pinwheel, thinking nothing of it. Months go by, with no mention of a pinwheel, and in my mind it is forgotten. Then, Jake bought Jackson one of those I Spy books for toddlers, and one of the things you are supposed to find is a pinwheel. Jackson, looking for all the things on the page, noticed the pinwheel, and said, "Pinwheel?" and held out his arms like he wondered where it was. I told him it had been thrown away and he ran to the trash and opened the lid so he could look for it. I explained to him that it had been thrown away months ago. He was so upset! I seriously thought he was going to cry! So we told him that as soon as we see them again this year, we will buy him a new one, and, luckily, he was satisfied (at least for now!).

"Antique Purchases"
Jackson is already quite the shopper, helping put things from the cart to the conveyer belt at the store and making sure we don't forget the milk, or whatever is on his mind at the moment. One day, my parents were watching Jackson and when Jake had dropped him off, he left Jackson some money in his pocket (Jackson loves having his own coins to carry in his pocket). My parents wanted to go antique shopping, so they took Jackson with them. At one of the shops, he discovered a little bottom dump truck and really wanted it. My parents told him they should look around more first. So they continued looking and finally, they said he could get it. He went and picked it up, and while they were looking at other things, he just took it right up the lady at the cash register, held it out to her, said "Buy it" and handed her all the money in his pocket. She got such a kick out of it and thought he was so smart. Well, he ended up getting the little truck, but had to take out a small loan from Nana and Papa. :)