The Louvre's Newest Additions...

As the snow/cold weather continues to bless Utah, the Jackson's continue to be stuck inside. This weather is ideal for producing artwork in high volumes though. So, before these beauties find their permanent home, I took the time to scan them first. I'm such a good mom.

Title: Delicious
Artist: Trace
Medium: Crayon & safety scissors

Title: What's in a Name?
Artist: Obvious
Medium: Crayon, again

Title: Extreme Makeover for June
Artist: Sydney
Medium: Crayola!

Title: Ching Chong Chu the Dragon
Artist: Trace
Medium: You know

Title: Giraffe Playing in Polka Dots
Artist: Sydney
Medium: Crayons and "Dot" Paints

Title: Rainy Africa
(Actual Title by Trace)
Artist: Trace
Medium: Pen and Crayola

Are those your skis? Both of them?

Last Friday, my thoughtful hubby invited me to go skiing with Chris and Erin, and offered to babysit the kids. WOW!!! How could I say no? (Plus Erin's brother gave me a free lift ticket-thanks Mark!).

I haven't skied in over 7 years, so I was a little nervous about severely injuring myself. I had visions of taking Trace and Syd to preschool this week with a neck brace on. Plus, I'm not the best skier to ever grace the slopes, so the conditions have to be just right for me:

1. Mild weather (I'm talking 50 degrees plus)
2. Packed/groomed snow OR ice, yes ice. I learned to ski in West Virginia and mainly ice skiing was my forte--anyone else who's ever learned to ski there can back me up.
3. NO powder (this nearly killed me the first time I skied with Tyler 11 years ago).
4. Sunshine--not a must, just a bonus.

Since all of these conditions were met, I found myself at Sundance on Saturday having a great time.

I'm still not the best skier in the world, but at least I still got it. Some 60+ old man came up to me and gave me some "tips" on how to ski better. Chris and Erin were convinced he was picking up on me, I prefer to think he really was concerned with my form...it is hideous.

Now for some pictures from my camera phone:

View from Back Mountain...ahhh breathtaking

My gracious hosts
The third wheel

PS-if you can name that movie quote in my title, I will semi-happily award you with ONE Cadbury Creme Egg, you better hurry before I eat them all.

It's that time of year again. The Cadbury Creme Eggs are back on the shelf.

People either love 'em or hate 'em.I happen to LOVE them!!!

quotes

I've been trying to write down the cute things my kiddos say, here's all I've got from the past 6 months. Geez, I need to do better!

3/9/09
Nash's words:
All week Nash has been saying, "BOO!" "Roar!" and "Hi!"
He's been saying "Hi" for awhile, but boo and roar are new. It's so funny to hear him say it. I'm going to have to get it on video!
He can say mama and dada, just doesn't really like to.

3/6/09
Trace: Mom, today is the strangest day of my life.
Me: Why?
Trace: The Leapster just turns on and then off again.

11/17/08

Sydney's prayer:

Father in Heaven, I'm thankful for my family. Love my mom. Love my dad. Except sometimes my dad is mean. And sometimes my mom is mean and doesn't listen. Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

10/08
Trace: Why do we have wrappers on crayons?
Me: I don't know, that's a good question.
Trace: We need to ask Jesus, maybe he knows.
Me: Great idea!

Happy AnniversWii!

Aren't Wii Adorable???

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary, and to celebrate this magnificent event, I decided to get my hubby a Wii.

Why, you ask? Because I'm the best wife ever. He's been wanting Rockband ever since we played at at Chad and Kim's in January, but I kept telling him, no, it's too expensive. Little did he know, I've been studying Wii's on ebay for the last 3 weeks and finally got a pretty good deal on a "gently used" Wii and Rockband.

Now, Tyler will have his dream of friends and family coming over to our home and rockin' out all night with us (because I am an awesome wife :)

Oh yeah, we're also going to spend the night at Marriott all the way in PROVO (it really is like being out of town for us now) and eat at Chef's Table. YUMMY! Thanks, Judy, for keeping the kiddos!

Love ya, Babe!

First Kiss

Last week Sydney had her first official play date!

Her date was Ethan, cutest little boy at preschool.

They played.


They ate.


They made cookies.



They watched cartoons.




AND...






They kissed!!!


Don't worry, I immediately had "the talk" with Sydney about how we don't kiss on the FIRST play date. Maybe the second or third. We don't want people to get the wrong impression.

I was also surprised by the fact that Sydney was the aggressor. I thought for sure Ethan made the first move, but after talking to his mom, Saedi, I found out Syd went in for the kill, and all day Ethan kept asking his mom, "Why did Sydney kiss me?"

Sorry Ethan, I couldn't pull any answers out of her either.

Happy Birthday Nash!

Happy Birthday, Nash!

February 22, 2008 at 1:23 pm, Nash Mechling Jackson was born. He started out at 8 lbs 12 ozs. and 21" long...here's how he's grown:

31 inches long (80%ile)
22 pounds (28%ile ???)
Has 2 teeth on the bottom and one fang on top (Here comes the next Edward)
Blue eyes
Has a little bit of light brown hair
Can say mama, dada, hi, and something that sounds like "yes"


LIKES:
Babbling
Playing in the playroom...cruises around and gets into everything
His bottle, but that is already being phased out, sorry buddy
Sleeping (still takes 2 naps :)
Eating (just about anything)
Drinking water out of his cup
Oatmeal with applesauce for breakfast
Trace & Sydney
Swimming
Naked time
Going for walks when it's nice outside
Reading books

DISLIKES:
Baths
Walking or standing alone
When mom leaves the room
Drinking milk from his cup, he's adjusting though
Diaper changes (oh wait, I'm the one who dislikes that)

Happy Birthday Nasher!

President's Day Weekend Getaway...

We managed to make a trip down to St. George this weekend to enjoy a little R-n-R and warmer weather. We were going to leave Thursday night, but luckily, Big Steve clued us in to the fact that there was a huge wreck on I-15 and the weather conditions were bad. This actually worked out very nicely for a certain mean mom and her naughty kids.

I spent the majority of my day kindly asking the children to "be nice, calm down, stop hollering, clean your room, don't smother Nash". So, after Tyler and I decided it would be best to leave for St. George in morning, I saw a great teaching moment. I gathered the "kids gone wild" at 7:00 pm and sat them down for a serious talk that went something like this...

I asked you guys a hundred times today to be good, be nice, and help me get ready for St. George, but you were not good listeners, were you? (this rhetorical question prevoked some wimpers)

Because you chose not to listen to mom, we are not going to St. George tonight. (Loud, loud whailing from Sydney begins, utter disbelief clouds Trace's face)

BUT! If you listen now and go to bed quickly and quietly, we can go in the morning when you wake up.
Hooray! Trace exclaimed
Okay. Muttered Sydney

I felt a little bad about doing this, but I easily got over it as I plopped down on the couch at 7:05.

So, Friday morning, we were off and in only three short hours I was partaking of a delicious hamburger and fresh cut fries...yum..

I love, love, love this place (who doesn't?). And, for all of you in Utah who haven't heard yet, there's another one coming!

So, the rest of our time in St. George consisted of swimming, eating, swimming, watching tv, swimming, playing cards with Ben and Kimmie, and, you guessed it, swimming. Oh, we also discovered a new park that the kids loved, and that's the only place I took some pics.

Oh, and for those of you still concerned about my recent medical condition, I am actually doing very well. No major dizzy episodes since Wednesday! However, with this huge snow storm coming in tonight, and the looks of a very fun work commute tomorrow, it's very possible that I might have some symptoms tomorrow morning.

Who's Ever Heard of This?

I have an inner ear infection...I thought ear infections were for kids, and I didn't even know inner ear infections existed. That is until I woke up yesterday with severe dizziness that made me sick...literally.

So, after a quick trip to the doc's, he diagnosed me with IEI, gave me some meds to ease the dizziness, and I was on my way.

There's only one good thing about being sick...you do get a little extra sympathy and love from those around. Thanks everyone :)

That is all.

Bored

I have nothing to do right now (gasp) because I'm patiently awaiting Tyler's return from old-man rec-league b-ball so we can watch Idol! The last time I started watching it without him, I was verbally assaulted. Lesson learned.

I'm trying to decide if there is anything of worth to report right now....let's see...Tyler and I have both started exercising. Tyler is one week in and going strong. I am one week in and done. Fini.

Let me describe my short-lived exercise routine to you.
1. Pop in new Pilates DVD courtesy of Wal-Mart.
2. Get down on exercise mat (beach towel) and begin the first exercise to a "Perfect Pilates body".
3. Use all my strength, breathing techniques, and will power to form a beautiful Pilates "stretch" with one leg gracefully raised in the air.
3. Try to hold this position while Trace pretends my leg is a hurdle.
4. Try to hold this position while Nash pretends I'm a bridge.
5. Try to hold this position (and not laugh) while Sydney does it along with me.

Tyler is now home. Time for some Idol.