things papa learned about Jack

Herb sent me a very sweet note about the things he and Nani learned about Jack from their adventure at the City Museum...I agree:

1. He’s got drive-----[redacted to protect xxxx from future embarassment :)]--- I like drive-------you can learn most anything------except drive. 
2. He’s a leader------when he and Mom got lost in the labyrinth Jack said, “It will be OK Nani, just follow me.”
3.  He’s compassionate-----see the note above.
4.  He’s adventuresome-----he was always searching for “new ways” to crawl around.
5.  He’s determined-----he wanted to climb a wall and he worked until he did it-------------I have a video to prove it.
6. He knows how to have fun
7. He’s athletic-------he was SO GOOD at climbing.
8.  He’s artistic-------he painted and made interesting things from clay.

I can't say that any of these qualities and traits are something we didn't know...but it's nice to hear great things about him from people other than us: his parents (even though his grandparents might be just as biased as we are!).

Either way, I hope Jack always keeps these traits about him...esp 1-3...I think those will one day help Jack become a really good man...(the others would just be little bonuses)

Jack is good.

Yesterday Nani and Papa played hooky, sprang Jack from daycare, and took him to the City Museum…something we probably should have done a long time ago.

He/they had THE.BEST.TIME…so much so, that someone in the group sharted. Not saying who in an effort to protect someone’s feelings. You’re welcome, xxxx.

They ran themselves ragged for 4+ hours, taking turns running around with Jack and having “resting” breaks. Jack didn’t need any resting breaks: those are for grown-ups!

They came home smelling of sweat, with a bruise here and there, and loads of craft projects, and videos of all the exciting adventures they had.

Jack is lucky to have those special days with Nani and Papa. How fun to be rescued from preschool to play all day with his two favorite people?! Who wouldn’t love that opportunity? It makes me very proud to have such amazing parents who adore my children. Also, it makes me jealous that fun stuff like that never happens to me. Can someone please rescue me from the everyday work doldrums?!

_______

Jim and I had Jack’s parent/teacher conference yesterday. And, while it was no “shart-inducing” experience, it was a great one. His teacher couldn’t say enough good things about him: how he’s so happy and pleasant, such a good listener and rule follower, so sweet and eager, smart and athletic. I smiled for two reasons: because I was so damn proud, and also I was pretty sure she was confusing us with parents of another child.

People keep telling us that “We’re doing such a good job” and “How wonderful Jack and Lila are” and I think I’ve unknowingly fooled everyone into thinking we have our shit together. We don’t, and Jack disobeys us and stomps and throws massive fits and wakes his sister up. He’s testing us and some days I think he’s winning the battle…that I’m being outsmarted by a 4 year old. I go to bed thinking “Where did I go wrong?”. But then he cuddles up to me to tell me his bad dreams and somehow just by being there, I make them go away, and I realize he is so sweet underneath his rough, star wars obsessed façade.

And in the end…it will get easier. At least that’s what people tell me…even though they are the same people who tell me that we’re doing something right with Jack, so I think they might be really good liars.

This weekend I have big plans to stay in my pjs and organize/clean. And maybe even watch a movie…but more likely than not, I will spend the days cleaning, and the nights wondering why Jack thinks its funny when I tell him “No.” and why he is so skilled at tuning out my voice...I'll likely fall asleep before SNL even starts. And I will consider it all a success if no one sharts…starting now. 

a few things about this little girl...

Last night, when Lila decided she didn't want to sit/snuggle to relax before bed, I said, "Fine Lila: go in timeout," and she proceeded to walk over to Jack's usual t.o. spot and sit happily, like the privilege of a time out had finally been bestowed on her! She's too smart for her own good...or as CC/my mom pointed out, maybe Jack goes in timeout way to often...?? 








She loves her cousin Will to pieces. "Wheel!" she exclaims when she sees his picture. She wants to hug him, and squeeze him, and name him George. As you can see from the pic below, he's a little unsure about her right now...it's only a matter of time before she's dressing him and convincing him to join her in ring-around-the-rosy!




And for some reason, I'm five hundred percent obsessed with Lila's hair in the picture below: so straight and perfectly windswept (even though there was no wind, because she's in the bath and all)...I want to marry her hair to pieces!


Also, she's got most of this family wrapped around her finger. Jim cannot say no to her...literally: he let her take a bath with a piece of pizza in her hand because she didn't want to give it up and he didn't want to say no to her! I was like, "Seriously, Jim?" and he shrugged as if to say, "I'm powerless to her forces." So Lila played with the pizza turned sponge in the tub until everyone was grossed out enough to call the bath over. (And when I went to shower later, I definitely found some tomato in the tub...)

He doesn't get it from me...

Jack spent the day with Nani (feverish! I'm over the sickness in our house!). As my mom was changing laundry, Jack picked up towels and began to fold them...correctly! He told her "Daddy taught me that." Later in the night, Jack, uninterested in Dora, walked to him room. It was quiet. Too quiet. When I went to check on him he proudly held his hands out displayed a cleaned-up room! "Look: I cleaned up a little bit!" It made me so proud! My son: a laundry-folding, room cleaner.


Suffice to say, he gets none of that from me...but maybe I'll get some of that from him: I think sometimes, my kids teach me more than I can ever teach them.