hammock

July 2008:

August 2016:

Happy 9th Birthday, Jackson!

My sweet Jackson,

And now you are 9! Somehow that happened.

You are still the sweetest, most conscientious, careful and sensitive kid I know. But then, just when I think you are so shy and tentative, I hear you screaming with your friends during swim class, or tearing around the playground like a banshee.

You've plowed through most of the Harry Potter series this year, you've just completed Book 5. Which is still a surprise to me since you still turn away if Kermit the Frog graces a television screen in your presence, as you're still scared of the Muppets. I think it must have been a pivotal moment in your brain-synapsis-building when you saw some Muppet you did not like, and that was that for you.

You've moved on from pizza - although it's still your hands-down favorite - I now think soup dumplings are a close second. No bagels, pancakes, or waffles for you though, thank you very much. And you would eat 6 Granny Smith apples a day if I let you.

Legos are still going strong. You've amassed quite a collection, and once you start building one, your focus is total and complete until you are done.

You participated voluntarily in the Science Fair this year - The Invisible Ink Project. You didn't want to go the extra mile, but in the end, you did. I'm so proud of you for that.

Your best buddy is your brother. Since you are together constantly, it's like you are each other's shadow. I'm so lucky that you are able to play, laugh, crack each other up (For one week straight you chanted Undies, Undies Solomon Grundy Rat-a-tat-tat to each other and would dissolve in laughter).

You have a lot of friends at school and everyone likes you. You cause no problems and you're continually at the top of your class, getting points, awards, and commendations. Right now we're waiting to hear if your handmade book (one of the top three in your class) will earn you a spot as Class Representative next year).

For your birthday this year, we got together in Prospect Park near Vanderbilt Playground (your request) and celebrated with 16 of your buddies, and donuts. Paper airplanes, a piñata, and free play was it!

I love you more than words can ever say. Thank you for the best 9 years, and I know this year is going to be a good one!

Love,
Mama

PS Letters on your first birthday, your second birthday, and your third birthday, fourth birthday, and fifth birthday and sixth birthday and seventh birthday, and eighth birthday.  

our 2015 Christmas card

Last year's card, and past Christmas cards here.

Happy 6th Birthday, Cade!!

Dear Cade, my dear Cade, 

Just like the AA Milne poem - And Now You Are Six!

Cade, you are a conundrum to me and dada! One minute loud, laughing, strong and outgoing. Next minute, reserved, shy, eyes down! We can't figure you out. What we do know is how smart you are, arguing your case like a grown up, asking questions that make us laugh in their maturity, excelling in math and science (a natural, says your teacher) and picking up a pencil to write in your journal, just like Jackson, at night. 

Kindergarten was great for you. You learned to read! Hesitantly at first, then stronger and stronger (with the help of a little reward system in which you get a star for each book - in fact, while we are not in Brooklyn, you call Dada to have him put a star on the chalkboard for you). You had two really good friends - Calder and Abel. You were a little clique. Sometimes that's good, sometimes you had to be separated. You got made because you couldn't be line buddies anymore with them because "Ms. Dana said WE WERE TOO GOOD OF FRIENDS!" It's funny when that sentence is a bad thing. 

Your favorite food-pasta. You could eat this every day of the week if we let you. You hate pizza (unless it is generously covered with black olives), and this may very well be a result of pizza being Jackson's all-time favorite food. 
Favorite color - gold. Again, I happen to think this is because Jackson's favorite color is blue and God forbid you have the same favorite color. 
Favorite thing to do - VIDEO GAMES, of which you are an expert, writing several papers on this at school, and Legos. 
Songs at bedtime - Hush Little Baby and Snuggle Boo. 
Mostly Superhero clothing only.  

Dance party: Get Low, Turn Down For What and your new favorite, Ratatat. Mostly because of the funny sounds. 

Sometimes we forget that you are two years younger than Jackson. I'm sorry when we do that. Sometimes I just want to squeeze you and keep you little for just a little while longer.  I love you so much, Cade. I love when you reach your hand up every time we are walking somewhere together. I love it when you grab my cheeks and turn my head to give me a kiss. I love it when I see you laughing hysterically at something Jackson or Dada did or said. I love it when you wake up all groggy and I carry you into our bed and you snuggle with Dada for 5 minutes while I take a shower. I love you so much, Cade. You make me one proud and happy Mama. 

Happy 6th birthday, buddy!

Love, Mama

last day of school, 2nd grade and Kindergarten

First day of school -> last day of school!

Two Haikus, by Jackson

Mom

I love her so much. 
She takes me every where. 
She snuggles with me. 


     Dad

Plays with me so much. 
Puts us to bed every night. 
I love him so much. 

Today was Butterfly Day at PS10, a yearly tradition where the kids release butterflies they have all  been nurturing and watching in their classrooms. Jackson got up on stage and read a poem he had written.

Flip flutter

Fly to a flower

Suck some polin

Fly above my head

Butterfly!

Butterfly!

Flitter Flitter Fly

Oh Butterfly!

I love this picture, you can see his dapper tie -  decorated last minute with a blue paper butterfly -  and Cade to the right, wanting to say to Jackson as he walks by. 

you rock!

Thank you Jackson for the perfect kid handwriting on my latest project for Oh Happy Day!

Happy 8th Birthday, Jackson!

My dear, sweet Jackson,

And now you are 8! The sweetest, smartest, best little 8 year old I know. Continually making us smile. I'm so proud of who you are becoming as you get older. You're a hard worker, a great student - coming home and immediately doing your homework before I even ask you. Your notes from your teachers consistently say things like, "Good job, Jackson! We love how hard you are working!" You are an avid reader, going on to the Brooklyn Public Library website and placing holds on books you want to read. Dragon Slayers series, 39-Story Treehouse, Mighty Robots series, and of course, anything with penguins in it. Your love of penguins has reached a whole new level. You just completed an amazing science fair project on penguins. You did just a good job, including 17 watercolor paintings of the 17 different types of penguins. You are so talented, buddy.

You swim like a fish and are one of the top 3 swimmers in your PS10 class. You're in the Fish class at the Y, and even though you hate it, you get in there and do your laps without complaining.  You started karate this year and I love watching you - so loud and precise - with your kicks and arm chops. You love it.

Your favorite toys are Legos. You can put together legos like a machine. You just got some GREAT sets from Bebe and I'm sure you are going to put them together in no time at all. Once you start something, you get it done.

Your favorite food - still pizza. In fact, you ate half a pizza on Sunday. Later you came up to me and whispered, "I don't think we should do my birthday brownies today. I ate too much pizza." But then you rallied and made room for the brownies, because no cake or cupcakes for you, thank you very much. You do not like them. You are the only kid who will go to a birthday party and politely say, "No thank you. I do not like cake." Green juice. You could live on green juice. Your top favorite restaurants: Ikea, Hancos, Dino-saur BBQ, and Mike Daddy's pizza. You've started eating a lot more foods though. Even though you're still a skinny little kid. It's awesome to see you try things more and more.

You're becoming more and more independent - and are starting to roll your eyes at Mama and Dada when we say certain things. Sometimes I ask you a question and you answer "Of course!!!!" like a 16-year old teenager. Please hold off on that a little more.

I love you so much my heart could burst. You make me so happy, Jackson. I am so lucky I get to be your mama. Happy happy birthday.

Love,
Mama

PS Letters on your first birthday, your second birthday, and your third birthday, fourth birthday, and fifth birthday and sixth birthday and seventh birthday.  

brothers, looking at things together series

 

Cade - firsts, skateboarding

family photo, in which Cade smiles ridiculously

and it seems like not so long ago, and forever ago...........2011:

Easter 2015

I love it when I find an old picture on the computer desktop:

overhead, Jackson

"I don't like these french fries. They taste like potatoes."

overheard, Cade

"Cade, are you going to marry someone reallllyyyy pretty when you grow up?"

"No, I'm going to marry Jackson."

valentine's - cade, then and now

2010:

2015:

Valentines 2015

Jackson:

Cade:

Cade, firsts - reading

Let the record show it's happening. I can see the wheels turning in his head. It's really amazing to see. 

"This bug is big. That bug is small."

Way to go, Cade! 

Sometimes I look at him, he seems so old. 7 years! Other times I look at him, and he seems so young. Just 7 years! In this picture I look at those big eyes and see his baby face. Sweet boy.

Jackson and Emma, now and then

2014:

2013:

before and after

Jackson.

Top of the Rock, Field Trip

Jackson went to the Top of the Rock today. His favorite part: the elevator.

overheard, Jackson

"I ate three bites of meatloaf, a bite of squash, and now you are ASKING ME TO EAT A BITE OF BANANA?!"

for the record

January 10, 2015 the first ever time Cade won Uno vs. Jackson and Jon.

our 2014 Christmas card

and past Christmas cards here.