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.  

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. 

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.  

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."

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.

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?!"

to Santa, from Jackson

 

scare fail

Ignore the fact that Cade is trying to kill a baby tree - wait for the part where Jackson tries to scare me and Nonno. Lol.

soap box derby camp

 

Ever since we moved to this neighborhood, we would watch for weeks in the summer as boys and girls would gather to design, hammer, build, bend, paint, decorate and test out the soap box race cars they built themselves. Then every September they would close the street and there would be a race down 17th Street.

This Spring, Jackson was finally old enough to participate.

He went for a week over the summer, and was so psyched to learn how to use power tools, saws, hammers, take trips to the hardware store, and choose his paint colors. He loved the actual race, even though Jon had to run next to him and push him when he ran out of speed.

Here is an article in the New York Times about this year's race.

firsts - day of school, 2014.

Jackson starting 2nd Grade, Cade starting Kindergarten!

And some past first days here, here, here (love Cade in the background of that one) and last year.

spider bonding

Last night I woke Jon up to tell him there was a tarantula-sized spider crawling across the windowsill - - I was hallucinating. Literally one minute later Jackson came into our room scared---of a spider he had "seen" in his room. Coincidence? Perhaps. I prefer to think it's a strong mother-son psychic bond. 

Star Wars Battle scene

This weekend, Jackson created this stop-motion movie. Special effects by Jon, voices by Jackson and Cade.

overheard

Jon started reading The Hobbit out loud to them. Jackson leans over and whispers, "Is this real?"

hmmm, I wonder why this video recording stops short so suddenly.....

Too Dada, Good Christmas

The Ikea

Jackson's Top Three Favorite Restaurants:

1. Hunan Delight (Beef and Broccoli)
2. Hanco's (Shredded Chicken Sandwich, no cilantro, no spice)
3. The IKEA