Jackson

I can't believe that Jackson is quickly approaching nine. He can't be that old. Neither can I!! But he is, and it seems that as he gets bigger, so does life. He is playing soccer on a (much) bigger field, his homework is definitely on an older, more difficult level, his feet are growing at an alarming rate, he is so tall, karate is getting more serious, his appetite is definitely bigger... I'm not so sure that I am ready for all of this big.Jackson is playing soccer and doing karate this fall. I'm not so sure that soccer is his thing, but he was very insistent that he wanted to to it. He amazes me with his karate... I never thought that he would want to do it this long, but last week he earned his purple belt and was super-proud. He is always eager to go, and his amazing memory serves him well in the studio.
He is also in his third year as a Cub Scout... he is now a Bear. He seems to really enjoy it and is really excited that Harris is now a Tiger cub. Jason is still in charge of all things "Cub Scouts", and the Daddy-time that scouting encourages is awesome and much-needed... I know that is one of the things Jackson loves most.I can't say that he is loving school and third grade right now. I think he enjoys being there, but the work is a definite battle. The work is easy for him, as his memory is incredible, but he just doesn't want to be bothered to take the time to do it. He has never studied for a spelling test outside of the actual spelling homework, and he has never missed a word on a test. That makes it hard to teach him the importance of good study habits... while he doesn't need to study for it now, he will eventually!
Jackson is definitely an animal-lover like Harris, but he isn't as vocal about it. We often find him quietly loving up on someone's dog while all of the excitement is going on around him. He is dying for a cat... I made the mistake of taking the boys to Pet Helpers to love on some cats and dogs, and I have been regretting it since. He hounded us for days with questions about when he would get his cat, what he should name it, and how a litter box worked. Poor guy... I don't ever think there will be another cat in this house!

Jackson is still a quiet boy, only talking when he really has something to say. Very much like his daddy in that respect. He and Harris are each other's best friend and worst enemy. They get along as much as they fight. The fighting definitely grates on my nerves, but I know it is part of childhood and relationships, and eventually, as they get older, the best friends part will take over the fighting. Right??!!Jackson is such my sweet, sweet child. He tries new things without thinking about it, he gets excited about the little things, and he loves without quitting... definitely reminds me of things I need to be more conscious of in my life. I really am proud of who he is becoming, and I am looking forward to seeing what life holds for this special little (big) boy.

Tell me these two aren't related...

Harris

The one word I have always used to describe Harris is "excited". That has not changed. That boy is excited about everything.He never ceases to amaze me with his sweetness and thoughtfulness. He will out of the blue thank me for little things, and he still loves to give me huge hugs... always with sweet words about his love for me. Today we were in the car, and they wanted me to explain "insurance" to them. Harris told me that if there was a hurricane and our house was demolished, he would thank the insurance company for giving us the money to rebuild it.
He loves dogs... so much so that he wants to pet every one we see. He is very polite and cautious, though, as he asks the owners for permission to pet their dog before he does it. While he loves Lucy to death, he is dying to get another one to love on.
Harris is loving first grade... I think he was made for first grade. He loves the structure, the classroom policies, and especially the new friends. He digs the lunch service, recess, and the afterschool daycare. The first day he stayed was because I had a meeting with his teachers. When he saw me, he said (more like whined), "You aren't going to make me go home right now are you??? I want to stay!". My importance is dwindling.
Harris has started football this fall. While I would have preferred swim team, he was excited to try something new. He has rushed into it full-force, and who knows? Maybe we have a future Clemson quarterback on our hands!He loves the word "dude", and I have often heard it more than once in a short conversation.
He adores adults... teachers, grandparents, babysitters, etc., especially women! He has some of the biggest hugs ever for them and loves to say sweet things to them.... he really is quite a charmer, and we are going to have to watch him closely as he gets older!This child is too much. He is so full of life and love that he is just about to burst. Sometimes we have to work really hard at reigning that in, but really? I know that he will enjoy this life every second... what an amazing gift.

On My Mind

Life has been a whirlwind lately, with the beginning of school, going back to work essentially full-time, and all of the fall activities starting back full-force. I feel like my mind is spinning most days!

Just a few things I have been thinking about:

I really do have the Big Red "S" tattooed on my forehead. I am one of Harris' room moms, I agreed to be the assistant coach for Jackson's soccer team, and I agreed to head up the Cub Scouts Veteran's Day Bake Sale at two local Lowe's stores. Why, oh why, can't I say no???

As I just mentioned, I am the assistant coach for Jackson's soccer team. Eleven 8-10 year old boys... whew. I held practice by myself the other night, and man did they wear me out! And they're good! I had to really work to keep up! What I love about it, though, is working with the other coach. He is a pastor at a local church, and when that man says he is just out to make sure the team has a good time, he means it. We had our first game tonight, and he laughed and laughed and laughed! Instead of fussing or correcting or cringing when a mistake was made, he laughed. Not at the player. Just at the situation. I love that, while he wants them to get better, he can very easily assure them that mistakes are nothing to worry about. And that the game is all about having a good time. I hope that I can be more cognizant of that in my life.

I am in charge of the after-school program at work this year... what a trip! I am getting to play with legos and play-doh and Barbies and color and paint! I am having to come up with a theme each week and a craft each day! It is a lot of work, but I have really enjoyed it. The kids have been fun, as have the ladies I have been working with. I worry, though, about my crafts! If you have any cute, fairly easy, preschool crafts that have come home, please pass on the ideas...

Yesterday was a month since my friend Cam passed away. He was 37, an amazing man, musician, and friend, and he had fought multiple myeloma for 4 years. While it was so sad, I don't want that sadness to be the message here. Cam kept a blog, listed on my sidebar as The Walk Beside, in which he was very candid with what he was going through. His writings there and his emails definitely made my losses this summer a bit easier to handle. Almost exactly a month before he passed away, Cam sent me an email in which he wrote that he pretty much knew his time on earth was short and that he needed to be sure that he glorified God in both his life and death. The faith and hope, joy, courage, and love that he showed and wrote about totally reflected God's grace, love, and peace. While I don't want to dwell on his death here, I do want to pass on his blog and story, as there is an incredible message in his life and passing. I completely believe that he did his job and glorified God, and I hope that you will take some time to read about his incredible journey.

Updates

Wow. Summer is gone and school has started in earnest. Things have already gotten crazy, and I have not posted as all about what is going on with us. Well, here is my weak attempt to show a glimpse of our summer... lots of pictures and few words. Hopefully the pictures will speak for themselves...

Favorite Holiday

Over the past few years, we have fallen in love with Saluda, NC. Time with friends in the beautiful mountains has been just what we have needed in the middle of the hot Charleston summer.

To make the time even better, for the past two years, we have been there for Coon Dog Day. According to Jackson, Coon Dog Day is his favorite holiday.

For Harris, the opportunity to love on dozens of dogs is heaven... if only he could have taken one home with him!

And the parade that lasts over an hour? Full of crazy hillbillies?? And every firetruck in Western North Carolina??? What could be better?

Of course, Mama loves the hiking and exploring. This year it was exploring the Dupont Forest, kayaking the Green River, and hiking to Little Bradley Falls.

Definitely one of my favorite weeks of the summer!

Lowcountry Summer Fun