Jack turns three

Today was the big day; the one Jack has been waiting for ever since Lincoln and Daniel's birthdays. He'd been saying for a week or two that he wanted to launch model rockets for his birthday. We remembered that we built a water rocket last summer and stored it in the garage. It was a great substitute, maybe even better than a real model rocket because he got to launch it over and over again.

Here he is, in command of one of his launches:

Fire station field trip

We're part of a little homeschool group that gets together for PE and field trips.

Today we saw went to the fire station to learn about fire safety and look at the fire trucks up close.

The boys have been looking forward to this trip for weeks. I may or may not have used a little fireman manipulation to get Jack to cooperate lately ("firefighters are gentle/eat all their breakfasts/flush the potty/etc.). It may or may not have been ridiculously effective.

Lincoln got to try on the firefighters clothes-- he thought it was really heavy and hot.

And he's off...

We dropped Ben off at the MTC this afternoon. It's going to be a strange two years knowing he's just over the mountain and we can't see him. But seriously, the Salt Lake City South Mission just got a great missionary
.

Jack's already asked "Where's Uncle Ben?" about 20 times.

We are going to miss him like crazy.

Caught...

...red handed...er...white-faced.

Somebody's got a bit of a thing for flour.

The kid wouldn't take a bite of my apple pie, but he's all over my flour. Flour? Really?

I don't get it.

Overheard

Lincoln: Daniel, if I catch you doing that again, I might bite you.

Daniel: I'll bite you back and then I'll tell on you.

Quote board

You've GOT to experience having Jack for a brother. It's awesome.

-Daniel

early riser

Jack likes to get up at the crack of dawn-- a little before actually. Most days Joe is ready for him and will let Jack "help" him get ready for work while I steal a little extra shut eye. (Joe even lets him shave with his electric razor for reals. Won't that be a huge bragging point when he's a teen: "Oh yeah? I've been shaving since I was TWO!!)

One morning recently, after a really rough night, Joe was not ready for our little morning man. Here's how it went:

Jack: (cheerfully bounding into our room) IT'S MORNING TIME!!!

Joe (groggily): Oh man... Daddy's still tired Jack. Why don't you go sit in the green chair and read some books for a while.

[ten minutes later] Jack: Did it. Can I be wake now?

Joe (still from bed): Yeah...


Jack: Can I put my jammies in the hamper?

Joe: Yeah...  (jack puts jammies in the hamper)

Jack: Can I pee in da potty?

Joe: Yeah...  (jack pees in the potty)

Jack: Can I put on my underwear?

Joe: Yeah... (jack puts on some underwear)

Jack proceeded to get himself ready for the day (even grabbing the container of leftover oatmeal from the fridge and helping himself to a breakfast of cold oatmeal and almond milk)--  asking for "permission" at each step of the process.  He's truly a do-it-yourself kind of kid.

If only his brothers would get themselves up and ready for the day before mom and dad rolled out of bed every morning...