Moments - A Jackson Family

Laura has discovered her hands. Anytime they pop into her line of vision she intently stares at them. A few days ago I saw her with both hands up like she was playing the piano.

Emily has been really gentle with Laura but also enjoys Laura being a little bit bigger and stronger. I often find the two of them sitting together. They were all having so much fun looking at the mirror and Nathan and Emily were laughing while Laura looked on.

During one quiet time Emily snuck into Nathan’s room and made a lean-to against his wall. They both were huddled in there “sleeping”.

Andrew is always the one to instigate tummy-time. Laura adores Andrew so she loves chatting with him while on her stomach.

During another quiet time (actually many quiet times) Emily and Nathan get the chocolate chips from the freezer for a treat. I was surprised when they figured out the ultimate treat combination of strawberries and chocolate. They consumed nearly an entire pound of strawberries before I found them. When I told them I was planning on using the strawberries for waffles Emily suggested we smash the remaining three and put it in the batter.

Nathan occasionally finds Laura alone and sits down to play with her. They were both laughing about his apple – I can’t remember what he was doing or saying. I love how much they love each other. I think they are going to have a very special relationship.

For months and months Emily has had a few big cardboard boxes in her room. I kept trying to throw them away but she wanted to make a rocket ship just like the picture on the friend. A few Saturdays ago she, Nathan, and Andrew constructed the space going vessel. They promptly got their cereal and had a picnic.

We have been building a lot of forts this winter. I was particularly proud of this construction because it was big enough I could comfortably go in there with them. We used a circle of chairs with a pickler triangle entrance. I used the camera flash (which I basically never do) to take a picture inside of the super dark structure and the kids loved it.

Another constant activity over here is clay. Both kids will spend hours making things. Nathan likes rolling his out into long strips and making baby bottles. He’ll also ask us to make balls “like this” and roll his hand in the air exactly like we do on the table. He’s also made doorbells which stay on the wall for a few minutes and then he gathers it back up.

Emily has made magic rings that transport us to different worlds, a drink and beautiful spoon that is magic and makes us all better if we get sick, cakes with candles on top, beds and blankets for babies, babies, a cradle that rocks, a bowl that if you put something in it that everyone gets transported to a new place and food coloring. She has become really interested in color mixing and will spend hours figuring out how to make different colors. I love watching their creations appear.

With the weather warming up (or wishing that it would – it did just snow…) I am really excited to do more wood carving. We bought a hook knife to carve spoons and bowls and a wetstone to sharpen the knife Andrew made me. I checked out a few amazing carving books from the library and felt so inspired. I asked Andrew to just be excited with me and he did a pretty good job. The next morning Emily discovered the books and she was THRILLED. She shares my enthusiasm for wood and making things with a long list of things she wants made.

I’ve been trying really hard to stick to a good morning routine that includes cleaning the kitchen. The kids are supposed to clear their dishes and put away the silverware and then they can go play. I was surprised to hear Emily trying to teach Nathan how to play trouble. He did his best for a few minutes and then enjoyed putting the pieces on his finger, which Emily agreed was more fun.

The girls hanging out together. Laura hasn’t rolled over yet but it could happen any day, so Emily was making sure she stayed safe on the couch.

Early morning hanging out while I make breakfast.

Nathan still loves making beds with Emily. He stayed there covered up for a long time.

Early morning tummy time with all three kids.

The kids set up a shop. Nathan made food on one side with his clay (which wasn’t on sale), and Emily sold notebooks in the middle and her clay creations on the other end. She laid out all the prices – $7 for each of her clay pieces except one was $80 – and explained each one, suggesting I buy another one until my basket was all full and money all gone. She also spends a lot of time writing at the piano bench desk. Nathan went shopping for a watermelon and pineapple with the shopping cart.

Laura is almost starting to play with the toy Andrew made her for Christmas. You can’t tell from this picture but lately she has been socially laughing a lot. She finds all sorts of things funny and loves to laugh. Right now tummy time is her holding her head up, but it will probably only be a matter of time before she starts trying to grab everything in sight.

Nathan is a huge fan of spreading out blankets and laying on them – especially with an apple. Left to their own devices the kids consume a couple pound bag of apples in a day and half.

We have been reading Little House on the Prairie at lunch time. We’ve read Little House in the Big Woods a lot but this book is so fun for all of us because it talks about building the log cabin. We decided to big a log cabin of our own with two beds and a table, complete with quilts and table clothes. Emily turned the pig into Jack the bulldog. I think we will use that beautiful maple as a platform to make scenes from the read aloud book we are currently enjoying.