Jacob's first homework assignment

Don't ask me why they send kindergartners home with more work to do after a 5 hour day, but they do! Jacob will have homework every Wednesday from now until the end of the school year. Today he had to trace the letter M, write it 8 times, find an object for show and tell that started with the letter M (he is taking his mittens), and cut out 4 pictures in a magazine that started with, you guessed it, the letter M. The only magazines in the entire apartment were Cosmo, Lucky, and Allure, so I tried to find masculine pictures for Jacob which was really difficult! We ended up finding a mouth, mustard, mommy, and make-up. I wish I could've sent him to school with pictures of a muscle car, monster, money, and manly stuff...oh well!

Jacob's gift from Grandma Judy

My mom recently sent Jacob a $10 gift card to Target. Jacob also has been saving money and had $3 in his piggy bank. Jacob has been begging me to take him to Target to get a very specific toy. When we walked in the store Jacob knew exactly where he was going, to the Yu-Gi-Oh 5 D's Cards. If you have any idea of what Jacob likes, you would know that he is obsessed with his Pokemon cards and Yu-Gi-Oh cards. I think the pivotal moment in Jacob's life was the day my grandma's neighbor, Liz, gave Jacob all her grandson's playing cards. Jacob counted them and stopped at 200! At the bus stop all the boys were bragging about their cards, one boy had 50 cards, and another boy had 80 cards. You should've seen the confidence on Jacob's face when he walked up to all the older boys, puffed up his chest and said " Well, I have 300 cards...beat that!"

"Thank you Grandma Judy!!"

Jacob's first time on a trampoline

Tom and Carol's neighbor bought their daughter Ali a trampoline and invited Jacob to come over and play. Jacob looked like a pro bouncing from one end of the trampoline to the other! He really likes to bounce Ali, I think Ali really likes it too! She gets very upset when Jacob has to go home, she yells " My Jacob!!". I think I might have some competition!

Tippecanoe River State Park Camping Trip

For Jerron's 26th birthday we (me, Jerron, Ashlin, Matt, Laurie, and Bob) decided to spend a weekend out in the wilderness, a.k.a electric campsite lot #19. There was a snag in our plans when I realized that Tippecanoe River State Park was not in Tippecanoe. In fact it is 1.5 hours worth of driving for all of us. After apologizing for my lapse of using a map before making reservations, everyone got excited and we had a great time! Jerron and I had an extremely small tent compared to everyone else's, but we had no problems putting it up or taking it down. We had to suffer the ridicule of Matt and Ashlin (whose tent has a porch, I'm not kidding!), and Bob and Laurie (whose tent is as big as my apartment), but I bet we were the warmest! At night the temperatures reached 50 degrees, and we all woke up freezing! During the day though temperatures stayed a very nice 80 degrees. Ashlin brought the game cornhole and cards. I made bacon wrapped hotdogs stuffed with cheese, and Bob brought gourmet hamburgers . I know Jerron had a great and memorable birthday!

Grandma and Papa's Weekend with the boys

While Kim and Jerron joined the others on a camping trip, Jacob and Ethan spent the weekend at G-ma Carol's and Pa-Pa Tom's house. After a restful night, Jacob got up early to start their day. Being a band enthusiasts that he is, Uncle Brandon invited Jacob to accompany him to the Kokomo High School Marching Invitationals. Jacob was treated like royalty and entered the competition with Uncle Brandon's former band, Eastern.. After watching Eastern's warm-up practice, Jacob and Uncle Brandon hit the stands to watch their performance. They then dined in the Hospitality Room where Jacob feasted on Colby-jack cheese, carmel apples, cookies, coke, and whatever else struck his fancy. Jacob was in good company and hung out with all the Eastern band staff. Soon it was time for Western's performance, so they hit the stands again for the remainder of the Class C competition as well as the awards. Again, Jacob was in the best of company with all the "Old Western band folks." Way to go Eastern and Western with their clean sweeps!!!

After the Class C awards, Brandon and Jacob made their way back to the buses to find Pete( the former Eastern band director) and his Class B band from Whiteland, Indiana. After watching their warm-up, Jacob was treated to a field view of the marching competition as he accompanied Uncle Brandon on to the field for their performance. Jacob described his first official band competition as follows: "fun, great, and exciting!" They wrapped up their day with a trip to the local ice cream store. Of course Grandma Carol and Pa-Pa Tom would love for Jacob to show an interest in carrying on the Garber tradition of being a Western Band member, and who knows, maybe he will!!!

After dinner G-ma took the boys for our typical evening walk around the neighborhood, and Jacob got to play on a big trampoline for the first time! He was so excited when G-ma told him how to drop on his knees when he bounced and to bounce back up on his feet. He loved it and played really hard! Alli, the little 2 1/2 year old neighbor, loved having Jacob at her house to play too. When we were getting ready to leave, she put her hands on her hips, looked me right in the eye, and stated, "No, my Jacob!!""

Jacob's weekend was completed with a new Webkinz so he can start visiting Webkinz world again! All and all, I don't know who had the better weekend, grandparents or grandkids!!

Ethan had a good time at Grandma Carol's and Pa-Pa's too. He had lots of tummy time on his activity blanket and perfected his turning over from his back to his tummy. Ethan also enjoyed the new Bumbo chair grandma bought for him to practice his sitting skills. Ethan got lots of cuddly time with both grandma Carol and Pa-Pa.

Ethan's doctor visit and first bites of food

Ethan had a doctor visit last Friday. He weighs 16.7 pounds(75th percentile) and is 26.6 inches long(95th percentile). He had to get his shots too *tear*. I HATE seeing him get shots, I think it hurts me more than it hurts him! Carol went with us because I was really dreading the shots. She said that she would sit in the room while Ethan got his shots. When the nurse came in with the needles I started shaking because I was so nervous, of course Ethan was all smiles and happy. I asked the nurse " Are you going to stick that whole needle in his leg?" The nurse said "Ma'am why don't you take Jacob and go look at stickers in the hallway..." I took Jacob, and from the hall I listened as Ethan screamed his head off. When I saw the nurse leave I ran into the room where Grandma was there with tears in her eyes and she said "I thought it would be easier with my grand kids, but it's not...it's really not!" I think Daddy can go next time!

Since he is such a good eater the doctor wants to start him on cereal this week and go to vegetable baby food in two weeks.

Ethan LOVES to eat! He had no problems with his first bites of baby food.

The Chicagao Museum

Ashlin got tickets for the Chicago Field Museum and invited Jacob to spend the weekend in Chicago. Jacob was so excited to see Aunt Ashy and Uncle Matt. He was also excited to see Gizmo, Ashlin's dog. Tom and Carol also went and they had a great weekend. Jacob loved seeing Sue the T-Rex and the mummies. Ashlin's area got 14 inches of rain which made for an uncomfortable trip home from the museum. And the surrounding areas got 19 + inches, and these areas were being evacuated. Adding to this wonderful experience Tom got a flat tire on the Suburban and had to change it in the rain. Tom and Matt were on their bellies changing a tire while Jacob was wanting to help. Needless to say everyone was soaked head to toe, and through all of this Jacob thanked Ashlin for letting him come and stay the night. When Jacob got home he told me all about Ashlin's "beautiful house", and that Ashlin made him breakfast. He had a great time!

Jacob and Grandma at the Albanese Candy Factory. (Jacob is catching rain drops on his tongue) Papa walked out $50 lighter, but Jacob got his orange slices and Alien Heads!

Letter to Papa Brad and Grandma Judy

Dear Grandma Judy and Papa,

Thank you for everything you sent me in the box. There was a comic book, The Incredibles, with army men in it. Thanks for the fan that I make myself cool with. Thanks for the candy. There was lemon slices and a candy that looks like strawberries on he wrapper. I liked both. There was paper with already crosses on it and you get to play tic-tac-toe. I haven't played it yet. How is Washington? What is Washington's state's bird? I think its probably a macaw. What is your state tree and what is your state flower? Grandma Carol is helping me write this letter because I cant write yet. I am learning letters and patterns and lots of stuff. Sasha got a new toy today and I'm having fun at Grandma's playing with Sasha. I'm staring to have American Coke that has an American flag on it. The color for our binders is how we go to centers. I pretty much like all of them except the sand one. It's pretty messy! I kind of like computers because every one has it's own game. I can't wait until I am in college. I can't wait until I go to the other grades too because I get to go to the other classes. My room is class A, Mrs. Shmidt's class. I hope you have a great time. If you can find any toys that I might like you can send them to me in a box, if you want to!

Love,
Jacob

Letter to Grandma Simon

Dear Great Grandma,

How is Arizona? It's a nice day at school. I already got a warning on another day. We are getting new stations. She is choosing a different way for centers. It's the color of our binder. Mine is green. Actually the bus is coming to the office the next day. It's going to be a great day for me. It's exciting because I get to meet Cannon, my friend. I bet your are having a great time in Arizona. If you can find a trianchula you can send it to our town. If it dies its OK because we don't want it alive anyway. And, my friend Cannon is a good guy. Jerron got handcuffs. There were two of them. We are going to get a new telescope to look at planets. Grandma does this with me every night. It hasn't come yet. Our state bird is a cardinal and our state flower is a Pansie. Thanks for all the postcards you've been sending me. I like them. My favorite is the one with all the animals. And since we moved near to grandma's house we've been going there a lot. After school I go to her house and play. Last time at gym I got to go to the big boys playground. I can't wait until my birthday! I can't wait until Christmas too! My room, is class A Mrs. Shmidt's Room. I'm making losts of friends at school and saving Joseph all the time from the bad kids at recess.

Love,
Jacob

Ethan watched his first Colts game last Sunday! We all wished his Aunt Ashlin were there to see it, she would've been so proud of the jersey and matching bib Ethan was wearing! Coincidentally Ethan starting throwing up on his cute outfit just about the time the Bears made their second touchdown in the third quarter. Colts lost 26-13.

Ethan has a new blankie!

Aunt Nancy sent Ethan a new blanket all the way from Arizona! Ethan is having a blast playing on the blanket and also having tummy time on it! Hopefully Ethan will roll from his back to his tummy for the first time on this blanket.

Boys and their toys

Brandon came over yesterday to have lunch and show Jerron police gear. Jerron is waiting to be accepted to do ride alongs with the Jonesboro Police Dept. Jacob was so excited to play with the handcuffs and try on Uncle Brandon's gun belt.

Jerron was a good sport and let Jacob handcuff him together.

Jerron liked this idea...try turning of the Cubs game off now Kim!

Ask Ucle Jeff says "Ask em, tell em, taze em"

Jacob and Johnny

Jacob and his best friend Johnny have been playing at Carol's house most of the summer. Johnny is Carol's friend Mitzie's grandson (follow me?). Jacob and Johnny swim and play together, Mitzie says Johnny always asks to come over and see Jacob.

Johnny and Jacob playing in the sandbox in Carol's backyard.

Johnny wants to bury and kill Spiderman in Quicksand, Jacob thinks Spiderman will survive because Spiderman has "powers".

Johnny won the Spiderman fight. I'm pretty sure the rules of the playground state, and I quote, " He who provide the toy make the rules."

PARTY, MY CRIB, 2AM

Ethan got a crib today! Tom and Carol purchased a crib for Ethan and I have to say Ethan looks SO small in it!! The bedding is in Classic Pooh, which was purchased by Aunt Nancy and Grandma Carol. As soon as Carol put Ethan in it he lit up and loved looking at all the pictures on the bedding. We put Ethan on his belly so he could look at the crib sheet, and much to his surprise he could roll over! I think he feels like a big boy in his brand new bed!

The crib is a sleigh bed in cherry.

Doesn't he look so proud of himself!?

Thank you Grandma and Papa!!

Daddy's ticklin my toes!

If only I could crawl....

The infamous " pick me up grandma arms"!

SO much leg room!

Last Night in the Cradle

My little Ethan had his last night in his cradle. Carol bought a cradle and it is now being past down to each grandchild as they are born. The next baby to have the crib is going to be Connor Matthew Kendall who is due in October. Each baby will have their own name plate attached to the cradle with their name and birth date. Ethan loves rocking in his cradle and I hope this will be an easy transition!


Ethan loves watching his "classic pooh" mobile !


You can probably see from this picture the name plates on the back of the cradle. So far there is one for Jacob and one for Ethan.

Can you believe how big he is getting!!? A week ago I came in to get Ethan from his cradle and he was playing with the toys at the bottom of the bed with his feet! I think it's time for a crib!