DitWill 2011

I'm moving.  It's been a hectic summer.  And I am feeling lazy in the blogging department.  So I am so grateful for Julia who finally posted about our a.w.e.s.o.m.e. Costa Rican adventure earlier this summer.  Click on the below link {enjoy!} for a play by play and great running commentary. Fun was had by all!  Love the post, Julia and I WILL add to it once we've migrated and settled.

{Enjoy!}

My Favorite JB quotes of the week

While driving to an open house, Lucas asked about the mortgage crisis and why houses were selling so low. We obviously started talking about houses, and Jonah hearing the conversation started saying, "Just a couple more houses...just a couple more houses." Yes, we've toured many a house this summer and Jonah heard this phrase more than once.

I asked Jonah if he wanted to take a bath and he matter of factly states, "Thanks, but not too-day." And walks out of the room.

The Bionicle he was playing with started asking himself, "Where is my bum?! I've lost my bum! Where is it?" And then turning himself over, "Oh. There it is."

He has issues with hitting. Mostly with sticks. With kids he thinks will sword fight back with him like his older brother does. Then he thinks everyone's ouchies will be taken care of with a few mumbled, "Is okay.  Is okay." And a couple soft pats and puckered kisses.  I don't know.  It works on my ouchies.

Today at the store we separated so Aaron, Lucas and our neighbor's two kids could find a certain joystick they were looking to buy.  The whole time Jonah kept asking, "Where my boys?  Mom, where my boys?"  That kid sure loves his boys.

Yesterday during sacrament meeting I took Jonah on my lap to try and settle him down and remind him what it means to be reverent during the sacrament. Instead of paying one iota of attention to me, he places his hands on my cheek and yells, "I'm gonna eat yo' face for lunch!" And then proceeds to gnaw on said cheek. 

Never dull with this wonderful, happy boy.

While you were swimming...biking...running

I have to admit I probably won't get the Best Supporting Wife award for this one.  Start time was 7am on the bank of the lake and... I was asleep.  My dad, my wonderful dad, got up before dawn to drive Aaron and Logan to the starting line and got the great before shots.  I myself woke up at 7:15am.  I did pray he wouldn't drown as soon as I was conscious though.  We made it by the time he was half way through the biking.  Yes, I know. Julia got there at 7 with her 4 little ones in tow.  But we were there to cheer on his running. 

Here's Jonah with his fist still pumping for his daddy. Lucas couldn't be a sweeter older brother and made sure JB could see him pass.

Jonah also decided his calves needed a stretch with some stranger he saw against the tree.

He couldn't keep his hands off his nana.

Couldn't get enough of each other.

We played at the best castle park while we waited for our runner to hit the home stretch.

We might not have seen the take off, but we were there to celebrate the landing.

My Man

Saturday was the day he hadn't been preparing for all summer. At the beginning of the year Logan, our dear friend, asked if Aaron was interested in participating in the Coeur D'Alene triathlon.  Aaron had only done one mini triathlon before while at BYU but thought, what the heck.  How bad could it be?  Training went great until June 17th when we took off for vacations, house hunting trips, family reunions, catching up with work, more house hunting trips and just our crazy summer.  I would have used that as a good excuse to bow out gracefully, but Aaron was determined to follow through.

So came a chilly Saturday morning at dawn, these 4 plus 996 others prepared for the Olympic length triathlon.

Birch, Brent, Aaron & Logan

Aaron didn't have road race bike, so he had one of the YM in our ward who worked at a bike shop, put one together for him.

Logan and Aaron all suited up for the first leg: a mile long swim. Sa-weet caps!

Aaron had never been in a full wetsuit, let alone swim in one. And in open water too.  Me, of little faith, was praying he just wouldn't drown.

Off they go.

And back again.  Aaron made great time and was feeling pretty strong after the long swim.

A quick change and he was ready for the 25 mile, mostly uphill, bike ride. 

(Sorry to sexy shirtless man I immortalized in our blog. Little does he know he will be forever remembered by my 5 readers.)

 

Off he went. Love a man in bike shorts! Woot, whoo!

Here he comes.  Rounding the bend toward the finish.

He's ready and pumped for the 6.2 mile run.

And across the finish line!   He had a great run time (though I don't know what it actually was :)  But I'm sure it was great! I tried to take a picture and realized my camera was turned off. So I was able to snap one just when he stopped running right after the finish line.

Tired but feeling good.  I am so proud of you, love of my life!

Logan feeling pretty good as well.  He was awesome!!

Aaron and Lucas in their post race picture together.  I'm not sure if Aaron wants to make this an annual tradition.

Now it's on to Hood To Coast in two weeks...

A monkey's uncle

There is a special place in this little boy's heart for his Uncle Brant.

Two peas in a pod.

One reason we are moving down south

We've had so much time with family this summer as we've been looking for a house. We've had such a blast with Aaron's brother and his family. One trip coincided with a visit from a favorite niece, Camille, from Texas.

We of course had to take her to Carol's, our favorite place in Vancouver for a Man vs. Food type breakfast. And we of course challenged Camille to finish her larger than life meal.

She made a valiant effort...

But in the end, food won.

Lucas loves his cousins but still hates to get his picture taken. He says he looks funny.

Sean, who in rare picture, actually has clothes on.  This funny boy despises clothes so he normally is in his underwear from dawn to dusk. 

Cute Samantha.  There isn't a sweeter girl out there. 

We played outside one afternoon writing on the sidewalk with chalk,

whining about something or other,

riding scooters,

hiding from more pictures,

crying again about this,

and crying about that,

and riding bikes to the park.

What a fun visit from a fantastic girl!

My best cousins picture. 

At least now in Portland we'll have lots more opportunities to get it right.

Still my buddy

Lucas is my love, my sweet and thoughtful boy.  He's 11 and 1/2 and still my buddy.  

 He is crazy silly, loves to quote movies, has a knack for accents just like his dad, and loves to play with friends.

Lukey is one who is very aware of those around him, how they feel and how he can help them.  Last Thursday night he came to us said he has been thinking about a certain man in our ward who is in a wheel chair and cannot communicate except through his special computer.  Lucas had never talked to him before but felt that we needed to visit with him and be friends with him.  Aaron called and they went with a quart of his favorite ice cream.  That is just how he lives.  Lucas is pensive, asks questions and is close to the Spirit.  I love alone time with him, cuddling and talking about life.

Lucas loves sports and is most looking forward to basketball.  He also loves to run, just like his father, so he's looking forward to cross country or track and field these next few years. (We'll see which one he takes to more.  Aaron would be over the moon if he followed in his footsteps and tries pole vaulting.)

In June, Aaron and I partied in Costa Rica with Julia and Logan.  Lucas and Jonah got dropped off at the grandparents and I heard didn't miss us a bit.  Especially when they all went fishing.  Papa and Lucas worked hard on his fishing merit badge resulting in Roy being welcomed into the family.  He was a big, fat rainbow trout that Lukey caught all by himself.  

Roy was delicious.

Nana and Papa also taught Lucas how to play a Jackson family favorite, Rook.  He is now an official card shark and played hours of games this summer. He and his cousin, Jack were the team to beat at the family reunion and let me tell you, not many people did.

I

Lucas always making up amazing stories and is working on putting them down on paper. If he could focus enough to write out what goes on his head, he could be a published author. But that's just a mother speaking. :)  He still loves Legos and will spend hours putting together elaborate ships and space ports. And he's pretty patient with JB who spends minutes taking them apart.

He took the news of our move to Portland pretty well. He has some great friends here, some he's known since we moved here 10 years ago. So it was hard to imagine leaving his school and living somewhere new. But having 7 cousins near our new home helped with the change, especially Jack and Allison. 

Last Sunday we were looking up Lucas' new school and realized that he would no longer be in elementary school for 6th grade but in middle school. Renae, our sister-in-law, saw us read this new info and commented, "I just saw you guys age before my eyes!" Yes, I cannot believe we have a child old enough for middle school. I was looking forward to one more year in elementary.

Life goes by way too fast.