Landon's Three!

How on earth did we go from this:


to this:



so quickly?

These last three years have been all the happier with my lovebug Landon around. A few things I love about Landon:

- his cheery disposition. He is a happy, happy boy, who is content to play by himself or with others. He doesn't get his feathers ruffled very easily, which is good, since he has an older sister that likes to play boss (that's the job of the oldest, though, isn't it - to play boss?). We say that his laid back attitude is a bit of his Hawaiian heritage showing through : ) Who wouldn't love a kid that sings to himself, narrates his own train encounters, and happily says "HII Mom" whenever you see him?

-his enthusiasm for life. A video would truly be the best way to see how excited he gets about things (trains, in particular), but trust me when I say his voice goes up at least an octave when he's sharing exciting news. He's a bit difficult to understand, but it's even more so when he's talking a mile a minute about something. Luckily, no one can miss the excitement in his face or the tenor of the conversation.



-his lovebug ways. He lets me kiss on him and love him. Since birth he's always been more of a cuddler than Liza. And, don't tell him I said so (because he'll respond quite adamantly that it's not true), but he's still got wonderful chubby cheeks that just beg to be kissed.


-his little streak of the devil. Too bad he's so smart, because he is two steps ahead on many situations. His father is quite proud to see that sometimes Landon likes to do things just to be a pest (a different heritage showing through there). You can tell that he knows what he's doing is wrong (before he even does it), but he's got a special grin for those occasions -(and it stays on all the way through time out - until he's on to the next great adventure).




Landon's wish for his birthday? Lots of blue cupcakes, lots of cherries (on top), and lots of TRAINS. We were more than happy to accommodate.



Happy Birthday, Landon!

Family Fun

We had a really fun weekend visit last week when Tyler's sister, Michelle, and family came for Easter weekend. There was lots of opportunity for cousins to play, adults to hang out, and adventures to be had. We even took the opportunity to kick Tyler's butt at Blokus (an event worth documenting, since he rarely loses). A few shots from the weekend follow:



We kicked off the weekend with a celebration for Talon, who had his 13th birthday at our house (lucky dog)!




After a trip to the dentist for the Jackmans and a day at work for Tyler, we headed over to the farm for a "local" field trip. In downtown Littleton is a cool, free museum with a working farm. Since we'd had a lot of cold weather, the children were more than happy to get outside and run around.





(We were very entertained by the sheep. Have I never heard them before? I must have. But I don't remember, and this weekend it struck me as very funny.)







We had an egg hunt with a bunch of friends (and even MORE children) on the Saturday morning of Easter.


You've seen plenty of egg hunt pictures lately - but have you seen this look of concentration, the "get in the zone" face as Liza preps for the race? Sweet shot, Tory!


Liza (mouth stuffed full of candy), Tyler, Landon and Sarah


Talon -13, Tory, Tylee -8, Kelty -2, and Michelle


I consider it my duty to help the children discover the delights of their spoils

We then had a nice day in Evergreen with a walk around the lake and a trip to the bakery for the closest thing to world's best donut since The Donut Man (CLOSE, but no cigar).

the stragglers

The ONLY downside to the trip was that here in sunny Colorado, with our 300+ days of sun each year, Michelle and fam show up for 3 of our non-sunny days. Seriously, the morning they left town, the sun came out. Better luck next time!

Easter Activity

Tonight for family home evening we did our lesson about Easter. The children were SOOOO into the object lesson that I just had to share.

The format of the lesson is one my friend shared with me a long time ago- and I've been so glad for it ever since! Some of you may have seen it, but for those who haven't: You've gotta try it! You would've thought my children were seeing it for the first time tonight (I guess they don't remember doing it last year, or the year before, or the year before... - they're young still, right?). So, for all of you who celebrate Easter and would love a hands-on way to teach your kiddos, here's what you do.

FIRST: Get 12 plastic eggs. Number the eggs 1-12
SECOND: Collect, cut, make, etc. the objects listed in parenthesis next to each scripture.
THIRD: Put scriptures and objects into numbered eggs. Hide throughout house.
FOURTH: Have children hunt for the eggs. Open the eggs in numerical order, and learn the story of Easter (add in some great pictures from the GAK, and you're in there)!




1. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39 (sacrament cup)

2. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Matthew 26: 14 – 15. This fulfilled the prophecy in Zachariah 11:12-14 that Jesus would be sold for 30 pieces of silver (3 dimes)

3. When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. Matthew 27:1-2 (knotted twine)

4. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27: 24 -26. (hand soap)

5. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. Matthews 27:28 – 30 (square of red fabric)

6. And after they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put on his own raiment on him, and led away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his cross. Matthew 27: 31- 32. Press this nail into your hand… feel how it must have hurt. (toothpick cross and tiny nail)

7. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet… And sitting down they watched him there. Matthew 27: 35- 36. (toothpicks, different lengths for “drawing straws”)


8. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; …Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matthew 27: 50-51, 54 (torn sheer fabric, veil of the temple)

9. Then Joseph, a rich man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock. Matthew 27:58-60 (strip of white cloth)

10. Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead… So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Matthew 27: 63-64, 66 (stone)

11. And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel…said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:2, 5 (Cinnamon stick or other spice).



12. HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID. Matthew 28:6 (symbolically empty)