Chess

In January, chess club started at Jackson's school, and he couldn't wait to join!  They have meetings every Monday after school, and he just loves it!  Since then, he and Daddy have been playing a lot.  Jackson and I have played a couple of times, but I'm not that good--he always beats me, (which he loves!).  I really enjoy watching then play or even listening to them in the den while I'm cooking dinner, it's just the cutest!

Cillian

My sister and her son, Cillian came to visit us from Germany, and we were all beside ourselves with excitement!

The kids just adored their cousin, Cillian!  Jackson even gave him a nickname--Cill!

Him in the hat and Sarah's huge smile as she's holding him...I just can't!

Those eyes.  Those cheeks.  That hair.

Bryan and I are so excited to be an uncle and an aunt!  We love Cillian so!

This is my favorite picture!  We miss him so much already!

Driving

Papa Bear took Sarah out for her first drive yesterday.  She said that in true Dad fashion, he taught her a lot of life lessons along the way...and had his hand on the steering wheel quite a bit.

Driver's Permit

We can't believe our baby's old enough to have her driver's permit!  And it only took us waiting at the DPS for two and a half hours to get it!

Jackson as Zachary Taylor

Jackson's class recently put on a Wax Museum in which they had to portray a famous American.  Jackson chose to be Zachary Taylor, our 12th president.

Jackson researched Zachary Taylor, prepared and memorized a 4 sentence speech about the highlights of his life, then gave that speech in front of the class while dressed like him.

He said he couldn't smile in the pictures, because Zachary Taylor never smiled.

Zachary Taylor was a Major General in the Army, so he had a sword.  Jackson loved that part!

Jackson worked really hard on this project, and we are so proud of him!

When he told us he was going to be Zachary Taylor, we asked why he didn't pick his favorite president, Abraham Lincoln.  He said, "I already know everything about Abraham Lincoln.  I wanted to learn about someone else."  Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, his log cabin has been hanging on our fridge for about two years now, and I told J it was unfortunately time to take it down.  And since it has food, we can't save it forever, so he asked if I would take a picture of it, and I was happy to oblige!