Floating on his own!

I have so much guilt sometimes because Jace's life has been tagging along while Ashlynn gets dropped off at speech, OT, and swimming.  Even though it's work, I don't think Jace sees it that way. Ashlynn gets all the attention, then she is told we are proud of her, and he is left out.

I did enroll him in preschool even though it's costing me over 200 dollars a month just for him to go two half days a week, but I know his self-esteem needs it.  He loves acting big, putting on his backpack, telling me goodbye and sitting at the table with all the kids.  His smile is worth more than the money we are paying.

Since he's been really wanting to swim, I've been having Ashlynn's swim teacher Josh see him the last 5 minutes of her sessions, so he doesn't feel so left out. Today Ashlynn was sick, so Jace got to have the entire session to himself and boy did he make the best of it!

He was jumping in the pool without hesitation, jumped right into his head bobs, and when it came to his back float, Josh let go and Jace floated alone for 10 seconds!  He was soooo proud!!  Look at that smile!  He also did a back kick on his own for four seconds smiling all the way.

He gets so cold easily and was shivering, but he was determined.  He was so tired by the end he couldn't even manage a kick.  He truly gave it everything he had!

I really want to find an activity that is just for Jace...maybe Karate, maybe soccer, I don't know.  I want him to feel special and proud in his own right.  He deserves it.

Fascinated by the cowboy, stealing the violin, and other pumpkin harvest adventures.

We went to the pumpkin festival today.  Both of you kids love to dance. We spent a large amount of time with the band, which you loved.  You sat down and banged together your two spoons, staring at the band members.  You have always been that way though.

When you had colic as a baby, we would get out the guitars and you would quiet right down.  You would lay on the floor and listen to us play.  Out of all you crazy and rowdy boy antics, stick live music in front of you and you are calm.

At one point, the woman lay down her violin on the ground.  You were eyeing it the entire time.  I saw you make a break for it and though I jumped up weaving through the crowd as fast as I could, it was too late.  You were holding this violin as though you had found the golden treasure and your eyes were dancing.  I took it away and you cried like you had lost the golden treasure.  lol

Later we watched a cowboy tell stories of life back in the days of the pioneers.  You were the youngest audience member that was completely enchanted by his stories.  You took mental notes of everything, and if I had any doubt, you reminded us later to look for "snakes in our bed" because they might have snuck in during the day."  LOL  How is one three year old so dang smart?  I hope you never lose you sense of wonder (I just hope you learn to reign it in a bit).

Solving life's mysteries

Jace continues to be funny and amazing.

Does the sun wear pajamas?

The sun doesn't have a bed.  He sleeps in the grass.


We had Aunt Dede's wedding this weekend, and you kept me on my feet as I chased you around the venue.  You were upstairs, in the kitchen, behind the bar.....ahhh.  I was so tired, but I picked you up and danced with you.  I know you won't always want me around, so I tried to revel in the moment. Your smile was so big and bright, and you absolutely loved it when I spun you.  I was lost with you in that moment and it was amazing.

Camping brought fun with cousins, but you are still you and want to know how everything works. You kept dismantling this tether ball game determined to figure out how it went together.  Despite getting into trouble constantly for it, you did if fact, figure out how to put it back together by yourself.  Oh Jace.

Bumps and bruises

We went to Boyd Lake this past weekend with the Powers family who has a kid your age (3) and another boy Ashlynn's age (5).

When you were little learning to walk, we used to say you had one speed!  Go!!  Things haven't changed much!

You love camping!  Boyd is great for kids  because there are playgrounds and pavement that kids can ride their bikes.  You zoomed around your big wheel and wiggle seat so fast I just knew you were going run into something!  Vroom Vroom!!!  you  say as you ride.  Wahoooo! is another favorite phrase of yours.

Your dad always says you are going to get hurt, but I always want to prevent it as much as I can.  Some things just aren't preventable though, like this:

I'm sure you're hoping there is a great story to this, but I will have to disappoint you.  You were just bouncing like a crazy kid at the table in the trailer and hit your head on the edge.  It gave you a big goose egg and tired you out from all of your crying.  I was so worried, but I don't think you had a concussion.  While you slept snuggled in blankets from Grandma Smith, I iced your head.  :)  I don't usually think you look like your dad, but this picture reminds me of a picture of Cody sleeping when he was a teengager.  Maybe I can find it and post it later (probably won't happen) haha

Among other things this trip, besides dominating their jetski floatie: 

You tied a knot with one of our tow straps!  We use them to strap down the wagon and when I went to pack up, I had to untie it.  It was very loose, but I was so surprised and proud of you.  No one taught you, you just pay attention and had done it yourself.  You are amazing like that, and you're only three.  I can't wait to see what you can do when you're older!  Help your poor old mom I hope!

I love you little guy!  

Angel of God and Old MacDonald had a Farm. Jace starts Preschool

My baby started preschool today.  Equipped with a new outfit, new shoes, and a new backpack, he was on cloud nine.  today is Wednesday and on Monday Ashlynn started school much to his dismay. He was a terror throughout the entire morning, and when we dropped her off he didn't attempt to move from his carseat and declared, "no mommy, I'll wait here."

"Uh no Jace.  Even if you're jealous, we still have to support each other."

He came, unhappily.  Needless to say, he was elated to go to preschool today.  I scrambled the night before to print out our family pictures so he would have a current picture to put on an "all about me" sheet the teacher wanted.  I thought I had the picture of him on the jetski, but it didn't print.  You on the jetski or pretending to tow cars would really describe your personality perfectly.

Well this morning I picked up said pictures and also had to get a composition notebook for you.  What the heck a three year old will be doing with a journal I have no clue, but I got you one.  Grandma S is out of town so Cody took off work to watch the kids.  He took the kids to school and I told him he had to take a picture or I would "kill him."  It sounds funny, but I this is how much it meant to me, and I was so sad about not being there myself.  A picture could at least document it forever.

I didn't get a picture.  I called Cody after preschool was done.

"Where is my picture???" I demanded.

"I sent it.  Didn't you get it?"

"No!??!"  "If I got it, why would I be calling?" I vented.

"Okay, I'll send it again," he said casually.

I had to write a text to ensure he sent it, and that's when I received this

Okay first of all, Jace is adorable and looks crazy happy.  However, THIS is his first day of school pic???  I had the ladies I worked with look at it.  

"He is so fired" said one.

"That's a man for you," said another.

Ugh!!  I was devastated.  Where is his backpack??  Where are his new shoes??  

Okay, but where is his backpack??  I begged my husband to please take a backpack pic.  I could tell he was annoyed.  I begged some more.  Doesn't he know how important this is to me?  I couldn't drop off my BABY on his first day of preschool.  The least he could do was to get a presentable picture.

I figured he wouldn't do it and that's when I saw this.....

My heart swelled!  Look at that little guy!  He looks so grown up and definitely ready for preschool. He was so stoked to go.  I hope he always loves school.  When I asked him the other day what he was going to learn in preschool he proudly declared, "my alphabet!"

I don't doubt it.  That face is the face of a winner, an inventor, a succedor (if that's word).  If we can guide him right, this boy is going to move mountains.

Tonight when I asked him if he was good, he said "yes" but then when I asked him if he got in trouble he also said "yes."  I asked him what happened and he said, 

"well, I stood up and the teacher said, 'Jace! No! Sit down!'  

I asked him, "Did you?"

Oh yes mom, I did!  

LOL  Good boy.  I love that kid.

Since I missed him so much all day I read his story and tucked him into bed.  he's been doing good saying the prayer "Angel of God" with me at night.  I decided to see if he could say it himself.

"Angel of God and my guardian dear to whom god's love commits you hear...lakdjadkjfskdjflskjdglaksdjgklasjg  Old MacDonald had a farm."

ROFL  I could not stop laughing.  Oh my goodness.  That boy. I called his Grandma Baskall and Grandma Louis and they both laughed out loud as hard as I did.  "Oh dynamite!" said my Grandma Louis.  "I pray for them two every night."

"Thanks Grandma!" I said.  "They need it!"

Parenting peacefully

I ran across this today, and it reminded me of my sweet Jace. Dynamite is the nickname my Grandma Louis has for him.  

Cody is determined to parent him peacefully, without violence, and I respect him for that. I honestly could have gone either way, but we are a united front and we must parent together.  Jace is no doubt a strong willed child.  Fiercely independent and strong, but with a soft heart and gentle soul.  When I yell at him he immediately yells back, but will fold into my arms needing a hug.  

Cody started that too with Ashlynn.  Do you need a hug?  She would always say yes, Jace would always say no, but I soon realized just because Jace said no didn't mean he didn't need one.  I started responding with love during those moments.  Those same moments that would have earned me a smack in the face or a paddle with the wooden spoon, I hug my son instead and afterward have him say he's sorry.

I see a difference.  He asks for hugs now.  I don't even have to ask.  He knows when his emotions are so high and he doesn't know what to do, he comes asks for a hug.  I think this is parenting peacefully.

It's hard to be judged from family members so critically.  I'm constantly being told how bad my son needs spankings. The other day at this birthday party, my mom took away car keys from him and he yelled at her and slammed his door.  My sister-in-law piped up quickly to declare "my kids would never slam a door.  What did we make you do when you slammed doors?" to which her sons quickly replied "kiss it."  She was so indignant and proud until I said, "oh yay, I'm so glad I get my parenting slammed on my son's own birthday."  

She did apologize, but those things are hard to hear.  I know in my heart though, the approach we are taking is right.  I know spanking just causes rage as an adult, proven in study after study.  I have rage and I hate it.  My brother had a saying all kids come out of childhood needing therapy.  I think about that now and I don't think that needs to be true.  Maybe we are wrong, time will tell.

Jace though is absolutely destined for greatness.  He is smart, ingenuitive, strong willed, assertive, but also has a great heart.  Cody and I have to teach him to channel all those strengths into something positive, because Jace is a game changer.  I love that little boy.

Well there's a will there's a way!Well,

Jace, you are an amazing little person.  Underneath your quick temper is a vulnerable heart a loving spirit.  You are also incredibly smart.  I know you get that from your dad and Grandpa Baskall.  I grew up knowing your Grandpa B. could fix anything, and then I married your dad and it was the same.  I just told your dad the other day that I will probably go my entire life with learned helplessness since I had my dad, then Cody, and now you.  You are only three and engineer things at your disposal all the time.  You do things I don't think I could honestly even have come up with myself.  Maybe, you'll invent something amazing someday.  I wouldn't doubt it.

After my last post, you have gone on to get more and more creative in how to two your vehicles.  For your birthday, you got that toolbox and one day while I was on the phone, you asked me to put these:

on the back of your big wheel.  I complied.

and before I knew it you had hoisted your wiggle car on the back and were effectively "towing the jetski."

Well, today, I walked out of the bathroom to find that you had found a tow strap (a lanyard) and looped it around the two handles of the push cars and were "towing a car."

Raising a future engineer/inventor isn't without it's downside.  You manage to break quite a few things in the process!  Flashlights have been dismantled, a screw in the playstation luckily didn't break the system but did render my workout DVD useless, and well, I won't go on.  I won't go on because the casualties are worth the payout, and they payout is I know you have a smart little brain in there that needs to grow and explore.