Jackson's first shave

 With a co-ed mixer looming, Jackson decided it was time to shave his "mustache!"  Exact date was Sept. 23, 2026...

Norah's birthday card to Jackson

On the Friday about 5 days before Jackson's birthday, Norah came home from camp very excited about a birthday card she had mailed to Jackson.  She excitedly ran out to the mailbox to see if it arrived.

Friday:  Norah, the mail doesn't arrive the same day you send it.

Saturday: Norah, the mail usually takes more than one day

Sunday: Norah, there's no mail delivery on Sunday

Monday: Norah, it's not here yet, let's check tomorrow

Tuesday: Norah, it's not here yet, let's check tomorrow

Wednesday (Jackson's birthday): Norah, distracted by birthday donuts doesn't notice there was no mail delivery today...

Thursday: Norah's moved on, but still no mail delivery

Friday: still no mail delivery

Saturday: still no mail delivery

Sunday: All our backlogged mail arrives, including the birthday card!

The Long-Awaited Card Arrived!

The card was super sweet.  Here's what her camp counselor transcribed for the text of the card:

Dear Jackson,

I love that you play with me.  And I like it when you sit in the car next to me.  Happy birthday to you, Jackson.  I love that you play Pokemon with me at home.

                                                                                        Love,

                                                                                         Norah 

 

Who's exactly seven? Jackson Leven!

The post title is what Jackson greeted me with on the morning of July 29, 2020.  I guess he hadn't forgotten his birthday ;-).  

Donuts for the local "street gang"

Kiddie pool

Diving? (He was fine)

New wheels

If this birthday had a theme, it was Pokémon

Cannonball Run

Slide Mania!  Thanks Aunt Julie and Uncle Dave!

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It's Good!

Grill Chief

The younger half

Gift Time

Corona Diaries, Week 1

We're slowly settling into life under the Covid-19 restrictions. The weekend started out normal enough.  We weeded the dead space behind the garage.  The kids were great helpers and earned a $1 each for their troubles.

Before the school shutdown, Jackson was really into trading Pokemon cards with the kids in his after-school program and our neighbors.  He eventually asked me if I had Pokemon cards when I was a kid.  I responded "No, but I had something similar called baseball cards.".  I still have 1,000's of them in a box.  Who knew those cards would buy several hours of entertainment for Jackson and Norah!  At one point I could hear Jackson reading interesting facts off the cards to Norah...

The weather has cooperated with decent temperatures, but also a lot of rain.  Muddy spots in the backyard were good for another hour of fun!

On Monday, we started the serious business of education, with our digital guides, of course.

Jackson's chess club was on the ball and managed to arrange an online chess class and tournament on Tuesday.  Jackson fought valiantly, but it was tough going in the K-6 group for him.  The platform ranks you as you play, so hopefully future tournaments will be more balanced for him.  The club intend to hold them once a week.  They reported about 450 kids participated from around the country.

Norah got creative using rolled-up paper and scotch tape as construction materials.  Her "airplane" is now about 4 sq. feet and the envy of her brother.

With all the rain, exercise time moved indoors some days.  I don't know which video this was, but we enjoyed Yoga with Cosmic Kids and the story of "Squish the fish" another day.

The "Pants on Fire" podcast is now our go-to podcast companion during afternoon snack time.

Thursday we broke out the bikes and Norah rode on her own for the first time.  Friday morning she woke up asking to go biking, but the rain had other ideas.  She finally got her wish after dinner, and was tearing down the hill at the end of our street.  There have been lots of kids on bikes around the neighborhood this week.

Our saving grace, the daily schedule on a whiteboard.  We started on Monday, and it worked so well that we decided to keep it going on the weekends.  One day after lunch, Jackson walked over to the board, read the words "Clean-up" and started cleaning up without a word of parental input.  That's what I call magic!  😃

Jackson's New Year's Goals

Jackson came home from Kindergarten with this worksheet.  I don't know how much coaching he received, but I'm impressed by his self-awareness.  Translated:

• Be a better listener
• Not lose my temper as much
• Have fun more
• Eat like an adult

The previous week, he told me out the blue that his New Year's goal was to get all happy faces in his folder (his Kindergarten teacher gives either a happy face or a sad face in a fold they take home for every school day).  

Jackson loses his second tooth

On January 23rd, 2020 Jackson lost his second tooth.  He was pumped to get another silver dollar.  The third one looks like it will fall in the next couple days...

Jackson scores his first points in a basketball game

This winter Jackson started his first basketball league at the JCC.  After getting used to the sport through the first three games, he really got involved in his fourth game. 

Midway through the first quarter, he grabbed a defensive rebound, dribbled the length of the court, and made the bucket, his first in a game (and his team's only points of the half...).  He continued grabbing rebounds, dribbling well and taking good shots the rest of the game. We can't wait for next one!

Jackson goes to Kindergarten!

Today was Jackson's first day of Kindergarten in Mrs. Barnes' class.  He was ready to go!

Jackson Pedals His Own Bike

This weekend, Grandpa and I put the pedals on Jackson's bike (pedals had been removed to use it as a scoot-bike). 

In his first outing, he was riding well on his own with help at the start and stop.

 In his second session, he learned to start and stop on his own.  Now he can ride as fast as his dad can sprint!

Thanks Grandma for the photos!

Jackson's First Baseball/T-ball Game

Today was Jackson's first baseball game.  I was a bit apprehensive since we had missed both of the team's practices while on our spring break trip, but Jackson was ready to go!

Looking Sharp

Warming Up With Grandpa (at Norah's soccer game)

I thought Jackson was playing tee-ball, so his one 15-min batting practice consisted entirely of hitting off a tee.  Imagine my surprise when the coach started pitching to the first batter.  Turns out that each kid gets three pitches, then hits off the tee. 

Jackson's first hit...on his first pitch!

 Jackson wasn't phased though.  He swung and hit the first pitch he ever saw -- practice or game!  It was also the first hit by anyone on his team (he was the 7th batter, some of the later batters also connected). 

Running home for his first score

In his second at-bat, he made solid contact off the tee.

Just like Daddy

Today I was giving Jackson a hair cut (long overdue) and hair was going everywhere.  As we were talking, Jackson pauses and then says matter-of-factly "I'm just like Daddy".  Sensing a heart-warming moment with my son, I gently ask "How so?"

Jackson raises his arms level with his shoulders and says "I'm covered in hair!"

The Experimentalist

Jackson is quite excited to try "experiments".  At school, his teacher made a "bouncy ball" by soaking a hard boiled egg in vinegar, or at least that what's he told us.  So, we let  him give it a try.  I would say it was somewhat successful.  😉

His favorite, though, is seeing what happens when he putts something in the freezer.  So far he's frozen water, gummy vitamins, soap bubbles, orange juice, egg yolk and cooked bell pepper...

The First Drop

Throwing Harder

What if I jump and throw?