Jacob Turns Five

I cannot believe that it has been five short years since Jacob has brightened our lives. He is such an amazing boy. He is smart, sensitive, funny, and as handy as his dad.

This year, we took his party on the road and went to the Grand Harbor Waterpark in Dubuque. It was a blast for everyone. There was swimming, slides (countless stairs), cake, presents, pillow-fights and family. Thank you all that came!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby alligator

I asked her how much fun she was having...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Dave's "innocent" face

 

 

 

 

Jenna to the rescue

Since Jacob's party was the weekend before his birthday, I wanted to do something special on his actual birthday. So I treated him to his first movie theater experience and we saw "Frozen".

Picture is a little dark but the movie was AWESOME!

Immediately after the moving, I noticed that he was having some shallow breathing along with a stuffy nose. While I figured it was just a cold, I decided to see if the doctor could get us in to check his labored breathing. They had an opening right away. After some treatments in the office, they decided it would be best to send him to the hospital for overnight monitoring. So, it became Jacob's second birthday celebration in the hospital.

I am glad that we went. Turns out he has walking pneumonia. He felt much better by the next morning and we are continuing treatment at home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY!!

In Jenna's World

Jenna and I have some of the best talks while she is delaying bedtime. Tonight, we rehashed the gender of all bodies in our household:

Jenna: "JoJo is not a boy. JoJo is a girl."
Me: "Yes"
Jenna: "Wrigley is a girl, too."
Me: "Yes"
Jenna: "And you are girl. Only Jacob is a boy."
Me: "And Daddy."
Jenna: "Grandpa Kelley is Grandpa Kelley."
Me: "Yes, he is boy."
Jenna: "He wears black shoes."
Jenna: "And a white coat."
Jenna: "And a floppy hat. He loves floppy hats."


Then silence.

Wickiup Hill

Scott recently went with Jacob's class on a field trip to the Wickiup Hill Learning and Nature Center. They had so much fun that we decided to make a family outing there. The area is quiet and peaceful. There is a modern building that houses some neat exhibits about wildlife and native life in the Midwest.

We were also lucky enough to visit on a day when a conservation group was netting and banding birds. They were finishing up when we stumbled upon them. We were the only ones there so they let Jacob release the birds. He got to hold and release a chickadee and 3 downy woodpeckers. It was an awesome experience.

I just can't believe that this place is practically in our backyard and this was our first trip...First of many!!

Below are some pictures of our adventures through the exhibits and also with the birds:

Jacob in a turtle shell

Turtle Peek-a-boo

Catching critters

 

Got one!!

Like ants on a log

Giant buck shot by Scott's friend and donated to Wickiup Hill. Really cool!

In a "bald eagle nest"

Making dinner like a Native American and incorporating a pattern

Learning about watershed and pollution

Busy saving the flooded houses

Running the dam

Learning how to hold the first woodpecker

 

Jenna wanted to touch and hold one so badly but she just didn't have the courage

Little chickadee

There it goes!

Last woodpecker...He's a pro now!

What a fun day!!

Love These Faces

Just because...

 

 

 

Jenna Strums

Below is a medley of clips of Jenna playing the guitar that Jacob got for Christmas. The first clip is her rendition of some favorites, including "Jenny Come Home" (also one of Aunt Megan's favorites). The second video is an original spin-off of "Jenny Come Home" called the "Ladybug Song". She is so cute (and loud) that I could just squeeze her!!

For context, here is the original of James Taylor singing "Jenny Come Home" on Sesame Street....You're welcome, May-May.

We Need Spring

I am sure you all feel this way, but I believe anyone with small children have the greatest desire for warmer weather. I know that we have exhausted all indoor games and activities.

We have resorted to...(and even this cannot be done without fighting)