And now...

Deep Thoughts, by Melissa Jack.... (in the voice of the Jack Handy guy)......

Me to Melissa: "What do you want for Christmas?"

Melissa: (putting her hand up to her face & whispering like it's a secret) "Um, candy....and um, um, RED shoes."

Melissa: "The sun went down, the 'erff' is spinning."

Melissa with a handful of dog treats & her breath smelling oddly like dog breath, "I keep eating them." (& crumbs on her face too)

Melissa: "Can we go ice skating for my 'birfday?'"

Melissa: "I love you mucho grande!" (riding with too-big helment upside down)

Their First Day....

It's that time of year again. September is here, Labor Day has gone, I'm behind on my summer blogging, and school is starting. Most of you know (& subsequently accuse me of being 'crazy') that I home school. Many days I question, "WHY?!?!" & most other days, I am thankful we still have the freedom in our country to educate our kids the way we think best. Our family makes this decision on a year-to-year basis & this year, once again, we are going to home school.

Other than home school (in the traditional sense of being schooled at home), my kids attend Options every week. Options is a great opportunity for them to get out & be in a "real" classroom with teachers & all (Gasp!!). We have been participating in this program a few years now & it's been such a blessing. They go one day a week for an entire day & have a blast! (& I get caught up on laundry & sometimes blogging!)

Yesterday was their first day of school at Options. It was Hatcher's first day EVER!!! He is such a little stud & wasn't sure at first about going, but when he got home, he was overflowing with chatter telling me all the cool things that happened to him throughout the day. Here is just a sliver of what they are all up to at Options & how they enjoyed their first day.

Bergen is in 5th grade this year! His LAST year of elementary school in Colorado. That is such a CRAZY thought!!! He said his favorite classes this year at Options are Robotics & Electronics, Science & Drama. He is also taking Spanish & Art this year at Options.

Mallory, my sweet girlie, is in 2nd grade this year & this is her first year not being just in one classroom all day. She is going from class to class throughout her day. At first, this made her a bit nervous, but she got it down & had no problems whatsoever. She said her favorite classes this year at Options are Drama & Violin. She is also taking Science, Art, Math Games & Creative Writing.

And then we have Mr. Stud. He walks around with his hands in his pockets & an aura of "cool." He is just like his dad...he looks good & he knows it! Hatcher is in Kindergarten (sniff, sniff). He is in Mrs. Foster's class & aside from normal Kindergarten stuff, he is also doing Spanish at Options. His favorite things after his first day were lunch & recess! ha ha That is my boy!

Yesterday, at the end of their first day, DJ picked them up. They were all talking on & on about all the stuff that happened on their first day....all their new classes, a couple of new teachers, some new friends, etc. Hatch was looking out the window as they drove home just talking away when he suddenly said, "I didn't pick my nose all day! When I get home, I'm going to go to my room & pick my nose!"

So ended their first day of school........

Seen, heard, said & accomplished....

Despite my recent surgery & my house seeming to fall apart around me (ugh the laundry!), life still continues on in the Jacobsen house. Kids still eat & then they grow......milestones happen & even some cute stuff occurs.

First, here is a cute thing.....DJ working on his laptop is joined by another "worker"...& she is concentrating pretty hard too....



Second, we have a milestone....Bergen passes his Hunter's Safety with flying colors, even getting in two "kill shots" as he explained it on the shooting portion of the test. Watch out water fowl! Bergen is coming for you in October! My little boy is growing up......



Third, I can't explain why, but if a cake, or ice cream or anything that contains even the tiniest amount of chocolate comes within 10 feet of Mallory, it suddenly shows up on her face! It never fails. And this isn't something that happens once the sweet is all eaten! It usually happens on the very first bite!! What in the world am I going to do with her?????



And finally, we have Hatcher. Oh dear, sweet Hatcher. There is just no substitution for him. He is my little man. A number of weeks ago, we had gone to church & during the service we had Communion. You poured your own juice from a pitcher & you took a piece of bread from a plate. After the service, people are talking, kids are running around.....basically the norm. Hatcher comes out & says, "Hey guys! They have free samples!" He had a handful of the leftover Communion bread that he found on a plate around where our services are held. That's my boy! Apparently, free samples excite him......



I know the dirty laundry will still be here tomorrow, but I'm reminded my kids are growing fast & these times are fleeting, so I am holding on to them!

MJ & a Harley....

Some of you know that MJ is a little quirky. Actually, "quirky" may be an understatement. Unique? Neurotic? How about different? No matter how you describe it, when it all comes down to it, she is just MelissaJack....meaning, you can't explain anything away, so don't bother trying!!

MelissaJack has a very interesting aversion to vehicles.......especially those that make noise. When she hears a train whistle, she actually puts her feet up so the train can't get her toes (inside the house, mind you.). I try explaining that we don't have train tracks in our house, so the train can't come inside, but she still insists she needs to be afraid & she is vigilant to anything making noise that moves. When we are in a parking lot, she INSISTS on being carried......when she hears a helicopter, she practically takes cover. I have NO clue where this all originated. Sometimes it's cute.....you know, looking at a cute 2 year old with silly notions, knowing you will one day miss the cuteness of it all when they know better......but other times it's just plain annoying!!! (when hands are full & she is FREAKING out because she wants to be held AT THAT MOMENT because something OUTSIDE is making noise!!!)

So, when we met some family at a campground for some hanging out & Uncle Dave had his new Harley there, I wondered what she was going to think about that when he started it up. Harleys are not known for being subtle.....isn't that why we like them? Uncle Dave graciously took all the kids on their own ride around the loop of the campground. I kept asking MJ if she wanted a ride. "No," was her response. Once she realized though, that her ride would be WITH me......she suddenly agreed to try.

As we got going, she says, "This is scary" & her thighs were tight on my legs & her fingers were digging into my arm. As we reached the other side of the loop, she says, "This is fun!" & she waves to everyone who will look at her with a HUGE grin on her face. I think I see a Harley in her future......

Thank you, Uncle Dave!!!








Oh, & before you yell at me for no helmets, Colorado does not have a helmet law & we were in a campground with a very LOW speed limit.......so there.

12 years already???

(Alert: this post will contain a bit of romantic cheese-whiz......consider yourself warned....)



Today, DJ & I celebrated 12 years of marriage. 12 years??? To those who have been married longer than that, I applaud you & encourage you to continue it on.....to those who have been married less than our 12 years, embrace today, because 12 years will be here before you know it!! & to those of you who aren't married yet.....brace yourself, because your time is coming.....



When I was a little girl, I wondered what kind of man I would marry. The possibilities excited me because it was a future of the unknown & a the expectation of something to look forward to. Sometimes I worried I would never marry!!!



Then I met DJ......I can't imagine my life without him. (I know, cheesy.....) So, I want to take this moment to publicly thank him.....so DJ, if you are reading this, I love you with all my heart. God answered my prayer when He allowed us to meet. You are my best friend, even on my worst day & my life would be empty without you. You are an awesome dad & helpmate & I am SO thankful that we were able to make our little family together. I look forward to MANY more years to come being with you & just as I did 12 years ago, I promise to support you & be with you always.......thank you for lifting me up when I am down, for taking care of me after my surgery & for being the first & only one I asked for when I was waking up in the recovery room. Thank you for being you....I certainly married up....





For those of you who are now gagging & making comments at how silly, romantic, mushy & unrealistic I am......TOUGH! (& as my Dad has always said, just consider the source)

& thank you for putting up with this cheese....it may be smelly, but it's heart-felt....

And then there was Papa Doug....

No words....I am speechless....I am without speech.....

DJ's tries to hurt himself....

That is all I have to say about that....