The Jackson Family Circus

Our little gymnast

2011-05-29T19:13:00.000-05:00

This year marks the 2nd year Marley has taken gymnastics. Last season she took here in New Albany at the Performing Arts Center. This season she began taking at Elite II gym in Tupelo. She started in a recreational class in August, in January she started training with the pre-team & this month she tried out for the competiting team and made level one. She has been to two pre-team competitions and done well. For as shy as she is, it doesn't bother her one bit to be in front of a crowd once she is performing her routine.

Her team won 5th place team at the StarGazer Invitational in Corinth. Her coaches chose her to take the trophy home for the week since she'd done so well. Out of 5 girls in her age group and competition level she placed on floor and vault, 2nd on bars & first on beam.

She is the shortest, so she got to lead the team in at the opening.

Marley recieving her first place medal for beam.

Saturday was Elite's awards banquest. She got awarded "Iron Angel" award.

The following are links to Elite's web page that have more pictures from the events.

Bunny Hop Invitational http://www.elitegymnastics2.net/Bunny-Hop-Invitational.html

Spring Fling & Tryouts http://www.elitegymnastics2.net/Spring-Fling---Tryouts.html

StarGazer Invitational http://www.elitegymnastics2.net/Star-Gazer-Results.html

Awards Banquet http://www.elitegymnastics2.net/Awards-Banquet.html

Awards Day 2011

2011-05-29T18:41:00.000-05:00

The end of this school year brought awards day for Ethan. Britt, Dylan, Marley and I attended to see him receive his awards.

Ethan received a medal for being on all A honor roll all year.

He also received the "Top Dog Award" for his classroom. This is a good citizenship award presented to one boy and one girl out of each classroom.

We are all so proud of him.

He also received his Tiger Cub Badge earlier that week in Boy scouts.

Clown Dress-Up Day

2011-05-29T17:11:00.000-05:00

Marley and Dylan's pre-K class studied the circus for week. At the conclusion of the study they were to dress up as a clown. Of course, Dylan didn't want to participate (see Early Childhood Music Week post http://jacksonfamilycircus.blogspot.com/2011/03/early-childhood-music-week.html). Marley was all for it, so we dug out my old clown costume I wore for Halloween one year.

This is her "happy clown" pose.

This is her "sad clown" pose.

Biloxi Weekend

2011-05-29T16:44:00.000-05:00

Recently, Britt had a business trip scheduled for Biloxi. The kids and I tagged along and enjoyed the beach.

We arrived on a Friday afternoon and the kids couldn't wait to get their feet wet.

View from our balcony at sunset.

View from balcony at night.

We've never visited the Mississippi coast, but the kids enjoyed not having big waves and a tide pulling and pushing them around.

Most of all the enjoyed the flat screen TV and endless kid channels!

Easter 2011

2011-05-22T20:03:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Easter 2011 by attending church, eating a good lunch with our mothers and then having an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos. It was a fun day!

2011-04-23T19:30:00.000-05:00

Elite II 1st Annual Bunny Hop Invitational

April 23, 2011

Marley was the line leader on the march-in. She was the smallest and youngest in her competition team.

She was a little apprehensive at first....

Beam competition

Warming up on floor exercise

Being silly while waiting her turn

Floor exercise salute

Waiting for her music to start

Awards...1st place vault for her age and competition level

She wasn't quite sure what to do!

All in all a great meet. 1st on vault, 3rd on beam, floor exercise, bars and all-around! She racked up!

Spring and Easter Bunny pictures

2011-04-23T18:38:00.000-05:00

NAES Spring Picture 2011

Picture with the Easter Bunny at the mall

Early Childhood Music week

2011-03-14T18:34:00.000-05:00

The week of March 7 - 11 was Marley and Dylan's pre-school music week. Each day they were to dress up for different types of music and learn about each type of music. The week started off promising. Monday was 50's day. All was well UNTIL....I slicked Dylan's hair down. He, like his brother, is VERY particular about his hair (ie - he wants it combed straight down into his eyes!) He also has a complex about "being embarrassed and getting laughed it." Four years old and already has such worries. I thought they both looked adorable!

As you can see he WAS not happy with his hair style! I literally had to get out of the van and pull him out once we got to school (I'm sure the backed up line of waiting parents were really happy with us!). The teacher, who'd been waiting at the door had to come out and get him and my heart broke as I watched him sob as he was being led into school. I decided then and there that dress-up days were not worth it if he didn't feel comfortable participating. I did find out that my mom combed his hair out when he got to his room and he was fine for the rest of the day!

Tuesday was punk rock day. Dylan did not want to participate and I didn't force him. Below is Marley in her attire for that day striking her best "punk rock pose."

Wednesday was gospel/classical day and the kids were to wear church clothes. Again, Marley participated and Dylan chose not to. I did not get a photo, because...well - mornings are just a little hectic around here and given the choice between photo op. or being late - I chose to be on time.

Thursday was the big musical and a non-dress up day. The production took place that night after school. Here is Marley marching in with "hip-lip" going on. Isn't she SO prissy?

Friday was country/western day and surprise, surprise - Dylan wanted to dress up. They both looked ADORABLE!!!

A Taste of Spring

2011-03-14T16:55:00.000-05:00

2/15/2011
Less than a week from our last snow fall we experienced some unseasonable spring weather. Temps were in the 60's - we opened our doors and windows and told the kids to go have fun outside.

Ethan and Marley found a tree to climb. Granted, this isn't a good "climbing tree" it is the closest thing we have to a climbing tree in our yard. We have tons of trees in our yard - but no good climbing trees. I think Ethan and Marley are satisfied with what we have!

Dylan watched for awhile, but finally decided to try it out too.

He never climbed as high as the other two, but he has never been a climber. Below is Ethan at 3 years of age climbing on our swing set.

Marley, however is the more ambitious of the 3. Here she is at 15 months old in the kitchen sink. Not only did she push one of our kitchen chairs over to the sink by herself, she climbed up on it and into the sink. She had her eye on something in the window.

There was also the incident when she was not too much older when I was on the back deck watering flowers and just happened to catch sight of her through the top window of our living room (we have 19 foot ceilings!) I rushed inside to find that she had climbed on the outside of the stairs all the way to the top landing and holding onto the rails was watching me through the top window. At one time I had a picture of this, but can't place my hands on it right now!

Not ANOTHER one!!!

2011-03-02T17:35:00.000-06:00

2/19/11

By this time I have lost count of our snow days. I am sure it is not more than 4 or 5 - but enough is enough! We live in Mississippi - we aren't used to getting this much snow. I love to see it falling. I love to experience it from a warm, cozy house. I do NOT like the havoc of trying to get to work on icy roads or getting care lined up for the kiddos because school has been cancelled! I don't like getting cold and wet playing in it because we don't have ANY snow gear.

I AM SO READY FOR SPRING!

Goldilocks and the Big Bad Wolf

2011-03-02T17:26:00.000-06:00

January 27

Pre-School Fairy Tale dress-up day

Using a little creativity with things found around the house I created their costumes. I actually wore the red cape when I was a girl (would that qualify it as an antique?) The big bad wolf costume required a bit more work. When Ethan was a baby, Papa Jack gave him a huge stuffed-animal horse on some occasion. It has been well-used by all three kids. Unfortunately, for the horse, he has spent the last year or so shoved under various furniture in the kids' rooms. The ears, tail and mane worked perfect for the costume.

Little did I know that dis-assembling the horse would greatly upset Ethan. I had to promise after the dress-up day was over I'd reassemble him.

I am happy to report that Horsey is now reassembled (almost as good as new) and resting comfortably back underneath a bench in Marley's room!

It was a lot of work - both didn't they look ADORABLE?

Snow Days

2011-01-12T17:54:00.005-06:00

Sunday brought our 3rd and biggest snow of the season. It began late afternoon and by dark it had started accumulating. The kids were anxious to get out and play in the quickly falling snow.

Marley catching snowflakes on her tongue.

Ethan looks like he is about to cry...as he does in most "posed" pictures. Believe it or not he was having a blast. He HATES posing for a picture. To get a smile I have to catch him in action!

All the kids were more interested in eating the snow than playing in it.

Britt and I were awestruck at the beauty of the falling snow. We got the kids to bed, bundled up & sat on the front porch with the flood lights on and watched the snow come down. When we woke up Monday morning we saw the most snow we'd ever seen!

No outside dining that day! Britt measured 6 inches of snow! Unfortunately, we both HAD to go to work.

But we didn't go before we let the kids...and Sophie go outside to play. The snow was a little too deep for Sophie.

My snow bunny Marley
Snowball fight!

The kids wanted a snowman SO bad....guess who ended up building it?

The snowball fight continues....guess who has the advantage in this round?

We had several unsuccessful attempts at sledding. Here is Ethan hooked up behind the gator! Didn't work too well. Ethan kept getting pulled off his "sled"!

The twins settled on making snow angels!

Tomorrow the kids go back to school after 3 snow days! Believe me - it is time! 3 days cooped up in the house is more than enough of a break for them!

New Years Eve

2011-01-07T18:14:00.004-06:00

Well...actually New Years Night. It stormed New Years Eve so we were not able to shoot our fireworks that night. Every year Santa brings the kids fireworks to shoot on New Years. Below are the kids enjoying their "sprinklers" (as they like to call them!)

More "sprinklers"!

The picture is blurry, but I couldn't help posting! This is typical Marley....hamming it up for the camera.

Daddy lighting yet another "sprinkler" for Marley.

The kids with more "sprinklers."

Roman Candles are another favorite at our house. Here is Daddy with Dylan.

Ethan loves fireworks, but hates loud bangs. Here he is with a Roman Candle...notice his free hand plugging his ear!

Fountain fireworks...the finale of our New Year celebration.

We had an awesome Christmas and New Year and hope that everyone else did as well.

2011-01-07T17:07:00.013-06:00

We awoke on Christmas morning to the sounds of the boys shouting "Santa came, Santa came! Everybody wake up!" Britt, Marley & I stumbled out of bed to find that not only had Santa enjoyed our cookies and milk, but that God had painted a white Christmas outside our windows!

The kids were too concerned with their Santa gifts to even want to go outside and play! Dylan played his Paper Jams guitar.

Marley dug into her stocking candy.

Then she played with her doll house...

and before long Dylan joined her!

Marley loved her new Ariel doll - and quickly changed her into her nightgown and bathrobe so they'd match!Next came breakfast and then we were on to the presents under the tree.

Ethan loving on his Aunt Dee.

Aunt Dee and Gran-Gran enjoying a good laugh.

Marley and Dylan sharing some Christmas love.

"Please don't be clothes" Ethan says.

The kids tearing into a gift.

The last gift of Christmas 2010...a BB gun for Ethan.

Proud Daddy with Ethan and his first gun.

Santa also brought Dylan a Gene Simmons costume. Gene is Daddy & Dylan's favorite Kiss member. Believe me there WILL be Britt and Dylan in full costume and makeup pictures coming soon!

Daddy instructing Ethan on how to use his BB gun.

Christmas Eve 2010

2011-01-06T17:10:00.010-06:00

We have a very special tradition on Christmas Eve here at our house. We attend Christmas Eve communion at our church. (The past 2 years the twins have fallen asleep and snored through the service!) But that is ok - it allows us adults to enjoy the special service without so many distractions! Then we come back to our house for food, to spend time with our family and the kids each get to open a few presents. The past few years our family has gotten smaller. We miss love ones lost - but are appreciative of the time we got to spend with our moms and Britt's dear aunt Dee.

We hadn't even gotten in the door before the kids started begging to open presents. I remember, as a child, how long it took for Christmas to arrive. Then the anxiousness of waiting to open presents and most of all...how LONG it took for adults to get ready to open presents. Now as an adult it seems Christmas is here and gone in the blink of an eye. It seems like one day you are decorating the house, buying and wrapping presents & then so quickly cleaning it all up.

The highlight of the night...Dylan got one of Marley's gifts by mistake. He ripped into it and it just happened to be a pink silky nightgown. As soon as he laid eyes on it he threw the box across the room toward Marley and was SO embarrassed! Below is Britt teasing him....you can see the blush and smile of embarrassment on his face.

Marley, however loved her new nightgown! She wore it every night for 3 days!
Dylan liked his Mario PJs much better!

It was a great night and I cherish the memories of experiencing the magic of Christmas through the children's eyes.

Christmas Card 2010

2010-12-22T17:40:00.003-06:00

This year Britt had a GREAT idea for our Christmas card, but we waited too long to take the picture and a good deal of photo-shopping was going to be needed and there was a problem getting the images to Emily...and we just ran out of time. SO, this card was a last-minute idea I threw together so that we could get the cards designed and printed before Christmas. The "sugar plums" pictures were taken at Disney World in October. As for the "asleep" picture, I told the kids to pile up on the couch and act like they were asleep. You can see some of the children are better actors! But, the smile and band-aide on Dylan is cute!

Next year we plan on getting an earlier start on Britt's idea...if we can pull it off it will top ALL the cards of previous years!

Christmas Cards Past

2010-12-21T17:14:00.010-06:00

Making our annual Christmas card is a big deal around the Jackson household. I spend most of the year brainstorming for ideas. Then, once I settle on an idea there comes the part where I have to make the photo. Anyone who has more than one child knows how hard it is to get ONE shot where all the kids are cooperating. Then there is the actual design and printing of the cards. Fortunately, for me, my best and dearest friend of 25+ years - Emily - is a graphic designer! Each year she has created the card for me...with the exception of last year because she was on maternity leave with 2 month-old twin boys! I appreciate the compliments I always get on the cards - but can't take all the credit since it not only takes the cooperation of the kids, but also Emily's help and generosity in getting the cards made. Here is the lineup of Christmas cards past. They only go back to 2006...I can't seem to put my hands on the cards previous to that year.

2006 "Family Portrait" - Marley & Dylan 6 months, Ethan 3

Ethan was not too happy to take this. It was right after church on a Sunday afternoon and this WAS NOT what he wanted to be doing. Actually, one of the "memories" captured forever on film had me holding onto his arm and pointing my finger at him - telling him to straighten up! Marley was obviously hungry, hence her trying to eat her hands. I was amazed at how much Dylan favored Britt in this picture...they have the EXACT same expression on their faces!

2007 "The Kisser" - Marley & Dylan 1 1/2, Ethan 4

Once again, we were going for a "formal" Christmas picture. This time with the kids in their matching outfits. We took many pictures, but I couldn't resist using this one. It was totally random and I just happened to catch it on camera. Ethan wanted to give his little sister a kiss and she obviously didn't want one!

2008 "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" - Marley & Dylan 2 1/2, Ethan 5

In 2008 I decided to do a funny card. I showed each child what to do. My favorite thing about this shot was Dylan (who was "see no evil") peeking through his fingers!

2009 "Silent Night - Priceless" - Marley & Dylan 3 1/2, Ethan 6

In 2009 I decided to do another funny card. Everyone could use Christmas cheer - and I think funny cards represent our family dynamic more than any formal picture ever could. I actually got the idea off the Internet...so I can't take credit for the idea. The kids found it hilarious for me to tie them up in Christmas lights and tape their mouths shut!

Christmas Countdown

2010-12-20T19:38:00.008-06:00

Why is it that, as children, Christmas took FOREVER to arrive, but as adults it seems to come and go so quickly? The house is decorated. The presents are wrapped. We are just waiting for St. Nick to arrive. The children have dressed in their Christmas outfits and eagerly await the coming day!

Santa picture 2010

2010-12-20T19:15:00.004-06:00

We made our annual trip to see Santa yesterday and I think this is our best Santa picture to date! All three children had somewhat of a smile on their faces! The boys went to him easily...Marley was a little clingy. But with a little help and a hand to hold from her big brother, Marley managed a little smile! Check out our previous Santa pictures http://jacksonfamilycircus.blogspot.com/2009/12/santa-pictures.html

Meet our new addition

2010-12-08T17:35:00.009-06:00

Meet Sophie Jackson

After Ozzie died we missed the pitter-patter of little dog-feet around our house. Britt called the breeders that we had gotten Ozzie from to see if they had any Maltese puppies. They didn't. In fact, they didn't have any puppies except a Morkie (Maltese & Yorkie mix.) It was female and 6 weeks old.

We discussed it for a little while, and decided to get her. The breeder's wife had been keeping the puppy in the house with them, so we knew it was going to be a hard bargain.

Britt brought her home a few days later and we were all so excited. The kids decided to name her Sophie. She was a little overwhelmed at first, but quickly fell into the fast pace of our household.

Of course, Marley immediately took up with her. I have to watch her very carefully because she wants to carry her around all the time. As for Dylan, he likes her but is constantly fighting to keep her away from his "dirty rags" which, if given the chance she will run off with in a heartbeat!

Ethan likes her, but shies away from picking her up. He says he is afraid of hurting her. Upon further investigation I found out he is afraid she will "poo or pee" on him!

She fits in well and tolerates the kids well (or maybe the kids tolerate her well?)

At the end of her first day here both she and Marley were worn out!

R.I.P. Ozzie Jackson

2010-12-07T18:40:00.015-06:00

Ozzie Jackson
May 2001 - November 28, 2010

0ur first pet. When Britt and I got married he was an "ABSOLUTELY no pets in the house" kind of guy. 4 months later I had not only talked him into an inside pet, but a "fru-fru" lap dog at that!

Ozzie's first bath. A few days after we brought him home.

Britt and Ozzie didn't get along too well at first, especially after Britt woke up for a midnight snack one night and stepped in a pile of poop on the floor right beside his side of the bed. He swore the puppy did it for spite!

A year and a half later, when Ethan was born Ozzie became a "big-brother." He was sort of jealous at first.....

But it didn't take him long to become very protective of the baby!

He 'd always stay close by, and nap by him when he could. He even had this thing he did....when Ethan was crying, Ozzie would start howling along with him! Most of the time Ethan would quit crying to stare and listen of Ozzie howl.

Ozzie could be a very clean lap dog....

and he could be a dirt-loving outside dog.

But most of all he was the best cuddler at naptime - for everyone.

When we brought the twins home, they were a little too much for him. He chose to live with Britt's mom next door. But still came over for visits very often. Ozzie was a good dog and we will miss him!

Worst blogger EVER!!!

2010-12-07T18:15:00.002-06:00

I am officially the WORST blogger ever. My last post was back in October and so much has happened since then. I haven't uploaded pictures from Ethan's 7th birthday Mario party. We took a family vacation to Disney World and made a pit stop on the way home at Panama City Beach...check those pictures out on my Flickr account. I guess I will just start fresh and maybe one day get around to posts on what I've missed the past couple of months.

2010-10-01T22:19:00.004-05:00

Random Sunday morning...they all looked so cute - I couldn't help but to share.

2010-10-01T22:07:00.002-05:00

Are these not the cutest New Albany Bulldog fans ever?

Typical twin behavior

2010-10-01T21:52:00.005-05:00

Or...typical for our family. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this candid shot of the twins. This is Marley irritating Dylan. She is smiling and smug - notice his mad face and clenched teeth, his balled up fists...See, this is when I have to step in, because it usually means he is about to hit, bite, or otherwise try to hurt her!

It's a hard-knock life

2010-10-01T21:13:00.003-05:00

A hard-knock life for Dylan here lately. Cal and his family visited over Labor Day weekend and poor Dylan just got the short end of that stick! He decided to ride on the Kawasaki with his 14 year old cousin-Austin, and with his big brother Ethan. Evidently, Austin decided to take a turn too quick, and Ethan decided to unbuckle his and Dylan's seatbelt. You can probably imagine what happened. Yes...Dylan went tumbling out head-first onto the gravel. It is only by God's good grace that he wasn't run over. The result...a busted lip, a big scraped-up goose egg on his head and scraped up chest, knees and elbows. Here he is the day after...not very happy!

Got a phone call from Dylan's school on Tuesday...he'd fallen on the playground and needed the cut "pulled" back together. Picked him up - went to the doctor's office and after a little glue and some stickers this is what he looked likel

My baby boy is tough! With a brother like Ethan and a sister like Marley he has to be tough!

Girls will be princesses. Boys will be.........boys!

2010-07-30T16:59:00.006-05:00

This summer Marley has entered the realm of "prissy". She has started playing with doll babies, she sings & dances and constantly performs (at home). She has begun rolling her eyes and becoming really animated when she talks. She often won't wear what I pick out, opting always to wear a dress! Also, true to typical "girlie" behavior she feels the need to have several wardrobe changes during a day. Today I arrived home to find her wearing one of her dress-up costumes and a pair of my high heels.

Then she decided she needed a wardrobe change. Out she comes in yet another "dress-up" outfit. I guess changing clothes really wears a girl out because shortly after I found her like this....

But just as girls will be girls...boys will be boys! Sitting right next to her - true to male form....

One hand on the remote and the other in his pants! Come to find out he had opted out of wearing underwear all day!!!!

Marley & Dylan school pictures

2010-06-09T16:46:00.013-05:00

These pictures were taken at First United Methodist Church Mother's Day Out program that Marley & Dylan attended this year. They were taken by Dianne Bond (Bella Vie Photography and Design). http://www.bellaviephoto.com/

I cannot believe that my babies will be 4 years old in a couple of weeks! They are still small for their age, but to think they started off at a mere 4lbs. 6ozs. and a month premature.

This fall they will be in preschool at the elementary school. I am excited that all 3 kids will be at the same school - but to think of only one grade seperating them from Ethan...what were we thinking when we starting trying for another baby so soon? Guess we weren't anticipating twins!
Marley and Dylan get along well...for the most part-as well as any set of twins could I suppose. Dylan is the "typical" baby of the family. Even though he was delivered only a few minutes after Marley everyone has always treated him like the baby of the family...even Marley who is "mother-hen" to both him and Ethan. Now he expects to be babied.
They couldn't be more different personality wise. At home Marley runs the show. She bosses the boys around and throws many temper tantrums - thank goodness she usually gets over them quickly.
Dylan is more laid-back. He usually does his own thing. Like his daddy, he loves to sleep. It is not unusal to start missing him only to find him curled up in his bed asleep.
Marley took her first year of gymnastics/dance this year. Now I see her rear more than her face. She is constantly turning cartwheels, one-handed cartwheels, splits, backbends and handstands. She loves to perform...singing & dancing at home - but get her in public, she is completly shy!
Dylan is not shy at all in public...unless he is sleepy! Again - like his daddy, he loves to run his mouth and be the "class clown" in public. He has a huge imigination and can really spin some wild stories. True to being the baby of the family...he has just started wearing "big-boy" underwear in the past couple of weeks (where Marley has been potty-trained for almost a year). His biggest accomplishment recently is that he has slept the 3 past nights in underwear and not had an accident. I woke him up earlier this week praising him for not having and accident. His response? "Mommy...why is my tee-tee hard?" I told him he needed to go potty. Afterwards, he came running down the hallway "mommy, it is soft again!!!" I think I'll save THAT conversation for Britt!
It is amazing to see the difference in development and interests in a boy and girl the same age. I find Marley is more drawn to playing with dolls, dressing up, being prissy (complete with rolling of the eyes when she is telling me something matter-of-fact). She likes shoes and jewelry. While Dylan could care less what he wears (if anything at all!) He enjoys wrestling with Ethan and just running around being a wild boy.

To think that this time 4 years ago I was huge, hot, couldn't feel my fingers or see my toes, but could easily see all my new stretch marks! Couldn't breathe...much less have much room in my tummy to eat. That I couldn't sleep or be comfortable at any point of a 24 hour period...and thinking that I still had AT LEAST a month and a half to go. Or afterwards...after their delivery...I was still big, couldn't get up and move around without pain...couldn't get a shower or even go to the restroom without assistance and had to leave the hospital without my children....All that is distant memories and wasn't even the slightest price to pay for the blessing of my twins. The blessing I get just for having them in my life on a day-to-day basis.

First Swim of the Season

2010-05-16T22:14:00.008-05:00

We FINALLY got the pool cleaned up and Saturday was SO hot - we let the kids go swimming. Marley and Dylan had their refresher swimming course and we knew everyone was good to go. Ethan and Marley were a lot more anxious to get in than Dylan was. But everyone got their "feet" wet and had a good time (except me and Britt - it was still a little too cold for us.)

Marley jumping off the diving board...showing her "dancer" skills...notice Dylan in the background - thinking-is this really what I want to do?

Dylan FINALLY decided he wanted to jump off the diving board. He always does a belly-flop, but loves it!

Jackson & Roberts twins first outing

2010-05-16T21:15:00.007-05:00

Emily and I got brave. We took our twins out to the Gumtree festival. We took her van (yes, we are both mini-van driving mothers...as much as I hate to admit it). My twins are in booster seats now so I easily got them situated in the very back seat. We both loaded up our double-strollers, her diaper bags...my backpacks, our purses...you'd never imagine the amount of planning each of us had to do to prepare! A relatively short outing - but so much preparation required! So - we managed to leave around 10:00. Took about 20 minutes to get everyone unloaded, in strollers and happy before we even set off on the stroll towards to festival. Here is Colton and Ben ready to roll.

Here is our strolling party - two sets of twins!

Of course, as soon as we got there Marley was hungry. Our first mission was to get some food. We settled on over-priced corn dogs....they weren't very good, but my twins seemed to enjoy them.

Emily and I are both "art people" we went to the festival to see the artwork. Of course, the vendors are not set up to accommodate double-strollers - nor are the crowds we had to navigate. Something I learned long ago is that people seem to think that twins are freaks of nature...they are drawn to them...to touch them, to photograph them, to ask questions about them. My twins have grown out of this stage - especially since they are not the same sex. I have known Emily my whole life (or at least 25 years of so) and that girl can strike up conversation with a wall...she can spot out people she knows from a mile away! I love the girl to death, but we are SO opposite - while I had my head down & my concentration on just not hitting anyone with my stroller she was spotting out people and being spotted! We (or she) was stopped to have strangers take pictures of her twins (again, the twin / freak of nature phenomenon). She saw people she/I knew and we stopped to talk to them. Needless to say, after an hour I was exhausted from not only pushing around 60 pounds of dead weight, trying to avoid hitting other festival goers - but also tired of having my heels run over by Emily (who is obviously not as skilled at the ways of navigating a double stroller as I am!) We left and headed toward some other shopping and some decent food! We settled for a Mexican restaurant. My twins walked in, I took one of Emily's babies in one of those cumbersome baby carriers/car seats and she carried the other. As we walked in the restaurant a woman (standing in line to pay) got all wide-eyed and asked "are THOSE twins" I answered "yes! All of them." The host took us to a table and we were getting everyone situated when I turned to see the lady chasing us down. "I'm sorry - but I just have to ask who is the mother of all these kids?" she said. I told her that the older "set" belonged to me and the babies to my best friend - Emily." She thought it was so cute - so amazing....Like I said - the twin phenomenon. We had our lunch and Marley entertained herself with being a "mother-hen" to the babies. Here is Marley playing patti-cake with Ben and making him laugh.

And...Marley giving Colton a bottle

Fishing at Gran-Gran's

2010-05-16T16:33:00.009-05:00

We took advantage of one of our warm spring days to go fishing at Gran-Gran's house. We fished from her pier and caught a few, but didn't meet her quota of 3. She has a rule that we must catch 3 before we can keep them (and she'll clean them). Britt brought our fishing boat over. The boat trip was fun, but we spent more time untangling lines and trying to keep the kids from hooking each other than we actually did fishing. But it was much fun!
I managed to hook this baby brim. The boys were excited, but Marley was too worried about touching it!

Dylan and Marley ready to go on our boat ride...Notice Marley's upside down sunglasses...she ALWAYS does this - just like she ALWAYS puts her shoes on the wrong feet.

Gran-Gran caught a bass on Dylan's pole. To him...because it was HIS pole, HE caught it! He was SO proud! Once again, Marley is fascinated with trying to touch the fish, Dlyan is just happy, Ethan is upset because he didn't catch it!

Easter 2010

2010-05-16T14:54:00.007-05:00

The circus continues....

2010-05-13T20:53:00.011-05:00

It's been awhile since I last blogged. Blame the weather...with it getting warm and staying light outside for longer now I find that we often don't get into the house until dark...which is often 7:30 or 8:00. Then it is a mad dash to get dinner prepared, kids bathed and to bed. By that time I am just ready to crash! I plan to do several posts today to catch everyone up on all the wild shenanigans that have gone on here at the Jackson house.

Above you see Marley doing her normal thing...flipping and tumbling. She is always singing and dancing around the house and doing her tricks. Her latest is running across our large square coffee table, diving into a handstand on the couch (with the wall catching her feet.) She's even tried to teach Dylan - but he is not quite as daring as she is!

Tornado at Tate Lake

2010-04-26T19:58:00.006-05:00

We knew the weather was supposed to be bad Friday & Saturday...of course, we always expect the weather to be worse at night...for some odd reason. We woke up Saturday and Marley had dance recital pictures scheduled for 8:45am. I got up and got her all prettied up...we arrive at pictures only to find they'd been cancelled. Knowing the boys were at home getting ready to go make our weekly pilgrimage to Wal-Mart, we called and told them to wait because we would join them. The skies were cloudy with spurts of rain. We did our grocery shopping and heard a few downpours of rain. We got home, unloaded & put up our purchases & started cleaning house. We never lost power...in fact, the skies were pretty much clear. Occasionally, the wind would pick up and the skies would darken - but never did we ever think dangerous weather was looming outside. We had the tv tuned to the weather channel, but they were focusing on the havoc in South Mississippi. Around noon the phone rang - it was mom. "Are y'all ok?" came a shaky voice. I replied, "yes...why?" She'd gone in to town to get her nails done and when she returned home she found a downed tree blocking her driveway and then discovered many more trees down and half of her deck collapsed. We arrived at her home to find many helpful neighbors cutting up the tree blocking her driveway. Britt went home to put on his boots and get his chainsaw. Neighbors told us it was a tornado. In the length of 10 - 20 seconds the disaster had occurred. One minute it was ok...the next trees were down, roofs, sheds and decks were damaged. The amazing thing was that trees that were dead were left standing while perfectly healthy oaks...no telling how old, were on the ground...not broken off at the trunk, but blown over with huge root balls exposed. Thank goodness, no structural damage was done to her house...only her decking. Just shows you how unpredictable tornadoes are! Below are some pictures of the damage.

Mom crawling under one of the downed oak trees...blown over roots and all.

Deck damage

Another huge oak blown over with roots exposed.

February at the Jackson house

2010-02-25T19:37:00.007-06:00

At the Jackson house we are anxiously awaiting the warm weather of Spring and all the yard work and gardening that comes along with it. Last weekend really spoiled us with warm and sunny weather! We took a trip to Lowe's and bought blueberry, blackberry & rose bushes, strawberries, onion, shallot and garlic bulbs. Britt spent most of the weekend in bed (yes, sickness still seems to be lingering around our home!) but the kids and I managed to get the 4 rose bushes and 4 blueberry bushes planted. My herb garden needed some more filling, so the kids helped me transfer sand from the sand pile to the bed. If this weekend is nice we'll plant the onions, garlic & shallots. I'm really excited because I have bay, lemon & lime trees, some yellow trumpet vine (for the arbor) and some herbs on order. I just can't wait to get my hands in the dirt and get our gardens planted. Hopefully, by summer we'll have fresh fruit, home-cooked vegetables and meals prepared with fresh herbs!

One of the amusing stories I have to tell is something that occurred last week. Britt, Marley & Ethan had gone upstairs to our bedroom to watch a movie. Dylan & I stayed downstairs to watch tv. Around 9:30 I put Dylan to bed...he chose to watch an "Olivia" dvd. I went upstairs and found the other 3 asleep, so I turned on a missed episode of Grey's Anatomy on DVR and quickly dozed off. I woke up around midnight and got up to turn off the tv and heard Dylan's voice...at first I thought he was just talking in his sleep but then I heard "HELP....I am stuck....HELP!!!" I rushed downstairs to find him on top of his and Ethan's tall dresser where the tv and dvd player are. He saw me and said "Mommy - get me down...I'm stuck!" He was hysterical. I asked him what he was doing on his tall dresser and midnight and he told me he'd climbed up to turn the tv off. I asked how long he'd been up there and he said hysterically "20 MINUTES!!!!" I got him down and put him in his bed and he was shaking and sobbing uncontrollably so I laid down with him. I said "Never do that again" and he quickly said "I won't!" Soon he was asleep. I don't know how long he'd been stuck up there, but I feel like he learned his lesson...after all, I haven't caught him climbing on anything since.

I haven't taken too many pictures lately, but here is one of Ethan and Dylan loving on each other....
And...here is Marley being...well, being Marley - posing for the camera!

And, last - these are the two most recent cakes I have baked & decorated.

We're Back!!!!

2010-02-10T19:16:00.016-06:00

So...I know it has been a long time since my last post. Believe me - I've heard many complaints, but I promise I have good reasons to have been gone so long! First we got caught up in the busy time that is also known as Christmas. Then sickness descended on our household. I swear, someone around here has been sick for the past month or so!!! Then, when I finally did find time to update this blog...well, the computer crashed. I was having hard enough of a time figuring out my new camera that Britt gave me on my birthday (12/7). Now we have a new computer and new software. I'll admit that I am not the most tech savvy person - so these changes have set me back. So...what has the "Jackson Family Circus" been up to????

We've kissed under the mistletoe!

We've played with our Christmas gifts!

Mommy has gotten frustrated with the amount of candy Santa left for the kids and did her best to hide it!!!

We played with our Santa gifts some more!

We dressed up as superheroes!

We discovered snow...some of us liked it better than others!

We made our first snow angels!

We danced!

We were adorable!

We've cuddled with Daddy!

And Mommy and Daddy even managed to squeeze in a trip to New Orleans! Whew...it has been a hectic past month or so. I promise to update more often! Kari

Santa Pictures

2009-12-13T19:41:00.011-06:00

Santa Pic 2009

Saturday we took our annual Santa picture at the mall. For those of you who know me well you know that I am terrified of Santa, Easter Bunny, mascots...anything dressed up in a costume concealing true identity. I have one picture of myself sitting in Santa's lap and that was in 4th grade and only because I was too embarrassed to tell my friends I was scared of him. In fact - in the 6 years we've had our kids' pictures taken with Santa I have never taken them by myself....I always needed someone to go with me because something happens when I see him that makes me instinctively want to get as far away from him as possible and that doesn't work so well when you are trying to get 3 kids to sit in his lap! This year I was prepared to take them by myself and out of the blue my best friend Emily decided she wanted to go with me. Thank goodness! The picture turned out well - no one cried, although Marley doesn't look so sure about the situation. Below are pictures from previous years. I display them in the house every Christmas season and love to see how much the kids grow from year to year. I have a photo for every year except 2005 and I am not sure whether we just didn't get one made or if it has been lost.
2008 - Ethan 5, twins 2
No one looks too happy in this one. The kid ahead of us had a breakdown and of course, that got all our kids upset. At the sight of Santa Marley locked her arms and legs around me and I literally could not pry her off me....therefore I had to appear in the picture...which I was not all that happy about either!

2007 - Ethan 4, twins 1

My favorite Santa picture to date. I love Marley's face! She apparently inherited a fear of Santa from her mama!

2006 - Ethan 3, twins 6 months

2004 - Ethan 1

2003 - Ethan 3 months

The dreaded day has arrived!

2009-12-07T20:45:00.011-06:00

Today is December 7th. My brothers always said that this date marked the anniversary of two national disasters - Pearl Harbor Day and my birth. Today I am 30 years old. I don't feel like I should be 30, but how should being 30 feel? It seems I spent my childhood looking forward to "growing up", looking forward to being an adult and being on my own. Well that time came and here I am...an adult and now the time won't slow down! I have officially passed into a new decade of my life but I have SO much to show for my previous decade... a wonderful husband, 3 healthy, beautiful children, loving friends and family, many obstacles overcome, joyous occasions and tons of lessons learned. On the other hand my 20's held some devastating losses, major setbacks & hard lessons learned. I am actually anxious to begin a new chapter in my life, although saying "I am 30" feels really weird. I had a great weekend. Britt took me out to dinner and a movie on Saturday. Mom prepared a delicious Sunday lunch. And today I have been wished Happy Birthday by numerous friends, family, co-workers & gymnastics students. I feel truly blessed! I am sharing pictures from my birthday lunch Mom cooked for me!

My husband likes to wear makeup!

2009-12-06T17:11:00.027-06:00

Ok...for those of you who haven't experienced Britt in all his Kiss glory this is a picture of his Halloween costume. The little guy - that is Ethan dressed as Ace - his favorite Kiss member! Kiss and my family have a pretty long history. Britt has always been a huge Kiss fan - me not so much so! Several years ago he dragged out several storage containers of Kiss memorabilia...magazines, buttons, belt buckles, posters, puzzles...you name it and he had it. I somehow convinced him there was no reason to hold on to any of it just to have it stored away and there was NO WAY any of our children would ever be interested in it. I still can't believe he let me, but I proceeded to sell off several items on eBay. You can't believe the shock I experienced when Ethan was watching a Scooby Doo episode one afternoon and I heard a kind-of familiar song. Ethan was singing along and kept rewinding and watching that one part over and over. It was Kiss singing Shout it Out loud. I made the mistake of telling Ethan that his daddy probably had that song on CD and thus created a monster. From Shout it Out Loud, he grew to like Rock and Roll All Night and various other Kiss songs. A couple of years later and several live concert DVDs later not only is Ethan a huge fan, but also Marley and Dylan. For Ethan's 6th birthday we surprised him with 5th row tickets to Kiss in Birmingham because let's face it - these guys are not spring chickens anymore and this could very well be their last tour. I agreed to go only to see Ethan's reaction to not only his first concert, but his favorite band. I am kind of ashamed to admit it, but I had just as good of a time as he did. Make-up, costumes, bright lights, pyrotechnics, old men flying to the top and back of the arena, blood & fire spitting...it was just mind-numbing eye-candy for all the senses! So...I guess I can say I am kinda on the Kiss bandwagon now too. On a typical morning we listen to Kiss on the way to and from school with the kids putting in their requests for the particular songs they want to hear. I actually glanced back the other morning to find Dylan with his tongue out wagging Gene Simmons style and the only reason I didn't get to record it or photograph it was because I was driving down the road! In light of all this Britt came up with a unique idea yesterday and I just could say no! So...from our house to yours we wish you a.....

Merry KISSmas!!!!

Sleepy time

2009-12-04T18:34:00.005-06:00

Is this not the cutest picture ever? I took this picture several nights ago...Britt and the kids had piled up in the recliner to watch a Christmas movie. I was piddling around the house - working on my daily to-do list. I noticed that the house was WAY too quiet and went to go check on everyone and this is how I found them. All the kids asleep on their daddy! This picture also marks one of the last taken on my Nikon Coolpix L2. We bought that camera right after the twins were born in 2003. With the way technology changes I'd decided it was time to upgrade...especially since I couldn't take a picture inside and it turn out. I am guessing the flash was not strong enough? Anyway - after some research I picked out a camera I wanted. Britt went above and beyond and surprised me last night with an early birthday present - a Canon EOS Rebel XS. Let me say this...it is a great camera - but I am going to have to get some major help in figuring out all the settings and buttons. So...Chris - if you are reading this I will be calling you soon to get a tutorial!!! Changing the subject...we have had a few guests on the "hill" recently!
Britt and several others would love to do a little hunting, but I like our guests and want to keep them around for awhile!

The Jackson Family Circus

2009-12-03T16:34:00.002-06:00

Seldom is there a dull moment at our house and if the house is quiet it usually means that one of the kiddos (if not all of them) is doing something they shouldn't be doing! Our household consists of me, Britt, Ethan (6), Marley (3) and Dylan (3). Yes...Marley and Dylan are twins and NO they are NOT identical so don't even THINK about asking...sorry - just a pet peeve of mine from their infant days! My mother-in-law, Doris, lives in an apartment in our yard and is always on hand to spoil the kids, let them do WHATEVER they want and pretty much go against all rules and regulations we try to set for them - basically adding to the madness around here. Ozzie is our 7 year old Maltese dog. The twins tend to be a little too wild for him so he has chosen to live with Doris where things are a little more quiet. We have twice tried to add another dog to the mix (like we really need something else to take care of and clean up after!) Both have been black labs named Scooby. The first was an almost grown female who ran away and was brought back home several times. Then one day we couldn't find her anywhere around here although several months later a litter of black lab puppies appeared about a mile down the road! Scooby #2 was a puppy and Ethan's gift for his 6th birthday. He was very playful and was a little too rough with the children. After lots of bruising on the twins and Marley claiming he pulled off her pants and underwear (which we later found in the front yard) we decided to give him away. Marley would love to have a cat - but Britt doesn't like them and had an experience with trying to shoot my cat out of a tree years ago - so that is out for now. Marley would also like to have a chicken - go figure! We live in the woods with no really close neighbors (except for my mother-in-law) which is a good thing because Marley tends to like to take her clothes off and run around and Britt and Ethan tend to prefer to pee outside rather than inside. Also - we can get a bit loud! Whether it is Britt outside playing his electric guitar or the kids singing at the top of their lungs to Kiss....yes, that is right - all 3 kids are huge Kiss fans. I am sure if we lived in a civilized neighborhood the cops or even the DHS would be called! Basically, life at the Jackson house is a 3 ring circus 24-7...but at least we never get bored. As I am typing this I have a red power ranger, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy running around the house like wild little Indians! I must go tend to them and to the other million things I have on my to-do list!