Great news. The weather is finally cooling down a bit! It is fantastic - we are able to go outside without breaking into a sweat the second the door is cracked.

One of our favorite things to do with this new found cooler weather (and by cool, I mean 80's) is survey the neighborhood to make sure nothing has gone amiss over the hot summer.

As you can clearly see, I am ready to roll.



Sully has been a bit slower to warm up to the idea patrolling the neighborhood with his own set of wheels. He usually is my co-pilot, but Mom thought it was time for him to branch out.

Um, he gives her decision a D -.

C'mon, Sul! It's fun to drive!

Or not...



I tried to cheer him up. That did not go well.



Despite Mom saying that he would be fine, he finally managed to use his brown eyes and conned Peedles into letting him walk.



Well done, Sully. Once again, you impress me with your powers of persuasion.



Another perk of fall? Soccer!!

I am very happy to report that this season went significantly better than last season. Well, actually Dad is happy to report that... I didn't really see a big change, but whatevs.



So, I know that Coach Dad and Coach Matt were focused on teaching us ball handling skills, but I kept hearing chatter in the background from the parents about "running us so that we are worn out?"

Obviously, this did not apply to me.

Heeeyyyy... wait a minute...!!



Sul had fun at soccer practice too. Yes, that is how he practices soccer.



However, as I learned, if you question him about his athletic prowess, it does not go over terribly well.



Yeah, Sully... just stick to dancing at the table with your crazy, little rabbit. That is probably a better fit for you than sports at this point.



When we aren't playing soccer or cruising around the 'hood, we are usually hanging with Daddy. Here we got to surprise him at work with a picnic.



And here we are settling in to watch the Dolphins get creamed by the Pats. Ouch. Bad football weekend all the way around at Casa Jackson.

This picture was definitely taken before the game.



So as much as I hate to admit it, all of this activity does occasionally wear me out...

Please note that even when napping, I make sure my lego creations are close by. If I don't, someone tries to take them apart and eat them. Not naming names here, but I'm just sayin'...



That about wraps up with we have been up to! We hope that everyone has a great start to fall!

Say hello to my leeetle friend!!!

Check it. Sully loves a gat.



Now that we got that out of the way, what up, peeps!? Been busy in our world lately - traveling, visiting family and friends, more traveling, starting school... But busy has been good. We have had an awesome summer!

Since we last spoke, mom, Sully and I took a roadtrip up to WV to visit Peedles and Poppy. Daddy had to be away for several weeks, so we bailed out of the GA heat too.

Trip, as expected, was nails.

Of course, there was requisite remote control helicopter flying by Poppy. Here, you can see that Poppy is into it while I am busy schooling Sully on the finer points of lego-building.



Then, we graduated onto bigger and better things - building and launching a real rocket propelled by vinegar and baking soda.

No pics of the actual launch, but our rocket pretty much went to the moon, leaving a very smelly contrail in its wake. We expect a call from NASA any day that they have retrieved our rocket from orbit.



Another fun activity? Apple peeling with the world's jankiest apple peeler. Seriously - Uncle Stew was sweating after he got one measley peel out of the thing. So NOT worth it.



What is worth it? Roasting marshmallows. Even when the temperature is hovering around 100 degrees - still totally worth the sweat and effort. At least to in my four-year-old brain it is...



Everyone else seemed slightly less enthused about sitting around a fire pit in August, but Sully (ah, sweet, simple Sully) was pretty jazzed about this activity as well.



And speaking of my young protoge'... he found his own little hobby while we were out of town.

Tickling the ol' ivories.



Despite his huge grin, he is not all that talented.



Here, Peedles and I are taking solace on the couch from Sul's piercing melodies.



Before we left WV, I was able to get in some solid soccer practice. My season started last week, so obviously I have been spending the bulk of my time really honing my ball-handling skills.



Well, I was spending a lot of time that way until...duh duh DUHHHH! I STARTED K-4!!!

Here I am looking snappy on my first day of school.



I was fine with posing alone (it was my first day afterall), but then Mom inexplicably started dragging Sul into pics.

What up with that, yo?!?



Fine. You want us to pose together? Got it taken care of, thankyouverymuch.

Oh? What's that? Sul looks like he is struggling to get out of my iron grasp?

[snicker, snicker] Oops.



I kid, I kid!! Here I am being a patient and kind big brother. Jetting Sul around in my ride. He is a great co-pilot as long as he stays on his side and doesn't try to go after the gas pedal. Things may have gone a bit south the first time that happened.



So far, school is going quite well and Sul seems to be having a good time hanging for a few hours by himself before I get home.

Apparently, these are types of toys he gets to play with when I am not around. NOT. Fair. Where were ladders when I was his age?! I had to use drawers, boxes, books, etc... to climb!



Anyway... Life is good and best of all, Daddy is home!

Now, until next time... you try to make goggles look this good. Ha. Impossible.

Shutterbug

Before I update you all on the hap-hap at Casa Jackson, I must tell you about my newest talent that I am focusing on quite regularly these days.

Photography.

(self-portrait)


Below is just a smattering of the hundreds (truly - hundreds) of photos I have taken.

Sidenote - any blur you may perceive is likely due to the condition of your own eyes. The cause is definitely not due to any error on the part of the photographer. You might want to get your eyes checked actually... Just sayin'.

To ensure quality staging and light, I enlisted an assistant. And then quickly documented him working. Here, he is setting up our subjects.




Group shot of my beloved stuffed dogs. Take notice of Puppies (proper name) in the back. He was being quite uncooperative during this session, so he was banished from being part of the group.



Is it lonely back there? Bet you're sorry now, eh, Puppies??



And the money shot. Mr. Lemur.



Before I put too many of my wares on display lest someone take them as their own, I'll move on...

I trust that everyone had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of America. We certainly did by running around a lush backyard with lots of overhanging branches, leaves, and tall grasses and wielding the longest sparklers I have ever seen.



Also got some quality time on the ol' slip-n-slide.




Daddy threw Sully down it too, but he was not exactly overjoyed as his rapidly moving - and protesting - body flew down the wet plastic. Here he is regaining composure. And also showing us his one tiny tooth as he is very proud of it.



After Daddy worked to calm his frazzled (and rather sissified) nerves, Sully eventually recovered.



In other news, the landscape of our house has been dramatically altered over the past few months. How, you ask?

First of all, Sully and I have found a couple of mutually beneficial ways of playing together.

Not bad, right?



It's right about here that I think Sully began to develop a baby hernia... But you'll notice that I am still having a fabulous time!



He also has gotten into pushing cars around which is awesome. I lead, he follows. Never fails. I can even lead him into the pantry or a closet where I can then close the door on him and declare him captured in "baby jail." I think that this game is wonderful, whereas Mom and Sully tend to disagree.



Oh - this is a slightly ironic picture since Sully has about 100 hairs total on his head. Except for the back where he had a luscious mullet growing that was nails! Until Mom chopped it off. Now he just looks like a normal, non-rednecky, little boy.



I did not escape unscathed either... Here I am showing off my dapper new haircut. And also my ability to make a cape out of anything.

So that's the latest from our 'hood. Keep it real...

...and stay cool.

Birthday Musings...

Guest editor - Mommy

6:36 a.m.

Knox comes strolling into the bedroom rather early and plops his head down on the bed right beside mine. His nose immediately starts bleeding. I wake up to this all happening and quickly tell him to just lay down beside the bed and rest, thinking I can squeeze in a few extra minutes of sleep while he waits on his nose to stop gushing. Total rookie-mom mistake. I mean, by now I should know that "extra sleep" is a myth.

Then the humming begins... Never have you seen - or heard, rather - a kid so happy to be laying on the floor with a bloody nose. I finally give up the effort to extend my night of rest.

Sidenote - as blood is being spurted and knox is happily humming away on the floor, Jay NEVER stirs. Is this a genetic gift? Are all men able to sleep regardless of the fact their off-spring could literally be dancing a jig on top of them? I say this less out of frustration and more out of jealousy, but I digress...

Mommy: [roll over and stare down at him, laying on the floor] KNOX! It's your birthday! Happy birthday, big kid!

Knox: For real? Today? For REAL?

M: Yep! And because it is your special day, you can eat anything you want for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Why don't you think about what you want for breakfast first.

K: [very matter-of-factly] Oh wow. That is very cool.

[eyes getting bigger... things are sinking in.]

I KNOW! I know what I want for breakfast!

M: [bracing myself for a request of just a plain bowl of granulated sugar] What, honey!? What can I get you!?

K: [getting more excited and animated by the minute] TWO bananas! Can I have that? Can I have TWO!?

M: Wow. That is a crazy breakfast! But yep, you can have it because it's your big day!

Reh. Bull.

During the consumption of his two healthy, potassium-loaded breakfast treats, we discuss events for the upcoming day.

M: Hey... So what do you want to do today? We can play, we can swim, go see daddy, whatever!

K: [finger on chin - very dramatic] I know! I have a great idea!

[his little hands are becoming quite active as this idea grows in his head.] Let's have lunch, go for a swim before naps and then eat corn-on-the-cob for dinner!! [vigorously nodding his head, trying to get me to agree to this insane and reckless plan]

M: [squinting my eyes as if in deep thought...] OOOOOkay... Let's do it!

And thus, our day began!

While Knox has been hysterical, fun and entertaining during his year of being three, he has also been wild, challenging and just generally a bit crazy. I must say that if today is a preview of what I have to look forward to as he moves into being four - I. WILL. TAKE. IT.

Fruit for breakfast? Suggesting naps!? Corn for his birthday dinner?!

SOLD.

The year is in diapers, but it is certainly looking up.

And now back to Knox's witty commentary... :)

Guess who turned FOUR?!

Well, well, well... What's that? Who has officially launched himself out of those dreaded toddler years?! Peace out, babies! I have finally achieved big kid status!

I'm four, I'm fierce, and I love a floppy hat. Look out.



For my military-themed party, Daddy got in on the fun and busted out his awesome "urrrr-force" hat too. We look sooooo cool.



Mom and Sully = lame. Where is their gear? Army green shirts and khaki shorts don't count.



Although in Mom's defense, she did make me a camoflage cake. Sure, it was drenched in cake sweat (what the wha-!? who knew cakes actually sweat?!) by the time it was served, but whatevs. As far as I know, it didn't cause any food poisoning, so I'll chock it up to a success!




...munch...munch...munch...mmmm....CAKE.



After stuffing ourselves silly, a bunch of my friends and I were unleashed in the backyard.



And then it was time forrrrrr PPPPRRRREEESSSEEENNNNTTTSSS!!!!

Sidenote - this is the first year that I have fully anticipated an onslaught of presents (actually "got" it). I believe this caused my Mom some stress in that she was worried I would full-on tackle guests as they arrived and demand my loot. I am happy to report that I was quite gracious.

See? Simply angelic.



The other great thing that happened at my party (other than presents, cake, friends, etc...) is that Granny came to visit!!

We had an awesome time - mostly playing nerf gun wars. She's a surprisingly great shot! Who knew?



So in other news... turning four is bringing lots of new skills. Among them, I have recently learned how to swim -like for real swim. Deep-end and all!

This is particularly remarkable since about a month ago, my biggest aquatic skill was either drowning or flailing about while attempting to drown.

Here is my "starfish."



And here I am taking my swim test with full winter gear on. Swimming in a bunch of nylon - which basically made me into a giant water bubble - was slightly challenging.



But I passed! (This is me getting flipped around and showing my instructor that I can catch my breath.)



Since acquiring my newfound skills, we have been swimming quite a bit to combat the ridiculous heat. Problem is, you need to stay in the pool to actually cool down.

Sully still hasn't grasped that concept. Or the concept of wearing proper swim attire. Nice view, Sul.



When we go to the water park, Mom and Dad do make Sully dress appropriately. On behalf of everyone in South Georgia that patrons Wild Adventures, thank you.




Here I am taking a breather before heading back to the wave pool. Ignore my orange teeth...



We might have been eating orange crackers...

So as you can see, all is well in the Jackson household! Hope everyone is having an awesome summer!