June 2010

The Anglemyers were in Indiana for a visit, so we met up with them at my parent's house.  They played with all the toys, but seemed to have the most fun with the dress up clothes!

Jasper's favorite summertime activity is running through the sprinkler.  He was very excited to find that he could do that at Great Grandma Lena's house.  We all just sat around and watched him.

Summer means wild raspberries at 910 Walkerton Trail, and Jasper LOVES them!  He is usually purple by the time he's done...

The Potato Creek festival was fun for Jasper and Mommy.  Jasper's favorite part was riding the little train through town and getting a Spiderman balloon creation.  He saved it until it completely deflated.

Jasper got to visit the Grissom Air Museum with Mommy and Grandpa Brooke.  He got to sit in several different airplanes.  Afterward, we went to the park and Grandpa pushed Jasper in the tire swing.

Our family, Grandma and Grandpa B and Uncle Colin went to an Black Pine Animal Sanctuary and then to a nearby State Park for a day trip.  We saw a funny talking bird, farm animals, monkeys, lions and tigers, oh my!  We hiked through the woods at the State Park.  Jasper kept us with us all!

Our family, Erin, Mickey, Ada, Val, Nathan and very new baby Stephen went to a South Bend Silverhawks baseball game.  Jasper enjoyed himself, but I think the highlight was the popcorn!

May 2010

May was a busy month.  Derek and Katie got married on May 8.  Josh was the best man, Claire was a bridesmaid Jasper didn't know what to expect since there wasn't a rehearsal, so he was ok walking down the aisle with Mommy, but once he got to the front he screamed, "I want my Mommy" over an over.  We finally had Grandma Judy carry him out (though you could still hear him in the hallway.)  He stopped screaming about the time they were pronounced husband and wife.  Even though he didn't preform his ringbearer duties particularly well, he sure looked cute!

Jasper has been wanting a robot costume made out of a carboard box.  One morning he noticed that the tissue box was empty and he put it on his hand and said in a robotic voice, “I am a robot.”  He said he needed another robot hand, and then he went into my room.  I went in and he’d pulled out most of the box of tissues on our bedside table.  I told him to stop and that he wasn’t allowed to waste tissues because they cost money.   We counted how many he’d wasted (27) and I told him to go get his spending money bag because he had to pay for them.  We got out $0.27 and he had to put that money into Mommy and Daddy’s bank.  Then he had to put all the tissues into a ziplock bag and he was told that was where he was to get his tissues until they were all gone so we didn’t waste them.  Later in the month, we made a costume and Jasper loved making a robot voice.  
  

We started a chore chart.  Jasper gets stickers for chores and good behavior. He gets 1 penny per sticker – some goes in ‘spending bag’ some in ‘church’ bag and rest in piggy bank.  The day after we started it, I picked Jasper up from school and he said, “Mommy, I listened at school today and picked up my toys – I’m gonna get a sticker for that."  A few days later Jasper saw a boy taking the empty trashcan back to his garage and Jasper said, “That boy’s doing jobs for his Mommy and Daddy – he’s gonna get a sticker for that.”  A few days later Jasper threw away pullup and put jammies away in the a.m. and said, “I’m gonna get a sticker for that.”

Jasper has been excited about his spending money and at CVS the other night he picked out smarties, a pair of Spiderman sunglasses and a candy bar.  As he was getting ready to check out he said, “wait, wait, wait” and went over and grabbed a bag of Funyons (one of Daddy’s favorites) and said, “I want to buy these for Daddy.”  I told him that was very generous and then a little later he said, “Maybe he’ll share with me.”  That evening Daddy did share but Jasper also shared the candy bar he bought. 

Tyler is going on a mission trip to India and we received a support letter.  Josh and I decided to contribute and I was telling Jasper about how neat I thought it was that Tyler was going to India.  I explained that a mission trip was when people went to a place far away and told people about God.  I said that it cost money to travel there and Mommy and Daddy decided to give Tyler some money to help.  Jasper (with no prompting) said, “I want to give him money – I want to give him lots of monies”  He went to his piggy bank and tried to pick it up.  We emptied the bank out and he chose a $5 bill to send to Tyler. 


Jasper had a playdate at the Hershbergers this month.  The boys enjoyed playing outside in the nice weather. Our family had a get together and Jasper got to play with his cousin, Jayden.  Jasper also had his school program where he actually SANG the songs!  He enjoyed showing us his artwork in his classroom.


We had a family campout in the back yard complete with a tent, picnic, campfire and smores!

Jasper and I went thru the drivethru at Arby’s on 5/30/10 and got a milk shake.  Jasper said, “Mom, remember last time we got a milk shake?”  I said no and asked when that was.  He said, “ Uncle Colin was at our house.”  I told him I didn’t remember that and he said, “Remember, we went through the drivethru at Arby’s and then came back to our house and Uncle Colin was there.”  Then I remembered  - it was the last week of March when we picked Colin up from the airport.  I told Jasper that he had a good memory and he said, “Yeah, my brain is helpful!”


Jasper had several memorable quotes this month:  When I went to Grandma Cathy’s house to pick Jasper up, he spread out a blanket and said, “Mommy, here’s a picnic for you to enjoy.”  Jasper said, "Dad's gonna freak out when we tell him 'bout this." (After I was pushing him in the swing, stealing his shoes and trying to juggle them and Jasper was giggling uncontrollably.)  Jasper was playing with a comb and brush and he said, “I have a little situation here.”  I had to go to the restroom at the grocery store and when we pulled our cart up next to the restroom, Jasper stood up from the cart and said, “Mommy, I just realized I have to go pee, too!”  I  can't remember why, but Jasper said, "Daddy you’re just jealous" and "I can’t imagine." Before school one day, "Mom, I have a shoe emergency!"

Jasper wanted to feed the dog  a treat and asked if he could wear Daddy's shoes.  I told him to ask Daddy.  Jasper said, "I'll show Daddy - he'll be crackin' up!"

April 2010

On April 2nd, we went to the Potowatomi Zoo with cousin, Ada, to celebrate her 2nd birthday.

This month, Jasper has mastered several things:  He is completely potty trained and can sit on big potty with no seat.  Jasper can dress /undress himself including shirt, pants, socks, shoes, and undies.  Jasper can reach water (to wash hands with no stool.) As a reward for being potty trained, we went to Chuck E Cheese.  We invited Ada and her Mommy and Uncle Colin.

The other day, I put on some scented body spray and Jasper said, “Mommy, you smell awful!”  I laughed and thought it was cute.  Later in the day he was playing with a toy and said, “This is awful!”  I said, “Did you mean ‘awesome’?”  Jasper said, “Yeah, this is awesome.”  So, I smugly thought that he had also meant that I smelled ‘awesome.’  A few days later I was retelling the story to my parents and I said, “Jasper tell Grandma and Grandpa how Mommy smelled the other day” (thinking he would say awful again.)  Instead he said, “TERRIBLE!”  So know I know he really did think I smelled awful!

We've been reading Bible stories and discussing telling the truth.  Sometimes if he tells me something and I say, "Are you telling me the truth?" he’ll hang his head and say no. I recently read Jasper Bible stories about Easter story afterwards, he said, “I love Jesus.”  Jasper enjoyed an Easter egg hunt at home on Easter morning.  It is so much fun to see how simple things thrill a child. 


Jasper's finger got smashed in a door at school.  We took him to the dr. and he got an x-ray.  There was a small fracture, but it didn't require a splint or cast - thank goodness!

A great quote from the month:  "My Spiderman shoes help me with my spidey sense.  My Spiderman mask (as he pulled his Spiderman hat down over his eyes) helps me with my identities!"

March 2010

Josh was playing the Wii biking game and was going over a steep bridge.  He muttered, “this stinkin’ bridge.”  The next day, Jasper was playing and said, “Look, there’s the stinkin’ bridge.”  He said it just like that was it’s name, Brooklyn Bridge – Stinkin’ Bridge.  He enjoys playing Wii bowling and got a 143 all by himself.

Jasper told me that they played with beans at school.  The scooped them up, counted them and then put some in water.  I said, “What happened when you put them in the water?” (thinking he would tell me if they floated or sunk.)  He said, “They got nasty!”

Jasper, as always, deplores vegetables.  We’ve been forcing him to eat just a little of some each meal.  He tried some cauliflower with cheese the other night.  (Just ‘tiny’ bites – as he says.)  He wanted to earn a coupon for TV (he gets coupons for various achievements) so I said he had to eat all of his cauliflower.  He took a big bite, started to gag, tried very hard to hold it in, but then threw up.  He said, “Dad, I puked!”  The next time he had to eat a veggie, he took extra tiny bites and said it was so he wouldn’t puke.  For being so picky, Jasper likes strange food combinations – croutons in yogurt is one example.

I asked Jasper what he wanted to give Grandma and Grandpa for their birthdays, he chose one of his toy balls for Grandma and a toy hammer and pliers for Grandpa.  He picked out gift bags and tissue paper and was so excited to give the gifts to them!  We had a bridal shower for Katie (Derek's finace) in the middle of the month.  Jasper is very excited about his new Aunt Katie and had a great time 'helping' at the shower.

I asked Jasper if he wanted to take something to Papa Pete to cheer him up.  Jasper said he’d dress up like a Grandpa.  I asked how you dressed up like a Grandpa and he said with a hat, daddy’s shoes and a mustache.  When we were at Grandpa’s house, he put on Josh’s brown dress shoes, his park ranger hat, and asked me to draw a mustache on him.  I had some eyeliner in my purse.  He was adorably hilarious.  Grandpa got a kick out of it.  He left his mustache on all night.  Josh told him he looked like a villain with his mustache, so all evening he was running around saying, “I’m a ‘billan, I’m mean!”

It's starting to get a little warmer and Jasper got out and tried out his new bike at the park.  

Jasper has been signing a lot.  He likes to make up his own words to tunes he knows.  He also knows several songs such as 'Muffin Man' and 'On Top of Spaghetti.'  Jasper is still saying cute and funny things like 'robot activated' and 'darn it.'

February 2010

February began with Groundhogs Day.  I explained the holiday to Jasper, and he said maybe we could get a groundhog for a pet.  Then he said, ‘Tonight, let’s look on the ‘puter’ for pictures.”  We did find a video of Puxatony Phil that night.

We decorated and made crafts for Valentines Day and Jasper ended up with heart stickers all over his face.   We read a book about a kid with a secret admirer, so for the week leading up to Valentine's Day, I gave Jasper a small gift each day from his secret admirer.  He loved it and had no idea it was Mommy.  

Grandpa Brooke found Grandpa Ralph's old adding machine.  I plugged it in and let Jasper play with it - he thought it was lots of fun!

On Valentine's Day, Jasper said to me, "I'm going give you a priceless gift."

Jasper has been getting some special juice (with Miralax) to help his tummy and bottom - it is helping, but I have to make sure he doesn't see me put it in his juice or he thinks the juice is yucky.

Jasper enjoys playing the Wii - especially the boxing!   Jasper said, "Let’s dance!"  He wanted me to do what he did for close to 40 mintues – running in circles, dancing, throwing blankets in the air, playing air guitar and drums, etc.)

Jasper had some other good quotes this month:
*"A child’s work is never done." (2/27/10)
*"I’m feeling all better today, Mommy.  No more pukes!"

*"Let’s call it Bob." (potty seat)  Then the next day, he said "No it’s name is Bobby."

*"I pooped a gigantic poop!"

*"Wait for it, wait for it – hi ya!" (like the penguins of Madagascar)

January 2010

Josh had to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for training for his new job with CIGNA January 10-15.  He had to miss my 29th birthday, but I told him not to worry since I'd be 29 forever!  Before he left, he gave me my birthday present - a Wii and Wii Fit. Jasper gave me Connect 4 (a game I've always wanted.) 

On the morning of my birthday, Jasper was in a great mood and told me that I needed to pick out a birthday cake.  I asked him what I should pick and he said, “Boys like Thomas cakes.”  I asked what girls liked and he said, “Girls like ballerina cakes.  We need to get you a ballerina cake, Mommy!"  After work, Colin took Jasper and I out to Hacienda to celebrate.  After dinner, Jasper and I went to Target to get a princess candle for my leftover cake from work.  When we got home,  Jasper sang Happy Birthday to me and we had cake.  Then we set up our campout - an air mattress in the living room, a movie and popcorn.  We slept on the air mattress all night!


On the 22nd, Jasper said, "Holy cow!"  He also counted 21- 29 (missing 24 and 25.)  On the 23rd, we visited Grandma and Grandpa B's house.  Jasper enjoyed watching videos of Grandpa Brooke's model rocket launch.  As he watched, Jasper said, "That’s amazing!"  On the 25th, Jasper said, "That’s a bummer!" while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Jasper is beginning to enjoy a laugh.  He likes dressing up and playing pretend.  On the 29th, he said, "Aw man!" in the car and Josh and I laughed.  Then he said it over and over and over , Aw man, Aw man, Aw man" and we laughed. He kept doing it and once we didn’t laugh and he said, “Laugh Mommy!”  He also likes saying and making up silly rhymes such as 'easy kapezie' and 'peanut butter jelly you are smelly' and other nonsense words.

On the 31st, Jasper held the phone on his own and talked to Grandma Debbie.  He told her he was getting his own pair of ice skates – news to Mommy!  Later, we were playing the Wii and Josh went to select a Mii and we noticed a new one Jasper had made.  Josh said to me so Jasper couldn’t hear him, "That looks just like Dr. Davis (who is Jasper’s pediatrician) except for the wrong hair color."  He then asked Jasper who it was and Jasper said, “Dr. Davis.” 

Wow It's Been a Long Time!

The holidays definitely kept us busy - and me away from the computer!  I'll try to condense the last several weeks into a short post before I go to bed...

You've gotta check out 'Jasperisms' on the left sidebar with a bunch of funny things Jasper's said recently...

Josh turned 30 on December 12.  As a surprise, I took him to the Blue Chip casino and entered him in a poker tournament.  His parents chipped in the money for the buy-in as his gift.  He came in 4th out of 25 and won a little over $200!  We stayed the night at the hotel there and also went Christmas shopping.

Jasper's birthday party was on December 19 at McDonalds.  There were 7 kids and they enjoyed playing in the playland, eating happy meals and cake.  Jasper had a great time, and I loved having the party somewhere else - what a great deal!

We celebrated Christmas and Jasper's birthday with Josh's mom and husband and family after Jasper's party. Jasper was showered with an enormous amount of gifts.  His favorites were his camera (which really takes pictures which can be downloaded!!)  and his sled.

Christmas Eve morning Jasper got to open some birthday presents from Mommy and Daddy.  Then we went to my parents to celebrate Christmas.  Jasper was most interested in the cardboard that Josh's sawhorses came in and wanted to turn it into a rocket.  That evening, we went to the Balsbaugh extended family Christmas where Jasper got to play with several of his little cousins.  He had a blast!  That night we drove home so we could spend Christmas morning at our house.

Christmas morning, we had to wake Jasper up (I admit, it was with the flash of the camera) and then we read the Christmas story before opening gifts.  I got the complete set of Twilight books and Josh got an I-pod.  Jasper got a backpack, a basketball, and I can't even remember what all!!

Then we headed to the Rochester truck stop for our traditional Christmas Day Truck Stop Breakfast.  We went all out and had CARBS!!!  As Jasper was eating his blueberry pancakes, he said, "There's nothin' better than pancakes!"

After breakfast, we went to Jack and Judy's to celebrate Christmas with them and Judy's kids and parents.  Jasper got to meet his new cousin Xander for the first time.  He was so generous and gave one of his favorite stuffed animals to the baby.  He's never looked back and whined about it either!  MORE GIFTS...Jasper got a bike!!

I was off the week between Christmas and New Years, which was wonderful.  I got a lot of projects done and just enjoyed spending time with Jasper.  We went shopping one day and went to get his pictures taken (and go to Chuck E Cheese afterward as a bribe,  I mean reward.)  We got to see Derek and his fiancee, Katie during that week as well.  Josh, Jasper and I all will be in their wedding in May!

We've gone sledding a couple of times and Jasper loves it!  But he doesn't love the cold.  It takes almost more time to get bundled up than it does for him to get too cold and ready to come in for hot chocolate!  Josh and I had just as much fun as he did, I think.  We bought our own sled (well two since I broke the first one...)

Last week was back to work for me, and last Wednesday was Josh's last day at work.  He started a new job this past Monday and we are very grateful for the new opportunity.  2010 is looking good!

Well - that's most of December thru today in a nutshell!

I'm too tired to post pictures, but click here to see the ones posted thru Jasper's birthday.