Tagged!

Karen tagged me! The things in bold are things that apply to me. () added for clarification.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band. (Was in band in jr. high/middle school)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (this trip will be coming soon probably.)
8. Climbed a mountain (I've hiked up trails at the mountains before, does that count?)
9. Held a praying mantis (I have a curious little boy)
10. Sang a solo (I must've been a better singer as a child b/c I would sing at church)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (It was an exciting experience for our honeymoon!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (What a great project to do with a child!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Sometimes that's the only way to get a day off of work!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (One of the best experiences I've ever had!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I agree Karen...my satisfaction does not come from money.)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (Yep...it leans! =)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (Truly amazing!)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (absolutely amazing!)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (Gives you a great view of the city!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Bahamas)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (I have an incredibly sweet husband who often does flowers or notes for no reason at all. I do love that man!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (an accident!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I've seen the changing on the guards in Athens, Greece, close enough)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (Absolutely one of my favorite experiences in my life!)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House(didn't go in, but saw the outside)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

My favorite monkey

Today, while I was washing dishes, Jackson came in the kitchen. He started to talking to me about his Curious George slippers he was wearing. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: You know, I really like Curious George. He's my favorite.
Jackson: No, he's not your favorite.
Me: I've always liked Curious George.
Jackson: (With emphasis!) Mommy, he's my favorite monkey I've ever SEEN!

I thought to myself...how many monkeys has he really seen?!? I hope it's his favorite monkey. Besides the handful of times we've been to the zoo, I think George is the only monkey he's ever seen.
Being a speech-language pathologist, I enjoy watching his language expand and grow. Lately, I have loved hearing his temporal markers in sentences. He's constantly telling me what days of the week we're going to do something (even though the day generally isn't right, he has the concept that it's not today, but in a few days). I really love it when he uses his favorite words like always, forever, etc. If we're talking about colors, he'll tell me Thomas is blue always, Percy is green always, etc; and he tells me he loves me forever! I love this age! They're so sweet, innocent, and unfortunately don't stay this age for long =(

Happy Birthday Papa

(This picture was taken in 1989 on Papa's birthday)

Today's my Papa's birthday. I can't express in words how much I miss him, how often I think of him, or much I wish he was here so I tell him "Happy Birthday" and share a pineapple cake with him. I do know however, that God is in control, and will use every situation we encounter for His eternal glory. So, while I may not understand right now why Papa isn't here, I know that God is working in this situation to bring about good to honor and glorify Him. Until then, I'll look forward to the day I celebrate with Papa in Glory. Oh what a sweet day that will be!

I love you Papa!

Thank you

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement as I prepare for my big exam tomorrow! I have a sense of confidence and calmness as I think about tomorrow. This sense of calmness was briefly interrupted as I read through all the details of the exam and realized they don't allow mechanical pencils for the exam, so looks like tomorrow morning I'll have to go get some old-fashioned pencils. You would think I would have some here, and I found pencils, but no sharpener, so that won't work! I have studied and prepared for this exam as best I know how. I have been asked by several people when I will have the results...This exam is a paper version, so I have to wait for it to be scored before being returned to me. It appears this process takes about 1 month, so after tomorrow, I'm going to try not to think about it for a while. After all, it's consumed my life for the past few weeks as I've intensely prepared for the exam, so it'll be a welcomed break not to think about it for a little while.
Please continue to pray for me through tomorrow. My exam is at 11AM. Thank you again for all your support!

Say a little prayer for me...

Pardon me if I've been a little MIA lately...I've been buried under an 800 pg. study guide for the state licensure exam that I take this Saturday. Please say a prayer for me, as I don't always do well on standardized exams...I feel ADD while taking them as I hate sitting for hours taking an exam, and tend to lose my concentration. So please pray that I have clarity of thought as I recall what I have been taught the past 8 years. I have prepared as best I know how, and will complete my studying tomorrow, and will take Friday off just to clear my head a bit before the big day.

I'm so far behind on the happenings at the Irwin house, but thought I'd just share a few tidbits just to share with you the sunshine of my day! I have been so thankful to be able to stay home with him everday during this past month. We have laughed so hard some days I started crying, and I have soaked in every minute of his cute laughter, jokes, and sweet kisses. We have had such a good time learning new things together, creating crafts for daddy to come home to each day, and playing with the mountains of Christmas toys. Being a mother changes everything, and I am so thankful that God chose me to be Jackson's mother, and that I have this awesome responsibility to raise him and teach him. I'm a bit sad to be going back to work next week, but am excited about finishing school this semester, and seeing where God leads us from here. I think Jackson is a little sad I'm going back to work (if he really understood all that meant), but is excited to be going to stay with MiMi, Granny, and hopefully starting preschool.

I leave you with a conversation I overheard the other night between Donald and Jackson...

Daddy: I have to go to work tomorrow.

Jackson: You watch movies at work?

Daddy: No, we don't have movies at work. At work, I work.

Jackson: You don't have movies at work?

Daddy: No, it's not fun at work. I just work.

(I could tell Jackson didn't know what work meant, and Donald didn't know how to explain it.)

Jackson: Is Santa at your work?

(Jackson remembers us going to eat cookies with Santa and Mrs. Clause last month, and now thinks that Santa works with Donald.)

Daddy: No, Santa just came to eat cookies with you that 1 day.

This conversation continued for a while. Jackson was trying to understand what kind of fun things Donald did at work, and Donald wasn't quite sure how to explain that it's work, not necessarily fun. It's so cute to hear Jackson carrying on his conversation like he's grown. Asking Donald how his day at work was while at the dinner table, and telling Donald about all the happenings of his train set that day. I just love that kid!

Jackson and Kaylie jumping on the punching bag. So cute to watch all the laughter the 2 of them shared with this!

Opening presents Christmas morning.

One of Jackson's favorite Christmas presents...his remote dinosaur. Thanks Mimi! Next time you're over, he'll have to eat your foot. That's his favorite move right now. =)