I'm A Fan Of This Kid!

Jakob loves to try out new words. The other day he was playing on a toy outside and he called out to me "I'm a fan of this toy!" What he was saying was that he really enjoyed the toy. I realized that we must declare whether we're a fan of this or that quite often in our home.

It's been a while since I've posted something on Jakob's blog. So much has happened. Jakob started Kindergarten. We withdrew Jakob from public school. Now Jakob has school at home. Most of the time he enjoys it, and is enjoyable. Other times he doesn't and he isn't. The days that he is most difficult are usually Mondays, Thursdays, or the first few days after a sick week. So that just tells me that Jakob requires steady routine. So we try.

Jakob also started dance this season. Unfortunately, finances forced us to live more within our means. So we had to take Jakob out of dance. I still struggle with that. I hope it wasn't a big mistake! Dance was good for him. I have organized a play group a couple of times a week as well as a Joy School friend a couple of times a week. So he definitely isn't lacking in socializing. We hope to turn one of the play group days into a dance activity. Hopefully soon.

So, those are the technical updates with Jakob. I'll post soon with some of the fun things he's said or done lately.

Oh The Things He Says!

Ahhh, my Jakob is growing up! Jakob bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting yesterday. Leif helped him by whispering in his ear and Jakob shared the thoughts loud and clear. It was precious! I look forward to the day when he will walk up there by himself and speak from the heart. Precious, Precious Times!

We took Jakob to the Aerospace museum while on out trip. While we were there I explained to Jakob that the first men who flew an airplane were the Wright Brothers. Five minutes later he stopped and asked, then who were the Wrong Brothers? I love the way little minds work! Before we left the museum we asked Jakob again who flew the first airplanes. He added to his cuteness by answering "the Good Brothers!"

Jakob will often say something that makes me chuckle and he'll follow it up with "you need to write that on your blog!" He knows me well!:)

There is a reason why Jakob's blog is titled Mama's Little Echo. Jakob mimics my moods to a T. This morning I was not in a good mood, this rubbed off on to Jakob and eventually I just looked at Jakob and said, " Jakob, just try to have more patience then me!" He looked at me with the wheels in his head turning, trying to take in the concept that he could be better then me at something. Eventually it hit home and he turned away with a smile...

Love My Jakob!

Mama, When Will I Die?

Jakob was working with me yesterday as I was constructing a makeshift screen door. He sat on a stool next to me as we talked on the porch. As the conversation progressed he eventually ended up down the stairs playing with a toy. But he continued to call up to me and talk with me as I worked. The following is a true blue replay of the conversation. A teaching moment in it's purest form!

Jakob: "Mama, when will I die?"
Mama: "Well, know one knows when we will die except for God. Why are you thinking about dying?"
Jakob: "I'm afraid to die."
Mama: "Ahh, there's no reason to be afraid to die, it's just like falling asleep. And when you wake up, your in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus (I was thinking about how I held his sister in my arms as she died and she didn't seem in pain)."
Jakob: Really, so it doesn't hurt?
Mama: Nope!
Jakob: So will you be there with me?
Mama: Yes, and hopefully I'll be there before you. I want you to live a long life (in my mind I'm thinking that I don't want to bury another child.)
Jakob: Who else will be there?
Mama: Well, we will all be there someday. And we will always be a family forever, because Mama and Papa made promises to Heavenly Father in the temple that we would follow His commandments. And He promised us that we could be a family forever if we kept our promises. Jakob: Starts singing the primary hymn Families Can Be Together Forever.
Jakob: So will we have to stay in heaven?
Mama: Well, there will be times that we'll be able to move to different places. Kind of like moving into a different house.
Jakob: Can we walk?
Mama: Oh, I think you can get around any way you want. I think you could even fly if you wanted to!
Jakob: Fly?! AWESOME!
Mama: See, no need to be afraid of dying, Love! I'm sure glad you talk to me though... I love talking with you!
Jakob: Yeah.:)

Technically Jakob's fear of death arose because we watched the movie What About Bob together. The boy on the show has a fear of death. In reality, Leif and I are so grateful that we have been taught the answers to those questions and the peace that they bring into our life.

Oh My Jakob, My Jakob!

You are growing up!

Jakob has turned into quite the little man. There is so much to say about him that I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll just start with the events of 5 minutes ago. Jakob has been gone all day with his beloved cousins and grandparents. They went to Glenn Canyon Dam and a Dinosaur Exhibit. I don't know how this is possible, but I miss him when he is gone for a while (I should just Enjoy every quiet moment.) Anyway, when I finally tracked him down he was on his way out to the green house to play hide n' seek with everyone. I snatched him up in my arms and was stealing a hug and a kiss and all the while he kept saying "Only a second Mama, Only a second!" He was so anxious about being pulled away from the fun. This is how it is, I feel like the days and weeks are "only a second!" Time keeps rolling forward...

Jakob is a product of my organized madness. He requires planned out days and he insists on knowing the plans ahead of time so he can look forward to them and remind up of the plans up to each event. If there isn't anything "planned" he says that he is bored. From the moment that Jakob learned the word bored I taught him that being bored is a choice. You can figure out something to pass the time (I often tease him that he can stare at the wall and make up a story in his mind) or, he can choose to be bored and miserable. We lean towards the first option in our house.

Jakob loves to play with other kids. He is so anxious to have Caleb big enough to play with. Sometimes he gets impatient and tries to wrestle or play catch four year old style with Caleb. However, this only leads to a fussy Caleb and an Ornery and Bossy Mama!

List leads us to the other spectrum of life with Jakob. Ornery and Bossy! On Sunday I was SO Weary of bossing Jakob around and getting after him that I finally just sat him down and told him that Mama and Papa were done being ornery and bossy. It was his job to follow the directions given so that we could be fun, playful, and cheerful. The rest of the day went better thanks to Jakob's logic ability. Some days are good. Some days are a nightmare. It all depends on every one's moods and what events are on the calender.

Well, I am going to end so I can go outside and play a bit with everyone. That is an easy way to win Jakob's heart for a little while. I snag the chance as often as I can. Sure wish I did it more often... But every second counts, Right?

Jakob's Dance Recital

Jakob had his dance recital and did a Fantastic job! He really stole the show! We are very proud of him!!! The song they are dancing to is "Thank Heaven For Little Girls."

Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde Vs. The Silly Hat Man

Jakob is going through a Jekyll and Hyde phase again. They are so hard! Really if I didn't have Caleb at the moment who is so heart warming, Jakob's attitude would be perfect Birth Control! No Fun... These are pics of one of his good moments. He loves to stack all of the hats on his head and joke that he's going to wear all of them to wherever it is that we're driving to.

He Is So Kind

Ahhh, My Sweet Jakob! Some nights I feel bad after Jakob goes to sleep because I just wasn't all that nice to Jakob that day. He deserves a nice mom all the time;) But, guess he's stuck with me.:) Lucky Me!!

It is not an uncommon occurrence to have Jakob walk in the house after I have cleaned things up to hear him say "Sure looks nice mama, thanks!" Or, if I give Jakob something to eat that he really likes, he'll often say, "Thanks so much Mama!" What mother wouldn't melt at such genuine kindness?

Jakob's Dinosaur's Among the Nephites came in the mail this weekend. He was in heaven! It just happened to come as we were on our way to the library for Story Time. The librarian made a point of showing it off. We all thought that was pretty neat! The book has been wonderful. It's nice to be able to open it up and have three different directions I can go in our story time.

Jakob's growing up. I can't believe this school year is almost over. He has learned SO MUCH this year. When he started I felt bad because he couldn't hold his pencil correctly. Now he can wrote every letter of the alphabet, name them, AND Sing Them BACKWARDS! YES! He still needs his classmates and teacher to finish the whole song. But I am thrilled that he can even comprehend them that well! He's working on numbers and math now. He understands the basic concept of add and subtract. Leif and him have fun playing math games. He'll be beyond my skills before I know it!

I Love My Jakob!!! SO MUCH!

One last story:

I was working on the computer this evening while Jakob was in the shower. Leif was sitting next to me and Jakob started calling something over and over from the shower. Leif finally went in to find out what he was saying. He came back shaking his head and told me that Jakob wanted me to come and read scriptures to him while he was in the shower. :) Yep! That makes a mama smile!