Annie's collection

When John takes the kids for walks during the weekdays, Annie collects bits and pieces from around the neighborhood. She keeps them on the front porch steps to show me when I get home from work.

moon

Henry is fascinated with the moon, and it was one of his first words.

the rose garden in february

Henry learning to walk

I just found this video and couldn't remember if I had posted it here... Henry at 10 months.

Henry learning to walk from Donna Jackson on Vimeo.

Annie's first present

going for a drive

the box

[January 2013, Henry 15 months]

When we got Annie a new car seat, I thought she and Henry would be super excited to play with it. Turns out the box was much more exciting.

Henry, 15 months (last winter)

with Uncle Lew

[Henry, 14 months]

rocketship

winter walk

nap time

[Henry, 14 months]

the kitchen

Last year for Christmas we got the kids a play kitchen. A neighbor had handmade it for his daughter, who had outgrown it. Annie and Henry immediately went to work.

Now, almost a year later (!), they still play with it often. Henry's been talking more and more the last few months, and will go to the kitchen saying 'cooking'. His favorite thing is to come up to you and ask if you want an apple- "ah apple?" - and then get busy preparing an apple (or cucumber).

Christmas morning 2012

[Annie 4; Henry 15 months]

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And the year before:

backgammon

[Annie at 4, November 2012]

Or as Annie used to say, "back-an-gammon".

the tree

[Christmas, 2012 - Henry at 14 months]

Last year was not the year of the most beautiful Jackson Christmas tree. It stood in the corner undecorated for a couple weeks (we can blame this on being busy with two kids, right?), and then we couldn't get it to stand quite straight. Not to mention we ended up removing decorations from the bottom half because of Henry's unbelievable reach. But it was still fun, and the kids loved it. All Christmas Annabelle kept asking us if we could put 'ginger boys' on the tree.

Reading Henry his favorite book

[Christmas Eve, Henry 14 months]

lucky pennies

lego robot

December 2012

the "let's make christmas handprint ornaments" disaster

Bill and Pat

Annie and Henry always love visits from Bill and Pat. (need to get more pictures of these!)

christmas tree farm 2012

Our yearly tradition of going with the Shanks to the Christmas Tree farm.  This year we had a lot of rain and mud, so it was a pretty quick trip (minus our car needing a jump right as the farm was closing and the sun was going down).  It's become one of our favorite traditions.






A rare sight after we arrived home - both of the kids asleep in the car...