Jacob heard me opening a can of A&W root beer in the kitchen, and came running in to ask for a sip. While he was taking a drink, I asked Jacob if he remembered what kind of pop it was, since we just had root beer floats a few days ago. Jacob put the can down, licked his lips, and said, "Mommy's pop". I said, "Yes, it's Mommy's pop, but do you remember what flavor it is?" Jacob said..."Black!"

Jacob also got to try some Pop Rocks tonight! It was very entertaining watching him try to figure out what was going on inside his mouth. I asked him what his candy does, and he said, "It jumps, jumps, jumps in-ah mouth!!!"

We're going to the lake this weekend. Jacob calls it "Papa-Nana Lake". We've been talking a lot about getting ready, and what we'll bring. My sister's birthday is Saturday, so Jacob is bringing some fireworks, and he keeps wanting me to "open fireworks...see them". The past few nights, Jacob got to sleep on the floor in his new sleeping bag! He loves seeing himself in his bedroom mirror when he's inside the sleeping bag, and just has this HUGE grin from ear to ear!
Tonight we finally got to pack his little suitcase!

Last night Jacob got together with his little friend, Daniel. The boys had root beer floats, and ironed pictures onto T-shirts, and then got to paint them. Jacob was soooooooo excited when he peeled back the paper and saw that his lighthouse picture stuck to his shirt! This morning, he wanted to wear his shirt, repeatedly pointing out the lighthouse, and himself standing next to it!

It was raining this morning, so I got out the Tinker Toys, and showed Jacob how they worked. He was a busy guy! He is really into construction machinery lately, particularly cranes, so this was the first big construction. Jacob carried it all over the house with him until nap time!

This afternoon, the sun came out, so we went to the car show at the State Fair grounds. I think Jacob was a little overwhelmed at first, but I tried to point out basic things at his level to look for. We looked for cars that were certain colors, convertibles with no roofs, "fire" painted on the cars, white wall tires, cars with really big headlights, cars with their hoods up, circle shaped air filters, running boards, and chrome (where you can wave at your reflection!). He had a great time, and talked about "car show" all the way home.

Tonight we went to a wedding. Jacob and I have been talking about it for the past few days. He was very excited to wear a clip-on tie, and we talked about the word handsome. I asked him what we were going to see at the wedding. With a long pause between each idea, he replied, "candles...flowers...and fireworks!"

They were repairing street curbs in front of Grandma's house, so there were lots of trucks to see today. I took Jacob down to the action, and we talked about what they were doing. Jacob points out cement trucks all the time, but today we got to see the wet cement "slide down a slide" from the cement truck to the street, and then the men shovel it with shovels and make it smooth...very exciting to watch!

Tonight we took a little road trip to Hudson, "eh-saun-sin"
(Wisconsin) for supper. We saw boats, and ducks as we walked along the river. The car ride gave him plenty of time to talk about the cement trucks, and cement "sliding down the slide", but we had a fun time.

My favorite moment of the day: I went in to check on Jacob, and he was still sleeping in his bed. He looked so cute and peaceful. I gave him a kiss on his cheek, and he smiled in his sleep.

When I got out of the shower this morning, I found a pile of my clothes in front of the closet. Jacob took my hand, and excitedly lead me into the kitchen to show me his accomplishment.















Tonight we had our first annual family Father's Day pie eating contest!! Jacob only had to hear the directions once before he caught on, and I think he liked that everyone ate without using their hands!! Grandpa won, but I was really surprised how great Jacob did. It was a really fun time!!

Tonight we went to hear the White Sidewalls play at a carnival. We had fun dancing to the music, but Jacob's favorite part was seeing the fireworks. All the way home in the car, Jacob said "Bye-bye fireworks...fireworks, boom, boom".

Today we went to the zoo with Papa and Nana. Jacob made some new friends in the fountain at the Conservatory.

Today we took Grandma and Grandpa to a fair near our house. Jacob jumped in a bounce house, road on a pony, ate "baby donuts", and had a clown paint a baseball on his cheek. He even got to go fishing for the first time!! He liked pushing the release button and reeling his line in, but did not catch any fish. (See videos)

This morning after church we said goodbye to Grandma, and walked further down the parking lot to our car. We waved goodbye as she drove away, and I heard Jacob say under his breath, "Bye Mama (Grandma)...Have a nice day!"

Jacob brings me his play stethoscope, and likes having me pretend to listen to his heart lately. We talk about how when you're running, your heart beats very fast (and he'll pat his heart fast), and when you are sleeping (he signs sleeping), your heart beats slow (and he'll pat his heart really slow).

We've also been reading a new story before bedtime about a Mother Raccoon and her 3 babies. We read a little bit every night. Tonight, while the raccoons were out walking during the night, they tipped over a garbage can and rumaged through it for food. Jacob was so interested in this that he kept interupting over and over to go back and talk about the garbage can and what they ate. Finally it was time for bed. Jacob's bedtime prayer was simply: "Dear Jesus, Thank you garbage can fall down, amen."

Today Jacob made a bug house at Lowe's. He was very excited that he got to hammer the nails.

For dinner, we went to a mexican restaurant, and saw a live mariachi band. Jacob liked watching them play, and eating chips and "sole-sa" (salsa).

Today we went to the zoo. I think the lion was Jacob's favorite because it walked right up to the other side of the glass. When we were looking at the monkeys, Jacob turned around and made a silly monkey face, which I think was my favorite part. Across the parking lot was a big grassy hill and a baseball diamond. Jacob stood on home plate and put his arms up pretending to swing a bat, and then he ran around the bases.


















I really like this picture!!

Today we spent the afternoon at the beach. Once I showed him it was fun to get your feet wet...he was soaked!! He had such a great time!! The rest of the day, he referred to it as "Jacob's beach", and talked about how he went swimming.

Jacob will be eating a piece of cheese or applesause, or something just basic. He'll take a bite, and say "mmmm, mmmm...delicious!"

He also likes to sort and stack his new "scoop truck pull-ups"...over and over and over!! It's funny to watch how long he'll just stack, and sort, and restack. We're learning how to "catch the potty in the potty chair"...I'm not quite on his schedule yet, but he's really good about sitting on the potty chair.