Duluth, MN
The last picture is Jacob pretending he's Cookie Monster in the car!

This morning, we helped with a spring clean up at church. Jacob brought his "yellow toddler rake" and he painted some pots to plant flowers in. On the way home, we saw smoke, and followed it to a fire that the firemen set to practice putting out fires. At home, we filled the bird feeders and after nap, we spent the evening at Grandma and Grandpa's, with Auntie and Mark.

Tonight we went to a cultural diversity festival in Forrest Lake, MN. Jacob got to see clothes, toys, instruments, and pictures from different countries all over the world. He also got to try lots of new foods, and got to see his name writen in different alphabets.

Last night, Jacob and I were rocking in the rocking chair before bedtime. Jacob asked if Mary rocked Baby Jesus, and the conversation eventually lead to Heaven. We talked about Jesus getting ready for us to live in Heaven, and how we have special jobs to do for God here while we're waiting. Jacob was so interested in the conversation, and asked about what kind of jobs God wants us to do. I told him that there are lots of people that need our help, or need to know that we love them. As an example, I said, "Maybe Fellow was feeling a little sad today, and God needed someone to go over and pet him. So God thought, 'I know...Jacob would do a great job for me!' Then you went over and pet Fellow, and showed him that you loved him...And God made big muscles on your arms, so when I need help putting the groceries in the pantry, you can carry the bags over and put groceries away for me." Jacob was really excited to realize that he was doing jobs for God, and started coming up with examples on his own. Then I said, "I wonder what special jobs God will need you to help him with tomorrow", and Jacob said he wanted to go to bed so it would be morning! The whole conversation was just pretty special.

The Sunday School lesson today was Jesus telling the fishermen to cast their nets on the right side of the boat, and they caught an abundance of fish. Jacob and I were reading the story on the patio this afternoon, and I asked Jacob if he wanted some goldfish crackers for snack. We went in, and I got him a little bowl of goldfish crackers to eat outside. Jacob grabbed his bottle of water to take out too. With a bowl of fish crackers in one hand, and a bottle of water in the other, Jacob said, "Here's the fish...and here's the wine!"

Jacob had a cold last weekend. By Monday, it had progressed into a double ear infection that ruptured both his ear drums, so he hasn't been able to hear well lately. We've been using sign language a lot this week, and he can hear if you talk to him right next to his ear. He still talks quite a bit, and with the nice weather, he loves playing outside in the sandbox, bubbles, playing tag, bike riding, and reading on the patio swing. We've been to the park too. On Friday and Saturday, he asked to ride in the convertable (even though it was still covered), so Friday was our first drive this year. We just drove on the residential streets, but Jacob doesn't care...he smiles the whole time, and really loves it!

Playing outside:

Northfield, MN

Jacob has an amazing faith, and understanding of Jesus' death and resurrection. It's hard to believe that so much information comes from such a little guy, but it's so fun to hear what he remembers, and thinks about! At church this morning, I reminded him of all the black we saw on Friday, and how today, there is lots of white and color. Jacob suddenly unzipped his sweater, and showed me his white T-shirt underneith. "See, I wore white today, because it's a happy color, because Jesus is alive again!"
Jacob found all of his eggs at our house this morning before church (see video). After church, we went to Hannah's house, and Jacob got to find more eggs outside! Some eggs were real and some were plastic. Jacob opened one of the plasic ones and it was empty. He showed it to me and said, "Look...the tomb is empty!" Jacob was really excited to get some new Thomas the train cars today in his Easter basket.

Tonight we colored 2 1/2 dozen Easter eggs! Jacob did really well. He's so independent, and it's so fun just watching him! After he had done about 1/2 the eggs, I asked him if he wanted dip an egg in more than one color. Once he caught on to this...there was no stopping him. One Egg got dunked in 14 cups before it was done! (See video!) Papa and Nana stopped by just as Jacob was finishing, and Jacob called out, "I am the egg maker! Come and see my eggs!"

Tonight I took Jacob to the Good Friday service at church. I let him pick where he wanted to sit, so we sat in the second row. It's a very unique service, with "sad music", and everything draped in black. The sanctuary gets darker and darker as the service progresses, until finally people leave in silence at the end, with only the light shining from behind the cross...very different than the regular services. Jacob was respectful, and asked a lot of really good questions, but my favorite..."Why is black a sad color?" He really does a good job trying to understand everything.

4 Generations of Jacob!
(Jacob is holding a picture of my dad's parents)

This morning was Jacob's 3 year check up. He falls right around the 30th percentile for height, weight, and BMI. The development questionare was full of things to do like jumping over the clipboard, identifying colors, and what to do with a cup, or when you are cold. Jacob checked out great, until it was time for a shot. While we waited for the nurse, he told me, "I want to go home with you right away", and "I want to put those pants on over there right now!"...Poor guy!
Weight: 29 3/4 lbs, Height: 36 3/4 inches.

Tonight, we went to see the Easter Bunny. Jacob looked at the Easter Bunny, and asked, "Is that a man in a costume?" (We've talked about Chuck E Cheese, and trick-or-treating are just people wearing costumes!)

Happy Golden Birthday Jacob!!
After school this morning, we went to the Mall of America, and finally got to ride on the train (the light rail). He was so excited, and was clapping and jumping up and down when I told him where we were going. He wanted to know the name of the train, and it was cute hearing him try to pronounce "Hiah-loffla Line" (Hiawatha Line). After seeing where they play baseball, and "the building where the judges work" in Minneapolis, we rode back to the Mall, and ate dessert first today at the Rainforest Cafe. And of course, stopped at Lego Land before it was time to go home! Zachary even called from TX tonight and sang Happy Birthday to Jacob. We've been practicing saying "Thank you" when someone wishes him Happy Birthday, instead of saying Happy Birthday back to them. When Jacob opens cards, no matter what it says, he always "reads" the front out loud...
"It's fun to be three!"

Just before bedtime!

An interview with Jacob...
Favorite snack?...Fruit snacks
Favorite drink?...Milk
Favorite animal?...Elephant
Favorite food?...Noodles
Favorite color?...Blue
Favorite story?...Curious George Goes Camping
Favorite song?...Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Favorite day of the week?...Thursday
Favorite cartoons?...Mickey Mouse, Caillou
Favorite toy to play with?...Lift truck
Favorite store?...The blue car store
What would you buy for yourself at the store?...A picture of Mommy
How do you get to Texas?...Fly in an airplane
Directions to Grandma's house?...Drive in the car and turn at the water tower
Things to pack to go camping?...Flashlight, lantern, tent, Fellow
What do people buy with money?...Lights, light bulbs, and fish
What do you like to do?...Have my friends come over, buy a Jacob house
What to do if there was a fire?...Crawl to the light outside...right there by the street
Who loves Jacob?...Mommy, Daddy, Fellow, Grandma
How does Jacob say I love you?...(signed I love you)
What are the rules at church?...Quiet
Why do things fall down?...Gravity
What is in space?...Rockets, astronauts
Jacob likes to take pictures of...The TV, the sun, Mommy
If Jacob was a mouth, he would tell everybody...I love you!
Do you like places that are loud or quiet?...Quiet
Who are your pets?...Fellow
What are your friend's names?...Cole, Grace, Mommy, Zachary, Benjamin, Daniel
What do you want to do when you're a little bit older?...Drive a blue convertable
Jacob always...Flies
Mommy always...Loves you
Daddy always...Likes to drive a car
What does Jesus say?...I love you
Favorite things about being 2?...Playing toys, opening presents
Things Jacob will get to do when he's 3?...Ride my bike, open more presents, read books
Places you'd like to go on vacation when you're 3?...Mall of America

Celebrating Jacob's 3rd birthday!
(See video of singing and blowing out candles)