Today Jacob scooped bird seed with his truck, instead of just pretending to scoop something. He loves playing with toy machinery of any kind, and even inventing his own machines with different toys. He is also really good at mazes, workbooks, and dot-to-dots. His favorite is looking for differences between 2 pictures that look the same.

Jacob wanted to camp on the floor in our room tonight. He moved his pillow and blanket in...and then Fellow came over and joined him!

Jacob got an Alvin and the Chipmunk movie for Christmas, where they have a hot air balloon race. It's his new favorite movie, so today we went to the store and got a helium balloon, and printed off pictures of Alvin and the Chipmunks to put inside the basket we made for it. We spent all afternoon putting different things in it, learning about which things are heavy or light, and how to make the weight just right so it floats across the room. Jacob's note says, "Dear (DR) Alvin (the n is on the second line) I love (heart) you".

Tonight we went sledding, and played on the ice rink.

Jacob got a new toy combine at Fleet Farm, so we have been cutting up yellow party streemers into tiny pieces of wheat (confetti). He pretends to plant it, grow it, harvest it, and puts it all in a container...then wants me to carry it to the store, and pretend to trip, and all the confetti flies all over the hallway. It's pretty easy to clean up, and he gets such a kick out of it!

Jacob still loves watching Chilly Willy and Woody Woodpecker cartoons on the internet. We started learning what to click on and type in order to watch them, emphasizing that mom or dad has to be there to supervise. He is really good about following the steps, and working with the mouse.

Jacob loves writing me "I love you mom" notes, and cutting out hearts, collecting "mail" for me in a bowl that is my surprise mailbox...I wish this stage lasted forever!!! The other day, I opened the cupboard under the bathroom sink, and there was an "I love you" note sitting on the rolls of toilet paper waiting for me!

Jacob still really likes playing with his recycling truck, and his new fire truck. I came in to check on him after he went to bed, and he had taken off his pillow cases, climbing into one, and wearing the other around his head! It won't be forever that he will be able to fit in a pillow case!

Jacob got a new space calendar for 2009. We circled all of the days he has school, and he loves crossing off the squares, and tracking what day it is! I love it when he says, "The tomorrow after tomorrow".

Jacob keeps finding more and more things to try out in front of the blower. He can be busy all evening, testing out toys, socks, stuffed animals, paper airplanes, his trucks, even the sheet off his bed. It's quite entertaining, and so fun to see him be so excited!

I also have to smile every time I see Jacob wearing his "snuggie". One day quite a while ago, I was wearing this sweater when I gave Jacob a hug, and he commented on how "soft and cozy" my sweater felt. It wasn't long before Jacob asked if he could wear it one day, and now it's pretty much his! He likes to sleep in in, and wear it around the house. I remember taking over one of my dad's shirts long ago too, and how great it felt to wear!

Jacob wanted to make something, and I was not allowed to peek until he was finished...

Last night, we celebrated Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Hanson and Carol. One of the gifts he got was this singing tree. In the car on the way home, Jacob said, "And guess what, If I start to feel a little sad, I just push the tree's foot, and he sings to me, and cheers me up!" When it was time to go to bed, Jacob was a little over tired, and started to cry in his bed. He tried to explain that he needed to sleep with his singing tree, "because it is the only thing that will make me not so sad, and I can't go to sleep when I am sad!" He did not get to sleep with his tree, but it was the first thing I heard in the morning...over and over and over!!

This afternoon, I taught Jacob how to make paper airplanes. He caught on fast, and was really interested...I bet he's made over 30 already!

Tonight we went to Carol's. We had just turned off our street, and Jacob said, "I see Carol's apartment." I explained, "I think Carol's apartment is on a different street, after we turn one more time." Without hesitation, Jacob calmly corrected me, "Oh no, I don't need those directions...I see Carol's apartment in my heart!"

I love going into the bathroom the past few days...Jacob has started folding the hand towel like we live at a fancy hotel!!! I don't know what made him think to do it, but it makes me smile every time!!

Jacob is doing a unit about weather at preschool, and he made a kite made out of construction paper. When Dad came home, Jacob asked him for the blower from the garage, and we spent the evening flying his new kite...and MANY other things across the living room.

Jacob and WALL-E

We started out taking a picture of Jacob wearing his new robe...then he wanted to try out Dad's camera too!

Today I took Jacob to see my work! He emailed Zachary in TX, and drew me some new pictures for my wall!

Today was demolition day for our gingerbread house. Jacob didn't think we would ever encourage him to just take a bite right out of the roof! He actually spent a long time taking it apart, picking off gum drops and m&m's.