I taught Jacob how to chip ice with the heal of his boots. He loves doing this, even if it is cold, or we have to leave to go somewhere. The other day it was really nice outside, and he and I went for a walk around the block. He stopped every few steps to chip ice, and "rescue leaves" that were trapped in the ice, and able to be freed because the ice was just melted enough. I bet he rescued more than 50 leaves from the ice on our loooong walk! He is so focused, and cares so much about what he is doing, and it just wasn't worth rushing him.

Jacob always loves doing art projects, especially painting lately.
Recent art projects:
1. Jacob's name in the snow
2. A computer
3. Alvin (from Alvin and the Chipmunks) standing in the rain
4. Alvin standing next to a Christmas tree
5. A plate of steak
6. Semi truck with a ramp in the back and loaded full of coca cola.

Tongiht we went to church for Ash Wednesday. Everyone went up to the front of the church, and pastor put a cross of ash on the back of your hand. We went back to our seats, and continued singing as other people went up to the front. A few minutes later, I looked over at Jacob and he had little tears streaming down his face. I asked him what was wrong, and Jacob showed me his fist with the ash cross on it, and said worriedly, "Is it permanent?"

I brought home a little science project for Jacob from my girl's weekend in TX. It is a light bulb that he and dad assembled together, and you supply the energy youreslf by turning the crank on the side to make it go. Both of the boys thought it was pretty cool! (See video)

Our future rock star!

Jacob made this sign, and was holding it up, as the boys were waiting to meet me at the airport tonight. It was the best welcome in the world!

King Jacob at the paper towel palace!

Jacob got a model tow truck a few weeks ago. He and Dad had fun working on it together during "Boys weekend". I love seeing how little Jacob's hands are when you see them in the same picture as a model tow truck.

A few days ago, we were at Sam's Club, and Jacob wanted to see this 4 pack of trucks. While he was busy trying to figure out what each one did (they all make noise), Nate and I just decided to get them for him for Valentine's Day, and continued shopping. Jacob was busy with the trucks the whole time we were there. We don't buy things for him too often when we are out, and Jacob was so surprised when Nate told him to give them to the cashier to scan them. He was so happy! We did make him wait a few days until this morning to actually open them, since they were his valentine's gift. You can just see how happy he is in his face, and as he explains how each one works!

The first picture is Jacob's impression of "an old man".

Today was pancake day, according to this new website I found, so we made pancakes for supper tonight. Jacob's a great helper in the kitchen, and looks so cute in the hat! (See videos)

Jacob has been writing lots of "I love you" notes lately and cutting out hearts He tapes them to hangers, hands them to me out of the blue, leaves them for me around the house...I LOVE IT!!! Tonight he got a little extra creative when "Cupid Man" started delivering surprises!

Last week, Jacob and I were building something in his room , and I asked if it was top secret. I had to explain what top secret meant, but "oh ya, it sure is top secret!". Tonight he asked if I wanted to see the new machine he built. I followed him excitedly into his room and asked him to tell me about how his machine worked, and he replied, "I can't...It's top hat secret!"

I found a preschool website that lists things to celebrate everyday. We learned that today was umbrella day, so I surprised Jacob (and Nate) tonight by picking up umbrella straws to drink with for dinner. We are still using the picture calendar we started when Jacob was about 2. Now we use words sometimes and pictures sometimes. He is so excited to go to the dentist on Thursday!

Jacob asked me to help him cut something out that was really small with a lot of detail. As I was cutting, he came over to me with one of his left over heart stickers from doing valentines last night. He put it on my shirt and told me, "You're doing a great job mom!" I had to laugh inside because I had done the same thing to him a few times during the past couple of weeks, catching him doing a good job at something, and putting a sticker on his shirt.

Writing out valentines

Today Jacob and I were talking about an allowance. I told him he could work for some money, like mom and dad do, when he is 5. But we also talked about jobs that we all do, not because you get money, but because that is part of being a family and taking care of a house. Later, Jacob went into his room and made his bed. He laid some stuffed animals on his pillow, then laid the blue bunny down on the back of his pillow the long way, "because that's how Grandma does it".

Recent Quotes from Jacob:
I told Jacob I had a surprise project for us to work on tonight:
"My brain computer can figure out anything...It can even google out your surprise!"

"Mom, can you please hair dryer these jeans so they are nice and warm when I put them on?"

Playing with a back hoe that Nate had when he was a kid:
"Know why I like this back hoe?...Because my dad gave it to me!...and my dad is special!"

Playing with a fork lift that Nate had when he was a kid:
"This is a really old fork lift...See how some of the paint chipped off?...Do you know when they made this fork lift?...When everything was black and white."

We had been learning about marketing about a week ago.
Jacob saw the Red Box movie rental at Cub today, and noted:
"Look mom, They put pictures of the movies on there to try to get you to buy the movies...MARKETING!!!!" (He is really into looking for all kinds of examples of marketing lately!)

A typical day: Jacob makes hundreds of paper airplanes...Nate takes hundreds of pictures...and Fellow supervises the boys!