Where Is He Learning This Stuff?

Two nights ago I was fixing dinner and Todd was sitting at the table and we were talking about the days events. Haven and Jude were playing and Jadon came in and sat down at the table with his Leapster. All of a sudden we hear Jadon say, "9 times 4 is 36."

Upon hearing this Todd and I both stopped talking, looked at Jadon with mouths open very wide and simultaneously said, "what did you say."

He looked up at Todd with an annoyed look on his face, because he was playing a game and he didn't want his frog to fall in the water, and said again, "9 times 4 is 36."

We didn't even know he knew multiplication. And where did he learn it and how random is knowing 9x4. He then told us that 6x11 is 66.

This reminded me of the time when Jadon was 18 months old and we were driving somewhere and he asked me what the octagon said. My mind started searching around trying to remember what an octagon looked like so I didn't look dumb in front of my 18 month old. I guess I was taking too long to answer and he added another hint for me, the red octagon.

Thank you, thank you son for the extra hint and now I know the red octagon says STOP. I remember thinking at the time, my 18 month old son just said octagon and how in the world did he know that shape.

He never ceases to amaze me. He is so smart and he can't wait to start school next year. I am so proud of him.

Fall Festivities

We have had a great time celebrating the coming of a new season. I always find fall refreshing and beautiful. I love the smell, the crispness of the air, the beauty of the trees, and the season brings.

We started off our fall festivities at the Japanese Stroll Garden and the butterfly house learning about caterpillars with Nana and Great Gram.Jadon and Haven enjoyed getting their faces painted at Fair Grove's Heritage Days. This year instead of carving pumpkins Jadon and Haven chose to paint their pumpkins. Except for on mishap that got blue paint everywhere everyone had a blast.The cousins enjoying the Fall Festival at church and they loved Mema's game of trying to knock down crows off the scarecrow. They also got to go trick or treating and cousin Kylah and Nana joined us.

Aged to Perfection

After celebrating Jadon's big 5 birthday, we celebrated another milestone birthday, Donna turning the big 6-0. Jadon was born on his Mema's birthday.

We had a great time with friends and family celebrating a wonderful, godly woman. Karla did a great job in planning the party.

I really am extremely blessed. I was born to a wonderful mom and God gave me another wonderful mom. I pray many more blessed years for my beautiful mother-in-law.

A few lovelys that celebrated turning 60 in 2009.

The Quickest 5 Years Ever

Jadon Creed turned 5 on October 17. I still have a hard time thinking of him as being 5 and he has no problem reminding me almost daily. We celebrated with family and cupcakes in the shape of a train and pumpkin pie made from the pumpkin (no canned pumpkin for his 5th birthday).

He also was treated to a day with Mema and Auntie Karla as they took him shopping for his presents and lunch. Then Nana and Papa took him on his first ever train ride on the Branson Scenic Railway. Jadon enjoyed his best birthday so far in his young life. The pumpkin pie I made from the pumpkin Jadon picked out.

The train cupcakes. The present from Mommy and Daddy, bunk beds.
Jadon,

I am so proud of you! It seems like yesterday you were this chubby, bald little baby just coming home with us for the first time. Today you are this incredibly smart, witty and kind hearted little boy.

You have been so excited about turning 5 and I pray that this year is full of exciting adventures, learning more truths and growing into a boy that fears the Lord.

And just remember the deal you made with Daddy, that you will not have any more birthdays and stay the awesome 5 year old you are.

Love, Mommy

It Going, Going and Gone!

We had a big day in the Wallace houshold on September 11. Jadon had been sporting a very lose bottom tooth for a couple of weeks. Todd had tried pulling it out a few days before and nothing. But Jadon was being lured by the idea of getting the dollar both Mema and Nana promised him once it came out, so each night he and Todd spent time wiggling and moving it around.

Then it came, the day that Todd thought it was finally lose enough to try pulling it again. That little tooth came right out. Jadon was very brave.

We waited until Jadon went to sleep and I put the money from Mema, Nana and us under his pillow. He woke up the next morning very excited to find money, but a little disturbed his tooth was gone. We chose not to tell him about the tooth fairy, he knows who the money came from and Momy has his tooth. There is nothing wrong with the tooth fairy we have just chosen not to use her in our house.

Pictures of the first try at getting the tooth out

Jadon lost his first tooth on September 11, 2009 at 4 years and almost 11 months.

Smizing

I admit it that once in a while I sit down and watch America's Next Top Model. I find it interesting watching the whole photography process. This season I have noticed a word that Tyra uses, called smizing. For those of who do not take time to catch ANTM here is a little definition of smizing, it is the art of smiling with your eyes. Even if your mouth is not, your eyes should be smiling. This is a very important art to master if you want to impress Tyra.

So, there you have it a little lesson on smizing. If you google it you can actually find a video with Tyra showing you how to achieve effective smizing. And I just want to say that Tyra can eat her heart out because my little sweet Haven has perfected smizing.

She didn't take lessons on how to acheive smizing from Tyra, she never watched a video. She has the natural raw talent. Here is Haven doing perfect smizing.

The professional shot:

The candid shot (she can even do it with food all over her face):

We offered our prayers,

Night and day those prayers arose

To heaven's throne. He heard our voice,

And God planted a Rose.

We gave our hearts

To love, though the Rose we could not see.

In faith and fear

We dreamed of al that she would be.

We prayed God's grace

For grace in her to be known.

And for beauty

That would come from the depths of her soul.

But God's dreams are greater

Than any we could conceive.

His plans are always good and right;

This we must believe.

And in the midst of dryness,

God's tears fell with our own,

As He chose for Himself the beauty He made.

God picked the Rose.

Todd Wallace

August 30, 2003