Six

{Birthday morning}





Well of course I can't believe he is six.  Jackson's birthday was full of the usual birthday cheer and family stopping over and some really special gifts.  A bird house to build (which he did), a small rocket to launch (which he did), and legos to play with (which he has been doing all weekend).  But maybe the most touching gift he received was from his big sister (well and Daddy)- a kayak.  Grace really wanted to get Jackson a kayak.  Really, really, wanted too.  We don't normally spend that kind of money on birthday presents so we tried explaining that it wasn't an option.  But she insisted on spending her own money to buy it for him.  After all of us thinking about it for a month we decided that her and Ryan could buy the kayak together.  So she nearly emptied her piggy bank to buy this gift for her brother.  Then, to top it off, she made him a treasure hunt to find the gift.  I so, so, so wish I had it all on video.  Grace's genuine excitement at giving her brother this gift and his reaction to it brought tears to my eyes.  My mom did take a few photos...


{Before the treasure hunt}


{The end of the treasure hunt when Grace is reading to him what the gift is}


{His reaction}



We still don't have the kayak yet because we had to order it (we couldn't find any child sized kayaks in stores) so that will be another fun moment.



Another highlight for him was finally being able to try shooting his BB gun that he got from Grandpa Glenn (we had told him he had to be six to use it- which I was initially very nervous about but I have been assured that a BB gun would most likely not even puncture skin AND it will always be kept put away unless under the supervision of a grown up AND each time they do use it will be an opportunity to reteach gun safety, etc).  So Grandpa Glenn brought him some BBs and he got to shoot it for the first time.  He was able to hit a can several times.  I think we might have another hunter on our hands.


Happy Birthday to our lovable, hug-able Jackson!