Jayden Gebers, the Boy at 7 Years old.

I know I just posted a blog about Jayden, but there are things that still need to be said.

Jayden has just finished an erector set catapult.  He got the set for Christmas and wanted to use it although I thought he was about a year or 2 too young to use it and I though I end up doing it.  I was wrong.  It was amazing how he followed directions and created a working catapult.  His brain has answers to so many things that he gets himself into. 

 

I have to say that my son puts himself into more trouble than the normal 7 year old child.  But he always problems solves his way out.  For example he did a gainer off the diving board one time because he forgot which way to flip.  Or he sees a light bulb out and figures out how to get a new one off the top shelf of the closet and change it.

He will take his legos and create new cars or boats or planes.  He puts together different Hot Wheels tracks to make a new ones.  He hooks up the wagon on the back of the Quad so that he can drive Kallee around.  Speaking of Quads...  we had to get rid of JJ's quad, as it literally died.  He rode it till the end... broke all the wheels and when we fixed that, he blew out the engine by wearing out the gears.  That thing has been in snow and water and dirt, mud, ice... everything.  It was one of the best toys he will ever have.

Because of his creations like paper airplanes and such, JJ usually takes a lot of my fire due to the fact that he cannot remember to ever pick up after himself.  Toys, clothes, shoes, homework, nothing is ever where it is supposed to be unless we put it there.  But even with all the frustration, their is more admiration.  He is amazing with his skills and his thought process.  When he is working on something, it is very difficult to get him off that until he is finished.  He has bad tunnel vision and will keep going on something until the end. 

I know I would be remiss if I did not say things about JJ's relationships.  He does not only think of his Grandparents as just that, but they are his friends.  He wants to tell them about things that happen in his life that are important to him.  JJ loved and I mean loved riding his bike all the way over to Grandma Lee's and climbing Badger with Grandpa Lee,  He will always love going to Maui home and how big a part of that is his life.   The vacations and holidays and sleepovers... they all mean something to him.  I was explaining to him what his memory was and what it means to him.  I told him that he has lots of pictures in his mind that create memories,,, those memories can be stored or erased, or put into special places.  He said like Christmas, or Hawaii and I said yes,,, you have been part of his special memories that are stored in the best places.

Jayden also needs to have his cousins in his life.  I cannot remember two kids getting lost at a VBS other than Dawson and Jayden.  They can have two different conversations going on at the same time and be playing together one minute and then, poof,  by themselves the next.  I see so many interesting stories from those two as they grow up.  Madeline and Jonah will also have to deal with JJ, as Jonah will be the coach on the field for him for a while, and Madeline will be the Master of all as they grow into Elementary and Middle School.  But Dawson and JJ,,, seriously,,, digging holes in the dirt to cover themselves up... crazy stuff.

Emily, Alison, Boyd and myself will find the most interesting reasons why things happen between those two in the future... just staring at them trying to figure out why, just why,,, and shaking our heads.

But the best memories for me is of the relationship between JJ and his mother.  They allow each other to be themselves.  JJ loves being around his mom, she is his best friend.  I know people think that wow, you guys leave for a month to go somewhere and how much money you spend and that is why you do not have another new car or you don't have more money etc...

But I know for a FACT, that my wife and my son need this time.  The months of June, July, and August mean so much to them.  JJ and I have November and December,  But summer is all Alison.

The time Zip lining, snorkeling, boogie boarding, lying in bed reading, playing cards, swimming, walking, climbing, biking... are the most important things in his life.  Those times in Hawaii and Maui, and here cannot be trivialized or taken for granted.  I see what these memories mean to both Alison and JJ, and I know what it means to be a family and the mental pictures we have taken this past summer are being stored in the GOLDEN MEMORIES box in their brains.  These Memories are so essential to a healthy upbringing..  And trust me... after JJ did this last bike ride.. he is very very healthy. 

JJ PART 1 FOR 2013

It takes me longer and longer to get back to these blogs... but I do have to say that Jayden has had a great first half of the year.

Great Pics from the Hawaii Trip
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=6A7B3708BE80ADDE!366&authkey=!ADIvWjBuMRcJm9w

The first part of the year Jayden played basketball which went okay.... he could make it through the first 3 quarters, but by the last quarter he was done..

School went well and he did okay on spelling tests and most math... but we have been working on his reading and writing.  I cannot believe how much is taught so early on in a child's life and how fast they need to know things now.  We are working this summer on reading as well as writing skills,  but like all other years, he is DONE by May with school.  He told us the old school (Fruitland) was hot and he was done by the end of summer.  I think overall it was successful, we just have to figure out how to keep him on task by the end of the year.

Baseball was my favorite sport this year and alas, I missed most of it... but when I went to the games I really enjoyed them.  He really takes a hack and he is getting to below average on his fielding... I wish he would look where he is throwing... but we are working on technique and stance.  He also has no interest in catching the ball, but will chase it down after it gets past him.  I love baseball and I do pray, a little selfishly, that JJ will love it too.  I do not care if he does not become an all-star or wants to play his whole life..... but I do love trying to play catch... I have to work with my left arm so both of us do not throw well.  And when my right arm tries,,, the ball goes about 30 ft, if that..

I know that Jayden can be tough to handle as he really thinks he knows everything and believes that he can grow up all by himself... which leads him right into trouble with me... But I am just trying to make sure that he enjoys life and does not get his feelings hurt by people.  I know that he gets selfish and does not consider others a lot.... but other times, especially with Kallee and his mother,, he is very sweet and caring and really shows what kind of person he can be.   He loves hanging out kicking soccer balls with Grandma Gebers, or legos with Grandma Lee, and Baseball and tents with Grandpa Lee.  Grandpa Gebers gave JJ some tasks on Maui and he took them seriously... He took out the garbage cans and did recycling as well as the best job, closing the gate at night. When JJ is given a job and he takes it seriously, he does it all the time. But if he finds the job insignificant, well his brain never gets to it,,, ever... Unless I use "the voice" and then we are both annoyed.

But let's get back to the fun stuff in which I enjoy talking about.   This year has been full of fun stuff and this vacation is no different. Jayden has been going on Ziplines and snorkeling... We have been out on the beach and saw turtles suntanning... Jayden has been showing off his swimming skills in the pool and the ocean. He loves boogie boarding but seems never to want to go.... He whines and moans about getting ready and leaving, yet when it is time to leave anywhere,,, he is angry. Crazy kid. He and his sister can never agree on which beach to go to. Ulua beach is where he loves to go. It has both great boogie boarding and turtle or snorkeling... They cut off our way to the beach but we adapted and found another way to get there. At Hilton Waikola Village we have had a wonderful time. I can say for certain that we would love to stay for more than the 8 days we had there... in fact we really want just one more day of just pool sitting... Hanging out, just going nowhere.  One of our best times was throwing a little football in the pool to each other while Kallee would swim to us and have fun.

JJ has been kayaking with the turtles and boating with Alison hanging out in the lagoon. We also watched part of a movie in the pool and climbed lava. He is almost fearless and loves adventure. He is the kind of kid you want on a vacation because he could be in for anything. He makes his mother do things that would be called adventures.  This summer has been all about adventures.  JJ took his swimming to the last level of Starfish at the Court Club, so if he passes this one, then it would be to the Catfish swim club... We probably will not go that far as Tri-City Court Club changed their rules, but it was a great experience.

With JJ this summer we have really had a great time...  He tries to do flips on the diving board and cheered for Oh Boy Oberto at the Columbia Cup.  He and his sister have slept in sleeping bags downstairs and tented with Grandpa Lee.  He has climbed Badger a lot and left Dawson on the side of a cliff at Concunully.

But the probably the most impressive adventure he has done was this week.  He and Alison biked from our house, down to Columbia Park, and all the way to Grandpa and Grandma Lee's.  I mapped out their route and it was about 19 miles and took them 2 and half hours.  We then went to the swimming pool for 3 hours and he played soccer with Grandpa back at the house.  At 10 at night, when we finally finished our day, he asked Alison if they could do it again the next day.   He can be so amazing.

Jayden told me that he is afraid of 2nd grade and wants to go back to Kindergarten where things were easy.  I told him he had no choice because he has to support us when we get old and he said his mom could move in with him... ah well.

Jayden is now 4 feet 3 1/4 inches and weighs 62 pounds of energy.

I hope I do not take as long between blogs so that I can remember all the great things JJ does, but for now... this is what I have...

To the summer of 2013,,, thank you for the memories.

Jayden and the Winter of 2013

First I must say that both Jayden and I miss the Christmas season. We both love doing the lights and going to get the tree. We love the drives to farms and doing christmas trains and of course presents. But it was such a poor year for snow that we only got to sled for a couple of days. We took advantage of those days and went out and played in the snow but overall it was such a disappointing winter. What I really love about the Christmas season with Jayden is how he can do things that other kids might not be able to do yet. He sees how things work and can figure out how to create something to solve a problem. I look at him all the time in amazement at the things that he creates. His imagination and active mind is a great thing. I have taken many of the creations he does and I show them off to the students. I love how he is able to use his mind to keep himself from boredom. He way of trying to solve problems is going to make life easier. He is not going to wait for someone else to solve a problem but will in the end, find a way to fix it. Jayden is also the comfort for his mommy in these tax season times. He will try and stay awake on the nights that Alison has to work late so that he can sit with her and watch American Idol, or the Voice or whatever is on. He likes his alone time with his mommy. They work on his reading and spelling words. It shows me how much his mommy means to him, his true best friend. I love that, I know that life for us as a family is awesome, because the relationships built are on a strong and solid foundation. Jayden is swimming very well and has made it to level 4 at the Court Club. He has had a great teacher these last to sessions that gets the most out of him. Basketball on the other hand seriously tests my patience and I most of the time fail.... miserably. I think he has decided that he likes dribbling and shooting,, but the game itself is boring and not much fun.... I am okay with him not wanting to play next year because I am not sure I can go through another year like this one. He wants to baseball, but we will see. I told him his attention span would have to get better, plus we would need help getting him to games etc.... He understands that I expect more listening to the coaches and he has said he will become a better listener... I hope so because I would like him to play baseball, I want to go to the games and just be part of that. Jayden has done very well in school, we are trying to get him successful in minute math and being able to recognize his spelling words. Most of the time when he makes a mistake it is because he does not pay attention to the way the word is set up and transposes letters. But he does not get upset when I tell him it is time to do homework and I am glad that he cares about doing well in school. I really am impressed with his intellect. Going back and thinking about last year I remember fondly so many things. I love the surf lesson and how quickly he picked up the surfing. I love Decorating the house with his help. I love that Jayden likes playing on the beach and trying to crash the waves with his boogie board. How he gets so excited when he creates something new and the pride in his eyes. How he loves to make a mess and HATES to clean up. The great nights where he stays with his sister and how they love to spend the night in each others room. How excited he was when he beat Jonah, me and Alison at Pac Man games. One of my favorite stories happened yesterday, when we went to get flowers for valentines. Jayden took forever finding the right flowers and when he did a couple of ladies in the floral area told him he picked out the "best" ones. He was so proud, he was so excited he kept telling everyone in the store he got the "best" flowers for his mommy. I saw how much that meant to him. He can be so caring of those around him, especially his mommy and sister. I do not let him do much for me, but that is my fault, my problem. I need to be more open with him. But I can say for certain that I would have no other son to raise. I am very proud of Jayden.

JAYDEN'S VIDEOS DURING THE CHRISTMAS BREAK

Here are some videos from christmas time. 

JAYDEN READING A CHRISTMAS STORY TO GRANDMA

JAYDEN PLAYING IN THE SNOW

MORE SNOW FUN

Jayden

Again, with the injury to the shoulder it has been hard to keep up with my thoughts the past 6 months. 

There have been so much great things happening with Jayden that it is hard to remember it all.  I do know that Jayden has grown in so many ways, both educationally as well as socially and physically.  Kindergarten went so well for him and we have to thank Cascade Elementary and Ms. Hepworth who really did care about Jayden and his education.  He did great scoring really high on his math and language arts state assessment.  He scored almost perfect in math missing one shape question and was 93 percent in language arts.   Those scores really impressed me as he showed knowledge AND the ability to sit and tell people what he knows…

Jayden loved the start of summer as we started swim lessons again.  We did a lot of swimming and hanging out at parks.  He played and got wet and just liked being outside.  We would set up pools and slides in the backyard and the kids had a great time.  He was pretty good with Kallee and she was a pest to him.  But he would entertain her and they would just have a grand old time.

Memorial Day was once again a smash hit with both Jayden and Kallee getting dirty a lot… and a lot.  Jayden got to do more walking adventures and then even got to watch duck race.  He has lots of kids that he can play with up in Concunully WA.    It is truly one of the thing we look forward to every year.

And then, just that fast…. We were headed to Hawaii.

During the Months of February through May, both my wife and I work a lot…. A LOT.    Alison and I work hard too during that time.  But when vacation comes,,,, we play hard…

We get to go to our Maui Home for 23 glorious days.  And we play like a family hard.   I know that my parents would watch Kallee and Jayden more if we asked them too… but the thing is.  We really want them around.  The point of the vacation was to go out and make memories as a family,… no matter how exhausted I get… and I do…. but to see my son and see how he is…

Here is a story about him and first day we were there.   We went to our favorite establishment in Moose McGuillicuttys in Keihi.   We have a great meal and then across the street the sun is setting over the Pacific.  We hit the beach and Jayden is told he can get his feet wet… then his shorts are wet,,, then he stumbles and his whole body is wet… no problem… so we stay and he and Kallee are happy and Alison and I are enjoying the setting of a perfect day…… so far.

As we are walking back to the car,,, Jayden says “what happens if I fall and ….oopppSSS”,,, right after I told him to be careful not to get sand on him.   He falls and is completely covered in sand… head to toe… I go BALLISTIC!!  I am losing it on him, but everyone else on the beach is laughing at me,,, saying to  themselves… been there done that… I look at all the smiles of sympathy pointed at both myself and my son and just walk to the car… and Jayden has no problem as he is driven home naked wearing his moms sweatshirt… It gave everyone there a good feeling about life and where they were and kids…

Jayden was given so many opportunities to enjoy life in Maui and he did.  I get so much joy from watching him tackle new things.

And he was able to do so many things… He snorkeled and boogie boarded.  He got to learn how to Surf,, one of my favorite memories of the whole trip was watching my wife and Jayden surf… I loved it… I loved just watching and seeing them both succeed in an adventure…   He picked it up so quickly… but still has a lot to learn if he is going to try it on his own.

Jayden got to Snuba as well, swimming all around the pool at the Hyatt.  He got to enter the biggest splash contest where he did not win, but was improving the whole time.  He hung out and watched an outdoor movie on the beach at night.   He also got to go on a Boat, but….. as he would tell you “Will NOT do that again!!!!”.  He got sick but was fine once his legs got back on Terra-Firma.

He is the adventurous type.  So willing to try things new and wanting to do things for fun.  Except food of course where he will not try anything.   I know for a fact that Jayden and Kallee are the biggest reasons that Roy loves us being there as well as seeing a lot more of Auntie Eleanor and her family during this trip.  They even drove down and stayed a couple of extra hours just to hang out with my family.  Kallee and Jayden both have something that just seems to allow people to like them.  Kallee and Kailee (sp) really got along because Kailee and Kallee are 2 peas in a pod.   How fortunate it is for our children to spend time with relatives. 

What is most special is watching Jayden and Alison together… there such a strong bond there.  He really wants to be with her and impress her and just hang out.  They have their “spelling words” time or their “watching Survivor or American Idol” time, or their “reading books” time.  But there is always time.  Both of them are late night people, with Jayden staying up sometimes just to talk to mommy, or using the excuse that he is hungry to hang out more.  There are times where I think the kids has 3 different dinners at night time… ps that boy can eat…

Kallee and I hang out in her room doing our thing and Jayden and Alison are talking life in his… it is nice to be a father and a husband.. I love it.  To say that I do not get tired or I am sometimes frustrated by the moment or the lack of effort or the lies my son tells to try and stay out of trouble.  That both of them can suck the living being right out of me would be outrageous… and untruthful.  They both do things that have me running up the wall and thinking looney bin.  Jayden can at times have me so furious that I want to shut down completely until he is 20…..  but I would take all the bad to see the good.  I would take all the pain to see him grow into what he is going to be.

Jayden had a great summer all the way until the end.   He really loves hanging out with the grandparents the days that we go to Vegas with the gang.  They love the fact that the grandparents are close and they like to hang out with them.   Jayden is so happy that Grandpa Lee sets up a tent with him.  In fact I am told that Jayden is pretty close to being able to set it up himself… with help of course.    The kid just loves building things and seeing how things work. 

Jayden also loves going to the Fair.  This year was a great time as Alison got us tickets to the rodeo part of the Benton Franklin County Fair.  It was a great time, he had a blast.  He also loves just doing the Fair thing with the rides and the tractor pull and rides… it is a pretty good time.

When September hit Jayden had to go to school at the old Fruitland School, which is nice for Alison as it is right across from where Kallee goes to school.  So that is nice…

Jayden is really doing well in school as he is scoring high on his spelling and math assignments.  He is drilled by his mommy almost every night to make sure he knows them.  The teacher has mentioned good things about our son and he scored satisfactory on all aspects of his trimester grades.    He is reading pretty well and spelling and math are going great.  I really love how quickly he picks things up.

He has also been part of an All-Star Soccer team.   And when I say All-Star, I mean part of the Shark teeth team in Upward Soccer at South Hills Church.  On the team were three strong, stong players in Jonah and Charlie as well as Tyler.  Then Jayden and two Sisters Camille and Kayda were the 2^nd group of players who, in time all could be strong players.  The team really did roll through the competition.  But alas, my son had a hard time getting a goal.  It was not because of the coach, who tried hard to get him the ball to score, but Jayden was very rules orientated.  If to coach said to stay in one place, he did, no matter that the ball was 3-10 feet away.  He stayed where he was told.  But in the last game he took a pass from Kayda  and dribbled and scored… Yea!!! 

Soccer Pics

He loved practices with the coaches and kids, and kind of liked the games.  He had fun and was sad to see the end of the season coming… I am glad he enjoyed it as I was very pleased with how far he came during the season.  I am very interested in seeing how he does in basketball… I hope he loves it.

One more quick story… As we were getting ready to leave the soccer celebration.. my nephew Jonah came up to me and said Jayden’s tooth was loose and it was bleeding.  I told my son to just grab it and yank it out…. And he did.  Again, pulling his own tooth.  That is awesome!   He is a tough kid…

PS—Both Jayden and I are getting excited because the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming and we both love this time.   He wants to get out the lights already and it is hard for me to say no.

 Some summer Pics

 Summer Pics

Jayden's Kindergarten Musical

Jayden at his Kindergarten concert.  He is in the middle because he was the main focus... not really but I can dream.  It was very enjoyable.  I was a little scared that he might fall off the back... but he made it all the way through.

YES!!!