Dinner at the McMillans

In Which Jackson Tries for 60 Hits

I was putting away some Tupperware in the cupboard. As I was stacking it, I noticed that one bowl had the lid on and was full of Brian’s lunch leftovers (they needed to be refrigerated). I think his mind was elsewhere that day.

Jackson’s been practicing hitting off a tee. We’ve been trying to teach him how to take turns. He told Brian that it would be Brian’s turn after he got 60 hits.

Friday night, Brian and Jackson went to the local high school football game after our ward party. Jackson watched it the whole time, while following the line of scrimmage. His only question was where the yellow line was. (That’s the computerized first down marker on TV.)

I mowed our lawn yesterday. This may not seem like a big deal but I don’t think I’ve mowed a lawn since I was about 10 years old. I did run over a rock, but I blame the fact that the grass was more like a forest since it’s been ages since it’s been cut. I couldn’t see it.

Today I received a new calling. I am the second counselor in the Relief Society presidency. I will still be teaching primary throughout the end of the year. I’m excited for the change, but I will be busy.

Jackson said he needed his sunglasses to keep his “eyes out of the sun.”

Brian brought out a pair of shoes for Jackson this morning and I told him that they were still too big for him. Jackson piped in, “Grant would like to wear them because his feet are so long.”

Moms Club Picnic

Sack Race


They played a game where the parents would race while holding
their child in a blanket. Jackson rode with his friend, Garrett.
Luckily for us, Garrett's parents raced with them.

Pinata

In Which Jackson Jumped in a Sack

Grant's started to sing. He will sing along with the radio, while playing the piano, and today he sung his own version of the hymns at church. He also does a lot of pointing. He points at things out the window of the car, and he taps his tray--pointing at where he wants you to scoop his food.

I hosted a playgroup this week. One little boy was playing with a semi truck. Apparently, he had the truck attached to the wrong trailer. Jackson spent a good 5 minutes convincing this little boy that he needed to switch trailers, because it wasn't matched right. It's a sad day when you see yourself in your children.

I finally got around to doing some simple sign language with Grant. I've signed a little with him over the past couple weeks, but not enough for him to grasp it, or so I thought. The other day I said, "more" while signing it. He instantly repeated the sign back to me. He's also figured out "please." It's great to be communicating with more than just grunts.

Saturday we went to a picnic hosted by moms club. Jackson participated in his very first sack race. He had a good time but still seems to struggle with jumping. I think it goes back to his broken leg. But he got to hit a pinata and didn't have any problems swinging the bat.

Silliness

I also did Brian and I. I look 21% more like my dad and Brian looks 4% more like his Mom.

Grant

Jackson

Brewer's Game

We didn't want to have to carry the better camera,
so some of the photos are fuzzy, but you get
the general idea.

We each got a bobble head Robin Yount as we

entered the park. Grant broke his after about

ten minutes.

We were on the highest row in the stadium.

The real nose bleed section.

In Which We Vacation in Wisconsin

A few weeks ago, we were at the church playing basketball. Jackson was sitting by our friend, Ethan, who was drinking from a water bottle. Jackson looked at him and said, “I am very, very thirsty.” And then turned back to the movie. Ethan offered him some water and Jackson eagerly took it.

Grant was chewing on something the other day, which is very normal for him, but he got a disgusted look on his face and handed the item to me. It was a big, dead bug.

This weekend we ventured out of Marquette to Wisconsin. Friday night we attended a Brewer’s game in Milwaukee. Grant loved it. He would point at the field, and then look at us babbling. He tried to clap along with the songs and just enjoyed the whole game. It appears, to Brian’s delight, that we now have another baseball fan on our hands. We took our point-and-shoot camera since it was Grant’s first baseball game, every time I would tell him to say cheese he would say, “eeze.”

We then stayed the night in Madison with Amanda, a family friend, and enjoyed a relaxing morning before heading to Green Bay for stake conference. Saturday night we stayed in Appleton with a friend of mine from high school, Emily. Sunday morning we attended stake conference again and headed home. It was really fun to catch up with old friends amid all our traveling.

While we were driving, Jackson said, “Stop and pee.” I was thinking, “Yeah! He wants to use the restroom!” But he was referring to “P” for “Park,” which he can see on the console by the speedometer. I think he was getting tired of his car seat.

In Which Jackson Eats Paint

In Which Grant Hauls Fruit Loops

On Labor Day we had a ward picnic at a member’s home on the beach. Brian played a game of football, and I saw him dive for a catch—what a man. But I have to admit my favorite part was when I saw Jackson hike the ball to Brian in the game with the adults. Jackson looked so cute out there trying to play. Grant dug in the sand most of the time—one of his favorite things to do.

Grant came walking down the hallway holding a container of mandarin oranges. He handed them to me. We went to his chair and I gave him the oranges. He ate the whole container. He’s also dragged bags of Fruit Loops and Mini Wheats down the hallway.

I got a break this week and went on a Mom’s night out. We went on a scavenger hunt (it was really fun despite being a little teenagerish) and then met up for ice cream. My team won, thanks to my mad driving skills.

Jackson was sitting at the table eating pancakes when I heard, “Juh, I, fff. Mom, what does that spell?” He was trying to read the peanut butter container.

I made homemade doughnuts for the first time today. And despite our house smelling like it’s been deep fried, they were a huge success.

Grant still hasn’t said anything that can be deemed a word, besides the mama and dada babble. But a few times over the past couple days it sounds like he’s trying to say “thank you.” He just mimicks the voice inflection, but he does it at the right times. He’ll give me something and then say it, or sometimes I’ll prompt him to say it and it sounds like he’s really trying.

ABC Quiz

In Which Grant Discovers His Belly Button

Grant was really sick this week. He got the cold I have had for a couple weeks now. I spent the first few days this week holding him. He wouldn’t sleep in his bed for very long, so he spent hours sleeping on me. I enjoyed it because I got some much needed extra sleep, but the house suffered. He seems to be feeling better today.

We were on walk and Jackson found an acorn. Brian and Jackson stopped to explore a hole in a tree. Jackson stuck his acorn in it and said, “That acorn was too heavy to carry.” Looks like he won’t be in the strongest man competition.

We had a missionary discussion at our home the other day. Grant was sitting on my lap, and when I looked down, he had his t-shirt pulled up and had discovered his belly button.

I was about to clip Jackson’s fingernails when he said, “You drive my fingernails crazy!”

Brian successfully completed the first draft of the first chapter of his thesis—only 200+ more pages to go.