Somethin's just not right with that kid

It seems to be Maxx's challenge to make sure Aaron thinks he is retarded. He has picked up crossing his eyes, putting his shoes on the wrong feet, and saying TREAT YUMMY YUMMY constantly like a goon. His goofball looks and Rufio hair don't help. Anyhow the kicker...

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In the craziness of my Mom's funeral week Maximus had made it to their house with no shoes and was borrowing the 2 sizes too big Elmo watersocks my mom had for the kids. As Aaron was looking out the front windows of the house with my aunts watching him play he said "Ya know there is something just not right about that kid". On queue Maxx picked up a big hand full of rocks and put them into mouth with Aaron banging on the the window... "HEY, DON'T EAT ROCKS!!!"

Mike says, "That's my boy"... I say, yes he is. :)

How I'm Doing

Words don't seem to come easily to me lately, but everyone seems to wonder how I'm doing. Thank you... we appreciate it... we have been spoiled... you rock!
Does that get me off the hook when it comes to thank you notes? Just kidding.

Good. I'm doing good.
Not "well" because that would make sense
Not fantastic because that would put back the piece of me that seems to be missing
At times okay or hanging in there - that is typically Tuesdays because that was the day my Mom watched my kids so I could go to the temple with Mike, the day we usually hung out, walked/talked, and the day she died.
So better than yesterday and hopefully not as well as tomorrow.

Most of the time I am excited for her, that she had a great end to a great life. I know she is excited about all the new experiences, responsibilities, possibilities, freedoms - that is just her. However sometimes I forget that it is the world that makes death seem like an end, like a tragedy, hopeless and alone. It seems poetic that the person most responsible for teaching me that the truth is that it is none of those things is the one I would need it most for.

I believe this change has enabled my mother to multitask, boss me around (I mean encourage :) ), and be there for even more that she was in life (if at all possible). That she now has the time she has always wanted to further the Lord's work while still supporting her family. I have felt her influence, her words, her strength when I need it. Even more lasting I have felt the comfort from a loving God that I know greatly because of her.

Exactly what she is up to is of great interest to me and has sparked a desire to learn even more which is always good. It is interesting that death is so common, but it impacts you so completely. I walk alone now and there is no one to save me from the dogs that will surely eat me. I cry every time I go to call her and tell her about something exciting, frustrating, or funny. I am heartbroken for my Dad - although he is so tough; and makes me a lot of cookies.

Basically it is like this post, or life... a roller coaster with more ups than downs.

Must be Jackmans

My parents got boxing gloves for the kids for Christmas. In their defense they also got a punching bag; needless to say that didn't last long. Maybe not one of their best ideas, but awfully entertaining.






















For the record this is my son beating the snot out of Aaron's... ironic isn't it.

Brothers huh

I have one brother. Aaron is the type that does everything better than everyone else, it makes you want to beat him up; but if you are going to try you better know how to run fast and lock the bathroom door. :)

Aaron and I have a love/hate relationship I love him and he just hates it. Just kidding - although honestly read this fast because he is probably making me take it down right now.
He drove me to West each day on his bike. He (and Em) wrote my name huge on the butt of all my underwear for camp so that "even if I was found face-down in a ditch they would know who I was". I am the official tester of all homemade tree elevators and wrestling moves. He even employed me to reload shotgun shells (was it a penny/shell?)... man where would I be without him? :)


No, Aaron is always a great example; he is fearless yet kind, fun, and has that Jackman perfect mix of poetry and meanness that keeps everything real.

He saved my butt with a piggy back ride when we had pushed my parents too far by fighting in the car and they made us walk home...
When he called home from his mission and I was sick of feeling different with "Claar, we're Jackmans we not supposed to fit in"...

At my wedding when he hugged me and told me how proud he was of me...

When I've needed sprinklers, help making it though taking care of Grandma, or this week when I needed my car brought back from the dead.

We all know that lollipops, sunshine, and flowers is not going to happen when Jackmans get together so here it is ... thanks man, I love you.

-Claar

Learning by Leaps and Bounds

New page layout is a tribute to Maxx.

His vocabulary is growing everyday, and we all love to hear him talk. His favorite word this week was "frog". Unfortunately, it comes out very different when he tries to say it (still starts with f but ends in K).

He couldn't figure out why everyone kept laughing, so when we ask him to say "frog" now, he says "riiibbbittt".

An Ode to Em

My sister has been riding me to blog, to discourage people from this practice I have decided to make her the topic of this post.

Actually... Her birthday is in January, I will not reveal her age, but she is 7 years my elder. I am 25 :) - couldn't resist. It was nice having someone older as I grew up to steal clothes from, buy me Doc Martins, and warn me when I was being stupid... still is.

Our family teases Emily constantly for reading the Obituaries faithfully, I am fully depending on her to let me know when I am dead. So, although she is very alive and hopefully always will be the following is her random tribute from me for now.

Project Manager Barbie... I mean Em
Be it teaching me to tie my shoes to directing the family on building the largest playhouse ever she is a great motivator and teammate.

Good sport: She will dejunk our homes and is always willing to dress the part, although she still refuses to match clothes with me... although sometimes it happens on accident - haha!

Great Mom

Fun Aunt

Uses restraint: We all know she can kill us, and probably often wants to, but the fact that she hasn't is all that matters.

She may not be perfect, but I'm glad she is my sister and friend.

Create New Holidays Game

Although I like Thanksgiving Dinner (which I have renamed the day) I have about had it with the BS that each holiday brings; so I have decided to make up some new ones... feel free to join me. And don't give me your warm fuzzies about holidays - it is eating and hauling kids from one house to the other so blah blah blah .

Claar's Revised National Holidays:

*Stay home from work because it sucks day - mom like me... kids go to sitter

*Don't have to go to your in laws day

*Punch an idiot day

*Call someone just to let them know what you really think of them day

*Media must be positive day

*Stay home in bed with your spouse day - cohabitators must work, serves you right - singles watch the kids (doubles as national birth control day) :)

*Use profanity without guilt day

*Eat ice cream because you are fat anyway day


And although it does not fall in with my new holidays just a reminder to get your shopping done for national buy crap for the people you feel obligated to day. And yes I am on one, it is allowed every once in a while.

:) Claar