Jackson is 12

Jackson is 12 now. Pre-teens and teens only for us now. On the way home from Utah, I picked up Jarom to spend the weekend with Jackson. Them being far apart is something they both wish were different. They had a good time. We opened gifts Saturday. Emery wrapped a bunch of things, which in the end, the present was a tiny plastic baby. 

This is what Jackson asked for the most. A Nicholas Cage face blanket. Why? You got me, but he loved it.

They watched a few scary movies this weekend as well. It's fun seeing these two interact when they're together. 

For his actual birthday we went and saw the new Spiderman, Superverse movie. Very good and worth watching. 

Jackson is my baby and I don't know how much I love him being a preteen now.  I don't have any little kids anymore. It just makes me old.  He still loves to make people laugh and says some of the most random things. He also will randomly make noises and he claps a lot. When he was 2 or 3 he took a tablet into him room and hid it to play at night. He could have gotten away with it, but he did well on a level and was excited and clapped for himself. Jackson, Brad and Cam have a lot in common when it comes to art. He draws and does things with photoshop and drawing tablet, but he is getting better and better. He has gone a little away from loving all things horror and has switched to... well the 80's/90's pop-culture may be best to describe him now. He has watched all the Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, Hobbit, really older movies that Brad grew up loving. If we say that some older movie is really good, the kids should watch it, he will. He also loves La Bomba and a few others that are more dramas and you wouldn't think he'd like to sit through. Right now he is watching Breaking Bad and likes it, so far. His room is now going more Star Wars/TMNT. His favorite thing to draw and to read are graphic novels/comic books. I like that he likes to read, and when he get those, he reads them quick. One thing he loves to do it library tours. There are libraries all over here and so we pick a few and go see what they have to offer. We usually take his friend Luke with us. Libraries are one thing we both love to go to. I really like it when the kids get you. They will watch memes or shorts on Social Media and come to me with ones they find funny and/or think I will find funny and he has started that. There is a part to kids growing that is sad, but also a part that's exciting when they start molding into these tiny adults with their own likes and hates and things that are funny. I really do love seeing who they develop into. We talked tonight in FHE to prepare for the Barnes reunion. It's about loving your neighbors and showing kindness and we asked if anyone had a story they wanted to share. He said he did. It was 4th grade and the first few weeks were remote  but they decided to send elementary to in person. He said one day the teacher told them to work on something and they could work with a partner. He said he just worked alone because he didn't know anyone, it was his first year in Boise. Then  two kids in the class, Luke and Kaylee said he looked sad, do you want to work with us. He then said the rest is history. Luke is his best friend and really an answer to a prayer. I loved hearing him tell about it, and how much something so little, they just let a new kid work with them. Brings a happy tear to me. We love Luke, they get along so perfectly. He has loved being a Deacon and the responsibilities that come with that. He has his favorite route for the sacrament, which I think every boy does. He has really liked going to Jr High. Having different classes each day, World Civilization was his favorite. He even got an award for that class. His favorite snack is Dr Pepper and his favorite toy or game is the PS4 Marvel Ultimate Alliance. Brad, Jacks and I have been playing it together the past few weeks.