Brandon is doing well in school so far. He keeps asking me why he has to go because he thinks he is already smart, at least we keep telling him so. It's amazing the difference between him last year and this year though. It is like everything he learned last year is kicking in this year and he keeps popping up with little tidbits of info that I didn't even know he knew and showing us stuff that I know he learned last year but wouldn't show us. It is so amazing to watch both of them growing and learning and getting so excited over things we take for granted.

Jessie was making crafts the other day while Brandon was in school and I showed him the picture she made. He assumed it was for him and asked her "you made this for me?" She just went along with it and said yes (luckily). Then he told her that it was very pretty and asked me if he could hang it up. I figured he wanted it on the fridge with the others but he had me hang it in the living room so he could see it from his chair so that he can admire it any time he wants to. Then the other night, Brandon started crying because his sister is not a baby anymore and he misses the baby things she used to do, and because he won't be able to pick her up much longer (he wasn't able to pick her up until recently anyway). I had to remind him that she will always be his little sister and he teaches her things everyday and there will always be new adventures as they both get bigger. He is such a sensitive little boy and sometimes he acts way older than six.

Jessie is as entertaining as ever. She is learning so much from Brandon that I forget that she is only two. She already knows her alphabet and can count to thirteen consistently and higher sometimes with prompting. She is recognizing her colors to a point and her vocabulary is through the roof. It is funny to watch people's reactions in public when they see this tiny blond thing that looks younger than she is and then she starts having these big conversations and saying things very clearly. It tends to take them back slightly. For example, the other day we went to a book fair at mom's work. Mom was carrying Jess so she wouldn't get into trouble and there was a lady looking at books right by us. Jessie all of sudden pointed to her arm and told mom that that was her arm bone and that she has bones in her body and so does mom. The lady had to do a second take because she was so surprised that someone that small would say something like that and it was so clear. The only thing baby about her is she still has her binky. It makes me a little sad sometimes because I feel like I didn't get my baby for very long but I guess that happens when you have an older child teaching them stuff.

By the way dad's 60th birthday is this year so if anyone has any ideas on how to celebrate this milestone that doesn't cost a lot of money, we would appreciate any suggestions.