Jackson was adamant about having a party at our house. He wanted everyone (meaning my family, I don't think he's quite figured out that he could have a friend party if he asked, but he hasn't asked yet, so we're not going there) to come over to his house. He wanted to decorate it really bad I think. So we just had my family over for dinner and opening presents. Oh, and opening birthday cards. I can't forget that. This kid loves birthday cards. He had to pick one out for himself at the store. 
And here is Jackson opening his favorite present: a camera for kids. The pictures he has on that thing are hilarious, but that will have to be a different post.
But I think that he had a great day. We love him and I can't believe that he is already 4 years old! How did this happen? I know I say that every time one of my children have a birthday, but how did this happen?
Here are some things I have learned from Jackson:
Sleeping is totally overrated, and it absolutely cannot happen unless the proper steps have been taken. If you're going to torture people by putting them to sleep it is all about routine, routine, routine! If anything goes wrong during this very particular process it is totally normal to go into absolute irrational hysterics. For instance, after you have had your books, prayers, songs, kiss, hug, lambey, lambey's blanket, said,"Good night, sweet dreams, I love you, see you in the morning," and blown a kiss, if something is forgotten such as say, an idiot parent forgetting to put a drink of water on the bucket of blocks by the bed, as soon as you are almost asleep, bolt upright out of bed and scream and cry that you absolutely cannot go to sleep without one sip of water and the cup on the bucket by the bed. After you get your water and you are almost asleep again, if said idiot parent accidentally turns off the bathroom light before you are completely asleep, jump out of your covers, open the door and shriek something unintelligible but containing the word "light" until the light is turned back on. Duh, people. What is so difficult about remembering everything in my bedtime routine?
Whenever you have to go potty, no matter what you are doing, out of nowhere scream "POTTY!" That's it. Just, "POTTY!" Then you will always be escorted to the bathroom.
Peeing your pants is no big deal, or at least peeing a little in your underwear is no big deal. Seriously, I, Jackson, do it every day. It's usually not bad enough to have to change your pants, just your underwear, so what's the problem people, more specifically - mom? Seriously! And if you do pee through to your pants, it's no big deal if you have to walk home from your friends house wearing your coat but no pants in the winter. Why would you borrow your friend's pants?
If you want something, anything, and something happens to make you sad or angry, tell your mother that you don't want, say, Lambey, or you don't want to go to the children's museum, or you don't want any ice cream, or you don't want to have fun. After a while your mom will understand that you really do want it. Of course if she misunderstands you and says, "Ok, don't have it." Tell her, "No, I DO want it." Then she'll know it's really really important.
If you are sad, and someone does something that you think is really funny, laugh really hard. It's super easy to turn the crying off when you want to. You can always start crying again later.
Always show your enthusiasm. If you are so excited about something (and nothing happens to make you sad) be super happy about it. Open your eyes as big as you can and put your hands over your mouth and gasp and laugh and jump up and down. It makes your mom really happy.
Holidays are the best things ever. Always be happy on holidays and talk about what you are going to do on them weeks before they happen.
When you say your prayers, always, "Bless the prophet so we can help somebody and do something and have fun."
I think we'll have to get a pass, just so that Jackson can go play with the sand or more technically the "erosion" exhibit. 
This was Ty's Favorite part. Seeing the human being smooshed by the Mammoth.
Can you tell he's excited?
And here is my dad reciting his annual Christmas poems. That's right, I said Christmas poems, and they're awesome. Different yes, but awesome. My dad's grandpa used to do the every year and my dad has taken over. Usually he's dressed up with a crazy nose and glasses and coat and scarf. This year he even added awful teeth from halloween and he has authentic sleigh bells that he rings to scare the crap out of everyone. But this year he forgot his outfit, his fake nose and glasses (which were his grandpa's) got run over by a car, and Hayden hates the bells so much because they are SO LOUD. He heard them for a second a couple weeks ago and it took me half an hour to completely calm him down. Then he yelled at my Dad the next time he saw them and every once in a while he still talks about "Grandpa's loud jingle bells." I've never heard anything like them. But at least he still did his little performance and then it felt like Christmas. 
