June Giggles

"I am your pet jaguar" Jairus told me as he curled up above my head on my chair as we read books this afternoon. – June 7

"Mommy...is our life locked? Are we going to be the next victims? I don't want to be a victim." Jairus has asked me this 3 times this week! Maybe Qubo has too many infomercial type commercials...maybe he has watched too much TV this week. – June 10

Stacy Fisher Wells: That's the life-lock commercial. Life-lock: protect your credit & finances, don't be the next victim( or something like that) pretty funny though, kids do absorb everything they hear!

"I don't want to have too much fun. It might make me sick." Interesting insight from Jairus. – June 13

Involving a 4 year old in any level of a surprise is never a good idea. ;)  "Daddy..ask me why I am quiet"  "Why are you quiet" "Mommy and I are getting a surprise for you tomorrow." – June 14

"hmm...it needs salt" Jairus said after taking a bite of his donut. He is so Joe's son! – June 15

In a moment of frustration I said to Jairus “Why are you acting like a baby?” Without any thought or missing a beat he answered “because I have baby teeth.” Of course. –June 16

"Daddy is full of good ideas." "Did you hear that Lynelle...I want you to write that down." Done. :) :) :) – June 16

At BJs for dinner Jairus said "It is too loud in here. It will damage my ears." – June 23

Trying to help Jairus master of the art of surprises after the Father’s Day failure by using less significant events. So, tonight I told him what combo I wanted from Chick-fil-a (#5) but it was a secret he couldn’t tell daddy until they got there. Jairus immediately walked up to Joe with his hand up showing the number 5. I quickly reminded him it was a surprise and he said “I was just giving daddy a high five.” Hahahaha – will be curious to know what happened from there. – June 24

Joe Wolfe:  Yeah, he "kept" this secret another 15 feet - till I was putting him in the car.

‎"I love you the last number, plus 18" Jairus told me. (Last number = infinity) – June 27

"Is heaven in our hearts? That is where God is right? How can God be everywhere? Are there enough gods for all of us? How can God be with me and you and Daddy and Grandma AND be in heaven?" Just some of the many questions from Jairus on the car ride this afternoon. Deep concepts for a 4 yr old to grasp! – June 29

Stuff to remember

"Thank you. Actually....a thousand thank yous" Jairus said to the lady that cut his hair today. It earned him BIG cool and cute points. –May 1

"Can somebody eat me? I have never seen the inside of a body before" -- Jairus. Welcome to my ride to school this morning. – May 5

Me:  Do you want a pop tart for breakfast?   Jairus:  Is it Saturday?  Me:  No, but sick days need pop tarts.    Jairus:  That's right.  Saturdays and sick days.   -- May 10

I sure didn't do a very good job of writing down the things he said this month.   He makes me laugh every day!   I guess it didn't help that our family really fought sickness this month.  (Jairus -- hand, foot & mouth.   Joe -- pneumonia.  Lynelle -- bronchitis.)  And Jairus went to visit Mamaw for a week so that made things quiet around here.   Regardless... I want to treasure this time. 

A Big Down

Jairus loves to eat Bagel Bites, which are miniature frozen bagel pizzas. Most kids like pizza...so what makes this blog worthy?

Well, Jairus likes to eat them after they have been microwaved, but he also loves to eat them frozen. Like right out of the freezer – which, by most accounts, is weird.

To add to this interesting habit, in the last 6 months Jairus has started being specific about his frozen bagel pizzas. He only wants to eat them frozen if they have “big downs.” All other pizzas are to be cooked. So, it didn’t take Joe and I too long to figure out this “big down” label in order to avoid conflict.

This pizza has a “big down”:
Notice the cheese/sauce hanging down.  Any pizza that has stuff over the side counts as a "big down" and is therefore great to eat right out of the feezer.

 This pizza is headed for the microwave:

Poor, boring, regular pizza is about to get cooked!

Jaiurs gets out the entire package and looks through the pizzas as he decides which to eat while he waits for a few others to be cooked.  This is another funny little Jairus-ism that I don't want to forget!

April smiles

Jairus is playing a computer game with Joe. I just overheard him telling his daddy to accomplish some feat and then they would "have it made in the shade." That's a new phrase for him and it makes me giggle. – April 2

“Boomtastic!!” yelled Jairus as those fireworks went off. Love Cruz! – April 4

“I should have stayed at school” mumbled Jairus as he was getting in trouble. – April 15

When Jairus grows up he wants to be a daddy and a Texas Ranger. :) – April 17

After school Jairus had a special cross sucker. When I asked him about it, Jairus told me that "Jesus didn't stay on the cross forever. He went down to the grave and then came up into our hearts." Amen son! That makes me so thankful! – April 21

“This is the bear that cares" Jairus told my high school girls this morning. :) – April 25

“See, I have an explanation point. It’s an upside lower case i” Jairus tells me this morning as he plays with blocks. – April 30

Jairus' first dream

This is from Monday, March 28th.   Joe wrote down the experience that morning while it was fresh on his mind, I am just super slow at getting it posted on the blog.

Jairus sometimes talks in his sleep.  He often tosses and turns.  But this was the first time he ever told us that he had a dream!

Jairus: Daddy, I dreamed last night.
Joe : Really what did you dream?
Jairus: I dreamed that we went to a football game.
Joe : Who won the game?
Jairus: I don't know.
Joe: Oh
Jairus: I had another dream.
Joe: What was it about?
Jairus: We were getting on a plane and it turned into a rocket ship, but it didn't go into outer space.
Joe: Oh. And who was in the dream?
Jairus: You and Mommy and Grandma and Grandpa.
Joe: Was baby horse or pillow pet in your dream?
Jairus: Yes, they were both in my dream and blankey.
Joe: Did they talk in your dream?
Jairus: No.
Joe: Well, dreams are fiction.
Jairus: But mine are not.
Joe: All dreams are fiction, so sometime animals or toys will talk.
Jairus: But my dreams are not fiction.

Jokes....kinda.

Jairus has a pretty good sense of humor. He generally responds well to light hearted teasing and will even tease back. We laugh together several times each day. But, so far he has yet to obtain the finer understanding of how knock, knock jokes work. This is a typical conversation on the ride home from school these last few weeks:

Jairus: Mommy, let’s tell jokes. I will start. Knock, knock.
Me: Who’s there?
Jairus: Boo
Me: Boo who?
Jairus: Don’t cry…it is just a knock-knock joke.

Both of us laugh – one of us more sincerely than the other.

Jairus: Ok Mommy, your turn.
Me: Tell the Annie Joke (Annie who….Annie body home?)

Again, Both of us laugh – one of us more sincerely than the other.

Jairus: Knock, Knock
Me: Who’s there
Jairus: Tree (or car or some item he sees)
Me: Tree Who?
Jairus: Tree on the side of the road!

Jairus laughs. I shake my head.

Jairus: Ok, your turn again.
Me: I don’t know another joke.
Jairus: It is ok…just say something.

Oh yes….and that is the challenge.

At this point, he usually tells one or two made up knock, knock jokes then he switches over to “why did the chicken (or again, some other item he sees) cross the road jokes.” Almost all of the answers have the chicken or item getting hit. I am not sure why that is funny….but regardless, Jairus laughs every time.

Good times on the ride home from school! :)

Things I want to remember...

This evening Jairus was sitting on top of me as I tried to work….then he held onto my legs when I got up to walk away. I got to the bedroom and said “You are driving me crazy! I may have to lock the door to get a break” to which Jairus replied “I will lock it for you to keep me from you.” Thanks kid for the help! ;) -- March 1

If you weren’t in my speech class this morning then you missed Jairus’ announcement. “I am allergic to spicy.” – March 2

After watching 2 days of “big kid” demonstration speeches Jairus had a speech for me. Standing behind the table in my classroom with his baby horsey and baby lion he said “Hello class. Today I am going to teach you how to fight bad guys. First… hit the bad guy.” He then had baby horsy attack baby lion. That is as far as we got. I am curious to see what speech he has for me tomorrow..... March 3

Just bribed Jairus to cut his finger nails by using "Oliva Marshmellows" (the colored fruity kind). I know Amy Hunsucker wouldn't approve. ;) -- March 10

Jairus was fussing a bit about being hurt. I asked him where he hurt. "It's the one I shouldn't have" he said. He was referring to his middle finger. :) – March 20

Jairus’ recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich: first bread, then cheese, then grilled cheese glue and finally you cook it. But don’t worry. The glue disappears when you cook it. – March 23

Me: Jairus, let's finish this puzzle.
Jairus: It's Jair...that's my new nickname.
Me: Oh, I didn't know that. Sorry.
Jair: That's what Brylee calls me. (a girl in his class) – March 26

A sucker is like sunscreen for you lips says Jairus with a totally blue sticky mouth. – March 27

When I pulled into the garage this afternoon Jairus told me "You are a great driver Mommy. You rock." :) – March 28

Our Ride to School Today

This morning's drive to school was pretty routine....at least for the first 20 minutes.  We had listened to the news and traffic reports.  Jairus was eating cheerios and chit-chatting with me.   I stopped at a red light where Marine Creek ends and you turn onto Marine Creek Cromwell (a T intersection).

Jairus said to me "It is a good thing you stopped at that light." 

I nodded in response to him and thought to myself “when do I not stop at a light?  Interesting thing for him to say.”  

Not 30 seconds later our light turns green.  I moved my foot to the gas peddle to make my left turn when a little white car flew through the intersection going west -- having just run a clearly red light!!  I hit the breaks.  It wasn't a close close call...but I did say "Holy Cow!"  

Jairus asked "Is that a good word or a bad word?" 

I said "Well I said it because I was so surprised.  That car just ran that light and could have hit us." 

Without hesitation Jairus said "God was protecting us."  

Yes...yes He was!  I spent the rest of the drive being thankful for all the times God protects us – the times we see it and the many times we have no clue.    I also was thankful for evidence that Jairus is learning the truth -- from home, school, and church.  

Smiles from February

Would it be wrong to already have my PJs on inside out? -- Jan 31. What followed was 4 SNOW DAYS! Unbelievable!

Jairus just asked if today was Saturday again. I told him that today was Wednesday. Then he said...but yesterday was Saturday too. -- Feb 2

Jairus is in shock. I just made a real breakfast -- bacon and pancakes (with letters that spelled his name). Was about to fix eggs but he said he was full. They can be lunch with leftover letter pancakes. -- Feb 3

Jairus needs to get out to be around other people...he just asked if I am a cover girl. He brought me some hand lotion and said "this is what you need to be a cover girl...you are a cover girl right mommy?" -- Feb 3

Declaration: Today Jairus and I WILL leave this house. Since we finally have snow, we will venture into the backyard to play with aforementioned white stuff. The opportunity for fun, pictures, fresh air, and energy release will outweigh the risk of breaking our necks on the layer of ice lurking under the pretty flakes and the bitter cold that will greet us. -- Feb 4
…… and for those of you wondering....I will go outside in my pjs with boots. Then after getting wet and cold will change into new pjs. Tomorrow may be the day of real clothing. :)
Krista Ray:  Whoa whoa whoa, tomorrow is Saturday. Let's not get too crazy with our "real" clothes plan.

Operation Go Outside was a success this morning. We only lasted about 15 min, but ran the entire time, threw snowballs and made snow angels. -- Feb 4

Playing outside this afternoon was even more successful. The sunshine makes a big difference! Plus, Jairus had a squirt bottle which helped him be a Power Ranger and/or Bible man – this also kept his hands out of the snow, insuring they be a bit warmer. -- Feb 4

NEWS FLASH: I am dressed and leaving the house to go interact personally with the rest of the world for the first time in 114 hours! :) -- Feb 5
And on a related story -- my jeans still fit which is impressive considering I have been eating like a bear going into hibernation and not exercising so that my hip will heal. :)

Jairus had a bit of a stuffy nose this morning and told me "my nose sounds like a rattlesnake." -- Feb 8

"You are almost pretty" said Jairus to his mommy this morning. So...is she a cover girl or not?!? ;) -- Feb 8

Showing me a calculator with 66,749,484 on it Jairus says “I love you this much!” That is a lot for a kid that thinks 100 a big number! -- Feb 9
Denise Lauer Jaramillo: Isn't it ironic that that is also the annual salary of a cover girl?

I made red velvet cupcakes today. Lest anyone worry, let me state for the record that I am not giving up my teaching job to open a cute little cup cake shop. – Feb 9

How many acorns went through the wash and almost the dryer? 14. Why did he leave his treasure in his pockets? And how in the world are there any acorns left on the school playground?!?!? -- Feb 20

While driving around yesterday discussing the transportation parade, this is what Joe Wolfe and I learned from Jairus: "I like Lauren. She's my favorite. She's my girlfriend. She gets mud on her fingers. She likes to get mud on her." And the quotes are legit -- we wrote it down while snickering. :) -- Feb 28

Nah, No Thanks

Someday Jairus will hate stories like this – but I love them and years from now this will still make me smile.

Jairus, like most 4 years old I’m guessing, doesn’t like to take time out to go to the potty. He is busy playing – who has time to take care of nature calling? If we notice him doing the pee-pee dance we encourage him (sometimes demand) that he goes the bathroom. His response to us, without fail, is: “My body just told me ‘nah, no thanks.’”

Jairus insights for January

Jairus' word of the week: Amazing. He told me it ranked better than "goody." – Jan 4

Jairus just fired me off his team because I wasn't playing right. (His words, I promise!) What in the world??! This is wrong on so many levels.... Jan 7

"Yeah..It is today" says Jairus way to early on a Saturday. – Jan 8

"ugh, WE forgot to buckle my kid again" said in an upset/disgusted tone by Jairus this morning when we got to school. Geez...I am lucky we get YOU buckled in kid! Take care of your own imaginary kids. :) – Jan 11

According to Jairus, 5 year olds are never disobedient. Great...only 9 months and 14 days to go! – Jan 12

Jairus just told me that Miss Taryn Mitchell is best babysitter in the whole world. :) -- Jan 14

Walking to the car after school Jairus told me he was too cold to laugh. That my friends is COLD!!! :) – Jan 20

‎"Cheeseburger in paradust....eewww" said Jairus. – Jan 20

Patterns

On our Christmas trip, we were leaving the hotel in Sweetwater Texas facing 12 hours of road ahead of us. To help Jairus understand our plans for the day I explained to him that we were going to “drive, drive, drive, then eat….then drive, drive, drive some more, then eat…then drive, drive, drive some more and maybe get to Aunt Melanie’s or maybe eat and drive a bit more.” Jairus answered “Oh, it’s a drive, eat, drive pattern” in a tone that seemed to say “geez mom, why didn’t you just say that – duh.” :)

One afternoon this week on our way home from school, I was talking through the driving direction in our subdivision. I kid you not… I have done this hundreds of time in the last 4 years. Partly, because I want Jairus to know how to get home and I also figure it can’t hurt to expose him to the left/right concept early and often. So, first we turn left….then right …then left…then right…then left. Jairus points out that it is a left, right, left pattern.

There have been other situations in the last couple weeks that Jairus has picked up on a pattern. I love the way his brain works! When I mentioned it to his teacher she said they haven’t done a unit on patterns or anything…so he has just picked it up on his own. I am guessing it is from some of the games he plays online or pbs shows. Regardless…it is a cool phase.

What's in a name?

When we were pregnant, it took us a LONG time to come with a name.   Joe wanted something with meaning and I just wanted a name that didn't bring up unpleasant teacher memories or that was super-duper easy to make fun of. 

It seems to me that this school year Jairus has been pretty adamant that his name is "Jairus Lee Wolfe."  If someone asks him...he tells the whole thing.   If you try to throw in a different middle name, he will quickly correct you. 

Well, sometime in the last few weeks Jairus has added "Superman" to his name.   With consistency, he has been telling us that he is "Jairus Lee Superman Wolfe."    Interesting since he has never seen Superman.  But, we think he is super, so that is ok! :)

When we were with Grandpa over break he called Jairus "Jairus Bunny."  (He calls all the grand kids their names with bunny added on the end.)   Jairus wasn't too happy with that to begin with, but then he quickly adjusted.   He told Grandpa to call him "Jairus Lee Superman Wolfe Bunny."    Whew, that is a mouthful!  

Well, here we are several days later and that is the name that has stuck!  Hope he has fun bubbling in all those letters on the standardized tests.  Hee Hee.  :) :)

Fiction vs Non-fiction

At the beginning of this break you may remember that Jairus taught us "if the animals have clothes on, it's fiction. If they don’t have clothes on, it’s not fiction."   I can just imagine this being part, only part, of a discussion in his Pre-K classroom about fiction vs non-fiction books. 

I was very tickled when a couple days later we saw a cute little dog wearing a pink sweater.   Without missing a beat, Jairus said.."Look!  A fiction dog."  

It may be time to add more to that original definition -- like fiction animals can talk!  :)   But, I appreciate how quickly he processed and applied the knowledge he had. 

The fiction vs non-fiction also came up at the movies.   We went to see Tangled and to our surprise, Jairus cried through much of it.   He was REALLY upset that the "mom" was mean and evil.  We tried to explain that it was fiction.  But he wasn't sure he believed us. The characters were people afterall.   When we went today to see Yogi Bear (yes, we have seen 2 movies in the theaters one week which is more than Jairus has seen in his lifetime!), we reminded Jairus that it was fiction.   He has no problems with that -- obviously the animals had clothes on and talked! :)

Unique

This is what Jairus hung on the tree Saturday morning.   I have left it on there because it makes me smile EVERY time I look at it!  

Status updates:

Oct 2:    Lynelle Wolfe thinks its funny that Jairus wanted corn on the cob for breakfast....but at least he is eating it.

Oct 11:  Lynelle Wolfe just learned that Jairus speaks duck spanish too.

Oct 14:  Lynelle Wolfe thinks Jairus must have his daddy's math brain. When we got home today he noticed our house number 3225...he then added the 4 numbers and told me they equalled 12. I kid you not! He has been doing lots of math lately.

Oct 21:  Lynelle Wolfe is always impressed when Jairus can sing a song at the top of his lungs with another song blaring on the radio.

Oct 22:   In the words of Wash .....tonight we will do what we do when we do what we do, cuz that the way baseball go!!    *This isn't a Jairus quote, but I just like it! *

Oct 29:   Lynelle Wolfe is enjoying Jairus' recreation of the "pepper rally" complete with a band. He even says "the Eagles are here." LCCS (clap, clap), LCCS (clap, clap)

Nov 1:   Lynelle Wolfe is having a hard time finding something that Jairus, his wiseman (yes, only one), and baby Jesus want to eat for dinner AND that they can take with them on their ship, which is what was formally known the cave (behind the chair).

Nov 2:  Lynelle Wolfe learned that the wiseman likes apple juice, but Baby Jesus and Jairus only like grape juice. All 3 think that fruit snacks are a perfect after school snack and are space ship approved.

Nov 3:   When I picked Jairus up after school he told me he had acorns in his pocket. I had no idea he meant 28 of them!!!

Nov 10:  The acorn pocket count for today: 38

Nov 13: Jairus is adamant that the song is "Dingle Bells."

Nov 17: Last night Jairus told me that mean guys hit, punch, say stupid, don't love Jesus and like the Yankees and Giants.

Nov 26:  Jairus likes to push the singing Grinch, Frosty and VeggieTale nativity at the same time. They sing 3 different songs. It makes my ears hurt. He dances around loving it.

Nov 27: This morning Jairus asked if this was a weird Saturday or a normal Saturday. Being home this week has thrown him off a bit. Every day this week has just been "weird."

Dec 7:  Several times in the last few weeks Jairus has taken off his socks when we get home and puts them on chopsticks. He then calls them icecream cones.

Dec 16:  My garage is special. It smells like fresh salsa, has nice big colorful splashes of red on the floor & door, and glitters with shattered glass. I know you are so jealous!

Dec 16:  Follow up -- my 4 year old was very helpful in the salsa situation. "Why did you make a mess? Why did you break it? You should be more careful. Why are you cleaning up that way? Why do you need a flashlight? Daddy needs to help." (just abbreviated the 20 questions!)


Dec 19: Today Jairus went to "big church" with us. This evening he has been singing Gloria and Oh no, you never let go! He absorbs so much!

So Generous

Conversation with Jairus on the way home from school 12/10/10.

Me: How was your day, buddy?

Jairus: Good

What was your favorite part of today?

All of it…I loved it all!

Great! {Pause} What do you think you should get Mrs. Bain* for Christmas?
* his wonderful pre-k4 teacher

(very mater-of- fact): hmm…a new car.

(honestly laughing out loud in surprise) Well…that is one idea. We may have to think of some other ideas too.

I wish I wouldn't have laughed because that made him start to be silly and give me silly answers.  I wish I would have questioned him more about his idea!

After I posted this on facebook, several people commented saying they wanted to be on Jairus' list! :) 

To keep forever

I have been neglecting the blog.   Primarily because I use facebook every day.  It is easier to post pictures and status updates.   I have been posting funny Jairus quotes and stories in my status updates.  I planned on using it as my online journal to record great things I want to remember.   But, recently I discovered that I can only go back about 6 months on fb.   That made me realize that I better start using the blog again since it has a better way to keep my memory treasures longer.  That, or I better get a real paper journal.  

Here is my memory from today:
I learned that if the animals have clothes on, it's fiction. If they don’t have clothes on, it’s not fiction. Thanks Jairus, that is a good way to remember it.

That's Mrs Mommy to you!

On my way back from picking up something in the library, I stopped to visit with Jairus and his classmates who were playing with chalk outside. They asked me about the poster I had with me and we talked about their chalk art. 

As I was leaving Garrett said, "Bye Mrs. Jairus."

Jairus turned to him and said "No, its Mrs Mommy."

Did you know?

Did you know.....that your shirt is blue?

That's not how it goes.

Did you know....that we're watching baseball?

That's not how it goes.

Did you know....that I love you?

Ahhh....That's the best thing I've heard all day.


A daily interaction with Jairus.  Special.