ABCs

New Tricks

Running With Cousin Wucy

Rise A Bub It (Alternately: "Rise A Puppet")

Here is JW singing his current favorite song.  The camera angle is weird because he doesn't like to sing when he knows the camera is on.

The song is Rise Above It, by Switchfoot.

Jackson's Movie

A happy little video of what Jackson likes to do around the house.......

Child Star

We're just waiting for the royalty checks to start rolling in:

(Click for Full Size)

Mid-Winter Walk

One of our favorite things about our house in Pagosa is that we're right across the street from the 2 million acre San Juan National Forest.  It's pretty spectacular.

Today, Jackson and I decided to go for a walk in the woods with Beans as our guide and protector.  We felt secure, knowing our steely hound was always on the lookout for danger.

Look, there's some danger over there!

Wait, there's some danger under here!

Oh no!  Everybody run for your lives!

With the perimeter secured, we headed down the trail.  While not exactly official, there are plenty of trails leaving from the gate behind our house.  We ride bikes in the summer and snowshoe in the winter.

My traveling companion is an expert arborist, geologist, and botanist.  All along the trail, he yells "Tree! Rock! Tree! Rock! Stick!"  It's quite informative.

He also likes to kick me in the back while he's riding in the backpack.  It's okay, though, because he yells "Kick! Kick! Kick!" while he's doing it.  So, you know, we're cool.

One of Jackson's favorite books is Go, Dog, Go!  It's one of Beans' favorites too.

Here's a shot of the view looking straight up:

I thought I'd include that for all you Northern Californians battling your 47th straight day of rain.  Good luck with that.

At the top of the ridge, there are some nice views of Pagosa Peak.

Jackson ponders a tree.  Can I eat this?  Maybe if I kind of came at it sideways...

Beans pauses for a tasty snack.  Snow cones!

Our local cairn-builders have entirely too much time on their hands.  I'm guessing out-of-work construction people.  There's not a whole going on in Pagosa in January.

Honestly, this is a pretty nice place to spend the winter.  Sure, there's a lot of snow.  But most days, you can be out in it wearing a baseball cap and a fleece jacket.  40 degrees and sunny is pretty awesome at 8000 feet and 2% humidity.  I don't see why people live anywhere else.  It's totally worth working 5 part-time jobs.  Just ask Beans.

(You can click any of these pictures for higher-resolution versions.)

Genetics

Letter from the Trenches

Dear Nana,

I would like to thank you for the great Christmas present you sent me.  Although I find it a bit shaky for its intended use, it still gets the job done.  In my eternal fight to overthrow the iron rule of my parents, it is good to know that I have an ally in you.  If you will keep providing me with tools, we will prevail in this battle.  

For my birthday, I think you should consider a grappling hook.  Or perhaps an extension ladder.

Very sincerely yours,

Commando Jackson
3rd Aerial Battalion
Toddler's Liberation Front

Christmas and Such

Here are some pictures from this past month.  Jackson had a wonderful 2nd Christmas here in Pagosa.  My (Denise's) mom and dad were able to join us and we had lots of fun eating food, playing games and watching Jackson run around.  We are thankful for a wonderful 2010 and look forward to the adventures of 2011.  

Happy New Year from the Chaney family!

Daddy's Rocking Chair

This was Jarrett's rocking chair when he was a wee tot.  Now it is Jackson's chair and he loves it!

That's My Boy

We recently bought a new computer, and the box contained this piece of foam packaging:

Naturally, Jackson decided that this was the best toy EVER, so we kept it around for him to play with.  Today, I (being ever-vigilant) was working on the computer and not paying attention to the boy.  When, I looked up, this is what I saw:

Sorry about the shaky video.  I was laughing so hard, I couldn't hold the camera steady.

New Feature Film

Daddy's Overall's & Other Cute Pics

Jackson is such a fun boy.  He learns new things all the time. He loves to talk and repeats every word you say.  This month he turned 1, got his first haircut, has started eating some dairy (praise the Lord!!!) and is getting closer and closer to walking.  Here are some pictures of Jackson from September.

He climbed into this (unstable) chair all by himself!

How many Jackson's does it take to change a light bulb?????

After his first haircut (which was very traumatic for all).

Beans waits patiently for his portion of Jackson's lunch.

Haha I have a banana on my head!

Hmmm........

Daddy's Overalls

(These were Jarrett's overalls when he was a baby.)

Jackson's 1st Birthday

Jackson's first birthday was last Monday. I was a little anxious about doing the big huge 1st birthday party so we had a very low key "party" which included me (Denise) and Jackson. Jarrett was in Alaska fishing with Steve, so Jackson and I spent the day together. We played at the house, bought some peaches, played on the swing at the park, and made and ate a special birthday cake. All-in-all it was a very fun day! Here are some photos and a video of the momentous occasion.

"Hey guys, why aren't you singing 'Happy Birthday'?"

Taking out all the Tupperware

Riding in the New
Big Boy Seat

Swingin' at the Park

Tada! Jackson magically loses his pants.

CAKE TIME!!!

Look closely at all the cake in the seat.

"Whoa"

Happy Birthday Movie