Jax is Famous

Ok, maybe famous is a bit of a stretch, let's go with local celebrity.  At least he thinks so, and what kid wouldn't... he can't go anywhere around town without someone asking "are you that kid from the newspaper"?  Yep, he is.  From the cover of the newspaper in fact, and 2 weeks in a row. 

When Jax started his fundraiser for the orphanage someone suggested that we contact the local paper so I mentioned it to someone I kind of knew from when I had written some articles for the paper.  Then surprise, the week after we returned from our adventure I got a call from a reporter at the Daily News Record, Harrisonburg's local newspaper, and they wanted to interview me and Jax.  We both proudly, in our own ways, told the reporter all about Jax's story, his fundraiser, and our trip.  Sure enough a couple weeks later the newspaper arrives on our front porch and there is baby Jax on the front cover: Born of Revolution, Part I!

The first part of the story was a bit of a surprise for us, focusing on his adoption.  The second part is what we were looking forward to, the part about him raising money to take to the orphanage. 

The lady at the post office, the grocery store clerk, camp counselors, teachers, you name it they saw it.  Jax is pretty humble about his fame, but enjoying it for sure.  One of the things that struck us most is how many people still read the newspaper! 

I have no idea how to or if I'm even allowed to post the article here, probably not, so if you want to read it send me an email and I'll try to get you a copy -- we only asked every single person we know to give us their paper those days!  This is yet another proud mommy moment and totally scrap book worthy, as Jax has already reminded me numerous times.  

These were the two cover photos:

Ukrainian Orphan Finds Place with Bridgewater Family

 

Kid Gets Cooking

What I've Learned About My Kids

1. They are awesome!!!  Let's just start with that.

2. They are traveling masters.  They traveled better than some adults I've seen.  And this trip sure did put them to the test with numerous flights, long car rides, hours in airports and lines.  Never once did we have to remind them to put on a seat belt, stop kicking the seat, or to stop screaming.  Maybe there is something magical about mega trips because now that I'm editing this I'm thinking back to just yesterday when I had to remind them of all three of those things just to get from our driveway to the church - 5 whole long minutes.  But even on the long trip home from Europe which was a total bummer (because we all still wanted to be on vacation) they did amazingly well. 

It reminds me of last summer when Jax and I missed a connecting flight home from San Francisco and had to spend the night in the airport.  While other people were angrily complaining and fretting Jax walked right over to the map and started studying it.  When I asked him what he was doing he said "I'm looking up all the 24-hour restaurants so we know where to go if we get hungry".  Then we settled down with some blankets the airline had given us and never once did he complain. 

Here's how we made the most of our time on the subway:

 Of course Cullen is sleeping, what else. 

The silly faces game never gets dull.  I promise they can do better than this.


We were certainly bored by the time we were waiting for our 4th flight home so in between dreaming about where we might travel next we pulled out this little trick, thanks to a tip from some awesome friends who have traveled with kids!

Blue painters tape, aka hours of entertainment.  They can tape anything they want and never ruin a thing, fantastic!  Folks, try this at home!

3. Maybe this should have been #1 -- They don't know how to be quiet.  This is not unique to when we are traveling, but it certainly becomes more obvious when we are in a foreign country where their loud English speaking draws attention.  Of course maybe it is best that they were speaking a foreign language, at least in France when they said "Hey, look at that lady..." she couldn't understand what they were saying.  Or one of my personal favorites, "don't they know that smoking is bad for them" (though sometimes not quite that nicely put). And they certainly had plenty of chances to say that in both France and Europe. 

Often times their noise was not bad, just noisy.  Living in hotels and apartments where I was concerned about them waking the neighbors - at 6am because they certainly weren't sleeping in! - really made me realize how loud they are and I guess I'm just really good at tuning it out at home.  If you want a good laugh just ask Cullen to whisper, it's hilarious hearing him try, though maybe not so much if you were our neighbor at 6am.  I suppose that noise is just part of what comes with a large family, and especially with a super talkative older brother, you have to be loud to get a word in and they have all mastered that skill. 

4.  When they finally are quiet it means they are sleeping and that is so sweet.  It's always such a joy to watch babies sleep, so peacefully, and these are still my babies.  

Someday Jax will look back at this picture and be so embarrassed but there was no air conditioning in this 5th floor apartment, they were exhausted and hot and I think it is so cute -- now he's even more embarrassed that I called him cute :)

5.  They may think I'm goofy but sometimes that is appreciated.  Exhibt #1, the silly calendar I made for them to track our trip.  Ethan used it every day:

 

Jax never seemed to look at his but once we got home he put it up on his shelf.  Did you hear that, it made the shelf!  So what if it is behind his rain-gutter regatta trophy and star wars figures, the fact that he deemed it worthy of the shelf at all is pretty cool. 

 

And I love the fact that they're not old enough yet to be embarrassed by mom and dad's silly songs and games to keep them moving when they are getting tired or grumpy.  I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Stuck Like Glue are two of our favorites -- thanks Beatles and Sugarland.  Again, goofy but appreciated, at least for now, please don't let them ever grow out of that.

 

There were so many great things about this vacation but getting to spend 3 weeks playing, learning, and experiencing new things with Justin and the kids is most definitely the greatest thing.  Now friends, please remind me of this tomorrow, the day before school (finally) starts while I'm trying to get stuff done and they are all trying to strangle each other, or I'm ready to strangle them.