shine light on the box so it’s not heavy

We’re close to buying our land and moving to Mona. In order to afford it Dad has had to go back to work. It has left me with a much larger responsibility of caring for you 4 kids and packing the house. It’s been hard on me. Jeffrey you have become my most incredible helper. You help me with boxes, this week you cleared the table and washed it off without me even asking. You are helping make meals and grab me a diaper and pick up garbage in the backyard, and rinse the dishes and clean the family room etc etc! I feel hope that I can survive without Dad home all the time when you’re around Jeffrey. You are incredible how you see something that needs to be done and you do it.
You love Cooper Frandsen next door and you play together al Kay daily. I know you’re really going to miss him when we move. You’re so cute how you pretend like you’re cat boy and run as fast as you can and say super cat speed!
A couple of days ago you were helping me move a heavy box into the garage. You kept asking me to turn on my light on my phone. Finally I asked why you wanted the light on and you said so you could shine it on the box and it would not be heavy but would be light. It was seriously one if he most adorable child statements I have ever heard.
I love you buddy. I know that you are going to grow up and be the most incredible man and bring is much good in this world.
Love,
Mom

Jeff quotes:

While pregnant with Russell: swallow these toys so he has something to eat.  

Bike rider

 My sweet little Jeffery. I'm so sorry that I haven't written in your journal in so long. It is not a reflection of my love by any means because I absolutely adore you. You are so fun and bring so much laughter into our family. You got a bike for your birthday and you read it constantly. You are so good at it.  Dad went on a 3 mile run and you were able to keep up the whole way. You're really good at memorizing. You can remember  names and  hard words, numbers, and  letters. I'm teaching Meriden how to read and when she figures out a word,  you remember it when she comes back to the word you can still remember it when she cant.

We've had a bit of trouble in  primary with you hitting and kicking your teacher. We've been working on it and you have been much better. I think all of the energy you have and perseverance  you have will make you very successful in life.  When we were out of town on vacation you were brought to me and pulled out of primary because you Were being naughty. I asked you what we could do to make it better. Throughout the trip you and your siblings were able to have one fruit snack one go gurt and one granola bar every day. You decided to share the rest of your fruit snacks for the trip with your class  as a way of apologizing. You always want to make things right when you make mistakes. This is very exemplary because it shows your desire to be good.  Honestly, you really just want to make people laugh. You like to laugh and make people laugh.  My favorite thing you do is when you and Meriden imagine together. You can play for the longest period of time imagining a store or play house or going out in adventure together.  During scripture power you always ask really good questions like what does smite mean or redemption mean? You're really trying to comprehend the scriptures.  Not very long ago dad and I were talking to Meriden in our bedroom. You were waiting outside the door with Ephraim. The next day I saw a Cranyon drawn on my door. I asked you how it happened. You told me that Ephraim had drawn it. Disappointedly I said that's too bad. A moment later  you looked me in the eyes and said I drew it too mom. I wanted to cry tears of joy for your honesty. I explained to you that drawing on the door was a little bit sad choice but telling the truth was a super Duper good choice. We talked about how to repent and you apologize to me and then asked how you could  apologize to heavenly father, then you answered your own question and said I know I can pray to him. You got down on your knees and in a very sincere way told heavenly father you were sorry that you drew on the door. The last thing I talk to you about what we needed to do was to fix the problem. You said you wanted to get the door clean. We got a rag and worked at it until it was all cleaned off.  You are such a good boy. You really understand the simplicity and importance of what the gospel of Jesus Christ really is.

 You have a need to wrestle and be rough. I am so thankful that your dad fulfills this part of your life. You and dad play rough all the time.  When we recently went on vacation for 12 days I packed a backpack with toys books and coloring supplies in it. You were so meticulous about keeping your things in the backpack and keeping  the backpack right next to you. You're very good at taking care of things. You never get food on your face when you eat. One night  when you have been naughty I threatened to not floss your teeth. You cried and cried in bed scared that the bugs would eat your teeth. I did end up flossing your teeth.  You have very beautiful teeth . They are very white and spaced very nicely apart.
For the primary program you were asked what is a way that you can follow the prophet. You responded don't go astray. I further explained what following the prophet  means and your next response was to be good and be baptized and get the Holy Ghost and kill monsters. You are definitely the monster killer in our family. You protect everybody. 

Heart of gold

You and Meriden keep playing husband/wife... haha, you 2 are the best of friends and I love watching you play pretend. You love "scripture power" and help us remember to read everyday. Jeffie boy you're getting so good at riding your green balance bike and like to spend most of your day on it... in the house.You still are having accidents every few days and you still jump, pounce and many other things to poor Ephraim... but soon you'll grow out of it. You took a battery of all things from Meriden's preschool teacher's house today and you came and confessed to me later. Your heart is so pure and good. You think so clearly that you assume everyone loves you and wants to be your friend and they do. I admire you. You love to help me and are so willing to do everything you possibly can to be my helper from putting dishes away, helping me cook, grabbing a diaper for Ephraim, etc. I love you my Jeffie so very much!
Love, Mom

Potty training

I've tried and tried to put it off but you are an independent little dude and so we are potty training. You are so interested in the toilet. On your first day you had about 12 stickers from going so much o

Potty trained

 I learned from potty training Meriden to put potty training off as long as possible. I tried to do that with you. At 2 1/2 you were begging to use the toilet every time I changed your diaper. Winter finally came around, so we began. I  braced myself fearing that it would take six months like it did for Meriden. However you willingly went all day the first day with a few little accidents. Within the week you would go to the bathroom all by yourself. You remember, you go, you pull your own pants up, he wipe yourself, he flash, and you wash your hands with soap.  It seemed too good to be true. It mostly is true though. You have an occasional accident here and there but you truly do love to use the toilet and You do it. Dad and I have taught you to use the toilet only sitting. You were not very good at aiming. You saw your cousin Johnny standing and peeing and you thought that you should stand so you tried it, and without realizing You pooped as you were peeing standing up. It was disgusting. Dad cleaned it up.
Dad asked you to lead the music for family home evening song tonight. In the middle of the song you said I can't play this game – you thought it was a game and it was really cute.

Your tender heart melts my heart.

Your tender heart melts my heart.
You went through a phase months ago of hitting. Dad and I tried everything to get you to stop. We'd hold your hands for a minute, time out and other things. Trying week and after week we didn't see any progress. Meriden just got used to getting a whack across the head for no reason from you. Nursery leaders would often report of unimproved behavior. But then you stopped. You even stopped to the point that if you accidentally hit you go out of your way to "iss-i" kiss it better. Every time you notice a cut on someone else you drop what you're doing and kiss it better. You share your toys and ah... you're soooo cute with babies. Whether we're at story time or baby Missy (Bill and Lindsey Scarber's baby) is visiting you just gravitate to that baby admiring, smiling, sharing and being so sweet with the baby.
Though your vocabulary is very limited and you still pretty much just repeat anything that I say, you are surprisingly good at understanding almost anything I ask you to do like sit down, bring me this, it's on the counter. Some words you say on your own are "pop it" open it, "lo-uh" love you, "wa-wa" water, "ho-ju" hold you, "muy" more...
You are awesome at putting your plate in the sink and unloading the dishwasher- especially the silverware. You often ask for a tissue for your never ending runny nose. You're very sensitive half the time. I never know when. So, if I get after you- you usually just take it but sometimes, like today, you cried. You recently learned how to crawl out of your crib. It hasn't amounted to be much of a problem though because you still love sleep so much (greatest blessing in my life right now! You take a 4 hour nap and sleep 8pm-7am every single day- it's awesome!!) but today after I put you in your crib for your nap and closed the door I heard some toys banging in the bedroom and found that you had gotten out of your crib and were playing. I came in and sternly said "Jeffrey Cooper you get back in your bed". You lip started to quiver and with your cute blue eyes you looked at me as if to say, Mom, I didn't mean to be naughty! Oh, my heart just sank. I held you and rocked you and explained how you need to stay in your bed because its time for nap. Well, it worked. You lay down, pulled your doggie and monkey in close, let me lay the blanket across you and never moved another inch. You'll probably stay that way for as long as I'll let you. It was so beautiful outside and you and Meriden were playing so cute together that I didn't put you down for a nap until 2:30. Usually its around 1. Which means that if I let you- you'd sleep tip 6:30 but then its hard for you to fall asleep at 8pm at night.
You're still a good eater. You have no interest in the potty-which I'm fine with. You are very very good at riding a scooter and pushing on the cement with the tricycle. You jump awesome on the tramp and can get on and off by yourself- the big one. You climb every slide and recently figured out how to get on the swing that is a two-seater which is kind of tricky. I wouldn't be surprised if you learn to ride a bike before Meriden. You've always been so advanced with gross motor skills.
Whenever we work on the alphabet you are always so excited to declare what letters they are. Your favorite is K and you say it says "kick" and then you kick. Its so cute. Whenever you see any letter you point to it and say some letter- it almost never is the right letter but its so cute how excited you are to declare that you know your letters. We've been doing a letter craft for our own little preschool almost every week and you're getting great at gluing and putting things together.
I see in your eyes a great man. I know you will do great things with your life and that you have the ability to move mountains. I love your little sweet heart. I love you so much my little Jeffrey.
Its hard to believe you won't be my baby soon- though unlike Meriden, I feel like you're ready to be "big brother". Our little Ephraim will be here soon and I think you two will be the best of friends.