Happy birthday Jack!  You’re the smartest, coolest eight year old ever.  Watching you grow up is an absolute B-L-A-S-T, an old expression that means “EPIC.”

These are some of the epic things that come to mind when I think of you this year:

• watching you “train” the fish in the giant fish tank at Rainforest Cafe in Florida at the Animal Kingdom – too funny!
• your intellectual curiosity and hunger for learning… hearing you explaining amazing facts about space & science; learning new things I’ve never known from you (thanks)
• your love of world geography and airplanes – you’re going to be our adventure grandchild when you get older, you’ll tour the globe
• walking around Portsmouth together, visiting an art museum, playing in Prescott Park, eating ice cream at Kilwin’s, visiting the African American burial ground, watching the spooky eyes of the paintings follow us in the John Paul Jones house
• going in the water with you & Madigan at Newcastle Commons beach
• touring Kennedy Space Center & NASA with the smartest space kid in the universe.  This was your #1 bucket list item!  You loved seeing where the rocket ships take off, the moon rock and the space capsules.
• hearing you signed up – on your own  without your Mom even knowing – for the Physics special course at Woodman Park School
• seeing you have fun at the big house we rented in Kissimmee, Florida and being the star of “Jack’s Water Show” in the outdoor pool
• the funny things you say out of the blue, like “I floss a lot.  But a lot of the time I forget.” Your brain is going a million miles an hour.
• getting your birthday list in a special way – by mail – with a handwritten envelope.
• playing dogcatcher with you and Molly, you being Oscar the dog!
• enjoying and appreciating the incredible drawings you give Grammy and me through the year
• fearless Jack – doing amazing things at Disney World like the Haunted Mansion and Expedition Everest, an upside, high-speed, backward moving, in the dark looping roller coaster!  You’re brave; nothing bothers you.
•  seeing you happily living in your new house on Benjamin Way, enjoying your new bedroom with all the shelves for your toys
• asking if you could take and keep the toy army soldiers, knights, cowboys, indians, pirates and civil war soldiers from the beach wagon – of course, they’re yours Jack!
• hearing how you voluntarily read a book in front of your first grade teacher’s class (she asked if you’d do that sometime and you did it the same day)
• joining Molly and Emma as you applied dark cream to your faces – funny!
• boogie boarding at Moody Beach; dinners on the deck; drippy castles and stay-overs before Grammy and I sold the beach house in July
• watching you on a digital device, thinking you were playing some game like Candy Crush, when in reality you were enjoying a black hole space simulation – classic Jack!
• holding your hand, crossing a busy street in Portsmouth
• getting a nice hug from you – my favorite thing of all

Happy birthday Jack, thanks for being such an incredible grandchild.  You’re super smart; amazingly handsome; creatively curious;  instinctively intellligent; kindly cool and fearlessly loving.  I love you lots and lots, forever.

Two stories about you, both amazing:

Story #1

Your first grade teacher from last year saw you at school and said:

“Hi Jack!  You should come and read to my class sometime.”

That very day, without ever calling your Mom or Dad, you decided, on your own, to visit your old classroom and read.

The book you chose was Pete the Cat…”because it was a first grade class and I thought they would like it.”

When you were done the teacher said “Great job, Jack!”  and thanked you for coming.

Your Mom found out about what you had done when the teacher texted her a photo!

Story #2

Your current teacher told your class about a special Physics course that would be taught @ Woodman in the upcoming weeks.  It included a course about space & planets.  That got your attention!

You excitedly talked about it with your Mom and Dad that night, telling them how much you’d like to do this.

The next day, you signed up and were invited to join a small group of eight kids that tackled four different topics across four weeks:

1. construction – making buildings with dry spaghetti and marshmallows
2. making catapults – “We used popsicle sticks, rubber bands and a spoon.  We shot pom-poms across the room.  The person that shot it the farthest won.  I won!  I’ll show you how it works, it’s easy.”
3. Solar system –  “where the planets are, the distance between them, how big they are, what colors.”
4. solids & liquids –  “we made u black using corn starch and water.  Your hand sinks when it’s liquid, but it turns into a solid and gets hard.”

“The physics classes were fun and cool.  I’m glad I did it.”

I asked, “Do you know what “taking initiative” means?”  you nodded left and right. “It’s when you decide to do something and make it happen by yourself.  Like the physics class.  The teacher told you about it, but to make it happen you had to remember what she said, talk to your parents about it, talk to your teacher, sign up for it and then go to the classes.  Some kids might hear about it but never do anything.  You made it happen because you took action. That’s called taking initiative. I’m proud of you Jack!

the crazy cousins had a blast staying cool in the pool… there’s no better place to be on a warm August day.  Thanks for listening to your Papa and taking a photo time out!

Jack comments recently heard & observed:

I missed Molly… I texted her but she didn’t see it until today.

I floss a lot, but a lot of the time I forget

Tucker’s is actually not crowded.

If Great Gram got pregnant and had a baby, she would die.”

Said to your Mom at a moment when your Dad wasn’t with you:  Do you think people will think you’re single?   “Why do you say that?” she asked.  You replied, “Because you’re cute.” 

It’s always a long wait between Labor Day and Memorial Day to reach the beach – nearly nine months.  So when the Scoop Deck reopens, it’s cause for celebration. We are more than happy to obige!

Jack – this blog will be fun for you.  I think you’re going to be my little world traveler.  You have such a natural interest in geography, countries, continents and the world!  Grammy and I bought you the “Little Travelers” subscription for Christmas because of this.  I hope we can go somewhere cool together when you’re a little bigger.

In my January blog I told the story of how Grammy and I worked hard to build a better life for ourselves and our family.  The blog ended with my new company – Soulful Advantage –  and how I would work hard to see if I could visit New Zealand.  Good news!  I made it happen by proving and convincing my new client they would benefit by me being in New Zealand in person vs. having meetings over the phone or via the Internet.   After much back and forth discussion, they agreed it would benefit their company and offered to pay my way.  It’s a great example of making your own dreams come true vs. waiting for them to magically happen.  Work hard and you will find a way!!

My April adventure included three bucket list dream destinations:

1. Stepping foot on Australia, my fifth continent. Africa & Antartica remain!
2. New Zealand – the North & South islands
3. The Sydney Opera House, the #1 “Wonder of the Modern World”

In addition, I also stopped in Las Vegas and spent time in Oahu, Hawaiii (my fourth time on that island) on my journey Down Under.

My journey:  Left April 11, returned April 23.  9 flights; four different airline brands; 30 car/taxi rides; three islands; two continents; 20 time zones!

“I’m off on an adventure!” (Bilbo Baggins, the most famous Hobbit)

Here are photo highlights:

boring a koala bear at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia

I was amazed at how this golden guy floated on air – Sydney waterfront

beautiful light on Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. Love how the outrigger framed the beach and sky.

passing through Las Vegas at midnight on my way to Australia – have been to Vegas many times and it’s always a beehive of activity. It was weird seeing it so dead.

early morning view of famous Diamond Head on Waikiki Beach

overlooking the #1 Wonder of the Modern World, Sydney Opera House

greeting at 2am @ airport as I stepped foot in the land of Kiwis – my #2 bucket list dream destination

very cool hot pink bike path, as seen from Auckland Sky Tower, 1,076 feet high

Auckland Sky Tower @ dusk

my favorite photo – the famous lone tree of lake Wanaka, with the Southern Alps behind it. Such an incredibly unique and beautiful setting.

I thought Glacier National Park in Montana had the most waterfalls in one place, but New Zealand’s famous Milford Sound had a LOT more. Here’s one amazing example.

even though I was in New Zealand in April it was their Fall. Here’s a shot of pretty Arrowtown in the autumn.  Our cold January is June in New Zealand!  February is July and March is their August!

overcast and about to rain but spectacular – Eglinton Valley, Fiordland National Park, South Island. Could have stood there forever

Mirror Lake, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand

Coronet Peak with Queenstown in distance at base of the mountain V

stunning vista outside of Queenstown with golden poplar trees. Poplars are Popular in the south island!

Milford Sound within Fiordland National Park

Hobbiton, New Zealand, North Island – home of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. This amazing landscape is in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies.

Wai-0-Topu geot thermal hot spring in North Island – about an hour’s ride from Hobbiton. Sulphur smell is disgusting; colors amazing.

gorgeous late afternoon light looking at the Remarkables mountain range – on way to Queenstown airport

Papa Bear in front of Bilbo Baggins hobbit hole at Hobbiton, North Island

where the Hobbits threw a big party

crazy green water pool at Wai-O-Topu geothermal

amazing attention to detail at the Hobbiton movie set included hobbit clothes drying on clotheslines

view of movie set when you walk in – Bilboa Baggins’ hobbit hole is below the first tree on the upper left

looking down at the Hobbiton village wiht Green Dragon Pub (where I drank a Stout beer and ate a meat pie)

School vacation was special for you guys this year. Grammy and I planned a Florida vacation with your family. What an awesome time.  We’re glad we could make this happen!

Here are 50 highlights from our 2018 vacation.  Even though they’re numbered 1 to 50, they’re in no particular order:

1. Spending eight days together in the Florida sunshine with you guys; perfect weather in mid 80’s to low 90’s
2. The big house we rented in Kissimmee. Everyone with their own room; our own private pool
3. Seeing Jack @ Cape Kennedy, checking off his #1 bucket list item, so excited & attentive.  Master Jack, the master of space and planets. I told him “let me take a photo of you with Alan Shepherd statue (first American in space) because you’ll be famous one day too.”

4. Grammy being a brave trooper all week, pushing through her chronic hip pain. Enduring the beep beep beep embarrassment of her electric scooter. Going from cautious to confident as a driver. Racing the guy in his scooter! Molly pushing Grammy around Disney World in her wheelchair, so caring and concerned.
5. Brunch with Micky & Stitch. Fantastic breakfast!  They kept bringing plate after plate of sausages, biscuits, scrambled eggs. Emma ate 9 Micky waffles!
6. Emma & Molly planning & staging their synchronized swimming water show with chairs and signs
7. Ben going on rides he’d never go on before and enjoying the experience. Everest. Aerosmith coaster. Tower of Terror. Ditto for Jack who went on Star Wars, Everest & Haunted Mansion!
8. Our awesome dinner at Teppan Edo, the Japanese steakhouse. Everyone’s #1 dining favorite of the week.
9. The hilarious tag team of Josh & the Mad Hatter scoring points with “Maaam!” across a busy breakfast room. Your Dad is not shy!  He’s a lot of fun and a great sport.
10. The safari ride at Animal Kingdom remains one of the best rides. Hippos, rhinos, lions, giraffes and so many other species, all roaming free.
11. Molly & me dancing at our Kissimmee house as Havana & Despocito blasted over the speakers before heading out for a new day.
12. Watching you enjoying the pool every day
13. Going on Pirates of the Caribbean one last time before it gets a politically correct update.
14. Splash Mountain open at last!  It had been closed the last two times we went to Disney World
15. Surprise celebration of Ben’s 15th birthday at Rainforest Cafe. I ordered a lava cake; they delivered it with singing wait staff.
16. We flew over famous sites around the world at Soarin.’ I love that ride because it’s a dream come true… my most frequent lifetime dream is me flying in a horizontal position, arms & hands extended forward, tall tree height off the ground.  I can go REALLY fast. I don’t ever remember landing.
17. Your Mom bonding with Gerald Giraffe at Animal Kingdom, up close & personal on our Safari tour.
18. Ben being funny crazy in the kitchen on our last night – what language was he speaking?
19. Drinking double punch rum drinks (before noon) in hollowed out pineapples at table #32, the best view in the Polynesian Hotel restaurant.
20. Ben, Emma & Molly ranking their favorite rides & meals at week’s end as we sat together at the big dining room table
21. Drives with Ben every day, peace & quiet at last for him, quality time with Grammy & Papa
22. Marco’s pizza takeout, yummy.
23. Jersey Mike’s tasty subs
24. Everyone designing cool cars and competing at Test Track, the fastest ride at Disney (65 mph)
25. Cockroaches & salamanders in da houz, oh my (Grammy and your Mom did NOT like this)

26. Grilling burgers & hot dogs instead of takeout or going out to eat
27. Molly eating ice cream at 11 am. What the heck, we’re on vacation!
28. Crystal palace yummy food every kid loved. Ben saying, “You can keep going back and forth… rolls, then ice cream then Mac & cheese, then brownies.”
29. Taking the monorail- what color will it be? Having our own private monorail cars twice on the last day; playing musical chairs onboard when no one was around
30. Touching a moon rock, how cool is that?
31. Gummy bears for breakfast, why not!?!
32. Sci-Fi Theatre never disappoints! Chocolate shakes & glowing ice cubes and watching B&W “B” movies from the 1950s and early 1960s films including Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster, Plan 9 from Outer Space, and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
33. Our lead driver (your Dad) getting lost early in the week; going through Disney World twice and getting home 90 minutes after leaving ( our house was only 9 miles away door to door). I think he stayed up all night figuring it out because the next day he was superb.
34. What a Fantasmic show! Grammy and I had never seen it. Spectacular night time entertainment.
35. 5,000 calories per day can’t be that bad for me, right?
36. Watching Micky mouse appear on a 🔥 Japanese grill- drawn upside down!
37. Drinking beer in “England” within EPCOT.
38. Meeting up with the Beaupre’s at Disney Springs. They went with Aunt Tarah’s family and also had a house, but in a different neighborhood.  It was good to see everybody.
39. No orange highway cones were injured on this trip. I have a bad history of getting up close and personal with those on former Florida vacations with you guys!
40.  Eating ice cream sundaes on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom our last day
41. The majestic color of the International Flower show at Epcot
42. hearing the (good) news that we’d never have to go on It’s a Small World again!  Some people love it, but it’s painful for many of us, including your Dad, Ben and me!
43. Checking the wait time for the newest, most popular ride in all of Disney world – Avatar – and never getting a break. Maybe next time!
44. Buying souvenirs throughout the week. Molly’s Stitch stuffed animal & Stitch sweatshirt. Jack’s NASA spaceships and Disney vehicles. Ben playing it low key all week before deciding what he wanted. Emma getting sweatshirts and clothes.
45. Emma being such a patient big sister with Jack, playing with him, teaching him.
46. Bats @ dusk outside by the pool, look out!
47. The looks on your faces when I was served a whole fried red snapper fish with eyeballs still intact at Paradiso 37 in Disney Springs; you built a wall so you wouldn’t have to look at it!
48. And speaking of fish… Jack training fish in the Rainforest Cafe aquarium to follow his silver wand.
49. Molly and Laura the leopard hanging out together every day.

50. A final shout out for your Grammy who walked the first three days until she was exhausted, survived the humiliation of driving a vehicle around Disney World and gave it her all without a single complaint. She’s an amazing woman!