JARED MICHAEL HILL

His name is Jared, but his friends and everyone else call him Jake. I thought this would be a good time to introduce him on the blog since he's been featured all week with events. Jake was born May 25, 2000 in Plano, Texas. He wants to return there someday to catch an armadillo and fish in the ocean. He is just about the finish 2nd grade, 3 days left!

Jake is an ideal first child. He gets himself up every morning at 6:45am for school and comes down to wake me up. He takes his dishes to the sink and takes care of his stuff. He gets himself ready and watches the clock to make sure he leaves right on time, same time every morning to catch the bus. He does his homework without being asked and devours books. There isn't a book on the shelf he hasn't read, some more than once. I am starting to have a difficult time finding books he hasn't read. His favorite series is The Magic Tree House books, he has everyone. He received The Chronicles of Narnia for his birthday and has already finished 2 of the 7 books. He is a wealth of knowledge and always has facts to tell.

Jake has been fishing and camping with his dad since he was 18 months old. Mike set up a tent in the front room of our little apartment and they practiced sleeping in it. Now Jake can pretty much survive on his own in the wilderness. He packs his gear, sets up his fishing pole and catches the fish. He has been on some big hikes in the Sawtooth mountains. And when he learns to play "I Am A Child Of God" with both hands on the piano he gets to go deep sea fishing for sharks with his dad. (His dad may have helped him set up that goal.)

This is a picture of Jake at his wrestling tournament. This is his second year. It's hard for me to watch him wrestle, especially the two times he has gotten a bloody nose. He enjoys it. Jake is very self determined. He wants to run the fastest, work the hardest and do his best at everything.

We are going to Hawaii in two weeks. Jake and his dad have some big plans to catch something, anything BIG in the ocean.

Big job for a little boy and a little mower.

This is a big job for his parents, let alone a 7 year old boy. But he did it. It took over 6 hours. Dad helped. Jake grew some character that day, and to think mom was going to stop him, because it was too big a job.

Jake could survive in the wilderness. He could also survive home alone. Sunday morning he makes us eggs. After Natalie was born and mornings were hard for me because of lack of sleep, Jake told me one morning to get back in bed. He said he would take care of Dallas and Katie. He helped them get breakfast and brought me breakfast in bed. So thoughtful.

Jake and his dad have a very special relationship. They have shared many adventures together in the outdoors, working and playing. Here they are roasting Jack Rabbit over the fire. Yep, they ate it too. Well Jake had a bite, dad ate the rest. They have also had quail, pheasant, deer, elk and rattlesnake. That's right I said rattlesnake.

I really appreciate Jake. Now, Jake is still a kid and a kid can be... a kid... But he does makes being a mother, easier. Knock on wood.