Anna had just learned that she was going on a date with Daddy.
I wish this had come out clearer. This is Kade in the process of bedtime routine in Lauren's boots.
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The girls had to walk home without the rest of the other kids a week or so ago. They are so sweet together. They held hands the whole way.
Ten weeks to go. Well actually, now we are down to nine. Little Emily (sometimes Emmie) is getting so active, especially at night. Sometimes Jon and I just watch her movements across my tummy before going to bed. It's fun.
In Bear Lake with the Jenkins - I should let Jon narrate the swimming/sledding party. I was home in bed all week so Jon took the kids without me (he is so awesome). But from all the reports I heard they all had a great time (although apparently Kade didn't like the sledding as much). Mikell and Braden came with Uncle Jared, while Aunt Andrea stayed home to recover from her foot surgery with Kelten. Aunt Missy and soon to be Uncle Josh joined in the fun along the Grandma Jane and Grandpa Jenkins.
Ice Skating with the Lee's
Ice Skating was a hit! The kids totally loved it. Kade would cry anytime Jon brought him to me. So he basically spent the entire two hours on the ice. Rissie was non-stop go go go. She was our energizer bunny. Lauren and Anna liked it, but they enjoyed the socializing too. Not at all surprised about that one. Uncle Kenny went so fast with Anna that she was either moving her little skates at super speed or they were dragging behind her while she held on for dear life. Allie looked adorable in her new little hat and coat, and Gavin brought a couple of girls from their ward to keep it fun and entertaining-and give us a reason to tease him. Aunt Carillisa was going to just visit but she saw the need to even out the adult-to-kid ratio. Thanks C. Jamile and Josh kept me company (at 7mos along) while I was the official coat/scarf/purse holder and photographer.
Grandma Jane was getting rid of an old skirt from somewhere when it was too big for the girls dress-ups. It reminded me of Lauren's Halloween costume as Little Red Riding Hood and an idea sparked. So with Mom's help I transformed the old skirt into a cute little hood for Lauren using some of the leftover satin from Alishia's wedding for part of the lining. She loved it! (Yay.) We played heavy-heavy-hangover with Lauren's gift opening. She loved it-she absorbs the lime light so dragging out her being the center of attention was almost as good as getting the gifts. I love that she gets so excited about her birthday! She's always been my birthday enthusiast.
Oh yeah, notice the flame? Feeling rushed to get to the rink in time I totally forgot about the candle and singing bit until someone mentioned it. I'd already given the birthday girl her requested brownie and chocolate ice cream, so I just put the seven candles in the middle of her little dessert. It took several huffs and puffs to blow it out and nearly lit her hair on fire in the process.
Happy Birthday my sweet birthday princess!
As a gift for indexing FamilySearch gave pictures. I picked this one because it's "our" temple. I am grateful every day for the joy that comes of knowing I can be together with my family forever because Jon and I made those sacred covenants just as our parents did for us. I am grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ who makes it all possible.
Dry Canyon was a fun little adventure Jon planned for the kids back in August. I was still in my first trimester and didn't think I could find the energy to go, but when it came down to it I hated seeing my family leave without me. So, I grabbed a breakfast drink and headed out last minute to join the troop, so much so that I left with the shoes I had on - dumb move, they didn't have a back and my feet and ankles squirmed all over the trail. I felt it the next day. But, it was still a fun activity I'm glad I didn't miss. The kids loved it too!
This was our first carnival with the kids at the school. What a fun afternoon!
Another hike, second trimester, much better. This is Battlecreek falls, in Pleasant Grove. Really pretty and not hard. I like that combo! The kids got out school early in September, so we surprised them and left Anna and Kade with Grandma Lee. Lauren and Rissie were so cute and had a fun activity with just Mom and Dad.
Jon's Birthday September 17th Camping in Park Valley
Rissie's 5th Birthday July 17th in Bear Lake with the Jenkins
In Orem with the Lee's (G&G Lee's where we are living.)
Anna's 3rd Birthday May 11th in North Salt Lake. (G&G Jenkin's)
In Orem (G&G Lee's)
Kade's 1st Birthday March 4th in NSL then Orem.
Lauren's 6th Birthday January 2nd in Chicago
Lauren's first day of school. 1st Grade. The whole family walked her to school. She and Rissie held hands most of the way. At one point, I overheard Lauren say, "I'm going to miss you, Rissie." Then in her sweet little voice, Rissie replies, "I'm going to miss you." They are only 18 months apart and are always together. Anna had a rough morning knowing that she wasn't going to school. So on the way home, I whispered to Rissie that it was a sad day for Anna and asked if she could be special friends with Anna. Rissie took Anna by the hand and walked her the rest of the way home. So sweet. They played together the rest of the day and have had a chance to become friends while Lauren is in school.
Rissie kindergarten class started a week after Lauren. It was fun seeing her be so confident and eager. Sending Lauren off a week earlier didn't make it any easier for me though as I drove away with my heart in my throat. They both love their teachers. After the open house Lauren told us, "My teacher is so pretty it makes me want to obey her." Then just a couple of days ago, Rissie asked me if I thought her teacher loves her. Of course!! Who couldn't?
This collage is strictly for my benefit. This is what I would have put them in on the first day if it had been MY choice, but of course it wasn't. I couldn't resist the camera as they left for school on these days. I even had to make a deal with Rissie, as you can tell from some of her expressions, she doesn't exactly approve of the shirt I picked for her. Lauren on the hand loves her outfit, in case you couldn't already tell. ;)
Grandma Duncan's 90th Birthday Book of all her posterity.
This was our contribution.
These aren't in the right order, but I couldn't adjust it the right way without spending more than the time I was willing to allot to this project.
You'd think it was Christmas with all her excitement. She noticed it was loose just earlier that morning. Then by the end of the night it was OUT! Grandpa kept teasing her that he was going to yank it out for her and I think she was more excited about it than threatened. He started to pull to see how loose it was then just kept going. It was all she could talk about that night and ever since.
Jon's Mom's family is from Park Valley, a little town in the middle of nowhere in northwestern Utah. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins. We got Braden and Mikell, but by the time we remembered we had our camera Kelten was already napping. Uncle Jared was usually off riding something...I think that's why he is missing from the pictures too. Grandma Jane, Aunt Missy, Aunt Andrea, Mikell and Lauren are standing in front of the main house which is now lovingly referred to as "the jail".
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The family's property is a little oasis in the middle of miles of nothing. It's beautiful, but their is a lot of work always needing to be done. It brings me back to childhood playing in the sticks trying to make wilderness pretty and homelike. Rissie and Braden are chillin' in Jared's monster-powered golf cart, Jon's showing me his sunburn/muscles, I'm taking Kade and Anna for a little ride, and Mikell and Lauren are coming down from what used to be a bigger pond. Rissie and I took a similar walk around the pond that still exists behind the house. She called it our "eventure" and that I shouldn't be worried because the bouquet of flowers I was holding from Lauren would "betect" us.
Where does it hurt?
3/14/05 Lauren's cough continues, and after her heartbreaking cries of, "I don't like my cough." I asked her where it hurt, thinking it could be either her throat or her chest. She said, "Right here." Then mouth wide open she pointed to her throat with her entire hand in her mouth and her finger at the back until she gagged.
2/19/08 This morning, we are eating breakfast when J interrupts the brief silence with a small basement burp. Without missing a beat, Lauren says, "What do you say, Daddy?" He excuses himself, then still in her motherly tone adds, "We don't fart at the table do we?"
Junk Food
9/16/08 Yesterday Lauren learned the difference between junk food and healthy food. So this morning, when she saw Rissie with a piece of candy, she said, "Mom, can I please have some junk food?"
2/9/08 Today Lauren asked me to redo her hair because it was "falling off!"
Cookie Dough
L: (in her sweetest voice) "Mom, can I have some cookie dough please?"
M: "Sure."
L: "Well," pause, "do you think you can get it from the fridge so I can like it?"
4/20/2008 So Lauren got some gum (not a fan) for being a good girl. Later, Jon asked her if she had swallowed it. She said, "No." Then he asked if she threw it away. She said, "No." So he asked her where it was, she told him it was in her throat.
L. and R. have been singing and dancing to their new piano that plays fun tunes. L. has been learning them and singing them around the house. A few days ago I overheard her sining, "Mary had a little sheep, little sheep, little sheep,...
Finding the Moon
Lauren shouts, "Grandma, there is the moon!" She started singing Twinkle Little Star, but in the mean time we had turned the corner and she soon discovered it was gone. So she tells Grandma, "We need to find another moon." 01/13/08
Kids are the best source of laughter
- I was getting dressed and L happened to be there and as I reached for my br_ she asked, "Mom, you put your b__bs on?"12/07
- R had gotten in trouble for something, then after some reflection L said matter of factly, "Well, she's learning."12/07
- L just told Jon to look at her stomach then lifted her arm, pulled down her sleeve, and showed him her armpit.12/07
