Principal's Pride

Ever since Jane learned about the Principal's Pride Award, she has wanted it! I don't know exactly how it works, but it goes something like this: Each teacher picks one student a month to receive this award, the Principal comes in to award the student, and then the student gets to eat lunch with the Principal. Today the Principal came in and awarded it to Jane! She was so excited to tell me the good news and I am soooo proud of her! Tomorrow she gets to eat lunch with Mr. Finch and she's more than thrilled to do so! Funny! Here's to you Jane, you earned it ;)

No Shopper's Remorse Here!

Sometimes I buy things and later think Why oh why did I buy that? Other times (most times) I buy something and don't give it another thought. But every once in a while, a purchase is made that makes me thankful everyday for it! These shoes are my most favorite purchase of 2010. Keep in mind people that 9 times out of 10 I will choose comfort over style. That's just me :) SO they might not be the most attractive shoes, but long ago I learned a valuable lesson from my Old Man. The lesson is this - "Good Enough"

So in the cuteness department, the shoes are good enough. In the comfort department, these shoes are AMAZING!!! They are as soft as slippers inside and never had a "wearing in" phase. I wear them daily and I think how much I love them daily. I usually do not like giving up my flip flops, but this time I made the switch without a grudge. And now I will stop talking about my shoes

Santa

Finally, a good Santa picture! This year I decided to not make my kids sit on Santa's lap. Usually I do because I think the screaming pictures are hilarious, but this year I thought why would I do that to my kids? I should be praising them that they're uncomfortable sitting on a strange man's lap and want to scream and run away! Isn't that what I've been trying to teach them this whole time? So they asked if we were going and I said no we didn't have to, only if they wanted to. And they said they did! Weird!

Day of Santa mall visit they still wanted to go but said they were a little nervous. I told them they could just stand by Santa and didn't have to sit on his lap. When we got to the front of the line, Jane said she wanted to stand, Ryan wanted to sit on Santa's lap, and Alex didn't have a choice :) He cried at first, but calmed down once he realized Jane and Ryan were right there.

Best part was what they told Santa they wanted.

Jane - "I want a pink telescope"

Ryan - "I want a blur telescope"

Hmmmm, hopefully the bikes will be good enough ;)

Optimistic

Me: "Ryan, where do you think you will go on your mission?"

Ryan: "BYU Football game!"

Me: "Where are you going to go to college?"

Ryan: "BYU Basketball game!"

Ryan is a little confused, but at least he's optimistic and excited for his future!

Happy Halloween!!!

Alex, Jane, Nolan, Max Hall, I mean Ryan

My 3 little cuties :)

The 2 witches

Sarah & Nolan and Me & Alex

Our pumpkins this year

Alex's haircut

We cut Alex's hair recently. It made me kind of sad because he was my only baby with hair, so why would I cut it off to look like my other bald babies? I'll tell you why, because it looked a little ridiculous! He needed a haircut and because the only kind of haircut I know how to give is a buzz, that's what he got. I think he looks cute, but the first few times I went to get him out of his crib, I paused thinking who is this baby?! Many people think he looks a lot like Ryan now.

Here is Ryan at 9 months:

And here is Jane at 9 months:

So, yeah, my kids kind of all look alike :)

Crawler!

Alex started crawling a little over a week ago. He has decided on an army crawl that gets him where he needs to go. A few times I come into the room where I left him and say, "Where's Alex?!" He is now mobile :( so I guess it's time to close doors, put up baby gates, and watch him a little more closely! (Oh yeah, I forgot my favorite, vacuum hourly!!!)

Don't you just love 3 year olds?

We were crossing the street and Ryan let go of my hand and ran ahead of me. I told him that he can't do that because cars can't see him and one of them could hit him.

a little while later . . .

Ryan: Cars can make you dead

Me: Yes they can

Ryan: Swords can make you dead too

Me: Yes, I guess they can too

Ryan: That's why I'm going to stay away from swords. If I see a sword, I'm going to just run away!

attention span of a 3 year old + imagination of a 3 year old = some funny conversations!

First Days of School

School has started! The kids love it and I love a teensy little break during my week when I only have one kid at home!

Ryan started preschool this year. He is taking at Miss Ann's, just like Jane did. He will be there 2 years and so far he is very excited about that! He goes Tuesday and Thursday mornings. He absolutely loves it! He has a few kids from the ward in his class, so he has some familiar faces. I always ask him who he plays with. Usually his answer is Max and sometimes Jessica, Mia, Hailey, and Cash. I ask him what he played with and he usually tells me a hamburger!? I think it's a fake kitchen toy one, but still, that's kind of weird! He also plays with legos and cars. He got to be snack boy yesterday. He brought goldfish crackers and oranges (it was orange day) and he loved getting to help pass out the treats, leading the pledge, and saying the prayer.

Going to his orientation:

First day of school

Jane's friend, Mia, is in the class so she watches out for him :)

Here is Jane showing Ryan where to go

Jane started kindergarten! I am so excited for her to be in elementary school. I loved school (going and teaching) so I am so happy for her to get to have so much fun there! Jeff on the other hand is a little sad that Jane is growing up and entering the real world with all its influences, good and bad. Jane loves everything about kindergarten. She goes to Cascade Elementary, and is in Mrs. Black's morning class. She knew a couple kids in her class, but has seem to make new friends. At the beginning of school she told me she was going to make one new friend everyday. When she comes home I get to hear stories about recess, boys chasing her, swinging on the swings, letter of the day, sitting at the rug, library time, computer time, and sorting. Today she told me a girl beat up the toughest boy at recess today! She was confused about morning announcements at first. She didn't know why the "voice in her room" always says what they are having for lunch when she doesn't eat lunch there! She loves all these new and exciting things and has already learned so much.

First day of school

At Cascade

Hanging up her backpack

Sitting at her desk

I have always loved the time of year when school starts. I am so thankful my kids have good teachers this year and I am thankful they are excited for school and excited to learn!

Aspen Grove

We went to Aspen Grove in August with Jeff's whole family. We had so much fun doing all of the activities, eating all the food, and hanging out together. Jane and Ryan loved getting plenty of cousin time in. The days are set up so that the kids are in groups (even babies!) before and after lunch. That way the adults can do their own activities. Here were some of our highlights:

Arts & Crafts

Cousin picture:

Claire, Jane, Alex, Ben, Emily, Lucy, Jake, and Ryan

Ropes Course

One of the many family activity evenings

We also took the opportunity to have family pictures done while we were there. Here's one with just us

Hula Hooper Girl

Roley Poley

Picture Time!

Thank you target

Birthday Girl

Jane is a birthday girl because she loves her birthday (I wonder where that comes from?). A couple months ago she had an idea of having a cheerleader birthday party. I thought it was probably just a random idea that would be replaced by another random party idea the next week. Then I started looking at Oriental Trading and found cheerleader party supplies on sale, so I told Jane we were doing the cheerleader party! Then I just kept reminding her over and over that she still wanted a cheerleader party.

We had her party yesterday and it was so much fun for Jane and most of the little ones. Her party didn't start till 3:30 so Jane was asking constantly if it was time yet. So I went ahead and let her open her presents from Ryan and Alex before the party.

I asked 2 girls (who are also Jane's dance teachers/babysitters/best friends if you ask Jane) if they would come as the guest cheerleaders. They did such a great job! They taught the girls some cheers and played some games with them. If anyone is interested I'm sure they would come do a cheer party for you!

Here's the best group shot I could get. With 11 kids there I was lucky to get one with almost everyone in it (we're just missing Ryan in this one). This was taken at the end when a lot of the kids were done. I should have taken one at the beginning when they're all still kinda shy!

i love summer

and this is why:

bike rides

hikes to waterfalls

picnics

carnivals

summer nights

I love love love being outdoors, so can it please stay summer forever????

King's Ball and swimming lessons

Last night Jane and Jeff went to the King's Daddy Daughter Ball. It was part of the princess festival that was going on all week at Hatfieldadelphia park in Lindon. From the pictures, it looked amazing. Maybe someday I can go to a ball too!

Princess Jane

Ready for the Ball

At the Ball

They had an entertainer

Cinderella showed up to dance with her prince and then read the princesses the Cinderella story

Jane with Cinderella

So Jealous of my little Princess

They learned a dance and had some refreshments

Jane took pictures in all of the cutouts, but this one looked a little real

They played at the park afterwards

Jane in the carraige

Jane by the water fountain

Jane and Ryan just finished swimming lessons. They took them at the Scera pool again. This was my first time in 4 years that I got to chill on the lounge chairs while the kids were in classes! I'll be back in the water again next year with Alex in the parent/child class. Jane and Ryan had a lot of fun and they learned a little ;) I don't know if I will ever be used to seeing swimming pictures with mountains in the background. It just seems wrong somehow.

Jane playing Alligator, Alligator, What time is it?

Jane loved the sticks part

Ryan loved jumping in

He sometimes loved bubbles, but he always loved his teacher, Miss Courtney! He had a little crush on her and told me he liked her because she was so cute!