My Big Boy, Glad He's Not Too Tough

Pierce was so excited about the Pinewood Derby this year!  It was his first year to get to actually participate, last year he excitedly made his car and then was bummed that we were gone to Park City the day of the event, (glad it wasn't during summer this year!) and he had his friend, Joey, race his car for him.  Luck was with him and he took 2nd Place over all!  He was THRILLED to say the least!
   

Baseball season was bit tough this year, it was Pierce's first year of "kid pitch".  The games could be long and boring, with half the boys walking bases as they struggled to pitch the ball.  He had fun and had a good attitude even so!  This game was the highlight of the season for him and luckily the one I took my camera to.  He had been so anxious for a chance to pitch and he finally got a turn this game!  He walked the first couple of kids but then he got the hang of it and did great striking several boys out.

He also hit a home run! Considering that this season just getting a hit was a great thing, hitting a home run was super duper awesome!  He was so funny, he got to second base just fine and the other team overthrew the ball, he didn't waste any time and kept going, he was so determined he just kept going and made it home in the nick of time!  I was one proud Mom!  Here is his big hit....I didn't get a shot of him coming home, I was too anxious watching him run!  He had a great season.  Way to go Bud!

And last but not least, my new favorite picture of my big little boy.  I went in to wake him up for school one day and found him still sound asleep just like this....

Talk about melting my heart.  Cashew is his little Teddy Bear that he has had since he was born, it was given to me at my baby shower for him.  He has loved this little thing for years and even though he's a big tough boy now he still lets Cashew sleep with him.  I thought this was just about the sweetest thing I'd ever seen and I was so happy I was able to capture it with my camera.  I will treasure this shot always, and it's sure to make an appearance or two when he's older I'm sure.  Love my sweet tender hearted boy.  So glad he's not too big and tough yet. 

Shoes, Cars, Candles & Bubbles

In other words - a catch up on Jensen and some of the things he loves, or a few recent pictures of the boy I love! 
This boy LOVES outside, shoes and hoops. This day I was talking to a friend at my front door, he saw the opportunity and went for it. He quickly slipped into Mom's tennis shoes and was out the door, he was so cute clomping down the sidewalk I grabbed my camera and asked him where he was going, his reply, "hoop!" He was headed out to Brother's hoop in front of the house. I especially loved it when he sat down to adjust his shoes.

Another love: Vacuuming!  I say just about everyday, why can't the big kids love to help as much as he does?  When the vacuum comes out, Jens is there saying "turn, turn!" 

This is what happens when Mom ignores a little boy during a photo shoot. Poor kid was so tired he just fell right to sleep on the couch. Madi was quick to make him comfortable by covering him with "Purple Blank" and giving him a couple of Monkeys to snuggle (even color coordinated!). Sweet boy and sweet Sissy. 

Fun with blocks!  He was so funny this day, methodically stacking all the blocks and then knocking them over and laughing at himself, just so much fun!  I guess he had to find something fun that he could do close to mom while I was getting ready for the day. 

Just playing around with some lighting with my camera, but this face was a keeper! 

Cars! Race! This boy LOVES cars!  We had been over to see Jack on his birthday and Jensen loved playing with the Hot Wheels racing track Jack had gotten.  Within a couple of days he had come up with his own "race" using my paper cutter.  Poor boy seriously needs a race track.  I took the blade off and let him take over it, now we've progressed to propping it up so he can at least somewhat race the cars down it.  So glad he is easily entertained! 

Jens also loves candles and loves to blow them out. For months now when he sees a candle he says, "blow!"  I started telling him, "let's practice for your birthday" and I sing to him and let him blow out the candle any time he sees a scented candle burning in the kitchen.  He especially loves birthday candles and is excited about singing "Happy to you" for anyone's birthday.   For my Mom's birthday in April I always do a little something with the kids in memory and honor of her, this year we once again got out the last of the batch of cinnamon rolls and enjoyed them.  He loved singing with the kids and blowing out the candles! 

Bubbles!  Who doesn't love bubbles, really?  Something just so wondrous about watching bubbles float through the air.  He loves bubbles and frequently requests, "Sissy bubbles, Budder (Brother) Bubbles".

I love this face.  I love this boy so much, he is such a joy to all of us. 

Madi's 7th Birthday!

My little girl turned 7!  SEVEN!
What a day she had.  She had been, of course, looking forward to her big day well, since her last birthday really.  A couple of months ago they had a school assembly for the "kite festible" and she came home SO  excited that the "kite festible" was on her birthday!  Our power company puts on the kite festival every year for the elementary school kids in the area, they read each day and keep track of their reading minutes and then get a free kite when they turn in their minutes.  We've never even been before, but our little bookworm was thrilled after the school assembly where they showed them kites.  She had a lot to look forward to on her big day...

Our traditional breakfast muffin...

So excited, I love this shot of her.

The "kite festible"! 

Madi chose a lady bug kite and Pierce chose a shark, they were so excited! We gave flying the kites a go, but we weren't very successful in the big crowd so we packed them up, got a snowcone and headed home to get ready for the big "friend party"!

Madi was so excited to have her friends over, especially since she didn't get a friend party last year. 
We did a Strawberry Shortcake themed party, the girls colored pictures and enjoyed strawberry lemonade and strawberry Twizzlers, then we played Pin the Hat on the Birthday Girl, "Strawberry, Strawberry Shortcake" and then it was pinata time!

Pierce was disappointed that the pinata didn't hold up for him to have a turn to hit, but the girls had a ball and they all enjoyed gathering up some goodies!

Present Time! She got so many fun gifts from her friends, here she is opening a favorite, American Girl books from Annie.

Such cute friends - Kassidy, Aubrey, Ava, Madi, Annie
Kinsey, Natalie, Laynee, Ashlynn and Brother

Cake Time! 

Love this face.  After cake and ice cream we watched Madi's new Strawberry Shortcake movie until the party was over.  Such a simple party and they loved it, success!

That night we went to Pizza Factory for her birthday dinner, we were excited to have The Woodburys and Grandma join us for a fun, yummy and bit chaotic dinner.  Here she is with her big 7 year old pizza.

Madi & Annie

After dinner Grandma came home with us and it was time for gifts from Mom & Dad, wahoo! 

Here she is opening her Strawberry Shortcake "Berry Bitty Market", she was so excited for this and I was so excited to finally give it to her! It's been hiding in my closet for a year and a half while I waited until she was improving on picking up toys before I gave it to her, it's still a struggle, but we've made progress.  I really wanted to give it to her before she completely outgrew it, glad she was able to be persuaded to have a Strawberry party.  She has loved playing with it and so does Jens.  He says "Strawberry"  and wants to play, I can't blame him, it's a really fun toy!
 

And for the finale, here she is opening her last gift in true Madi fashion,  notice her expression in the first picture, then the second.  She is opening a set of Beverly Cleary books, she was thrilled about it, (she is a fan of Ramona) but as she saw all of the titles, she looked up and me and said, "Really, Mom, Ralph?" Not as excited about Ralph.  I told her we could return it, but she decided to keep it.  We'll see if she eventually decides Ralph is worth her time.  She has been loving her Ramona books.

Oh our Madi girl.  She is a sweeter than sweet one minute, then meaner than mean the next.  Sometimes she pushes me to the brink of sanity, and sometimes she completely melts my heart. I want to remember and cherish the sweet moments she brings, here is a recent favorite...

Translation:
Verse 1
I love my Mommy
I love my Daddy
I love my little brother
I love my big brother
I love me

Verse 2
I love my uncles
I love my Grandma
I love my "ants"
I love my cousins
I love my Grandpa
I love my big big big big family

p.s. sing poem again if you forget it

So glad she loves her big big big big family.