The 4th of July

Wow!  What happened to the summer?!  It seemed to just disappear.  I was honestly dreading summer and the fighting that was bound to happen between Pierce and Madi, but once again they surprised me and did pretty well, the first couple of weeks are always a little rough but once they settle into a routine of being with each other all day they did pretty good.  The summer just seemed to fly by and now we've been back in school for a month!  I've got some serious catching up to do!  The highlight of the summer for the kids was our trip north for the 4th of July and Lagoon!  We hadn't been to Huntsville in 3 years so we decided it was time we made it up there and we hadn't been to Lagoon since Madi was a wee 1 year old so it was definitely time.  They were so excited for the trip!  Here are the highlights of the 4th...

 Not the greatest shot ever, but the only one I managed to get of everyone!  They really were excited for the parade, not sure why we couldn't portray it in a photo.

 My Madi Doll in her new Miss Plunkett and special 4th of July outfit

 He's happy to sit on Dad's lap now that he's got some candy in his mouth!

 I know I may have mentioned it a time of two, but wow!  I love my boy's eyes!

Part of our summer-bribing-the-kids-to-be-good, was a sticker chart that they could earn stickers for good behavior, attitude and getting chores done, then each sticker was worth a ticket for our trip, they could choose how they wanted to spend their tickets for extras on the 4th and at Lagoon. 

 Madi chose face painting and loved it!

After the parade the kids enjoyed a few games and bouncy slide and I enjoyed sitting in the shade and seeing old friends.  I love visiting Huntsville on the 4th, it is so fun for me but it makes me just ache for my Mom, I miss her extra on days like this when I see her old friends and our old stomping grounds.  So many memories.  I loved visiting with one of her best friends from growing up, Heather, or "Heath-a"!  As my Mom would say.  I loved seeing Stac and Rod and Teresa and their crew.

 Rod & Teresa, getting a funnel cake and cotton candy from them was a highlight of the day!

Since we don't have a place to call home or crash in Huntsville anymore, we were staying at a hotel in Layton.  After wearing the kids out we drove back to the hotel and luckily got a small nap out of Jensen.  We decided that we better make the most of being in the Ogden area since we don't get up there much anymore and we hit 2 of my favorite spots, El Matador for dinner (Best chips and salsa ever!) and then over to Farr's for some ice cream!  I loved taking my kids here, it was the first time we'd taken them  (I don't think Ryan and I have been since I was pregnant with Pierce)  and such a fun place for special treat.  Love Farr's. 

It was also fun to get a glimpse of the Reconstruction of the Ogden Temple.  Wow!  Completely new!  It's going to be beautiful!  Ogden definitely needs that. 

We headed back to Huntsville for the fireworks and everyone did great, Jensen loved them!  I was watching his face as much as I was watching the fireworks, he was so fascinated!  Love this boy.

A Boy and His Cars

Just about the cutest thing you've ever seen, wouldn't you say? He melts my heart. ( And also I'm so happy I learned how to use my flash correctly, wahoo! Yay for indoor pictures now!)

"Peanut Butter Fingers!"

Jensen is his Daddy's boy for sure. Ryan LOVES peanut butter! Jensen has now made it very well known at our house that he also LOVES peanut butter. I snapped these pictures a few months ago, but I had to go back and blog about this, especially since this day was the beginning of what is a daily occurrence at our house. Jens is very into "helping" me do everything. On this particular day he was insistent about helping me make his sandwich for lunch. So I sat in him on the counter and he quickly snuck a taste of peanut butter out of the jar. I thought it was pretty adorable, so instead of taking the peanut butter away I grabbed my camera and let him go at it...

He's cute, I know. Small mistake though. The next day when it was lunch time he again wanted to dip his fingers in the peanut butter and said to me, "cheese!" I thought- oh dear, now he thinks we're going to eat peanut butter out of the jar and take pictures every day! What have I done?! Let me make a note, I took these pictures on May 2nd. Today is August 12th. Everyday in between that we have been at home for lunch, Jensen has eagerly asked for "peanut butter fingers!" I tried to put a stop to it but he through such a fit it wasn't worth it. So now we have come to an agreement. It goes something like this: Me: "Jens are you ready for lunch?" Jens: "Peanut Butter Fingers!" Me: "Ok, we gotta wash hands so we can have peanut butter fingers" We wash hands I put him on the counter and set the jar next to him, if I make the mistake of holding onto it he quickly lets me know that's not cool. Once the jar is set in it's proper place I say, "okay, only one." Jensen get his fingers, hands, and arm and goes for one big dip! Then I take the jar and quickly put the lid on. He's ok with one dip a day now. Thank goodness. I love him. So much.

Jensen is TWO!

Somehow this baby boy turned 2! TWO! 2! He was so excited for his birthday, with all of his practice candle blowing he was ready! Since singing "Happy To You" and blowing out candles are his favorite thing I really let him live it up on his birthday. We started the morning off with round one...

It took some serious effort, which was even funnier considering how many times he had "practiced for his birthday"! But he finally got it!

After lunch I let him go at it again with a cupcake, we just had to sample the cupcakes I had been working on to make sure they were good before we served them at the party...

The Party Goods... Jens has loved R2D2 this past year so I thought it would be so adorable to have an R2 Party for him turning 2.  My first time decorating a cake with icing tips, it resembled R2 so it was good enough for me!  Not to mention delish.  

We were so lucky to have Uncle Jeff and Aunt Crystal bring over their gigantic pirate bounce house and slide for the party! They started a new business this past year, renting out bounce houses, you can check them out at St. George Fun.com . It was a HIT! The kids had a ball and it made it the easiest party I've ever done! I think we've found a new tradition. Thanks Jeff & Crystal!

And finally the big moment, the official Happy Birthday candles!

We are so in love with our sweet boy and now we can't imagine life with out him. Jens we love your smile, your laugh, your prance and your run. We love your talking and the new words you say everyday, we even love it when you constantly say, "I do it. Self!" You are growing up so quickly and you bring so much joy to us and to our home. Pierce and Madi adore you and Mom and Dad love you more than words can say. Happy Birthday Jensey Boo!

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.