Sunday afternoon

So I've never been a "matching" mom, mostly cause I have gotten tons of sweet hand-me-downs and rarely buy my kids clothes, but I became that matching mom on Sunday.  And it was lots of fun.  So I had to record it for history.  I knew there was a very limited time frame for how long they'd sit still so these were done in 2.5 minutes with a lot of "No stay there!  Stay!  Stay!  Good job!" (yes they are like puppies) and some "Carter you better give me nice smiles!  DANGIT Carter that was NOT a nice smile!!!"  "Kaitlyn!  Kaitlyn!!  Look at mommy!!  Right here!"  and of course "I'll give you guys a popsicle!!" 

It's hard work to look like a happy family.

Logan's hair was pretty long and now with his haircut he looks so grown up and I keep mistaking him for Carter.

It was good practice cause I really need to get their pictures taken for real soon (well by real I mean my 17 year old brother and his nice camera + photoshop, unless someone knows a cheap photographer) cause Kaitlyn is 1 and I have not had her picture taken. :( :( :( except for the million that I take. :)

Dear Jenna

Dear Jenna,

You started school today. I thought it would be fun to give you breakfast in bed, and as I looked at you at that moment I knew I would cry today.

Well what do you know this morning felt rushed and when we got to the school we had barely missed the teacher walking your class in. We walked in and daddy and I bustled you in your class and walking away I realized I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye and good luck and that I love you. Then I cried.

Sometimes I feel like you get left out of the blogging world a little because well, you aren’t experiencing milestones like walking, you don’t spill a whole bag of cereal in the pantry just about every day or wreak havoc in general, and so I am going to spotlight your quiet goodness right now. I just want to let you know Jenna how much I love you. Your mommy loves you LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS. You are my little angel girl.

Everyone says you look just like me, although you have these humungous gorgeous blue eyes (not from me!) and cute little freckles across your nose (you can thank your daddy for that fair skin). I love looking at you knowing I am watching a sort of version of myself.

Jenna you made me a mother. At 12 weeks pregnant I went to the Emergency Room and Jenna I thought I might lose you. I was terrified and didn’t know what was going on. Some of the placenta tore and I bled for the next couple months, but you were okay. You were the only pregnancy I had difficulties with and you were my hardest labor and delivery BY FAR. I was so worried that because I felt like I had been run over by a freight train when I finally pushed you out I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my first moments with you. But there you were, breathtakingly perfect, and from the moment I laid eyes on your little scrunched up face I fell completely in love. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the universe made sense the moment I became a mother. The moment I held you.

You have such a good head on your shoulders. You are only 5 and that blows my mind because you are so smart, you are such a good sister, a good helper, and you are so compassionate. There are times you can calm your younger siblings and make them happy when I can’t. You have stopped Logan mid-tantrum because you knew just what to do to distract him. That is pretty much a super power these days.

You have a great imagination and love pretending things with Carter. You two make me smile. You’re as close as twins sometimes. When I signed Carter up for preschool the first thing he asked me is if you were going with him. He thinks the world of you. You two can be so silly and you make me laugh. I am so glad you and Carter are such good friends. The other day you were invited to a birthday party and Carter felt so sad he didn’t get to go with you and you asked if I could please call Dawson’s mom and ask if Carter could go, too. Then when you came home with a treat bag I knew you would share with your siblings without even thinking about it.

You are a little mommy. You help me get the little kids ready when I am in a hurry. A couple times you’ve gotten Logan completely dressed for church. Seriously, you are only 5??? I think you are a lot like me, I was the oldest child too, and I heard all the time what a good girl I was, that I was the perfect child. I definitely could say you are the perfect child too, Jenna, but I don’t want you to think you always have to be perfect. It is a lot of pressure, believe me, I know. I want you to know it is okay to make mistakes, getting in trouble once in a while is not the end of the world, and you do not have to make everyone happy or like you all the time. Don’t be afraid to just be you. You definitely can be timid, self-conscious, and shy and you need an initial push before you jump into things sometimes (just like your mama) but that is okay. However, you make friends so easily and everywhere you go you tell me, “I met a new friend!” Don’t ever lose that talent for approaching people, or that self -confidence… it gets harder as you get older!

You have such a kind heart. You have had potato bugs, dragonflies, grasshoppers, worms, caterpillars, ladybugs, and even a frog all take residence in your room. You have this need to take care of things. I love your genuine, good heart. You feel for others and are very sensitive when others are hurting. You are the sweetest spirit and you bring me such joy. I love you so much, special girl. I’m so blessed to have you for my daughter. I pray we will always be close.

I love you Jenna,


Mom

Dancing queen

Kaitlyn rocking out to Nate's singing (we like "Phineas & Ferb.") I seriously dig her signature dance move.

Love my Katiepoo!

Assessments!

So Jenna had her kindergarten assessment this week. “Assessment” I mean it sounds so serious. And honestly isn’t her assessment an assessment of me as well, I was like, have I taught you enough, my child?! Anyway, I have no idea how it went. She just went in and came back out, the teacher didn’t even come out with her. So am I NOT supposed to know how it went? What went on in there? I’m like, “What did they ask you?” She’s like “Uhhhh I don’t remember.” Okay so they “assess” the 5 year olds and then wipe their memories. I’m like “Did she ask you about colors?” “No.” “Did she ask you about shapes?” “No.” “Did she ask you to say the ABCs?” She’s like “No.” Hmmm... maybe I am reaching too low, maybe they had her read poetry and multiply, what do I know (no Jenna can't read). I’m like “Did she stare blankly at you?” ha ha. She did tell me she counted to 30 for her. Okay. Good to know you did something in that 20 minutes. Well maybe it’s good I don’t know how Jenna did because then I went to Carter’s preschool assessment (his first year of preschool, I’m so excited for him!!) and I was in the same room and that was almost worse. He did pretty good I think, but some stuff I knew he knew but didn’t say. Other stuff he didn’t know and I’m like ohhhh shoot… well if he knew everything he wouldn’t need preschool, right?

So with the new school year coming up and with two kids actually having structured schedules I am telling myself it is time to PULL MYSELF TOGETHER and get organized. I am the person who craves organization, but just can’t quite seem to get to there. But I have these visions in my head of scrambling to get out the door on time, trying to find homework and shoes and backpacks and papers scattered all over the place… yeah I don’t want to be like that. Can I please not be like that? See I was sorta kinda late to Jenna’s joy school… like every time. I better change my ways quick and I don’t want every morning one of stress where I’m screaming at the kids. THEN— this may be asking too much-- I also want to have structured evenings where we eat dinner and then do reading, homework (do kindergartners get homework?), then off to bed at a decent hour. CAN I DO IT?! Can I be a mother of schoolchildren?? Can I be organized and prepare every evening for the morning and get stuff done in the day so I can prepare for the evening?? How do people do it? Will I be able to keep track of everything? I don't want to be a flaky mom... Can I handle book reports, science projects, MATH! Will my kids be good students?  And if they have trouble what will I do?  Okay okay okay this is just kindergarten I’m sure I’ll adapt as I go along. I guess I’ll start with the basics and focus on actually getting her to school on time. Baby steps!!!

Brrr, I mean, Bear Lake

We went to Bear Lake last weekend with my family and had a blast. The water wasn't SO bad once you got it over with and just dove in. I even went water-skiing, I felt so cool, it had been YEARS! Jenna and Carter swam and swam, Logan was was pretty adamant about not getting in the water, Kaitlyn splashed at the shore and snacked on some sand. OH yeah, good times. We boated, swam, played games at the cabin, ate raspberry shakes as well as a whole lotta other junk. We also visited the Maneoauvwipeidaka caves (I can't remember the real name!) and it was awesome. I was so nervous bringing 4 kids in and sure enough Kaitlyn didn't last more than 10 minutes. When Carter was 1 we visited some caves in San Antonio and he was the exact same way, just wanting to get down and WALK! Holding a squirming baby so they won't fall to their death is not fun, so thank you, sweet momma for taking her out... what a nice grandma. The other kids did great.  Anywho my camera battery died so here are a bunch of pictures from everyone else. :)


BUT FIRST check out what I found stashed in our room at the cabin:

I KNOW, RIGHT!!!! Admit it, you have great respect for me because I slept in the same room as this thing.  There's nothing creepier than an old doll!!!

Um my favorite picture ever. Mostly I like to laugh at my dad... "HalleLUjah!" Ha ha!!!

Cute Bryce and Danielle.

Bathing beauty (i'm talking about Kaitlyn.)

Saturday morning we woke up to a sweet thunderstorm. My brother Preston got the sunrise, as well as a double rainbow. One of my favorite things in life are thunderstorms... and then throw in a sunrise... breathtaking.

Some shots Danielle got with her camera.

Watcha doin Logan?

I pray while I ski. I am hardcore.

The fam up at the caves.

I'm so lucky to come from such a silly folk.

Good-bye summer! Wish I had another raspberry shake right now!!!!

Summer fun with cousins

Jumping at Grandma's. My kids think there is just nothing better than playing with cousins.

Practicing the splits.

Practicing walking blindly.

And trying to walk straight.

Jenna makes that hard.

But it's so funny watching her fall like a drunken sailor! (i am experimenting with different camera settings, can you tell?)

Walking on air.

Getting told not to turn on the water.

Setting up a defense.

Posing. (we are experimenting with growing out the bangs again just for a change... i am not sure about it yet.)

Lagoon with the cousins!

Wide-eyed!

So Logan was 36 inches, big enough to go on the new Bambora coaster. He did pretty good on it. Then we realized he was big enough for the dinosaur drop, which freaked Carter out pretty bad last time. But I thought Logan might like it.

Before.

Realizing I made a big mistake as he is crying "I want to get down!"

I am a very sorry mommy!!!! I felt so bad for him.

Bear Lake pictures to come... we had one last bit of summer fun this last weekend. it truly blows my mind that summer is over and Jenna is starting school. MIND BLOWING! Part of me wants to live in a bubble and keep my little chicks close the rest of our lives. Sigh. Alas. I must let them venture out and explore the world and not know what is going on with them 24/7. It stinks. And yet, I am so excited for this new phase in our lives. I absolutely loved elementary school. I have a feeling Jenna will too.