Ladybug Wishes

I have two little ladybugs that have been counting down to their birthday for six months.  Their birthday wishes have been fulfilled.

Breakfast in bed (aka - the picnic table).

A trip to Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Choosing a friend to take home.

Bathing and brushing.

A cute bear in purple for Kerri.

A furry bunny in pink for Rebekah.

Wasn't it just yesterday that they turned 1?

Always double blessings.

Happy Birthday Ladybugs!!

We love you!!

Piano Counting

Jarin is a hoot when he practices piano.

I laugh every time he plays this piece.

Too bad he caught me - he's hilarious.

Let's see if I can be sneakier....

He caught me again!

Little Red

Women Cycling For a Cause

I participated in one of the best cycling events in the country this last weekend - Little Red Riding Hood Ride. It is the largest and longest all-women's bike ride in the country. It was held in Lewiston - a beautiful green valley 20 miles north of Logan (I think I might move there one day). 3000 women on bikes ride to support women cancer research.

Little Red is the heroine and she always gets the best of the Big Bad Wolf - which represents cancer.

It was a fabulous girl's weekend that my friend Rachel signed me up for - THANK YOU!

We went up the night before and stayed in a hotel with fellow bikers.

I made new friends and saw old friends (college roomies).

It was a fantastic weekend that I think I'll repeat every year.

Click here for event photos.

This is Jen, my dearest friend from Washington.

She was courageous enough to introduce me into biking years ago.

I hauled three kids biking after her and her kids.

I've waited four years to bike with her again - yeah!

My dearest friend Rachel who encouraged me to go!

Happy Birthday J. J.

My little boy is all big and smelly!

Jarin is celebrating his birthday at Clear Creek Camp this week.  He was quite bummed to be missing his birthday with his family.  We made it up to him on the last day of school.

We woke up extra early and made a banner and a yummy breakfast.

Then we snuck downstairs and sang Happy Birthday and presented him with our traditional breakfast in bed.

Right after school, fifteen boys came for games, pizza, cake and birthday wishes for Jarin.

He was excited to see that the trend in birthday gifts at this age included cash and gift cards.

Lucky duck!

Oh, doesn't this just make you want to squeeze his cheeks and kiss him?

I remember those days.

Fortunately, I still get those days.

Happy Birthday Bears!

We love you!

Oblivious

*When the kids were young I used to go Christmas shopping and hide their gifts underneath the cart and they were oblivious.  

Not any more.

*When the kids were little - I used to eat Oreo Cookie ice cream in front of them and they had no clue. 

Not any more.

*When the kids were small I could turn on a BBC movie and they didn't turn a cheek - now if I sit down to watch a BBC movie (which is rare), the kids run and join me.  Sigh.

*Just the other day, I mixed a huge box of Cheerios and a small box of generic honey nut cheerios together and poured it back into their boxes - RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!  

They didn't bat an eyelid.  

Are they that oblivious? 

Nah, they just know their mom too well.

How to make sugar cereal not so sugary.

Kid tested.

Num num num.

Mother approved!

Last Day of School

I'm gearing up for summer!  It's taking me a bit to get there.  I just got used to my kiddos going to school on four different time schedules - it's been pretty nuts.  

Since it was the last day of school - the four grade school kids got to go together.

I took pictures of them going to school.

Then I went inside and cried.

Now I'm ready for summer!

Sniff sniff.

Soccer Season

Soccer season has come and gone AGAIN! It was great fun trying to get three Jensenites to three games at three different locations at usually the same time every Saturday. Next year FIVE Jensenites will be playing - the ladybugs are so excited!

Foolish parents!

I do want to take this time to award Cameron the Most Amazing Soccer Dad Award. He loves watching the kids play and taking them to their games and I am so glad. I really do like that they play both fall and spring season.

Nutty parents.

Trevor

Dude! The 'WE SCORED' body slam!

Trevor refused to wear his soccer cleats.

I didn't push it either - he'll realize soon enough.

Wait for it....

And the shoe goes flying off!

Did he realize? Nah!

Jarin LOVES all sports!

Makayla

Classic!

Until next soccer season.

Kindergarten Graduation

What's better than being a twin?

Having your twin in the same class with you!

{Rebekah}

{Kerri}

What a great year!

Just because I have bragging rights.... these two ladybugs are on level 12 reading level.
Kindergarten level is 1-5. Level 12 is at the end of 1st grade.
Stinkin' cute book worms!

School Endings

The last week of school brings back nostalgic memories for me.  I loved my school days -from the first day of school to the last week of fun activities.  Since my kids are in the same school district I grew up in, they experience many of the activities that I remember doing.

Dance Festival

I wanted to watch the kids perform their dances through my real eyes and chose not to view them through my camera, hence the 'before' photos of them.

Jarin goofing off with his friends.

Trevor mumbled a whole lot about having to dance to a High School Musical song.

You'd never know it by watching him - he looked like he was having the time of his life.

The girls did the hula dance and were just too cute!

Awards Assembly

Jarin earned The Great American Challenge Award.

As a fifth grader, they are encouraged to receive this award by memorizing the Preamble, Gettysburg address, the presidents in order, states and capitals, and sing the Star Spangle Banner as well as write and spell correctly the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jarin went so far as to play the Star Spangle Banner on the piano.

That's my boy!

The girls received 100% attendance for their kindergarten year.  

Only three kindergarten students accomplished that goal.

I think having afternoon kindergarten helped accomplish that goal.

Plus they LOVE LOVE school.