Jaiden's haircut

I decided out of the blue the other day to get Jaiden's haircut. Rick had wanted to get it cut for a long time but I loved those long blonde locks! Lately, however, she was screaming whenever I tried to do her hair and always ended up pulling out the rubber bands later on in the day because they were "uncomfortable" or didn't go with whatever costume she happened to have on. This left her hair looking messy and unkempt. So I decided that now would be a good time to try something new. I asked her if she wanted to get her hair cut like (and named off a couple of her friend's names) and she was really excited about it! I wanted to get some before and after shots and so I started snapping some pictures of her and this first one turned out so pretty that I almost wavered in my decision to cut it all off!

I went ahead though and she was soooo good at the hair place and sat so quiet and still. Here is the finished result! I think it looks really cute on her (and will hopefully be a lot easier to take care of). We are donating her hair to "locks of love" and so here she is holding her ponytail!

Janelle's Haircut

Since Jaiden was getting her hair cut I decided to get Janelle's cut too. She was excited that the girl who cut her hair had the same birthday that she did! Janelle is not at all shy and has a loud voice. I could hear her chattering away with the Beautician from clear across the room. She was perfect at the hair place but threw a fit and refused to let me curl and style her hair when we got home. She likes braids and pony-tails and the cut turned out shorter than I had envisioned and so I hope I can figure out some cute styles for it (and hopefully she will cooperate!) She is also going through a stage where she suddenly doesn't like to get her picture taken and so I was lucky to get a before and after shot!

Our Little Entrepreneurs!

Janika, Jase, and Jared have really gotten into this "Capri-sun" bag-making thing and have now opened up a little business! Jase and Jared do the collecting and Janika makes all of the bags. During lunch recess at school Jase goes around collecting Capri-Sun wrappers from the other kids (he has even enlisted the Janitor's help in his quest to get more bags). He often comes home with over twenty capri-sun bags. He even offered one of his friends one of his beloved "Yu-Gi-Oh" cards for every wrapper his friend gives him. He comes home and makes a slit in the bottom of each bag and then washes each one out with soap and water. After they dry Janika gets busy crocheting the wrappers together (with strips cut from regular plastic grocery bags). Now they are even selling them. If you want more information about prices, Janika has made a blog just for her capri-sun bags. It is:
http://mycutelilcreations.blogspot.com/

She also made me a giant diaper bag with cup holders! Jase and Jared both bring Capri-Sun lunch boxes to school which is a good advertisement tool. They have actually sold several bags and one of Janika's friends asked if he could become one of her "salesman."

Now the only problem is getting the kids' to focus on something else. The other day while Janika was working on her bags (all over the kitchen table and counter), I asked her to go do the dishes. She said, "Ummmm, I'm doing a business here..." I said, "No business until homework is done and your jobs are complete!!"

Check out Janika's web-site at: www.mycutelilcreations.blogspot.com

Children's Funnies

Josh is learning to sing and it is so cute! He can sing the "Alphabet Song," "I Am a Child of God", and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." This is his version: "Twinko, twinko, widdo stahhr, how I wonder, ARE ARE ARE!!"

And now one for Jaiden... I had all of the kids gathered around me and we were reading and discussing the story about the pre-existence and war in heaven. We talked about Jesus and Satan and Jared said, "Satan can make you do bad things!" I explained that Satan can't "make" you do anything. He can tempt you but it is your decision whether or not to follow. Then the kids started talking about temptations and four year old Jaiden pipes up, "Yeah -- like he can tempt you to get into the bathtub with your clothes on!!"

80's Party

Janika went to an 80's party for Young Womens. Doesn't she look cute? (Okay, I could do without the blue eye-shadow!) I told her that it is too bad that she doesn't have bangs so that I could really make them BIG! But it is weird to have your kids laughingly dress up for such an event. I mean I went to High School in the 80's. Was it really that long ago? I guess I do look back at some of our Junior High and High School styles and laugh. I don't really feel much nostalgia for those years, but I still like much of the music and will sometimes be transported back in time by a particular song to a High School Prom or activity. I also went to college in the 80's -- and those were AWESOME years! The 80's weren't so bad...and I have to admit I still like poofy hair!

Piano Lessons

Last January in order to save money we pulled the kids out of piano lessons and started teaching them at home. Of course it is always difficult trying to teach from home, but Rick has been really consistent giving them lessons each week and man, he is strict! I think they are learning way more than they did in their former lessons! They still aren't thrilled about lessons (except for five year old Janelle who really wants to start) but we at least want them to be able to play the hymns!

Shane and Alicia come to visit...

Shane and Alicia (my brother and sister-in-law) came to visit us for a couple of days this weekend with their two little girls, Adria and Rella. Jaiden and Adri had a great time playing dress up. The cousins all went swimming and took turns standing up and jumping off Uncle Shane's back.

I tended Adri and Rella while Shane and Alicia went to "Les Miserables" at Tuacahn. The kids were excited for their big sleep-over. Adri and Rella slept in Janelle, Jaiden, and Josh's room. Every time I passed their door I could hear them talking, singing, and giggling. It was pretty funny!

Fun With Cousins!

Shane and Alicia offered to tend all of the kids while Rick and I went out Friday night. Shane got another work-out giving the kids horsie rides!










It looks like the kids are playing "ring-around-the-rosies," but Janika said that it was a game called, "Blow the Bubble." I have no idea what that is but Janika said that Adri loved it!


















Josh is just four months older than his cute little cousin Rella. They kept us entertained with their cute smiles and words!

We had fun visiting with Shane and Alicia and Adria and Rella! Thanks for coming!!

More Swim Parties!!

Do you think we could fit a few more kids in this hot-tub? School starts next week and so everyone seems to be squeezing in all of their "end of summer" swimming parties. Our kids have loved it! This is a Ward Elder's Quorum party held in the Green's backyard. Jaiden is the one with the miss-matched water wings and Janelle is the one with the pink goggles.

After swimming and eating, we met some friends at the park and splash pad downtown and set up blankets and chairs and watched an outdoor movie, "Cheaper By The Dozen." Fun evening!

Seminary Swim Party

With school starting soon, the Seminary faculty put together a swim party for Seminary teachers and their families. There were TONS of kids there! Normally when people (at the store or wherever) look at my belly, they will ask questions like, "Is this your first?" or "So which number is this?" I smile and say, "This will be our seventh." Then they gasp, "SEVEN??!!" And then there are all sorts of interesting comments after that. When we go to Seminary gatherings, however, our family size is pretty normal since many of the other teachers have just as many or more kids as we do. I have to admit that it feels nice to go socialize with wonderful families we can relate to so well!

Grandma Jensen and Gerilyn

Grandma Jensen and Gerilyn (Rick's mom and sister) came to visit for a few days. We all love it when family comes to stay! The kids couldn't wait to involve them both in big games of Monopoly and Jase was excited to have someone to challenge him in Chess. They brought us lots of fresh vegetables from their garden which we enjoyed for several days. They also brought us a huge tub of corn on the cob which we cooked, sliced and froze for winter. Gerilyn then took all of the kids out for ice-cream.

Saturday morning Grandma took all of the kids on a walk to the park and then that night she and Gerilyn were able to go see Rick and Janika in "Les Miserables" at Tuacahn.

We were grateful that Grandma and Gerilyn were able to be there Sunday to see Rick sustained and set-apart as the new Branch President of the Deaf Branch. This will be a whole new experience for our family since we will be changing wards (and Stakes) and participating in the Deaf Branch now. Rick is feeling overwhelmed but I know he will do a great job!

Gerilyn always spoils the kids when she comes and Monday she took the entire crew swimming at Sand Hollow and then got pizza for everyone. Josh stayed home and took a nap. That means the house was absolutely quiet and I had the whole afternoon to myself! I was able to take a nap, go swimming, and read a good chunk of Stephenie Meyer's new book "Breaking Dawn." Fun!

Tuesday morning they packed up and headed back home. Thanks Grandma and Gerilyn for coming! We love you!