Jaiden got graduation pictures taken in her kindergarten class. She said, "They gave us the clothes with the little jacket and the hat with the string." I said, "Did you look cute?" She emphatically responded, "No -- I looked ridiculous!"
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Today Jaiden was being her usual loud self. I whispered to her, "You are inside. Please use your indoor voice." She said, "I don't have one!" (I've noticed!)
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sweet Sounds of Broadway
My Grandpa
My Grandpa Norman passed away this evening, April 29th, (on my birthday) at the age of 94. He would have turned 95 this August. He and Grandma just celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. Grandpa was rushed to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. after going into a coma. Many family members were able to go to the hospital that day to see him and say their "good-byes." Grandpa slipped away peacefully around 11:35 that night. Both my mom and dad were with him. We will miss our Grandpa!
Some of my memories of Grandpa include:
Going fishing with him and Grandma as children -- often at Strawberry Reservoir. We would sleep on a mattress in the back of his enclosed truck and wake up really early to get out on the lake in Grandpa's little fishing boat. Later on Grandpa got a ski boat. He mostly used it for fishing, but he brought us water-skiing a few times. We were thrilled! It didn't have much power and so if we tried to ski, we had to hang on to the rope handle really tight and try to keep ourselves held up (with water splashing in our face) until the boat got enough power to actually pull us out of the water! We loved it though! We had many wonderful memories of fishing with Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandpa also loved to hunt and proudly displayed his hunting successes on their basement walls. Grandpa also shared stories with us about his days in the Army Air Corp in World War II. He was a hard worker and admitted that sometimes he worked a little "too hard," bringing work home with him. He and Grandma started out with basically nothing and built up a lovely home and family. Their three children are all active in the church with wonderful families of their own. Grandma and Grandpa loved to play games such as scrabble and progressive rummy. For years my mom and dad would go to their house every Friday night to play games with them.
I remember going to Grandma and Grandpa's house during holidays and many other times. We would have dinners out on their large back patio. We would roll down the hill on their side yard and play silly games with the cousins such as "strong-ies and fast-ies" (do any of you remember that game?) Grandma and Grandpa were proud of their wonderful garden.
I remember when I got my first "real" full-time job. Grandpa teased me that my beginning salary was more than his was at retirement! I remember singing at Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary and Grandpa shocking me with a big ol' kiss! I always loved Grandpa's crooked smile! He leaves behind a wonderful legacy. We love Grandpa very much and will miss him!
Some of my memories of Grandpa include:
Going fishing with him and Grandma as children -- often at Strawberry Reservoir. We would sleep on a mattress in the back of his enclosed truck and wake up really early to get out on the lake in Grandpa's little fishing boat. Later on Grandpa got a ski boat. He mostly used it for fishing, but he brought us water-skiing a few times. We were thrilled! It didn't have much power and so if we tried to ski, we had to hang on to the rope handle really tight and try to keep ourselves held up (with water splashing in our face) until the boat got enough power to actually pull us out of the water! We loved it though! We had many wonderful memories of fishing with Grandma and Grandpa.
Grandpa also loved to hunt and proudly displayed his hunting successes on their basement walls. Grandpa also shared stories with us about his days in the Army Air Corp in World War II. He was a hard worker and admitted that sometimes he worked a little "too hard," bringing work home with him. He and Grandma started out with basically nothing and built up a lovely home and family. Their three children are all active in the church with wonderful families of their own. Grandma and Grandpa loved to play games such as scrabble and progressive rummy. For years my mom and dad would go to their house every Friday night to play games with them.
I remember going to Grandma and Grandpa's house during holidays and many other times. We would have dinners out on their large back patio. We would roll down the hill on their side yard and play silly games with the cousins such as "strong-ies and fast-ies" (do any of you remember that game?) Grandma and Grandpa were proud of their wonderful garden.
I remember when I got my first "real" full-time job. Grandpa teased me that my beginning salary was more than his was at retirement! I remember singing at Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary and Grandpa shocking me with a big ol' kiss! I always loved Grandpa's crooked smile! He leaves behind a wonderful legacy. We love Grandpa very much and will miss him!
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Sunday, April 25, 2010
Jaiden's Spa Treatment
Janika is such a great big sister. The other day she decided to give Jaiden her own little "spa treatment." She washed Jaiden's hair and blow dried it and then did her nails. Jaiden was in heaven.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Saturday Activities
This morning I woke up early to pick up my two Bountiful Baskets and then did a little garage sale shopping. I am a sucker for a good deal! The girls were all up when I got back and Janika (shock!) was actually practicing the piano! It was nice to not have any scheduled activities today. Our campers returned safe and sound smelling like campfire smoke. I spent most of the day cleaning the house and then brought the kids shoe shopping. Luckily they were buy one get one half off. I still spent over a $110.00 buying Jase, Jared, Janelle, and Jaiden new shoes. Tonight we just relaxed and watched a movie. The kids watched "Planet 51" and after the little ones were in bed Rick and I watched "The Young Victoria."
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday Activities
Thursday I came down with a cold and then also came down with a bout of the stomach flu that night. The next day the cold was still there but the stomach sickies were gone (thank goodness!) I wondered if it might have just been something I ate, but then one of the other kids came down with it a couple of nights later.
Friday our kids went to a "Boot Camp," (Build Your Own Testimony), Primary Activity at our home ward. Then Rick and the three boys left for a Father and Son's Outing. After Janika got home from her play practice, I planned on bringing her and the other three little girls out for a "Girl's Night Out." When we went to leave, however, I couldn't find my set of keys anywhere. We searched for about an hour (calling Rick to see if they were in his car -- they weren't) and finally ended up asking him if he could come back and and give us the key off his ring. I felt really bad because he was clear across town eating dinner out with the boys and he had to drive all the way back home to give us his key and then drive all the way back and then on to the Father and Sons. He was really good about it though (he is seriously the best!) even though it probably cut off about an hour of their fun time tonight. (Which is why we also don't have any pictures to document their camping trip). I probably would have just cancelled our plans for tonight except I had also signed up for a Bountiful Basket the next morning and knew I would need the keys for that too.
The girls and I went out to eat and then got a movie from Redbox. We were going to go shoe shopping too but it was too late by the time we got the key. But we had fun and the little girls were ecstatic about getting their own special night out. And no, I still haven't found the keys. The last time I saw them the baby was playing with them. I was busy and didn't take them from her -- so they could be ANYwhere! It is not just my car keys, but ALL my keys -- house, mail, work...
Lessons learned: Get a spare key for our mini-van. NEVER let the baby play with my keys!!
One good thing that has come from this: I have been cleaning like crazy hoping that they would turn up. They still haven't, but at least my house is clean!
Friday our kids went to a "Boot Camp," (Build Your Own Testimony), Primary Activity at our home ward. Then Rick and the three boys left for a Father and Son's Outing. After Janika got home from her play practice, I planned on bringing her and the other three little girls out for a "Girl's Night Out." When we went to leave, however, I couldn't find my set of keys anywhere. We searched for about an hour (calling Rick to see if they were in his car -- they weren't) and finally ended up asking him if he could come back and and give us the key off his ring. I felt really bad because he was clear across town eating dinner out with the boys and he had to drive all the way back home to give us his key and then drive all the way back and then on to the Father and Sons. He was really good about it though (he is seriously the best!) even though it probably cut off about an hour of their fun time tonight. (Which is why we also don't have any pictures to document their camping trip). I probably would have just cancelled our plans for tonight except I had also signed up for a Bountiful Basket the next morning and knew I would need the keys for that too.
The girls and I went out to eat and then got a movie from Redbox. We were going to go shoe shopping too but it was too late by the time we got the key. But we had fun and the little girls were ecstatic about getting their own special night out. And no, I still haven't found the keys. The last time I saw them the baby was playing with them. I was busy and didn't take them from her -- so they could be ANYwhere! It is not just my car keys, but ALL my keys -- house, mail, work...
Lessons learned: Get a spare key for our mini-van. NEVER let the baby play with my keys!!
One good thing that has come from this: I have been cleaning like crazy hoping that they would turn up. They still haven't, but at least my house is clean!
Josh's Spotlight
Josh had the spotlight this week for pre-school. I didn't notice until later that the bottom left corner picture must have fallen off his poster. Our kids love pre-school with Mrs. Kathy!
Busy Janika!
Well, student council elections were announced yesterday and Janika didn't make it in. As if happened, one of the kids she was running against for Activities Coordinator was her best friend, Madison. Madison ended up winning. We are happy for her, because she is just like a part of the family too! Anyway, I am so proud of Janika for running. It takes a fair amount of initiative and confidence to put yourself out there and run for office. She went to a lot of work and did a great job putting everything together. I think she is planning on trying for an appointed position next week but whether or not she ends up on Student Council, I think that running for office has been a great learning experience!
Janika has been very busy lately. Last weekend she went on a fieldtrip up to Salt Lake to take two master dance classes (one modern and one African) and to see a Martha Graham dance concert at Kingsbury Hall. The kids missed two days of school and stayed at a hotel near the facilities. It was actually the kids involved with dance in the High School that were going but the dance teacher at the Middle School was able to invite a couple of the middle school kids and she extended an invitation to Janika.
Janika has also been very busy with the upcoming High School Play she is involved in. They have been rehearsing everyday after school for two hours and are opening next week. She has had fun being involved with the play but has had to turn down several babysitting jobs -- and hasn't been around as much to do her daily quota of dishes! :) Janika is also in the Honors Program at the Middle School and so she is trying to keep up with homework while doing all of the social stuff too -- hanging out with friends, going to birthday parties and dances, and going to Young Women's activities. Today she is with a school group at the college participating in the Relay For Life, raising money for cancer awareness. It goes all night but I am glad she opted out of that part of it. Her busy schedule has been catching up with her and she has caught a cold on top of the Hay Fever that has been plaguing her the past little while.
We are looking forward to a little breather once the play is over and life slows down a little. Until then, it's full steam ahead!
Janika has been very busy lately. Last weekend she went on a fieldtrip up to Salt Lake to take two master dance classes (one modern and one African) and to see a Martha Graham dance concert at Kingsbury Hall. The kids missed two days of school and stayed at a hotel near the facilities. It was actually the kids involved with dance in the High School that were going but the dance teacher at the Middle School was able to invite a couple of the middle school kids and she extended an invitation to Janika.
Janika has also been very busy with the upcoming High School Play she is involved in. They have been rehearsing everyday after school for two hours and are opening next week. She has had fun being involved with the play but has had to turn down several babysitting jobs -- and hasn't been around as much to do her daily quota of dishes! :) Janika is also in the Honors Program at the Middle School and so she is trying to keep up with homework while doing all of the social stuff too -- hanging out with friends, going to birthday parties and dances, and going to Young Women's activities. Today she is with a school group at the college participating in the Relay For Life, raising money for cancer awareness. It goes all night but I am glad she opted out of that part of it. Her busy schedule has been catching up with her and she has caught a cold on top of the Hay Fever that has been plaguing her the past little while.
We are looking forward to a little breather once the play is over and life slows down a little. Until then, it's full steam ahead!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Head Shots
We FINALLY finished doing head shots for this year! We are only what -- four months late? They took FOREVER!! I took Josh and Jenna's pictures and Rick took all of the rest. A couple of the kids posed for about 50 pictures only to discover after we downloaded them to the computer that something was off -- lighting, weird hair, or whatever -- and then we had to do them all over again. There was a fair amount of whining and complaining but we finally got them done and they turned out cute -- don't you think? Of course they ARE cute kids (I'm not prejudiced or anything). I kept going into our neighbors yard to take a bunch of shots since they had better trees with better lighting for backgrounds. Our neighbors are probably glad that I am no longer in their yard telling a fidgety kid to "look at me" and "say cheese!"
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