It's Official...

...I'm finally a married woman again! Okay, so I really haven't been a single woman since April 1998, but I've not had a wedding ring for the last three years to show that I'm married. Ever since I got pregnant with Jaedyn my body has seriously not been the same (I didn't have this problem with the boys) and that includes my fingers. Starting at seven months pregnant with her I was no longer able to fit my wedding ring on my hand. I thought maybe after I had her I'd be able to, but that didn't happen. And so the long journey without a wedding ring began. I kept hinting to Josh for birthdays and/or holidays that I'd like my ring re-sized so I could wear it, but nothing ever came of it until three years later. I finally got tired of not having an actual wedding ring, so I made some calls and found out how much it'd cost to get it to fit me again.

Last week was our 14th anniversary and I decided as my gift that I was going to get my ring taken care of. Not only did I want it re-sized, but now I added that I wanted it dipped in white gold because I mostly wear silver jewelery and my ring is yellow gold. So, Josh and I headed to Morgan Jewelers (where my ring is from). We found out that my prongs all needed to be redone and that it'd be cheaper in the long run to buy a lifetime warranty (which includes re-sizing, dipping, prong fixing, and cleanings whenever I want) on it instead of just paying for everything I wanted done to it.

Here's my ring before it's much needed makeover...

Last Sunday as we were eating breakfast before church, I told my kids that this week I was finally going to be married again (meaning I'll have my ring back to make it official again). Jantzen quickly responded with, "To someone else?", and Josh responded, "Yes, mom's getting rid of me"...it was so funny because Jantzen was so serious. We all got a good laugh out of it.

Yesterday Josh picked up my ring on his way home from work. I was so excited all day to see what it was going to look like.

And, here it is...


I LOVE the way it looks now! I LOVE being able to wear it everyday now! After going three long years without it, it feels like I just got it for the first time, I can't stop looking at it, I love it that much!


It feels so good to be official again!

Jantzen's Riding a Bike...Finally!

Last week Jantzen finally started riding his petal bike. We've been trying to get him to ride it for almost two years and he kept refusing, but somehow Jaron convinced him to try it out and now he doesn't want to stop riding it...he loves it! That's all he wants to do everyday after school. He gets frustrated when I tell him he has to do his homework first.

The bike Jantzen had was a hand-me-down from Jaron and he's a little too tall for it, so we told him we'd take him shopping for a new one.

We went to several different stores last weekend, but we were unable to find the green bike Jantzen wanted. Are you surprised that he wants a green bike? I checked online for green bikes and found the one he wanted, so we ordered it. It said it'd take about a week and a half to get here, Jantzen was bummed, but said it's okay, he can wait.

Well, he didn't have to wait that long. His bike was delivered yesterday and Josh got it all put together before I had to pick the boys up from school. Josh stuck it right in front of the door going into the house, but you couldn't see it from the front of the garage. As soon as I got home with the boys Jantzen asked if he could ride his bike (referring to the old one) and Josh told him he needed to do his homework first. Jantzen wasn't too happy about that until he went to go inside and he saw his new bike. He was so excited! We told him he could ride it for a while before his homework.

Can you tell how excited he is to ride his new green bike?!?!




Before he took off to ride bikes with Jaron, Jantzen said the funniest thing. He said, "I'm riding a green bike, wearing a green shirt and a green helmet with a green stripe on my shoes. Now all I need is green shorts and green underwear!". We all got a good laugh out of that.

Then he took off with Jaron and they had a blast riding together...


Jaron loves to stand on the back pegs on his bike...


...and Jantzen loves to do everything his big brother does, so he started trying to stand up too. It's going to take a little more practice for him to get it down good, but he's doing so good so far and is enjoying every minute of it...


It's so nice now that Jantzen's riding his bike instead of just his scooter. He wants to be outside all the time and Jaron is loving having him ride along with him.

**A little side note- Jantzen informed me today that he's wearing green underwear along with his green shirt (he has a ton of green shirts) so he'll totally match his bike. He's such a funny kid!**

Pool Prep and Fun!

Yesterday Josh and Jaron cleaned out the pool and got it ready to be filled since the weather here has been warming up quite a bit lately. After they had it all cleaned out, Jaron and Jaedyn got their swimsuits on and started playing in the pool while it was filling up.

Josh thought it'd be funny to spray the kids with the hose, I don't think Jaedyn thought it was funny...

Jaron also thought it'd be fun to spray Jaedyn...


She yelled at him and eventually got the hose from him and returned the favor, laughing the whole time, of course...


The two of them had a lot of fun together...


Jaedyn even tried to pinch Jaron's toosh. She's so funny!


Jantzen was at a friend's house, so he joined in the fun later. As soon as he got in Jaron sprayed him, but he wrestled the hose away and sprayed him back...


Jaedyn got mad that her brothers weren't giving her the hose, so she decided to pout on the ladder. I tried to make her smile, but she just gave me dirty looks...she's really good at that!


Since her brother's love her so much, they gave her the hose so she'd stop pouting and play with them. That quickly put a smile on her face. Poor Jantzen kept slipping and falling and Jaedyn took full advantage of that. She wouldn't stop spraying his toosh...


I think the boys wore themselves out...


Josh got back in the pool to record the kids playing with his GoPro and Jaedyn had a blast spraying the camera. It's a good thing it's waterproof!


The kids all had a blast playing in the pool with the little amount of water that was in it. I think they're crazy for playing in such cold water, I won't get in the pool until the water is at least 80 degrees! I guess as a kid I was the same, but I've gotten to be quite the wuss as I've gotten older. Oh well, at least now we're ready for the blazing summer heat to begin.

Jantzen's Journal...

I got Jantzen this for Christmas last year...

...and now he has an obsession with journaling. It's so funny to see what he writes and draws in his "journal"...remember, it's NOT a diary. He reminds me of that all the time.

The other day I found his latest journal entry on a blank piece of paper. Here it is...


It gave me a good laugh, I love my Jantzilla!

"Tiger of the Month"

This month Jaron was chosen as "Tiger of the Month" by Coach Snow (one of the PE teachers) for how his "polite, responsible demeanor always shows in the respectful way he treats others". Coach Snow told me that she's been wanting to choose Jaron as Tiger of the Month for a while now, but she didn't know how to put into one sentence what an awesome kid he is. She said she first noticed his kindness towards others when he was in first grade and he's been one of her favorite students ever since. She said she's sad to see him go to middle school next year (I secretly am too). She's right though, Jaron is a pretty awesome kid!

Keep up the good work Jaron, I'm so proud of your willingness to help others and all you've accomplished in school so far!

First Lost Tooth!

Jantzen lost his very first tooth tonight. He has been telling us for over a month now that he's had a loose one, but I thought he was just saying that because Jaron had a loose one and he wanted some money from the tooth fairy. Apparently he was right and he's been working it looser every day.

Jantzen came up the stairs with Josh right before bedtime and said they were going to get it out. I didn't think they would, but I was wrong. It only took two pulls with the floss and his tooth was out...he didn't even flinch or cry! He was so excited to finally have it out and he quickly put it under his pillow for the tooth fairy.

We finally have a child with a toothless smile...




The first thing Jaron said to me after Jantzen had his tooth pulled was, "I feel like a big wuss!". He said that because Jantzen was so calm about it and Jaron always has a panic attack when Josh pulls his teeth. It's kind of crazy how different kids are. Jaron didn't start loosing any teeth until he was in 3rd grade, he always has his permanent tooth in before the baby one comes out, and he freaks out at the very thought of his teeth being pulled out. Jantzen is only in 1st grade and has lost his 1st tooth, he doesn't have any signs of a permanent tooth yet, and he's so relaxed and calm when you pull his teeth.

I wonder what it's going to be like when Jaedyn loses her first tooth.

Easter...2012

The Easter Bunny was very courteous this year. He knew that it was fast Sunday, so he waited until after church to come and visit the kids. After church, the kids were all in the backyard playing, so Josh decided to make things a little fun. He went running outside pretending to chase something and then asked the kids if they saw the Easter Bunny hopping away. They said "no", but Jantzen was very eager to help look for him anyway...it was kind of cute.

After no luck finding the Easter Bunny, the kids came inside to see what he left for them...

Jaedyn got a little extra surprise in front of her basket. The Easter Bunny left some "droppings" (jelly beans) before he hopped out the back door. If any of you have seen "Hop" you'll understand why this happened.

...they were so excited and happy!...


Jantzen got a "Nerf Megablade" sword, two Dr. Seuss books, a laser pointer, an M&M candy dispenser (with an M&M Boba Fett on top), a package of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" magnetic bookmarks, an "Angry Birds" pencil topper, a noisy monkey that poops out candy, and some other yummy Easter treats...


Here's a closeup of the monkey and the candy it poops out, I thought it was hilarious! The only thing I dislike about it is that it makes monkey noises and it takes a while for it to stop...it's kind of annoying!


Jaedyn got a "Hello Kitty" matching game, some "Strawberry Shortcake" and "Minnie Mouse" books, a new "Strawberry Shortcake" movie, a "Minnie Mouse" jump rope and jewelery links, a "Hello Kitty" notepad, crayons, and card game, a pink car full of candy, a couple new shirts, and some yummy Easter treats...


Jaron got a "Nerf Megablade" sword, the "Son of Neptune" book, an M&M candy dispenser (with an M&M Anakin Skywalker on top), a laser pointer, a case for his new "Kindle Fire", and some yummy Easter treats...


The Easter Bunny even left a basket for Josh and I. Josh got a 24 pack of Diet Coke, an air pump for his bike, a huge bottle of "Frank's Red Hot" sauce (he eats this stuff like it's going extinct), and all of his favorite Easter candies. I got some awesome new black "Madden Girl" boots...I LOVE them!!


The kids really enjoyed everything they got. Jantzen quickly read both of his new books, I love that he loves to read!


The boys played around a lot with their laser pointers. Jaedyn kept having them find her "tickle button", then she would just giggle...


Then, she enjoyed a little jump roping fun with Jaron and her daddy...


...then she tried it all by herself...


...while the boys went out to have a sword fight on the trampoline...


They had a blast as you can tell.

Jaedyn quickly joined them outside, but sadly she couldn't play swords with them because she doesn't have one. Instead, she played with her new pink car...


It was another fun Easter Sunday with our little family. Even though we get baskets full of goodies, we all remember the real reason why we celebrate Easter...because of our Savior's resurrection. My kids are quick to talk about it when they start getting a little over excited about their baskets, it's really sweet to listen to all they have to say about Him. It helps me to know how truly grateful they are that our Savior sacrificed his life for all of us. I hope they can always remember that and live the way that our Heavenly Father wants them to. Happy Easter!

Easter Egg Hunt

This afternoon we took the all the kids to the park for an Easter egg hunt. The weather was perfect, so we decided to walk over to the park instead of driving over...

Josh and Spencer hid the eggs while Jann and I took the kids to the playground to play...




Jaron had to be a bit of a poser for my camera. Jantzen couldn't let him be a poser by himself, so he quickly joined him...


When the eggs were all hidden, the kids quickly took off to find them...


It took Jaedyn a while to find all of her eggs because she would get so excited every time she found one and she'd stop to admire it. I didn't get many pictures of Jantzen because he was too fast for me and Jaron thought the creep-up-on-the-egg approach was the best way to find his eggs...




Here's all the happy hunters with their yummy treasures (from left-Zeben, Aria, Austyn, Jaron, Jantzen, and Jaedyn)...


I tried to get a picture of just my kids, but you can see how well that turned out...


And, here we all are...


After loading up on some yummy sugary treats, the kids (including Josh and Spencer) headed over to play on the swings. Yes, that's Spencer on the far right.












It was the perfect day for an Easter egg hunt and the kids all had a blast. It felt so good to sit and relax at the park while the kids (again, including Josh and Spencer) all played and I loved that we could spend this time with some good friends.