"Smurf" Village

I had a couple extra kids over today for my kids to play with. Sadie and Tate spent the night last night while their sister was having surgery. All last night all of the kids were fixated on everything "Smurfs", I'm not sure why, but they were. They played with the toy Smurfs we have and watched the Smurfs movie before they went to bed. I even heard a little bit of Smurf singing going on among them.

This morning I found them all, minus Jaron, playing in Jaedyn's room. They had built a Smurf village out of books and blocks and they each had certain Smurf characters that they were playing with, it was very funny to see...

This was my first attempt at getting a close up picture of the Smurf village. I had a pretty little princess' face appear instead...


I finally got the princess to move long enough to get a couple close ups of the Smurfs. I think the kids were pretty creative how they set everything up and were playing...




It didn't take long for the pretty princess to return and this time she brought her crazy faces. She really cracks me up sometimes! I love how she loves the camera and she knows the camera loves her too!




I love to see the creativity that comes from my kids, but most of all I love it when they all get along!

Now, if I could just get that Smurf song out of my head!!

Popcorn/Movie Night...

Every weekend, either on Friday or Saturday, we have a popcorn/movie night with the kids. This is something we started a few years ago and the kids look forward to it every week. This weekend we decided to let the kids have a sleepover in the family room after the movie (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) was over. They were so excited to have the air mattress to sleep on and Jaedyn was so happy that she could be one of the "big kids" with her brothers...

I love that my kids have things like this to look forward to every week. It's a fun way to spend time together as a family.

Father's Day...2012

Josh never told me what he wanted for Father's Day this year, so I asked the kids what they wanted to get him. Jaron immediately said a gift card and I guess that's a good choice because Josh could then pick out exactly what he wants. We headed to the store and after looking over all the gift cards, Jaron picked out a Home Depot one because he said his dad loves that place.

I saw a cute idea on Pinterest for some Diet Coke and we all know that Josh LOVES Diet Coke, so I picked out some for him and let Jantzen decorate the label. It read "Dad's Six Pack", I thought it was cute. Jantzen also made a father's day card for Josh. He spent all night making it and was so excited for his dad to see it the next morning...

Here's the inside of the card that Jantzen made (he signed everyone's name on it) and Josh's gift card...


Josh loved the card and gifts from the kids. After church he got to have a steak dinner with some yummy ice cream after. I meant to make homemade ice cream, but I couldn't find the recipe book, so I just got Josh's favorite kind from the store.

Our kids are so lucky to have Josh as their dad. It's nice to have someone who is willing to work so hard to provide them with all they need and sometimes want and who is also willing to play and be silly with them...the kids love that.


Happy Father's Day Josh! We all love you and appreciate everything you do for all of us!

Fun Summer Days...

Summer is the best time of year to be a kid...you get to play all day!

I took the kids with some of their cousins to the splash pad today. It was a great way to get out of the house and cool off in this 100+ degree weather. The kids enjoyed getting wet while I enjoyed some much needed adult conversations with my friends...

Jaedyn's not a big fan of the splash pad, but she likes to watch the kids play from a distance...


The kids had a blast playing at the park. They were all cooled off and worn out by the time we left...yay for me!

Since Josh was working a double shift today, I decided after dinner to take all the kids and their cousins to Baskin Robbins for some yummy ice cream...


I think the heat got to Jaron today, so he wasn't in the mood for any ice cream. This was my attempt at getting a picture of him...we wasn't very cooperative!


I wish I could be a kid again and enjoy eating ice cream this much...who cares if it's all over your face, right?!?!






It's a good thing I carry wet wipes with me every where I go!

It's so nice to have fun days like this for the kids, so here's to many more fun days this summer!

So Exhausted!

I think all the excitement of the end of school activities really wore this little princess out. She couldn't even stay awake long enough to watch a movie...

And she thinks she doesn't need daily naps anymore, I beg to differ on that! At least she'll be happy and pleasant at dinner time.

Last Day of School...2012

Today was the last day of school for Jaron and Jantzen...they were both so happy for a break. They only had to be at school until 12:30, but they still had a lot going on until that time. I spent my time going back and forth between their classes, helping out with whatever their teachers needed.

The school does a 5th grade dance every year on the last day of school, but it almost got cancelled this year because of all the drama that was going on with the 5th grade girls. Honestly, Jaron would have been happy if it had been cancelled because the girl he liked (she liked him too) moved away last year, so he didn't have anyone to dance with, not that he dances anyway. When I headed down to the dance, this is where I found Jaron...sitting on a bench looking really bored.

I asked him why he wasn't dancing and he said he doesn't like to dance, even though all his friends were "hanging out" on the dance floor. I tried to convince him to go out with with friends, but he was being stubborn and wouldn't.

I decided to head back to Jantzen's class to see what he was up to. His class was heading to the PE room to play "Just Dance" on the Wii. I got a few pictures of him with his friends before I headed back to Jaron's dance...

(From left to right- Conner, Josealfredo, Jacob, and Jantzen)


(On left-Evan)




Jantzen really has some good friends and has so much fun with them.

I headed back to the dance to see what Jaron was up to, and to my surprise, when I got there he wasn't sitting on the bench anymore. He finally got up and was hanging out with his friends. He still wasn't doing any dancing though. I decided to leave him alone and not bug or embarrass him, so I went back to Jantzen's class.

Right before the kids were dismissed I got a quick picture of Jantzen with both his teachers. He really learned a lot from them this year.


As we were leaving the school, I ran into one of the teachers that taught Jaron in 3rd grade. She might be moving out of state next year, so I told her good luck and thanks for all she did for Jaron. It was a big mistake saying that because she started crying which made me start to cry...I've been such an emotional baby the last few days! I know it's just because Jaron's going to be at a different school next year.

I then took the kids for an "end of year" lunch to Subway (their choice) and it was yummy. We had some good conversations about their year at school and they were so excited to start their summer break. It's going to be a fun summer full of birthday parties, swimming, sleepovers, more birthday parties, and more swimming.

Again, I'd like to tell Jaron and Jantzen, good job on all your accomplishments this year in school. You guys did so awesome and we're so proud of you!

End of School Party & 5th Grade Promotion...

Today was another busy day at the school for Jaron and Jantzen. First, Jaedyn and I went to Jantzen's class for his "end of year" party. I had just brought in brownies (5 dozen of them that I made) yesterday for both the boys' birthdays, since they're in the summer, so I told Jantzen to pick out a treat at the store because I didn't want to bake anything for the party. He picked out some cookies.

As like all of the parties he's had in his class this year, there was a ton of treats for the kids to enjoy. I think this is why Jaedyn likes coming to the school, the kids always make a treat pile for her to eat. While Jantzen and Jaedyn enjoyed their treats, they got to watch a movie. It was a fun way for Jantzen to end his last full day as a 1st grader...

Before Jantzen's party was over I had to leave to get to Jaron's 5th grade promotion program. Jantzen was very understanding about me having to leave.

Here's my princess being a little cheeser for the camera before the program started...


Here's a copy of the welcome program...


There were some words of inpiration inside the program that I loved. It was a statement by Dr. Seuss which read, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened".

The school principal got up and welcomed everyone to the promotion and she read the book, "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss, which just happened to be the theme for my senior year in high school. She then had me come up for an award. I was totally surprised because I wasn't expecting anything. She gave me an award for being the PTO president this year. The PTO kept me very busy, but I loved every minute I had being involved at the school. After the principal was done the honor choir sang some songs, then it was time for the teachers to present the kids with their promotion certificates.

Here's a copy of the award I was given...


Before Jaron's teacher called up his students for their promotion, he called me and another mom up. He mentioned to everyone there all the things that we've done to help out in his class this year and then he gave each of us a gift card. He gave me one to Payless because they have some cute jewelry and he knows I love to wear jewelry.

As Mr. Games called out the names of the students in his class, I suddenly got very nervous for Jaron. Not because I was worried if he'd pass the 5th grade or not, but because I was so sad to see him be done with elementary. He finally was called up. He got a "congratulations" and a hand shake from his teacher and then was handed his official promotion certificate...


My first born is no longer an elementary student...sniff, sniff. When all the students had gotten their certificates, the principal had them all stand up and introduced all the parents to the "Class of 2019"...I almost lost it! I had the hardest time holding back my tears. I was so happy for him to be all done with elementary, but at the same time I was so sad at the thought of him continually growing up.

After the promotion was all over, we went back to Jaron's classroom and got one last picture of him with Mr. Games...


Here's a close-up of Jaron's promotion certificate...


The kids were then allowed to go home, but Jaron wanted to stay and hang out with some of his friends until school was actually over.

Here he is with a couple of his favorite friends, Neo and Edward...


While Jaron was "hanging out" (I'm not allowed to call it "playing" anymore) with his friends, Jaedyn did what she always does when we'd go to his class...play on the computer...


It was an exciting day for Jantzen and Jaron, but a bittersweet day for me. Again, it's so hard for me to see my kids grow up. I didn't think it would be this emotional for me to have one of my kids move on to a different school, but it has been that kind of day so far. Jaron's so excited to move on to middle school and I know he'll do great.

There was a quote at the end of the promotion program that I thought was a good reference for Jaron to keep with him as he continues on with his education. It read...


Good luck next year in middle school Jaron and good luck next year in 2nd grade Jantzen. I know you boys will continue to be great students and friends!

Awards Assembly...2012

This morning Jaron and Jantzen had their awards assembly at school. Jantzen's grade was up first, but unfortunately they sat on the opposite side of the room from me, so I couldn't get the best pictures of him.

Jantzen had two teachers this year, Mrs. Straw-Guse (his main teacher) who taught him math, science, and social studies, and Ms. Roach who taught him reading and writing. Mrs. Straw-Guse called him up to receive his awards...

Jantzen got three awards this year, one for "Mathematics Achievement" because he passed all of his "math facts" tests with the principal, one for "Reading Achievement" because he had 151 AR points for books he's read and tested on throughout the school year, and the last one was a "Perfect Attendance" award because he NEVER missed a day of school this year.

After he got his certificates, he also got some pins for his reading and perfect attendance awards from the principal and vice principal...


Here's Jantzen with his teacher, Mrs. Straw-Guse. He absolutely loved being in her class this year and I thought she was an awesome teacher for him...


Here's a close-up of Jantzen's awards...






Next up was Jaron's class. He actually sat right in front of me, so I had to embarrass him by taking his picture before he got his awards...


Jaron had Mr. Games this year for school. He was called up to have his awards announced and he looked so excited (I'm being sarcastic because he gets embarrassed so easily).


Jaron got four awards and a dinner certificate this year. He received an award for "Mathematics Achievement" for passing all of his "math facts" tests with the principal, one for "Reading Achievement" because he had 197 AR points for books he's read and tested on throughout the school year, one for "Exemplary Attendance" (perfect attendance) because he NEVER missed a day of school this year and NEVER has since kindergarten, he received a "P.R.O." award (People Respecting Others) because he was such a nice kid to everyone (only a handful of students got this award), and his teacher gave him a free dinner coupon to BJ's for his academic achievements this year.

Jaron got his certificates from his teacher and then got his pins for his reading and perfect attendance awards from the principal and vice principal.


Here's Jaron with his teacher, Mr. Games. I was a little worried at the beginning of the year for Jaron to be in Mr. Games' class because he's known as the strict/hard teacher, but from the very first day of school Jaron has loved being in his class and has done very well.


Here's a close-up of Jaron's awards...








Jaron and Jantzen have excelled so much in school this year. They have both maintained awesome grades and have been respectful to their teachers and fellow classmates. I'm so proud of all the hard work they've done in school and for always trying their best. Keep up the good work boys, we love you tons!!