Every so often I have moments where I just sit there feeling completely content with life. Often they are when our family is together doing something. Doesn't necessarily have to be doing something special. It is the times when I just stop. I sometimes have a hard time doing that.

Sitting in the chair tonight with Blake, listening to Ryan play the piano and watching the kids play a made up game I just felt content. I especially loved how obvious it was that Blake wanted to be doing what the other kids were doing. He was practically jumping off the chair. No movement by the others was missed by him. He was drooling (well literally and figuratively).

I am not a great life documenter with pics. Luckily I am married to Ryan. And luckily I have a decent camera on my phone. Because that is usually within reach.

Hallie walked up to me looking like this

and says "Hi, I'm BoB!" (It took me a second but I got it...:)
and sometimes I just can't believe she is already old enough to have her mind be so active and smart. I am amazed every day at that things that she remembers, discovers and says.

Aubrie jumps into the front seat of the car this morning to go to school, throws on her seat belt and yells "Let's motor!".

What?

You just can't help but

Kiss him ALL day.

He is the BEST helper. period. I am grateful every day for Robbie and how much he does to help me here at our house. He is constantly asking to do things. He likes working and I love it.

Robbie was inspired by cousins Jack and Tyler (and so was I) who mow their lawns for mulah and wanted to mow ours by himself.

He has mowed our lawn mostly by himself twice now. And our lawn is pretty big. I helped by walking right behind him to show him how to keep straight lines (still working on that) and after a few rounds, he asked me to just let him do it. I was surprised how well he did pushing it by himself and not missing sections of lawn.

He's HIRED!

I just was pulling the last mini load of clothes out of the dryer. I turned around and saw this...
REALLY!?! In two days!?!

Well, I did get an Iphone....which was a dangerous move. and I finally figured out how to get my pictures off of it.

So here are some randoms that probably are a little bit more of our "real" life or day to day--
in no particular order.
Sewed a new shower curtain...had to text a picture to my mom (any attempt at sewing by me has to be documented:)

A friend has been helping me overcome my fear of canning (at least canning alone). I always think I am going to make something explode.

GREATEST birthday gift from G&G Haynie75% of our childrens' time while indoors is spent with Legos...literally.

One of 350 (not exaggerating) Aubrie self portraits.

Free tickets to FENWAY. We brought Blake and took the subway in. Its like a baseball game and history museum all rolled into one. People take their baseball VERY seriously here. I saw stat sheets being filled out left and right of us. And when we left, the security guard pulled a baseball card and gave it to me for Blake's scrapbook.

Two chickadees and their new suits that I love so much.
The day of Aubrie's birthday, two friends came over to have cake and watch the new movie Aubrie got for her birthday---Tangled (what I really need to post was the video of them all singing during the movie--they gots SOUL)
Candlepin bowling for family fun night. A New England tradition and our new favorite way to bowl (it didn't take a lot).
Meeting Mitt at a Tea Party rally. We just had to go. And we had our 5 seconds of fame too.
Scroll through the pictures of this Reuters article:
Ry and I at a wedding
The kids play Baseball with Ryan ALL the time. They had to try on the gear at Walmart. I was feelin' it!
Hmmmmmm.....
and finally....Labor Day. Last day at the beach. Everything coastal kind of shuts down after Labor Day. We had to go one last time.
Aubrie really got the hang of boogie boarding. She was catching most of them. I finally put a lifejacket on her cause the waves were getting so much stronger.

Baby Bwake

or Blakie.....he is called either, depending on who is speaking:)
is now 6 months. and 20.5 lbs. True to Jensen form. All jokes aside I started my back workout at the gym today because our kids don't walk till they are 1 yr old and Blake is on a serious track to kill my back.

Just 2 days ago he started legitimately rolling all over. off our bed onto the floor. It was very sad. He does it constantly now. Even waking himself up in the middle of the night (Yes!) because he has found himself on his stomach.

He already prefers the food on our plate, having completely skipped over rice cereal and baby food. Maybe that has something to do with the 20 lbs... We are actually getting better with the baby food now.

Blake has yet to make it all the way through the night without waking up to eat (but he has 20 lbs of chubbies to fill up. Its hard work). He says "dadadadadadadadadada" a lot.

Anyone and Anything can get him to smile. he is a H-A-P-P-Y guy.

August came and went

Group effort

Replica of a few years ago that needed updating with Blake

SOOOOO quickly. and it always will. Our week long celebration of birthdays/anniversaries plus family reunions and starting school make the month seem like a few days. And then school starts and fall comes and I can't even believe our long awaited summer is coming to a close. (Although we are already enjoying the 60 degree nights with the windows open and a cool breeze blowing in.)

Aubrie has been wanting a bow and arrow set for so long. It was an exciting morning for her. Robbie now is the proud owner of a huge Hess monster truck among other things. All of the Jensens showed up for Robbie's 5th birthday party (ok, the family reunion) making it an extra special birthday. We all gathered at the park/pool for dinner, cake and IC and a pinata to celebrate Robbie, Aubrie and Leah's birthdays.(Aubrie broke the stick trying to break open the pinata. those homemade pinatas are WAY sturdier:))


And these two started school. Together. Can't believe it. Seeing them get off the bus together the first day just warmed my heart. When Robbie was doing "I Love You's" for Aubrie's birthday--being a boy of few words when it comes to his feelings--he said "Aub is my best buddy" and sat down. They are so excited to be in school together.

Another short story: A few days ago Robbie said "Mom, when I go to the cafeteria after school to take the bus, I look all over for Aubrie and I get a little scared cause I can't see her and then I find her". It was cute to hear because he doesn't often say very much. And it also brought back all the feelings that happen during the school years. There are SO many firsts. And, you are out on your own and have to rely on yourself. Learning to have confidence and the maturity that happens over the 12 years of school is such a process.