Proceed with caution

Hallie is definitely our most cautious of children.  She was so animated and excited for "fall" to come so she could start kindergarten. She talked about the bus all the time with Aub and Rob and she she excitedly helped me pick out all her school supplies and got it all ready in her backpack.  She was so excited about picking out her new school shoes and getting her first day of school outfit picked out and waiting on the floor.  She helped me pack her snack and wore her backpack all morning until it was time to head to the school for kindergarten at 11:30.

And then she did NOT want to get out of the car.  We finally got over to where the kids were all lining up and parents were waving, everyone smiling.  And Hallie's feet were cemented to the ground.  And the tears started.  I think the whole time she imagined school it was getting to be with Aubrie and Robbie all together school.   And when it was time for her to leave Blake and I and walk in to this foreign place with foreign people she was not having it.   So, as she is sobbing, I asked her teacher Mrs. Fournier if we could walk to the classroom with her and the thought crossed my mind to just let them grab her and I would leave and then eventually she'd stop crying and then I thought of my mother in law's method with Leah to just wait patiently until they were READY to go in to their class.  That seemed like a better idea and less traumatizing.  So I told her teacher what we were doing and we sat out in the lobby for 30 minutes while Blake is now crying because he CAN'T go into kindergarten.  WE had made a courage chart a few weeks ago to put stickers onto and we talked about that, about being a good example for Blake of how to "go to kindergarten, we talked about all the things they were going to do.  And then after 30 minutes one of her teachers Mrs. P came out and told Hallie she was missing the Hokie Pokie and that she really needed to come in because the first day is a play day and they were going to just play play play all day and that she would sit by her and be by her all day if that is what Hallie wanted.  And she gave me a hug and shyly took Mrs. P's hand and went in.

And she came home happy and bubbling over with all the "playing" she did.

And then the second day repeated the first except it was only 10-15 minutes of sitting in the lobby.

And then today, I still had to walk her in, but she went in after only 2 minutes because Mrs. P told her she was about to miss the Hokie Pokie again and she really liked that Hokie Pokie the first two days--so after a hug for Blake and I, she went in.  And today she told me she feels comfortable there and that she got to play kitchen and go play with her new friend Mia on the playground.  I finally snapped a hurried, blurried shot of her as she walked in with Mrs. P today.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

And here we go....

Another school year begins.

Aubrie started 4th grade which also happens to be her last grade of elementary school here in NH.  Her teacher is Mr. Buffet and is the parent's favorite teacher apparently.  He told me yesterday when we visited the classroom..."We are math focused in this class.  He had 4-5 chess boards set up that he keeps up at all times because he said he is a firm believer in how playing chess really helps children's minds.  I think it will be perfect for our reader/writer girl that doesn't want to bother with math/science. Mr. Buffet can show her how much fun it can be.

We had to get pictures with the backpack and/or shoes....it's so fun to look back and remember.

Robbie started 2nd grade with Mrs. Knepper, Aubrie's old teacher.  I really love her and she loves reading and that will be good for Robbie too.  He is a great reader but will usually choose playing outside to reading a book.



















And Mrs. Hallie is our newest kindergartner.  It really is unbelievable to me.  That happened so quickly.  She is in the afternoon class for kindergarten and then will ride the bus home with A&R.  Her teacher is Mrs. Fournier, Robbie's teacher last year.  I really like her too.  She is a good mix of no-nonsense and fun.

And Blake was not ABOUT to be left out after he'd been up since 6:00 ready to go.  He told me at 6:15 as he comes in with his backpack ready and a lunchbox backed with some BBQ chips only..."MOM! Go bus with me"

Texas Trip 2013

Part III

That would be the last 2 weeks we were in Texas.  We headed up to Mom and Dad's house in Highland Village--just outside Dallas.  They are in the same ward as Lucy and Hugh and the same stake as Carl and Courtney and family.  So once Anna and Syd came up from Houston with their families--we almost had a family reunion.   It was so much fun.  Again, we did a lot of swimming.  With a lot of other fun things thrown in there.  Those cousins just played and played and played...which is one of the main reasons to be there for a long time. I hope they look up to, and think often of their cousins.  Cousins are the best! 
Dad and Wes have a dirt bike, scooter and they/we gave plenty of rides.  We did a long bike ride one day with the older kids and us girls took turns running.  It was so fun.  We went shopping and to eat for Mom's birthday.  We went to the movies to see The Croods with all the kids, we swam and hung out with Hugh and Lucy (and some of our other cousins too), we visited Grandpa's work, we got our van's paint redone---FINALLY--at my dad's work, and we did a lot of swimming!!!

June bug is the only one aware enough to at least turn and look

Sunday dinner prep.  Tara literally barracaded the kitchen with stools and all of us adults went to work.  Some took it a little more seriously than others :) It's one of the things I love about big families. 

SO MANY hours spent playing Monopoly for all the cousins.

Beautiful sister Cara

The Flower Mound city pool.  It was so much fun.  We were literally there the entire day.  We set up camp and the kids played hard.

Brandon and Hallie

Hallie, Brandon and Beck (same age)

Bricky and Bob

The adults race to the top of the spider contraption

Court is so fun and added bubbles to the hottub/pool multiple times while we were there.  It was such a blast.

Cara and Wes and I had a night out on the town :) It was so fun to just be siblings with them.

Uncle Hugh has a legit race car.  The boys wanted strapped into the 5 point harness. 

Blake sitting in time out next to the van pulled off to the side of the road while Ryan talks to the policeman that pulled over to see what the heck we were doing.

Good times in the jetted tub at Lita and Lito's

Ryan warms the kids up right before their tri-athlon (1 mile bike, .5 run and then laps in C&C's pool)

Grandma's movie and snack shack.  She had everything there with prices on each thing and gave them each a bag of pennies.

Lined up for the snack shack

and watching the movie

SAying goodbye the night before we left to drive home. 

Oh the drive home.  Always seems twice as long and everyone is tired.  It was okay though and the kids are great travelers. Even Blake this time.

Somewhere in Tennessee maybe....those scooters save our bacon every trip.

and we made it home safe and sound.  So grateful that we got to go!

and Carl and Courtney had their baby a few days later (Court, you are seriously amazing how you just went with the flow this summer and had so many house guests--we love you for it!)

Rob Bobby Fresh -- SEVEN

August 20, 2013

To Our Robbie On His 7th Birthday,

You have a sharp mind that thinks quickly.  You have a good, soft heart.  You take such good care of Blake.  Every morning you get up with him and help him or play with him. You are so good at letting things go when they aren’t that important or would require an unnecessary battle.  We love that you still love to snuggle (we’ve always loved that about you) and that you still like to give hugs.  It’s fun to see you get excited about something because you’re entire body gets into it and reacts to it!  :)  

You are already well prepared to be baptized next year and you have a spirituality that’s fun to watch - especially when we read the scriptures.  Keep working hard at your personal prayers, scripture study, and in your primary classes during the next year to help you get ready for that big day!   

It’s always been neat for us to watch how good of a worker you are.  You have always enjoyed working alongside us both and you’ve always been a hard worker.  Just last week, you mowed and trimmed the entire lawn by yourself and you stuck with it until the job was done.  We were so impressed with you!  Keep up being a hard worker as it will help you when you are older and need to get a job, go on a mission, playing sports, and in school.  

You’ve always been very active and it’s so fun to watch you play sports, run around the yard, jump, and just be super active.  We love sports and it is so fun for us that you love sports, too.  Keep working at it just like anything and you’ll be great but don’t forget to stay humble about it.  :)

We sure are excited about the young man you are turning into and we hope that you’ll keep finding ways to help and serve others as Heavenly Father wants you to do.

Happy Birthday, Robbie!!

Love,

Mom & Dad

A letter to our Aubrie-girl

August 15th, 2013

To our Sweet Aubrie on your Ninth Birthday-

Aubrie you are a special girl.  We love you so much.  We are grateful everyday for the character and personality that you came to earth with.  You are exceptional in every way.  We can trust you to do the right thing, all on your own even when no one is looking. We feel all the time how much Heavenly Father loves you and is so glad at the way you live your life.  You are so intelligent and understand the things you learn and read to a depth that is really unbelievable. You have a generous spirit.  You are wise way beyond how old you are.  There have been so many times that you have reached out to ask how I am doing or one of the kids or noticed that someone is sad or needs help--which most 8 yr olds would be oblivious to.  I am so grateful for it.   You are capable to do anything that you want to do.  You have the intelligence, hard working body and the stamina and discipline to do it.  You have and will do so many wonderful things in your life because of it.  And on top of all of that, you are absolutely beautiful!

We are so thankful that you have been a part of our family (and really started us off on the right foot) for these 9 years.  Its hard to believe that you are ½ way to the time when you will leave home to live on your own and be an adult.  We have no doubt that you will be ready when that time comes.  

Keep working hard in school going the extra mile so that when the time comes to choose a college, you can choose and not have any problems.  Be involved in many things so that you can find out the things that you are really talented at and want to work even harder to get really good at them, there are many things that you have been blessed with talents in.   

Dad and I love you so much Aubrie-girl.

Dad and Mom

Texas Trip 2013

Part 2---Houston/Friendswood

I feel like when we had so many adventures/memories in just a few weeks.  Grandma and Grandpa Jensen live in Friendswood in the same neighborhood with Risers (fun!) and an hour away from Syd an Chad and family.

Highlights:
-Grandma/Karen/Mom gave piano lessons everyday to the kids and really pushed them.  Whenever we are around her they really catch on fire about piano.  We had all been preparing piano pieces for the for the few weeks leading up to our trip to have a concert on the piano for her the first Sunday we were there.  Piano is just a part of life in their home and I love it.

-Spending a few days at Syd's house with Anna and kids too. So, we had 13 kids there and it was a party.  I don't have pictures of their playing but the kids loved it.  They boys spent a lot of time on scooters and bikes down around the block at the ditch catching frogs.  The girls cheered them on and made the frogs homes.  We went thrift store shopping with all the kids--never doing that again.  We took them to the movies which was a blast.   I love being with my sisters and their kids doing daily life--no matter how crazy it is.

-NASA.  I, embarrassingly to admit, have never known much more than the basics about the USA and our space travel journey and since NASA was right down the street we spent a day at rocket park and then a REALLY full day at NASA seeing and participating in the shows/exhibits and tours.  It was fascinating. We have talked about it for hours since.  There was so much to learn and see.  The kids really got into it.  They got to sit in a pretend rocket ship with the full count down and take off, see how they would look/weigh on different planets, sit inside a full-size space ship cabin and see all the controls, etc.  Their favorite show was a shark show where the man got in the tank and did all these tricks with the sharks.   And then their was a 3 story playset to top of the day before we left.  I loved seeing what they are doing with the International Space Station and future plans with Space X and Mars.   Mankind is amazing at discovery.

-SWIMMING.  It's what we did most of.  Grandma and grandpa have a salt water pool with lots of ledges and a beach area that was perfect.  The kids would be out there before breakfast and usually out after dinner and right before bed, and most of the day in between.  Hallie is a great, confident swimmer after this summer and Rob and Aubrie worked on diving a lot.  It was wonderful to have a pool right there and get to swim with Grandma too.  Even us adults got in at night sans kids a few times to cool off.

-Safari.  Karen was so excited to take  us to the safari and it was awesome. There were so many animals.  I was not expecting the variety and amount that there were.  They gave us all a bucket of food on the tram and those animals were not shy. An emu went after Blake a few times trying to get food. It was so fun.   I really enjoyed going there. Risers and Syd and kids went with us that day.

-Galveston Island/Kemah Boardwalk.  We did two different days.  Karen took us to an aquarium to eat one day--and it was legit.  The ambiance itself was blue lighting, and huge story high fishtanks, etc.  Ryan topped us (along with passerbys) off with some great karoake at the end.
Galveston was interesting, the history--the big storm back in 1900 that took so many lives, the beach was so warm and different (we LOVED THAT) and the historic homes, the ferry boat ride where we saw probably 50 dolphin.  We went once to the Island with Randy and Karen and once with Risers, Syd and Anna and their kids and both times we ended the night at this authentic 50's sodashop place with yummy icecream.   Robbie told me he LOVED the beach there because he could stay in for hours and never get cold. :)

Spending time with grandma and grandpa and Mariam and going to their ward, riding scooters around their neighborhood, doing our mile jogs, and trying kolaches (MANY times)--it was a wonderful two weeks!

Saturn V at rocket park

Aubrie and Sandra

Galveston Island

Galveston's historic street still has oil streetlamps

IC at the soda shop

HMMMM kolaches...bacon and cheese

Wade's hotrod