Jane's 1st Birthday

Goose told me the older you get, the faster time passes. She said, "Wait until you get to be my age, Christmas comes about every three months." I must be getting older because this year felt like about three months. I am sad to see time pass so quickly, but Jane is a joy and we are really starting to see her little personality develop. She loves animals and music and has such a beautiful smile with 6 Big teeth. We love our baby girl.

Happy Halloween

We had a very fun and busy Halloween. I decided to make Jane a rabbit. She got her two big front teeth first and I thought I should just embrace it! Since she was a rabbit, Claire had to be Alice in Wonderland. I think she was born to wear the costume. I let my boys be whatever they wanted and they chose to be nerds. They think they are just hilarious (probably got that from their parents who think they are funnier than anyone else does) and really got into character. I didn't realize how much they had gotten into it until I got to the school parade. Before the children march around the auditorium, they first line up across the stage. Each class follows their teacher across the stage and then lines up and waves or smiles at their parents. I few really excited kids did a little bow. I almost died when Scott's class lined up and Scott began doing wild and crazy nerd moves. He was pumping his arms and flexing his muscles. I couldn't believe it. Everyone was laughing! I was glad I was in a witch costume with a green face and fake nose. Boy was I shocked when Brock's class came marching in and he started in with the moves. He made Scotty's muscle flexing look mild! He stayed in character through the entire promenade around the cafeteria, waving and hunched over and marching to the beat. I would give anything to have to have a video to post. Even my little Bear was smiling and waving as she floated through the line. I just can't say where they get it from! I was such a shy and reserved child :)!

All in a Days Work

Claire with Grandma and Grandpa Hughes who traveled all the way from Wyoming to visit the kids and see their games. We are sooo lucky!!!!

Brock with "Coach Steve" at his Caveman football game.

Scott's touchdown at the game I missed while traveling from Claire's soccer game to view the first half of Brock's football game!

Janie

I'm married to Dr. Phil

Just had to share this little story because it made me laugh until I cried and because that is why I started a blog. I wanted to write down the funny little things that my kids say that I quickly forget. On Monday we were in the car and Scott was being mean to Brock and Steve started to give Scott one of his very practical lectures. He likes to use football analogies because Scott seems to respond to them and let's face it, he is obsessed with sports. So Steve said, "Scott, our family is like a football team. Would you tackle one of your own team members when they were running for a touchdown? Well you are tackling Brock as he is trying to live is life." At this point, I'm already trying not to crack up, because I know Steve is honestly the best dad in the world, but this lecture is stretching it a little. And Scott pipes up from the back. "Oh, O.K. Thanks Dr. Phil". Steve and I looked at each other and then just died laughing. I don't think Scotty even knew how funny it was. But man it made my day!

These are the Days

Guess how old Claire is? Yep, Jane the genius is telling you! My baby girl is five. She has truly been a joy to me since the day she was born. We celebrated her special day last week by going to IHOP for a funny face (family tradition) and then getting her nails painted. She is such a girl! She is also such a flirt. She has been one since the day she was born. When she was only two months old, the physical therapist made us promise to bring her back when she was five. She said she was the most social baby she had ever met and she wanted to see what she was like when she got older. Well, she is just what the Dr. expected. Making friends and flirting with absolutely everyone. When she was a baby and I would take her places, she would just wait and look around until someone made eye contact and then she would start gooing and smiling and waving and today she does the same. Except now she starts talking to them and gives them her life story! I wonder where she could have picked that up? I started worrying today that her flirting is at a whole new level. She has a little buddy that she rides the bus to Kindergarten with each day and she just loves him. The bus is the highlight of her day and when they see eachother they run together and embrace and then sit on the bus and wave goodbye to their mommies. Well, today when she came home she said, "Mom, what if I accidently kissed Dane". I told her it is hard to kiss by accident. Then she spent about an hour preparing a wedding in her room for Polly Pocket and Diego, who were then kissing. I am scared. I think I am in for it! Here are a couple of pictures of her day and a picture of us waiting at the bus stop.

I Love School

Nothing gives me quite the same thrill as school supplies. I love, love the start of school. Not just for the free babysitting, I mean education.:) I love the whole thing! The class lists, the shopping for school supplies and school clothes, meeting new teachers, and just the excitement that the start of a new year brings. This year I am thrilled because we hit the teacher jackpot! All of my kids have great teachers. After the first day of school, I asked my boys on a scale of 0-10, how they would rate their teachers. 0 being Ms. Trenchbull from Matilda and 10 being their dream teacher and they both said 9 and then quickly changed to 10. I couldn't be happier. Claire just had her Kindergarten assessment and will start on Monday. She is so excited and has already packed her backpack. To quote the movie, "You've Got Mail". "If I could, I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils". That is how much I love the fall and the start of a new school year. I'm not going to cry about the free time either! I am sorry to report that I misplaced my camera, I know shocking. I didn't get any first day of school photos. I guess I'll just have to take them on the first day it cools down and they can wear new school jeans and stand against the front door and we will pretend like its the first day.