Check out this Six Pack

I've been a bit of a cyber hermit for the last couple of months, but I've finally made my way back to blogging. So, I'm hoping to slowly update my blog bit by bit, and I will start with my sweet boy's birthday!

Jonah hit the big 6 on November 9th. It was a great day for him...I was able to volunteer in his class that morning and bring cupcakes for everybody. Plus, he got to buy school lunch (a rarity for him) and they had hot dogs on the menu. What more could a boy ask for? That night we headed to Mr. Gatti's for some pizza and games. Lucky for Jonah, he hit the jackpot on the one the games and ended up with a ton of tickets! After a little persuasion, I convinced him that it would be more fun to have the ice cream cone popper guns than 100+ suckers.

That Friday we had a friend birthday party at our house. On the agenda: Pin the tail on Dr. Deufensmurtz (from Phineas and Ferb), a treasure hunt, dance party, and the limbo. The weather was perfect for an outside party (thank goodness) so we just played all afternoon.
We also had pizza and cupcakes of course. The biggest hit of the party was actually the huge piles of leaves that we had in the backyard. We could hardly keep the kids out of them. Overall it was great fun and Jonah had a fabulous time.

Here's where I'm going to record some of Jonah's great triumphs of the school year so far, so be warned there is bragging ahead. My boy is a smarty pants. Seriously, I knew that he was smart going into kindergarten, considering he'd been reading since he was four. But I didn't realize how advanced of a reader he was for his age. We went into a parent teacher conference in September and his reading level was 2.99 and his math was 2.65. He finished the inital reading computer program faster than any kindergartener ever at his school, and then whizzed through the next level program in another month (some kids don't even make it through that program through the whole year). So now he does math with a second grade class, and would do reading there as well but the schedules don't work so he goes with the first graders. His new thing is to write stories, and he'll come home with these creative "books" that he's written and I am amazed with some of the stuff he comes up with. He is also a great helper with some of the other kids in his class and loves going to school. And just so he doesn't sound quite so nerdy, I've got to note that P.E. and recess are his very favorite parts of school.
Another great achievement was that he won the PAW Award at his school. They regularly give this award to outstanding students, but Jonah was the very first kid of all the kindergarteners to receive it. He was so shocked when they called his name (he gave us a reenactment that afternoon, and commented that he really liked it when everyone clapped for him). We were pretty proud of our boy that day.

Other fun things about Jonah:

• best big brother to Lincoln
• good friends with Kate
• refuses to watch Star Wars because he's afraid it's "scary"
• loves to laugh and tell jokes
• stays very focused on things he's interested in (like baseball practice)
• won't let me spike his hair in the least...has to look "like a missionary"
• has some killer dance moves
• has memorized the first 9 Articles of Faith, working on number 10

So that's our Jonah boy. He is still 100% a six year old though, happy to play and run and climb and play video games and help mom as best he can. He bore his testimony for the first time in sacrament meeting in December (a very brave thing for a boy who is often quite shy). He's my sweet boy who I will always love with all my heart and I couldn't be prouder of him.
Happy birthday, Jonah. I love you!

Halloween in a Pumpkin Shell

October is my favorite month of the year. Not only does it contain my birthday and 2nd favorite holiday, but it is also the time when the air cools and the leaves change and I can finally pull out all the cute fall clothes. This October was full of fun activities, which will all be summarized in this one blog entry (due to my human slothfulness). Above is a photo of the kids at the pumpkin patch. They had a Wizard of Oz theme with lots of fun activities...too bad it was too muddy to go through the corn maze.
Lincoln thought it was pretty funny to wear the talking pumpkin as a necklace.

Here we are at the zoo's Halloween party. We had 2 nights to choose from...we skipped the first night because it was cold and rainy. The 2nd night ended up being colder and rainier, but we went anyway. The chaos pictured pretty much sums up the night, but it was a fun time.

Plus, how can you complain when in the end Dorothy makes it to Oz?

We carved the pumpkins with expert skill...Jonah and Kate each designed their own, and Micah and I carved them. Lincoln really liked the candles inside.

Here we have Dorothy and a Flying Monkey at Music Makers...

Make that a Running Monkey.

Here's Jonah's class Halloween Party, a.k.a. my first attempt at being Room Mother. It went off without a hitch thanks to helpful parents and a great teacher. Thankfully my mom was able to come down and watch Lincoln or else things might have been a bit more exciting.

That night Micah and I went on my birthday date (Olive Garden, of course) and the kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's Ward Trunk or Treat to get, need I say it: candy, candy, candy!

Our actual Halloween day was marked by a trip to Six Flags with Jeff, Monica, Andrew, and Allison. We got more candy, and rode lots of fun rides. We then rushed home for our own Ward's Trunk or Treat (we needed more candy, didn't we?). I made the kids pose for pictures and they agreed simply because it was my birthday.

Our Cheeky Little Monkey

Our Scary Spider

Our Sweet Dorothy

This was the end of the photo shoot, but I think they're quite a cute bunch.

And then there's me, 30 years young. I went as the Wicked Witch (per Kate's request) and even won a cool glow-in-the-dark skeleton head for "best witch." It was totally worth it.

But in the end, isn't it all about the candy?
Or, in the case of my kids, the suckers?

Happy Halloween!

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Life's a Beach

Florida, anyone?

Sun, sand, and surf...how could we resist it? My parents booked a week's stay in Destin, and when the opportunity came for us to tag along for a few days, we just couldn't say no. Was the eleven hour drive (each way) worth it for 2 1/2 days at the beach? Without a doubt.

Let's start with the water. Destin is on the Gulf of Mexico, and the water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming. Jonah and Kate loved the ocean, especially jumping over the waves as they rolled in.
Jonah regularly took out his frog float to explore the deeper regions of the ocean. Combine that with his snorkel mask and he becomes ocean explorer extraordiaire.

The condo building had a fabulous pool that the kids enjoyed even more than the ocean. Here's Kate chiling with Dora in the shallow end. We even went night swimming once, a first for our family, and that added a whole new dimension to the pool's coolness.

Of course when you go to the beach, you have to play in the sand. And believe me, we did plenty of that...

Sandcastles...

Sand angels...

Buried treasure...

This sandcastle is truly a work of art. If you can't tell, there is a snake and a dragon protecting it, and it even has a moat to keep out the waves (at least until the tide came in).

However, while the rest of us loved the beautiful white sands, Lincoln wanted nothing to do with them. This is where he stayed when we were on the beach--the beach chair. You put his tootsies on the white stuff and everyone heard about it. It was amazing to me that he actually stayed in the chair, but of course Grandma was nearby providing an unlimited supply of snacks.

There was one brief period when he was brave enough to try the ocean. He is still a little wary, but at least I got photographic proof that he'd made contact with water (he loved the pool, though).

Although, he was fine as long as he was in someone's arms.

Lincoln also loved the harbor. We ate there one night a restaurant called "The Lucky Snapper." We also had to keep a close eye on our little snapper to make sure he didn't run right off the boardwalk.

Here's Grandma with the snacks...

Katie had a lot of fun with Grandpa; he was always good about helping her jump the waves.

The kids with Grandma and Grandpa. We are very thankful that they let us come along on their trip. We had a blast and look forward to going back again (soon, please?).

In the Ensign

Just a quick note...

Everybody should look in the new issue of the Ensign (for those who aren't LDS, it's our church's magazine). Our ward is featured in the story "Temple Worship 'A Contagious Fire'" on page 52. It's a great article about family history and temple work. The magazine writer came last August, just after Lincoln was born, so I didn't make it to the temple trip that he covered. However, look extra closely at the photo on page 56 and you'll see a very pregnant me (thank heavens there's a boy's head blocking the majority of my belly). This is from a youth activity we had a few weeks before Lincoln came. Yes, I am now famous in the Mormon world.

Isn't our ward awesome (especially the young women)?

All About Our August Business

So, I know it's been a while since I posted. Who knew that having a kid in school could make things so crazy? Add that in with 4 piano students, a thriving Young Women's group, a couple of illnesses, and the rest of everyday life, and blogging is pushed to the backburner.

Micah and I have also been teaching the Strenghtening Marriage Course for our ward on Tuesday nights. It is a really awesome, informative curriculum for anyone who is married, happily or not-so-happily. We have one more class to go and then we are off to FLORIDA next weekend.

Oh, and I've also develped a small addiction that has taken up quite a bit of my free time. Let's just say that I've watched more than 3 entire seasons of The Office in about the same number of weeks. It's just so dang funny that I can't stop!! We're on season 4 now and can't wait for the new season to start this week (and of course we'll catch up on season 5 via Netflix). I love Jim and Pam (so cute) and I think Dwight is hilarious. Micah loves Kevin. So, if you watch it, I was wondering who is your fave?

Lincoln the Short and Stout

While I knew that he would have a little growing before he caught up with an adult gorilla, I did expect Lincoln to measure a little larger than he does:

weight (at 12 1/2 months): 19 lbs 10 oz

length: 28 1/2 inches

Percentile: 10th

So, he may be small but he sure is mighty. He's a walking pro these days, and loves getting into everyone's business. His favorite place is still the outdoors. Often I find him looking longingly out the back window, obviously wishing he was out there on the deck riding his little bike or in the swing feeling the wind sweep through his curls.

He's a bit mischievious and has already figured out how to tear threw my purse in search of snacks (I just know it was Kate who taught him that trick). He's grown attached to his snuggly blanky and his "spill-proof" snack cup, inevitably leaving a trail of Cheerios wherever he wanders. His only words are "Maaaaaaaaa-aam" or "Mam" and "Da." He does, however, wave at everyone, clap at everything, and blow kisses on command. His new love is also books, and he laughs and giggles all through his favorites. He is picky, however, and will instantly tell you if he is not interested in the book you have chosen.

Lincoln has always loved Jonah, but with Kate presents a different kind of sibling affection. Many times she loves him a bit too much...but as you can see, their time alone together while Jonah is at school does have it's shining moments.

This is Lincoln's thing these days..laying on the floor. He does this randomly everywhere. So stinking cute. And if you are laying on the floor, he can not resist coming and body-slamming you. He loves playing chase around the house, peek-a-boo, and giving big hugs.

Now if I can just get him to grow enough to fit into Jonah's size 18 month fall hand-me-downs...

Kate the Great

She's seen Jonah go to all kinds of school: Joy School, Preschool, Kindergarten. Finally, it was Kate's turn. Last month she started Joy School, which is an at-home preschool that I do with some friends from church. It's one day a week, and we take turns teaching at our own houses. We use Linda and Richard Eyre's book "Teaching Children Joy" as a basis and I love the principles it teaches; that is, that kids will get book learning their entire lives, and that the early years is the time to teach them joy. With topics like the Joy of the Body, the Joy of the Earth, the Joy of Decision Making, and the Joy of Spotaneous Delight, how could a kid not love it?
As you can see, Kate hardly looked back after she said goodbye and headed for the door. Now I hear everyday: "Is it going to be Joy School today?" Thank goodness for dance and Music Makers!

Speaking of dance, here's my little ballerina on her first day back at dance. She's in a class with mostly beginners, so she feels extra special that she's an "old pro" (four months experience) and is always telling me that she is helping the 'little girls' learn to dance. She misses her friends from last year but is happy to have another little girl from the ward in her class this year.

Here is Kate demonstrating an arabesque. What grace. What form. What cuteness.

I threw this one in for fun. The other day we went to the zoo and she got up close and personal with a gorilla. I'm just in love with my little girly girl.

The Big Day

It finally happened. This past Thursday, the first day of kindergarten arrived. It was funny, because half of me wished last year that he could have started last fall. And although I was so eager and excited for him to be able to take this huge leap into the school world, when it came right down to it, it was dang hard to let him go. Having already experienced, Kinder-Camp, Jonah himself wasn't too nervous. The night before he had some butterflies, and we had a good long talk about all the "first days" we'd already had: Joy School, Preschool, even my first days as a kid. With as difficult as new situtations are for Jonah, I must say I was very impressed with his bravery. He did have a last-minute change of heart regarding riding the bus, so Micah stepped up and dropped him off for his first morning. As they pulled away, I watched them go, waved, and then promptly turned around to have my cry. I picked up Lincoln in his hand-me-down jammies, and couldn't help but remember Jonah wearing them not-so-many years ago. He's been all mine for so long and now there is a big chunk of his life that I'm not really a part of. I know it's good for him, and I know it's good for me, but there's still a part of me that wants to wrap him up in my arms and never let him grow up. I had spent two sleepless nights worrying about every little thing that could hurt him while I wasn't there...and then the time came and he just left. It was hard! I'll spare you the rest of my sentimental thoughts (I've already water-spotted my journal enough, no need to short out the keyboard). But needless to say I dried my tears and eagerly anticipated his arrival back home.

They had only a half day the first day (kindergarten goes all day here!) Jonah rode the bus home and made it safely, although he doesn't like the bus too much because it is too loud. When I asked him how his day was he replied, "It was so awesome!" My fears were erased and I knew then that we were on our way to a great year.

Of course, what was the first thing he did? Having left at 7:15, he was a hungry guy, so he naturally starting digging for his lunch box before he even walked in the door. After inhaling his sandwich, he chilled out with some Wipeout and quality time with his siblings.

Call me a dork, but I matched the boys for Jonah's first day. We were all happy to have our Jonah-man back, especially Lincoln. Tomorrow starts his first whole week so I'm crossing my fingers that he doesn't get too worn out. This weekend he's expressed some sadness in missing stuff that Kate and I will be doing while he's away, and I know he's still struggling with the bus (he only has to ride it for 5 minutes, so I'm thinking he can handle it). But we are excited for this big step for him and look forward to many happy kindergarten moments.