Hope Kids

This foundation has meant alot to some dear friends. (They are dear to many of you as well) They are putting together a team for the fundraising walk for HopeKids. If you would like to donate and you are able to, you can here.

HopeKids Overview from C. R. Oldham on Vimeo.

DODGE BALL

This makes me laugh... hard!

What moms eat for lunch...

Today is the first day of school. Bailey is in fifth grade and Isaac is in second. Next year Reagan will be in Kindergarten and a four short years from now, my youngest will be starting school. I am ten and a half years into this whole motherhood thing. It's who I am. It's what I do. Four years away from having all my kids in school just doesn't seem like that long...cuz I'm old and the years go by in a flash!!! So, as I eat lunch with my two little ones, it has me thinking "What will I eat for lunch?" These days, as it has been for the last nine years or so, my lunch consists of the standard kid things... pb&js, chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, ramen noodles, hot dogs and hopefully I can sneak in some fruit and maybe some cottage cheese.. you know kid stuff. So now I'm just wondering what do moms eat for lunch that don't have kids home to feed? Will I figure out how to make enough dinner to have just enough for a left over lunch for my self? Will I figure out how to make dinner at all for that matter? Will I still eat kid stuff because it's easy and it's a habit? I sure hope not! Maybe I will have so much free time that I will be at the mall or the latest boutique that I will grab lunch on the run. Not likely, but that would be fun! maybe I'll work or go to school outside of the home. Right now, I kind of am anxious to have them all in school, but I know that when the time comes, I will miss them. Even right now, I am counting down the last hour until the bell rings. I hope they had a good day. I hope they ate their home lunch. I hope they know I love them... they are my life. Good thing I still have four more years until Gracie goes!!!

I THINK I MIGHT BE PSYCHOTIC

Last night I was riding in a car with two friends. The conversation ranged from blood type to scouts. The friend in the back informed us that she thinks she is getting a canker sore. We discussed how yucky they are, my favorite canker medicine, her father-in-law's theory on cankers, how I haven't had one for quite a while and how one of us mostly got cankers from her braces. So, guess what! Yup, you guessed it, I feel like I am getting not one, but two cankers. And no, we didn't share a drink or anything else!!! I think I am just psychotic!!!!

Train Them Young

Brandon has been working four tens this week. When he works a normal schedule, most of us are up and about when he leaves. This morning I rolled out of bed at 9:15. Very unusual due to the fact that I have four kids with the youngest being 13 months. Well, I think I have found the answer to sleeping in!
Today I woke up hearing Reagan go into Gracie's room. This normally makes me furious, because she is normally waking up her baby sister. So I hear Reagan say, "What cha watching Gracie?"
Yes, we have tv in Gracie's room. I have always had a tv in my babies rooms to help keep me awake during those late night feedings. (and to entertain me all the other feedings and rocking to sleep) No, the tv was not left on after she went to bed last night. Gracie had taken the remote (which we commonly sit just between the slits of her crib, next to the rocker) and turned on the tv. I'm pretty sure she just pushed buttons until it turned on....I hope she doesn't already know which button to push!!!
"Ohhh, are you wachin a baby show?" Reagan delightfully squills.
At this point I quickly rolled over and grabbed the phone. I told Brandon the story and we both just started laughing... hard! I quickly ran to the bathroom, like I said I hadn't yet been out of bed, and then walked into Gracie's bedroom. Just like I had heard from the other room, the tv was on and it was on channel 7. A PBS kid show was on. Brandon is pretty sure he turned the tv off on channel 4 last night, so Gracie must have pushed buttons until she found something she liked. So now we are trying to figure out if we have trained her way to young and we have a huge problem on our hands, if she just completely lucked out (the most obvious choice), or if she is quite simply a genius baby. One thing is for sure, if it means I get to sleep in I don't think I mind!

oops! missed one

So I had this on my list on the post below, but some how it didn't make it to the final copy! It is probably the highlight of our summer!
*DISNEYWORLD* Wonderful, amazing, magical, tiring trip with the entire Jensen clan! (8 adults and 9 kids) Deserves it's own post (or 3) but it's not even 9am and I do believe that I have reached my 2 posts every few months quota. Crap! Today is a new month... maybe later, or tomorrow!

SUMMER TIME

With the first official school clothes bought and Brandon holding his first fall soccer practice for Isaac's team in the morning, I feel summer quickly coming to a close. What a summer it has been!!! We commonly refer to summer '08 as the summer we missed, summer '09 will be the summer of fun. Here are a bunch of highlights and maybe just a few low lights.

*NYC* Brandon and I kicked off summer (really late spring) with our first real trip with just the two of us since Bailey was born. Brandon had to do some work, but we still managed to see a show, shop and sightsee. (Did I mention shopping?!?) What a great time! Thanks to our parents for taking care of our kids!


*SWIMMING* My kids can swim!!! We have been taking semi-private lessons (the only way to go) for Bailey, Isaac and Reagan (along with her cousin Aaron). They have all loved it! Bailey really took to it and will probably be trying out for the swim team sometime next week! We have practically lived at the Legacy Center and finally bought a pass. We have had so much fun with family and friends at the Legacy Center. If we didn't go with friends, the kids were sure to either find one they already new or make a new one. It was in the pool that Gracie decided to walk! What a goof ball! In addition to the Legacy Center, we have loved going swimming with neighborhood friends on Weds. Thanks Lisa!! ( This also resulted in my worst sunburn in years)

*SNOW CONES* Bailey used her own money to buy a snow cone machine. She has almost paid for it by having a snow cone stand. So fun for her!

*GRACIE'S 1ST BIRTHDAY* Holy cow she's one! That is a good year to have behind us! She is so fun and we celebrated with an amazing cake that my good friend Jenn made!


*REAGAN RIDES A 2 WHEELER* no more training wheels (at least not on her little bike, the new one is still a bit big)

*4th of JULY* As always, foot races and fun at the Manti City park, Grandpa Bob, cousins, playing in the lake, golf, and this year, visiting with my 95 year old grandma.


*FAMILY GUESTS* It's always fun when Grandpa (and Grandma) comes to stay! It's especially fun when it's Grandpa & Grandma Pfunder plus the Kevin Pfunder Pfamily! We were even lucky enough to have Lauren and Morgan stay with us for a few extra days. What wonderful nieces!

*REAGAN'S 4TH BIRTHDAY* A fun friend party at Discovery Gateway, a fun day with our family, and a Hello Kitty bike from G&G Jensen... what more could a four year old want? (how about screen printed cupcakes?)


*YULIYA* Our next door neighbors brought home there beautiful 12 year old adopted daughter from the Ukraine. Bailey has loved getting to know her new friend!
lowlights
-my sunburn
-summer movies (Gracie and Reagan have been AWFUL!)
-kids (not mine) pooping in the Legacy Center pool
-coming home from vacation and having quarterly payroll taxes due the next week
-school starting on a Thursday!!!! What's up with that?!?!
-the Reynolds moving... so sad.

Just under three weeks until school starts. I am sure there will be many more fantastic (pruney finger) days to come