JACK TURNS SIX!

Jack is a six year old! I can't believe it!! These last six years have gone by so fast.  For his party this year, we rented a bounce house water slide and invited about 8 friends.  I think they had a lot of fun.  Avery (our neighbor girl) made his cake to match the slide in an army  theme.  Some things about our six year old:

-- He is a pleaser and a great helper.  He has really liked having responsibilities and really takes care of the animals.
-- He loves his sisters.  He is very protective of Savannah and the typical older brother of making sure she is doing the right things.  He LOVES the new baby and is a huge help with her.
 -- He is getting more independent, but still wants to try to do the right things.
-- He is really interested in science, weather, and the world in general.  Starting to ask a lot of questions.
-- He is honest
-- He is a great friend and very kind to everyone. He does not have a temper with his friends (he rarely has one at home)
-- He loves video games (much to my dismay)
-- He is starting to read very well, although he is sometimes lazy
-- He is naturally athletic and loves swimming and running (much to my pleasure!)
-- He loves Johnny Test, Ninjago, Legos
--He loves riding his bike and getting slurpees, having playdates.
-- He loves being home.  He is a homebody for sure, I hope that continues. 
-- He still loves his B and his bear.  He has turned Savannah into a blanket girl too and I love it.  Hope it passes to Evelyn. 
-- He loves to play with his friends, Carson, Coleman, Mason, Trace.  He often has two playdates in a day because he is so liked. 

He is a wonderful part of our family and the perfect example for the two girls to follow.  He has a good heart and is just a good person.  I love him and I'm lucky to be his mama. 

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

 One of the kids favorite things to do this summer.... roast hot dogs and marshmallows in backyard.

 Savannah (and Jack) really are loving our animals lately and both animals do so well with them.

 Goofy girl

 Before church and before baby.

 She was outside jumping on the tramp and I had looked out the window and saw that she was picking her nose.  Good thing because she came in like this and I would have freaked out if I thought it was from something else!! She didn't even know she was bleeding.

 We took the kids to Park City for a night before baby came.  They loved the book store and the kitties and the chocolate goodies!

 Savannah has taken to taking all of her clothes off and peeing outside... not my proudest as a mother...

 Jack and Jason ran in the Dirty Dash.  It was fun for them.  Not so fun for pregnant me... :)

 Father's Day

 Savannah loves playing with her brother and his friends.

 Curlers for the first time!

 Fourth of July

 Jack's race.  He was the first 5 year old to cross the line!!

 Dance parties.

 Swimming lessons.  Jack loves swimming and is so good.  We are going to have him do a precompetitive class this fall! Michael Phelps anyone?? :)

End of Year party for track

We have had a busy crazy summer.  Because the baby was due at the end of July, I tried to fit in everything before then.  Jack was in track for 6 weeks, coach pitch for four weeks, swimming for four weeks... he went camping with Jason, we went to Seven Peaks and swimming at Great Grams a bunch, had playdates, went to the gym... I think it was all a success.  We loved track for Jack.  It was super cute and fun for him.  He is a natural runner so I think we will keep doing it.  He did really well in coach pitch as well, and swimming is a natural fit for him.  Savannah has had fun following along on all of Jack's adventures.  Next summer she will get to participate for herself!! I feel like I wasn't very fun because I was so pregnant, but I still think it was an okay summer. 

KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION

Jack is going into 1st grade in two weeks so I thought it was time to update the old blog about his kindergarten graduation.  He loved kindergarten and did really well during the whole year.  He loved his teacher and I really loved her too.  She seemed strict, but nice and I think that is what this boy needs.  He really started reading at the end of the year and did well enough that his teacher thought he would do fine in a 1st-2nd split  next year.  I am hoping that he does.  He seems to be a pleaser and will try his best for his teacher.  At least, that is what I am thinking based on seeing him this summer.  It was a really fun year for both of us and I am excited for him to continue to grow throughout elementary school.  I will miss him while he is at school.  He is such a big helper and he is always trying to do his best.  I love him so much!!

Funny Things... By JACK

Here is a funny thing that Jack said the other day.  I told him about an experience I had camping with my dad and sister when I was younger.  The one where my dad had to scoop us up out of the way of a bear who was eating chips that I had spilled.  I told Jack about it, not realizing that he was going camping in a few days with Jason.  I told him later that his grandpa was going with him and he asked which one.  I told him that his "old" (who is Jason's dad) was going and Jack said... "OH NO! He's not the one who can save me from bears!!"

Also, when going to bed on his camping trip he got his sad face going and when Jason asked him what was wrong he said, "I'm worried about Mom."  Aw... I love this little guy.  He is becoming such a big kid.  He is a huge help and does everything we ask (mostly) and with a smile (mostly).  On this Mothers Day weekend..... I am feeling very blessed to be the mom of these two kids and with another one on the way.  Being a woman is definitely the best! We are lucky to be able to be moms and everything that comes with it!!

Savannah-- 2 YEARS!!

Well, this post has been a long time coming since Savannah turned 2 in January.  Since I lasted posted about her at about 18 months, she has changed a lot.  She has turned into a little girl, talking a lot more, and developing a little spitfire personality.  She knows what she wants and will scream to get it.  She loves her family.  She loves Jack and wants to do and copies everything that he does.  She is starting to love Jason, but still wants me if she is scared or sad.  We are little buddies.  Lately, she has taken to copying everything I do when I get ready in the morning.  She loves to put lotion on her face and hands, comb her hair and pretend to put on makeup.  She loves to play in the tub while I get dressed.  She is scared of loud big things such as, tractors, big trucks, even the beeping that trucks do when they back up will get her nervous.  She doesn't like my blow dryer either.  She is terrified, but fascinated by bugs.  Today, we were laying on a blanket in the front yard and I was laying there and she was walking around and she screamed so loud I thought her arm was chopped off all because she saw a spider scurrying along the porch.  She seriously screamed so loud and was just terrified when I picked her up and even after I had killed the spider.  Her speech has not developed normally.  She didn't really talk for awhile and when she did start talking a lot, she didn't follow the normal pattern.  She can say anything, but will only say it if she wants to say it.  She loves babies and putting them down for "nigh-nigh".  She also will hold her babies and cradle their heads and say "shhh".  That is funny to me because she really hasn't been around too many babies or seen me with very many babies so I think it is something that is inside of her.  She seems to be a nurturing personality.  She and Jack and getting to be really cute together and will play a lot more often now.  Jack really loves her and cares about her.  We were in St. George for Easter and Savannah got her head stuck in the bars on my grams porch.  Jack came running in, almost in tears, for me to come get her out.  That was really great to see the love that he has for her, without him really even knowing it.  She has a beautiful crooked little smile and is mostly very happy.  She is very dramatic and will make such funny faces.... surprised, mad, happy, anything really on command.  Because she has been slow to talk, we often ask Jack's opinion on things and lately she has been saying "ME TOO!"  to anything we ask him.  She loves animals, dogs and cats especially.  She loves Goie (Zoe) and our kitty and will play with them more than anyone else in the house.  She loves to dance and also play any sport that Jack is playing.  She shrugs her shoulders for no apparent reason and loves to be involved in the family.  She loves family home evening and asks for it every night.  She loves to eat and will eat Jack's lunch if he is too busy watching TV to get to it.  Overall, she is turning into a lovely little two year old and I love having her in the family.   I am excited to add another little child.  These kids are the best things I have ever done and I look forward to watching Savannah as she grows into the girl she will become.