Ohio trip

To celebrate school being out (and also because she was moving and could no longer be our temple sitter) we went to visit Janel the day school got out, spent the night, and went to the temple on Saturday morning. It was a fun visit- as always. She was in the middle of packing up her house to move to ?, and was quite gracious to take time out of it all to let us crash and watch our kiddies so we could go to the temple. They didn't have a job offer yet, but did have to move out of their place. Their plan was to go to Arizona to crash at Jared's parents' house (I guess they're actually her parents too:), but it wasn't a GREAT plan- just a plan. It involved lots and lots of driving and lots and lots of heat and lots and lots of tight quarters. So Jared (albeit without actually consulting me first) piped up with an offer to have them live with us for the summer. I was a little...surprised.

After we were in the privacy of our car and on the way to my grandparent's house, we talked over the rashness of such an offer. Then we concluded that it wouldn't be so bad and might actually be kinda fun. The kids would LOVE it- cousins to play with all summer, sleepovers every night. Emma love love loves our "farm", she calls it. And Katie would die to have female influence in the house (I guess I don't count all that much to her because she's just about in 7th heaven when a girl - doesn't matter her age- comes to our house). Janel called a few days later to give me an "out" to our impromptu offer if we had decided it wasn't such a great idea after all. We explained that the offer was still valid and her and I discussed the logistics of having 13 people in one house for an extended period of time (laundry, parenting, cooking and the like). We quickly settled on a plan. The next day I started going through the house and cleaning out. I know how things become disorganized and strewn when company is visiting- and that's only for shorter visits. I knew that such an undertaking required massive organization on my part. Every single thing needed to have a place that was only its. And all the excess had to go. So I spent two weeks going through each room. In the end, the Jensen's decided (after a few days with Kevin and Charlotte) that it was really too much to add and additional 7 people to anyone's house. The kids were bummed because they were really looking forward to the live-in cousins. Jared was looking forward to the live-in babysitting swap (I think he had forgotten that we would have to "swap" though and then we would have all 9 children while they were out). And Janel and I can remain friends :) (not that we thought it'd come between us- but it might've been a strain, I guess). At least now my house is really clean :)
Anyone want to come stay with us??

First week of SUMMER VACATION!!

2010


School got out on Friday, May 27th. The kids had a great last week of school- plenty of fun games and activities (just to reach the quota of # of days, but all the kids were waaaaay past concentration during the last week- actually the last month would be more accurate).

So this was the first week of SUMMER VACATION!! Monday was Memorial Day and we did our traditional ride in the Veteran's parade (even though we're not vets, Jared always helps out because his friend is the owner of the vehicles). They're thinking this will be the final year for the army vehicles, which is such a shame because we have participated every year since Coleson was a baby. Bummer. But we do have lots of fun memories. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of us this year.
2009
2007
Do you recognize these little people?? (It's Konrad, Elena, & Noah in 2007)

The rest of the week Coleson had baseball camp every morning. It was really fun for him. He's never been a huge sports buff (maybe because I don't let him do sports teams during the school year because they practice and have games until so late on school nights and I know he couldn't handle it). But anyway, he learned a ton and had a lot of fun.

Friday night (Fun Friday- a summer tradition a friend introduced me to) he had his first friend sleepover with his great buddy Isaac. They've been friends since kindergarten. And I've gotten to know his mom through PTO and the book fair. So, it was a bit easier to send him off to a house where I know their values.

Hunter's special

Last night, Hunter and I were hanging out together playing a cool new bowling game on the ipad. Coleson was at his first friend sleepover with his buddy, Isaac. Anyway, after I kicked his rear for like the 4th time, he got up and ran to the kitchen- all mysteriously. Then he reappeared a few minutes later and proudly presented me with his "special homemade cheese and marshmallow sandwich"!!!! (Oh...thanks buddy...yum..??) But definitely very sweet. (Apparently my kicking his trash at bowling makes him love me more :)

The man I love

Every few months we go to Muncie to visit my very elderly grandparents. I have traveled the path between their house and mine so many times over my lifetime that I literally know every curve and bump in the road. My parents were always diligent about making sure we visited often. While I was a child, both sets of my grandparents lived there in Muncie. I have to say that, while I hold many fond memories of Muncie due to the loved ones who live there and the time we spent together there, aside from that, Muncie is really not that great of a place (except for this one AWESOME movie theater with reclining seats!). So the frequent trips there have offered little other reward (like great shopping or restaurants or parks).

Anyway, my one remaining set of grandparents, live in Muncie still. Jared has always been incredible at reminding me to call them regularly and even volunteering to take the inconvenient trips over there to visit. But he doesn't just stop there. Now before I go further, you have to understand this about Jared- he has a short string of patience- especially for the elderly. But somehow he has always had great patience for my grandparents. Perhaps it's because both sets of my grandparents have treated him more like a grandson than his own ever did. But the man has loyalty there (and therefore- great patience). In the same token that it melts your heart and grows your love when you see your spouse take great care and gentleness with your children, it melts my heart to see this man I love help my grandmother in and out of the car (nearly lifting her rather). And he does it while offering to do more. And he does it with a smile. And he is gentle. Each and EVERY visit goes exactly the same way. My grandmother is nearly deaf and therefore can't really hold any sort of conversation. And she is somewhat obsessed (to put it lightly) about the collections that run rampant through her home. We are happy to agree to the consistent invitations to go to lunch somewhere- and therefore get our little people's 40 little fingers away from her breakables. But it's not just somewhere- it's a quaint little ma & pop joint serving "old people" fare. And even knowing all of this, Jared reminds me to call and asks if it's time for us to go to Muncie again. I love this man.

My protector

So Hunter and I were driving to see a friend the other day and were driving the hideous big green van. It hadn't been driven in a while, so Jared had jumped started it and warned me not to turn it off or he'd have to come jump it again. Since I was going into town, he would also bring a grumpy attitude if I made him do that. Note to self. So I was explaining the situation to Hunter and asked him to help me remember to NOT turn off the car. Such a reflex thing to do when you park. Then Hunter was asking if dad would be mad at me. I explained that he wouldn't really be mad at me, just really annoyed. He said it was ok if I accidentally forgot, because he'd tell dad that he was the one who did it so dad would be mad at him instead of me. I just about melted right there in my seat! I told him I wouldn't let him do that because it wasn't the truth, but thanks for trying to help me. Hunter is always looking for ways to protect me- from the inevitable and always looming "bad guy". What a sweet sweet boy.

Katie's new bike

I scored this bike last weekend at a garage sale for $6!! It was on my list of things to find this summer. Katie is in love. She finally has her own big girl bike (and it's not a hand-me-down boy color!) She can ride it actually quite well. Now she wants to go to town all the time to ride on sidewalks :) Downside to having a country gravel lane.

birthday

Jared's birthday was last week. I made his favorite meal as usual- reubens and tater tots with strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert. It was yummy.
(I know you're wishing we'd saved you a piece).

For his birthday Jared got the deep fryer he's been wanting for a LONG time.