School is in Session!

Jadyn doesn't start preschool until September. This is a different school - Mommy School.

Just call me Ms. Mommy (or Ms. Mother as Jadyn prefers).

I started Mommy School this July as a way to occupy my kids for a few hours every day and keep us all from going stir crazy. (Better late than never!) Last summer I remember that we went out a lot more, but with the ridiculous gas prices we have become home bodies. School has made a HUGE difference in the longs days at home and the girls really look forward to all of the different activities that we do in Mommy School.

We have several things that we do every day – like Show and Tell, Project Time, Story Time, Music Time, Exercises, Play Dough, Flash Cards, Games, Workbooks, Puzzles and Treats. We have also done a few hands-on learning activities, Musical Rhythms, New Songs, Finger Plays and Scripture Stories. I had binders of early childhood learning games/ideas/music play from my college courses in Music and Elementary Education. Finally I put some of it to good use!

Jadyn was able to work on more advanced skills like writing her letters and numbers in Jello powder and workbooks while Jenna was able to just have fun with the Jello and color.

One of their favorite projects (hands down) is painting. Jadyn and Jenna both love to paint pictures with watercolors or to paint objects with crayola craft paint. I LOVE the dollar store. We were able to get lots of little things to paint and color for $1 (or less)!

Music time was always loud - but lots of fun. The kids and I worked on short and long notes on the recorder. Even Hyrum got in on some of the action!

It has been great to change things around a little and be called Ms. Mommy, or Ms. Mother, for awhile each day. I have been taking pictures, but the best part of the day is when Daddy comes home and the girls clamor to show him the things they learned and created in school.

We love Mommy School! Looking back, it has been one of the highlights of our summer.

Where did I go?

OK, so you've probably noticed I have been MIA for over a month. These last few months have been especially hard for me. (Have you seen the dark circles under my eyes?) I haven't even had time to check my blog or add anything new for over a month. I feel like I have been unable to keep up anything lately. I have been overwhelmed with life and the pressure of it all. I have felt like I just get to tread water - it is enough to survive, but doesn't get me anywhere. To top it all off, I have been just tired... tired of Jared being gone so much (working all of the time), tired of 14+ hour days with young (needy) children, tired of not getting out much, tired of the heat, tired of not having any money - basically I have been tired. It has been hard, but not impossible. I was feeling a bit run down, but things are finally starting to look up. Whew. Thanks for letting me get my whining done for now. Sometimes things are just hard and this summer has been one of those difficult spots for me. Now it is on to better things...

I am going to try and play catch-up with my blog. I have about a million entries that I want to add. I may actually only get to a few of them. The good news is that life is starting to get a little more normal. Jared will try to cut down and only work 12 hour days now that things are up and running at the new office and preschool starts for Jadyn in a few weeks! Hallelujah! We just got back from a family reunion and my sister is in town for a few more days so this month is definitely going to finish better than the last one for sure.

Looking back I am grateful that things were tough this summer. It has made me appreciate my husband and our daily blessings even more. I have really had to search for things to be happy about some days, but I have always had something.

This is all that I have energy to post tonight, but more will soon follow with stories, pictures, and all the craziness that is going on around here. I had better get some sleep so that I am at least functional tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday III

The Little Things

I was just reflecting on how much I love the little things in life. I am so grateful for those moments that just happen in the day to day run of things. Today was a tough day. I don't know if it was the humidity or what, but my girls were having a very hard time behaving. Jared put them to bed tonight before heading off to play racquetball. I sat down to try and clear my head for the day. Here are a few that I am especially thankful for today:

- Hearing Hyrum’s baby squeals and giggles when I kiss his tummy or tickle his feet. He is so ticklish! I can’t help but laugh at his pure enjoyment. He is at the cutest stage right now and I just want to hold him so close and have him never become a 2 year old!
- Listening to Jadyn singing her songs as she plays all day long. I love that my home is always full of music.
- Hearing Jenna pray for the really important things in life like: her baby dolls, eating popsicles, watching Elmo, the food, and her red shoes.
- Dancing with Jared in the freezer isle of the grocery store as part of our date night Friday. (No kidding.We went in for some Klondike Bars and danced and turned like we were in the middle of a very romantic dance number. I was just following his lead…) It was a blast! What would YOU do for a Klondike Bar?!?
- Dropping everything and dancing around the living room with my kids any time “Ever, Ever After” by Carrie Underwood comes on. (I have it on my blog playlist and our computer song list.) We twirl, dip, and sing at the top of our lungs. I am always tired (especially when Jadyn asks if we can do it again – for the 11th time in a row) and grinning from ear to ear when we are done.

It is those precious little things that mean so much to me, probably more than I can begin to express in words. I have a wonderful family. Even when things are difficult and crazy (as they often are) I live for those little moments that make my heart sing.

Spotlight on Jenna

I have decided to spotlight some special people in our lives. I will call it Spotlight Saturday and try to keep it up. As a family we are blessed to know so many wonderful individuals. So with that in mind, I give you the first Spotlight Saturday.

Spotlight this week is on Jenna! The other day when I asked her how old she was she said, "Two," then she paused, looked right at me and with a huge grin continued, "No, I am Seven!"

Here are a few things about our resident 2 (going on 7) year old. These are some of her current favorites. Anything in "" she actually said when I asked. Other things I added just because I know - I am the Mom. Again, this is more for journaling and record keeping. She will never be this age again, and I don't want to forget some of the little things.

Color -

"Yellow"

(She really loves yellow and chooses yellow everything - toys, clothes, etc.)

Food -

"Popsicles."

"String Cheese." (actually any kind of cheese)

"Pizza!" (Especially when we make it at home and she helps with the toppings.)

Chocolate (M&M's, Chocolate Chip Cookies...she isn't picky)

Games -

"Ring Around the Rosie"

Hide and Go Seek/Chasing with Jadyn and Mommy

"Horsey!" with Daddy

Activities -

"Swimming!"

"I wanna go Swing!" (This girls loves to be in a swing.)
Dress Up - specifically wearing shoes (mine, Jared's, Jadyn's, or play shoes)

Mommy School (Project Time- coloring, cutting, play dough)

Puzzles

Places-

"I go Grandma & Grandpa's house."

"Nana & Papa's house!"

"I can ride the Carousel!" (She likes to go to the mall, zoo, or park to ride the carousel.)

"I go to Nursery!" (at church)

Books -
"Barney's Hats." (We read it this morning.)

"Uh-Oh, Jadyn! book."

Shows-

"Barney!" (any show, any episode)

What's the Name of That Song - Sesame Street

"Elmo!" (anything)

Songs -

"Child of God."

"Twinkle, Twinkle." (Little Star)

The Rubber Duck Song (Sesame Street)

Jenna Marie Song (to Whinny the Pooh's Theme)

Toys -

"My Babies!" (Baby Dolls & Stroller)

"My (Little) Ponies!"

Little Animals (Noah's Ark, Littlest Pet Shoppe)
Whatever Jadyn was just playing with

Favorite Non Toy -
Markers (She mostly colors on paper. Sometimes she is a body artist. Hyrum even had beautiful blue and green "art" on his head last week. Thank goodness for washable markers!)
"I love my Elle!" (the pink elephant/blanket)

Expressions -

"I can do it!"
"My Turn!"
"No!" (She is 2...)
"You Got It, Babe!"
"Don't Worry, Be Happy."
"I mam so strong!"

"Don't forget I love you!"

Nicknames-

Jenna Bug or Bug

Skinny Minnie

Soothers -

"Blee (Care Bears Blanket) & Juice (Apple Juice).

Sleeping -

She takes one nap in the afternoon for a few hours. She needs about 11+ hours of sleep at night or she is CRANKY. (8p.m. to 7 a.m. ish)

She always sleeps with Blee, juice, and lately Elle

Proudest Moments-
Swimming Under Water.
I don't know if she'll agree, but this summer she overcame a huge fear of water. She never even used to like getting her hair/head wet especially if she had to lay down in the tub. She would cry and fight whenever her head got wet. Well, thanks to Nana and Aunt Colleen's swimming lessons, I have watched Jenna conquer her fear of getting her head wet and actually swim under water like a little fish! I am so proud of her!

Other little tidbits-

Jenna is so sweet to watch with Hyrum and her babies. She feeds them, rocks them, covers them with blankets and sings to them. Hyrum almost outweighs Jenna now, so she has to be quick to cover him up and give him his bottle before he scoots off.

She likes to chase Jadyn all over the house and loves it when Jadyn wants her to play toys and games. She is starting to do pretend play really well. Her favorite question to ask when she is playing with a new toy is, "What's your name?"

She and Jadyn sometimes fight over toys, whose turn it is to say prayers, or books. Fortunately it doesn't last long and they are best friends again in no time.

Jenna is smart. She knows all of her colors and basic shapes. She can count to 10 and sometimes I hear her counting to 20 but if I ask her to repeat it, she looks at me like I am a crazy lady. She can spell her name most of the time. Sometimes she spells it J-e-d-y-n (I guess she heard Jadyn spell her name too much.

Jenna loves to help Mommy with household chores. She likes to cook, clean, and do dishes. I appreciate her enthusiasm!

She is polite. She remembers most of the time to say "Please" and "Thank You". I have even caught her reminding Jadyn to say please or thank you a few times.

Jenna is still a snuggle bug. She loves to be on my lap, snuggled into my side, or being rocked. I think that is why she loves to go to Grandma's house so much. She has Grandma Great and Grandma that take time to rock her and snuggle her to pieces.


She is still shy. I thought that she would start to grow out of her shyness, but Jenna is so shy around people (immediate family excluded). She barely talks or is audible when asked a question. This coming from a girl that speaks complete sentences and talks all of the time at home.

She makes the cutest animal noises. When she is playing with her animals it is adorable to listen to.

She is clever enough to be funny. When you ask her what color Daddy's truck is, she grins and says, "Green!" then she laughs until she is persuaded to say a different color. In the end she'll look right at you and say, "Daddy's truck is Red. Green is so funny." Silly Girl.

I love her expressive, blue eyes. She has always had big blue eyes. It is so much fun to watch them laugh, and it breaks my heart to see those same eyes full of sadness and tears. The eyes are the window to the soul and her soul is full of joy, love, and tenderness.

She has a squinty smile that is so stinking cute. Her whole face squints and she says, "Cheeeeeese!" It makes me laugh whenever I see it.

Jenna is such a wonderful piece of our family puzzle. She is bright, sweet (except when she is being a terrible two), and so full of life and energy. She is a monkey and that is sometimes a challenge for me, but I wouldn't have her any other way.

Jenna, don't ever forget, your family absolutely loves and adores you!

Wordless Wednesday II