Pinocchio BANNED from our house

Well, the title of this post is a little extreme, but let me explain. Last week Avery called me at work when she got home from school and said that Jackson said a "bad word" at the bus stop. I proceeded to ask what he said, assuring her she would not get in trouble for saying it. She refused to say it, so I asked her to spell the word. She wouldn't spell it, but said, "It's another word for butt". I then asked her to put Jackson on the phone. This was my phone conversation with Jackson.

Me: "Jackson, did you say a bad word at the bus stop?"

Jackson: "yes"

Me: "What did you say?"

Jackson:(without hesitation) "A#@"

Me:"Did you know that is a bad word and that we don't say that?"

Jackson:"Yes"

Me:"Who did you say it to?"

Jackson:"I don't know who he was."

Me:"What did you say to him?"

Jackson:"I don't know"

Me:"Did you say, you're an A@#?"

Jackson:"No, I said,What you looking at A@#."

Me:(Barely able to hold in my laughter)"Where did you hear that word?"

Jackson: "Pinocchio"

So, there you go. Pinocchio is banned! Ha Ha. Not really, but it was pretty hilarious. Come to find out it was a 4th grader at the bus stop. What am I going to do with the kid?

Grandma & Grandpa GREAT

We had the opportunity to go to Boise over Labor Day weekend. My Grandparents and most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins live in Boise. We had such a good time spending some very memorable and precious time with my Grandparents. My nephew Braiden, who is the oldest Great Grandchild, called my grandparents "Grandma & Grandpa Great", when he was little. The name has since stuck with all the great grandchildren. My Grandpa has cancer and has recently been put on Hospice care. We went to Boise knowing that this could well be the last time that we see Grandpa. Needless to say, it was a very emotional weekend. My grandparents are the most generous selfless people I know. They have a great relationship with all of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I am so glad that my kids have been able to have a relationship with them. While we were there, we had our kids and my sisters kids write down a bunch of questions for Grandma & Grandpa. We sat outside on their patio and video taped Grandma & Grandpa answering each of the kids questions. It was 45 minutes of crying and laughing. Here are a few pictures we took over the weekend.

Back to School

I know I am a month late posting this due to my camera problems, but Avery & Jackson went back to school on July 27th. Avery started 3rd grade and Jackson started 1st grade. Jackson was so excited to ride the bus and start first grade. When we got to the bus stop on the first day he excitedly said to all the kids at the bus stop, "I'm in first grade today!". It was cute. He is doing very well and reading so good. I cannot believe our little boy is in 1st grade. I never believed people when they said that your kids grow up so fast, but I do now. Where has the time gone? Avery is such a cute big sister to Jackson and has really taken him under her wing at school. The first week of school I was tucking her into bed and she was crying. I asked her what was wrong and she said "I miss Jackson during the day". I asked her if she missed him last year (he went to a different school than Avery last year), she said, "no" and kind of chuckled. She told me she just wants to make sure he is ok during the day and not being bullied. It was so cute to hear how much she cares. Sage is not in school yet, but really really wants to be. When we ask the kids how their day at school was each night, Sage has her own story about her day of school. She is now at daycare by herself, which she really has never experienced before. She misses her brother and sister during the day, and is so excited to see them each afternoon when she comes home.

Trampoline Fun ( Motley Crew)

Here are a few pictures of the kids trying out their tricks and dog piles on the trampoline. Do not mind the outfits they are wearing. This was a Sunday afternoon and the first thing they do is take off their church clothes and dress themselves in whatever they want. They obviously must be color blind or have some very odd taste in clothing. Thank goodness they have a personal shopper and dresser on any other day or else this is what they would dress themselves in every day. Ha Ha

Our Backyard is done! WAHOO

It has been a work in progress, but I am happy to say that we actually finally have grass and an in ground trampoline in our backyard. It is still far from completely landscaped, but at least there is grasss now and a place for the kids to play. The trampoline has become a big hit and hang out for the neighborhood kids. It is fun to look out and see a crowd gather in our backyard every day. It has also been fun and nerve wrecking to watch Jackson, Avery, and Sage do flips and tricks. So far no major injuries...(I knocked on wood after that statement)

Camera Problems

I have been a blog slacker lately! Of course the day I decide to upload pictures and update my blog, my computer cannot read my memory card! Yes I am a little freaked out, but I am sure it is just the operator, not the actual memory card. Maybe it's because when I go to view the pictures on my actual camera, there are about 400 pictures from a night when we had a babysitter and came home to find our camera and video camera on the kitchen floor! Yes 400 pictures of every door frame in our house, bathroom sinks, the TV, the babysitter, babysitters hand, a piece of popcorn on the carpet, etc. Yes I know you are asking yourself the same question as I was, "Where was the babysitter whike the kids were playing with the camera?". Needless to say, I will update my blog this week, as soon as I figure out what the heck is wrong with my camera!! ARRGHHGHHGH.

Sage's 3rd Birthday Party

Here are more pictures of Sage at her 3rd Birthday Party

Pretty in Pink & Sweet as can be, Little Miss Sage just turned 3!

Sage turned 3 on June 22. I cannot believe how fast the past 3 years have flown by. She is such a sweetheart. She makes us laugh every day. Everyone who knows Sage, is aware she is obsessed with Pink. She wanted to have a "Pink" birthday party this year, but since some of her little friends and cousins are boys, we decided that she could have a "Pink & Sweet" party. She invited her cousins and a couple neighborhood little friends. We decorated kind of like a candy land with a candy buffet. Of course we tried to have as much "Pink" as possible. IT was very cute to see her interact with her friends and cousins. Happy Birthday Sagey!

Cheer Recital

June has been absolutely crazy with birthdays, school programs, soccer games, and dance recitals. It's a bitter sweet that everything comes to an end at the same time. Avery has been taking Cheerleading for a couple years and really enjoys it. She has made huge improvements and is a very good cheerleader. My camera was not taking the best of pictures, but she looked gorgeous and did perfect. Both grandma's were there to support her as well. Good job Avery!

Soccer Season is over

As I mentioned before in a previous post, Josh coached Jackson's soccer team this year along with my brother-in-law. My nephew, BJ was also on the team. BJ and Jackson are best of buds, but on the soccer field they dominate. It has been so fun to watch them as they gain a good concept of the game. They both have played for 3 years and most of their team members just started this year so they had a bit of an advantage. It was fun for us to watch them each week and it is always a little comical as well. Way to go Blue Sharks!

Soaring Eagle Award

Avery has a few days left of Second grade, but during the school year she has worked very hard to earn an award that very receive at school. She has had to complete different projects and maintain good attendance etc. to receive the award. The school had a big awards night to present the award to the students. We are so proud of Avery! She excels in school and definitely deserves the "Soaring Eagle Award". Way to go Aves! We love you!

Our Kindergarten GRAD

Jackson is just finishing up his Kidergarten school year and has made some very big improvements this year. We could not be more proud of him. His teacher said that he is a very good reader and that he is definitely ready for 1st grade! Jackson's teacher gave us his Kindergarten Graduation pictures today, and I just could not help but smile and shed a tear at what a cute picture this is. Jackson has been such a blessing in our family and we are so proud of you buddy! Way to go Kindergarten GRAD!!! We love you Jackie!

RACE FOR THE CURE - MAY 9, 2009

Last year my mom and my sisters and I walked the Race for the Cure, just 10 days after my mom had her breast surgery. We raced with hope,faith and uncertainty with the recent news Breast Cancer and chemotherapy. This year we raced to celebrate! There was quite a few of us that walked. My grandparents came from Boise, as well as a few of my mom's siblings as well. My sisters and I and our families aalso walked as well as a few of my mom's friends. In total I think there was 30 of us. It was so neat to celebrate this with my mom this year, and it ironically was also her BIRTHDAY! What a difference one year makes. It was emotional to see all the Survivors walking with their pink hats and pink shirts. Everyone walked the race including our kids. It was a very special day to dedicate solely to my mom and her birthday and her battle the past year with breast cancer.

Race for the Cure cont...

Here are more pictures of the race. Sage sat in the stroller most of the time but she decided at one point she wanted to "Win the race". Her shirt was down to her ankles, but she was determined to run. Jackson and Avery walked the whole way with their cousins. It was hard to keep track of them in the crowd of 20,000. My uncle Tracy pushed my grandma the whole way in a wheelchair. Needless to say, we all finished the race and It was so fun to walk with the whole family and for my kids to experience this. We are going to make this an annual tradition.