Take a Hike

Let me give you the top two reasons we hike...

#1

#2

Dogs and boys have lots of energy, this is a good outlet.  Once the weather cooled off, and we have since had a brief respite from the blazing inferno of the desert, our hiking has commenced!  One beautiful, rainy morning, after we dropped Jara off at school, Jack and Elise were marveling at the low position of the clouds along the mesa, so we decided to drive into the clouds.  It was a little eerie.  Lord of the Ring's eerie.  I kept alert, just in case of Orks.  The most amazing part was the silence.  We do not live in a loud place but up in the hills with a blanket of clouds surrounding us it was so very quiet.  Peaceful.  

Driving into the clouds.

A few days later hiking to the Native American village.  I marvel that signs of civilization have survived so many years.  My children are very interested in these rock villages and get a little social studies every time we go.  I might have read Island of the Blue Dolphins and Indian in the Cupboard one too many times as a child.

My mountain goat.  Climbing every hill.

Cat Problems

I went to the bathroom one night and to my surprise, I found a cat glued to my toilet!  Quite alarming in the middle of the night.  All I could think of was our Elf on the Shelf really was Chucky.  Once I came to my senses the next morning, I realized my 8-year-old has perfected her scissor skills and has a wicked sense of humor.  I have no idea what gave her this idea but I'm still laughing at creepy cat stuck to the toilet, it never gets old.

Then our evil, black cat went on a killing (kinda) spree.  She wounded this helpless little bird, left feathers all over the garage and then disdainfully went back to sleeping.  So...

Jed had to extract the birdie from the garage.  The squeaks.  I'm still hearing them.  I tried to get him to raise it in captivity until it was strong but he has no mercy for wounded creatures he might have to splint with popsicle sticks and feed with a dropper.

Jack is 6

The birthday KING! 

 Jack had a great day; he was able to go shopping with Grandma, be the king of kindergarten and then have a party with friends at the park.

No party is complete without a ninja turtle pinata.  

We had a few extra party-goers, that happens when you have your party at a public place.  No complaints, I didn't have to clean anything.

A little red light/green light.

The party crowd.

Opening presents

Six-year-old milestones:

He is reading like crazy.  

He is learning the piano

He makes his bed and his sister's bed

He can do a "poppa wheelie" on his bike

He can defend himself against Ruby

He loves ninja turtles and nerf guns

He is playing flag football and scored a touch-down

He is loving

He makes friends easily

Happy Birthday Jack!  We love you!

Star of the Week

Each week, near their birthday, a student in Jara's class has the chance to be the STAR OF THE WEEK!  It's very exciting, they get to bring in a poster, tell about what they like and bask in the glory of being special.  Jara's teacher told me after being star of the week, Jara started talking more and participating more.  I also thought she was happier that next week with her lot in life (second grade) Hurrah for star of the week!  

While we are at it...and since she had a birthday...there is more that needs to be documented about Jara

Sometimes she's a super-hero, cowboy.  

A dress-up day she couldn't resist, that somehow brought out an alter-ego 

we didn't know existed.

Her true nemesis...spelling.  We hate you spelling.  

As a birthday present she wanted her ears pierced.  My rule is they can get it done when they are old enough to want it/ask.  (That rule does NOT apply to bikini wearing.)  She was very excited to have it done, freaked out a little after the first ear and then proceeded on.  She's a classy lady and chose pearls for her first set.

Another birthday request: rollerblades.  Thankfully she does not have my coordination and therefore is able to get around pretty good on these wheels of death.  She learns new athletic actions so easily.  

I can't believe my Jara is eight.  We love you Jara!

Eight is Great

Jara turned eight this year!  What an amazing milestone.  She did not take the decision lightly to be baptized.  There was serious pondering put into this choice. It was a wonderful day.  Extra special because she was able to be baptized on her actual birthday.  Afterwards we had dinner at the house and ice cream cake.  (It might have been frozen lasagna)  However, I did not want to feel stress or overwhelmed on this important day.  The one goal I hoped to achieve for Jara and Jed and I was to be able to feel the spirit and make it a day she would always remember.  (Elaborate parties don't do that for me.)  I felt peace that night as we went to bed.  Jara was baptized with two other kids from our ward.  I spoke on the Holy Ghost, pregnant ladies do tend to get a little emotional, all of the siblings of the kids being baptized sang and bishop gave his remarks.  Making your own covenants is important and great, watching your children is even better.

Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Dark Ninja to the left, my angel to the right, 

Raphael (she insisted) stuck in the middle with you

Living in a neighborhood means you have to be prepared, 7 bags of candy prepared.

Jara's pumpkin is the big smiley one, Jack's pumpkin is the sinister, medium sized one.

Pumpkin Overload

Elise and I accompanied Jack's kinder class to the Hardy Pumpkin Patch.  I love kindergartners, I can't imagine teaching them, bless the wonderful people who do.  Elise hissed the entire 3 mile? round trip, sometimes she is such a treat  and I probably should have had an oxygen tank to support my out-of-shape pregnant body BUT we still had a good time.

How precious is that?  Jack and his good friend M.  

Don't pick out his plot yet Mike.

Jack and his great pumpkin.

Elise and her damn, heavy, added an extra 20 lbs to my stroller, pumpkin.  

All the cuties with their harvest.

Carving time.  Jara and Jack each carved their own this year.  They designed their own faces and carved them out.  I am also a mean mom and told them they would not be allowed to carve their own pumpkin unless, they cleaned their own pumpkin.  Insert wailing and gnashing.  Life gives you pukey looking guts you make a jack-o' lantern.  

Lesson learned.

Jack didn't mind the guts too much. 

 He didn't use a whole roll of paper towels, and construct his own gloves from plastic grocery sacks to clean his.

The master carver.  

A couple Jed and I carved.  Elsie wanted a minion pumpkin.  

Jed made an evil, mustached pumpkin.

You will see pics on the Halloween post of J+J's