USU Field Day

This day is mostly for Matthew. He's the one who loves all things sports. But the entire family enjoyed the fun activities (Olivia even won a special prize at the duck pond where she caught a rubber ducky with a star on it. Her prize: a giant bouncy ball full of glitter and a light up flasher inside. She calls it her crystal ball and says if it lights up when you bounce it, then your wish will come true! She keeps wishing for a baby sister!), watching the players practice, and getting to go down on the field with the football players! Matthew was in his element! Tossing around a football with the quarterbacks, kicking field goals, and throwing passes through hoops (which is his specialty!)and even the coaches were impressed with our three year olds accuracy. Spencer and Olivia enjoyed getting autographs and trying on the teams uniforms. It was a super hot day, record breaking even, in the high 90's without a cloud anywhere and the heat of the stadium reflecting on us, but we had a great day!

The cupcake catastrophe

These cupcakes are for Spencer's birthday, but Jacob climbed out of his highchair, onto the table and dove into the tasty treats. All of a sudden I heard Spencer in his droning voice "Mom, Jacob's on the table and he's eating the cupcakes." I ran into the dining room and found him tearing the tops off, taking a bite and then tossing it aside before reaching for a new cupcake. The crazy thing is he wouldn't have anything to do with his own birthday cake. Maybe he got his fill on these cupcakes.

Our summer entertainment.

We opted this year NOT to take our kids to Lagoon, Hogle Zoo, the children's museum, etc. Instead we bought a new washing machine and figured we'd kill two birds with one stone. The kids are fascinated with watching the laundry go round and round and the laundry gets done. I'm so glad our kids are so easily entertained!

Jacob's 1st Birthday

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Jacob, happy birthday to you!"
This was three days of parties to accommodate the busy summer schedules of everyone. So we celebrated Jacob's birthday on Pioneer day with the Jenkins side. So much fun at the Jenkins family Pioneer Day picnic, with a parade, fireworks and everything to celebrate him.
We went with Grandpa Tim and Grandma Glee and Great Grandma Foltz to Cafe Sabor for dinner on Jacob's actual birthday. The waiters sang to him and put a big sombrero on his head, which he HATED! and screamed in terror. It was kind of funny!
Sunday the 26th, we celebrated with my mom and sisters, aunts, and cousins. Jacob received a wagon for his birthday, which was the highlight for him. He loved going for rides around the yard and waving to everyone. He wasn't so keen on diving into any of his "cakes". Happy Birthday Jakers!

Last day of none!

This is tradition, the last day of none, the day before each of our babies turns one year old!
I'm a sentimental mom who likes to hold onto the innocence of childhood. Somehow, turning one year old is a hard day for me, so I take pictures of their last day before their birthdays and reflect on the past year. Jacob has grown up faster than the others did, or so it seems. We are so busy running with everything that it seems I have missed so much of his babyhood. I'm thankful for pictures to look at and remind me of the moments I have forgotten. I swore I'd never forget anything of any of our kids. Boy was I wrong! Jacob's "last days of" falls on pioneer day - what fun! We can guarantee he will have pictures of this day every year. Happy "last day of none" Jakers! We love you so much!

Pioneer Day 2009

Pioneer Day means traditions like decorating the Jenkins Family float (aka Grandpa's lawn mowing tractor and trailer), riding in the North Logan parade, the kids throwing out all 20 pounds of candy in the first block, sitting in the same spot for the last dozen years (as far back as I can recall), collecting candy to give to the kids because they threw out all of theirs in the first block, wild, crazy rides around the neighborhood in the tractor/ float (who needs Lagoon?!) and the Jenkins Pioneer- day picnic. I love traditions!

Spencer's Birthday

He's NINE?! When did that happen? Nine just makes ME sound old! We have told our kids that they can have a "friend" birthday party at ages 5, 8, 12, and 16, so this year Spencer had a quiet birthday with just family, ie Grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, first cousins once removed, great aunts, great grandma, (you have to understand my family). Pretty much open to anyone related to us. (Disclaimer - we do understand the business of life and recognize that everyone cannot come to everything. We appreciate your understanding as well!)

This year happened to fall on a good night for a lot of people. Daddy was late getting home from work, so Matthew entertained us with "Why did the chicken cross the road?" jokes. These are classic Jenkins family dinner time entertainment. They go like this "Why did the "blank" cross the 'blank'?" Repeat with different nouns. Laugh sincerely, or insincerely, the kids don't mind either way.

Spencer enjoyed his Transformer birthday party. It fell on "flood day", so we held it in the front yard due to the six inches of water running through the back yard. When asked what his favorite present was, he said "I like the transformers, no wait, the real toolbox, no the webkinz, but I really like the digital camera and the remote control truck. Oooh, and the big squirt gun was nice! I can't decide."
Thanks everyone for making this his "favorite birthday" so far!

Happy Birthday America!

This is a day I love. My favorite of all summer holidays.

Even though something about it doesn't feel like a holiday. Sort of like Memorial Day. More like a day to reflect, and remember and be thankful. It is of course Grandpa Honey's birthday, and I will always think of him on this day. But this year I also think of my brother, away from his wife and his son in a place that I'm sure is not very


pleasant. This year, a song they play at the fireworks "Somewhere out there..." meant something different. Perhaps in Iraq, Timmy can see the same stars that shine down on this free country on this night and know that we're all thinking about him, and loving him.

Okay, on to the highlights...the persistence of our family to sit in the same seats we've sat in for YEARS at the fireworks,
The music, the patriotism that moves us to tears,
NOT being incredibly, uncomfortably, hugely pregnant this year!
Jacob's 1st fourth of July.
Breakfast outside - eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, pancakes with coconut syrup, orange juice and fruit. Super fun and yummy!
Hyrum parade (same floats, same candy, same crowds - different city) Hey the kids don't care!
Free watermelon at the Hyrum city square, Spencer paying to go in the dunk tank, and "piloting" our neighbor's helicopter.
Then, the 4th wouldn't be complete with out a cook out (this year, tin foil dinners), corn on the cob and Heather and Aubrey made "Skookies" which is a warm cookie baked in a skillet pan, topped with ice cream and caramel and chocolate toppings. Jacob thought it was fantastic! Thanks Aubs and Auntie! The Evening ended with our inexpensive collection (10.00 max, I say if you want to get a thrill out of your hundred dollars worth of fireworks, light the bill itself on fire - you'll have people running and screaming just as much!) of fireworks and John dancing in the light of the strobe type flashing ones. The kids, and the neighbors!, all loved it! Happy 233 birthday America!

Olivia turns 5!

I can't believe she's five! Where did the time go? Breathe, breathe.
Our one and only

princess is growing up. But not so much that she has outgrown her favorite princesses, so I was excited that she chose them for her birthday party theme. We borrowed the "photo ops" princess cutouts from the pumpkin walk, (the hours and hours and hours of work there has it's benefits) and made our party around them. Olivia's primary aged girls, a couple of cousins, and some girls that she plays with while I visit teach their moms came and we ended up with a fun number of twelve dancing princesses at the party. We had a treasure hunt, made "Princess Aurora" dolls out of crepe paper and soap bottles, and took pictures with the Disney Princesses. It was all very pink and fluffy and perfect for our "girly little girl"! Happy Birthday, Princess Olivia!