My Little Fishes

One hour a day, Monday through Friday, eight weeks, 4 Swim Meets = Summer Swim Team

This year was the first time all three kids participated. (insert me doing a happy dance!)

And John received Heat Winner for boys his age in his heat for freestyle!

 Way to go buddy!


Ashley did great starting off the block this year!

And Jessica tackled 100 meters (4 laps) in breaststroke and freestyle.

We are so proud of our little fishes!

Back To School

With the end of August comes the beginning of School.

So glad to have the kids on a schedule again and not hearing them tell me they are bored every 10 minutes.

Not so glad for the 6am alarm every morning and homework every night.

I guess there is good and bad to everything.

John started 2nd Grade with Mrs. Allen

Ashley started 5th Grade with Mrs. Harris

They both started on Monday.

That gave Jessica and I time to go shopping for some Jr. High clothes.

And Jessica started 7th Grade and is now in Jr. High.

Wow, how did that happen???

Loving having a school bus take her everyday!

We have such cute, smart kids. So proud of all of them.

The Final Swim Meet

I love that the girls are on Swim Team in the Summer!

I don't love having to take them everyday to the pool.

So it is always a happy/sad day when the end of July rolls around and we have the last swim meet.

Ashley is getting ready for her heat.

Jessica preparing for the backstroke heat.

Do you like my shadow in the picture!

The girls both did great and received medals at the end of the meet.

Next Summer I think even John will join them on the team!!

School Programs

You can tell it is getting to be close to the end of the school year.

We are starting to have lots of programs to attend

Jessica and Ashley finished up their ballroom classes.

Here they are with the group trophies they earned this year.

The second year group did a really fun 50s number 

And here are all the first and second year students after doing a wonderful performance. 

I think Jessica was excited/embarrassed that her beehive class came to see her.

She had a great cheering section!

And we've attended the 6th grade play.  This year they did Pinocchio and Jessica was a puppet master!

The Pumpkin Patch

Grandma Pat has started planting pumpkins every year in her garden.  For the last several years we've been able to get pumpkins from her patch.

She had a good crop this year, even if they are small.

Ashley and John were our official pickers.

And we had enough for her, us and several others.  Thanks Mom!

Singing In The Rain

Last Sunday we had an awesome thunder storm.  We had sent the kids outside because they wanted to bounce a ball and it was driving us crazy.  About 15 minutes later we heard the thunder and rain come.  When we went out front we found the kids playing in the rain storm in their PJs

But we could not stop them from having fun.

Mark decided to teach them "Murder in the Dark" how he played growing up.

When a car came down the street they would yell murder and drop to the ground.  If you get caught in the headlights of the car you are out.

The next day I found out the neighbors behind us could hear our kids out front.  It was one of those magical nights you could not take away from the kids.

School Carnival

The kid's school carnival this year was the week after school started.  Mark took the kids because I was still on crutches.  They had a blast

They had some great games.  And the big hit is always getting to ride the golf carts with the teachers.

John participated in the donut eating contest.

You wouldn't think it was that hard to eat a donut.

But he ended up having a stare down trying to get the donut to behave.

But at last he conquered the donut!

And what would a carnival be without a cake walk!

The kids love this event every year.

We as parents have other opinions, but we know they don't count!

Dress Up

We had free time on our hands last Saturday (that never happens!)  So it was clean out the kids closets and get rid of old cloths.  In the process we pulled out my Wedding Dress.  I let the girls try it on and they had so much fun.

They got to feel like Princesses just like I did the day I wore it.  Scary to think in another 8 to 10 years they could actually be wearing their own.  I take that back, how about in another 18 to 20 years!

Smartie Pants!

The end of the school year brought lots of fun activities and recognition.  At the 4th, 5th & 6th Grade Assembly Jessica was recognized for an outstanding year

She received certificates for Perfect Attendance, Top 10% in Iowa Testing in the Nation for 5th graders, for being a Class Representative on the Scholar Council this year, Most Likely to be President in her class, and the best was the Spirit of NW award.  This award is given to only one boy and one girl from each class at the end of the year.  She also got a straight A report card.

John had fun with Mom during Mother's Tea

He designed this cute bonnet for Mom.

Made her a special present.

And enjoyed some cookies and drink.

The last day of school he got a special Kindergarten Graduation with all his friends.

He loved his teacher and his aide this year and will miss them.  His report card also sported straight A's.

And Ashley came home with the Spirit of NW Award from her class this year as well along with being in the top 10% for Iowa Testing in the Nation for 3rd graders.  And she had a straight A report card.

The kids loved getting free donuts from Krispy Kreme and getting cash from UCCU for their excellent report cards.  And we've heard they can get free cookies at Smart Cookie as well but we haven't had time to redeem them yet.

It sure is hard keeping up with these 3 smart kids!

Who is She?

Can you guess which Biography Ashley choose for her last book report?  The third grade did a Wax Museum and the kids had to dress up in character.  They each had a 30 second speech they memorized about their character.

Ashley was Amelia Earhart of course!  And she was extra excited when we went to see Night at the Museum 2 and Amelia was one of the stars.

The Naughty Spot

I think the trip to Vegas will be much quieter if we threaten them with this as the time out spot.

But there will be less wind resistance like this.

She looks like it was made just for her.

And he would have way too much fun riding like this.

Happy Birthday Ashley

Ashley is another year older and it is hard to believe.  She turned NINE on Saturday, March 28, 2009, yikes!  Gone are the days when I would take the time to make a cute themed cake.  We love Costco cakes and birthday parties are the only time we have enough people over to not have too many left overs.  Don't tell the kids, but I just threw out the last couple of pieces because I think 5 days is too long to hang onto cake.

She had a fun group of girls over for a High School Musical Party.  It was a combination of girls from our old ward, new ward, school and cousins.  And several girls fell into more than one category, confusing!

They started out playing musical chairs on the back porch (sorry neighbors!  Hope you weren't trying to nap)

Then there was the High School Musical DVD game.

This is brother being mad he isn't a part of the game.  It is hard being the only boy at the party.

And the much anticipated cake and ice cream.  I love Glena's look on her face.  She is in Ashley's 3rd Grade class but is also a second cousin once removed (or some kind of relation like that)  The tags the girls are wearing are the backstage passes they got as invites for the party (thanks Mark!)

I think fun was had by all.

Ashley is our sweet, sweet child.  Very tenderhearted and always looks out for the underdog.  In a few years I think she will be a real heart breaker to a few boys.  She is smart and always gets a straight A report card.  She is the middle child and often gets overlooked because she is so quiet.  But get her one on one and she will talk your ear off.  We are so glad she is part of our family!

Happy Birthday Ashley!