100!

This is Jake's first ever time writing to 100. He came home with this blank paper looking so defeated. He said this was his homework and it would take him too long to actually write to 100 - "I mean, who can do that anyway, Mom?" Luckily, Grandma was here and convinced him to start with her.  (You can see he could care less which way the numbers go. He really does know and can do it if he concentrates but that is the thing - Jake doesn't concentrate. He has the shortest attention span of all my kids put together. He has a very difficult time focusing, he still doesn't like to watch a movie all the way through without doing something else at the same time.   I think it is great! - for some things. It is nice that he is active, always outside playing and if he is inside, he is usually playing the Wii. However, he doesn't just play, he jumps and slides and shakes his hands, always moving!  I think it is adorable. If he were my first, I would probably be worried, that is the beauty of not being first, I guess. Now I just think it is endearing.)  Anyway, back to the story, he finally finished his 100 and then declared, "Wowee, I am like the smartest Kindergartener ever!" I just smiled and nodded. Why can't we all be so proud of ourselves?

MMMMM CAKE!!!

I am not much of a cake fan - I like cupcakes. I love cookies and most pastries (unless they have some healthy thing in them, like raisins or carrots). But, cake, well, it is just okay. But this cake, oh boy, it is a different story - I absolutely love it! It is from a bakery in Salt Lake called Glaus. It is their half and half cake. I discovered it when Jared and I lived up there and have not had it for about 10+ years. Too long! I got to go up and have a girls weekend with my mom and sisters and they live so close to the bakery, we got to go and pick one up.   I knew Jared wouldn't be too happy about it, it is kind of expensive, this size was $25.99 - but so worth it. Anyway, that is why I decided I had better have them write on the cake just for him. Oh, the ways we learn to pacify our husbands. :)  I wish you could all have a piece, but alas, it is all gone - devoured.  And, my kids didn't get too much.  So, here's to you cake, lucky for my waistline I don't live closer BUT hopefully I will get more before 10 more years passes.  :)

Oh, and doesn't Jared look so handsome holding MY cake - thinking it is his. ;)

From headgear to braces - what a life!

Jaxon has had his headgear for a couple years now. In fact, so long that it doesn't really fit his cute chubby cheeks anymore. He is definitely ready to get rid of it. Jared & I are ready for that as well (the constant battles of telling him to wear it are exhausting).  There is a picture that hung in my dad's office the entire time I was growing up.  It was of 2 people with headgear kissing.  I loved it.  I wanted it for my room, I thought it was soooo romantic.  (I think it hangs in his Manti office now).  So I thought it was awesome that both Jaxon and Josie got to have headgear (what I always wanted).  Luckily, none of the kissing moments ever happened to Jaxon and hopefully will not to Josie.  Still, I think it is cute.

So cute, right?

Jake and Jainie were completely mesmerized by the entire experience.  It really was pretty fun to watch.  I think Jake and Jainie might just grow up to be in the dental field.

This is where the brackets are actually being placed on each tooth.  He only has braces on the top; and then a couple teeth, the canines, don't have them yet.  (They are not in far enough yet).  This is my dad, of course, putting them on.  He is the best orthodontist in the world.  I am very grateful to have him.

So, here is the finished product.  He got them on Thursday and is already feeling more comfortable in them.  I think he looks adorable.  I have always thought kids/teens look darling in braces.  Really.  My sister Sara had hers on probably longer than she needed to because I tried to convince people how cute she looked with them on - I think it made her nervous to get them off.  Then, when she got them off,  I told her she looked cuter with them on.  What an awesome sister, I know you are thinking that.  :)  And I am.  Anyway, he looks so cute and our next change is glasses.  Wow, I am getting old.  But, I guess it is worth it with such great kids.

BIRTHDAY BOY!

Happy 6th birthday to Jake Jake.

 I can't believe he is that old. But, he assures me that he is. How does time go by so fast?

This is one of the earlier pictures I can find.  (The baby ones I would need a scanner for so if anyone has a great scanner they would recommend, I would love to hear about it!)

Jaxon, Jake and Josie one Christmas Eve, when he was 2.  Josh was pouting on the bed. :)

His presents from Grandma Judy, she was gone on his bday so he got to open one a day for awhile.  He absolutely LOVED it.  Every morning he would wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast and read his book so he could open his present.  I am thinking of instilling this practice every morning.  I just need to find little cheap things to wrap.  It was fabulous!

Jake & Jainie love playing together while the other kids are at school.  This year they have gotten to be quite good friends.  And sliding down the stairs in sleeping bags is always a hit!

Kids crack me up.  Just the other day I decided to take Jake and Jainie up to Provo to do some shopping.  They were wonderful!  I didn't get much accomplished but I seldom do.  One thing I did do was buy myself some chocolates, because I LOVE them!  At the store I got a free sample of something with nuts so, of course, I didn't eat it.  On the way home, after Jake woke up from his nap, I happened to be eating a chocolate and so he asked if he could have one.  I was carefully nibbling on mine, savoring every little bite.  I decided to do what every good mother would do and give Jake the one with the nuts.  After I handed it to him, I turned and concentrated on the road, but not a minute later, I looked in the rearview mirror and asked how his was and this is the look I got.  I thought it was so funny that I grabbed the camera and got this picture.  This is why kids crack me up - they don't care if you give them a delectable chocolate from a chocolate store or whether you give them a chocolate you found on the road.  It's all chocolate to them.  They just shove it in and chomp away.  And, consequently, that is why my children are not picky eaters.  I give them everything I don't want (because I am a picky eater that is quite a bit) which has made them not so picky.  They love all the things I hate; eggs, nuts, seafood, venison, even dark chocolate.  Unfortunately, they still do love sweets and cheese, two of my favorites, so we do have some sharing to do. :)

Happy Birthday cute boy!  I hope I love Jake 6 as much as I love Jake 5!