Jence is almost a year old!

Can you believe that Jence is almost a year old!  He has grown up so fast.  It's amazing that just a year ago I was miserably pregnant, anxiously awaiting his arrival.  It seemed like those last few weeks were months long.  Then when he finally came the next thing I know he's almost reached his first birthday!  It's funny how time has a way of slowing down, and speeding up like that.  I just wish I could keep him at this age just a little longer.  He is our jolly little baby.  He always gives a smile and laughs when we tickle him.  His big blue eyes are so expressive.  He is just as cute as a button!  

I did a little photo shoot of Jence while Kate was at dance lessons.  I wasn't sure where I'd take the photos.  I thought I'd try the botanical gardens just down the street from her dance studio.  I made the mistake of taking some photos with these cool marsh reeds in the background.  I shot one or two and then Jence got into some mud.  He got his white sweater all dirty.  Poor baby.  Luckily it was a warm day,  so I stripped him down to his diaper and shot some on the grass.  Naked baby pictures are the cutest. 

Football Widow

 Kate and Kirk ready to go and catch the school bus on the first day of school. 

 Kate standing in front of her bulletin board at school.  Kirk wouldn't allow me to take a picture of him at his class room.  I guess having your mom take pictures in front of your class isn't cool. 

 Benjamin starting preschool.  This actually wasn't his first day.  His first day he was a little more nervous, and wasn't all smiles.  But as you can see he loves preschool now!

Well tonight I'm a football widow.  It's the biggest game of the year if you are a BYU or U of U fan.  For Dan's sake I really hope BYU wins.  Last night he couldn't even sleep!  Anyways I thought I'd post some pictures of the kids first day of school.  Kirk has started first grade, and Kate is in second grade.  Benjamin has started preschool.  They have been very excited, I was very excited too.  This summer seemed especially long since they started back to school a week later than usual.  Carefree easy summers a fun for awhile, then I start feeling ready for routine, and structure which a school schedule gives.  Also it's good for the kids to get out of the house, they were going crazy with boredom.  Fall is my favorite time of the year.  The kids LOVE their teachers.  This is Benjamin's first year of preschool, and it has been great for Benjamin to get a chance to get out of the house, and enjoy some social time.  He goes to the same preschool teacher Kirk went to Miss Sharon, we just love her.   

Kate with earrings

Kate got her ears pierced for her birthday.  She has been begging to get her ears pierced for awhile.  She was pretty excited.  We went to the mall, and I had to take along the boys.  They were really good sports.  Here are some photo's of her in her new earrings. 

Here she is sitting in ther chair waiting to get them done.  She was so brave, she didn't even cry.

Kate is Eight!

Kate turned eight yesterday!  That's right she hit a huge milestone.  We celebrated by throwing her a Birthday party.  She had a "pretend" sleepover party with a few friends.  The girls all came in their P.J's.  They polished their nails, styled their hair, and decorated slippers.  Then they played a few games and each girl got a new pillow and pillowcase.  Then they had Cake and Ice cream and watched a movie.  They all had a really good time, and I think Kate really enjoyed it.   

Brigham City Temple open house

Here are some photo's of the Brigham City Temple open house.  Kirk and Kate were way excited.  As you can see from the picture Benjamin was not as excited, in fact he didn't really want to go at all.  I hate to make light of the temple, but I had to chuckle when Ben said that he didn't want to get baptized in the "pond".  He said this really loud as we were walking through the baptisimal font.  It was a great opportunity for our kids to see what a temple looks like on the inside.  When our church builds a new temple they allow the public to walk through parts of it before it is blessed or "dedicated" as we call it for worship.  It's amazing how hard it is to get four young kids through a temple open house. It wouldn't have been so bad except that Benjamin insisted that he be carried.  You can't just allow a three year old to have a major temper tantrum in the middle of a temple.  So he got his way.  I carried Benjamin almost the entire time, and Dan carried Jence.  It was still a neat experience to do as a family.  Kirk informed me that he wants to get married in that temple, I was glad it made an impression on him.  I hope the kids continue to make going to the temple their goal.  I know that setting that goal early in my life has made a huge difference in the person that I have become, and also the values that I try to live each day.  I know that going to the Temple brings me closer to Christ, I'm so grateful for the peace that I feel in God's holy house. 

I took this picture of Benjamin picking his nose,

then showed it to him, that's how I finally got him to smile in

this photo above!

Jence 10 1/2 months

Jence when did you grow up to be such a big 10 month old baby

You love to eat, eat, eat, and eat

You love to be held in fact you scream every time I set you down

Your favorite foods are the healthy fruit shakes daddy makes for you with our blender

Your hair is looking a little red, perhaps mommy got her red head after all

You smile at strangers, then shyly turn your head to the side, or put your face into my shoulder

You are so excited to see daddy, you always go to him which sometimes makes mommy jealous

You have loving brother's and sister who like to climb into your crib to play with you

Kirk especially loves to hug, and carry you around sometimes so much that it makes mommy nervous

You have the biggest smile

You like to grunt a lot

You are the cutest baby on the face of the Earth

I want you to stop growing and stay at this age for a few more months OK