The First, First Day

Monday, August 20, 2012 - Jenna's first day of Kindergarten. She was so excited and all set with her "Cat Pack" from ACU.

She is 42 and 3/4" tall and weighs 42 lbs. So, she's grown 3/4" and 2.2lbs since her birthday.

For the first day, her class came from 9:00-10:30 am. And, parents came for that whole time, too.

Jenna's first time to meet her teacher, Mrs. Garcia.

Putting all the school supplies in her cubby.

Reading a book together while we wait for others to put their things away.

The class listening to Mrs. Harris, their tutor give recess instructions. When we first told Jenna she would have a tutor, she said, "You mean like you, Daddy? A 'tooter'?"

Daddy tracing her "I love you" sign for her first school paper.

Jenna and her teacher, Mrs. Garcia

Her first school paper.

It was a fun time! Tomorrow starts the real schedule, 8:00-11:25 am Monday through Thursday.

Summer Fun

In addition to our two fun weeks in the mountains, we filled our summer with fun in town. There were several North Pole visits.

Pretty girls

Kellen is big enough to ride more rides this summer.

Jenna likes to ride in the very back of the train.

Several trips to the zoo. The sky ride is a must.

When we lived in Abilene, some friends gave us this pool for free. We've gotten so much fun out of it! This was Kellen's first slide of the summer and now he does it all by himself.

Swimming lessons. Jenna's the one about to jump. It was harder to take pictures this year with keeping Kellen from jumping in, but Jenna can jump in by herself and actually swim a few strokes now.

Look for this cutie in not the next, but the next after that issue of ACU Today.

Jenna loves touring the Air Force Academy. We went one morning this summer and she keeps talking about wanting to go there for college. Kevin got a new hat that Kellen loves to share.

My parents came back for another week in the mountains because they're retired and they can. Before they headed west, we took them to The Airplane Restaurant. There is seating right inside a fully intact Boeing K-97 tanker that was built in 1953.

 Jenna and Kellen loved "flying" the plane.

 The food was good, too. Kellen has started making this funny posed smile when we take his picture.

I always take the pictures. Thought I should get in one with my girl.

There were rocks to be thrown in a puddle . . .

and balls, too.

A great visit with our friend and mentor Fred Allen from Nacogdoches.

And, more balls to be rolled across the floor. This one is his favorite.

Last Sunday, Aug. 12th, Kevin surprised me while the kids were napping by saying, "Let's go to Denver after their nap, let the kids swim in a hotel pool, spend the night, then go to the Wildlife Sanctuary and come home Monday afternoon." So, we packed up and went! While we were driving around looking for a place to eat dinner, I heard Jenna say, "Hey, that looks like Papa!" I turned and look and saw that she was pointing to the Colonel on the KFC sign. Then Kevin and I cracked up. You see, back when we lived in Abilene, before she was even two years old, she would point to the KFC Colonel and say, "Papa." Now, over three years later, she still thinks he looks like Papa!

We saw lions,

and tigers,

and bears!

There were also wolves, and foxes, and other animals all rescued from one place or another. The pool at the hotel turned out to be too cold to swim in for long, and the kids were cranky a lot of the trip. So, the fun idea turned out to be not as fun as we thought. But, all in all, we had a super fun summer that went by too fast! And, tomorrow is a very big day!

Goodnight Moon and the Olympic Dream

This boy knows his "Goodnight Moon" and when it comes to the "shh" part, he takes out his paci and says, "shh." He started this all on his own and he knows when it's coming up in the story. When I was taking the video he was a little distracted by Jenna and I, but you get the idea. So cute! (See "Goodnight Moon" video.)

Jenna set this all up, then came and got me saying, "Mommy, I want you to see my Olympic dream!" Check out her wrist supports that she thought up all on her own. I asked her about the last part and she said it was a ring of fire, "but not real fire, the fake, paper kind." (See video 3688 in "Jenna 5 yrs old" folder.)

A few days later, she said, "Mommy what do you want to be . . . Oh, wait, you're already grown up." And then, "When I grow up, I want to be a nurse that tells children about God, and a gymnastiker."

Best Friends

We keep telling Jenna and Kellen that they are best friends forever. I think it's working. Here's a little of what they've been doing together this summer.

Jenna got this bike basket and Spiderman gloves, elbow, and knee pads for her birthday. Isn't she cute?!

Kellen spotted Jenna's old coaster bike and HAD to have his chance, too! He wants to to everything, just like his big sister!

He can just barely reach on his tip-toes, but he loves riding this bike!

iPhone games - starting them young.

Kellen held his own in the shootout. He does a pretty good web sling, too! (See video 3469 in Jenna and Kellen folder.)

Making music (?) together.

They're so cute when they can ride in a cart side-by-side.

One evening, Kellen started squatting down before running and crashing into us. Jenna dubbed it the "hut" as in the football "hut 24, etc." So, if you ever see him squat down like this, be prepared. (See video 3617.)

At lunch one day, they really wanted to sit at their little table together. Then, in conversation, Jenna asked me to come close so she could tell me a secret. Before I could get there, Kellen went right over and told Jenna one. It was gibberish, but I guess he knows how to whisper a secret! (See video 3695.)

VBS

Here's Jenna with her best friend from church on super hero day. Jenna went to two VBS sessions this year. One at her cousins' church and one at ours. Both churches used the same program. She loved it both times. I had no doubts. Singing the songs and doing the motions are her thing. Here's a clip from the Friday night closing program (she's second from the left, front row): (See video 3676 in VBS '12 folder.)

And the Sunday morning program. (Just like last year, she was so tired from the week and emotional that she almost didn't make it onto the stage. Front row, middle.): (See video 3680 in VBS '12 folder.)

I was surprised however at how much Kellen loved to "sing" and "do the motions" when we would go watch the closing program each day. He's right at one of my favorite stages of development. So fun! (See video 3672.)

Winter Park

July 7, Dad, Mom, Katie, and Matt drove to our house to spend the night before we all headed to the mountains - Winter Park, CO.

The first few days were mostly spent fishing. Tuesday, July 10th was our 13th anniversary. Kevin and I spent the morning fishing together (my first day to fish). I caught one, Kevin caught a couple. Then we spent the afternoon wondering around town together, had a nice dinner, and saw Spiderman. And we gave each other the same card! That was a good laugh!

When we went to the store one day, they loved driving these car/carts.

The condo where we stay gives us access to a pool, but this year the pool was closed. Both Jenna and Kellen love the water and we had come fully prepared to do some swimming, so that was pretty disappointing. But, there is a community pool where you can buy a day pass. So, I took both kids in the morning and then brought Jenna back by herself in the afternoon. They both had a blast there while Kevin and Matt tried their hand at fishing in the canyon.

 Jenna loves posing with this polar bear.

Leslie arrived late Wednesday night. Thursday morning, we went to the Winter Park Resort to show her all the fun summer activities.

We rode the ski lift up to the top of the mountain. Kevin found this big rock and helped Jenna and Kellen climb. Jenna's new hiking shoes work great!

I climbed up and joined them.

A pretty good picture of Dad and Mom.

Jenna joined the mini golf game already in progress and ended up winning. Kellen wanted to join in, too.

Katie and Leslie Alpine sliding

 Matt climbing the wall

Kevin and I went back to the condo for lunch and Kellen's nap. Then, Kevin went back to see Jenna "bungee jump." I'm kind of surprised that she wanted to do this. But, I love that she did. Love her.

Check out the flip!

Thursday evening, the girls and Kellen enjoyed a live concert while playing in the park. While the guys fished.

Friday morning, Matt, Leslie, Kevin, Jenna, and I went fishing. Leslie hadn't been fishing for years, so we were excited that she caught two fish. Jenna was standing near me when I caught my one fish. When we got back, she proudly announced "I caught one!"

Sadly, Friday afternoon, Matt and Leslie had to drive back to TX for the funeral of a dear friend and mentor. We missed them for the rest of the trip.

 Fish fry Friday night! Kellen says, "ish."

 Saturday morning, we drove to Grand Lake and hiked to Adams Falls.

Isn't he cute?!

 Isn't she cute?!

 They wanted to get in the water so badly.

Testing it out. Cold! They both eventually waded for a short while.

Jenna pretending to catch a fish.

 Beauty

 A snack and a rest after all that hiking.

Kellen thought Jenna's snack looked good.

After lunch, Kevin took Kellen back for nap. We stayed to look at the boats, Jenna jumped in the bouncy house, we ran for cover from rain, Jenna enjoyed a snow cone while we waited out the rain. Katie, Jenna, and I checked out the local library's book sale and then headed back. Our plan was to rest a little and then get a free carriage ride, but they were rained out.

Sunday morning we all packed up and left. Kevin and I took Jenna and Kellen to Casa Bonita for lunch on the way home. They loved it. Fun way to end a fun week.