Jenna 13.0

Jenna is 13 years old today! We have a teenager and I can hardly believe it! She is 61 1/8 inches tall. That's 3 inches growth this year! It's been quite a year of new things for her - junior high, trumpet, braces, cooking, and cross country. She has continued with piano lessons. And she has done so well. She was disappointed that track season and in-person school were canceled due to the pandemic, but I'm so proud of how she handled it all. She was so very responsible with at home school (she really did it ALL with very little help from us) and made straight As this semester. She set a goal to make an A in math this semester and she did it! She also received the Commitment to Excellence in Trumpet award. Favorites include blueberries, the color green, dogs. And, The One and Only Ivan is still her favorite book. She still wants to be a vet. She is organized with her school work and fun and light hearted in life. She is kind, funny, a good sister and daughter, and she loves God and others. So proud of our Jenna! Happy birthday! Here's a look back at:

The birth day

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

 Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve - with the Thunderbirds

Jenna's Drive Thru Birthday

Friday, May 29th - We had a surprise drive-thru birthday party to celebrate Jenna turning 13! We invited people to come from 4-5pm. Papa and Mima came by first and she was surprised, but didn't think much of it until more and more people started coming.

Papa, Mima, her Bible study leader, and eight of her friends. It was a fun time! And, so good to see people. We treated her to her choice for dinner and she picked Cane's.

Safer at Home - Week 4

Sunday, May 17th - Mid 70s and Kellen decided it was time for running through the sprinklers. Pure joy!

Monday, May 18th - More pure joy - sprinkler time after school and lunch!

We finished the basement enough that we were able to get both cars back in the garage!

Tuesday, May 19th - I could get used to this part of school at home. A good cuddle during independent reading time.

Wednesday, May 20th - Basement done. Now, time to power wash the deck to prep it for re-staining.

Thursday, May 21st - We declared it the last day of school for Kellen (even though the official last day was the 22nd). See the Last Day of School post for more fun.

Friday, May 22nd and Saturday, May 23rd - Both 12 hour shifts for me. Jenna had some more school work to finish up. And, Kevin finished staining the deck. It looks really great!

Last Day of School

May 21st - Last Day of School! (Technically, it's tomorrow, but we're picking up Kellen's things from school today and I have to work tomorrow - so we celebrate today!)

I'm really proud of how well they both did with school at home. 3rd grade and 7th grade are in the books!

They ordered these bow & arrow sets for some summer fun. Right before we went outside to take last day of school pictures, Kellen asked me when they were supposed to arrive. They weren't supposed to arrive until Tuesday, but as we were taking the pictures, the delivery truck arrived with the bow and arrows! Perfect and fun timing! They had so much fun with them!

With lunch, we had our traditional last day of school root beer floats.

And then a new celebratory Mentos and diet soda explosion! So fun! (See videos in "Kellen 3rd Grade 2019-2020" Folder.)

Around 3:30 pm, we went to school to pick up Kellen's supplies and belongings. It was great to see Mrs. Brovold, his tutor

and Mrs. Hartzo, his teacher again. No one was in line behind us, so we were able to visit with them for quite a while.

Basement Finished!

Early June 2019, Kevin and Papa started the process of finishing our basement. Plans approved June 4th.

June  18th - Most everything moved out and getting started.

Standing in family room looking through to bedroom. 

Standing in family room looking through mechanical room toward the nook.

Laundry Room

July 11th - Laundry plumbing in place and more framing finished.

July 28th - Ready for drywall. (Laundry area.) Up to this point, Kevin and Papa did all the work. We hired drywall and texture.

Family Room

Bedroom

At bedroom door looking into family room, nook, and mechanical room. 

July 29th & 30th - Drywall! Standing in family room looking toward laundry.

Laundry

Family Room

Bedroom

August 20th - Family Room - Lighting and paint!

August 29th - Laundry/Bathroom - Paint, flooring, utility sink, and toilet!

Family Room - Paint 

 Bedroom

Standing at bedroom looking at family room, nook, and mechanical room.

November 21st - Carpet! (The other thing we hired.)

Laundry Room/Bathroom and toward family room.

Family Room 

Bedroom 

From bedroom toward family room, nook, and mechanical room. We moved the couch in from the garage. And the desk and piano down from our bedroom and then hit a stand-still due to school/work. It was such a blessing to have the extra living space and working space during the pandemic! 

May 18th - We finally emptied out the garage enough to get both cars back inside! The little Mazda had been parked in the driveway while its space in the garage had been filled with basement belongings.

"Finished!" I still want a couple tower cabinets with a hanging bar between instead of the portable hanging rack for more storage space.

The entertainment cabinet has a fireplace - one of my favorite things!

What an amazing job they did! So grateful!