Christmas Program 2012

Mackenna's and Jaden's Christmas Program  Two Videos!

Mackenna is in the front row with the stellar red boots! Thanks, Ann and Rick!  We think her interest in the mic stand clearly sets her on her path to becoming the next sound tech for an award winning movie!

Unfortunately our video camera was not working well so my friend was nice and gave me the video she shot on her phone of the 2 and 3yr olds.  (Her daughter is the one in the middle top row stealing the show with her magnificent set of lungs:)  We don't have video from Jaden's.  Boo.  He did excellent, though!  He knew EVERY word and did a great job!

And in the second video...Mackenna shows her lack of zeal/physical endurance that a 5 minute performance requires.  She is sitting down on the job the majority of the time but what the video does not capture is the fact that she IS indeed singing.  She can sing all three songs at record decibel level and enunciation at home.

Picnic time!

We are enjoying a picnic today with all the nice weather! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Career update

Just moments ago Jaden updated us on his career path. 'When i grow up i am going to be a dad and when the teacher asks the kids where is your dad they will saw in Mexico in an office building." Me- 'what are you going to do in an office building in Mexico?' 'I am going to be a teacher'. Ok. So I guess we need to work on our Spanish! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Van Gough

Jaden is using his birthday prezzies today! We have been spacing them apart so he has been opening presents when he has a good day with naps and behavior. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

And video #2

This one is entitled, 'I love my Christmas Sunday School Program Songs So Much I Can't Stand It'

Two Videos

For those of you who know Jaden personally and have the pleasure of being in his company often you know that he is VERY musical.  He has an internal tune going on constantly and most of the time he can't keep it in, so we hear songs come out of his mouth pretty much from the time he wakes up in the morning until after he is put to bed.  During 'naps' he frequently sings, too.

I thought I would share a couple of the most recent 'concerts'.  Both look staged but I can assure you they are not.  I just grabbed the camera and either asked him to sing again or turned it on mid-song.  The funny part is he totally thinks he is singing the right words.

This one I entitled, 'Watch out Eminem, here comes Jaden'

I may have to post the videos in two posts...

Trick or Treat!

Stopped by to see Andrea! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Mister Butterfly and Miss Giraffe

Well, call me a bad mom but this is the only decent pic i got of the two of them! We stopped by a couple of places before going over to First Baptist's for their Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree. It was a fun night! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Yikes.

People always say 'oh, i never thought that would come out of my mouth' when it comes to parenting. Usually it has to do with the fact that we have just said something that our mothers said all the time to us growing up or something involving bodily functions. Sometimes it is just something that , pre-kids, if we would have heard a parent uttering, we would be aghast and might even spend a couple of moments wondering what child protective services would do in such a case. My recent 'i never thought I would say THAT' was more the latter. Setting the scene... Jaden and Mackenna are playing with homemade 'preschool homework' playdough in the kitchen. The classical music is on the radio, subliminal messages being...'you are a calm, serene little adult...you will create a beautiful masterpiece out of orange play dough (did I mention that i added eucalyptus oil to it so that they could mutli-task? Sinus draining and creative play)... creating a positive self image ... ah well, you get the picture. Anyway, they both like to use fun things with play dough, cookie cutters, rolling pins, stuff that makes cool impressions in it. It was half way through our stress therapy session when i uttered those words that i thought i never would...ready for it? MACKENNA!!! STOP THROWING KNIVES! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Jaden Turns 5!

Jaden's airplane-themed birthday was really fun!  Jaden was the pilot, Mackenna the co-pilot, and Daddy was the friendly TSA officer that forced all party-goers through the security check point.  Some got detained for a while but eventually the party was cleared for take-off!  All guests got their complimentary in-flight snack bag of pretzels and the kids got model glider airplanes to put together, throw across the room and destroy as fast as they could be put together. 

Jaden's 5th birthday party at school

Jaden got to celebrate with his preschool friends today! His teacher gave him this crown and these stellar shades! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Jaden's Drumming

Jaden is really becoming more musical.  He LOVES to listen to and play music.  We are hoping to have him start Suzuki violin this fall if it all works out.  As much as I am in awe of his percussion skills I am hoping that we don't eventually have to buy a drum set.  He is loud enough on his own!!

Tball!

Jaden is almost done with T Ball.  He had a fair amount of fun despite the coach having to pry him off me at the beginning every time. He is a good hitter and likes to run the bases.  His favorite part was all the water breaks, esp today when it was donut/water break! Next year we might try soccer or piano lessons but it was good for him to try something new. 



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Mackenna's stylin'

Mackenna sat still for 45 seconds (miracle) for me to french braid her hair this morning! We are awaiting some friends this morning!! In other news Mackenna and Jaden were quite the fish yesterday! Mackenna kneeboarded with Daddy and Jaden tubed with Daddy, both behind the boat!! Jaden screamed the whole way but when he was done he said it was fun. Of course even though it was fun he never wants to go again! Ha! Mackenna on the other hand would be up on skis if we had small enough ones. Mommy and Daddy even got to ski thanks to Captain Jason! Topped off by a birthday left overs supper! It was an awesome day!

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Jaden and Mackenna have official occupations

This just in... Jaden and Mackenna were sworn in (if you call being given TWO stickers 'sworn in') as Junior TSA officers at MSP.  Later they received their wings from Alaskan Airlines by the nice pilot on the puddle jumper. The same naive pilot let Mackenna into the cockpit....bet he wasn't expecting to take off again... Lesson learned...dont turn her loose in a tiny space with 4000 buttons and switches!  On to a 4hr boat ride up Lake Chelan and then a bus ride up the switchbacks! Holden here we come. Hope they have Mackenna proofed everything. Jaden is a peach this trip!  On a side note, when talking with Grammie yesterday before we left they discussed the movie, The Incredibles and their super powers. Jaden exclaimed he had the power 'to Love'!! If you know Jaden you would know how true those words are!  I think within an hour he professes his love about 10 times. Ha! Usually accompanied by ' yo my bessss fwiend.'

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Sea Tac welcomes all Monkeys.

Monkeys are now welcome at SeaTac! Good thing because we've got one! Flight was ok but the poor lady in front of M probably thought she was experiencing an earthquake with all the kicking! She fell asleep after about 2 hours.

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Jaden's VBS night (very poor quality, sorry). He is front and center!

Happy Graduation!!

Happy Graduation Satin!! We were blessed to have been able to attend Satin's graduation today! We are so proud of you!

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Piggies

Two little piggies after their morning at the grow mobile

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Piggies

Two little piggies after their morning at the grow mobile

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We're having a heat wave! A tropical heat wave!

Poor Mackenna has had to sleep in her winter fleece sleep sacks during this hotter weather and FINALLY i put aside some diaper sewing last night to make a summer weight sleep sack for her.  Poor kid woke up yesterday afternoon drenched in sweat! Here is one of her new ones! The next one i wont bother lining. It took forever and with no pattern to follow i sort of got confused with which direction to fold over the edges. Oh well!  Zips up the back of course so she cant escape and play with her poo.

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Grammnies New Calligraphic Hand

Jaden has designed her latest hand. (What calligrapher's call a 'font')  Like it? 

Looks like preschool is paying off! He did this without any help with what comes next.

Auntie Krista will be the recipient of this fine work per Jaden's request.

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Grammie and Grandpa Get Away

Apparently just playing WITH the toys was not sufficient.

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Here is the video we made together!

Lots of pictures to share with you from our lives-
One Saturday on one of the first nice days this spring we escaped the house for a while to head north to Spicer for some time at the park and the farm.

A much beloved friend, Kanon, or to Jaden and Mackenna, 'Baby Kanon'. We will have to find a new name for him once his new little brother or sister arrives in Sept!

Jaden and I ventured into the backyard one day while Mackenna was napping for a photo shoot.

Mud Butt Polka Dot Party complete with polka dot fun-da-middles! All of my Mud Butt helpers have a polka dot diaper in their stashes so we decided that deserved a picture and a party!

Satin, Mackenna's birthmom spoke at the SWMN Synod Sr. High Youth Gathering in Mankato on March 31st. She was among 3 other youth who shared their stories with the the gathering attendees. She did a great job. We started with a video that she and I created together showing pictures, a birthmother poem and a really nice song. After that there were two breakout sessions which brought in a ton of people for her sharing time. There were about 100 people so at the first and at least 50 at the second! She basically answered questions about what it was like to be pregnant in high school and how she decided to make an adoption plan for Mackenna. People asked me questions, too but it was mostly Satin who did the talking. She did a great job. We are very proud of her to share something so intimate with strangers!

Tori, our babysitter was among the gathering attendees. We got to be there when it was announced that she had been elected to the 2012-2013 Board of the SWMN LYO (Lutheran Youth Organization) Again, another proud moment!

Chillin' waiting for the mass gathering to begin.

Like mother like daughter!

A bit on stage before the video

Jay, son of Shaun and Patrice was brought home to his forever family through open adoption almost exactly a month after Jaden was! Our families were in the LSS waiting 'book' together.

Satin speaking

Satin speaking. In the background are pictures and special things that Satin and her family have given Mackenna.

We are looking forward to a great weekend. Have a great Easter!

First official french braid

Mackenna stayed still long enough for me to give her a french braid. I give it 10 minutes...

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The Monkey is TWO!

Mackenna's 2nd Birthday party theme was, of course, Monkeys!! The invites were picture of her in her monkey halloween outfit with our jungle in the background inviting people to her jungle.

She helped Jaden make the cake!

Mackenna had her Monkey diaper on for the festivities!

Mackenna didn't take a nap so it was a little beyond 'Monkey as usual'.

Jaden 'high fives' the Mascot!

We served 'monkey juice' in monkey sippy cups!

Daddy and the birthday girl!

Dance, Dance, Jump, Jump!

We played "5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". We had 17 kids there, doesn't look like it in this picture! With two of our families having 5 kids each it doesn't take long to add up quickly!

I'm 2!

Monkey Cake

OOOO! Is everybody singing for ME?

Yumm! Chocolate!

Dive in, Mackenna!

She didn't get quite as messy as last year!