August 22nd Thank you, Laura

Jens had a belated birthday celebration with Laura on Sunday. She knows him well and picked out a painting craft for him. We had to do a lot of convincing to keep the cars and paint downstairs and not in bed with him. He came home from school on Monday bursting with excitement to paint his cars, and from what we can gather, pretty much everyone who came in contact with Jens on Monday morning got to hear about his upcoming project. We tried to talk him into painting just one car and saving the other one for the next day, but that was not to be. He is thrilled with the results.

August 21st Friends

We had dinner out with friends on Saturday night.

August 20th Sylvie's Favorite Friend

Last time we were in Utah, Sylvie met Bingo. Bingo barks and sings and can be pulled along on a string. The morning we left to come home, Sylvie was clutching Bingo tightly in her chubby little fists. I put her in her car seat planning to buckle her in and then separate her from Grandma and Grandpa's beloved pup. It was not to be. Piercing shrieks touched Grandma and Grandpa's hearts, so Bingo came home on loan. He is still getting lots of love and attention. I keep hoping he will be left abandoned for a while so I can package him up and send him back, but no luck so far.

August 20th Shoes

Our house is litered with shoes at all times. It is because of this person.

She loves all shoes and wears them regardless of size or smell. I had to make her take off my heels before going into the back yard to play. These particular shoes are Jens's school shoes which she wore until trading them out for Jens's old Lightening McQueen slippers.

August 16th Broken TV

Our TV is broken, and has been since Saturday. We have a warranty and it is going to get repaired eventually, and really, it isn't enough a part of our life that we miss it that much, except that in honor of Jens's birthday he was going to build a fort and watch a movie from inside of it. Luckily, we have these great little laptops, so instead, Jens watched the movie inside his fort with the class mascot, Critter, who was visiting this week.

Sylvie was "helping" Mike while he was playing computers, so he turned on Baby Einstein Old McDonald for her. It is too bad there isn't audio on these pictures--she was screaming with delight every time an animal appeared.

August 19th

For our anniversary, I gave Mike this picture taken by his dad at the family homestead in Blanding. It was a hit. Thanks, Boyd.

August 19th

Ten years sure does fly when you're having fun.

August 15th Finished Product

Jens stayed up a little late so he could finish it. The pictures spell out his excitement pretty clearly.

August 15th Happy Day!

The day came at last. Jens turned five. He got a pack of gum this morning, which he has been chomping his way through as quickly as possible. It seems like just last year that he was my little 2 year old buddy, holding my hand and walking to Trader Joe's and telling me about how when he is five he gets to have gum and chapstick.

We started the day with Orange Julius and presents

followed by a present-playing break.

Then "roll-up pancakes" (crepes) and church. Jens had a rough afternoon, but perked up after more Lego building time with Dad.

In the evening we went to the park to celebrate with friends.

It was a happy birthday.

August 12th

She just charms us every day. And that is her baby's pacifier that she is borrowing.

August 12th Mowing and a glimpse of scalp

Our lawn has been well cared for this summer. Jens loves using the push mower and mows almost every day. In fact, when he has too much energy and is running in circles, I just have to mention mowing the lawn and he is outside doing it. The grass seems to be thriving under his care.

If you scrutinize the first picture (click on it and enlarge it) you can examine his bald, scabby spot. It is REAL attractive.

August 11 Haircut II

My boy, who 2 weeks ago cut his hair with scissors, last night went one better and shaved his head with an old razor blade he found in the trash. He now has a couple of bald spots right in front, and by bald I mean completely bald. So bald that he actually scraped himself a little and freaked himself out because the scrape bled a lot. And by freaked out I mean he was standing in the bathroom shrieking "I'm dying! I'm dying!"

He was supposed to be taking a shower.

August 10th Don't Call it a Comeback . . .

But our Evening Primrose is totally coming back.

August 9th First Day of School

Well. We now have a kindergartener! It is hard to believe, but Jens is a big kid at the big school. He was well prepared for today, and we are excited about his school and his teacher. Last night he picked out his clothes and we reviewed all the things he needed to do to get ready for school. This morning he was effervescent--so pleased to be on his way.

We all accompanied him to school and dropped him off

He put his backpack into his cubby and went right in with no problems.

He came home very pleased with his day. They made "Foxy Hats" and learned about foxes. He sat next to some kids and informed me that he was a leader--he helped the other kids to be happy and showed what to do.

Sylvie missed him, and as soon as I mentioned it was time to go get Jens, she barreled to the door and ran for the car. She was happy to have him home.

Now he has so much pent up energy he is driving me insane. I just sent him outside to run ten laps. I hope that it helps.

August 8th Sunday Best

My children were looking extra fine this Sunday.

August 7th $22 even at the Farmer's Market

August 6th New stuff

We are doing all sorts of new things these days. Mike and I attended Kindergarten Orientation, Jens had his first soccer practice and his meet the teacher day, and we did our back to school shopping. Jens got new haircut, new shoes, a new back pack, some new clothes, a new water bottle, and some new pencils. I think we are all ready to go.

August 4th Happy Birthday Early

Since Grammy and Papa were here, we decided to celebrate Jens's birthday with them. They got him a camera, which he was very excited about.

Can you tell?

He has taken lots of pictures of all sorts of things--the yard, the neighborhood, out the window, toys, you name it, he has photographed it.

July 31st Yosemite

This girl is ready for a vacation.

We went to Yosemite again. This time we stayed in Crane Flat and didn't go to the valley even once. It was good for us to stay out and see other parts of the park, which are of course, magestic and beautiful. We didn't do a great job with pictures this time, although I am about to post more than you would probably care to look at.

On Saturday we took a two mile hike to Tuolumne Grove to see the Giant Sequoias. Two miles might not sound long, but it was a pretty good grade--downhill to get there, uphill on the way back and somehow, SOMEhow, the backpack didn't get packed, so I had to carry Sylvie a lot of the way. She is no lightweight. She did walk a little bit, and she did complain a lot. But we made it. And the trees were amazing.

The hiking ladies:

Papa was a real lifesaver. He encouraged Sylvie along and helped me keep going.

After lunch at the campsite, we drove up to Tuolumne Meadows, which was sprinkled with wildflowers, surrounded by domed mountains, and ringed with tall pine trees and interesting rock boulders. I didn't take my camera. You just have to take my word for it that it was beautiful and that the kids loved running and climbing and looking.

Then we stopped at Tanaya Lake, which we would love to revisit with more time and more sunshine.

Jens was NOT going to swim, so he refused to wear his swimming suit. This means, of course, that he got all the way in and soaked every part of himself except his hair. He loved digging in the sand and created all sorts of tunnels and puddles.

Even Sylvie was brave enough to put her toe in. She almost rain straight in with her blanket, which would have been a serious disaster.

Ready for a good campfire. Jens is sans clothing, as he had previously soaked himself at the Lake.

Camping is always harder with children, but they sure do love it. A few interesting experiences:
*Watching a bear walk by our campsite as we were setting up our tent and getting ready to make dinner.
*Having the water blob examined by said bear in the middle of the night. Four distinct puncture marks, definitely created by large claws, were his calling card. He must have been bitterly disappointed to find that all it contained was water.
*Listening to the coyotes howl continuously for about 20 minutes in the middle of the night.
*Showering in Mom and Dad's shower. We used minuscule amounts of water and managed to feel clean at the end of it all. Well worth their money, I would think.
*Watching the kids get filthy. FILTHY, I say.
*Sylvie shouting "WEEE!" every time we went over a little hill the last 20 minutes of the drive home.