Today was the Elementary Apple Races at school. Well, the girls have been dreading it for over a week. Even asking for an "excuse" slip. I found it funny, because their field day at the end of the year last year was so fun and exciting and they loved it....but not this go round. Maybe because it was just a mass of people running 650 meters....yes, that is far for the little ones. I think Sienna's Kindergarten got to run only 300...but still...I can see the pressure! :) They all did just fine! It was split into grades, and then by gender...yes. The entire grade ran against each other...so not much luck there. None of them are going to be track stars...at least not at long distance. :) But they each did it and I hope they learned that even though sometimes we may not want to do to something, or it may seem hard, the best thing to do it face it head on and it always turns out ok. They all enjoyed it and got an apple for running! :)
Jayda is the one in the tan sweater on the left.
Halle is in the pink on the left.
Sienna is the short one...that should make it easy, but she is in the turquoise top second from the right.
I just had to put this in there...this is typical Mia personality...I captured it in the picture....enjoy.
Jayda is 10! Yesterday, school was out for Columbus Day, so we had her party then....and went to dinner tonight. She invited 5 or 6 friends to go bowling and eat pizza. Then we came home and had cupcakes and ice cream and opened presents. It was a little different than our traditional parties, but it was fun because she got to spend time with her friends by herself. We also tried new cupcakes this time, instead of me slaving over a monster cake. :) We had chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. They were yum. Cookie dough inside the cupcake and a cookie on top! Big hit.
She got lots of great stuff for her birthday this year. Lots of craft making kits, an American Doll Movie, several gift cards, which she loves! And we gave her an ipod touch....I know I can hardly believe it myself. She has been begging for one for over a year, and I guess she is old enough to be responsible for it...so there we are. One big step for mom and dad. :)
I can't believe she is in double digits. She is turning into a lovely little lady! We love you Jadya!
Happiest 10th Birtday!
PS By the way, she did win one of 3 class reps in her class! :) Woohoo! Congrats!
Jayda is running for her class rep. There are 3 people who get elected and all but about 3 in her class are running! But here are some posters we made for her to put up in her class and down the hallways. She also prepared a speech she has to give this week! The election and speeches are on Thursday! Good Luck Jayda!
Today was a great day for us! We started out by going to a nearby orchard and picking some apples! :) They didn't have my favorite to pick (Honeycrisp) because the freeze in the spring did them in....so we picked Rome Apples, which are pretty good too! It was fun! The kids got to pick a lot...eat alot, and pick some more! We rode a little tractor ride around the orchard and well...picked some more! It was a fun time...even Kason had fun, because he got to eat so many apples...he loves them!!!
We had lots of fun! Then we got to come home and get ready for General Conference! Which living in New York, starts at noon! So advantage...we had all morning to play and prepare. We came home, had some yummy spinach/ artichoke dip and chips and yummy chicken, bacon, and avocado quesadillas for lunch! To top off our day, both sessions of conference were fantastic and edifying. I am so grateful to know of living prophets and apostles on the earth to lead us and guide us in these trouble times! How do people survive without that knowledge and direction? One thing I loved from today...
Today we took the kids and headed to Boston for the day. I know it was a school day, but Nelson's brother Kimball was in town for a work training....so we wanted to see him. We haven't seen Kimball for 2 years...so it was worth the 3 hr drive!
We left early to go play around Boston, since Kimball wouldn't be available until dinner.
First, we drove around Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox...super cool. It was neat to see it...would love to go to a game there. :)
Next, we visited Quincy Market, which is a big hug long hall of different restaurants (like at the mall) but there are way more....they are situated on both sides of the long hall for about 400 feet. Any kind of food you want! It was crazy and crowded....the entire town was crowded.....people everywhere....walking and jay walking, and just crazy...a lot like New York City in that regard.
After we found a parking garage that could fit our mega van...haha...we walked over, checked out all the restaurants, and chose 3...for a variety for us and the kids.....Philly Cheesesteaks, pizza, and mac and cheese. Although it was cool to see it and eat there...I can now say I have done it...and could care less to go back. None of the food was to die for....it was less than average and way overpriced! Not to mention we payed almost as much for parking as we did for the food! YIKES!
Lesson learned....but we have the experience right? While we were there, we posed by a huge mac and cheese noodle :) which was fun, fed pigeons...who apparently like pizza.....and saw the bar the show "Cheers" was created from. So it was cool to see it all in the end.
After lunch, we went to the USS Constitution Museum to checkout "Old Ironside." It is a little museum about a Naval Ship that has endured many years. It was a cute museum with lots of hangs on stuff for the kids to do and learn about Naval ships and what it was like to live on a ship. They had a fun time!
This is how the sailors slept on deck....not too shabby. :)
Finally it was time to meet Kimball and go to dinner. We had so much fun visiting him and the kids couldn't stop hugging him. :) They really enjoy when we have a visitor. Even if it is for a couple of hours! (Funny this pic makes me look like I have no belly...do not be deceived.....I am HUGE...this was just a fluke...perhaps because of how I was sitting) *Note...do not sit in the first seat when prego and be the first in front of the camera..YIKES.)
Today was a big day! Huge I guess in fact. Lots of great things took place today.
We started out the day by going to the Elementary and seeing Jayda do the morning announcements. I guess the 4th grader classes rotate doing it, so we went and saw her....it was so cute! I recorded the whole thing...here is is....
(sorry, apparently I am a genius and didn't realize I can only record on my phone one direction) It is still enjoyable anyways!
After Jayda's great "anchoring" we ran some errands then finally finished up a 2 week process of getting this...
We now are the proud owners of a 12 passenger van. It was a must.....and so here is is. A bit of a change from our suburban, but roomy enough for our soon to be 10...plus 2 guests. :)
So after we picked up our new van, Nelson, my sister Angie (who surprised us by changing her plans and coming to visit), and I all went to lunch at Chili's before heading to our ultrasound to find out what the twins are! :)
I realize this is a bit scary pic of me...the phone wasn't working so I unsmiled...then smiled real fast...yikes. :)
So we finally headed towards the doctor appointment...scheduled for 3:15. A little nervous, having been in this position before, but having faith all was well...we headed to the Albany Medical Center.
Once we finally got in, it was so fun to see the babies on the screen. Our tech was apparently an ole pro..she was flying through the tests, measurments, etc...while we try and get a glimpse, because, lets face it...we have had so many, we know exactly where and what to look for. The first one, we glanced in her quick scans and were pretty sure we saw a girl. Finally she said, Baby A was a girl! ;) Woohoo. So then our minds go to what if it is 2 girls....that was my least expectant......I would have been shocked to high heaven. So we wait for her to finish up with our Baby A and then change to baby B.....she ran through it so fast and commented it was a boy...we didn't even see it she was so fast. Luckily she went back and showed us. :) So there you have it. We are having a boy and girl (which most know by now)...here are a few pics of our little Juliet and Jace. (Again, I wish she would have taken two more seconds to get us some better pics...but oh well). We did have some 3D which we have never had before and that was super cool!
Here are some pics of the twins!!
Juliet
Jace
Juliet 3D
Jace 3D
After we finished at the doctor, we concocted a plan on how to tell the kids. :) We finally decided to make them go through an obstacle course to find out. It included binkies, bottles, baby food, and diapers. :) It was hilarious, and all recorded for everyone's enjoyment! :)
Today is Sienna's first day of full school! Here they all are looking adorable and ready for the day. Sienna was so excited to get on the bus...I may or may not have had a few tears in my eyes as the bus pulled away and I saw her little head on it. :)
Today was the girls' first day of school! They woke up so early...6:15 to get ready...they got dressed and put their backpacks on and were ready 'apparently' at 6:30...well...good thing the bus doesn't come until 8:45!!! YIKES.
We had a long morning. :) But no worries...outside and ready for the bus 20 minutes early!
Sienna's first day (Kindergarten) consisted of going to a 2 hour orientation at school. So we went up to the school, she got to ride on a bus around the block. Meet all 3 Kindergarten teachers, make a shirt with her hand prints, trace her hands, read books, play with toys...and then go home and anticipate a full day of school tomorrow! :)
She was excited, but I think a little disappointed in the 2 hours. It was hot, crowded (with all the parents) and we were both ready to bust out of there!
Her bus ride: she is right about the word "operator" on the left. :)
