Kindergarten

Thing 1 and Thing 2 started school this week.  I just can't even believe it.  Leading up to it I was asked quite a bit, "Are you sad?"  No.  I wasn't.  I was ready and so were Dylan & Charlie.  They talked about it this whole last year and I think they thought it was pretty cool that the first day was also their birthday! 

We are starting a tradition of taking them out to breakfast on the first day of school.  We were planning on getting up a little earlier so that we could head on down to Village Inn before school but someone slept in.  Or should I say someones.  Instead I was scrambling to get pictures taken, make a somewhat filling breakfast, teeth brushed, etc.  I took Oliver down to Sandra's house to play while we went to school.  Dylan, Charlie, Me & Dad walked up to the school and the school year official began.  I already love their teacher, Mrs. Lemmon.  Once we got there we did a little scavenger hunt.  The kids drew their faces on a worksheet.  Then the kids went out to play on the playground and learn the safety rules while the parents got the parent rules.  Overall it was great.  No tears.

Because we missed breakfast in the morning, we went for lunch instead.  Next year we'll make it!

Tuesday the boys had their testing.  Their teacher is so excited for them to be in her class because they are so different.  I think she appreciates that they don't look alike or think alike or act alike.  It seems to fascinate her a little.  She said how smart they are and I agree!  Wednesday they had off then school was up and running again on Thursday.  On Friday when I dropped them off I let them go in the main doors (that is closer than walking around to the kindergarten doors) and let them walk down the long hall with the other students and find their class on their own.  That made me a little more teary than the actual first day.  Watching my little guys independently walk with all the big kids and blend into the crowd about killed me.  It's so hard releasing them but so gratifying.  And I must say, I love that they have each other.

We now have homework after school, 20 minutes of reading every day, and I get to walk to and from school two times each day.  Things are a-changin'. 

{FIVE}

Oh.My.Goodness!!!  My twins are 5!  Five! Cinco! Holy smokes!  I really never thought we'd get to this point.  When I found out I was finally pregnant I was so excited.  And then we found out we were getting 2 babies and we were so excited.  And then when those sweet babies came to me and it was so hard.  So hard to be a momma.  Caring for 2 infants, not knowing what I was doing.  Having my own momma away and not able to just be there.  Up multiple times a night - for long stretches since there was not 1 but 2 babies to nurture and feed and change and pump for.  And then I remember vividly having them lying on the floor of the basement where we spent a lot of time trying to imagine them running around as little toddlers.  And then we got there and trying to imagine them being old enough to play on their own, reason with, laugh with (or at).  And my clear visualization of my babies went to about that point.  We have crossed a boundary.  We are into a new era.

The twins turned 5 and started elementary school the very same day.  My big boys.  As I type this the tears are wet on my cheeks.  I am so very proud.  I am so very happy.  I am so very blessed.  I love those two clowns (monkeys, turds, etc) with all my heart.  They are the best boys.  They are so sweet and so smart and so kind.  I couldn't ask for anything more!

My mom held her annual "grandma party" on Saturday, Aug. 24.  Since we weren't planning on an official party for the boys we mixed their birthday in with the grandma party.

I made the boys a birthday cake on Sunday and we shared it with some sweet neighbors that invited us for dinner.  No pictures.  But it was a white cake with chocolate frosting.  On top were Jake and the Neverland Pirates figurines for Charlie and a couple boats for Dylan (waverunners on a blue trailer were requested but apparently there are no small waverunners). 

Monday was school in the morning (more on that in another post) and that night we ventured out to Chuck e Cheese.  The boys have seen the commercials for Chuck e Cheese and have talked about going there for months.  So we splurged and took the boys for their birthday.  To say they had a good time is an understatement.  They LOVED it.  We walked in and they were in awe.  Noises, flashing lights, a big mouse, way overpriced, disgusting pizza...what's not to love?

Happy Birthday my sweet babies!  I love you so so so very much!! xo

Bear Lake 2013

The Jensen crew had their annual Bear Lake trip the first part of August.  We went up late Saturday and stayed through the following Thursday.  It was a great week.  I'll admit, before we left I was sort of a negative-nelly but once we were there it was a lot of fun. 

Sunday we got up and just took it easy and went to church that afternoon.

After we came home and had lunch and headed over to Paris, ID to go to the Ice Caves.  It was a long drive and the caves were pretty lame but the company was good so it was alright.

Monday the boys (Brandt, Shawn, Reed, and Russ) went 4wheeling.  Jen and I took the kids down to the water and just played and looked for frogs while Kathy, Kierstin & Kaela went to town to go shopping.

Tuesday we did a little waverunning and playing at the cabin.  Kathy brought out her super soakers and the littles had fun spraying Mimi.

Wednesday the Carter clan came up and played at the beach with us. 

That afternoon we took the 4wheelers out again so that the little ones could go for some rides.  Jen and I stayed back while Oliver and Kailer finished napping and when we drove up after the nap we found them all surrounded by cows!

Thursday we woke up and cleaned the cabin and headed home.  It's funny because we stayed one more day than we normally do and it flew by and I could have stayed a few more.  

A few stories to note:
Charlie sat by Reed at Church.  Mia was on Reed's lap and Charlie looked at him and asked him when it was his turn to snuggle.  Then when Reed was holding him Charlie proceeded to tell him that "he loves Reed more than 4wheelers."  Now that's love!  My boys adore Reed.  He's such a good uncle.

One morning Kierstin braided Mia's hair into two French braids.  So, I braided Brandt's the same way.  So Brandt went up to Mia to show her that they were twins.  Mia looked at him like he was crazy.  I didn't get a picture of it but I know someone did.  The following day we were down at the beach and Brandt was sitting on a chair.  Oliver went up behind him and started playing with his hair and said "Dad, I want you be a girl."  Meaning he wanted his hair braided.

Reed set up a tie-down strap between two of the trees at the cabin and it was like a tight rope.  So everyone was trying to walk across it without falling.  Reed, Shawn and Kaela got pretty serious about it but Dylan wasn't far behind.  He loved it and played on it quite a bit.  And during all that play he took many-a-falls.  Some were pretty hard falls and he'd just get up and say, I'm ok, and hold the tears. 

Boys

What is it with boys and using the toilet?  First of all, how do you miss so much?  And if that wasn't bad enough, why do you always want to go outside and not use the inside toilet?  Because you can't aim right?  I get my boys peeing on the tree (thank you Brandt for teaching them that one).  But we have had pee arching beautifully off the 2nd story of the playhouse out back.  The other day Oliver just opened the back door, dropped his pants and let it fly.  Today I had Dylan or Oliver (can't remember) coming in and letting me know that Charlie peed either off of the trailer or next to the trailer or under the trailer.  Not sure how it happened, just saw the pee trail on the ground in the garage.  And then, WHY CAN'T WE WAKE UP TO PEE AT NIGHT?!?!?  I feel like we are NEVER going to be out of "nighttimes."  I think Oliver has maybe gone one night...EVER....with waking up dry.  And the twins are so sporadic but I think it is more off than on.  So sick of urine...

And it continues...

I've been running around like a lunatic this morning.  I woke up to find Charlie & Dylan had gotten out the scissors and opened Oliver's birthday present themselves.  I told them to put it all back.  They did.  Then I taught piano for an hour and a half and Oliver got into it and was playing with some parts.  So when I was putting it together 2 pieces are missing.  So I've been freaking out telling them to find the pieces.  No such luck so I took the new toys away telling them they can't play with any until the pieces are found.  Then I was yelling telling the boys to put their bikes away so they don't get stolen.  And on and on.  I am a bit frazzled.  I just made lunch and asked Charlie to bless it.  His prayer went something like:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this day.  Please bless the food.  Please bless that mom can have a good day.  I don't like her to be mean.  Bless the missionaries.  Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Breathe in, Breathe out, Breathe in, Breathe out.....

This one...

This one may make it so that I don't make it to old age.  This one is trouble.  I mean, look at him, stink all over that face.  Man, oh man, he will be our struggle.  We had quite the event last night proving this point.

Brandt and I and another couple went up to Deer Valley to see Steve Martin and the Utah Symphony play a concert.  The other couple's 17 year old daughter came over to watch the boys.  The twins met her once when Brandt was doing some work at her house and Oliver had never met her.  We talked about it all week and they boys were stoked, counting down the days, hours, minutes until she arrived to watch them.  They were watching out the window and they finally arrived.  Then it all fell apart.   The boys all hid and wanted her to find them.  She did but Charlie wouldn't come out.  When he finally did the waterworks started.  And because his started, so did Oliver's.  So this poor girl is probably, like, "What the crap did I agree to?"  I kept saying, as soon as we leave they'll be fine, I promise.  Little did I know...I was a big, fat liar.

The concert was great, company was great, etc.  We drove down the canyon and walked in.  She came over and said, "Everything is fine, but we need to talk."  Oh great.  She proceeded to tell us that Charlie stayed in his room for about a 1/2 hour after we left (I had put him in there and told him to stay until he felt better).  She went to the bathroom for a minute and when she got out, he wasn't crying anymore.  She went to check on him and he was gone.  She looked all over and he was no where to be seen.  So then she started freaking out.  She had Oliver and Dylan helping her try to find him and no luck.  She went to our next door neighbors to see if he was there, no.  Went to the next house (which we go over there quite a bit to garden) and no luck.  Dan got in his truck with D & O and they drove up to the cemetery and around the neighborhood to see if they could find him.  She came back  and was looking around the house again and didn't know what else to do before calling us or the police.  So, she kneeled down and said a prayer.  She said she got up, turned around, and Charlie had come up the stairs, not even 10 seconds after finishing.  She said she was just sobbing.  Apparently Charlie had gone down into our bedroom and locked the door.  She thought we had locked before we left it since it was our room and was respecting our privacy.  Charlie went into the back of our closet hiding behind our food storage.  He wanted her to "find" her.  In the process giving her immense emotional turmoil.  I felt so bad.  That sort of deal is NOT acceptable of my children.  I was embarrassed.  Never should of happened.

When I told my mom about his escapades she just said, "You know, I've told you from early on he is going to be a handful."  He is such an independent, bossy, I-want-it-my-way sort of child.  If it's not done the way he sees fit, or things aren't just so, he falls apart.   OR if he is short on sleep same story.  He doesn't need as much sleep as the rest of us but if he is lacking at all, watch out.  I don't know.  My kids have been fairly good.  Everyone says how great they are and I know they really are, but when you're with them day in and day out it's another story.  I'm really trying to enjoy it all.  The good and the bad.  But let me say out loud, IT IS HARD!  I'm continuously told that, and I quote, am the meanest mom in the universe.  That's right, universe.  Trying to usher O to his nap just now and I got "mom, you mean."  It all pays off in the end, right?  Tonight when they're all sacked out and peaceful in their dreams I will look at them and think, "yes, it IS worth it."  Just gotta hang in there until then.

Renewed hope in humanity

This morning Oliver had his 3 year check-up.  It occurred to me a few weeks ago that I never set up appointments for the kids so when I called there was nothing available until one late August and two together in September.  I was on the cancel list and got a call yesterday to come this morning.  It worked out splendid because Oliver would not go to bed last night and was fussing about his ear hurting.  So at his appointment today, Dr. Kathy checked out his ear and said he had some inflammation and fluid in his left ear.  We chose to treat it and had a prescription sent over to Costco. (by the way - otherwise healthy little boy.  we're so lucky.)

We got to Costco right as they were opening for the day.  Apparently a few of us needed prescriptions so I was told 30-40 minutes.  That's dangerous.  Wandering the isles of Costco with no purchase?  Screaming impulse buys.  Anyway, once we were about to the 40 minute mark (I think) we wandered back to the pharmacy and took a seat in the waiting area.  I was watching as a woman came to the counter to see if her prescription was ready.  She asked if the insurance was covering it.  The lady let her know that the prescription wasn't quite ready but that the insurance was good.  It would be another minute.  I watched her walk away and there was a VERY old man hunched over his cart going down the vitamin isle.  I watched her as she stopped and asked him if she could help him with anything.  It warmed my heart.  I was so grateful to witness that little moment.  So many times I am wrapped up in myself and frazzled from dealing with our rambunctious boys that I tune out the rest.  Think that I've already filled my quota of human participation in this world.  She walked up and down with him and then came back and asked if she could sit by us.  I told her "sure, as long as you don't mind the crazies."  She sat down and promptly asked if the boys would want to watch a movie on her phone while we wait (asked me, too, if it was ok).  So the boys all sat down and watched about 3 minutes of opening credits before my prescription was finished.  But the thought meant a lot.  How sweet of this woman to help out whomever  is in her path.  I need to be more like that.  Keep my eyes up and open and reach out to those that you can help.  Even if it's just for 3 minutes.

There have been many times I've been heard saying, "I hate people."  I don't literally hate people but I have a hard time with the things people do.  This morning I loved people.  It was a rarity and I need to make sure that I remember that there are good ones out there, too.