School Routine's

 I know I always love perusing sites to get ideas for lunches and picky eater-Jackson.  So I thought I would share some of my creations this past week.  I really enjoy trying to come up with things this kid will eat that are (mostly) healthy and easy to access.  I made a bunch of note cards for him so each day I just grab one and stuff it in.  Some are encouragement, jokes, pictures, stickers,  Hopefully he never gets bored of them.  

Bagel with cream cheese and jam, mini-wheats (a favorite), yogurt granola bar, strawberries, kiwi, carrots, cherry tomato, string cheese, capri sun. 

 

Piece of bread with ham on a toothpick, strawberries, pickles, mini-wheats, pretzels, fruit nutri-grain bar, fruit snack, string cheese

 Penne pasta Carbonara (with bacon and parmesean).  Even though he likes ALL of these items, he complained about it, so I replaced it with plain noodles and sprinkled Parmesan on- so boring and gross, but he loves it. Green beans, cherry tomato, cheese crackers, drinkable yogurt, kiwi (sliced and cut to eat off the fur)

Hot dogs with ketchup, applesauce, carrot sticks, pickle, tomato, mini-wheats and the hole was filled with a pudding pack. 

Pancakes with syrup, drinkable yogurt, grapes, carrots, mini lemon poppy-seed muffins

PB&J, animal crackers, carrot and cucumbersticks in ranch dressing, applesauce, yogurt, granola bar

So far all my tupperware and lids have come home!  He doesn't eat it all, but I go through what he comes home with and will stop sending certain items. 

 I wanted a chart to help Jackson stay on task when getting ready for school.  I looked at a lot of different types.  I didn't want a sticker or marker chart that had the chance of distracting him with looking for stickers or  drawing on walls.  I wanted it to be self contained and re-useable throughout the year.   I didn't find anything like it, so I came up with my own. I'm sure someone out there can make it much cuter, but this meets our needs.

 

The stars slide to the pictures each morning.  When he completes the action he moves the bead to the "done" box.  The last 4 pictures he puts the bead on when he had the items ready to go (I found exact pics of his backpack, lunch box, water thermos, and then homework.) Jackson helped pick out the pipe cleaner and bead colors.  He was thrilled as I made it for him.  He loves routines and charts. 

 Jackson loved it so much he was up early today and done with everything on the list by 7:15 am.  He picked his own chore and did it without complaining.  I know the enthusiasm won't last forever, but my independent kid hates to be told what to do, so I hope this chart can replace the nagging.

A day at the (San Diego) beach

We wanted to take a trip to finish up the summer.  Of course, we always want the beach.  So we looked into Santa Barbara, San Jose, San Diego and even Honolulu.  The rental car was $30 more for the day in Hawaii (not to mention 10+ extra hours of travel, so we opted for California and missed our warm Hawaiian water and clear weather.  

The first stop in San Diego is always Konos on Mission beach.  The line was LONG (45 mins) but I took the kids to the ocean and we enjoyed exploring around.  

Dave loves this place from his college days and trips with his brothers.  We wish we could go with them sometime 

We drove around near the coast and stopped to feed Mariah (despite the lack of photos, she was in fact with us and was a great traveler!)

We spent the afternoon on La Jolla cove (along with millions of other people, seals and seagulls.)  Dave and I both snorkeled (hypervenilated) in the frigid waters seeing a few brightly colored fish.  Hallie loved the water despite the temperature.  She was so different from the last time we were at the ocean. We enjoyed sand digging and swimming. 
We were late for the early flight we were hoping to take, so we went to the temple and old Town San Diego. 

We left by 7 pm.  I love that we get to take little adventures if only for a day.  Dave is great to take both kids on the flights since we usually get split up.  He knows just how to please them. 

Mariah's Movin'

Mariah just 'passed' her 4 month check up with flying colors.  She is so healthy and strong and growing happier by the day.   She is 16lb 6 ounces (85%) and 26 1/2 in. in length (95%).  She is rolling both directions and even scoots a little (without knowing what she is doing).

After 4 shots (two in each leg) today, she was crying and I picked her up, two sobs later, she stopped crying and then smiled at the nurse.  Seriously, this girl is amazing.  I'm not sure if it is because she is use to pain inflicted by people she loves (brother and sister), but she is really resilient.  

I do NOT write this to make anyone feel bad about their own baby (I've had 'difficult' ones too!) but I do want to remember how awesome Mariah is as a baby.   She is so happy and will smile for anyone and everyone.  She travels easily.  She falls asleep on her own in the crib (but it helps if we put the pacifier in a few times).  She falls asleep when we are out and about without any trouble.  On the way to and from St. George we didn't hear a peep from her.  She is quiet and calm.  Of course, she gets hungry, but meet her need and she is happy as a clam. 

I laid her with her head on the pillow body down the blanket, next thing I know she is grabbing toys out off the shelf.  She may look big enough to do this, but I was impressed.  The other day during my shower she got under my bed and was hitting her head on the frame.  Thank goodness for Jackson being able to pull her out. 

She is getting to be a bad night sleeper (up every couple of hours), but I let her cry the other night and it only took 10 mins to put herself back to sleep.   I'm hoping since she is able to get herself to sleep for naps and night, she will learn quickly to put herself to sleep at night.  I am more tired now than I was at the newborn phase, but don't feel as entitled to a nap, so I am just plugging through it.  I should at least go to bed early, but there is so much to get done when all the kids are in bed!

St. George . . . Jessica's Wedding

I flew to Utah on Thursday night.  I was worried about a morning getting 2 kids ready to go before work for Dave, but he managed just fine. I stayed at my parents and got to play racquetball with them for a little while.  I went to Tara's baby shower and chatted with my family . . . and then we ALL proceeded to drive to St. George for more family time and a wedding.  Shane and Kim's car broke down on the way and we had to leave it.  The condo we stayed in was awesome (Thanks, David and Vickie!)
Friday night we had a fun BBQ and waterslide event.  Saturday was the sealing in the temple.

 

We call this group the "fab five" all 5 cousins born within 9 months of each other.  We group up together and have taken some fun trips together.  I love that our family is close. 

I got to play with my cousins for the whole afternoon (dragging Mariah along with me).  We ate lunch with the family, shopped, and saw a funny movie.    Here is 8 people in a 5 passenger car.  Good thing St. George is small!

The reception was so beautiful.  I loved the Italian soda idea. 
This is a 'naked' cake (with no frosting on the outside)

 It was good to spend time with my parents and Shane and Kim before their new adventure in the Redlands. 
I realized that even the best laid plans that don't include stand-by can go arwy. I planned to DRIVE home from the wedding with my cousin.  Her AC went out and it was August driving from St. George to AZ.  I didn't think my baby would make it (lets be honest, I probably couldn't make it) so I scrambled to make new plans.  I drove back to Provo with my aunt and uncle (Mariah slept the whole way).  Then I went to church with my grandma.  Dave came and picked us up and we spent the afternoon with his parents.  We all caught a flight home from there.  Even cars aren't necessarily reliable.  Travel is just never known I guess.

I'm so happy for Jess and Josh and loved celebrating with them!

End of Summer

Despite having another 3 months of 100+ degree weather, summer break ends and School starts Aug. 7th.
We finished the summer with a few weeks of swim lessons for both kids.

A visit with friends to the science museum.

We went to a few summer movies and swimming a lot.

When Jackson was getting school supplies and a backpack and lunch box, he loved playing pretend school.  I was the teacher and both kids had their backpacks.  We did some pages from workbooks, wrote letter, read stories, had recess and lunch, etc.  Jackson is reading really well.  He pretty much skipped all the beginning readers and is reading on a 1st grade level!  I am so impressed and proud of him and his hard work.  He loves to read anything he sees.  Here we were working on words that change when the 'magic' E is added on the end.  He was SO good at it.  I think it would have been very hard to me to remember how the sounds change when the E is added, but it almost comes naturally to him.  I have no question that he will be amazing at school.  I also enjoyed seeing a tiny sliver of what homeschooling kids of different ages.  Wow!  I think it takes amazing people to be able to balance teaching different ages!  

Hallie worked on painting the magic lines to finish off shapes.  We talked about the names of all the shapes.

My neighborhood has a facebook group and whenever you want a girls night out, we just post when and where and we are bound to get a fun group of girls together.  This night we went to Yogurtland.  Some people came back to my house for more chatting and laughing. I love having support and friends all around me.  So lucky.

Jackson starts Kindergarten!

 On August 7th, Jackson started Kindergarten.  He has been excited for months.  He is totally prepared and ready to learn.  He is young for his age, so of course as his mom, I worry that he won't be developed or ready socially or emotionally, but I have no concerns about his ability to succeed and excel in school.  He is such a smartie!

He helped me pack his lunch.  He chose a PB& J sandwich with water.  I threw in some applesauce, blueberries, grape tomatoes, string cheese, mini-wheats and banana bread.  I hope he can handle the responsibility of getting a lunch to and from school.  We practiced and talked a lot about it.

Here is Arizona, there are many options available for school.  I did a lot of research and praying and tried to find the school that would work best for him and for our family.  I am still not sure I made the right choice (I am so bad at making decisions . . .I put them off forever and then question the outcome for weeks afterward), so dropping him off at school was so unnerving.  It is scary that my choices will affect his life so much.  I was scared of sending him out into the world and hoped that he makes good choices. I was sad to say goodbye to him.  The day feels long and a bit lonely (although I still have my hands full of my little girls).
Jackson came come from school excited (he rides the bus home and we are the first stop!).  He told me all about his day for about 45 minutes, answering millions of my questions.  Finally, he said, "Mom, This is getting a bit boring-ish".  I'm so proud of my little kid and excited for all he will learn this year.  

Cinder-Hallie and Prince Jackson

Watch the part where Jackson makes sure she is modest.  Love it.  They play this at least once daily.  And they also change roles so Jackson gets to be the princess too.