Polar Express!!

A couple weekends ago we were treated by Papa Jim and Nana to a trip up north to ride on the Polar Express. So Jill, Emmalee, Papa Jim, Nana, Sarah, Hunter, Jenna, Larry and I, took a 3 hour drive to Williams AZ. Once we got there we put on our PJ's and boarded the Polar Express and headed to the North Pole. On the train we had cookies and hot chocolate and guess who made an appearance on the train... yep you got it SANTA!! Emmalee was so cute... she has seen the movie The Polar Express and was super excited to ride on a real Train!! So while we were waiting to board the train I tried to get pictures of the kids in front of the train, she got upset because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to ride on the train. It was a wonderful trip and I loved seeing the kids have fun!! Even the big kids got a kick out of the ride.

Thanks Papa Jim and Nana we had a ball!! Maybe next year we will be complete!! (Hey James you were and are missed!!!).

No more braces!!

Tuesday Jenna finally got the okay for them to take off her braces! After two years for the bottom braces and 1 1/2 year for the top braces. She was so happy she was giggling all the way back to the school!! She looks even more beautiful if that is possible. So today we did a little photoshoot in the backyard so that she could show them off. More will follow hopefully this weekend if the weather agrees with us!!

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.

-Mary Jean Iron

Happy Birthday Emmalee!!!

Wow!! Emmalee is 3 years old today!! Where did the time go? It seems like just yesterday I watched in awe while she took her first breath! She was so amazing! Still is... It is so neat to watch Emmalee grow into this amazing person. Happy Birthday My Sweet Emmalee! I am so proud to be your Aunt "Jonie"!! I love watching you grow and learn. You are so special to me! I love you Em!

Hope you had a wonderful Birthday today! Thanks for sharing your day with us.

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Dear EMMALEE!!!

Happy Birthday to you!!

Love you!!

Jenna, James, Larry the Dude and Aunt "Jonie"

XOXOXOXO

Almost October already!!!

My does time fly! So much has happened in the past few weeks! In July we moved to our new house. It is still pretty empty and the walls are bare but we really love it! Jenna is the only one with something on her walls! A week later Jenna and James came to Arizona. Jenna had a wonderful time in Holland visiting her family and friends. Lucky for me I had school to keep me occupied for the 5 weeks she was gone, for her it flew by but for me it was forever! James came with her and spent 3 weeks with us! In the short time he was here he was able to get his drivers license! I was so proud of him! We had so much fun while he was here! We got to go to the lake twice! He got to hang out with his Papa Jim a lot as he learned to drive. Unfortunately the whole time he was here I was stuck at school! We started our Blood draws and I couldn't miss any classes! I did my best to get home as fast as I could. I really felt bad that I wasn't able to spend more time with him!
August came and Jenna started back at school as a Freshman in High School. She really is doing well! She seems to like her school a lot. James flew home! What a hard day for all of us! We can't wait for him to come and visit again! I was so glad that he and Larry got along so well! We all miss James like crazy!
And now it is September! Jenna has gotten her first progress report and is doing well! All above average except for Algebra! But we knew that was going to be a problem. She has started studying her lines for a new play will be done in class around Halloween.
As for me, I have about 2 more weeks of class before I start my externship! I am so nervous! Funny how I have gotten all A's through the course and had no real trouble learning the stuff but now that it is time to get out and use it I am so NOT ready to do it. I will be glad that all the blood draws and injections will be finished! I was begining to feel like a pin cusion! I have gotten over my fear of needles! They don't bother me anymore! LOL! I am looking forward to getting paid for it though!
I was trying to get some pictures uploaded but it won't let me right now... so hopefully pictures will come soon!

Happy Birthday Nadine and Lilly!

Today I would like to wish two of my nieces Happy Birthday! Nadine and Lilly. Hope you girls have a wonderful day, you both are wonderful girls and we love and miss you!!
I understand they are having their annual birthday celebration today! We wish we could be there to help you celebrate.
All our love,
Jenna, James, Larry and Jodie

My thought for the day!

Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life.

Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people's thinking.

Don't let the noise of other's opinion drowned out your own inner voice.

Most imporant, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become.

Everything else is secondary.

--Steve Jobs

Day on the Lake 2009

This past weekend, Jenna, Larry, Rob, Bradley, Sarah, Hunter and I were priviledged to volunteer at The Day on the Lake. Jill is part of the organization behind the Day on the Lake. Friday and Saturday, people with disabilities were invited to Bartlett Lake to waterski, jetski, canoe, fish and just ride on a boat. It was such a wonderful experience to see the smiles that were plastered from ear to ear on everyone! It was such an uplifting experience. It really helped the kids (and us too!) see how blessed they were and how much they (we) take for granted. It was exhausting but so much fun!!
The weather was great! Only a couple of sprinkles on Sat. Wonderful people! Warm hearts and loving souls! I spent Friday on the speed boat taking pictures of the skiiers! What a wonderful sight! Splashing water, smiles and the signals to go faster and faster! I don't think most of them could get enough! The teams were great too! Each ski boat had 2 jetski's and 2 perimeter boats plus the pontoon boat that brings the participants to the boat. On each of the jetski's there were 2 riders, these are who jump into the water to help steady the person on the ski, give the signal to go and help them aboard the pontoon boat once the ride is over. These were awesome people! There were 2 teams out with skiiers!

On Saturday I stayed on the dock an got pictures of the jet ski's. This way cool too! They would ride the jetski up on a dock so that it was stable. Then they would lift the participant onto the jetski. They would either be infront of the rider or if necessary a third person would ride on the back sandwiching the participant between them. I took pictures of one teenage girl who was grinning from ear to ear, not sure what she was happier about, the jetski ride or holding on to the jetski driver! Her Mom told me she requested this particular driver! TEENAGERS!! LOL. Rob and Bradley manned the fishing boat, Jenna helped at the registration and on the fishing boat, Larry did the water intake and he did some of the lifting participants onto the jetski's. I have to admit I was a bit jealous of all of them, they got to get to know most of the people there and heard their stories, I on the other hand was just a bystander. I was itching to put down my camera really do something useful! Until I was quietly reminded that the photographs I was taking were priceless!! Thanks Jill! I needed that one!

Here are just a few of the smiles!

Happy Birthday GIRLS!!!

May 27th must be a pretty special day to have 3 wonderful women share their birthday!
Happy Birthday to Teresa, Monica and Sarah!! You three are special women in my life and I want to let you know how much you mean to me by wishing you a wonderful birthday! Each one of you has a special place in our hearts!
Hope all your wishes, dreams and desires are fulfilled! Have a wonderful Day with lots of wonderful surprises!!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear, Teresa, Monica and Sarah!!!
Happy Birthday to you!!!!


And MANY MANY MORE!!!

Love,
Jodie and Jenna

Schools out for SUMMER!!!!

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!"
Dr. Seuss


At 3:40 p.m. it was official! Jenna is out of school for the summer. She is also now offically a FRESHMAN in high school! She is so excited and hyper. Where did the time go? It is hard to believe it has already been a whole school year since we arrived in Mesa!
Today is Josh's graduation too! So he is done with high school and ready to move on to bigger and better things!
Congratulations to both of them!!

Happy Belated Birthday Jill!!

I hang my head in shame! I was so busy I forgot to post a Happy Birthday to my sister! Shame Shame Shame on me!!! I did congratulate her on her birthday so I didn't really forget! We celebrated last night with a wonderful steak dinner and cake! Well Sissy I hope you had a wonderful day!! We sure enjoyed seeing you open your gifts!
Happy Birthday to a wonderful woman, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. We love you and hope you had a wonderful day!

Love,
Jenna, James, Dad, Mom, Larry and Jodie

Happy 15th Birthday Jenna!!!

Today is a very special girls 15th birthday! She is a wonderful daughter, a terrific sister, a helpful cousin and an all around great kid! Of course I am biased but she is pretty terrific!! Hope you have a wonderful birthday! May you get all you wish for when you blow out your birthday candles! I know that it is going to be a bittersweet day without your daddy and brother here to help you celebrate. We will do our best to make it a special day for you!

You are a wonderful, helpful and caring person and I am so proud to be your MOM!!!

Love you always and forever baby!!!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Jenna,

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Jenna's Butterflies

For Christmas, Jenna got a butterfly garden. All you had to do is send in for the catepillars. So we did right away and never got them. So I called and found out they never had received our order and got them shipped right away. During spring break we got the package. In side was a plastic cup with 5 tiny catepillars inside. We put them on the shelf and checked on them a couple times a day. In the begining there wasn't much to see, the didn't move alot. But after about 2 days they were double in size and moving around. They grew and grew! When they decided it was time to change. They were at least 10 times the size they were when they arrived. They change so fast! One minute they were catepillars the next they were safe and snug in their crysalis. The whole process from start to butterfly took 3 weeks. They ate and ate for the first week and the second week they hung in their crysalis and changed, the last week they were butterflies. We kept them a bit longer than we would have liked because of the cold nights. We released them yesterday. Emmalee and Jenna got a kick out of watching them grow and change.

Here are a few pictures :

the first day:

5 days later
6/7 days later (3 of the 5 are in crysalis)


Hanging out in the habitat.

the first butterfly emerges

now it is time to let them goEmmalee got to hold one firstBye bye butterfly!!

Pictures!! Hole in the Rock

Going up to Hole in the Rock...

Jenna at the top enjoying the view

Ally, Jenna and Hunter

The top is a small hole and down below is the hole you crawl through to see this beautiful view..

Ally and Jenna relaxing in the cool breeze!

Hiking to Hole in the Rock

Okay it wasn't much of a hike, but it was fun!! Spring break is here and we are trying to do as much as we can before school starts again. So today when we got a call from Sarah and Hunter asking what we were doing we jumped at the chance to get out and do something active. So we met them at the Papago Park and went climbing. After we had our fill we walked around the park and then took off to Arizona Falls. We had a nice afternoon and got a bit of exercise and lots of sun! After all that sweaty walking the girls and Hunter came home and jumped in the pool. Still think they are CRAZY!!!
Okay it won't let me upload pictures tonight.. so I will try again tomorrow!

Cousins Galore!!

Last night our cousins from Minnesota came to visit! Aunt Arlene and her two kids and their kids! All 9 of them in total. This was pretty much our last opportunity to see Jeff and his kids because they leave tonight! It was so fun! A pizza party!! The 9 of them arrived and Jenna got to meet all her second and third cousins! The kids hung out in the grapefruit tree, well the boys got to play monkeys and climbed it!! The kids all got along great! Jenna and I are looking forward to spending time with the girls this week, too bad that Jeff and his kids have to leave so quick! Here is a picture of all the little ones (only missing James!!
Kyle, Justin, Natasha, McKenzie, Joshua, Bradley, Emmalee, Elizabeth, and Jenna


Jeff, Terri, Jill and I (first cousins)

First Swim of the Season on March 15th? Are they nuts?

Yesterday Jenna and her girlfriend Ally took a dip in the pool! Yep you read it right, and yes the date is March 15th! Normally the pool isn't open and inviting until at least after Easter but these two dare devils decided to take the plunge! Of course Saturday they were at the lake and in the water there (runoff from the snow in the mountains) and it was freezing!! Thanks to Nana we have pictures of the event!!

Happy 17th Birthday James!!!

Okay I know for those of you living in the states I am early but in about 40min my baby is turning 17!! I want him to know I am thinking of him!!

Happy Birthday Baby!!

Once again it is friday the 13th and this time you are celebrating and hopefully able to remember your big day! The first time you took a breath it was friday the 13th and just happened to be 1:13 pm (13:13 military time) which was just too weird!

You are a special young man and I am very proud of who you have become! I hate that your sister and I aren't there to help you celebrate your big day but we are there in spirit!

You are the best son a mom could ask for and the best brother a sister could want! Have a wonderful Day !! We love and Miss you!!

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear James

Happy birthday to you!

Love,

Mom and Jenna

Papa Jim and Nana too!!