An Extra Child for a few hours

One day, we were watching our neighbor's youngest daughter.  Dani was gone most of that time, so Jared ended up with 5 kids for a few hours.  Little Tate (our neighbor) was kind of sad, so Jared decided to take everyone for a walk.  There were 3 1-year-olds (1 in the backpack, 2 in the jogging stroller) and 2 6-year-olds.  It was quite the site.  Dani took this picture shortly after she drove by and noticed us.

Reds Playoff game in San Francisco

It was an awesome baseball season this year!  The Reds were good pretty much all year (as expected), and the A's had an awesome run at the end of the year (definitely not expected) and both ended up winning their divisions!  The Reds got to play their first games in San Francisco, and, being on the west coast, as a last-minute decision, I decided to go!  

I flew in and took BART into the city and spent a few minutes with my friend and co-worker at his MBA campus.  Taylor invited his friend, Ethan, and together they left Provo at 6 AM and drove 12 hours to San Francisco.  We met at 4:30 (after they found a free parking place - in downtown San Francisco!!!).  One of the first places we noticed was Red's Java House - we took that as a sign of good things to come.

It was fleet week in San Francisco as well as America's Cup, so there were Navy ships docked at the piers and tons of sailboats in the bay.  Flying into San Francisco gave a neat view of the sailboats.

There were fans in McCovey Cove, including people on paddleboards and kayaks.  As the night progressed, I couldn't imagine being out in a kayak - it got pretty chilly!

 We got to the park in time for batting practice.  Our seats were in deep right-center field (near the 421 foot mark on the fence).  There were a few balls hit our way, and the Reds pitchers were throwing some of them into the stands, including 1 that Taylor caught.

 After the teams were announced, they unfurled a giant American flag.

Giants fans were having some fun at our expense.  By the end of the game, we'd made friends out of the people sitting around us.  Some of the more memorable people were the funny guys in the middle of the picture, the lady behind us who was mad that she couldn't stand and cheer the whole game because the people behind her were complaining, and the lady in front of us who'd had a few too many drinks and almost tipped over a couple times!

 The game got started, and things didn't look good for the Reds.  Much to our delight, however they ended up pulling it out.  We found a few fellow  Reds fans in the stands to celebrate with afterwards.

We got to hang out in after the game for a little.  It is a beautiful ballpark and is in a fantastic location!  After the game is over, hundreds of seagulls came to clean up the mess left behind by the fans!

We hung out outside the park for a bit afterwards and found a few more Reds fans to celebrate with.  We were interviewed by a person who was doing some sort of post-game report for a local sports website.  I haven't found the interview, but I'm sure it came across quite eloquent.

The baseball game over, we figured we were in San Francisco for a few more hours, so we went out to enjoy the sites.  First stop was Lombard Street.  After a slow roll down the world's curviest street, the next stop was Ghiradelli Square, where I enjoyed a chocolate brownie sundae.  Yum (though, I have to admit, Nana's Ghiradelli Chocolate brownies are better than the one I was served)!

After that, we went down to Fisherman's Wharf.  It was closed, so we walked down to the end and watched the sea lions.  It was 'sleep' time for them, but there were always a few pesky ones rolling around on top of the other ones.  We narrated the scene for at least a half hour, and it was hilarious!!!

We got to the hotel at close to 2 am, and I got up at 4:30 for my flight back to Portland.  What a fun trip it was - I was in San Francisco for about 16 hours total, but we managed to pack a lot in.  A big thanks to Dani for being supportive and making a memorable weekend possible!

Little Reader

Claire is obsessed with reading.  We will find her reading all over the house.  She often gets distracted from what she's supposed to be doing (like taking off her soccer cleats and shin guards)  because she's too busy reading.

Her current favorite books are Magic Rainbow books - books about different kinds of fairies.  She will bring a new one home from the school library on Thursday, and by the end of Friday, she will have read it twice.  She also enjoys reading the Magic Treehouse series and the Friend magazines.  Sometimes, we will find her reading to Kate and Liam.

Sometimes, she gets into trouble because she's reading.  For example, after we've put her to bed, she likes to go potty and bring a book with her.  If we don't hear her, she will stay there 30 minutes or more.  We've had to put rules in place about not reading on the potty after bedtime.  Once, Dani heard her on her way, and went upstairs.  Claire apparently heard Dani coming and ran out of the bathroom, throwing the book on the hallway floor to try to avoid getting in trouble.  Another time, she didn't quite make it to the potty and had an accident because she was distracted reading.  We've also found her laying in the hallway outside her room with a book.

Claire's reading ability has improved rapidly and continues improving.  We think it's wonderful that she is such an interested reader.

Soccer Season

 We spend a lot of our weeks and weekends going to soccer games these days.  Between practiced Monday and Friday for Jacob and Tuesday/Thursday for Claire and games Saturday, we have almost daily soccer

 Claire's team is the Blue Glittery Rock Stars, which is about the most perfect name for a 6-year-old girls soccer team that I have ever heard!  Claire has grown in her soccer skills and her attentiveness, though she definitely has moments where she spends a few too many seconds looking at the sideline for a reaction.  Below is Claire walking back from one of her 3 goals that day (she's scored a couple more since).  

The kids play 8 games during the season.  The only week their games are in the same city was the week we were out of town, and Claire had skinned up her knee the night before, so she didn't play that week anyway.

One day, Claire came straight to Jacob's soccer practice after being at a princess party.  She kept herself busy playing soccer in her dance recital outfit. 

Jacob's team is the Ninja Doggies (the democratic process in which name was arrived at was quite the ordeal!).  I have been helping coach and have run the majority of practices this year since Coach Victor has been working in Washington and can't get back in time.

The Ninja Doggies have had quite the season.  There are a couple standout players, but the entire team is pretty good.  While we don't officially track wins and losses, the reality is that the kids sure do (and the parents do too), and there has really been only one team that has come close, and the doggies prevailed.  Jacob scored his first goal of the season (and almost had 3 more) last week in the first rainy-day game of the season.

Kate and Liam have been troopers, going to every game.  For Jacob's games (because I'm coaching), and if Claire and Jacob have games at the same time, they have to stay in the stroller because the second they are out, the run in opposite directions.

At Claire's games, they are often very popular with Claire's teammates.

They like to get soccer balls and walk around with them and kick them around the field.

A few random pictures from the last month

"HELP, the babies are getting into my room!!!  They're going to get my toys!!!"

Babies like watching out the window as kiddos play in the front yard.

I love this happy face!

Shopping with the babies!  We still get lots of comments and feel like a traveling circus!

Kate has this new "CHEESE" face - it's really funny.  Sometimes, it's really cute.  Other times, we get a funny picture of it, like this one.

Kate and Liam love watching Jacob and Claire play Wii.

"Yes, I am wearing my Dump the Plump shirt while eating a super yummy ice cream sundae."

The Wild in Her Eyes

Dani took this picture today.  You can see the wild in her eyes...

and all over her face and hands.

Kate has started doing a 'cheesy grin' face. If you look at her and smile, she'll give you this face.

But she can be pretty sweet, too.

Liam's First Steps

Liam has started walking around!  He used to lunge 3-4 steps, but now he can go across the room.  He's not quite as natural at it as Kate, but he LOVES it, too!

Kate's first steps!

For the past 2 weeks, Kate has been somewhat obsessed with walking.  During church, when we're in the hallway, she doesn't want to be held and she doesn't want to crawl, she wants to hold a hand and walk around.  She's been able to take a couple steps and lunge at things and has gotten pretty brave about it.

Dani was sitting at the computer, and she noticed Kate walk behind her - without any help!  She picked up her phone and recorded this exciting moment.

I love the look on her face near the end of the video - Kate was pretty happy with herself.

Within a couple days, walking has become her preferred mode of transportation - and she's very entertained by it!

First Day of First Grade!

Jacob and Claire had their first day of school this week!  They have been VERY excited.

They are in a brand new school.  The school is beautiful.  The library even has a slide down from the 2nd floor and a little treehouse above it.

We requested that they be in the same class and, if possible, have a male teacher, thinking that maybe a male would connect well with Jacob.  It turns out that they are in different classes, and Jacob has a female teacher and Claire has a male teacher.  However, in the short time they've been in their classes, I  think they will both be a good fit for our kids.

Jacob and Claire will be meeting lots of new kids this year - over half of their classmates from their Kindergarden class are in the other 1st grade class.  They have reported that they love having 2 recesses.

Since the school bus comes at 7:20, we've adjusted our schedule so that the kids go to bed a little earlier and everyone gets up earlier.  Dani has started running every day, and I've been able to have more morning time with the kids during breakfast.

Labor Day in Portland

On Labor Day, we decided to take advantage of a full weekday off to go to Portland!  Our first stop was Pine State Biscuits, where we were definitely like fish out of water, hanging out with the single 20-30 year olds in line.

The delicious sandwich is called the Reggie... a delicious biscuit, fried chicken, sausage gravy, cheese, bacon (the Reggie Deluxe adds an egg... yum).

It was a beautiful day for a bike ride!

Keep Portland Weird... Here's a prime example of weird Portland!  an Elvis display in a window front in the middle of a random street block!  They ask for a quarter and it's supposed to do something - it didn't.  Still worth the quarter!

Jacob o Lantern

Jacob lost his 6th tooth.  His smile is AWESOME now - so cute!!!

Taylor and Hayley's Wedding!

 On August 18, 2012, Hayley officially joined the family!!!  The bride and groom looked so happy!

The cousins were all dressed for the occasion.

Claire LOVED getting to hold the flowers.  She was also in charge (whether someone asked her to or she took it as one of her responsibilities) of holding Hayley's train.  Wherever Hayley went, Claire was always dutifully close behind.

Jacob and Claire waiting for their next photo op. 

The night prior to the wedding, we were joined by Elder Jensen for the presentation of the "Top 10 things you need to know to survive the Jensens," by Matt.  Andrew also joined us at the wedding.

It was a warm day in Newport, and there weren't lots of places to find shade, so sometimes we had to be a little creative.

The beautiful mothers and their little matching babies!  Adele was less than 3 weeks old when she flew across the country to join the wedding festivities.

Nana and Papa and all of the grandkids right before the reception.

All the boys in their matching outfits!  The cousins had a great time - we hardly saw them during the reception.  In fact, near the end, I would see Jacob and Clayton wandering around now and then.  Eventually, I figured out they were looking for Claire and Lydia (they were playing sardines).  It took a little hint to finally locate the girls.

 We managed to fit in a little swim at Kip and Sam's house in between the wedding and the reception in Hemet.  The drive to Hemet provided a little rest time for everyone, including Amber, squished in between kiddos in the back seat.

Why do we keep putting pictures of our kids sleeping in their stroller?  Maybe it's proof to ourselves that it happened at some time because it certainly doesn't happen often. We really exhausted them on this trip.  Liam, who we couldn't keep out of the sun quite enough to avoid a little sunburn (redheads burn so quickly!), finally fell fast asleep.  He looked so cute in his little bow tie!

The wedding party.