The Gems of My Life

Saturday, July 31, 2010

WOW

It's been ONE MONTH since my last post! WOW!!!

Here is what we have been up to and what you can look forward to--as I am going to try to get caught up quickly. In just 2 weeks we start school---so that will be LOTS MORE pictures!!

FUN TIMES the past month--

Paige and Jaden's "friend" birthday party
Jaden had to get 3 silver teeth
Jaden's family b-day party
A week vacation to Michigan
I went to Premier Design's National Rally (training) for 4 days
We went bowling
We went swimming
We finished our Summer Reading Program
My dad had open heart surgery
We went to the Drive-in Movie
We had a water balloon fight

I'm sure there's more---but these are the major things that have filled our last 4 weeks! Now to sort and edit all those pictures!

Happy Summer!!! But, only 2 more weeks til school starts!

Happy Birthday Jaden

July 14--Little Jaden turned 5 years old!!

**These pics were taken last Oct--but I haven't blogged them yet!!**

This picture cracks me up because this is a look we often get from Jaden!

Jaden is SO lovable! I call him my "love-bug". His smile brightens a room. He is our child that most wants to please us. Last year we would have said he was quiet, but now I would describe him more as silly and funny! He will just crack us up with some of the things he says. He loves to play "mom and dad" with Tyler and Paige or whoever will play with him. He LOVES sports! And, he just learned to ride his bike without training wheels, this week!!! He is super proud of himself and thinks he is big stuff now!

And, here is Jaden 5 years ago---

Tyler was the first one to get to hold Jaden!

Then, he was taken to NICU for 10 days because he was having lung/breathing problems. Later one lung actually collapsed! It was a HORRIBLE 10 days. The longest 10 days ever! And, we had a 2 1/2 year old at home with grandparents! Isn't this the saddest picture ever. All those tubes!

But, he came home and has not had any troubles since!

Too cute Jaden Baby!!

We love you LOTS!!! And we love watching you grow-up into a real BOY!!!

Happy Birthday Silly Boy!!!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Rainbow Cake

Pagie's 4th birthday CAKE

We were going to have a BALLET "birthday party" (for the family), but there were NO ballet plates/napkins to be found---at a price I was willing to pay. I found on Ebay, Super cute, angel ballet napkins, but with shipping one pack of napkins was $10. Not doing that.

So we went with DORA!! Paige's favorite show to watch is probably Dora right now---if her brothers will let her watch it. And I found PINK Dora "stuff"---so that works!

So, now a cake...I didn't want a dorky Dora cake!

A year ago I had saw a RAINBOW CAKE on another blog and I have wanted to make it, but was afraid of what it would entail! I wanted to make it so badly that I put "make rainbow cake" on our

SUMMER FUN LIST!!

So--I decided to make it for Paige's birthday....

AND IT WAS A HIT!!!!!

Isn't it so pretty! So girly!

I borrowed 4 bright food colors from a friend and thought I had orange. Well, I didn't have orange, so I had to use my normal food coloring. I had borrowed TEAL and then I used BLUE from my stash. I was afraid yellow wouldn't show up and red seemed to bright. I don't know what my other options were, but I choose blue. I should have choose a different color, but that's ok. It still looks cool. So---the 2 blues are not the exact same color, even though in the picture they look as if they might be.

My kids LOVED the cake. ALL 3 OF THEM!

Jaden asked if he could have a rainbow cake for his birthday and then I reminded him we were going to make him a K-State cake!!

They also LOVED the taste. They just loved it all---the colors, the fun, the taste, the butter-cream frosting me MADE...

It wasn't even that hard to make it. Jaden was at Gpa and Gma Roth's so I let Tyler and Paige help and they had a great time mixing the colors. (much easier to do with 2 kids than 3 kids!!)

So---we will for sure be making this cake again. Maybe on the first day of school with Primary colors? Who knows when---but we will be making it again.

A Funny---

Steve made some AMAZING pork smothered burritos for the family dinner. They were so yummy and some delicious mexican rice too. So, our neice, Emily (19) said---

"you and Steve should open a mexican restarant/cake business"

TO FUNNY!!!!! First, I don't think those 2 things go together, but more funny is....

someone telling ME, I should SELL my cakes. But, it sure did make me feel SUPER GOOD!!

So, thanks Emily!!!

Now, I have to start thinking about how to do a K-State cake.

I think Steve will be put in charge of that.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Swim Lessons

One thing on our SUMMER FUN CHECK-LIST was SWIM LESSONS!

This year we tried swim lessons at Goddard Municpal pool. The last 2 years Tyler has had private lessons at our community pool---across the street from our house.

This was convienent. But, I wanted to try something new.

I remember EVERY summer, FOREVER...

I had to take Red-Cross swim lessons. And I mean FOREVER!!!!

So, I wanted to try Red-Cross certified lessons for our kids.

I really liked that the kids learned WATER SAFETY and that the teachers has specific SKILLS

they HAD to teach the kids.

Tyler did not want to do swim-lessons-- said he didn't like them (from past experience).

He really liked them this year. I think It's just more fun to do it with other kids!!

Either Steve or I would sit at each lesson, outside, and WATCH!! Each time Jaden would do a skill, he would right away look at us to make sure we were watching. If I happened to not see what he had done---I would still give him a THUMBS UP when he looked at me!! And, let me tell you....he looked over at us EVERY SINGLE time he did anything!! It was super cute!

Lessons were for 2 weeks--50 minutes a day!

That's a lot of lessons, a lot of driving, a lot of disrupting our regualr schedule.

But---I can tell both boys gained lots of skills. I think the repitition of every day for 2 weeks helped a lot.

I also like that at the end we got a check-list of what they could do and what they need to be able to do to pass their level. Neither boy passed their level, which is fine. So--we'll do level 2 and 3 again next summer! But, I know they have learned a lot. Both boys were the youngest in their groups. But, I would rather them be in a higher level group and not pass than be in any easy class and pass!

Overall, it was a good experience!

So---next summer we will do it again.

That's what summer is about, right?? Learning to SWIM!!!!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bible School

The HOTTEST Bible School Program Ever...

This year the end of Bible School program was at the zoo and it was 100 degrees.

We were at the zoo for no more than 45 minutes and I thought I wasn't going to make it that long!!!

Silly boys!!

Paige--Leah--Jenna

Mary Kate--Jaden

Hallie--Tyler--?--Jackson

It was SUPER HOT! But, they did a super great job.

I was especially impressed that Paige and Jaden knew all the words to their songs!

And, we are still singing the songs!

How cool!!!

Dance Camp

Fancy Nancy Dance Camp

3 days before turning 4 years old!!

The boys got to go to Basketball camp---so Paige got to go to DANCE CAMP!! And, it just so happened to be Fancy Nancy dance camp! Perfect---since Paige is loving Fancy Nancy right now!!

Paige's new friend, Reagan---Ethan's sister!!!

One day the girls had to dress "FANCY"---so Paige wore her Princess dress!!

Sitting in class.

Isn't she PRECIOUS!

Ballet walking....a fancy way to say, "walking on your tip-toes"

Paige got to wear her Tu-Tu that Grandma Balzer bought all the cousins last year!!

Paige has been WAITING until she turned 4---so she could take dance. I told her you had to be 4 to start dance!! So, when this camp came out 3 days before her 4th b-day...

it was perfect.

The only problem was....

I had bought her LOTS of ballet stuff (ballet shoes, tap shoes, leotards, ballet bag, etc.). They were all going to be part of her birthday presents. So--I had to get a few of those things out early so she could be, "dressed for dance camp!!"

I can't wait for many many more dance camps, classes, and recitals!!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

K-State Basketball Camp

The first (and I promise not the last) year for the

K-State Father-Son Basketball Camp!

Tyler and Jaden talking to JACOB PULLEN

The boys "found an open door" to the gym before camp started and watched the K-State team practice---they were not suppose to be there---but they had a great time watching!!

Talking to MARTAVIOUS IRVING

Tyler drew DOMINIQUE SUTTON a picture and took it to him.

Sutton told Tyler the 2nd day at camp that he put his picture in his locker---

Tyler was quite proud!!!

Jaden took invitations to his K-State birthday party and handed them out to EVERY player and even Coach Martin. This is Coach Martin reading Jaden's invitation! Jaden hand-wrote all 11 players names on each invitation and would not allow anyone to help him.

**Notice Jaden's head in the bottom left corner**

The players told Jaden they would have to see if they had practice that day or if they'd be able to come to his birthday party!! he he.

However, Jaden has already received a gift in the mail from the K-State basketball department! Steve and I were just as excited as Jaden was. Frank Martin sent Jaden an autographed picture of himself and wrote "Happy Birthday Jaden" on the picture!! HOW COOL!!!

We have framed it and it will be out for his K-State party!!!