School is in session!

It has been crazy at the Ward household! Andy started high school, Abby started 7th grade, Jake started 3rd grade, and Estee started 3 year old pre-school!
It is busy, and fun to be in this stage of life. We are going through some growing pains as we all adjust to summer being over, EARLY morning seminary, high school starting, endless football practice, mom being on PTO board, endless forms to fill out, and multiple levels of homework that is getting harder!
I know from past experience, that we will eventually get into a groove. School started about a week and half ago. Since that time we have also thrown in three different curriculum nights, my sisters and mom here for a trip (so fun!), and of course Dan having to work insane hours.

Since Andy and Abby leave at the crack of dawn I haven't been able to get pictures of them leaving for school. I did get some cute ones of Jake and Estee.

Here is Jake on his first day. He LOVES his 3rd grade teacher!
Estee thinks she is just as big as Jake and is waiting in line right by him.

Jake was ready to get right down to business--he is serious about his school work. :)

Estee (and friend Noah) are so excited for school to start!

Teacher Miss Elizabeth with some of the students.

Estee LOVED her first day and can't wait to go back--she is a social little child!

I am so happy to have my four, wonderful, busy, great, kids in all their stages of life. What fun for a stay home mom! I just hope to keep it together!

Look at our Dentist's Website....

wennerstendental.com

Musical Night

Here are the boys warming up for the big duet (on top of old smokey)!

We had a fun night of recitals! How exciting to have piano and cello recital all in one night! The only problem was that they were both at the same time! So luckily Dan was able to take the boys to their piano recital. While the girls went to Abby's cello recital. Luckily Dan got some good footage of the boys playing their pieces (see below). Unfortunately, the camera I was using had a dead battery! But you can take my word for it--Abby was spectacular on her cello!!

Pre-recital pics

Andy and Jake with there awards and teacher (Mandy) after the show.

Here's the footage of the boys songs and the duet they did together.

Great Kids, Messy Rooms

One morning a few weeks ago, Andy and Jake got up really early. They got dressed and "cleaned their room" . They also got Estee from her bed so I could sleep in, what wonderful children they are. When I woke up I found Andy playing his guitar to Estee and she was dancing, it was so dang cute I had to take a picture.

I like how "clean and organized" all the toys under their beds are. Although I hate to point out any shortcomings in their work and efforts to clean their room (for fear of them not making this non-forced effort again) I must ask "who could possibly think this room is clean?"

They're Gone!

Andy, Abby and Jake all went to Utah on Friday. Aunt Lindsay flew out and then flew back with them (thank you Lindsay). They are staying for almost a month without us! Then we will drive out to visit and all come home together. Estee is wondering where her friends went. When she sees their pictures or hears them on the phone she laughs--so cute.

Here they are at the airport at 5:30 AM. My babies are leaving!! Sob, sob.

They had a wonderful flight and arrived safely. Lindsay even paid for them to all watch TV on the little screens in front of their seats.

Jake being goofy at Grandma Ward's house.

Abby and Jake playing in Grandpa's pond, they don't look like they're having any fun at all, do they?!

Guess Who?? Ok, Ok, it's Andy with Grandma's wig on. (she is losing her hair because of Chemo).

We miss them tons,but I must say we are enjoying a clean and quiet house, but that would get old and boring after a while.

Who wouldn't want a trampoline?

We have a small issue in our household. Dan really didn't want a trampoline and I really did want one. I think I am feeling a bit guilty for coercing him into getting a trampoline, so I will try to justify myself here on my blog.

The reasons I want one are kind of obvious (I think):

1) We have four kids

2) They really want a trampoline

3) I LOVE jumping on the trampoline

4) good exercise

5) it's like a giant hammock we can all fit on to.

6) I found it on Arborlist for $50 including safety net and delivery!

7) Friends and neighbors will want to come over and jump

The reasons Dan didn't want it:

1) takes a lot of the small back yard (he has a point here)

2) "someone will get hurt"

3) he had to put it together

4) hard to mow under

5)Friends and neighbors will want to come over and jump (yes, same reason on my list) He probably has lots more reasons, but those are the reasonable ones that I can remember.

Look at Dan happily putting the trampoline together!

The following are funny quotes from Dan concerning the trampoline (that all give me a good laugh and teasing rights)

1)While he was disgruntledly (sidenote: this is not a word, but it's what he was) putting the trampoline together he cut his arm and it was all dirty and bloody. I told him to go and take care of it and he said "No, I hope I get tetanus from this stupid trampoline"

2)Monday after a busy day of work and trampoline assembly I wanted to smooth things over with the whole trampoline issue. I can't remember exactly what I said but his response was "I didn't want a trampoline, you wanted one. We have one. You win and I lose, now lets watch this movie and enjoy it!!

3) The kids were all together talking about how great it was to have a trampoline and Dan said "Just don't come crying to me when you break your arm" I was thinking "I am sure they can't cry to their dad who is a doctor if they break their arm!" Is he going to stand there and refuse to take care of them because it happened on the trampoline?? I don't think so. I of course said "no kids, you can come crying to your dad/doctor if you break your arm and he will help you".

4)"We have plenty of room in the back yard for a trampoline, and there's plenty of room in the front yard for a broken down car up on blocks" I guess he thinks a trampoline is redneck or maybe just that it's redneck to have a trampoline taking up a large portion of your back yard.

5) As he was putting up the finishing touches on the trampoline he kept saying "this better be A WHOLE LOT of fun"

Estee loves the trampoline and it keeps her caged in! Bonus Feature of trampoline: Giant Playpen .

Jungle Java

Jake inside the jungle net

Spring Break was all this week. With temperatures in the 30's (during the day) we had to find indoor activities to fill the "I'm bored" days. Two of the days we went to Jungle Java the indoor jungle gym place that just opened here. Jake had a smoking good time here, he played, ran, jumped, climbed and whatever else they do there for a full 3 hours. With only a few "I'm thirsty" breaks. I don't know if you can see from the picture but his hair was soaked and dripping with sweat. He had a great time.

Abby inside the tree (with Flat Stanley) at Jungle Java

Abby had a good time too. She had her friend Swetha there and other girls from our church were there as well. Abby had hurt her toe the day before and didn't like how it got all twisted around in the jungle gym area. So she and some of the other girls had a little art table where they kept themselves busy in between frequent request for money to buy snacks.

It was here at Jungle Java that Estee did her first forward crawl, she did two forward movements in a row. I am counting that as a crawl. She has been so close for a while and she can actually go backwards pretty well. The forward crawl is proving difficult for her to coordinate.

I crawled! Watch out Ward household (and world)!

Oh, Easter

Here are the kid-lets with there Easter baskets (do you think Andy's is big enough?)
We had a fun Easter today! We went to church and when we got home the Easter Bunny had left our baskets and eggs for a hunt. The Easter Bunny very wisely left the eggs and baskets in the house as the outside temperature was 32 degrees. It's really not quite right that it's spring break, Easter and it's been spring for a few weeks and it's 32 degrees! I am sure the complaining about the weather is getting old, sorry.

Estee enjoyed her first Easter candy with the wrappers on.

The hunt is on for Easter eggs!

Dan was home all day with us, it was very nice. You can tell by the look on his face he loved when I turned the camera on him. :)

We took some pictures of Estee in her Easter dress.

For all our Easter Day pics here's a link http://picasaweb.google.com/janieward1313/Easter2007