Jacob's last year of preschool!

 Today was meet your teacher and see your new class room for Jacob.  He was VERY excited to go. Since he will go to Kindergarten NEXT year!  This is scary face he likes to do for all his pictures now.  He is pointing to his name.

 Giselle was excited to come along.  She is going to go to preschool next year but she likes to go whenever she can now.  Jacob is showing her how to do a puzzle.

 This is Jacob's teacher Miss Shannon.  She is also his best little friend's mom from his class last year. Phoebe!  Sadly Phoebe is going to a different school this year with her older siblings. He will miss her.

 Giselle stayed at the puzzle area for quite a while. Here she is working on a puzzle about your right and left hand.  Isn't she so cute?

Jacob couldn't wait to play with the tools. He told and showed Giselle all of them.  I am excited for him to start this year.  He is really excited about letters and numbers and writing his name.  I am excited for him to have fun and learn routines and schedules and to be able to write his name.  I also signed up to help with a few things. I think this is going to be a fun year!

Happy 10th Birthday Genevieve!

Genevieve Eliza Fox born august 25th 2002!  I can't believe it's been 10 years since you were born. Our lives have been so blessed because of you.  You started out as a sweet bald baby with big blues who liked to play with blocks and watch wiggles.  Now you are a 5th grader who LOVES Harry Potter and books books and more books. You will try any sport or activity.  Even if it's something you have never tried.  I love that you will bear testimony every fast Sunday even if it's not your home ward.  I love that you care about your sisters and brother and worry about them.  Your 10 years is just a beginning to your adventure and we are so blessed to be apart of it.  We love you and are SO happy you are in our family. Happy Birthday sweet girl!
I forgot to put that this is the first year Genna was able to celebrate AT school. So I brought her wendy's lunch and tons of small bags of M&M's and passed them out during lunchtime.  It was only the 2nd full day so a lot of kids didn't know Genevieve so I told them it was for her birthday and that they had to say happy birthday to her. I also decorated her locker without her knowing and she loved it. She said kids came up to her ALL day saying Happy Birthday!!

Brookfield Zoo

For our final summer adventure we went to the Brookfield Zoo. It is a zoo only a few minutes from our house.  Lucky for us we have wonderful friends that have passes and so we were able to go for FREE! Woo hoo. Thanks guys.  We could only go for about 2 hours so it was really nice of them to let us use their pass.  We started out seeing this giant African bee. It made noises and moved and totally freaked Jacob out. When we were walking back to our car he said he didn't want to walk by the giant bug.
We were able to walk right up to a peacock and the girls thought that was so COOL.   Jolie finally saw a Hippo. She loves Hippo's and every time we went to the DC zoo they were always under water but that day the Hippo was resting on a rock.  We also saw the cutest monkeys..oh my they were tiny and so fun to watch.  We also saw gorillas, polar bear, Buffalo, deer, and many other animals. We didn't have tons of time so there are plenty more animals we still need to see. Jacob was very sad we didn't see the Giraffe's and Genna said we didn't spend nearly enough time at the Wolves. So we definitely need to go back.
So if you look at the picture you will notice MOST of my children are in long sleeves and pants...Oops. Brett always teases me that I over dress the kids.  I guess it's that midwest girl in me to always think it's going to be cold. In fairness it had been chilly and it was pretty cold in the morning but it warmed up a lot quicker than I realized it would. So yes Brett you were right..I said it!
I had so much fun with my sweet friends. Jacquie and Leah and their adorable children. Jacquie's mother in law came too. She was the one taking the picture.
School is back on and the fun is over..well at least the fun for the big girls. Thanks Ladies we had a blast!

1st day of school for the 2012-2013 year!

 I never thought I would dread my kids going back to school. This year I did. I was not ready for summer to be over and the daily marathon school days are.  The kids on the other hand were very excited for school to start.  This is Genevieve's first year in middle school and she couldn't wait to get there.  They got up at 6:30 to catch the 7:01 bus.  I got up at 6am to make them yummy monkey bread which is wasn't even ready for them when they had to leave. :(   Doing TWO girls hair in the morning before catching the bus made them a little late and they had to RUN to catch it. Luckily they have a super nice bus driver who waited for them.

 Jillian leaves at 7:39 so she had a little more time in the morning AND she let us take her to school for the first day so we could meet her teacher and take some pictures.

                                                      Jillian age:7 Grade:2nd

       Giselle loves playing school and had to have her "pack pack" too. Jacob can't wait for his school to start too! Next week is a meet the teacher day but then the next week is his 1st day.

 Jillian in front of her locker.  She loves that her school has lockers.

                                                        The big 2nd grader at her desk.

 Jolie and Genevieve AFTER their 1st day of school since we didn't have time to take pictures before school. They said it was an awesome 1st day.  Both girls talked about how they liked their teachers and loved seeing their friends.  Both of them are wearing their contacts and curled their hair.  No make up though!

They LOVED striking a pose.  I can't believe they are already in middle school. Life is moving way to fast..that's probably the biggest reason I'm sad for them to go because I know it's another year of them growing up.

Back to school F.H.E.

Another school year is quickly approaching and it's time to refresh and rejuvenate some goals for the year!

I found this scripture and printed it on card stock and laminated and we are hanging it next to our calendar.  We discussed what it meant and the kids did a really god job telling us it means to be an example in all we do and say!

 After our new motto and scripture for the year.  We wrote down goals each would like to work on this year.  Giselle is our "happy" model. Actually she was happy, but insisted on making this a dramatic photo.:)

Giselle: Be potty trained and get rid of the binky!
Jacob: Write his own name and learn to play soccer.
Jillian: Say my morning prayers and finish homework right away.
Genevieve:  Learn all 13 articles of faith,eat healthy and exercise and work on Math.
Jolie: Less time on the computer and study harder in Math.
**** they each came up with their own goals..except Giselle!

We also talked about how important it is to go to bed early since they now have to get up early.  We decided we need to have snack and homework time right away when we get home from school. Homework is to be done at the kitchen table.

We finished with Brett giving them each a Father's Blessing.  This year is going to be busy but hopefully with us all working together we can have peace in our home and still have fun!

Indiana Dunes: Take TWO!

 Our ward craft group goes every year to the Indiana Dunes for our August activity! It was a little chilly when we first got there so we thought we do the Dunes first and since we didn't get to them last time the kids were itching to go.

 We did an easy one since they had never done it and I didn't have Brett with me to help carry kids if needed.   Poor Giselle she was such a trooper but she was breathing so heavy and was on her hands and knees the most of the time. I did end up carrying her for a little bit but not much. She really wanted to do it herself. She was so red when we got to the top.

 We finally made it to the top.  Here are a few of the fun kids that were there with us. Doesn't that look so beautiful? Amazing what world we live in.

                      We gave them the green light to run down the Dune.

 Giselle wiped out pretty quickly.

 Jacob LOVED running down. Doesn't he look like Dash from "The Incredibles"?

 His little legs were full steam ahead but than...........

 Face plant.  He didn't mind at all and got right back up and ran.

 Then it was time for some swimming...the big girls are on a sand bar in the middle of the lake. They loved feeling like they are walking on water.

 Snacks are always important. Jacob chowing on pringles. Giselle ate almost an entire box of blueberries.

 Playing in the sand is so fun..even for adults. This is a fort right next to us. They brought big shovels and worked a long time...yes Adults...I love all the flags and little army men. Too fun!

 Here are the kids working on their tunnel/ hot tub.  They used only their hands and worked a LONG time. It was crazy how big they got it and how long they worked on it and loved it.

 Another shot of them climbing the dunes.

It's always fun to go with friends. Here I am with the super cute Sara!  What a great trip and fun time! Thanks Ladies!!

Summer Gymnastics camp!

Jacob and Jillian went for 2 weeks for 2 hours each day to gymnastics camp. Jillian has taken a few classes but at mostly YMCA type of places so this was her first time at an actual academy! It was so amazing to go their and see all the equipment and all the gymnasts of all levels. At one time there was at least 6 girls walking on their hands from one end of the room to the other. It was crazy.  The best part was it got Jillian and Jacob so pumped to be there.  They got to try out almost all of the equipment.
some of their favorite things were:
   Jumping in the big pit of foam squares.
jumping on the trampoline floor.
Walking on the balance beams.
swinging on the rings
climbing the big rope to the ceiling.
water breaks and stamps at the end.
Both are signed up to start classes for the fall. Class begins Aug. 20th.  The coaches thought both of them showed some real talent.  The coach was mostly excited about Jacob because he is in his words " athletic, energetic and follows directions".  He thinks that he could be in Mighty mites which is the class before the team in just one session.  Who knows we could have a couple Olympic gymnasts!!!