Bear World

Jacob and I had the opportunity to go to Bear World before school was out (May 21st, 2009) for a class field trip. It was my first time their. Jacob went with his preschool class last year. It was so much fun. The bears were totally out playing. It was so fun. I loved Jacob's reaction every time he saw a bear. We saw the bears in the bus. We also saw wolves, dear, moose and other animals. After the tour of the park we went to the petting area. It was so much fun. They had a really large pig that growled at you when you would pet it, turkey's and chickens but our favorite was the baby dear. It was so cute and it would let you touch and pet it.

Jacob acting crazy on the bus with his friend Ethan.

Looking out the window.

The brat pack. These bears will actually stop cars and climb on them. The big light brown one will stop the cars and while the cars are stopped the other bears will actually climb on the cars. That is where they get their name.

Large grizzly in the background.

Jacob looking at the 6 new baby grizzly cubs. (Jacob wanted his hair like a yak for bear world)

Jacob looking at the dear.

Jacob laughing. I love his cute little smiling face. He thought that looking at the dear in the eyes was so funny.

They are staring each other down.

Angelene with the dear.

Feeding the turkeys. Every time the turkey would come and eat off of Jacob's hand Jacob would scream because the turkey tickled his hand.

Whole kindergarten class at Bear World.

Mom and Jacob at Bear World

Rain Rain Go A Way...

Okay the rain is starting to drive me crazy. It has been raining since Tuesday. It has rained off and on for a lot of it but yesterday it rained all day. If it is going to rain like this everyday I wish that it would just rain at night. We have had baseball games canceled for it already. We are in desperate need of moving the lawn as well. I have less than two weeks too till my race and am really needing good weather for running each morning. I don't mind the rain but it is really chilly too and so it is not very fun. I am not a crazy runner either like some of my friends who get up at 6 am to run. I have a hard enough time getting up at 6:45 to do it so running in the rain is something that is hard for me.

I guess one advantage of the rain is that I seem to sit and read more. I actually read 5 books in 5 days. Well not in 5 consecutive days. I read them in a week but it took me one day to read each one. I read three of them in one weekend. Took a break and a few days later read another one and then on Saturday I read another one.

I read Annelise's favorite authors book. The author is Tracy Hunter Abramson. ( http://www.tracihunterabramson.com )She wrote undercurrents, ripple effect, and the deep end. She also wrote freefall and Royal Target. I think out of the five that I have read so far freefall was the most logical. They were good books. I wouldn't go crazy and tell everybody to read them but I enjoyed the fun fast reads. The crazy thing is that I read over 1000 pages in the last little while. Crazy.

Heidi wanted me to post what our Stake President has asked us to do as a ward and family. He challenged us to do this at our ward conference last month. He called it the "No Skips Program."
We are encouraged as a ward and family to not skip on the important things like scripture study and family home evening.

No Skips
Daily
Prayer-personal and family
scripture study-personal and family
repentance

Weekly
Family Home Evening
Renewal of covenants at the sacrament table
Church attendance
Propper Sabbath Day activities


Monthly
Home/Visiting Teaching (every home)
Attend Temple and keep covenants
Tithes and Offerings
Fast with a purpose

We have always been good but on the weekends we seem to not be so great about prayer and scriptures. We decided as a family to do this and it seems to be going great. We read our sciptures every night and make sure that we have family prayer. We still have a lot to work on but we are going to keep on trying.

We also were challenged in December as a Stake to turn off the TV. The stake President said that he still loves his college football games but really there is nothing great to watch on TV and that we could be spending our time doing other things. I agreed to some extent with him but I still had a few of the shows I liked and it was nice as times to just tell our kids to watch to TV. We didn't really follow this but a month a go I finally got fed up with the kids fighting and disconnected the TV. They no longer can watch TV. We still have it hooked up for movies but they have to ask to watch a movie. It has been wonderful. We have not watch one show on TV for a month. I don't know what is going on in the world either because I don't watch the news. It has been really nice. Do my kids still fight. You bet but it is nice to find time to do other things. I do sometimes want to go connect the TV so I can watch something but then I will think about it and I change my mind quickly. So we have turned into a no TV family. I don't think that I will connect it anytime soon either. We still watch movies and rent them but there is no TV during the day. I love it. I know that it is not for everybody but I am liking how well it how worked for us. So if there is a new show on TV and you want to know if I have watched it don't ask because I probably won't have heard of it.

I guess I just know that as a family we could be doing better at everything and I want to try to do that. I want my family to be stronger and to do the things we need to make us that way.

I guess maybe that is why I have time to read. Hmm no I just read easy books and I figure that if I get my house cleaned really quickly in the day then I can then read and do something for myself. We all need our time esepcially Mom's. Am I right?

Piano Concert

Rachel started piano lessons a few months ago and last night (Wednesday June 3rd) she had her first concert. She was so nervous but did so well. She played two pieces. One by herself and the other as a duet with her teacher. Rachel loves piano. We were so proud of her. Grandpa and Grandma Heileson came and watched. Because of the limited space we couldn't invite a lot of people so I made sure to film it for everybody.

Rachel takes lessons on Thursdays and she looks forward to Thursdays each week. I never have to ask her to practice either. She just sits down and does it. Her teacher Michelle stood up and introduced everybody before they each played their first songs and about Rachel she said that Rachel comes with the biggest smile each week. When she opens the door Rachel looks so happy to be there. She also said that Rachel loves piano and she assumes this with everything she does that if she loves something she will work so hard at it and excel in it. I wish that I had filmed what she said because it was so awesome.

I love that Rachel loves piano so much. I think that she will always love it and will excel in it. She came home today from her lesson and said that it went well but she has some hard songs she is learning but excited to learn them. What a change from her Mom growing up. I am excited to look back years from now and see the change in her piano abilities.

We are all proud of our Rachel.

Her Comes the Parade

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

School is Over

So the kids are done for the summer already and are into baseball now. Between Rachel and Jacob we have games almost everyday of the week. It is fun though. Jacob's last day of school was May 28th and Rachel's was May 29th.

A few days before Jacob's last day of school he went on picnic with all the kindergartners. They walked to some kids house by the school, played games and had a barbecue. They had a lot of fun. I loved going and watching Jacob play the games and have a fun day in the sun. It was a perfect day too.

(Outside of the school waiting to go back in his classroom)

Jacob's class outside of his classroom in the kindergartens private playground. Jacob is on the end right.

Jacob did really well this year. He had a good teacher who was so much fun. He made the kids laugh all the time and he really got down to their level and played with them. All the kids loved Mr. Judy. He did a lot of work for the kids and Jacob came home with some pretty amazing things to remember his school year with. Jacob got the highest grade you can get. No surprise their. I can't believe that Jacob is going to be in the 1st grade in a few months. Jacob seems excited though. He is happy to be done with school for the summer.

Jacob and Mr. Judy- Jacob gave Mr. Judy a movie ticket for Edwards and movie theater candy. Mr. Judy loves the movies.

Rachel's last week of school was fun. The week before she did a bunch of reports as well as a story about her teachers frog. It was a stuffed frog that they all had to write a story about. Rachel's was funny. I will put it after all the pictures. Rachel had crazy hair day one of the last days of school. Her hair was pretty crazy.



Rachel did fantastic this year in school. She got all A's and one B+. her B+ was in reading. I was not surprised there. She loves to read but for reading they have to read books that they can be tested on. Many of the books that she read there were no tests for them so she had to do book reports for them. She got half as many or less points doing it that way. She had a goal for points and didn't get it so she got a B+. I personally think that it is the dumbest thing that I have ever heard of but what ever. She was in the 4th grade and reading at a 7th grade level and got a B+. Makes no sense to me. Oh well. I was so proud of her anyways. I am not one to care what your grades are as long as you try your best.

Rachel had a great year at school with an amazing teacher. Mr. Jones was awesome. I could not have asked for a better teacher for Rachel. She learned tons and loved school. She also had a great group of friends. She was so sad when her best friend Rachael moved a way but became really great friends with three girls at school and a bunch of boys.

Rachel and her 4th grade teacher Mr. Jones. She gave Mr. Jones a box of Twinkies (his favorite) and a Barnes and Noble gift card because Mr. Jones is always reading.

Rachel and two of her good friends at school. Journee and Isly.

Here is Rachel's hilarious story that she wrote about her teachers frog.

Mr. Jones’ Frog

By Rachel Heileson

One day Mr. Frog and Mrs. Frog went on a walk. While on their walk they saw their neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Toad walking as well. So they all walked and talked together. While they were walking they were not paying watching where they were walking and they walked right into the dark, dark woods.

“I’m scared,” said Mrs. Frog.

“Me too,” said Mrs. Toad trembling.

“Where are we,” said Mr. Frog.

“We are in the dark, dark woods and were lost,” said Mr. Toad.

“I need to get home before dinner so I can’t be lost,” said Mrs. Frog.

“Ok, all right, fine. We’ll just walk in the direction we came from,” said Mr. Toad.

“Wait what direction did we come from,” said Mrs. Toad.

“How should I know, I am just a frog on a walk and I am lost,” said Mrs. Frog.

But one thing that they didn’t know was that they were being watched.

“Hi,” said a voice behind them.

So they turned around and there standing before them was a girl.

“Can I help you guys with something,” said that girl.

“Who are you,” said Mr. Toad.

“What’s your name,” said Mrs. Toad.

“My name is Karra, and I live here,” said the girl.

“But Karra how can you live here and why do you live here,” said Mrs. Frog.

“Well I really didn’t have a choice where I lived. My parents abandoned me here when I was little,” Karra said.

“Why did your parents abandon you,” said Mr. Frog.

“Well because I can communicate with animals. That is why I am talking to you,” said Karra.

“So you’re saying no other human can communicate with humans,” said Mr. Frog.

“Well I am just one of the few people that can,” said Karra.

“Um Karra,” said Mrs. Toad. “How do we get home?”

“What is your town called,” said Karra.

“It’s called Sunnyville,” said Mr. Frog.

“Hmm, Sunnyville, huh,” said Karra.

“Yup,” said Mrs. Toad.

“Ok, let’s see. Where is Sunnyville,” said Karra. “Does anybody have a map or a compass?”

“Nope,” “Nope,” “Nadda,” “Nu-uh,” they all said.

“Okay then we’ll just go to my house to get one,” said Karra.

“You’re house?” said Mr. Toad a little worried.

“Yes my house,” said Karra.

“Where is your house,” said Mrs. Toad.

“Well it is not far from here,” Karra said.

“Okay which direction do we go,” said Mrs. Frog.

“This direction,” Karra said pointing east.

After they went to Karra’s house and got the map and compass they moved on. But while they were walking night fell, and out of nowhere Karra turned into an Ogre and then she ate Mr. and Mrs. Toad and Frog. And that was the end of Mr. and Mrs. Toad and Frog.

“Wahahahahaha,” cackled the little girl in the dark, dark woods.

Kaelen Update

Kaelen is 14 months old today. He is so big and so cute. He loves to be outside. He has recently started to take the hose and drink from it when it is on. It is so cute. He seems to be always wet. It is so funny. He stands at the door all the time wanting to go outside. He is an escapee too. He loves to run a way.

Throwing chalk outside.

He recently got his 7th tooth. It is so cute. He is so big too it seems. He loves to stand at the top of the stairs and yell down at the kids after we do. In this video he is standing in the house yelling at the kids after I had told them to come in the house.

He is such a big helper. He also will give us something if you ask him too. If you tell him to give something to a certain person he will take it to them.

Kaelen loves the phone. He has learned to say hi the other day but only says it on the phone. In this video is he pretending to talk on the phone and is saying hi and then babbling like his is talking to somebody.

Kaelen eating a cookie. Yum. What a mess.

Kaelen loves to climb into the laundry baskets. When ever I do laundry he will lay on top of the clean clothes. One day he will be asleep in the laundry basket. Once the clothes are empty he likes to climb in and out of it. His favorite is when Rachel pushes him in it.

Kaelen loves to lay down and put his bum in the air. I think that he keeps trying to do a somersault. One day he'll do it and be freaked out because he won't know what he just did.

Kaelen has never taken a binky before. He has never liked them until he found the candy ones. Yum.

Kaelen is finally sleeping through the night now. Yippy. He will sleep anywhere from 9-11 hours straight. It's about time. I love it.

Kaelen will look at pictures of Enoch and I that we have in our room and will look at Enoch's picture and say "Dad" and then when I look at him and ask him where Mom's picture is he'll just look at me like I am an idiot because I am standing right there.

Kaelen loves animals. He has learned to pant like a dog and so every animal he see's he will pant. It is so cute. We always know that there is an animal around because he pants. We love.
He has this book about Dogs from Juleene and David. He sits on the floor and will spend an hour each day looking at it. He loves it. He sits and pants the whole time he reads it.

Kaelen finally loves shoes. He will actually put his feet out for you to put them on for you. He actually now has 4 pairs of shoes. That is amazing because a few months ago he would only wear slippers. He still takes his socks off though all the time if he doesn't have shoes on.

Kaelen loves to give kisses. He doesn't do it on your lips though. He will pucker his lips to kiss you and then at the last minute he tilts his head down and wants you to kiss his forehead. He does it every night before Rachel and Jacob goes to sleep. He needs kisses from them too. I love it. Sometimes he'll give me kisses three or four times in a row.

Kaelen has tamper tantrums already. He will get mad and lay on the ground and cry. At times he will also go find you where you are at so he can have his tamper tantrum on the floor near you. Don't take something away from him or he has one. Silly kid. Thank you to his sister and brother he does this sooner than most kids.

Kaelen loves to play on his own but he mostly loves playing with Rachel and Jacob. He wants to be where ever they are. He also loves to talk to you and talk while he plays. If only we knew what he was saying.

He actually said his first two sentences the other day. He pointed to a ball on his pajamas and said "it's a ball" and then pointed to my clothes and I of course didn't have one on and said "where's the ball." It was amazing. We all heard it because it was in the middle of family scripture study.

Kaelen is so much fun. I could spend hours each day just watching him play. I love it. He brings us all so much joy. We love our little boy and love him more each day.

6 Year Old Pictures of Jacob

We got Jacob's pictures taken this last week. Here is what they looked like. I was so happy with how well they turned out. Jacob was so energetic and fun while getting his pictures taken. He goofed off a lot too but it was funny to watch him. The whole time he wanted a picture of his bum so we compromised and got a picture of him laying down with his feet in the air. Jacob looks so big in all of his pictures. We bought a bunch. We had some of them cropped and put into black and white. These ones are the originals.

We got this one of Jacob

This is him being silly. He was happy that we could see his bum a bit in it. What a funny kid.

We got this one too but we cropped it more so you see less of his legs.

This one we definitely got because we have Kaelen and Rachel in the same pose laying down. These will go above our bed in frames that my brother-in-law Joseph made for us.

I love this one of him standing up on his own.

We got this one too but he is more centered and his face takes up most of the picture. We got it in black and white.

I love his super big smile.

We also got a picture of this pose. I love his grin. He is so cute.

"The Ball Olympics"

On May 16th Jacob had his birthday party with friends. It was so fantastic. We had so much fun getting ready for it as well as having it. I think that Enoch had as much fun as the kids did at the party. We decided to have Jacob's birthday party theme go along with balls. We called it the "Ball Olympics." (I loved his invitations. The ball on the top stuck out a bit and it was either a football, basketball or soccer ball.)

We had activities that in some way involved a ball. We did that party outside. It was a perfect day too. So nice that we had to put sun screen on. (Nice change from last year where it rained and was cold)

The activities were Balloon Bounce and Break (jumping on the tramp with tons of balloons and trying to only pop three and pop them the fastest), Threw the Hoop (standing on certain spots and throwing footballs threw a hula-hoop), Bubble Mania (really large bubbles that didn't work), and Smack and Smash (the soccer ball pinata). We invited 9 kids to his party but only 7 showed up. It was all boys too. 2 boys were from school, his cousin Carter and the rest were from church. The whole family helped set the party up. Enoch even ran over to the dollar store to buy gold medals for all the boys just before the party started.

When the boys arrived we put jersey's on them with black under their eyes because they were all football players. We welcomed them with opening ceremonies and then they tried to do the bubbles but they were not working great so we moved on to the football toss. They loved that. Enoch stood on the other side of the hula-hoop and loved getting hit with the footballs. Enoch would count and mark how many they got through the hoop and at each line that they got them through.

Kaelen playing in the bubbles while the boys did the games.

After the ball toss the boys stood around the trampoline and three boys got on at a time and Enoch timed them while they tried to pop three balloons the fastest. The boys loved this. They were laughing so hard. Some of the boys couldn't even pop them, they would jump on them and then be propelled off. I laughed so hard. One little boy couldn't even pop any because he was laughing so hard. We had 75 balloons on the tramp.


After the balloon pop the boys went to the pinata. They each hit it once, then twice and then till it fell. The could pick too between large metal stick or a long broom handle. The boys loved it. They were so good too. They took turns hitting it. We told the boys too that they could get some candy but that it was all going to be divided into treat bags after. Well when it fell open the boys didn't take any. I was shocked. I guess they new that they knew they were going to get some.

Kaelen leaning far onto the trampoline netting to watch the boys hit the pinata.

Next we opened presents. Jacob got some awesome presents. To open the presents Jacob tossed a football in the air and who it landed closest to he opened their presents. The boys were all very thoughtful. Jacob thanked every boy too when he opened their presents.

I love that all of their mouths are open.

After we had cake. I LOVED Jacob's cake. He wanted a football cake so we really made it a football cake. We put it on green paper that we them made to look like a football field. I then make goal posts out of kabob sticks and straws. It turned out fantastic. The boys all really loved it too.





All the boys from the party.

We had such a fun time. After the cake I let all the boys go on the tramp and go crazy popping the rest of the balloons. When the boys went home we sent them home with a large bag of candy with a small football in it as well as a gold medal.

It is amazing to me how quickly the time goes for a party. We had just enough time. I was sure tired at the end of the day though after cleaning it all up. I could have not done the party though if it had not been for Rachel and Enoch's help. They actually ran the party so I could take pictures. That was so awesome for me.