Nerdery of the Highest Order

 Nathan and I decided it would be fun to have a Night Time themed game night with the kids. Without the time change here (LOVE THAT) it get's dark pretty early so we were able to play for hours and still make it to bed on time. (Love that too!)

 We started out with Glow in the Dark Bowling. Unfortunately, the glow sticks I was able to track down were mostly duds and the ones that did glow were kinda weak. But they served their purpose. The kids all took turns rolling a ball down the hall to knock down the "pins". Nathan would reset the pins each round while I kept Ander from running and kicking them over- trust me, that was a full time job.

 Next I set up the video camera out in our yard and we had the kids wait out there. We recently watched the 3 Star Wars movies, the older made/end of the story ones. All of the children's pretend games have been Star Wars themed since then.
Because Nathan works with all manner of Asian tech-y nerds (the ultimate super breed of nerds, if you will), he met some guy who could get him some "authentic" Light Sabers. Apparently they don't make them for just anyone, you have to go and meet with "The Maker" who will then ask you questions to determine what kind of "Force" you are channeling etc. We are talking Nerdery of the Highest Order. And though the meeting was taking things a little far in Nathan's book, I can't deny how excited he was to show the kids the Light Sabers.

 So anyway, our crew were waiting in the yard when Nathan and I came bursting out of the front doors engaged in a deadly battle between good and evil. The 4 of them were beside themselves cheering us on and whooping it up.
The Light Sabers make great sound effects when you are fighting with them and they are crazy bright. The kids were tripping over themselves trying to get in on the action. I eventually overcame Nathan - he had the red one so obviously he had to die- followed immediately by a chorus of, "Can I try?!" "I want one!" "When do I get to try?!". We brought out two other light sabers I had found at Costco and though they weren't approved by "The Maker", they served their purpose well enough.

 Epic Battles ensued....

 There were really only 3 light sabers to share between 5 of us because once Ander got his hands on one he was never letting it go. He had found a new calling for his Toddlerhood.

 It was a ridiculous amount of fun having duels and battles with the kids. We were all laughing and chasing and whacking at each other. The specialty Light sabers are crazy bright and made for some awesome pictures.

 We played until everyone was a happy, sweaty, and exhausted mess. When it was time to go in Ander still hadn't had enough. His meltdown was a performance worthy of the Dark Side. Luckily his dad swept him up and off to bed before it ruined the mood. It was such a great night.
Nathan having Nerd Connections has payed off again. Love him!

Kennedy's 9th Birthday

Kennedy was out of school for her 9th birthday because of Student Led Conferences. We spent part of the day at the school and part of the day scrambling to get her birthday ready. Nathan made a special trip to the store to get cabbage for her favorite salad. I cut it open to discover some sort of slug/worm thing had contaminated all of the innards leaving a slimy residue all over. Then Nathan went to BBQ the chicken and the propane was out. Add to that all the crazy we normally have and we were scrambling to get things under control.

Kennedy's closest friend and her little sister live just a few minutes up the mountain so they came down for a couple of hours to help celebrate.
Kennedy has been voicing how she wished she had bad eye sight so that she could wear glasses. She was ecstatic to discover the "fashion" glasses and panda scarf I set out for her to find when she woke up. Pandas are her favorite animal so the party was loosely Panda themed.

Scarlett giving her best "holy cow that flash is bright" face...

Kohen was in rare form since he was showing off a little for our guests. When he saw Kennedy's hat he sprinted from the kitchen and reappeared wearing his very favorite Robot Hat, doing his best Mr. Robot dance moves. If that doesn't impress a girl, what will?

We finished off the night watching Kung Fu Panda II after cake and ice cream. Like all Birthday Days, it was long but fun.
I am so grateful for a day each year where we get to focus on just one child and how grateful we are for them. As the oldest Kennedy walks that difficult and thin line between helping mom and trying to be the mom. Most of the time she is the best helper a mom could hope for. I couldn't ask for a better girl to be the example for her brothers and sisters. Love this happy, sweet girl. My one running complaint is that she is growing up entirely too fast.

Some Day Dreams Do Come True.

One of Nathan and I's first dates we spent snuggled up on his couch each reading our own books. Looking back I realize it was during that date I started falling for him... hard. The fact that Nathan enjoyed reading as much as I did was so attractive to me. In much later dates when we were reading together I would day dream about our future little Jensens likewise snuggled up in a blanket, lost in a story. You know sometimes, (day) dreams do come true:

Grant it, Kennedy is only one of 5 but we have so enjoyed how much she loves reading. And she is quite the little reader, spending much of her free time inhaling one book after another. Not to mention what a help she is to me; many a night she has saved the day for me by reading to her brothers and sisters while I attend to yet another disaster or melt down. 

Of all of the qualities I love about Kennedy, her love of reading has a special place in my heart. 

He's Got An Eye For Detail

Kohen has an eye for detail. In his Mandarin homework I found this picture he drew where he and Nathan have their hair done (noted by the hair shooting straight up from their head), and carry light sabers. Kennedy and Aly have a lovely flower in their hair and I have a bow. He didn't get time to finish Ander, he reported. But who is that other little figure? The one with tears falling and.......

 .... her tongue sticking out. Clearly, his mei mei.

Scarlett's Blessing Day

One of the unexpected perks of my mom's visit was that we were able to bless Scarlett while she was here. It was wonderful to have even one family member here with us. It was a lovely day and Scarlett was a perfect baby for the event. 

Okay, can we talk about her dress?!!! Nathan's Aunt Charlotte (and I believe his cousin Jetta helped too) handmade this beautiful dress. Charlotte makes baby blessing dresses for lucky family and friends, her talent is unbelievable.  She showed me pictures of a few dresses she had made before and I got to pick and choose what I wanted, like the pinafore lace overlay, tulip sleeves and bonnet. 

 I am so in love with this dress, and so distraught that I can't get a proper picture of it that does it justice! The dress needs a photo shoot of it's own!

 I think of the day we blessed Ander and how different I felt with Scarlett's just by having my mom here and a beautiful dress for the baby that to me, represented all of our family in the States. A little something that reminds of us of our loved ones at home. It was a wonderful day.

Pixie's (aka: Gma's) Visit

 Even blurry, that is a cool picture of Kohen. The kid's tricks have gotten more gutsy as this swimming season has gone on. And when they have a captive audience, like Gma was, they will perform for hours.

 Getting to go swimming is a great incentive to get homework done after school.

 "CAN IT- BOOOOMB!!!!"

 Besides spending time poolside, my mom and I also spent a fair amount of time staring at Scarlett, deciding what features come from where and repeating how adorable she is, over and over. Truly, there is nothing more beautiful than a baby who is peacefully sleeping.

Since they were in season we had a "Dragon Eye" tasting, which is also known as Lychee fruit, but once you hear the nickname it becomes a lot harder to ignore the texture which is exactly what I imagine an eyeball would feel like *gag*

Pixie braved it first...

Followed by Kennedy...

... who was quick to eject her nibble into the trash.

Nothing had changed since the last time I tried 'em- yuck.

The kids played out in the pouring rain one afternoon and had a grand ol time. They were making sidewalk chalk murals on the walls that surround our house, splashing in puddles, and according to some reports, even swimming in puddles.

Brandie and Carrie (the neighbors) kind of insisted that my mom and I get out of the house and go with them to this pottery town called Yingga, about an hour away. I am so glad we went! We didn't have near enough time there before we had to go to catch kids coming off of the bus, but watch for a post on Yingga in the future as I plan on going back.

The day my mom left we went to the school and had lunch with each of the kids as they came through the lunch room.

Kohen and his buddy Taylor with my Mom- had to get a picture of the cuteness there. Kohen actually had to go to the VP office for defending Taylor's honor. If you feel like you are missing some details in that story... you are.

Shortly after I got this shot, about 10 girls surrounded my mom, Kennedy and Scarlett. All of Kenna's friends were dying to see her new sister. It was quite the crowd, all ooo-ing and aww-ing. Cute girls.

I had to try and get a shot of how Scarlett puts both of her little fists under her chin when you hold her on your shoulder. Before you know it she has gone to sleep, perched on her two tiny fists. 

We couldn't have had a better time with Pixie, or been more grateful that grandma came to visit. Love you Pixie!

My Baby Boy is 2

 Ah man, you know what's coming don't you? Me talking about how I can't believe my little guy is already two, how fast the time flies and how it feels like it was only yesterday he was born. But darn it! It's all cliche' and it's all true! Sooo, let's discuss how grateful I am he is only two because he was oblivious to the ball dropping I engaged in around his birthday.

 On the big day we picked up Ander's brothers and sisters from school and met Nathan at YuKids Island. This was the right choice for sure. (Note how I skip to 3pm before his festivities begin. Well, I guess I gave him a cookie with his breakfast, does that count?)

My mom and I and Nathan watched as Ander ran around with his brother and sisters like a little wild man- SO happy.

They all had a great time, and Ander left a happy, sweaty, satisfied customer. 

Randomly- how wrong does Kenna's leg look in the above pic?!

 Ander's favorite part of his birthday was easily when we all sing to him, especially the Bahasan Celebration song we sing at the end (courtesy of the Bell's :) he claps and shouts along. He didn't mind the cake either.

 Moment of truth here, Mom didn't get his presents wrapped. For the first time in the history of our family, there were no decorations. As in zero. Nary a balloon. At the last second we threw a gift in a trash bag and stuck a bow on it for him to open before bed.
It can only go up from here, right? ... Poor kid.

 So day two of birthday we got the rest of the presents wrapped, and we made up for things by singing to Ander again- did I mention he loves that?

 Kohen was insistent he wanted to wrap and give Ander his old tool belt, hat and tools. Cute brothers.

Ander isn't much of a toy kid yet. This Mater toy Ander's gma and gpa Jensen gave him is the first one he's ever paid any attention to. Leave it to a Grandma to find something he'd love!
I feel like if I start writing all the reasons I love this little guy, I could never end at 10, or even 20. Suffice it to say, that Ander is a bright spot in my day, every day. Being greeted by his smiling face every morning is what I get out of bed for. He will still sit and snuggle up with me, though nowadays he makes up for that when he decides to get down- he is a crazy busy little boy when he wants to be. But he's mine and I adore him. Who could resist that dimple?!