Concerts + Football Games = Dancing

We've had 2 concerts and 2 games in the past 2 weeks. First concert was Sept. 17, first game Sept. 18. Second concert Sept. 23, second game Sept. 25. Phew! We've been busy! Jenna was so excited to wear her "concert shoes" and dance at Daddy's concerts. After the first concert was finished, she exclaimed loudly, "Daddy did a good job everybody!" On the way home from the concert, after we dropped G and G off at their house, Jenna was all by herself in the far back of the car. Mima asked, "What are you doing back there, Jenna?" We didn't really expect a response, but she said, "Looking for monsters!" (It was a pretty dark road).

Mima made this cute dress so Jenna can have school spirit.

Jenna and Daddy at the first game. The theme was Hula so all the Pep Band wore Hula stuff.

Jenna showed us all her great dancing moves at the game! (See video "0652" in LPHS games folder.) If she was sitting in the stands and the band started playing she quickly made it down to her "dancing platform."

The Lollipop Gang

We started something with the lollipops and the game. Now Jenna equates football games with having lollipops.

Cousins cheering for LPHS and Daddy/Uncle Kevin. LPHS won their first 2 away games, now their first home game 3-0, great start! We kept thinking the kids would get tired and we'd probably leave at half-time. They never got tired and were having such a great time that we stayed the whole game.

The second game was considerably colder, still Jenna would not wear her coat. Once again, she kept us entertained with her dancing. (See video "0673")

Looking for Garrison under the blankets.

More dancing! (See video "0678 & 0679")

Once again, the kids didn't get tired of the game (the 2 year olds didn't anyway, the 5 year old did). They won 43-20 and are now 4-0. Go Rangers! 3 more home games to go.

Arkansas

Last weekend, Jenna and I made a whirlwind trip to Arkansas to visit my Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Robert, and cousins. My parents and sister Katie came too, Kevin had to work - concerts and games coming up (next post). Jenna learned to shell purple hull peas and then we ate them for dinner the next night - Yum!
Aunt Dorothy reading Jenna the story she wrote about their dog Stumpy. My Mom holding Jenna.
This is Stumpy (only has 3 legs). Jenna loved him so much! She is still requesting "Jesus loves Stumpy" songs.
Jenna and Lindsey (my cousin Sarah's daughter). Somehow didn't get a picture of Sarah and John. Lindsey was so sweet to read Jenna books and play with her.
My Aunt and Uncle's farm - too bad it rained the whole weekend. Jenna loved the cows. A few days ago we saw some other cows and I pointed them out to Jenna. She said, "Those Uncle Wabert's (Robert's) cows!" I said, "You think so?" Jenna said, "No, I just teasing you, Mommy!"
The gals (and baby Jack) minus my cousin Cindy and Lori. Mom, Jenna, Katie, Me, Alexa, Jack, Lanni, and Aunt Dorothy.
Lanni and Jenna were fast friends. Lanni is just 4 months older.

How cute are they?!

Jenna loved baby Jack, too!

He loved her a little, back with a sweet kiss.

Cousins and second cousins: Me, Jenna, Katie, Lanni, Jason, and baby Jack.

We had a fun time seeing everyone again!

Catching Up

Here's a collection of pictures from the summer that I'm just now getting around to posting. The picture above was taken in our old house right before we moved. Jenna's first Oreo (I think). She thoroughly enjoyed it! She had gotten the cookie all along the rim of her cup, so when she took a drink she made a nice ring of Oreo on her face. One of my all time favorite pictures!
Many fun afternaps were spent like this, this summer. Jenna has loved sharing her pool with her cousins! A big shout out to the Teels for giving us this pool! Too bad the cooler weather is already here and I think we've seen our last swimming day.
We went to a local community festival and parade. The firemen gave out these hats and the sticker on her shirt that says, "I'm a Junior Fire Fighter!"
Another one of my all time favorite pictures. What a beauty! We got this shot when we were trying to get a picture of the Lady Bug clip that Aunt Heather made.
As promised in a previous post, Jenna's fashion style is coming through. She loves when I let her pick out clothes. So, here's our fashionista sporting red snowflake leg warmers with white shorts and turquoise shirt, in the summer! She was so thrilled!
Here she is again, proudly displaying her "concert shoes" and pajamas. These new shoes were quickly named "concert shoes" after Daddy explained that we only wear these to church and to concerts. Oh, and with our pajamas (first thing after we wake up), and when we're just playing in the house! (Best $2 I've ever spent!) Yesterday, Kevin told her that he had a concert next week. She put her hand to her mouth and exclaimed, "I can dance with my concert shoes?!"

Helping Daddy feel better when he had a migraine. Toys always help!

Cute things she says lately . . . If you ask her to choose something, she starts her answer with, "Ummm I guess I'll have . . . " As we were going up some stairs and she was ahead of me, "Mommy, I'm taller than you. Isn't that wonderful?" She has used that phrase often the past few days, "Isn't that wonderful?" Cracks me up!

Everynight, I sing 2 songs to her in her bed. She gets to pick the songs. For the past couple months it's been "Jesus Loves the Little Children," only she wants other things besides children. We've done ducks, chipmunks, babies, Mommies, Daddies, pictures, doors, bedrails, rooms, fingers, the list goes on and on. On a recent trip to Best Buy, she came across the Rock Band game display and it was love at first sight! She grabbed the microphone and started, "Jesus Loves the Guitars!" (See "Jesus loves the guitars" video.) Enjoy!

Game Day - Go Blue!

Thanks to Aunt Heather for finding these great dresses on craigslist and to Uncle Matt for Jenna's socks - our girls can watch the game in style!

Mt Sherman

August 29, 2009, Kevin, Ken, and I climbed Mt Sherman. It's one of Colorado's 54 "14ners" at 14, 036 feet elevation. Earlier in the summer I mentioned that I'd like to hike one of the 14ners, someday. So, someday turned out to be last Saturday.
There were lots of abandoned mine buildings and equipment along the way. Really interesting.

A great view from near the top.

Made it! Wahoo! Couldn't have done it without help and encouragement from Kevin and Ken (and lots of breaks). At the top there was a tube with paper and pen so you could sign that you made it. 2 hours 14 minutes up, 1 hour 25 minutes down. My 1st 14ner, Ken's 9th, Kevin's 8th (although they've done some twice, so I'm not sure what their real totals are).

Thanks for helping me reach my goal, guys!

Another great view from the top.