First Slumber Party

Friday, May 29th, Jenna had her first slumber party. We started slow with this, just two friends. And, at this point, she is happy to let brother tag along. We ate pizza on the living room floor and watched the new Tinkerbell movie - Tinkerbell and the Legend of The Neverbeast. I'm telling you the Tinkerbell movies are great! I've really enjoyed every one of them.

A few months ago, when I first asked Jenna what kind of birthday party she wanted, she said, "Elf." We love that movie and she has been wanting to try the spaghetti concoction that he made for breakfast. So, we decided to let her try it with her friends. First, we watched the clip to see exactly what he did. Spaghetti, syrup, marshmallows, chocolate syrup, sno caps, M&Ms, and Pop Tarts.

Concoction made, candle placed, and ready for the birthday song. (see video 1297 in "Jenna's 8th bday" folder)

Kevin and I tried it too. It's actually not that bad! One of the kids made a good point, it would be really gross with spaghetti sauce. Glad we left that part out. It looked like Elf didn't have sauce in the movie either.

Sweet friends, fun gifts. Kellen used his own money to get her some new pony tail holders. One friend always gets her a shirt for each of them so they can match. This year's has a kitten on it and says, "Are you kitten me right meow?" So funny! That became our catch phrase for the evening and next day.

Our big gift to her was a ticket to go to Denver to see the musical Wicked: The Untold Story of The Witches of Oz. I'm so excited about going that it's been hard not to tell her. But, this reaction was worth it!

Now, we just have to wait until June 7th.

We paused the movie in order to make the Elf spaghetti and separate the sugar rush from bedtime a little. So, after presents, they put on pjs and finished the movie. We sent them to bed around 9 pm and then we listened to them talk and giggle until around 9:30. It was so fun to hear the giggling and sheer joy!

In the morning, one friend said she wasn't feeling well and missed her mom. So, I called and then sure enough, she was sick. Poor girly! After her mom came, we went ahead and followed through with the rest of the party plan. A trip to the grocery store for donuts. And, a bonus: penny pony ride.

Then we were off to the North Pole. Kind of continuing the Christmas/Elf theme.

We met Santa on the way into the park and mentioned that it was Jenna's birthday. He said to come by his house to see him and he would sing happy birthday to her. Not everyone gets the happy birthday song sung by Santa! (see video 1308 in "Jenna's 8th bday" folder)

She was excited to ride in the #8 race car. 

Motorcycle girls

Carousel selfie

A great time was had by all. We opened the park at 10 am and didn't leave until around 3:30 pm - the longest day we've spent there so far!

Jenna 8.0

Jenna is 8 years old today! She weighs 59 lbs and is 49.5 inches tall. She's grown 7.4 lbs and 2.25 inches since this time last year. She is caring, smart, funny, and a friend to all. She plays well with Kellen and they've even formed a "best buddies" club. An example of her wit: We had just pulled out of the driveway on our way to the band banquet. I said, "Oh, I left my wedding ring on the counter." Kevin stopped the car and looked at me. And, I, knowing that he doesn't like to turn around, said, "Oh, well, it's ok." And Jenna said just matter of factly, "Yeah, it's not like anyone is going to ask you to marry them." We laughed. In her 5.5 post, I mentioned that every night, she kicks the sheets to the bottom of the bed and ends up with just the comforter covering her - she still does that!

She had a great year of school. She loves to read and says her favorite school subjects are history, science, & math. During this year at school, her class read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Little House in the Big Woods, Anne of Green Gables, and The Secret Garden. I love that she's being exposed to so many great books. She also said that in PE one day she got a home run - that's fun, too!

She loves playing piano and will continue with lessons during the summer. The other day we were watching a movie together that she had seen ONCE before me. She said, "Mama, listen to this song. At the end, they have the same song only sadder." And sure enough, toward the end of the movie, there was a version of the song that was slower and a little more minor. We continue to be amazed with her ability to pick out these musical things that most people wouldn't notice.

May 14th, Jenna was eating a popsicle after dinner and her top left lateral incisor fell out! That makes six teeth that she's lost so far.

She's great at swatting and killing flies! I think we'll keep her.

Here'a a look back at her other birthdays:

The birth day

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven
Happy Birthday, dear Jenna!

Summer Kick Off

We've kicked off summer in some big ways! Saturday, May 23rd was our inaugural trip to the North Pole. We started off a little later in the day this year and went to eat at Rudy's for lunch first. When we finished with lunch, it was raining. So we decided not to go to the North Pole. Papa had some free admissions to Ghost Town so we went there instead. But, when we were finished at Ghost Town, the sky was clear, so we decided to go to the North Pole after all!

We had put in a good couple hours of fun and then stopped in for a free drink at one of the snack shops. We got inside just in time for it to start raining. So we finished up and then made a run for the car. What a full and fun day!

Monday, May 25th, we went to the zoo. Again, we timed it just right - finishing up and leaving just as it started to rain. We've had a full month of rain! 7.84 inches so far in May with the record being 8.10 inches!

Kevin's school typically has an end of year cook out, but with all the rain this year, the principal thought it might be too soggy or get rained out. And, the baseball team got to the final four. So instead of the cook out, she invited all staff and families to have a free lunch and bus ride up to Denver for the game on May 26th.

Enjoying the first of at least 4 Tootsie Pops of the afternoon! One of the teachers brought a big jar to share.

We had a fun time! And the team won 8-0! They went on to the final game.

And last, but absolutely not least, possibly my favorite. Kevin and I went to the Air Force Academy graduation this year. (see video 1284 in "Thunderbirds '15" folder)

We always get a great view of the Thunderbirds Air Show from our house, but it was really cool to get the perspective of being at the stadium. One thing I learned is after the hats are thrown, they let any child who wants to go out onto the field and retrieve a hat to keep. Some of the graduates put money or candy inside them. (see video 1285)

I think they call this one the mirror - so cool!

It was so fun to be there! I took so many pictures and videos. Too many to post here. (see video 1897)

It was great being in the stadium because they had an announcer telling which direction the planes would be coming from and they played music. The best were the Thunderbirds set to Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion (see video 1909), JT's Mirror, and Celine's God Bless America.

The Thunderbirds show is definitely a highlight of the year for us and a great marker of the beginning of summer!

End of School Year Activities

It's been a busy end-of-school-year time for us. Thursday, April 30th, was the annual art show at Jenna's school. Her featured art was an American Flag made with fabric scraps.

Sunday, May 3rd was Jenna's spring piano recital. She played a solo, "Inch by Inch" and a duet with her teacher, "Curious Rumba." She did a great job! (see videos 1260, 1261, 1271, 1272, & 1273 in "Jenna 2nd Grade 2014-2015" folder)

Tuesday, May 12, was the final band concert of the year. Kevin asked a friend and colleague that plays for the Air Force Band to come and guest solo with the bands. That friend, another fellow trumpet player/colleague, and Kevin joined together and played Bugler's Holiday (see video 1844 in "LPHS 2014-15" folder). It was fun to hear Kevin play with those guys. And the last piece was Raider's March from Raider's of the Lost Ark, so Kevin pulled out his Indiana Jones jacket and hat.

Since Jenna's birthday is after school is out, we brought treats to celebrate early with her class on May 14th. Her choice: blueberry muffins.

Jenna's last day of 2nd grade was Thursday, May 21. It's hard to believe how fast this year went by and how much she changed from these pictures taken at the beginning of the year . . .

And these pictures taken today. I didn't measure her height on the first day of school, but I did measure on her last birthday and I think she grew almost 3 inches this year.

They had a fun last day! Everyone brought their favorite fruit to make a fruit salad and they had a pizza party. Their teacher made autograph books for them so all their classmates could sign (they just finished learning cursive). And, their teacher let them each pick a new book to keep. Jenna picked "Haunted Pets."

Since big sister was getting her picture taken, Kellen wanted his taken, too. Because, he goes to "homeschool" you know. He was insistent that he wear his backpack for the picture!

Today, we went to the library for new books. Then we went to get Jenna a much needed haircut. After lunch, they humored me by starting to go through their toys - I'm desperate for some de-cluttering! I need a magic wand, please. We are ready for summer!!