Gymanstics!

So proud of my two girls! They have taking tumbling for 7 months now and are doing so good. They are always doing cartwheel and front and back walkovers. If there is an open space, they are doing gymnastics! A little irritating when it is in front of the tv while you are watching your favorite show though. They have a hard time sitting still:-)

Meagan was VERY excited about being "on top" for the final pose at the end of their routine. Look at that grin!!!!!!!!!!!

Jenna didn't get quite as lucky but still had a huge smile on her face (on her knees, second from right).

They get excited when they get to wear a little make-up....except for Jenna when in comes to mascara. She no likey. Weird to see them in make-up. I can see what they might look like jumping into the future 5 or 6 year. BEAUTIFUL!

All the girls got one of these ribbons at the end of there performance. They are now proudly displayed on their bedroom walls.

A little bit of the routine as it was happening. Hopefully the video camera (Dave) got them doing their "tricks" better then mom did with the battery going dead on the camera.

Chase's long awaited b-day party.

We don't do birthday party with friends on every birthday but age 8 is one of them. Last year when the triplets turned 8 we threw a birthday party at a place where they did roller skating, bumper cars, roller coaster, laser tagging, video games and they all got to stand in one of those booths that had "money" blowing every where and they had to catch as much as they could in 30 seconds. They had so much fun! Except for Chase. He invited 3 of his closest friends and not one showed. They (unbeknownst to us) all were on the same baseball team and had a game (really wish we would have gotten some rsvp's). He was heart broken that he had no friends to hang out with AND he had to hang out with a bunch of girls. SOOOOO, I told him we would have another birthday party just for him. Well, 2 months later we sold our house and had moved to Utah (we were in Omaha, Nebraska) so Chase never got that birthday party I promised. Well, if you know anything about me then you know I HATE breaking promises. SO, this year on for his 9th b-day (which is not a year we throw a "friend" party on) we had a party for Chase. He wanted to go laser tagging so we invited 8 boys and off we went! They had a blast (no pun intended):-). Chase is such a patient child. Thank you for waiting so long, sweetheart! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Another 5K, Wolverine and new clothes

Our Stake put on a 5K and Ryan, Meagan and Jenna wanted to do this one. I had to teach a class so I didn't go with them. Dave took them this time. I threaten him to get him to take pictures:-).

Meagan in her 2nd 5K....

Jenna in her 2nd 5K....

and Ryan (to the left of the kid on the bike) in his 1st 5K.

I think the free food at the end is always their favorite.....hey, whatever keeps them motivated!

Chase, for months, has begged me for a Wolverine costume. I told him if he saved his money and paid for half I would pay the other half. He is my only child who can do this....save money that is. I was proud of him for not being tempted to spend it on other things.

So, when it came in the mail (had to order it off the internet because halloween isn't on display in May) he tore it open and put it on right away....and wore it for the next 2 days after that. Now he wants the claws that go with it. Start saving, Chase. :-)

If you remember..., I reconnected with some friends I had lost contact with for 17 years about 5 months ago. Bob and Vivian came up for a visit in March and have basically adopted our 5 kiddos as neices and nephews.

They have sent the kids several packages since leaving. Seriously, chill out you two! The girls could not be any more excited then when they get new clothes. They LOVE clothes. I am in trouble, I know.

The kids feel the same way about you two, Uncle Bob and Aunt Viv! Thank you so much!

My first baby is 14 now...Happy b-day, Tyler!

What a sweet angel. Tyler is 1 month old here in his blessing outfit. He was a good baby and always the sweetest little boy! Looking at his pictures makes me wish I could reach out and snuggle that little boy. BUT....life goes on and soon....

you are going to see him perform in his 7th grade band concert playing the Trombone. Can you pick him out? He's the one in the white shirt and tie (grin).

Really, he is the one on the back row in front of the big drum with the dark hair. Wish I had brought the other lens so I could have gotten a better picture. Of coarse, he was the most handsome one there :-).

Great Grandma Larsen, Aunt Heidi and Aunt Marge came to cheer him on. He was very excited about performing. He loves his band teacher and rightfully so. She is a neat person and awesome band director. South Jordan Middle school in lucky to have her!

Then there was the BIG day. This was not just any b-day for Tyler. He was ordained to be a teacher so....

Grandpa and Grandma Boden flew up from California to be there with him along with the always supportive Aunt Marge. I hope you know how much you are loved Tyler!

The tradtional chocolate cake with peppermint icing. Grandma made it this year cause mom was crazy busy (at a movie with you...teehee. You wanted so BAD to go see "Iron Man 2").

Quick trip! Grandpa and Grandma flew in on Saturday and flew out on Sunday. Thank you SO much for your love and support! Wish you were closer!

The proud Tyler with his ordination certificate. We love you SO much, Tyler. Thank you for all your love, for your strength, for your patience with us as parent (that poor first child who we learn with and make many mistakes on/with) and for making us laugh. It has been fun to see you change and grow in so many different ways. We love you!

Meet Jackie Chan, Amelia Earhart, and Micheal Phelps

The triplets had their last book reports due this month and they had a to do a biography. Jenna chose Jackie Chan....

Chase chose Micheal Phelps....

and Meagan chose Amelia Earhart.

Mom learned something from this whole thing. Men's muscular pecks should be drawn in a square shape...not a round shape. Oops! Chase had the entire class cracking up. They all did really well on their reports but Chase was SOOOOOOO excited that he got a higher grade than Jenna and Meagan (guess that doesn't happen very often). Maybe the teacher felt sorry for the man boobs I drew...LOL! Just kidding! You did a great job, Chase! They all did!

We love first Saturdays of the month at Home Depot!

Before we had all this "house hopping" stuff going on we used to take the kids to Home Depot on the first Saturday of each month because they have a free craft center for kids then. They always get to build something and take it home.

We had forgotten this until we went to pick up some things needed for the house this month and it just so happen to be in the wood section (where they do the craft) and the just so happen to be doing the craft and we just so happen to have the girls with us, so......

They made cute little plant holders that look like chairs. Then we took them home and they painted them. This is Jenna's-which she made for Aunt Marge....

and this is Meagan's that she made for Gamma and Poppop Schell (we need to send it off:-) ).

Now we have it on the calendar for June so we can start this fun little tradition up again.

Random thoughts and pictures

Last night we had Great Grandma Larsen and Aunt Hiedi over for dinner. They brought each of the triplets their own gift for their birthday this last week. Chase got a new game that we will be playing/learning for family night tonight...I am sure...and the girls got little craft kit of flowers that they made for their hair. They finished them that night before Grandma and Hiedi even left. Thank you Grandma and Hiedi, for the gifts!...and your company!

The girls love to help with dinner/meals. I promise...peeling potatoes wasn't a punishment:-). Dave is our Sunday cook and he always puts mom to shame. Of coarse, besides church there isn't much else to do on Sundays but make a fantastic dinner....but I won't steal your thunder, honey:-P.

This weekend Tyler spent working on a school project. I was very proud of him because we didn't have to tell him over and over that he needed to do it and we didn't have to check up on him to see if he got it done. He is growing up and learning responsibility and that makes Dave and I happy and proud parents. He did a GREAT job too.

I still haven't cleaned up the Easter/spring decor in the house so the kids decided to make up a game with the eggs. They sat at the table playing this game for nearly an hour. You each got an egg and would spin it and whoevers egg stopped moving last was the winner. Kids can make up the simplest games and have fun for hours. Makes you wonder why you spend so much money on other things. These were $1 at the dollar store.

Recently Janie (my SIL...who looked awesome!) and my newest niece, Elizabeth, were in Utah. It was fun to sit down and gab with her. It has been nearly a year since we had seen her. The girls could not get enough of Elli (and neither could Bella...dang dog!). She is a doll! Thanks for coming to see us, Jane and we can't wait to see you again with the whole family in July!

Jenna is amazing on the piano. She has been taking for 2 months now and has progressed super fast. I figured that after she started teaching herself in January that (after 5 weeks of her "practicing") I needed to put her in piano. She is what every mom wishes their child was like...she practices at least twice a day WITHOUT BEING ASKED. Will this last? I hope .


Meagan started violin just after Jenna started piano. In Decemeber she went to church choir practice with me. There was a violinist there and I watched Meagan who was watching the violinist play. I knew that she was enthralled by the look on her face so I wasn't suprised when she said, "Mom, I want to learn to play the violin" to me as we were walking out to the car. She doesn't just pick up the violin and play it without reminding like Jenna but she doesn't complain and is progressing fast. Here she is playing....you guessed it...."Twinkle, twinkle little star".

I am so grateful that children are so forgiving and loving. That thought hit me again across the face this morning as I was annoyed with the girls. After kisses and goodbyes they came in to ask me to put up there kick stand so they could ride their bikes to school. It seems like every time one of the kids go to ride their bike something is wrong with it. This morning it was Jenna's tire. It was flat. I said, "Well, Chase didn't ride his bike to school so just ride his." Jenna- "Chase didn't ride his becuase the back tire won't move". Sure enough, the back tire won't turn because the brake it stuck on the tire. I start telling them how tired I am of them not taking care of their bikes and leaving them in the driveway and what not and send them off the school on scooters. As I am shutting the garage door I hear one of them say something. I can't hear what she is saying so I stop the garage door and ask. She says, "I love you, mom". I love you too, baby! WOW! They really know how to put you back in your place. You learn as much from your children as they do from you.

GO JAZZ!!!

This is not the clearest picture because it was taken with Dave's Blackberry but here we are at the Jazz-"chicken" Nuggets game. We went with some friends that we have made here in South Jordan....Kevin and Suzanne Rhodes. You'll have to ignore the picture of Suze. She had had a little too much to drink. Heehee...just kidding. We appreciate your friendship to us even when we make comments like that:-). You two rock almost as much as the Jazz did on Friday night!

Happy 9th birthday to my trio!

It is hard to believe that 9 years ago today, three little angels entered our lives. Life is not as frantic as when we brought these bundles of joy home but with the different stages comes different kinds of busy. So glad for the times when we are just sitting and talking or playing games as a family. Sometimes hard to find with violin, piano, sports (when in season), gymanastics, guitar, scouts, Young Men, achievement day, and (soon) singing lessons but they exsist and they are my favorite times.

This year was a "non-friend" birthday party. We don't do birthday party's every year. Just at certain ages. Chase, however, will have one next weekend because last year none of his friends could come because they had a baseball game to go to:-(. He will be taking 7 friends laser tagging next weekend.

Although it was just family we had party boxes, ballons and noise makers (what was I thinking?!?!).

Aunt Marge came and WHAT A NEAT SUPRISE! The day before she picked up the girls and took them fabric shopping to make them skirts. They each picked out their fabric and viola!--Marge had whipped them out in one day so she could give them to the girls on their birthday. WOW, Aunt Marge! You are awesome! The girls were SO excited. They wore the skirts to school the next day. How cute are they!?!!!

Tyler and Ryan mowed the yard on Saturday to earn money to get a game for Chase that he wanted. Don't you like how I taught my kids to take the price tag off the gift...LOL!

Chase loves soccer so we got him another ball with some cones for goals.....

and are taking him to a SL REAL soccer game. He was very excited to get binoculars so he can see better when he goes...although we hear there isn't a bad seat in the soccer staduim here.

We were even more excited to give the girls their gift. Look at their faces as they both realized what it was......

We are flying them to San Fransisco to see Wicked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were SO EXCITED! They haven't seen it but know the story and have listen to the cd so many times they know every word to every song.

These are fake tickets. We are waiting to see if the price of the tickets go any lower. We will be taking them in either May or June. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

Try lighting 27 candles on a cake before the wax melts the first...ha! I am one talented women:-). This is the traditional choclate cake with pepperment icing....a Boden Family tradition.

I am one lucky mom to have such loving children. They are truly my life! Happy birthday, sweeties!