Happy 3rd Birthday Jensen Drew!

Wheww its been a while since I've posted becuase its been crazy around here with Jensen's birthday and everything. I think he had a great birthday and I can't believe he's 3 already! On his actual birthday, 11/20 Jensen went to school then since Jeff was off work we both went to pick him up then drove out to POPS to get drinks. He told people he was going there for his birthday, silly kid, so we went out there really quick then went to Incredible Pizza. We had a blast and Jensen got to do the bowling and mini golf for the first time and loved it. He also rode the go-carts with Daddy and got 400 tickets playing games. He was excited to cash them in on a light up semi truck that was probably worth a dollar ha ha.

He actually made a hole in one his very first shot!!

Sat was his birthday party and since we are lion members at the zoo we get a free zoomobile. I thought that would be a perfect activity for his party so I set it up to come to the Moore Library. We did a whole zoo animal theme and birthday cake. The zoo person read the kids a story then let them pet a hedgehog. They enjoyed it but I was disappointed because I really expected them to bring several different exotic animals. I later found out there was a mix up and they were supposed to send more animals. The kids had fun though so that's all that matters. We also did two pull string pinatas where you don't have them hit it. The kids just pull strings and one opens a trap door for the candy to fall out. We had a good turnout and he got plenty of big boy toys.

Birthday Cake from Johnnies bakery

The kids did very well listening to a story about "Stickers" the hedgehog

Jensen was wacky though and wouldn't blow out his candles!! He sat there for a long time just being shy. Some of the other kids tried to help him and he put his hands up to the candles to block them. At first I thought great, he just wants to play with fire! It was funny but a little awkward becuase what do you do when the kid won't blow out the candles? Finally I helped him and he blew a little bit to help.

No guys you can't blow out my candles!!

Trolley Ride

I am always looking for new and interesting things to do and have been wanting to take Jensen to ride the Edmond Trolley "the Edy" for a long time. We had a beautiful 70 degree day one Thursday so after I picked Jensen up from school we met some friends and went for a ride. Since we had never done anything like this, we had to prepare a lot before hand and figure out what route we wanted to take etc. I was very anxious about catching it at the right time and didn't know what to expect. We drove to a trolley stop and got on with a group of rude teenagers. Then the driver was a seriously crotchity rude old man. I think the kids enjoyed the ride though and we got off near UCO and walked to a nearby park. The plan was to stay about an hour then get back on the trolley. Well, Mr Jensen had a nasty fall and gashed open his chin pretty good. I felt helpless all of sudden because I didn't have anything with me or my car to take him home. Luckily Jen had some wipes and a bandaid but I was really afraid it would need stitches because it looked awful. We decided to take the earlier trolley so we hurried to the trolley stop and it was already there so we almost missed it. Jensen was quiet and still all the way back so I know he must have been in pain. I was so thankful Jeff was home when I got there because he looked at it and decided he didn't need to go to the Dr. Despite the injury it was fun and an interesting experience!

Jennifer with her kids Paden and Josie
Mommy and Jensen

Jensen and Paden enjoying the ride

Jensen liked being free to sit in many different seats

Family Portraits

Tammy Hall did our family portraits again this year along with Jensen's 3rd birthday pics. The worst part for me about family pictures is picking out what we are going to wear. I am ok at dressing myself and Jensen is pretty easy because he looks cute in most things. Jeff is harder (he'd wear a t-shirt and jean shorts if I let him pick) then trying to coordinate us all to look good together makes my head spin!! Not sure if I did so well this year but hey, that's what black and white pictures are for he he. During the session, it was like pulling teeth in the beginning to get Jensen to cooperate and when we went outside we had to use some creative trickery. For instance we told him to look for frogs (there weren't any) and find the rock in the leaves. Tammy is good though, she stays relaxed and just follows what he wants to do. We got some pretty good shots so I was happy. Plus, none of them have Jeff sticking his tongue out yay! So here they are.....

Tagged

My friend Jessica tagged me so here goes

Here are my instructions:
I've been tagged to do the following:
1) Choose the 4th picture folder on my computer
2) Choose the 4th picture
3) Explain the picture
4) Tag 4 other peopleThis picture is of my baby sister Carrie on Feb 17, 2005 at her Job Corps graduation. It was a proud day because she lived on campus for many months and completed her training. She was on the road to a better life! Go Carrie!

So, I'm going to Tag- Carrie F., Karen, Shannon and Diane

Costume Party

Every year my friends Becca and Ronnie have a Halloween Costume party and they really go all out with decorating their whole house floor to ceiling. I always enjoy seeing what people come as and I especially enjoy dressing up. Last year I went at the Lunch Lady and no one recognized me so I knew I had to do something clever again this year. Most of my friends enjoy myspace so I decided to go as a myspace page. I spent more time than you can imagine laying out the different boxes and I wanted it to be exact down to all the wording. I even cut out a place for my head and included actual pictures of my friends to put in that section. It seemed to be a big hit but it was not practical to wear the whole night.

Erin and Clay as Cruella De Vil and a Dalmation
Crystal and Nate as the Germans

Kellie and her friend Jamie as Kegs

Teppi as a pregnant nun and Katie as a rocker chick

Crystal with Jay as the Joker...he looked freaky

Stephanie as Rainbow Brite, that was cute

Halloween 2008

Halloween was even more fun this year since Jensen is older. I let him pick out his own costume and he chose to be Handy Manny a handy man cartoon on Disney. My friend Kim was still in town from AZ so we went down to Jamie's house that morning to be with her before she left. 3 days that week she kicked our butts with a great workout so I was sore! We made our usual stops this year but got an earlier start since we were already down there.



We went to see Great-Grandma Cassie, she just loves Jensen and the girls. Next we went to Jeff's parents house to eat dinner with his family minus Jamie since she as working :( The girls looked so cute in their crayon costumes. Jenna loves puple and Jillian loves pink so they got to be their favorite. We took the kids down their block and it was weird because it was time to trick or treat but it was really light out. Jensen didn't say trick or treat much but at one house he said BOO!

Jillian, Jensen, Jenna

Trick or Treat Mimie and Carrie!

Next we went to my mom's house. Jensen took turns going with Mimi and Carrie to the houses in their neighborhood. Some he wouldn't go up to because they had scary lights and music. Finally we went to my old neighborhood. An old family friend's grandma lives on the block and she really decorates her house for halloween. She also makes special treats like popcorn balls and caramel apples for the kids she knows. Even though I'm grown up, I like having the tradition of trick or treating her house. Jensen didn't get a ton of candy but he got quite a bit. Unfortately I had all the chocolate bars eaten in less than a week! Yup and I had to pay at Weight Watchers because I'm over my goal **sigh** (I became a lifetime member in May and you are free as long as you don't go over your goal weight). Of course Halloween wasn't the only reason

Jensen checking out his treat bucket

TG Farms

We went to another pumpkin patch last week as a family this time. Jeff had never been so that was fun. It was a beautiful day and we ran into some friends we hadn't seen in many, many years