Summer Surrender to Schedule Freedom

I've learned a lot about myself in the last year. I'm so thankful for summer, and I can blow very big bubbles. (okay, so I may have already known that, but it was a cool picture anyway!) After a very long busy school year, there is nothing like the liberating change of pace that summer brings. Summer is a wonderful meld of playtime and chores of survival. There is never any getting ahead in the mix, but still a welcome relief.

I really did enjoy having my kids around this summer. I felt like I spent some much needed time with them. This last school year I did what my mom calls, "spreading myself too thin." Although the stress of it all made me gain 10 pounds instead of getting "thin!" Between PTO president, school newspaper advisor and Relief Society Counselor, I let a lot of other things go. I felt a lot of guilt and decided to change my priorities and not commit myself to so much before Clint had me committed to the looney bin.

Clint promised some updated photos to family in hopes that maybe I'd finally update our blog. So here are some favorite photos of our memories of our summer surrender to schedule freedom 2011!

Brooke enjoying the wonderful early summer weather that we had. Complete with slippers because it was only 89 degrees. After the first of June though, it was brutal. No rain and no reprieve from the 90s or 100s. But that didn't stop the playing in the backyard. Brooke played outside almost every day even if it only lasted a couple minutes before she came in for a drink.

The last week of school Kayla participated in a talent show with her friends. THey did a dance routine they made up to the song "Firework." Kayla did great and had tons of fun.

Swim team consumed most of our June. The kids did great this year swimming. We really enjoy watching them get better every year. With 3 kids participating in a lot of events, the meets seemed to go a lot quicker this year.

This is Kayla showing off her beautiful form on butterfly. That girl can wiggle!

We enjoyed a day at the Galveston Beach in June. The kids couldn't get enough of the water this time. Usually they play in the sand the majority of the time, but most of their time was spent out jumping into the waves.

Josh got glasses this summer to prepare himself for the marvelous transition to Jr. High! Ahh! He loves his glasses and is enjoying being able to see. OOps for not taking him in sooner. And he looks so studious.

Happy Father's Day to Clint! What a great Dad.

Lindsay and Brooke were able to take a little ballet class taught by a couple of 11 year old girls. It was adorable and affordable!

We had a wonderful visit from Clint's bro Jeromy and his cute kiddos Aylin and Brayden. This is us at an Astros game. We also had a great time at SeaWorld and the beach and just relaxing at the neighborhood pool.

Linds at the splashpad at SeaWorld. It was a must to get wet after walking around in the heat!

Everyone put your hands up! We had the perfect amount of kids for this one. Brooke loved this ride, (and so did Josh, but he won't admit it :)

Happy 4th of July! The kids rode their decorated bikes and scooters in the church parade around the church parking lot.

Brooke thinks any holiday including the 4th of July should involve her green Minnie Mouse Christmas socks. She loves these socks and she loves celebrating her independence to wear whatever she wants along with our Country's independence.

Josh kicked a board and broke it and advanced another belt in Tae Kwan Do. Woo Woo!

Clint and I participated in a Summer of Seals Competition in which we worked all summer toward the final Navy Seals challenge in August. We had to swim 500 meters, do pushups, situps and pullups and run a mile and a half. The faster we swam and ran and the more pushups, situps and pullups we did, the more points we gained. It was a good challenge, and it was good to have something to motivate us to work out all summer.
This is us after the competition, and we are even smiling!
And after all of that, no wonder the summer flew by. But it was great, and now the kids are back at school. Josh is in Jr. High and is doing great. He loves having the chance to switch to a lot of different classes and learn new things. He is learning how to play the french horn, and he loves it. Kayla and Lindsay are going to a new Elementary School that was built at the back of our neighborhood. We get to ride bikes to school now! We all love the chance to get out and ride bikes together. Brooke is my fun companion at home, and keeps me laughing all the time. She changes her clothes about 5 times a day and plays baby dolls a lot. So there is our much needed update. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Humpherys for motivating me! Love you all.

One Year Older and Wiser Too

Happy Birthday to my lovely twin sisters- Stacey and Michelle! I wanted to give you a big birthday surprise so I decided to post on my blog. What could be more surprising? Here is a little memoir to my sisters who are all growed up now.


On the left is me and Michelle with our big sunglasses that we used to make fun of my mom for wearing. Sorry Mom, I now understand the perks of full coverage. Stacey is on the left. I took this picture of her last summer teasing her that I was going to make graduation announcements for her with them. I never followed through. She graduated in December from BYU. Way to go Stace!

So here are some fun memories of our growing up years together:

• When you were born I would count how many kisses I gave one so that I made sure I gave the other the same amount. I was worried that I would accidentally give one of you special treatment. I loved to hold you and take care of you. I think I'm 6 or 7 years older than you. So I'm sure that I wasn't a lot of help, but I sure felt grown up when I got to hold you. Am I right Michelle? You are the one that has to tell me how old I am.
• "Goodness Gracious Great Balls of Fire" never had better choreography put to it as it did for your elementary talent show. I was honored to make up a gymnastics routine/dance complete with Little Tykes slide moves for you. Not that I had any clue what I was doing, but I thought it was so much fun.
• Ah, the days of "buddy partners." I don't know how we came up with this term, but we used it all the time. Annie and I would have one of you for our buddy partner to do chores with us and play with. I think we also used this system for coming up with parts for our programs for Dad and Mom. Buddy partners were paired for different songs or circus acts. I think I usually was buddy partners with Stace, but I think we switched on and off too.
• Annie and I would dress you up and do your hair and then have Mom watch you parade around and do your "fashion show." How many outfits did we make you change into? I think we had an evening gown, play clothes and career woman category.
• I pulled out your loose teeth even though I was a huge wimp at getting my own teeth pulled. My kids appreciate that I came experienced, so thank you for letting me train on you.
• When I was a senior in high school and should have been more responsible, do you remember our muddy bike ride? We rode through all the mud puddles and came home a mess. Mom was not so happy with me, and now I understand why, but it was so liberating then. We also had spitting contests that day. Clint tried to teach us all how to spit. I've never been good at that.
• I loved it when you came and stayed with me and Annie in Provo and lived the college life with us for a weekend. I remember putting mascara on you and getting dressed up and going out to dinner and a movie. Good girl times.
• After I got married and moved away, it was great when you and your friends came for a trip to Virginia. Josh was just a little baby, and it was great to reconnect. It was fun to hear your high school giggles and stories and music. It was a great trip where we got to tour all over D.C., with the highlight of "Aaron's Space Museum" and Busch Gardens.

There are many more good times, but I will save them for another trip down memory lane. Happy Birthday to two wonderful women that I'm so happy to call my sisters and greatest friends. I look up to both of you and love our conversations about the joys and challenges of motherhood, marriage, callings, and life. You are both so much fun, and I love to spend time with you even though we don't get to very often. Happy Birthday!

Official Apology to Stace-Dawg

This is the email I found from in my inbox from my sister tonight.

"You made a commitment and you broke it. I feel like the word deadline doesn't mean what it used to. There's not really words to describe how I feel towards you right now. Oh wait. I just thought of one. Disappointed. Yours truly, Stace-dawg"

I had a deadline to post Halloween pictures to my blog by Friday at midnight. And I obviously failed. So here is my reply.

Stace,

You gave me a deadline and I let you down. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize publicly. So here you go. Here are the Halloween pics I promised. I'll try to be a better poster in the future. I hope this will not affect the trust in our relationship. I should have never promised something that I couldn't deliver.

Forever sorry,

Jana

Oh, and just so you all know. I love Halloween! We had such a great time. I love dressing up. I'll tell you what we all are because some of them are a little out there.

Clint- the official parker of old cars on the lawn redneck

Jana- cavewoman

Josh- Max the lego man

Kayla- a Poppy flower fairy

Lindsay- a very scarey but fashionable witch

Brooke- mad about being in a fairy costume, happy about the candy

My Hillarious Husband ;) and the Man Whose Name He Carries

I know you are all mad at me. Clint thought he'd be really funny and post on my (I mean our) blog so it would show that I posted. Now you all checked and you got nothin! I'll try to keep better tabs on my comedian husband. I think his real motivation was to get me to post. But just so you know, I did think it was kind of funny. He keeps me laughing! Check out his guns.

(There, I got him back, I got a picture of him flexing with my new ultra cool camera that takes pictures real quick before he can stop his funny poses.)

For real, I got me a good one. I can't believe we've already been married 11 and 1/2 years! That makes me kind of old, but I'm loving our life together. Here is a picture of us taken a few weeks ago by my Dad while he was visiting us.

Now onto the next part of my post- Clint's middle name is after his Grandpa Reed Humpherys. Clint got his name, his eyes that disappear when he smiles, his love of a good joke or story, and his ability to work hard from his grandpa. Last week Clint had the opportunity to go visit his family and go to his grandpa's funeral. I didn't get to go with him, but I wanted to share some of my memories of Grandpa Humpherys.

Clint and I started dating in January of 1997. Clint took me to Grandpa and Grandma Humpherys ranch in Gray's Lake, Idaho for Easter that year. I had not met any of Clint's family at this point, and this was a major family get together! Clint's parents lived in Virginia at this time, so I don't think I had even met them yet. I was a little nervous, but Grandpa and Grandma put me right at ease. I remember they both gave me a big hug to welcome me. We spent the night up there. They had people sleeping all over, but they gave me a room all to myself. I felt like I shouldn't take a room, but they insisted. I remember that night we played cards, and I learned how to play "Oh Heck." I don't remember if I won, but I know I did pretty good, and Grandpa said he approved of an Idaho girl who could play cards. I remember him watching me shuffle and deal the cards. I felt like I was applying for a job in a casino! But I'm glad I passed the test. When it was time to go, Grandma Humpherys gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek, leaving a lipstick mark. She told me I could come back anytime.

I don't remember all the details, but I sure remember how loved I felt, and how comfortable I felt with Clint's family. I feel so blessed to have married into such a great family. I love Clint's parents and siblings, and we enjoy our visits together so much!

Grandma Humpherys passed away in November of 1997, and Clint and I were married in December. I didn't get the chance to know her really well, but I'm so glad I got the chance to know her. I'm very thankful I've had 12 years to get to know Grandpa H, a man who is so much a part of who my husband is. We will all miss Grandpa Humphery's hugs, jokes, laughter and love. I don't have any great pictures of him, but here are a few of our many fun memories at Grandpa Humpherys' ranch.

Time for the semi-annual update by Jamama

That is all!

Steph! here you go. Maybe next year I'll be the first to send photos, wouldn't that be something?! It was great to catch up yesterday. For everyone else, here are some photos that a friend took a month and a half ago. Didn't she do great? They make me happy to be a mom! Thanks Ginger.

What I've been working on for the last year

So this is one of the many reasons I haven't blogged for a year (okay so it probably only counts for 9 months, but still it's a good excuse)

Welcome Brooke Alyse Humpherys! We couldn't be happier that you've made it here safe and sound. Brooke was born on Sept. 6, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. She weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 in.

I was induced Sat. morning and labor went faster than expected. Brooke was ready to come, and so was her mother so ready to have her come. For some reason my babies just need a little pitocin to prepare them for their entrance into the world. I got my epidural, and before I was even numb, she was here! It was a wonderful day, and once again I am amazed at how our Heavenly Father sends his precious children. Can you believe that all of Brooke fit inside me?Clint took this picture after we got home from our first trip to the hospital on Sunday Aug. 31. This was my original due date, my mom's birthday, and the day I really wanted to have a baby. I was having contractions all day Saturday, and when I got up Sunday morning they were 5 minutes apart and getting stronger. I was so excited to think that maybe I could actually go into labor on my own that I called and arranged for the kids to go to church with friends. Clint and I got to the hospital and they took me to triage where they measured my contractions, which were 4 to 5 minutes apart, but they were not strong enough. I was 3 cm. but it looked like I could be in labor for awhile longer, so the nurse told me to go walk and come back later that night. So we went to church which is a place that for some reason always gives me contractions even when I'm not pregnant! I figured walking the halls at church and taking care of primary stuff was as good a place to keep the contractions coming, and I was right. All day long I had them. By 9 p.m. I was exhausted and discouraged that the contractions weren't getting stronger, so I went to bed.

Well this routine continued through the week. My mom got here on Tues. night so that was a wonderful distraction. We did projects on Wed, Thurs, and Fri to distract me. My doctor had put me on standby to be induced on Thurs, which led to Friday. The hospital was just too packed to take me. My dr. called me Friday afternoon after another day of not fitting in at the hospital to tell me that he had scheduled me for Sat. morning at 5:30. I was soooo excited! I wonder how much longer my body would have kept her in before it could do it on it's own. Brooke could have probably grown some teeth! Really, I am just so thankful she is here, and that everything went well. Her brother and sisters are also very excited! They can't get enough of holding her. Here are some more pics of our day at the hospital. Doesn't this make our family look huge!? I can't believe we have 4 kiddos! Life is great. I just might have to actually start acting mature and motherly. Naaah. Thanks for all your love and support and prayers and phone calls!