Pujols, Mauer....Jensen

Sunday morning, Trevor sat down at the computer to fill out his ballot for the MLB All-Star game. It is something he was very serious about. He had tried it last week, but when it got to his birthday he had no idea that he should be 18, so he filled in his own birthday...January 10, 2004. Well, the computer shut him down. We were both heart broken when I figured out what had happened because he worked so hard and long on. I told him that we would do it again later, and he could use my birthday.

So, he went at it again on Sunday. Keith sat down with him and I could hear some real discussion going on regarding batting averages, and on base percentages, and home runs. He got it all finished and put in Keith's birthday. With 25 allowable votes, I then helped him vote each time because you had to enter that crazy security code that you see when you do things online....with EACH vote!

As I was finishing up, I glanced at his choices for both the American League and the National League....Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Joe Mauer, Alex Rodriguez....they all made sense. I got to the bottom of both lists and it said "Write-In" which allowed you to vote for someone not on the ballot, but you thought should be. Both lists said "Trevor Jensen." I started laughing and asked if he was hoping to make the roster. He looked a little embarrassed and told me that he thought that was suppose to be the person "writing it all in"! Well of coarse! It made perfect sense!! It didn't stop me from having the best belly laugh I have had in awhile! So sweet, so innocent!

So, if you are voting for the MLB All-Star game and you get to the write in vote...consider putting Trevor in. He's already got 25 votes! He could be the first person to ever go from T-ball one year to the All-Star Game the next year!!

Brotherly Love

Every baseball season, I like to get a picture of the boys together in their uniform. This was Cale's last Little League game and he had to turn his uniform in when it was over. Next week he will have his first 7th. grade game as a Gilbert Tiger. Jared had a game in Roland at 6 on Thursday, and Cale had one in Story City at 6:30. I was with Jared so when his game was over we went to the end of Cale's. I asked for this picture and Cale was FAR from eager! He was adamant that Jared looked stupid without his cap on.....so this is what happened!! Poor Jared looks like he's being choked to death!!

This one is much better. Why?! Because I told Cale that if he thought Jared looked stupid without a cap, then that just makes him look all that much better WITH his cap on! Parenthood really does involve a lot of trickery!!

LOOKING GOOD, BOYS!!

School's Out for Summer!

Thursday was the kids' last day of school. Wow! With only 2 snow days, this year went FAST!! Trevor is the only one that allowed me to take his picture on the last day. The last 10 days of 1st grade were spent at "Camp Skeeter." They did different crafts and camp activities. We even sent him a letter for mail call, and we got one back telling us all about what he was doing at Camp Skeeter. One of the things they did were these tie dyed shirts.


I went to the Middle School for the assembly that started first thing. The middle school bands play the Gilbert Fight Song at the beginning, and that is something I don't want to miss! I am a sucker for a marching band, and Cale has decided that this is his last year playing trumpet so this was the end of the road for him.

After the assembly, I headed over to the Elementary School were they were having Field Day with sack races, face painting, relay races and all sorts of fun outside activities. I had a hard time finding Jared and Trevor, but I did it!! As you can see, Trevor had already visited the face painting booth. I told him that I hardly recognized him with his new mustache! He asked me if I thought he looked old enough to vote. :)

His friend, Birk, had been to the face painting booth!

Jared is a HUGE fan of his 4th. grade teacher, Mrs. Jones. I think he may be a bit smitten with her, actually! He told Keith that he sort of wants to be held back a year so he can have her again next year. Mrs. Jones understands the mind of a 4th. grade boy. (I can't even say that's something I understand!!) She would spend time outside with them playing football when she grew tired of being inside. She is the high school softball coach so she could understand his love of baseball, and even came to one of Jared's games to watch him, and all of the other 4th. graders that were playing on both teams since that particular game was against another Gilbert team. The boys all LOVED that!!

I found them just as he was about to get his face painted, and I wanted to get a picture before he did. He did NOT want me to take this picture! I could tell that he was embarrassed, but she grabbed him for this one.

And then she thought we should take a nice one. He is really going to miss her next year. And frankly, so am I! I enjoyed getting to know her, too.

I had something to return to Trevor's teacher, Mrs. Clark, after school. Jared, Trevor and I walked in her room and she turned around with tears in her eyes, and saw us and started sobbing. I felt horrible that I had interrupted her good cry! She pulled herself together and had a good laugh, and got this picture. Trevor looked stunned when she was crying. He didn't know what to think, and at the same time, it was giving me a lump in MY throat! When we got home, Trevor looked at me and said "I didn't know that Mrs. Clark could cry that much!" Awww! I think that just shows how much she cares, and I love that! There weren't very many teachers with dry eyes in the halls of Gilbert Elementary!

We pulled the triple crown with Mrs, Clark! All 3 of the boys had her for 1st. grade and we consider ourselves very lucky! She is a wonderful and caring teacher and our kids really blossomed in her room. Her daughter, Dee Dee, is finishing her elementary education degree and helped out in the classroom through out the year. Trevor and I talked about how lucky she is to be learning from her Mom, and Trevor is hoping that HIS kids have her for 1st grade some time! I wanted to get a picture of all 3 boys with her, but Cale was in a hurry because he had baseball practice right after school. (That is a microphone around her neck. It looks sort of funny in this shot!)

BRING ON SUMMER!!

Living History Farms

On Friday morning, I boarded a school bus in Gilbert in the pouring rain and headed to Living History Farms with Jared and the rest of the 4th. graders. My friend, Brigitte, was along with her son, Noah, and we spent most of the bus ride wondering (out loud) what we were thinking. We had the option of driving our own car to Des Moines, but we opted for the bus when we considered the price of gas. DUMB!! When we looked out the front window we had trouble seeing the road because it was raining so hard, and the driver wasn't even sure which exits to take! Brigitte and I were not very comfortable with our decision to even go on the field trip...especially since she was burning a day of vacation to spend the day in the rain!


Lucky for us, the rain stopped just as we got there. Yes, it was muddy, but if you walked in the grass right on the side of the path we were on it wasn't too bad. This is a picture of the class and one of our tour guides. Mrs. Jones is standing in the back. (You can't hardly pick her out because she just blends right in with all of the 10 year olds!)



One of the first places we went was the general store. After a short speech about how a general store operated the kids were allowed to buy something. As you can see, many of the boys chose the black hats. We thought they looked like a gang of Monopoly men! (For the record, the 2 ladies at the general store were EVIL! They barked at the kids if they leaned on the counter, or if they didn't unfold the money before they handed it to her. One of the classes were told that they were late and there wasn't any time for them to shop so they should just walk through, look around and leave. I'm thinking they were tired of living in the 1900's, but geez!!)

Riding on the tram....

At one of the places we visited, the kids were allowed to help make a rope, and then Mrs. Jones got to keep it for the class. She wasn't sure what to do with it, so she tied it around her waist....making her INDIANA JONES! (Funny, huh?!) While we were waiting for our tour around the animals she proceeded to tie up a couple of the naughty kids. OK, so it was Jared and Noah--but this gives you a little idea about the disciplinary practices at Gilbert Elementary! (Again....funny, huh?!)

I don't care what anyone says....Jared and I were stopped by the pig pen and it DID NOT smell like money!

In the furniture shop....Jared tried his hand at smoothing out this piece of wood. He was mostly interested in the coffin that was in the back, though. On the way out he told me "The coffin was screwed shut so we couldn't see the inside." I knew that would intrigue him!

The rain stayed away until we were walking back to the bus, and then it down poured again. It was a fun day spent with Jared and his friends even if it was a little wet and muddy. Next year he'll go to the middle school and his field trips are becoming fewer and farther between, so I better go on them while I can. Not to mention, I'm becoming less cool each and every day!

Track and Field Day

Yesterday was Track and Field Day in Gilbert. It involves the kids in grades 4-6. This was Jared's first year, and he was a little apprehensive and nervous. Mostly, he was worried about making it from one event to the next. Jared has always been my worrier. He always needs to know what is happening next and all the details that go with it.

He was in 2 events....the discuss and the 4x100. The discuss started at 11:45. I told Keith to be there at 11:30. Keith showed up at 12:30 and was right on time! Jared still hadn't had his turn, and he was getting a little concerned that he would miss his running event, but he had plenty of time. I'm not 100% sure of what his exact distance was for the discuss, but I heard 25 ft., and some odd inches. He threw and then walked off to the track, he didn't even really want to know what he threw....he just wanted to make sure he got to the track on time.

He looks pretty good considering right before he threw, he got hit by a discuss thrown by another 4th. grader. I had just told him to move over so he wouldn't get hit....and then he got hit. If Mom had left him where he was, he would've been fine! Whoops!! It hit him above the hip (after I screamed his name! I had visions of it hitting him upside the head!!) and he threw his hands up and said "I'm OK!! I'm good!!" I think he was more embarrassed then anything.

I don't think that I've heard the final time on his 4x100. He had the last leg and is the one that crossed the finish line for his team.

I may not be a big fan of track, but it was a beautiful day to sit outside. Not to mention, my friend, Tina and I have made it a tradition in the past years to go out for breakfast before we go watch our boys. Good conversation and food is a great bonus!!

Off To The Zoo!

Monday was a great day to head to Des Moines with a bunch of 1st graders to visit the zoo! They were all so excited! Trevor's class is blessed with a great group of "hands-on" parents so there was plenty of supervision. I was in charge of Trevor. That's it. Piece of cake! His best friends, Birk and Bella also had their Moms along so the 6 of us sort of became a group.

The disappointing part of the zoo was that half of it was under construction. I know that they will be great improvements but it didn't help us! There were trucks and construction equipment driving around. Some of the paths were closed so we had to backtrack to get back out of the zoo for lunch. The other problem was that there were a lot of animals that weren't out for our viewing. Here, the kids are looking for the Prairie Dogs, and we never did see them.

We visited the petting zoo and bought a cup of food. Trevor was too chicken to get too close, so one by one, he threw the pieces of food into the pens for the animals.


Crazy kids just kept popping up and down out of this egg....they were wanting to know what it was like to be hatched!

There were so many animals missing that after lunch the kids spent most of their time playing on the playground equipment at the picnic area. We then walked through the gift shop, where all 3 Moms stayed on the same page and refused to buy them anything. 3 Mean Mom! :)

The kids were bored and ready to go home. We made them pose for this picture, and the adults thought it was hilarious. They were confused. Bella asked us "What was that for?" I told her it was for the adults.

HEAR NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL

They always think they need a goofy picture!

What will these 3 do without each other this summer? They are all hoping to be in the same class next year! (I'm hoping the same thing!)

BIRK, TREVOR AND BELLA

Flash Back-Team Life Savers: Cancer Sucks!

This was the 2007 Relay for Life in Gilbert. It isn't a very big event, but it is completely organized by the FCCLA at Gilbert High School, and I feel like the kids do a great job. The only other Relay that I have done was in Grinnell, and it is a large community event, with very reverent moments. Although the survivors lap and the caretakers lap around the high school track are very reverent, there is also dancing on the front stretch and loud music. I liked to see all of the kids turn out and have fun on a Friday night for a few hours.

My kids have even started to ask when it is each year. They look forward to waking around the track and finding their friends. 2007 is the year that my Aunt was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her luminary is on the left. The other 2 are for my Dad who is (to date!)a 10 year colon cancer AND lymphoma survivor. (Yes, he had them both at the SAME time!)

Trevor (with his signature sunglasses!) was only 3 this year and I can't even begin to tell you how many trips his little legs took around that track. He was such a trooper and had the time of his life. We kept finding new people to take him around.

This was not my first year to Relay, but it was the first year that I was part of a team with friends and neighbors. We met at my house and made our shirts. Those are Life Savers that we hot glued onto our T-shirts.

Here are the backs of our shirts. ("CANCER SUCKS") Love stencils and fabric paint!! We each picked the type of cancer that had effected us personally and then used the color that is associated with that cancer. I chose blue (colon cancer) and lime green (lymphoma)

My shirt is still hanging in the closet........

Happy Birthday, Abby!

Today is the 17th. birthday of my niece--

ABIGAIL KAY

I just couldn't wait to become an Aunt. I had waited for her for a long time. She was so very loved before we ever laid eyes on her. Before we even knew if she was boy or girl. I was the first person my brother called after Abby was born. (I even beat out the Grandparents!!) After about 18 hours of labor, he called around 12:30 AM to tell me all about her. I remember saying a quick prayer through some tears that everyone was safe.

This is the first time I met her. She was about 12 hours old:
She was such a cutie when she was small, and has grown into a beautiful woman...both inside and out!

Here she is at this year's prom. She was absolutely S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G.!! I wasn't able to see her in person, so she texted me her picture, and I got choked up! She took my breath away. Blake was one lucky guy!! I am CERTAIN that she was the prettiest one there!

Happy Birthday, Abby Girl! Your Aunt Heidi is so proud of the lovely young lady that you have become. You simply light up a room when you walk in. No matter where your dreams take you in this world, you will most definitely make an impact. And don't ever forget that I will always be one of your biggest fans! I LOVE YOU!!

Handsome!

Cale had a band concert a couple of weeks ago, and although I wanted a picture with his trumpet, I had to take what I could get! I'm lucky that I got this much from him, although he was MORE then happy to stand for the photo when I threatened to take the picture AT school in front of his friends!! (Did I mention that it is my goal in life to think of new and creative ways to embarrass my children??)

I'm not sure when he grew up on me! I told him today that I wish I had a dollar every time someone commented about how tall he's gotten. He's getting close to looking me in the eye!

Recital Weekend!

I left Friday morning and did a little shopping in Ankeny. (I did get a later start because I got engrossed in all of the Royal Wedding Coverage...I KNEW that was going to be an issue!!) I ran a few errands and had lunch with Keith and then I headed for Grinnell for my niece's dance recital. Abby is a junior in high school and will turn 17 this week and has been dancing since she was in 1st grade. The only recital I've missed was the year that her family was living in Michigan. I look forward to one of my 2 girl fixes of the year!! (Niece Maddie will have her recital in June!)

Here she is with my brother, Todd. He is so proud of her and I love to watch him as he talks about her and watches her do things. There is no hiding his pride in his little girl!

I am CERTAIN that she was the BEST dancer of the night!! She is every year! :)