Blast from the Past- day late!

The Jansen Boys. Jacob and Nathan. Back in July of 2003.
Jacob is 4 years older than his brother Nathan, who currently is working on a degree dealing with video gaming and technology. I'm still not too sure exactly what he does, even though it has been explained a time or two. I know at least a while ago, he was planning on going into marketing them, so if they are labeled, "fantasy"...he would test them out and make sure they would meet those requirements to be able to advertise that genre.

He is living in Orlando, Fl. and goes to school around the clock. He has already graduated with a Bachelor's in Business while in Louisianna. Honestly, I think they are as different as brothers could be, but we do love you Nathan and we hope you know we really enjoy it when we get to visit with you!

ALRIGHT...SO NATHAN IS GOING INTO VIDEO GAME DESIGN. We had a great visit while we were there with him, and after talking with him, his classes are really cool. He'll be graduated in December with his degree! Congrats Nathan!

5-20-08 Getting my gardener on!

Hey all you green thumbs out there! So, I was tired of carefully planting starters in these organized Home Depot planter thingys, just to have my plants (after they grew out of those tiny egg sized dirt clobs) die when i went to put them in the ground. So, cringe if you may, but when it was time to plant my seedlings, I just cut open the bag of seeds, made a trough with my finger and poured all of the seeds in the packet into the dirt and then covered them (i did put them as deep as they should have been). But, now I have REALLY big seedlings, which is good- well, at least I think it's good! I'm just happy that hopefully I will actually get a producing garden this year! We still can't plant b/c its cold around here...but maybe after we get back from Florida the weather will have made up its mind about being summer and nice! So, I'm pretty excited!

p.s. corn and green beans are not present, since we found out jake and kelton have both of those as 3's (the second most sensitive number) on their allergy tests....so we're shooting for maybe even brocolli in the garden this year!

cucumbers on the left, that are starting to get their pokey edge leafs and finally my anticipated peppers on the right that I thought would never grow!!

Pumpkins on the right in the round pot, and the onions and carrots in the other, soon to appear. Is it strange that the pumpkins get into direct light and kinda get wilty? they search and get drawn to the sun from the window sill, but in the direct full day sun- don't seem to like it? Any suggestions? I heard that pumpkins LOVE the sun! My carrots (which I love to eat straight out of the ground) and onions (ahhh...sauteed) are doing great, I just hope I didn't accidentally get them too close, that would suck to get a yummy carrot that tasted like a raw onion! :)

My little precious tomatoes! not sure if these little guys will even survive- but hey, it's worth a shot right? I want to make salsa this year! yummy!

Just another week!

Uncle Kyle came for a visit this past weekend, on his way to Omaha for the summer! Taelin sure liked him, after the initial bottom lip and worries...she was fine! He is dating a fun and cute girl living in Logan, Utah and will be working for a Pest Control Company this summer in Nebraska. We are so excite for you Kyle! We love you!!!!!!

In between working out in the yard not this past weekend, but the one before- Chase came up to me for some "sweet 'ems". He's such a sweetie, giving hugs and kisses, and gets so sad at the smallest stern word or tiny spank. I don't belive in spanking, but the "get off your sister, she can't breathe" and a quick movement away from her, he turns his head and gets a sincere sad look on his face. He's so tender. I love you Buddy! You are so sweet and kind, thank you for your kisses and hugs everyday!

Look at that smile! He's been quite miscevious lately! He took a couple late naps last week and after Kelton had gone to bed, I found their door open and him in bed with Kelton! They have been playing pretty well lately together. Kelton has started wanting to do more "homework"...so we got him a small ABC's workbook to keep him busy, while Chase is starting to talk more, and can throw a ball across the house, he can even launch a spiral with a football. I can't even do that! Anyways, days are not boring here...don't think they ever will be, and I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

5-18-08 Tummy Time with Taelin

The other day, during Webelos den meeting (at my house) we got a package delivery. We opened it to find this fun toy from Oma Jansen. Thank you! Taelin doesn't really like the fact of laying on her back, but she doesn't mind the new fun view from her tummy. She's getting so big!

She lasted for about 3 minutes, and then got mad, but found her arm to lay down on and rest that head of hers! We love you sweetie!

CRAPPY WEATHER!

I'm aloud to say crappy right? I am coaching Kelton's peewee soccer team (which I did tonight with Chase trailing behind me, Taelin in my arms and 10 kids at my feet for 25 minutes, my mom was stuck in traffic)...anyways, and I said the word "bootie" and some kid told me that that was "a bad word!"...goodness people! bootie is a bad word? i know that you shouldn't say words that are really bad, but what are you supposed to call your butt!?! I was trying not to say butt! Anyways, I hope crappy doesn't offend anyone. :)

Our grass was doing well, but now the stupid weather is cold and yucky. How can it really drop 30 degrees in one day?!?! Welcome to Idaho! So, we hope by the time we are home from Florida, that there will at least be germination and some kind of progress!

Okay, so that was my venting. Here's to "great" weather! I'm ready to move...anyone have any ideas?!?!?!

5-17-08 WE HAVE SEED DOWN!

Alright! We finally have the yard seeded! It got done on Saturday, and tomorrow (which is Tues) is supposed to be the last nice day for the rest of the week! :( It's supposed to drop 30 degrees! It's been in the high 70's and low 80's for the past few days, and they have been SO nice! But, now we're supposed to get some cooler weather!

Well, summer is coming, and boy are we excited! We've been busting our buns all last week outside (which means the inside of my house has suffered)...but now we have grass planted, curbing done, and flowers in my pots. My seedlings are also getting HUGE and will be ready for their outdoor homes as soon as we get back from Florida. We'll be heading down there on Friday, so I will try to post before then. We'll visit Jake's family for 10 days, see Marie and Aaron and their little girl Emilia. I thought the picture would be bigger from online. But isn't she a cutie! I have to brag...I love her and can't wait to meet her!

Well, all for now from the Jansen home! Keep in touch ya'll!!!

P.S. Thank you Jacob and Dad for all of your hard work in the yard, you are troopers!

TUESDAY'S BLAST FROM THE PAST

Christmas Morning 2003

Can you name the Choffin clan frrom way back when?

I never thought I would post early morning pictures, but I was looking for one that looked really different than those you might see on our blog today. So, please forgive the pj's and yucky hair!

So much has happened these last few years. The younger kids have grown up way too fast! Talea was just 6 months old when Jake and I got married, and now she is officially a little girl, that's right- she is no longer a toddler but a big girl...5 going on 21! :)

Thanks for stickin' it out with us all these years. We know we've each had our ups and our downs...but in the end, we're still together. That's what family is for! Let's stay that way forever! LOVE YOU ALL!

front row: Beau, Lindsay, Vanessa, Mom, baby Talea, Kimber, Jessica, Bryce

back row: Jake, Dad, Corey and Kyle

5-8-08 Singing Taelin

5-5-08 "Singing" Chase

You'll Always Be My Baby

5-11-08 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

I didn't have any pictures of just grandma and oma. So, I added the ones with the men too. We hope you two had a great day and know how much we love you! You are wonderful and mean so much to us! We love you SO much! And are so happy that we get you in our lives!

WE LOVE YOU! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Opa and Oma Jansen

Grandma and Grandpa Choffin

Weekly Words

So, this week we added a couple of new words!

Kelton: "Appy Mother's Day!"
"Mom, you are one silly girl."
" ah....Taelin looks so cute!"
"Mom, this will really make me mad, I promise. Not you.....Chase. I'm talking to him."


Chase: "Daaaa!" (Dad)
"BaaaBaaa" (bottle)
"Baaahhhh" (bath)
"Siiighh" (outside)
"Pap" (grandpa)

Taelin: Man this girl is just a chatter box! She found her voice today during Kindermusik and was going the whole 45 minutes of class! She was just excited! She started singing with Grandpa about 2 weeks ago, but just finally started singing with me and Jake while we were singing to her. She just goes on and on. It's the cutest! (see video above)

5-2-03 TUESDAY'S BLAST FROM THE PAST

This is forever ago! Jake and I dating, well actually, we are engaged during this. We are in San Antonio (where he served his mission)...up on Mt. Bonnell. This seems like just yesterday! This shirt of Jake's is now so faded! I can't believe it's been 5 years since this day! Well, I see some of my friends doing creative days, so I will try each Tuesday to do a blast from the past, and the story of seeing us way back when! :) (i guess is a figure of speech)

We dated for one month, the end of March- through the end of April, where he proposed, I said yes, and we drove from Idaho (dropped Marie off in Kansas) to Kansas, then onto Texas and stopping at family's houses that he knew on his mission. He showed me around Texas, where we drove to Louisianna and stayed with his ex-girlfriends parents, the Hill's in DeRidder (where he grew up 12-pre mission). Then we drove straight to Jacksonville where his parents lived. It was a fun trip- but hard when we were engaged, I do not recommend any trips alone when engaged. :)

5-5-08 Working in the Yard

Jake is on swings this week...and Dad is off of teaching, so they hit the yard yesterday morning at 6:00 am! They are great, I really appreciate all of their hardwork and dilligence. Jake finished the porch railing a couple of weeks ago, and now my backyard is perfectly ready for curbing tonight and sod on Friday and Saturday! When Kelton woke up to see them working hard in the yard, he just had to go and help. Luckily, Daddy had a couple little piles that were perfect for Kelton to do! Thank you to the wonderful men in my life that are willing to get things done (even if I do seem like a "Hitler for time" and I might be bossy, but I really do appreciate it! I can't wait for grass!!!!! Yahoo! And thank you Dad, or helping. We couldn't have done any of this without you! You boys are definitely hard workers, and I love you all!!!

5-5-08 Taelin and Mommy

Jacob, 5 reasons I love you!

1. You are always so quick to say "I'm sorry!", even if I'm not ready, it always helps me when you wrap me in your arms and hold me tight. Even if I am the one to make the mistake and end up crying (especially when I am pregnant or post-baby) and being emotional. You are amazing to let me have "mommy" time and take a bath. Thank you for having patience with my spastic nature!

2. You are such a great father, and I know that although it was hard at first, you have put SO much hard work into being the father you want to be. You are loving and fun with them, and they always really do love you!

3. You are creative and outgoing. You really go for the things that you love. You dream big and try new things. You are fearless with your dreams, and I admire your willingness to shoot for the stars!

4. I love that I can send you to the store, or give you a job that needs to get done (that maybe I don't want to do, or can't do) and you get it done to the T. You are great at getting done what needs to be done no matter what. I love that you are willing to do what I don't want to sometimes!

5. Thank you for reading all of those stupid manuals/instructions that I would simply throw away. You read so carefully and can put together something that gives me hives just thinking about! Our kids would never have anything that needed to be assembled if it wasn't for you! Thank you...for taking the time to read instructions and doing it right the first time (or the second)!!!! :)

I can't believe that it's almost been 5 years! You are amazing, and I am so happy that we have 3 beautiful children and living life. You are so much fun, and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else but you! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

I tag: Robin, Michelle, Marie and Rachelle!

5-3-08 Happy Girl!

She loves to chew on her hands lately. No more binkies! She doesn't like it when she can have skin! She is drooling like crazy too! Her favorite panda bear reaps those benefits of going straight into her mouth!

This little girl is one happy camper! She LOVES to talk and stick her chin out when she laughs. For a moment, you actually get to see her neck, not something that is seen very often with those big cheeks!

Here she is, trying to sit up and as he tightens her abs and leans forward. Her eyes get big when she sees the pre-flash light on the camera. I love those little rolls on her legs. She's not huge, but she's a little chubby...and now fills out her 6-9 month clothes! Which we JUST got out for her to wear! Ahhh! They grow up way too quickly! She's got red/brown hair, and royal blue eyes. Her hair seems to have fallen out, but I think her head has also grown. She's so much fun and we're SO glad to have her in our home! We love you Tae!

5-3-08 Workin' Boys!

These boys are great! I love them! We have been trying to get the yard going so that hopefully we can have grass down by next weekend (my dad is going to come over and help next week)! Anyways, the boys and Daddy were outside today, even though it was a bit chilly with the wind. That didn't stop them, we were outside yesterday, and first thing this morning after waffles, the boys were ready to get back to "work" (although usually it is more work for those trying to smoothe the dirt out instead of the holes that they create). It was fun to see them playing together (admist the fighting) and see how much they have missed being outside! They get SO dirty! And love every minute. Chase tried to eat some dirt the other day, I think he realized how yucky it was. Kelton and Chase LOVE to help, and Kelton was SO ready with his tape measure and "tools" from his toolbox. He had his pockets stuffed (Daddy didn't use his tool belt, so Kelton couldn't) with his tools, and this is him showing me what he has in his pockets. Cute little belly and bootie!

4-23-08 PILLOW FORTS

So, for those of you who don't know, Jacob works a rotating shift of days one week and swings the other. Swings weeks are harder, since Daddy is home during the easier times (mornings when moods are managable) but gone for the hardest time, bedtime (7-8pm) or getting into bed and being grouchy. I was blogging last week since I was having a hard day, seriously for maybe 10 minutes. I turn around to find EVERY pillow in the house in this mountain along with most of my cushions from the couch. Then, Chase got into the plastic easter eggs (some which he found were still full of candy) and they were ALL over the living room floor. It really wasn't a big deal, and I was right here- so they must have been quietly "playing". Kelton is getting really sneaky lately, something I didn't think he would do...but he's the ring leader I am sure! Let's just say, I was glad to have them busy! And no damage was done, just a big mess for mommy after bedtime! Wish me luck this week, we're back on swings!

P.S. Please ignore the laundry! :)

I'm happy with Three

This week has been plenty busy! I've been watching a little girl this week, her name is Cambrie. I visit teach her mom, who is a kintergarden teacher. Cambrie is 1 month older than Tae, so its a little crazy! :) The first day was alright, the calm before the storm. Let's just say its been interesting....not anymore stressful, just busy. Strange, cause I thought it would be...nope- I just feel more tired. Ahhh...I'm needed. I will try to post some pictures soon! Have a great weekend everyone!!!!