Pinewood Derby Time

The Car...err...Monorail!
I thought Jordan did pretty good for his first attempt at building a car,
and he's already thinking about next years design.

Jordan was the first one to check in at the Derby.

It really was a night of Magical Memories.

Ready for the races to commence.

Kevin, Jordan, Dylan, Brendan, Ryan, JD, Jacob, & Joey

Tonight was Jordan's first official Pinewood Derby. He had a blast graphing, designing, making, and painting his Disney Monorail car that he named Magical Memories. If you happened to miss past blog entries revolving around Disney than you might not realize how much of a Mousejunkie family we really are. This just proves it a little bit more. Unfortunately, Magical Memories wasn't as fast as a real Disney Monorail (not by a long shot), but Jordy didn't seem to mind tying for last place...yep last, but **Magical** nonetheless!!)

13 years and counting!

Our special treat. The sorbet was sooo delicious!!

My cousins Julie, Cara, and Callie

13 years and going strong.
I LOVE this guy!!

With 2 major events under wraps you would think our weekend would start to slow down, but we had one last celebration to squeeze in before Spring Break officially wrapped up and that was the celebration of my wedding anniversary to my incredible husband of 13 years this past Monday. We were able to go to Chicago over the weekend with my family and visit with a bunch of my relatives including my grandma who recently had surgery. It was so good to see her, and she looked absolutely beautiful. It's impossible to be amongst my family and not eat like there was no tomorrow. We dragged ourselves back to the hotel every night completely stuffed. Between Chicago style pizza, cakes, cookies, and desserts, I think I gained a few pounds in the span of 48 hours. On Monday we were able to meet up with 3 of my cousins and eat in the Signature Room at the top of the John Hancock Tower. The view was breathtaking, and the food was tasty. As a special surprise our waiter brought Kevin and I out a special anniversary treat at the end of the meal complete with his and her candles. So sweet, and so much fun!! Love you, Kev!! Happy Anniversary!!

It's great to be 8!!

Jordan, Kyler, and Caleb.
The boys looked so handsome that day!

My mom and dad

Two of my siblings: Brooks& Kelcee.
Our family: Kyler, Kevin, Jordan, Tami, & Caleb.
My parents: Jeanne and Tom
I loved having my family celebrate this special day with us.


Our family on the morning of April 10th.

In addition to Kyler turning 12 this past week, Jordan also had a very important weekend. Jordan was baptized on April 10th and is now an official member of the LDS church. It's one of the many perks to being 8!! He was so excited for the day to finally arrive, and his dad and I could not be happier or prouder that he made the decision to be baptized. As an added bonus Jordan was baptized with 2 other friends on the same day (a little unusual in MI.). Jordan asked my dad to be one of the speakers and he spoke for a few minutes on the importance of baptism and the reasons we are baptized. We were reminded that when we are baptized we are making important covenants with our Father in Heaven to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and that we will try our best to live the principles of the gospel. In turn we are promised that our Father in Heaven will forgive us if we repent of mistakes we make, that we can be given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that ultimately we can be together forever and have eternal life. Jordan also asked my sister Kelcee to sing a solo and she chose to sing I am a Child of God . She did a beautiful job, and it helped keep the spirit strong in the chapel as the children prepared for their confirmation where they were given the gift of the Holy Ghost. I'm so glad we were able to share this experience with some of my family members, and that Jordan has such a strong testimony of the gospel already at the age of 8. Congratulations Jordan!!

Happy "Belated" Birthday, Kyler

Kevin, Kyler, Caleb, and my dad.

Lighting his candles.

Birthday Boy!!

Kyler's our lil' chef in training. He made his own chocolate frosted white cake this year and decorated it with blackberries, strawberries, and sliced kiwi.

My parents gave Kyler a new butterfly habitat so now he's ready for butterfly season to start again. He also received a Disney Monopoly game from Jordan, a Star Theater from Caleb, a golf glove and golf balls from Kevin, and a panoramic puzzle from me. With his birthday money from his grandparents he is planning to buy an icecream maker or possibly a blender. He's serious about those cooking skills!!

Kyler's birthday always seems to fall over the Spring Break holiday which typically means there are not a lot of friends around to celebrate with. This year was no different, but for the second year in a row Kyler still made out pretty good and had a party with extra family members in attendance. Last year we were in Utah for his 11th birthday and had a party with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins. This year my mom, dad, brother Brooks, and sister Kelcee came to visit us in Michigan the day of his birthday and made it in time for pizza, cake, and the present exchange. I can't believe my little guy is 12. He's officially graduated from primary and moved into the Young Men's program at church (sniff, sniff). I'll miss seeing him during sharing time and singing time on Sunday's, but can't wait watch him continue to grow and mature with the other young men in our church. Kyler's one incredible child. He's a loving brother, loyal friend, and so far he's been a pretty easy "tween"....hope that characteristic lasts for a loooonnnggg time! Love you Kyler!! Here's a few of Kyler's favorites when he turned 12.

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite TV Show: NCIS (Obsessed??? Possibly!!)

Favorite School Subject: Advanced Science...He loves anything scientific.

Favorite Movie: How to Train your Dragon. I'm thinking this might be due to the fact that we just saw it. Next week he might have a new favorite.

Favorite Song: I've Got a Feeling by the Black-Eyed Peas. He's singing it in choir.

Favorite Treat: Baked Alaska, and in case any of you are like me and think that sounds like some strange fish dessert it's not. Baked Alaska is a dessert made with icecream, sponge cake and topped with meringue. Kyler had it once and fell in love.

Favorite Vacation: Cruise, Cruise, Cruise.

Something he is looking forward to during his 12th year: Hmmm...CRUISE! I told him start making plenty of wishes on shooting stars because that one isn't in the cards this year.

Favorite Book: The Kingdom Keepers Series followed by the Percy Jackson Series. Kyler's a bookaholic and easily reads a new book every couple of days.

Happy Birthday, Jordan

Jordan woke up to find his room decorated in the morning. Kyler is always great about making sure his brothers have something special first thing in the morning.

Here's a picture of the boys ready for school. Jordan was in school swim lessons the past 2 weeks so he gets to go to school decked out in his swim gear.

Caleb and I joined Jordan in the school cafeteria for lunch that afternoon.

Jordan helped to decorate his cake and was anxious to open all his gifts before Kevin left for work while the rest of us went to Kyler's choir concert.

No way that blow is going to get the job done...I think 1 candle might have flickered on try #1!!

Jordan loves any kind of game. Board games, computer games, wii games and DS games. He was thrilled with this game from grandma and grandpa!

I can't believe it, but Jordan is now 8 years old! Boy, those 8 years sure went fast. There are many, many days when I wish I could put him in a time capsule and seal up some of that childhood innocence and joy before he gets any older, but no such luck. No one's given me the master plans to their time capsule or gifted me a non-aging potion so I guess I'll have to suck it up and continue aging right along with him! I sure do love this kid!!

Here are some of Jordan's favorites this year.

Favorite subject in school: Math...story problems and equations are his favorite. (can this really be my son??)
Favorite color: Yellow, but some days it is green or blue or pink. He loves the rainbow and all the colors you can find within it.
Favorite food: Macaroni
Favorite song: One Time
Favorite game: Anything to do with the wii.
Favorite person: Me! Hmmm....it seems all my kids love me (or know I'm the one typing and they don't want to get into trouble ha! ha!)
Favorite sport: Soccer and swimming
Favorite hobby: Writing
Favorite book: The Ready Freddy series
Favorite month: April...he's getting baptized that month and he can't wait!!

That sums up some of Jordan's favorites. I'll be anxious to see if any changes are made to this list next year when he tums 9. Here's hoping this year he continues to have amazing twinkle eyes (they can make anyone have a better day when they shine) and that he doesn't loose any of that childlike joy that he so easily finds right now. He's a pretty amazing boy and I am one lucky mom to have him as my son.