Sisters

We announced to our clan that "aunt Sadie" was having a baby just like "aunt Mimi", the kids were thrilled.  About 5 minutes after the excitement died down I heard Bella ask Jon…

Bella:  "so aunt Sadie is having a baby?"
Jon:  "yep, isn't it awesome?"
Bella:  "so, I could have a sister?"
Jon:  "um"
**I just smirked at the site of him staring into Bella's big blue eyes not knowing what to say**
Jon:  "um, so I guess if she has a girl, yeah, you will kinda have a sister"
Bella (in all of her innocence):  "I really hope she doesn't have a boy, I already got 2 brothers!"

The end of this amazingly hilarious conversation!

The Testimony of Jack Jolley

Oh my heck… JACK JOLLEY is his own person!  This kid never does average… he can't!

So, yesterday was Fast Sunday for our ward because the Gilbert Temple Dedication is next Sunday (yes I am excited and no I can't wait).  So Jack decides that he wants to share his testimony for the first time at the podium in front of our LARGE ward.

To make sure he felt confident he went over his testimony with Jon.  Then he came over to me where he went over it again, just to make sure.  I listened, then I informed him that his zipper was down, after he fixed that minor problem he was ready…

Jack approached the stand.  There were a few people who had been sitting up in the front waiting for their turn but as soon as Jack heard the current speaker say "amen" he popped up skipping the line, that he was the END of, completely.  I'm sure the person who was next up in line was thinking… "okay? I guess YOU are next little boy".

Jack did great.  He basically said…

"I'd like to bear my testimony, I believe the church is true.
I believe temples are true because I went through 'it' twice and felt great."

Then, as confident as a professional speaker, Jack walked away.

BOOM

Take that everyone… that is MY testimony and I KILLED it.

Until… he realized he missed something.

Jack's confident walk turned into a shuffle.  He looked at me as he was passing the chair that our bishop was sitting in.  I knew what he was thinking so I mouthed "in the name…" that's all it took for this kid to SPIN around and re-approach the microphone.  Now, please visualize this with me, the man who was after Jack (who was actually before Jack but Jack cut in front of him) was also approaching the microphone AND, on top of that, the microphone was being automatically adjusted to the height of this man… so, it was moving up.  Jack quickly approached the mic and, as the mic was still moving upward, he shouted… "in the name of Jesus Christ Amen".

I have no more words.
I about died.
I am still trying to compose myself 24 hours later.

(this picture was of the moment I walked through the door after being at Remuda Ranch for 75 days)

Whom I Am Well Pleased.

Brayden at The Gilbert Temple Ground Breaking Dedication - November 2010

Sometimes I want to run away and hide from my children.  Sometimes I truly believe that their ears don't work.  Sometimes I fear for my life (and theirs) when I think about their teenage years.  Sometimes I think they just don't get it.  Sometimes I worry for their future spouses when I find myself repeating things 10 times a day… and then I realize that I have been repeating those same 10 things a day for the last 7 years.  

And then, there are days when I am so proud of them I feel like I may burst.  Today was one of those days… or more accurately, today I had a moment when I was so proud of my oldest that I couldn't stop smiling.

Brayden's 5th grade teacher emailed me today… here's what she said:

Mrs. Jolley,

I was just saying to my husband that I needed to email you. Brayden said you have a bunch of tickets to your temple. My husband and I want to try it but they only have day time tickets during the week available. If you happen to have any extra tickets we would love to buy some from you. :) Let me know when you have time. 

Thank you,
Mrs. ******

Isn't it kinda cool that Brayden talked to his TEACHER about the Gilbert Temple open house?  Isn't it awesome that he is so excited about something so wonderful?  Isn't it so great that his teacher spent the time getting online to see if she could get some tickets?  Isn't it so fantastic that I have hoarded so many tickets that we have the opportunity to give them to our curious friends?  

I emailed his teacher back and gave her some of our tickets… and don't worry, I let her know they were free!  

Our family is really proud of this temple.  Like we built it or something.  We feel like it's our baby.  It seems like our baby.  We have watched it grow every step of the way.  It has been an overwhelmingly special experience.

 Our Family at the Gilbert Temple Ground Breaking Dedication - November 2010

 Frame of the Gilbert Temple

Angel Moroni is added to the top!

Another Jolley Family routine visit to "our" temple. 

"Our" temple is ready.  The open house is this Saturday.  Look at how beautiful it is.

I'm such a proud parent!!!

Early one morning, Brayden had already headed off to school and I was cleaning up after our breakfast mess when I heard...

Jack: "Hey mom, hey mom"

ME: "Yeah Jack"

Jack: "Hey mom, look at me... I'm a 'Jack in the box'"

Where does this kid come up with this stuff??!! I laughed my guts out!

Jack's First Day of Second Year Pre-school!

Jack's back in school!

Jack started his second year of preschool the day Brayden started Kindergarten. I feel bad but the emotion I had for Brayden over-shadowed any emotion I had for Jack leaving... but let me plead my case. Jack actually has the same schedule that he had last year, preschool 5 days a week for about 3 1/2 hours... so there is nothing to mourn right? He's doing great, loves his BUS... of course, and loves his teacher Mrs. Tanner (who happened to be Brayden's preschool teacher last year).

So far Jack's biggest adjustment to school doesn't have anything to do with him actually going to school... it's the mornings spent without Brayden that has thrown him for a loop. Jack is starting to find his own groove but for the first couple of days he was lost without his big brother! He didn't know what he wanted to play with, or who to play with... poor kid, he totally just goes along with whatever Brayden wants to do. The plus is that he's taken a liking to his little sister and actually is enjoying her instead of always ignoring her!

We love you Jack... you have 2 more years of preschool... I hope you don't get bored!

Jaxtin Jones Jolley

(yeah, I've already told you, it's his real name!)

"SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER"

Our little preschool graduate! Brayden can recognize and name 24 out of the 26 letters and make out 22 of the 26 sounds! He can write his name and is starting to sound out words.

We are so proud of you Brayden! Full day kindergarten... here we come!

Its started... I'm a soccer mom!

It has already started... yesterday was Brayden's first soccer practice and Jaxtin's parent-teacher conference... and of course, they overlapped. Jon took all 3 kids to the practice because kids were not allowed at the back to school night, after I mingled and got caught up on Jack's progress, I rushed to the practice where I high-fived Jon and off he went to scouts. It's starting already and my kids are so young... AHHHHHHH!