Kailyn's New Comforter Quilt

Grandma Jones made a quilt for Kailyn's 8th birthday. We had seen pictures of it before it arrived but I have to tell you, it is even more beautiful in person. It is so lovely in fact that Ken decided he wanted it for himself. Kailyn wasn't buying it.

Looks like Kailyn won the battle.

Kailyn said it looks better on her bed. I think Kailyn loves it as much as her mom and dad. It really is gorgeous. Thanks Grandma Jones this is definitely something Kailyn will treasure forever.

Grandpa B Comes For A Visit

For the week before Labor Day, Grandpa was able to come to our place and help Ken make bunk beds for the girls.  The boys had a lot of fun together, and the bunk beds turned out beautifully.

Grandpa Supervising

Checking the lines, making it straight

Had to include this pic b/c I have no idea what that expression on Ken's face is supposed to mean.

Sanding some more.

Caden really wanted to help but only lasted a couple of minutes at a time.  At one point, he decided to make a picture for Grandpa.  He came into the garage and asked how old Grandpa was.  Ken answered, "29."  He said thanks and then disappeared for a bit.  He came back with this picture saying, "Grandpa I Love You."  29 (okay 2P, but it was supposed to be "29") was written above a drawing of a birthday cake.  He came out a out and showed it off then asked Ken how hold he was.  Ken answered, "33."  He got a slightly confused look on his face, shrugged it off, and then added another birthday cake to the drawing with the number "33" and "dad." 

Pictures of the finished project (okay, this picture was used elsewhere.  We keep intending to paint the guard rail on top but just haven't done it yet, so, this picture will have to do).

Ava getting really tired in Grandpa's lap.

And then she was out.

Self-proclaimed "Most Boring Grandpa in the World," as everyone who got near him fell asleep.  Not boring, Grandpa!  Just "comfortable" (fun to snuggle with).

We were a little nervous . . .

So, Kailyn had an assignment to write a "narrative" and a "persuasive" essay for her class in school.  She did a fantastic job!  I don't remember writing like this until I was, well, a lot older.  Anyway, her persuasive essay was titled "We should have longer school."  Her narrative was titled, "Bladder infections."  This is the one that made both Shelly and myself a little nervous.  Click here for more details, but just realize this is what prompted a "birds and the bees" discussion with Kailyn.  Shelly and I read the essays independently and both let out a little gasp of concern when we saw the title "Bladder infections."  Anyway, here are the essays.  I will include any misspellings and grammitcal errors to show how she wrote it.

The Persuasive Essay:
"We should have Longer school"
To: Staff
From: a student

One reason we should have longer school years is that we learn a lot more, we might even know stuff our parents don't!  Example: True fact: How many curls did Shirly Temple have?  56!  See, I did learn something my parents don't know!  We can also learn a lot more stuff like what is lava made of?  Why are our eyes different colors?  Why are more people right handed then left?

Another reason is that we can live a better life because we can cover different topics like what animals are safe?  What aren't?  What things are safe?  What aren't?

The last reason is we can be ready fo college sooner because you can be ready for harder math, harder Science/S.S., and harder everything else.

If you expanded school years everyone meets new friends, learns more, and gets ready for college sooner.

Teacher grade: graded in 5 categories.  3 "excellents," 1 "pass," and 1 "neutral"  She didn't provide an intro paragraph.


The Narrative Essay:
Bladder Infections
By: Kailyn Christine Bassett

Splash!  I had just thrown the fishing string into the river.  I slowly reeled it in.  It just got to dock but it was stuck!  I couldn't pull it up, so I had to call dad.  "Dad" I said.  He came to help me.  We pulled it up together.  On the end was a big . . . clump of seaweed?  Dad and I laughed and laughed!

Suddenly I stopped laughing and handed the pole to him.  I said "I have to go the bathroom" O.K. dad said.

When I came back I relized  I had to go again and again in fact it seemed like every 20 seconds.

We hadn't caught anything but we had fun so we went back to the car.  We were camping so we went to the cabin.  Dad to a comefort staition (3-5 drops of blood) and I told mom about the blood and I didn't have to go untill after about 20 minutes!  So after about 20 minutes I went again and went again at 11:30 P.M.!  That was sure was an exiting day!

By: Kailyn Christine Bassett

Teacher grade: 3 "excellents," 2 "pass."  Comments:  Very creative lead!  I'm wondering about the end.  There were drops of blood--were you okay?

Anyway, cute in its own way.  Good job, Kailyn!

Random Kids Pics

Here are a few random picks from our day to day (about 3.5 months ago).

How to contain Ava so she doesn't take your toys.

Grandpa Bassett came for a visit.

Caden helping make scrabbled eggs.

Not bad Caden. Keep it up, every girl loves a guy that can cook.

Kailyn decided to help out by changing Ava's diaper.

Not bad Kailyn. You're hired!

Kailyn is learning multiplication this year and has a couple programs on the computer that she uses to study. The kids love to gather round anytime someone is on the computer.

The Boys

Caden has a great imagination! The other day he saw these gray tubs in the garage and decided to play with them. He immediately popped it on his back and said, "Hey Mom, I'm a snail." Then Chase and he crawled around with them on their backs. Jordan was quite miffed because there wasn't one for her. "No fair!  They get a tub and I don't. Why do they get one?" Jordan those tubs have been in the garage for weeks and no one has touched them, Caden is the one that got them out and started using his imagination to make them fun.

Caden as a snail.

The fun did not end with the snails. When bath time came, I told the boys to go and get their pajamas and get ready for a bath. I heard the water running and went to check it out. I found Caden and Chase with their tubs in the bathtub and each tub filled with water. They thought it was great and were laughing and having a great time.

Wait!  There's more (and you thought the fun with the tubs was over). After putting the boys to bed we went in to check on them and found them asleep in their tubs. Doesn't that look comfy?

Caden fast asleep.

Chase fast asleep.

One day I layed down for a much appreciated nap (Ava is the sweetest baby during the day but absolutely refuses to sleep through the night. Caden is not so great at sleeping either.) Ken took the boys out to the garage (Ava was napping, too) so he could do some organizing. When I woke up from my nap I was told that Caden had a surprise for me.  He made me cover my eyes and go out to the garage (I thought they were going to show me the clean and organized garage.) Caden told me to open my eyes and there was Caden riding across the driveway with no training wheels. Yes, I was so surprised! Chase then said, "Me too!" and got on the scooter and rode across the driveway and said, "Surprise Mom!" (He has been riding the scooter all summer, he just wanted to be like his big brother.)

Chase is really good at riding on a scooter. Here he is on his sister's scooter.

Caden on his bike training wheel free!

Caden had apparently asked Ken to help him ride this bike (a smaller bike we have that is great for learning to ride because they can easily touch the ground). Ken started helping him, and he was doing it with no problem, so they decided to take the training wheels off his bike.

Caden was so proud of himself. He surprised me by getting dressed for church all by himself.

First Day of School (3 months ago--oops)

So, this post has been done for a couple of months now, but we had so many things to catch up on that it took us awhile to get it out.  Here are pics of the kids on their first day of school, back in August.

Kailyn ready for 3rd grade.

She has to meet the bus every morning at 7:20am which means waking up at 6:30am. She has done amazing at getting up every morning, even though she often stays up late reading.

Jordan ready for 1st grade. She was quite sad that Kailyn was not going to be walking with her to school everyday.

Jordan with her teacher Miss Manning. Miss Manning is new this year but seems to be doing a great job.

Caden ready for Preschool. He was SOOO excited. On the first day of school we had a little snack about 10 and Caden came up and asked if we had just eaten lunch. I told him no it was just a snack. He said, "Actually, I am going to call it lunch." Then he ran out of the room and came back a second later, "Mom, do you know where my backpack is?" I had told him that school wasn't until after lunch, nice try.

Caden tracing his name.

Caden getting ready for circle time.