The cast comes off.....

Well wouldn't you know it......the first week of football practice this season and we start off with a broken arm! While we were sitting up at Jensen's football practice on August 10th, a warm and very lovely summer night, Miss Ella fell off of the monkey bars and SEVERELY broke her arm. I had just walked away from the playground for a quick second and just upon returning I watched her fall from the bars while trying to cross. The poor girl let out one of the most awful groans I think I have ever heard and when I ran to her she got up with a face full of bark......I began to clean out her mouth because that is what I thought she hurt and when she pulled back from me I could easily see that her poor little arm was all bent out of shape.

I think I panicked for just a moment......Jiles would not let me put him down and I had swarms of little girls around me wanting to know what was going on. J.D. was with Drew at his practice and I felt lost! I quickly got him on the phone and had him rush to meet me at the playground.

To make a long story short, we took Ella to the Emergency Room at Alta View Hospital where they treated her quickly. They could see the amount of pain that she was in and hooked her up to an I.V. of pain killers within minutes. We learned upon X-ray that Ella had broken both the bones in her wrist and would need to be put to sleep to have it set. We have had broken arms in our family in the past, but I have told Ella that she is the winner for doing the most damage!

Ella started 1st grade this year with a cool pink cast on her right arm and spent the first few weeks writing with her left hand.....she is quite good at it actually.

Luckily she healed within 7 weeks and is as good as new today.....I do not believe that she will attempt to cross the monkey bars any time in the near future!

Another year has begun.....

Brenna.....first day of her Junior year at Alta. Driving to school on her own and loving the prospects of what this new year will hold for her!!

Dang! Look at that handsome devil!! Drew talked us into letting him go to Crescent View Middle this last year of middle school for him......9th grader!!

Ji-Ji.....wishing and hoping that he was joining the kids at school this year.....I think he is really going to miss all the action that having everyone at home has. I hope he does okay with just his mommy!

Wow! Where does the time go?? Ella "Sophie" is now in 1st grade! Big girl going all day long.....I am going to miss having her around but am excited for her because she is so dang excited.

Could they get any cuter?? Jenky boy is starting the 5th grade this year and he is a smart cookie! He is loving the friends he has made at Summit and is looking forward to another year.

Being the mom of these kiddo's is the best gift that I could ask for! I love watching them grow.

Ji-ji's two!.....

My little boy.....he is 2!! I look back over the last couple of years in wonder and amazement at the blessings that we have recieved in our family.

Jiles early arrival into this world and the rough start that he had is a constant reminder to me of the blessing that life is, that it can change in a heartbeat.
He is sunshine in our everyday life and I cannot even begin to imagine what our world would be like without him in it!

My blue-eyed boy! He is a momma's boy and I do not mind it one little bit.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy! Mommy and Daddy love you with our whole hearts!!

Spirit Spectacular.....

Friday, April 8, 2011 - Spirit Spectacular. End of the year performance.
Watching Brenna and the other Cheerleaders was a fun moment for us this year. I feel so proud of her for wanting something so bad, and for trying so hard to get it. She has great friends on her teams and also has an amazing coach who I think she will be friends with for many years to come.

The Sophomre squad being introduced to the crowd.....
"And here we have one of the Head Cheerleaders.....Brenna Barnes....."
A surprise was in store for the girls as well as the audience, when a group of the dads came out in full cheerleader mode, and J.D. Barnes was one of those dads!!
They all practiced a dance that goes along with the school song and then did a cheer. It was awesome to watch, and especially awesome that all the girls loved their dads and were able to go out on the mat and cheer with their dads.

They even did a lift....one of the scarier moments of the night! I thought my guy was going to come home and have to be in traction for the weekend.....J.D. also entered the mat with his most famous 'round-off' - What a lucky gal I am to have my husband be able to tumble with the best of them!! It was hilarious!
Daddy and Daughter :)
Brenna was supported by loads of family that night, Grandma and Grandpa Hackwell, Aunt Jana with Brittyn, Aunt Julie with Aliza, and Grandma Pat and Grandpa Brian.
This is a sidenote from the Cheerleader herself..... I found this later on and there was no way that I wanted to delete it. This just goes to show her personality and the silliness that we get to enjoy each day!


Aside from watching my beautiful brenna and her gorgeous body flaunt across that blue felt, the rest of the show sucked peach. J.D. did an alright job too.

thankyouandgoodnight(:

Jensen's 4th grade program.....

Jensen had his 4th grade program back on March 17th.....yes, yes, I know I am behind in my blogging. I cannot even begin to describe the way that time flies. Like warp speed some days.

The program was all about Indians and Explorers of Utah History. They sang songs, had speaking parts the whole shebang.

I don't know why, but at nearly every program that I go to of one of my kids, there comes a time in a song that I get a little teary-eyed. What is that?? I don't think that I am crying over the whole list of counties that are in Utah, or about the Navajo Indians....it is just watching a group of little ones, so cute and innocent in their lives that makes me sentimental. Knowing full well that I am raising 6 of these kids, hopefully, to my best ability.....wanting the very most for them in their lives!!

The innocence of children is a beautiful thing.

Cute kids, all dressed up, and, for just a brief moment of the day to be out of school uniforms! Proud of my Jensen for getting up and doing his part so well.....

Jensens and his best friend Jake (the one in the crazy Trapper Hat) Love both those boys~

Prom Night 2011.....

Morgan and Brenna - Junior Prom.

New dresses. Check.

Nails done. Check.

Hair appointments. Check.

Picked up Boutonnieres. Check.

I think I must have done something right in Heaven to get these 2 girls. They are beautiful and amazing ladies.

Not wanting to be taller than their dates, and also for comforts sake they wore Keds to the dance! Before any other boy gets a kiss, the girls owe one to their dad, he brought home them home each a single white rose and brought me home a dozen pink ones. Prom is a lot of work for the mom too! I have the most thoughtful guy around.

Riley Johnson and Morgan......

Spencer Peck and Brenna.....

Brenna said the funniest thing about her dress, it is really pretty and looks amazing on her, but she was not comfortable wearing it just the way it was off the hanger. She felt like she was showing too much. She added the black shade under it and then topped it off with the black shrug. When all was said and done she said, "Now I look too modest."

Silly girl.

Date #2, West Jordan.

Andrew Hogan and Morgan.....

Pretty flowers for a pretty lady.....

Don't stick him!!

J.D. is the dad that pins all the boys flowers on. I don't think any of them have minded so far, but who knows. I think it lets the date knows just who is in charge here!!

Snow Caves and Pinewood Derby

As the mom, does anyone ever get comfortable with the term "Snow Caving"? When I hear that is what the scouts are planning on doing for a weekend activity, somewhere a pit in my stomach begins to form. I don't understand it, don't get why anyone would do it, but of course have to say yes when this boy says that is how he wants to spend his Friday night. I know that he will be going with very capable men in our ward, I know that Drew is a smart kid, and I know that boys everywhere do it.....but still. The thought is claustrophobic and scary.

Drew quickly realized the claustrophobic and scary part too after waking around midnight and having a small panic attack in his close quarters. Luckily, they were only up at Snowbird and cell phone coverage was good, so I got a text from my big boy at 12:15 a.m. -

"Mom, are you awake?"

J.D. and I were able to call him on the phone and talk with him, have a long prayer and let him know that we loved him and that he was going to be alright.

He was alright, returned home Saturday morning with a lot of very wet clothes, but he had a smile on his face and was grateful for the opportunity. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who comforts and protects us, I am thankful for Drew's strong testimony of prayer and the way that he uses his Father in Heaven in his life.

Pinewood Derby 2011

Jensen dream car - a Pink E-Racer

My boys spent some serious man hours designing and building this car. I love projects that bring families together, so how can you turn down a good pinewood derby. Even Ella wanted in on the action and was just as excited about the race as Jensen was.

Day of the Race.....nervous energy.....not really. We are truly just in it for the fun of the day, but when you do come in 2nd in your age group and 2nd overall that is for sure icing on the cake!! Ella sat just as close to the track as was possible - she was Jensens biggest fan!

Look at the load of awards he came away with.....not to shabby!