The J's: 09/08

9/28/2008

Pig Race 08

Jaylee and Jenni wanted to add another animal to our list this month...

THE PIG RACE

It was a good fun time!!

The girls were exhausted!!

The camcorder battery was dead, so I did hte best I could with the digital camera.

Here's the beginning.

Jaylee is in the front, wearing pink pants and a brown top.

Jenni is somewhere in the far back (but trying her darndest).

I thought Jaylee was going to catch the pig in this next clip...

This is my ABSOLUTE favorite.

Jenni comes face to face with the pig (pig is in the shadow)

for literally 2 seconds they STARE at each other

while I am yelling like a crazy person "PICK IT UP!"

This last clip is Jenni running off the field after the 3 pigs were caught.

I just thought she looked so grown up!

We LOVE the pig race!!!

We now have a snapping turtle pet that we found down the street!

9/11/2008

Jaylee the daredevil

More animals...

The next day we had to empty our box of found caterpillars to make room for this toad.

THEN tonight Jaylee was feeling that she wanted a challenge.

So... Jason gave her (and my heart) a few...

#1) Grandma, she specifically asked for a picture of her on the roof to send to YOU!!

#2) Climbing UP the outside of the slide and then coming down upside down

#3) surviving this contraption he made

the video doesn't get good until a full 10 secs into it (sorry)

9/10/2008

Talk by Jason Stringham
Given at Grandma's Funeral
September 6, 2008

Grandma Stringham was the most kind and most loving person I have ever met. When I was a young child, I truly believed that I was her favorite person on the planet. Every time I had a story or had achieved even the smallest of victories, I could always count on her to listen, to laugh, to congratulate, and to give me my due praise. I knew she clung to every word I said because, me and my life, was so important to her. It was obvious in everything she did.

As I grew a little older, and slightly less self centered, I began to realize that love and kindness defined Grandma to everyone who knew her. She loved us all. Everyone here knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that you are her favorite. She showed us in everything she did.

When I met my wife, I made a special detour on my way to introduce her to my family. I first had to stop to show Grandma the girl I wanted to marry. I remember prior to me letting her know I was to propose, she pulled me aside to tell me what a special and beautiful girl she was. Something that I remember from that visit was when the three of us were leaving to a restaurant for dinner and on the way there Grandma refused to sit in the front seat. She told me that is where your wife belongs. I laughed to myself as Jenn tried to convince her that she wanted her to have the front seat… that it wouldn’t be right to put her in the back. I knew how stubborn Grandma can be about things like that so I pretended to be doing something else and just listened. After a good five to ten minutes, Jenn finally convinced her to take the front seat. Grandma must have been very hungry. Afterwards Grandma made me promise that my wife will always get the front seat… a promise I have tried to keep.

When I was younger, our family had a great big dog. I was in the army at the time and planned my vacation home so that I would be there at the same time as my Grandma was visiting. When I arrived, I found out our dog had to be put down because his hips had given out and he was in a lot of pain. At one point, during my visit, Grandma was being helped up and I said to her, “Don’t show any sign of weakness around these people Grandma, you heard what they did to the dog.” Grandma laughed and replied, “If only I could be so lucky. I miss Grandpa and look forward to being with him again.”

As painful as it is that you are no longer here with us, I rejoice in the knowledge that you are reunited with him. And I’m sure it didn’t take you long to remind him that he is your favorite.
I love you very much and I am truly honored that I could speak today.

The Stringham Family

Joking around with our long lost cousins.

The Farm
Ashton, Idaho

Some things never change... Jason just couldn't resist catching a few of those huge grasshoppers!

Jason's attempt at a "cool" pose...

Reminiscing in Grandma's farm house.

9/09/2008

Our First Snake

Hmm... What's in the bag, Jaylee?!?

Is THIS supposed to be in our front yard?!?

Taking the snake to the park

(I wanted to kill it, Jason wouldn't)

And, of course a video...

Jaylee had spotted to snake the day before but we lost it while waiting for Jason to get home from work and capture it. Then the next day, she walked outside and there it was...

Of course, I yelled at her because I thought she was playing a "joke" on me -

Good thing Jason was home this time!!

Jenni feeding sea lions

Here are some pictures of Jenni and her BFF Sophie.

We went to the Hershey Zoo for Sophie's Birthday and Jenni got to feed a Sea Lion... twice! She was soooo proud of herself!!

Jenni's first day of PreSchool

Now I'm even sadder!!!

With what seems to be an endless number of little Stringhams heading off for their first day, I can't help but think of all us Mom's home - some alone and some just feeling more alone.

I admit that I am very excited for Jenni to be off making her own friends and growing up...

BUT I want my BABY girls back!!

Can't I for just one day?!?

Pretty please?!?

Well, that didn't work so here are the pix of her

"SPECIAL JENNI DAY"

She was very nervous when we were getting ready to head out the door. But 1 phone call with Daddy and she was READY to go!!

(He's so great with their fears!!)