Back to School

We're back to school!! Can you believe the summer has gone past already? I can hardly believe my little Frans is a kindergartener!! He was so excited to be able to ride the bus with Haylee and Owen. He is gone to all day kinder and Molly is now the boss...or so she thinks. Mikaydi and Molly have been going through some power stuggles...Molly thinks its her turn to be boss and Mikaydi disagrees. Jax doesn't care whose boss as long as he gets fed--he is a grumpy baby though and that has been hard. I am trying to trust Molly more as the helper. It has been an adjustment for us. Frans has had to get used to having homework everyday. Haylee has already typed her first paper (she did a good job) and she is busy working on her maps--she has to make a map of each state of the US by the end of the year. She is a busy 5th grader. Owen has already had to go and apologize to his teacher as he rolled his eyes at her...Mom and Dad were not happy about that. He asks for extra math homework...he wants stuff that's harder than what he is working on in class (nerd). I told him that if he moves up to the advanced reading group I would buy him whatever Wii game he wants. We will see if he can do it. He is excited to be in 3rd grade. I am just trying to cope with all the changes that come when kids are in school. I like them to be in school because they aren't constantly bored at home, but I miss there help at home and I like to play with them. Life goes on and seasons change.

Values

I was watching one of my favorite "oldie" movie today, Your Mine and Ours (the old one--with Henry Fonda), and I was in awe of the values they taught in that movie. In today's movie we always have to be on guard because it always seems there's at least 'one bad part' or questionable part in even the G rated movies...yes there is a swear word in Disney's "Cars" movie. The one part in YM&O movie that I really liked was when Colleen, the oldest teenage daughter of Helen North, asks her step father, Henry Fonda's character, about what true love is. What he tells her rings in my heart as trueth, even though it is in a movie. He tells her that true love is not the making out part of life. He tells her to take a look around (they were getting ready to have another baby) and look at her mother. That this, having babies, was what true love is all about...its about the day to day routine, the making sandwhiches and washing windows and having babies that is what real love is...its looking at your spouse when their washing clothes or making dinner and loving them that is what real love is. He goes on to tell her that no amount of long haired boys will change that fact no matter what lies they are telling her, about how she is the only one no doing "it". I want my kids to watch this oldie movie and hear what he has to say about it. It is a true classic that premotes good values--I wish there were more movies like this one out there now days.

Family Picture

Okay so here's the deal. Trying to get six kids to all be happy actually look at the camera is next to impossible. After about four pictures and lots of complaints, we ended up with this picture. I have to admit that I did say, "Either you guys be happy and look at the camera or we will sit here until you do...and if you think it will be fun to miss church--IT WILL NOT BE FUN TO STAND HERE FOR THREE HOURS!" Right after that is when we got this picture. I guess this is as good as it gets.

Vacation

Okay so we are vacationing in WY. We are at the annual Hokanson Reunion in Star Valley. It has been a total blast. We rented this awesome vacation house (that has fast internet) and we have been totally enjoying ourselves. The only complaint I have is the heat. Its been in the high 90's with no AC! Mikaydi and the other girls had a blast today painting thier finger nails, doing hair and just being girly girls. It was fun seeing all the girl cousins excited and having fun. I have to say that Mike has been having lots of fun, just as soon as he finished the slide show. I think all the slide showing has burned his brain.

As you can see by his picture. Of course he does like to show off for his siblings. I have to say he is really in his element when he is with his family. I laugh so hard when I am with the Hokanson's they are hillarious.

Posing for Pearl

These cute girls are so cute. We were at grandma's and they were posing for thier aunt Pearl. Molly has this leg model thing going on...not sure where that came from. Londyn (our cousin) and Mikaydi are posing as well. They have had so much fun together. It makes me want to be a kid again and not worry about anything at all just have to play and play and play.

Pearl is like the funnest aunt ever. All the nieces and nephews love her. Maybe its because she's young or maybe its because she pays attention to them, it could be because she plays with them, or maybe its because she it just awesome. I think it might be a little of all of the above. Thank You Pearl for being so much fun with the kids!

Jax Michael Hokanson

After much labor and pains and a Saturday night start, Jax was born on Mon, June 30 at 10:39am. He weighed in at 10lbs 4 oz and 22 inches long. He looks a lot like Mikaydi. He has really long toes. He has had a little of a rough start. They think that Jenny developed diabetes later in the pregnancy and so his heart was larger than it should have been. Of course since Jenny hadn't eaten since Sat night at 7, she expect Jax to have to go to NICU for low blood sugars. He didn't disappoint just he added a lot of stress to everyone's lives. His heart is looking much better. They ran several tests and feel like it is related to the diabetes. His heart has improved today getting smaller. Jenny is in more pain then she remembers (good thing we forget). She hoping that Jax and her can move to a peds room so she can stay with him. She really hasn't gotten to hold him much and is looking forward to that. He is one of the biggest babies in the NICU. Alot of credit to the great drs for providing a safe arrival and quick thinking on their parts. We are grateful to those who have taken the time to study and learn about medical things. It benefits our lives greatly. There have been many small and big miracles that have happened in Jax's short life. We are grateful for the many prayers that have been sent heavenward for us, for incredible VTers, and good brothers who honor their priesthood to assist in giving blessings. And we are so grateful for Jax. I've often thought about how this love is in stint like we knew each other before, which obously we did know each other in heaven. I think it's a little like leaving our heavenly home and then returning home again. That deep love that our Heavenly Father feels for us, we feel for our own children. Again we are so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel and eternal families. Happy birthday, Jax!!

9 pound mass

This is the first meeting of Hokanson #6 (Jax Michael, perhaps). Looking a little cramped considering that he's got 3 more weeks to go. Also bum down not head down. Can't deliver a baby that is over 9 lbs, breach. Have been scheduled (BOO HOO) for a C-Section on July 8th. Now we are praying for baby to turn and water to break within the next week before baby grows into an undeliverable baby, therefore also c-section. Trying to hold in my tears and fears while Mike is in his happy place, otherwise known as Scout Camp. Mike doesn't know this info yet but will be finding out tonight from the neighbor who drove up today. I didn't post the obscene boy parts because it might be considered pornography because they are definitely BOY PARTS!!