Fess Up...

I was thinking tonight and I'm going to just throw this out there so that all of you can think that I am a real looney!  How many of you truly enjoy playing the Webkinz games?  I will not name names but I do know of at least three ladies that play these kid games after their kids are in bed! I am the first to admit that I do like a few of them, Cash Cow, Quizzys Word Challenge those are my favorites.  I know I am a total 30 year old loser however I think anything is enjoyable when my kids are all asleep and I am doing ANYTHING alone!

A New Mommy!

So tonight during dinner a very normal common thing happened where it turned out that Blakely didn't like what the option for the evening was.  She informs me that she is not going to eat and that she will get herself something else.  I am trying this whole new mothering technique of sticking to my guns and therefore informed her that if she did not eat what was offered that she would go to bed hungry.  Of course she choose the later.  After a few nighttime "I am tired" fits the girls went to bed rather easily.  No joke almost two hours later Blakely comes out and tells me that she is hungry and wants some food.  I had to go over her decision again to not eat what was offered and to let her know that she chose her outcome.  Her response to me a very strong "I want Mindy to be my mom!"  I looked at her and thought to myself okay I'm going to see how far this goes.  I let her know that at Mindys house her children have to eat what she gives them for dinner as well.  She says "No, Mindy will give me whatever I want!"  Then I say well you know that if you live there then you can't marry Crew (Mindys very cute five year old son that Blake is infatuated with) she says "Okay I will marry Jag."  I think what will hit her to the core (sorry Mindy but I tried to make things sound not so good so that she might want to stay with her birth parents) I say well you know Mindy has four boys so you are going to have to wear boy clothes no dresses plus they have no dolls or strollers to play with.  Once again "No. Mindy will get me a dress and I will bring my suitcase with all my dresses, dolls and I can bring a stroller."  Think Janae think what will make her stay...  I've got it!  I say Mindy has a lot of kids where are you going to sleep?  Her response "Mindy will let me sleep with her and her dad Dustin!"  After a long talk I finally got to the core and said, Blakely we will be so sad if you leave us what can I do to make you want to stay?  Blakes answer, only macaroni and cheese for dinner mom not that gross stuff that you made tonight!

Moral of the story:  I was right all along you don't have to be a good cook just know how to do Mac & Cheese!  At least that is what I am going to keep telling myself considering I am the only Jardine that did NOT get the cooking skills!

P.S. No disrespect to Mindy she is an absolute phenomenal mother and any and every child would be lucky to have her.  I just don't think she needs and instant hormonally run four year old with attitude!

Ode to Mindy!

Today is a very special day it is Mindys birthday.  Very rarely in life do you have the opportunity to run across a truly genuine angel and I have had this chance.  She is probably one of the greatest people that I know and will ever know.  She is selfless and caring, genuine, honest, loyal and the list goes on and on.  I know she won't like that I am writing this but I think it is important that everyone knows that people and friends like this still exist.  I have never seen anyone that is so resilient as well.  She has been through her share of ups and downs and has never quit.  She is also the first one there for you or anyone when they are struggling.  She always has a positive attitude and shines where ever she is.   She is one of those souls that others gravitate towards due to the fact that happiness and enjoyment surround her.  I would be lost without her and I know so many others that feel the same way.  She is definitely my home away from home and I am so honored to know her.  I love you Mindy and I love that you show me, and my whole family love in return.  Here's to many more birthdays shared together!  You deserve a great day...

My Sugar!

I consider myself very blessed due to the fact that I got to be around many of my relatives throughout the majority of my life.  In fact I was raised very close to my great-grandmother (Granny) all through my childhood.  Tonight she passed away in the hospital with an advanced case of pneumonia.  She only had one lung because as a young girl she got tuberculosis and they removed one of her lungs.  She was a spit fire a true red head that held her own.  Some of my best memories are listening to her childhood stories.  We used to all interview her for school papers because we found her life so intriguing.  It is always sad to watch someone you love get older and start suffering from the normal diseases that come with age.  I can honestly say though that I get more sad for those left behind.  We all know Granny is in a way better place and that she will be happier with her husband on the other side.  Grief is still tough though.  So on behalf of a great woman and a wonderful role model I say that she will be sorely missed but always loved.  So Granny here's some sugar for you.  I love you dearly!

3rd times a charm! Right?

Just an FYI for everyone... Jag has officially knocked his teeth out three times now.  The most recent was at the airport on the way home from Colorado this past weekend.  He decided to bite a chair and he lost the battle.  I just don't know what to do how can anyone afford boys?  Needless to say Ryan is no longer willing to fix this problem because of how often we run into it, so my little snaggletooth will stay with us for a long while!

Happy 4th Birthday Blakely!

April 10th 2004 we added Blakely Lenna Burkinshaw to the family.  It was a rapid birth and I don't think she has slowed down much since then.  She is a precious sweet angel and we absolutely adore her.  She is such a great little and big sister and a good kid all around.  Here are some of her favorite things;

She cant have enough baby strollers or dolls.

She loves Barbies!

Anything pink she "has to have!"

Every commercial she watches she says "Mommy I want that!"  EVERY SINGLE ONE

She loves to try to pick up Jag and carry him around.

Whenever she plays house she has to be the mom and her name is Gabriella.

She knows every single word to the High School Musical songs.

She only ever wants to wear dresses and she usually changes them 2 or 3 times a day.

She gives the softest sweetest kisses! My favorite!!!

She has a contagious laugh.

She is my girliest girl.

She still climbs into our bed every single night and must share my pillow.

She shocked me by starting off lactose intolerant, now loves milk.

She tells me every single day how tall she is getting.

She is a nail biter (just like her Dad).

Overall she is so good and we love her and can't imagine our family without her.  She has a strong personality but it is so fun and entertaining to watch her grow into it.  Thank you Blakely for being such a good kid and we love you more than you could ever imagine...  

Ode to Ryan

On the third it was Ryans 33rd Birthday!  So in behalf of my honey I am going to list 33 things that you may know or not know (or not want to know) about my Ry-Guy!

1. He LOVES the sand.  He would hang on any beach, any day, any time, all the time!

2. He loves horses.  His dream is to have his own horse someday and I don't doubt that it will happen.

3. He loves movies.  I think that he has probably seen almost every movie that comes out.  Blockbuster loves him.

4. He constantly is thinking.  His mind is always racing and he always has new ideas and great plans for the future.

5. Sleeping when he is around is tough...  The man snores like a freight train.  I once recorded it so that he could hear it in the morning.

6. He will talk to you while he is asleep.  He is tough to wake up so when you are talking to him if he has been asleep, beware.

7.  He loves Mexican food.  Preferably the extremely authentic.

8. He loves to take before pictures of himself when he starts a new work-out plan.  We have yet to take an after but he looks great, I will get one posted soon!

9. People are always asking for his business advice.  He is very business smart.

10. He is highly intelligent.  No joke he is close to being too smart.

11. He loves school.  He would go back to get more degrees at any time.

12. He has a handful of loyal great friends that have all been close since high school.  If that tells you what kind of friend he is!

13. He seems to always be the center of attention.  People love to be around him.  

14. He is crazy funny!!!

15. He is really thoughtful.  He always remembers birthdays, special occasions, holidays!  There is always a sweet note laying around from him on these days (if not more)!

16. He loves sports all kinds.

17. He is one of the most positive people that I know.

18.  He is resilient he has overcome some major hurdles in his life with no looking back.

19. He is so spur of the moment that it is hard for me to stay caught up.  He would take off on a vacation in a matter of minutes.

20. He loves to travel.  It is one of his favorite things in the world!

21. He often has bad luck but can always laugh it off!

22. He loves to stay up late at night.  He is definitely a night owl.

23. He loves children, I honestly think that he would adopt about a half a dozen if I could handle it.

24. He likes to do charity work.

25. He is a stubborn mule (hey, I had to put one negative one in there)!

26. He is confident and strong.

27. Terribly good-looking!

28. He always makes sure to vote and take a stance for his beliefs.

29. He has taught me what the most important things in life are and what are not!

30. A very generous man that will share or give to any and everyone.  I have never heard him tell anyone "no" that needs help!

31. The very BEST father in the world.  My children call him several times a day and want to see where he is and when he'll be back.  They always want him around and enjoy Daddy-Daughter dates more than anything else.

32. The best husband.  He is always there to help and to make sure that home life is running smoothly.  More importantly he puts me above almost everything.  I am so important to him!

33. A great example of a Priesthood leader and he makes me feel safe all the time. 

Just to give you a side note I wrote this all without having to stop and think about it once.  It all came so easily and I think that says a lot about my Ry-Guy!  Love you and look forward to so many more years with you!