Just perfect

I'm amazed at the details on this sweet little girl. Every thing down to the smallest toenail is perfect, tiny and so precious.






I could sit and just watch her and count her 10 little toes and her ten long fingers all day.

4-H on Wheels

This summer Corrine & Simeon took part in a program called 4-H on Wheels. It was put on through The Iowa State University extension programs. It met Monday afternoons for 6 weeks at Lucas Elementary school. Each week was a different theme. They played games, made different crafts and learned about each theme. The kids really enjoyed the program and if given the chance next year will do it again.



Plant Detectives-Grass Caterpillars and film canister green houses.

(Corrine's caterpillar grew so much hair that she had to give it lots of "hair cuts". We stopped watering them and they don't look so good anymore.)

Senses-Humorous honker (cup with wet string), egg shakers. (Corrine made hers with beans, popcorn, 1 paperclip, 1 cotton ball & 1 marshmallow. She asked me to guess what was in it. When I couldn't figure out all the things she laughed because she had tricked me since I couldn't hear the quiet things!

Going Green-water purifier, tote bags, Firecracker pretzels (pretzel rods with one end dipped in cream cheese then topped with shredded carrots).

Bug detectives- bee sound makers, frog houses, bug glasses.

Move It (Bodies)-homemade ice cream, bodies out of pasta and beans, apple smiles (Put peanut butter between 2 slices of apple, cut string cheese to look like teeth and put in PB)

Wild Water Week-rain sticks, bubble makers, mystery art (drew with white crayon then painted over with water paints) fruit kabobs.

Simeon's rain stick says "Go Cubs" on the outside.


Ice Cream in a Bag
1 pint sizes zip-lock bag
1 gallon sized zip-lock bag
1 Tbsp Sugar
1/2 cup half and half
1/4 tsp vanilla
6 Tbsp rock salt
ice cubes
duct tape

Combine half and half, sugar and vanilla in pint sized bag. Duct tape bag shut.
Fill gallon bag 1/3 of the way with ice and 3 Tbsp rock salt.
Place pint sized bag inside the gallon bag.
Fill gallon bag with ice and remaining rock salt. Duct tape shut.
Shake 5-10 minutes.
Open and Enjoy.

Homemade Bubble Solution
1 cup Dawn dish soap (the brand matters)
3-4 Tbsp of Glycerin
10 cups clean, cold water

Put water into bucket. Add Dawn dish soap.
Add glycerin (makes bubbles more durable by reducing evaporation)
Stir gently (you don't want a froth on top)

Rebecca's Blessing Day

Dad gave Rebecca a beauitful blessing this morning. Some of the things that I jotted down from it: The name she will be known as is Rebecca Lucy Smith. She is a choice soul and that her family is so excited to see her. That her siblings love her and to look to them as good examples. Follow mom and choose the right. Turn to the Savior for guidance and direction. Turn to Heavenly Father in struggles. That one day she will find a husband that will take her to temple to be married for time and all eternity. She has a loving mother. And all other blessings that the Lord sees to bless her with.

Those that stood in the circle: Grandpa Jenson, Grandpa Smith, Uncle Jake Smith, Shawn Goodman, Matt Fisher and President Brad Jones.

Grandma Riddle was able to be at church for Rebecca's blessing.

Today was such a beautiful day. Rebecca didn't sleep the greatest lastnight and I wasn't sure how she would be during the blessing. She usually wakes up and eats then stays awake for an hour or so, then drifts off to sleep for another hour or 2 before waking to eat. She was awake as we were getting ready then fell a sleep on the way to church. She slept quietly through the blessing and the rest of sacrament meeting which was a blessing because I was speaking on adversity and if she were to wake up hungry it would have been an adversity for everyone there!


She looked just like a little angel in her white dress and acted like one too. We are so excited and feel so blessed to be the parents to sweet little Rebecca.


Ammon, Corrine & Simeon can't get enough of their little sister who we know is fresh from Heaven.

GO Corrine GO

Corrine learned how to ride her bike with out training wheels!

This afternoon Johann took his bike down and got the tires all pumped up. So Corrine pulled her bike out, and so did Simeon. She hopped on and with just a few tries with Johann holding onto her seat, she was riding by herself!

For the longest time she was too scared to ride her bike without the training wheels, so for months it's been sitting in the garage collecting dust, but not anymore!!
We are so proud of you Corrine!

2 weeks with an angel

Today marks 2 weeks since Rebecca joined our family. So much has happened and changed in 2 weeks.
Lots of firsts.

1st tub bath July 8th-4 days old Absolutely LOVED the water. Cried when getting dried off and mom discovered that you need a diaper on quickly after a bath to avoid wetness!

1st Girls night out-July 8th-4 days old The boys were fishing with Cub Scouts and Corrine wanted to go to McDonald's for dinner and she insisted on eating there, then to Hyvee to pick up a must have medicine for mom. While we were eating I had Rebecca in her car seat hidden so no one even knew she was there with us. During dinner she started to cry. You could see all the eyes wondering where the newborn cry was coming from.
1st T-ball game July 9th-5 days I promised Ammon that Rebecca would come to his last T-ball game, and because she came earlier she was able to make it to his last 2 games. He enjoyed coming and checking on her during the game. When he didn't want to play we'd say Rebecca wanted him to and he'd go back out and play.

Umbilical cord falls off-July 11th- 7 days old it ended up scabbing over and the scab feel off on the 15th.
1st photo shoot-July 11th Uncle Justin came to the house to take your picture. You were wide awake and happy the entire time. We got some really adorable pictures.



Going to church July 12th-8 days old

1st dtr apt-July 17th 13 days Weight 7 lbs 14 oz 25%, Height 20.3 " 50%, Head 13.4" 15%
1st time meeting Herky & Perky July 18th 14 days old We were at the Sibling Group Family Picnic when Herky, Perky, Batman and some cheerleaders came to meet us. I wanted to get a picture of Rebecca with Herky. He sat down to play with a boy and i was able to get just Rebecca and Herky together. Then Perky came and asked if he could also hold her. I'm sure it's not everyday they get to hold such a little baby.

Our Little Firecracker

At 3:48 am we got to meet our Rebecca Lucy. She weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and was 19" long. She is healthy and adorable. Mom is doing good also.

What's in a name

So where did the sweet name Rebecca Lucy Smith come from.


Before we knew we were pregnant the kids played Narnia all the time. Simeon was Peter, Corrine was Susan, Ammon was Edmund and played without a Lucy.
When we told the kids that we were expecting Ammon right away started calling the baby Lucy. We told him that we didn't know if it was a girl or boy. Once we found out that we were having a girl we told the kids that her name would be Rebecca.
Rebecca is moms middle name Kari Rebecca. We both felt that Rebecca was a very fitting name for this sweet little girl even before meeting her.
We struggled with a middle name though. Many names we thought about were too long or they didn't flow right.
About a week before she was born we decided that Lucy was a perfect fit for her middle name. It flowed right and had significance since that is what she was called for so long.
We are asked alot if we'll shorten Rebecca to Becca or Becky, but we won't. She'll always be Rebecca or Rebecca Lucy.
After she was born we found out that Lucy is a family name on the Jenson side a handful of generations back.