24th of July

Every 24th of July is spent in the teeny village - sorry - town of Redmond. Redmond, Utah is the quaint town that Cameron grew up in and became who he is today - totally awesome!

It is also the only town in Utah that has a parade that promenades up main street and back again - so Cameron tells me.

Here are the attractions of our swell day near the three red mounds - hence Redmond.

Favorite Attraction: the billions of taffy candy being thrown to the scrambling candy pickers throughout the parade twice - remember... the parade turns around and comes back again.

Letting Go of the Apron Strings Attraction: watching the three older kids proclaim and tread up the street looking for their own spot to park - sniff sniff.

Dearest Attraction: Grandma and Grandpa Jensen - we love you!

Driving Attractions: the hundreds of 4-wheelers displayed in the parade and along side the streets of the parade. Apparently, this is the main transportation around town. The church parking lot has its fair share on the Good Day as well.

Yes, Grandpa has 4-wheelers that we get to test drive on our visits to Redmond.

Important Attraction: celebrating the beginning of Utah intertwined with the blessings of living in a free country that God has given us.

(Great Grandpa Christensen on the left and Great Grandma C. on the right.)

Wise Attractions: visiting with our favorite veterans and memory stories tellers.

Nostalgic Attraction: Although I love love small towns, I would rather live in the city - for now.

Big Concerned Attraction: the caterpillar haul truck from Redmond Clay and Salt - the best salt on earth. Adults line up every year to secure their very own jar of salt to take home.

We got three - woo hoo!

Each year, Cameron is troubled by this humongous truck and its colossal wheels. He is quite protective of every child in reach when it passes by and sighs with relief that he has yet another year before facing the giant again.

Here you see him (walking in the red shirt) being wholly territorial as he seeks for Trevor down the road - or perhaps he's hoping for more salt handouts.

Interesting Attraction: the gentleman sporting an 8 inch handlebar mustache curled and tweaked. I was quite disappointed to realize that my camera was stashed in the car when I went in search of it. It was an impressive mustache.

Other Fun Attractions: cotton candy, 4-wheeler train rides, a dozen kid games which included a prized gold fish for Trevor, fireworks, and being with family.

What a wonderful place to live!

The Language of Love

My Abuelita (from Chile) calls all of her great grandsons and granddaughters her princes and princesses. She speaks little English and greets family and strangers the same - a big hug and a smile. I don't know if anyone really knows her true age - she denies being old and will only admit to 87 years of life - that in itself is another story.

One day she was sitting across the table talking to Trevor in Spanish. Trevor was lapping it up because he could tell that she was singing praises to him. I quickly got up to attend to my hosting duties after Abuelita asked me for the 100th time why I hadn't taught my children Spanish.

It was then that Trevor grabbed my hand with panic in his eyes and said, "Mom don't leave, I need you to translate for me!"

I tapped his head and said, "Trev, just smile and nod - smile and nod."

The two prattled on for another 20 minutes as happy as can be.

The Purple Turtle

The last day of school not only brings good spirits of summer days and late nights to our little Jensenites, it also brings visions of purple turtles dancing in their heads.

We celebrate the last day of school by entering into my old stompin' grounds and ordering nummy shakes and the yummiest greasiest tator tots (Napoleon Dynamite approved) from the Purple Turtle.

To my delight and amusement, the kids anticipate this small diversion with great enthusiasm all year. Here's a journal entry from Trevor that cracks me up.

The shakes are so big that an overflow cup has to be used to hold it all. Instead of forking out moola for five shakes, we have been able to get away with three shakes and three overflow cups. Fortunately, the ladybugs don't know this and have been getting the 'leftover' cups for the last four years. I wonder how long that will last?

Even the side attraction of climbing old lava rocks is a big hit - as long as I pretend to ignore the "Do not climb on the rocks!" sign.

Finished Creation #4

I AM DONE!

While living in Washington, I came across a selection of cute cross stitching pieces in a boutique. Since it resembles an older era, I was instantly in love. I picked up cross stitching after moving from Washington to add a feel of nostalgia living to our abode.

This little article was started three years ago and finally finished this month - yeah for me!

This one is hanging in the guest room and was finished in due time.

I am ashamed to say that this piece was made as a gift to a dear family member, I liked it so much and couldn't bear the thought of making another one that I kept it for myself.

Shhhh.

My other creations are complete - my list is done....

1. I finished uploading ALL of my pictures onto the computer.

2. Created a food inventory for my pantry and storage.

3. Organized ALL of my favorite and well used recipes into a binder.

I LOVE IT! No more looking through a dozen recipe books and an index card holder.

4. The game closet is organized - compliments of Makayla -thanks!

Now that I am finished, I am ready to begin my 'summer projects'.

Hmm, I think I might wait until the kids are back in school - posts to follow in a couple of years.

Going '-ist' Crazy!

Through the years our family vocabulary has grown from “peek-a-boo” to full fledge, “I’m heading to the optometrist!”

It started with having kids. Who knew how many ‘ists’ there were in the world for kids?

We were launched into this ‘ist’ world with our first pediatrist appointment– many have come and gone since then.

The dentist takes second place in the most visited doctor category.

After 18 ear infections, the otolaryngologist FINALLY decided that Jarin needed tubes in his ears at 18 months. Then a private speech pathologist was hired and worked extensively with Jarin at age three for a couple of years to correct what his ears misheard all those ear infection days.

Later, a gastroenterologist was highly sought for due to the fact that a foolish mother who was paranoid of public bathrooms never let her kids use them. Because of this, one little Jensenite (name withheld) got so plugged up from not daring to use any bathroom that it took one gastroenterologist and many months to finally get their pipes cleared and working. I am now a fan of public bathrooms.

When Makayla was in 2nd grade, she was encouraged to write out her own spelling words each week – since she already knew the 2nd grade spelling list (sigh – proud mommy moment). Many high tech medical words were included such as, radiologist and perinatologist (the doctor who took care of me and my ladybugs growing inside of my belly).

Jarin’s cute flat feet needed a trip to the podiatrist. One podiatrist gave him orthotics and another podiatrist said he didn’t need them if he had no pain. Neither of them told me how to make Jarin’s shoes last longer than three months. I am absolutely resolute when I say three months and that is with good quality shoes – no Target or off brands shoes.

1 boy + 2 flat feet = 4 pairs of shoes yearly – that are literally run to the ground - no kidding!

Rebekah and Kerri were born and saw a good deal of ‘ists’ that I can’t even name or remember. However, I do have one cardiologist that we see every year for Rebekah – bless her little heart.

These are glamour shots the girls took of themselves after getting their glasses from the optometrist. The fact that they are twins doesn’t mean that they both need glasses, does it? At the risk of sounding brainless, I did not pose this question to the all-seeing doctor.

Makayla added an orthodontist onto the list in third grade not knowing that she would have to repeat another orthodontist again in four years.

Trevor introduced us to the allergist after a scary trip to the ER where we discovered he was allergic to pistachios, mangos and cashews.

A dermatologist is scheduled to look at a funny shaped mole growing a one particular scalp – joy!

After raising all these ‘ists’, I find that I may be in need of a psychologist.

My Tween is a Teen!

Happy Birthday to my precious, beautiful, brilliant,

reading guru, lovely, caring La La of the world!

We love you!

Before Makayla was born, I knew that I was going to have a girl and that her name would be Makayla. No, the doctor did not tell me – I just knew.

Makayla’s name was easy to choose. She was named after my favorite TV show – Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman – whose name was Michaela. Cameron did not want to name our daughter Michael with an ‘a’, so we agreed upon ‘Makayla Jo’.

Jo - from me, hardly anyone could pronounce my real name correctly so I went by Jo for safety measure.

Makayla’s first year of afternoon feedings was spent in my arms watching re-runs of Dr. Quinn. I was quite disappointed when the episodes ended.

It was not until earlier this year that Makayla was introduced to the nostalgic Colorado frontier life. We now giggle like a pair of school girls watching our favorite medicine woman and the rugged Mr. Sulley fall in love and forge a life in the unknown territories of the West.

Who would of known?

Trevor/moo.com

One afternoon, Trevor came home secretly hiding a note written from his teacher. It informed me that Trevor was asked to not make rude noises during lesson time and for me to please have a chat with him.

Hmmm, I could only imagine what kind of noises a 7 year old boy fully versed in Captain Underpants books was making.

When asked what noises he made that so rudely interrupted his class, he merely looked up from his after school snack and said, "Mom, I was just mooing."

What could I say? "Trev, please don't moo during class time." That was that.

Shortly after, I noticed that all of Trev's school work coming home had a unique signature: www.Trevor/moo.com

Trevor looked at my quizzical look and just replied, "My teacher didn't say anything about mooing on paper."

He's been Mr. Moo since.

Finished Creation #3

Garden Boxes 

Disclaimer - This is nature's creation - I take a small ownership by planting, weeding, watering, tending and praying - the rest is up to nature.

Last year we began our gardening adventure here in Utah by rounding up the crew for a week full of dirt hauling.  The kids loved it.  Unfortunately, we had an unsuccessful year of growing.  Our garden only grew plants and no produce - really truly - well, only a quarter of the garden gave.  All that work, plus my hours of frustrated tending for a learning experience.

This year I undid my children's hard labor by replacing 8 inches of soil with Mel's Mix.  I also talked Cameron into building two more smaller boxes on the grass next to the fence.  I was so excited - I wanted to experience the joys of gardening to the fullest - so I decided to grow my plants from seed.  

The result......

What it should look like.......

Next year, I will save me the trouble of organizing my mud room into a small green house and just buy the plants.  Plus it is the same price either way when you add up the seeds, soil, small pots, etc.

2009 Garden  (my little boxes are in the distance):  So far so good.  We have had bowls full of lettuce and spinach - mmm.  All the plants are growing great with little effort.  The fact that the rain has watered my garden for three weeks is a plus.  I am fully expecting a yummy harvest this year - fingers crossed.

Potatoes, tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, spinach, zucchini, yellow squash, spaghetti squash, melon, cucumbers, basil, parsley, cilantro, green peppers, hot peppers, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions and strawberries. 

Whew!

Dream BIG!

This is my very best friend growing up - Jenny Sykco Bean.  

We did and shared EVERYTHING together!  

We loved dances, Dr. Pepper, cute boys and double dates, getting good grades, being silly at inappropriate times, phone calling, Reese's Peanut Butter cups and donuts. 

We also shared big dreams....

 
Dream #1:  Marry a really cute guy - check!

Dream #2:  Graduate from college - check!

Dream #3:  Have a family - check!  Double check!

5 Jensenites + 5 Waddells = 10 lots of things for Jo and Jenn to chat about.

Now our dreams consist of staying on top of laundry, finding a good book to read, not pulling our hair out and enjoying the blessings that have come our way.
See - dreams do come true!

Thanks Jen, for all the good old times and new times.

Loving every minute of it!

15 years ago... we said yes.

Now we welcome some wrinkles (reluctantly), gray hair, 

a little wisdom and loads of memories. 

Happy Anniversary to my most amazing 

incredible loving best friend.  

I love you!!

Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Open House

Happy Birthday Ladybugs!

Today is Rebekah and Kerri's 5th birthday! 

Pink Girl(Rebekah) and Purple Girl (Kerri) - that is how everyone tells them apart.  

All of their friends came to their first birthday party and they had a fabulous time.  It was fun to see the gifts open to reveal -  

*1 pink Little Pony and 1 purple Little Pony

*Identical Web kin Kittens - one wearing a purple sash and the other a pink sash

*pink and purple flip flops

*pink and purple purses

*1 pink sun dress and 1 purple sun dress

*1 pink bag full of Polly Pockets and 1 purple bag full of Polly Pockets

*pink and purple crowns and wands

It's a good thing that their intended colors are their favorite colors - hee hee.

Happy Birthday to my identical, precious, squishy, beautiful, fabulous, blessings from a loving Heavenly Father, princess ladybugs.

Five years and 6 months ago at our 9 week doctor appointment (WA state), I found out that I had mono mono (m&m) ladybugs growing in my tummy.  I already knew that I was carrying twins (a mom knows), but I had no idea what mono mono was.  That day, our simple life turned into a whirlwind of doctor appointments, bed rest, prayers and lots of love from family and friends.  

Mono-Mono twins (Monoamniotic-Monochorionic or "Mo-Mo" twins) are always identical and incredibly rare. They will share both their amnions, chorions and placenta. They only happen in about 1% of monozygotic (identical twins) pregnancies. This is primarily due to a later splitting of the egg which results in a shared placenta and shared sac. (An extremely late split can even produce conjoined twins). This sharing of the amniotic sac with no barrier between the two babies is why this particular type of twin pregnancy in considered especially high risk. Monoamniotic-Monochorionic twins have a general in-utero mortality rate of approximately 50 %, largely due to cord entanglement.

I have a really cool picture of the two cords tangled up right above my sliced open belly, but the kids deemed it too bloody to post.  Darn.

Rebekah and Kerri decided to join the outside world six weeks early due to my restricted cleaning habits that I chose to ignore.    

Too make a loooong story short....

The two girls ended up in two different hospitals due to complications.  Rebekah (whose c-pap blew a hole in her lung and had to be moved to a higher NICU unit) and I got a powerful staph infection (MRSA) which had to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.  I had an IV in my arm for 6 weeks and had treatments twice a day, in addition to two shots of heparin a day into my belly for blood clots.  Those hurt!

Kerri came home 9 days before Rebekah.

Makayla had a birthday party.

Rebekah healed and came home 4 weeks and 1 day after our big day and was reunited with Kerri.  

A pink bracelet was slipped over Rebekah's hand and a purple one over Kerri's.  There was no way to mix the two up - but just in case, a quick check on permanent hospital war wounds always clears up any doubt.

So happy together and inseparable the last five years.

Finished Creation #2

Capri Sun Bags

As I was browsing a boutique mall 5 years ago, I came across a cutesy Capri Sun Bag creation.  I left it alone when I saw it was priced 24.99.  

Later, a friend showed me how to make them. 

Thus began the making of dozens of Capri Sun Bags. 

Makayla started the frenzied creation when she came home from school with a garbage bag full of leaky drink bags.  She elected me to sew these bags up for birthday gifts in exchange for babysitting hours.  She would then buy markers and a notepad to put in each bag.

Easy and very inexpensive. 

 

Birthday girls loved them!

Since then, I have made these bags for teachers as end of the year gifts, scripture bags, and birthday bags.  I think every girl in our neighborhood that is close to Makayla's age owns a Capri Sun creation.

Just this last weekend I pulled out a stinky bag full of fermented Capri Sun bags left over from two summers ago.  I washed and cleaned and dried each drink bag.  Spent 2 hours sewing and now have 6 bags. 

 

Creation completed.  Yahoo!

I will stash them in the closet for birthday gifts from Rebekah and Kerri.

Finished Creation #1

Our neighborhood houses some amazing women who love to quilt.  These amazing quilters are always willing to share their talents with the anti-quilting ladies (me being one of them).  After refusing several quilting projects, I finally relented and decided to try my hand at it.

  

The project presented was a large wall hanging for Halloween.  I withdrew at first until someone mentioned I could make pillows instead.  

Hmm, I think I can. 

 

I think I like the outcome.

For Christmas,  neighborhood ladies drooled over a beautiful snowflake wall hanging, I made pillows.

In January, a breathtaking heart hanging was displayed before our eyes in time for Valentine's Day.  Again I decided to make pillows - only to finish THIS week - whew!  

Fortunately, these pillows now have a permanent place on the couch since they match my piano room well.

 

Hurray for creation!

I look forward to making bed quilts now - all in good time.  

Justifying Creation

As I walk from room to room cleaning my house and trying in vain to put it in order, I am exhausted just by looking at all my unfinished projects that long to see the light of day. To top off my long list of things to finish, I have created yet more projects that I want to start and complete - WHY?! 

Perhaps I can justify my actions by remembering a Conference talk by President Uchtodorf.....

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty—and I am not talking about the process of cleaning the rooms of your teenage children."

Ah ha, I can create all I want.

Summer is here and I definitely consider cleaning rooms a work of art, however, it does not leave me appeased knowing that it will need to be cleaned again later that day.

This summer I have decided to gear myself up to finish my long awaited projects before I start my list of new projects - sigh.

First things first....create a summer schedule.......

The kids gave me grief when I pulled this little beauty out on the first day of summer.  It was specially designed so the I wouldn't have to babysit this summer.  There is nothing I dislike most than to babysit my kids from one endeavor to the next. 

 

This chart says it all and that's that!

The 'Go For' jobs are just that.  Each child has to 'go for this' or 'go for that' - essentially, it is putting stuff away - whatever needs to be done at the moment - and there are plenty of 'go for' jobs always laying around. 

Once the kids have preformed their duties in a timely manner, they have free range to play or hang out (Makayla informed me that she does not 'play', she 'hangs out') after lunch until dinner time.  Thus, providing me with some 'creation time' to finish my projects.

Finished creations to come.

10 Years and Counting

Happy Birthday Jar Bears!
You are one awesome, wonderful, handsome, superb, delightful, incredible, good-looking kid.
We love you!!

Book Worms

Our family comes from a long line of book worms.  I think it started with Lico Bear (grandpa).  From an early age I remember him ALWAYS reading.  His addictive example was passed onto me and my sisters.  Through the years, I have painstakingly prepared my children to develop a love for reading (see post - Confessions March 2009).  Now that it has been properly instilled in the older three – I have had to reverse the cycle and use it as a parenting tool to my advantage.

“ You can read after you finish your chores.”  (with a smile)

“Let’s get the yard work done and then go to the library.”

“Hurry and brush your teeth and get into bed so that you can read for a bit.”  (and me too)

“You better be good so that your books stay in your room!”  Kids – Sniff sniff.

“You’re grounded!  No reading tonight!”     Kids  - Whaaa!

(Fablehaven book signing with Brandon Mull -

La has had all 4 books signed over the years.)

After many endeavors of persuading my children to share a book and save money by purchasing only ONE book, we now have several double copies of books and series.  No one wants to wait for someone to finish a book.  

Each room has a personal library and mine is slowing dwindling and moving into Makayla's library which is now organized with a dewy dismal system.   

From early on, Cameron and I have told the kids that we would always pay for half the price of a book if the kids wanted to purchase it.  Makayla has taken full advantage and most of her earnings go to build her library.  Jarin also buys his own books.  I cringe every time a school book order comes home.

Jarin was awarded 'the boy who read the most in the fourth grade' prize 

by the Lehi Burningham Truck Company.

Now that T has moved from 'readers' to chapter books - he too has joined the book worm club.  He still delights in the Captain Underpants books - as if he needs any more potty humor to foster his savvy personality.

Since passing the chewing book stage, the girls now feverishly browse 

through picture books for a good solid hour.  

I love that time.

I love their piggies too.