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.

Graduation and Retirement

Playschool Graduation 

Congrats Kerri and Rebekah!

Teaching children has been such a wonderful part of my life and I will continue to teach and learn forever. However,  I am biding farewell to my school teaching days.  I have experienced all grade school grades substituting, a quarter teaching Jr. High Spanish and Teen Living, and two wonderful years teaching my favorite Kindergarten classes.  1o years ago I retired from the public school and began teaching preschool in my home - Playschool.  I taught 6  years as my children reached  preschool level and loved it.  Last week ended my path as I watched my two little Ladybugs graduate with my most favorite preschool group yet (10 amazing children). 

  

Closing the door to this part of my life is bittersweet.  I don't have plans to teach in the public school again and I don't want too.  I love staying home with my children.   I look forward to see what doors/windows of opportunity come my way.  

Pirate Day - Arg!

Rebekah and Kerri

Cute little ol' lions.

Kerri and Rebekah

Pajama Day

Your guess is as good as mine :)

I'm thinking Rebekah is on the right.

Friendship Day

Kerri and Rebekah

Lunch? Don't ask!

Tasks that make my heart grumble...

1.  Making and creating 3 home lunches for school each morning - ugh!

2.  Opening lunch boxes after school to see the contents only half eaten.

Tasks that make my heart sing.....

1.  Pizza day at school every Wednesday!

2.  Saying goodbye to 3 lunch boxes for 3 whole months - yippee!

Soccer Season

Soccer season has come and gone - tomorrow we sign up for another 5 months of Autumn and Spring Saturdays consisting of rain, wind, snow and shine.  We seriously debated on signing the twins up this Fall.  Imagine 5 kids getting ready for 4 different games at 4 different locations at 4 different times and Cameron gone to school for half those Saturdays - no thank you!  

Maybe next next year.  

    The Knights    

Go Makayla!

The Dragons 

Go 'Happy Feet' - aka Jarin!

7-Up  

GoTrevor!

Healed! Hallelujah!

A week ago, the kids participated in their annual piano recital (post below).  The morning of the recital, Jarin was goofing off with the soccer ball in the house.  I was downstairs when I heard the house tremble above and Jarin moan in pain.  Since it was not his usual pain tone vocalized throughout the house, I knew that he was hurt; and being the horrible mom that I am, I just rolled my eyes and lumbered up the stairs.  Hey, anyone that continues to play ball in the house after being told not too, does not get my immediate service.  The little stinker fell on his right pinkie finger and smooshed it.  I did feel bad after I realized that he would not be playing in his recital later that day.  

We couldn't tell if he broke it or sprained it and being seasoned parents of small injuries, we decided to let time take its course.  

On Monday, much to Jarin's distress, I made him go to school with two popsicle sticks taped to his fingers.  I later learned that he took them off and stashed them in his pocket to play ball at recess.  

A week has come and gone and his pinkie finger has healed.

Below is Jarin's performance on a not so grand or tuned piano, but a well loved piano.

Piano Pianists

"It's time to tickle the ivory!"

This is the daily phrase used to remind my children to practice and become fabulous pianists.

Through the years, we have been blessed with some amazing piano teachers. 

Here, we have Anne who is so fun and loves the kids - it shows in her contagious smile.  

These little piano recital moments are highlights in a mommy's career.  

It makes me forget all the micro-managing piano practices and monthly checks.

I just sit back and enjoy and then anticipate the chocolate cake for refreshments afterwards.

Way to go my little Jensenites!

Trevor - he so knows he's on camera.

Jarin and his substitute player.

Lala - short and sweet and beautiful.

Jarin's New Email

What is a nine year old boy going to do with an email address?  

I just don’t know, but Jarin did.

Jarin had been asking for months to get an email address.  

When asked why, he simply replied, “Cause everyone has one!” 

Hmm, doesn't ‘everyone’ have everything?  I went on to ask him who in THIS neighborhood had one.  Apparently not one of his many friends had one, however, everyone in his class (except his friend from our neighborhood) had one.  I found that hard to believe so I was not sold.

Later he came home and told me that his piano teacher (bless her heart) told him he could have an email address once he passed off the hymn, The Star Spangled Banner.  I really don’t know how Jarin finagled his way into that one.  Since he was so clever, I agreed.  Well, that boy practiced and practiced and to his teacher’s delight, he was the first nine year old boy out of her students to pass that hymn off and have it memorized.  I was so dang proud of him that dad set up a email account for him.

After the email etiquette talk of rules, I gave him some addresses to add to his address box.  What proceeded was several ‘prank emails’ to his sister (had to have a chat about that one), lots of funny hallmark cards sent to family and friends and his school teacher, and a continuous email dialog between Jarin and mom……

 

Read this or die! - Email Title (I guess I had no choice but to open and read it.)

Jarin:  How about you don’t yell and I won’t be sassy this week.  Write back if it’s a deal.

Mom:  Sounds like a great deal!

     Love you.

Do I yell that much?  

(To defend myself – I will raise my voice after asking ever so nicely the first three times – after that I yell.)

 

Jarin:  Sometimes. Tell Trevor to chew with his mouth closed - um um.  GROSS!

(Apparently Trev was standing next to him eating something.)

Mom:  Hmm, I don’t know what to tell ya.

Jarin:  Don’t fart. Yes you fart as much as that million 'thank you' hallmark card.

            (This response totally cracked me up – I needed a good laugh.)

Mom:  (still laughing) 

Jarin:  Mom I love you and my foot kinda hurts and you’re the best and

I hope you get over your cold.

(Ah, he is sweet, isn’t he?) 

Jarin:  Mom, I'm at school right now.  What are you doing?

Mom:  Jarin dear,  while you are progressing toward your profession of becoming a doctor, engineer and professor;  I am home doing the dishes, washing your underwear, cleaning the toilets, and making chocolate chip cookies for your after school snack - all in that order.  Lots of Love!

(He came home fully expecting to find warm chocolate chip cookies – it’s a good thing that I really did accomplish all of my duties that day.)

My Bears is a Bear!

Blue and Gold Banquet 

         (February)

Jarin - my Bears - is now a Bear - grrrrrr!

Moms are granted the honorary 'Mom Pin' at each Cub Scout advancement for several reasons. This is to make us feel like great mothers or lack of it (fortunately I get to feel both).  Here are our qualifications for earning the pin.

1.  Sewing patches on shirts 10 minutes prior to a Pack Meeting.

2. Arguing with Jarin to tuck in his shirt in for the umpteenth time.  I don't care if no one else does!  

3. Skimming through his book a dozen times to make sure he has passed off enough for an arrow point.

4.  Reminding Jarin to take his cub book to den meeting only to find it on the table after he has left -grrrr.

5.  Rushing to make cake box cookies for a pack meeting treat - one month I dumped two boxes of Fruit Roll Ups into a bowl and pushed Jarin out the door as a last minute treat.  Turns out that they were the most popular treats.  Go mom!

6.  Threatening Jarin to complete two requirements before he can do anything else.

All in all, it is the Scout leaders that deserve the 'honorary pins'.  They are amazing and I thank them a hundred times.  I know that these little pins really are an honor to wear and are reminders for bigger and better mom tasks ahead.  In reality, they are reminders of what little boys will grow up to be - wonderful young men - I will enjoy him now. 

Go BEARS!

Way to go Jarin!  

He also received his Duty to God Award.

We love you!

Dad is honored as the supporting actor in this role.

He actually sits with Jarin on Sundays and completes requirements with him.  

Perhaps I should bestow my pin on to him.

Did I mention that we are proud of you?  

We are!

The Boys are Back - grrrrr!

April Fool's!

Being blasted by cold water from the kitchen sink sprayer at 6:30am is not a jolly event.

"April Fool's!  shouted Lala from a discreet distance away.

I was soaked through before I spotted the tightly wrapped rubber band around the water sprayer's button.  I walked away flustered tying to turn my annoyance into good humor.  

Too bad she forgot to video record it - hee hee.  

I can play this game too.  

I did the easiest most classic April Fool's joke.

Take a look....

I really did make the 'yummy' cake muffins from beans.  

Just substitute an equal amount of pureed beans (canned with liquid) for the oil.  

You can't even taste it and you get protein.

Works REALLY good with box brownies.

I'm not joking.

Sugar - Sugar - More Sugar!

Our family celebrates each opening Saturday with sugar cereal - ta dah!

After much debate on what kind of cereal really is healthy for breakfast, the kids and I designated a sugar cereal day.  I am not a big supporter of big colorful boxes claiming whole grains and good for your heart stuff.  I won't even buy them if they are more than $2 a box.  Yet, I couldn't imagine the thought of squashing childhood dreams of Saturday cartoons with big Tupperware bowls of sugar.

How we decided....

Weekdays?  No way!  Send the kids to school and have their brains run low on sugar fuel before 10 am.  Nope. 

Sundays?  Hum....squirmy kids in the chapel, only to send them to their Primary teachers to deal with - no, I don't think so (I am one of those Primary teachers).

Saturdays?  Ah, sleeping in and fend for yourself day.  Yes, Saturdays became the kid's most treasured mornings.

Unfortunately, soccer season takes up five months of those Saturdays and involves three of the five kids.  I soon cursed those dang cereal companies as I watched Jarin loose energy before the first quarter of his game even ended.  

My mommy nutrition education kicked in - I had to compromise.  After everyone inhales their sugar intake for the week, I supplement it grudgingly with a protein meal before each soccer game (protein shake or eggs and wheat toast).  So much for, "Start your day with a delicious bowl of Kellogg's cereal and you'll benefit from it's nutrients."  HA!

It just goes to show that you can have your sugar and eat it too.