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.

#7 Disneyland Trip

Farewell Disneyland

Alas, we cannot end this mini-series without telling the 'Lost My Child at Disneyland' story. You always hear about them, my friends have personally experienced them.  Me, nope, not until this year.  

As we stepped our very last step out of Disneyland, we headed to the ginormous Disney Store on Downtown Disney just to torture our children by looking at stuff we were not going to buy. We left and headed to the tram with speed to catch the next departure.  Just as the tram pulled up, I counted heads.  "Hey, there is only one green coat girl!  Where is the other green coat girl?"  Rebekah was NO where.  We stepped back, gave the kids instructions to STAY, Cam went one way and I ran the other way.  We ran through the entire ginormous Disney Store with no luck.  My heart was starting to beat to the repeated words of a mother's prayer.  I circled back to the kids who informed me that a lady had seen a green coat girl with a cast member.  Whew, now where?  Just then, the same lady yelled from the moving tram that she was inside the gates.  Wow!  That far?  I ran and found Rebekah with a lady cast member preceding to Disneyland Park.  Apparently, Rebekah told the lady that we were too fast and she couldn't keep up and lost us.  No words can describe the relief of a safe child.

#6 Disneyland Trip

Disney Characters

It has been voted that Disneyland 'Rules'!  Going to Disneyland two years in a row has been an indulgence for us Jensenites.  I loved it and I hope that my kids will always remember the magic.

We received several 'yahoos' for Utah from other Ute fans

 throughout the three days.

  

Even Tigger is a Ute fan.

It rained and poured throughout our third day of fun fun (hence, the wet look).  Fortunately, we had rain ponchos and the lines were so short that we were able to go undercover for most of the down pours.

Yeah for memories!

#5 Disneyland Trip

Jedi Training

I now have three official padawans residing in my home.  Although, they are trying to perfect the Jedi hand movement to convince me of giving in, it is not yet working.  This year we were determined to participate in the Jedi Training and walk away with the 'Force'.  I followed the handy dandy Unofficial Guide to Disneyland and arrived 30 minutes early - actually 15 minutes early, had my kids plop in the front row and told them to wave their arms outrageously  to be chosen.  As any mother would do, I prayed that all three would be chosen in this highly defensive training program.  The whole presentation was entertaining and exceptionally well done.

Focused and training

Serious and training

Determined and training

Darth Vader comes and tempts the young padawans into joining the dark side.

Lala stuns Darth Maul  with her pretty looks.

Jarin yells, "Go Utes!" before charging his opponent.

Trev knows the Force is with him - there is no doubt!

Foiled again, Vader walks away in defeat.

May the Force be with you.

#4 Disneyland Trip

My Princesses meet Disney Princesses

After quenching the big kid's thirst for excitement, it was time to indulge in some girly time. Standing in line to meet the Disney Princesses was torture for my 5 spoiled kids since they had no concept of what waiting in line means.  Going to Disneyland the first week of March is a different experience then going during one of the seven weeks of spring break or summer for that matter.  

Cameron was back at the hotel working for a couple of hours so I was flying solo. The wait in line was about 40 minutes.  We hadn't stood in line for more than 10 minutes on any ride, so I pulled the 'yummy' snacks out to ease the pain.  After 20 minutes, Jarin and Trevor couldn't handle it anymore.  They did not want to be subjected into meeting Princesses.  The fact that they were the only 'big boys' in line did not please them one bit.  They groaned several times, "This is the longest line in history!" (Whatever!) I didn't have any threatening tactics with me - we were in Disneyland.  So I settled by scooting the older three to ride It's a Small World to get them out of my hair.  Normally, I would never let them go on their own, however, considering the small amount of people in the park and the 5 minute wait for It's a Small World  plus the duration of the ride, I figured we'd all be done at the same time - and we were.

Snow White and the two cute Ladybugs.

Rebekah and Kerri are hilarious when they pose - 

what looks like pain is actually an attempt to 'princess pose'.

Cinderella

Worth the 40 minute wait?  

Absolutely!

#3 Disneyland Trip

Disneyland Park

Disneyland really is one of the most happiest places on earth.  You just can't help the jittery feelings you get when standing in line to be admitted.  Just prior to opening time, an older gentleman stands inside the gates and gets the crowd cheering and counting down to fun fun fun.  Oh, what a place to be with your cute little kids whose faces are full of excitement and wonder.  I love it!  Jarin could not stand still from excitement.

Disneyland has a clever amusement for pin collectors.  You are able to go to any Disney cast member wearing a lanyard full of pins and trade for pins that you want.  I mentioned this past time to Trev prior to our trip and he was hooked.  He became our designated pin collector.  I handed 30 stinkin' bucks over for 7 Disney pins so that he could begin his hobby.  It was worth every penny to watch him trade and make memories.  

Check out the crowd around this water ball of wonder.  

What crowd?  

Exactly!

Trevor really is the funniest kid.  He made me wait and others wait while he posed for this picture. 

 "Mom, wait, I want to look like I am falling out of the car."  

I still laugh every time I look at this picture.

Ah, The Teacups.  

This ride was much anticipated by all five kids since it was closed last year.

Twins are really cute!

Makayla received this cute 'High School Musical' hat for her birthday, yet had never worn it. When I asked why, she replied, "Mom, it's cute, but too cute for Jr. High!" As if she can even wear it to school, I suggested she wear it just out and about.  All I received was 'the rolling of the eyes'.  When we announced that we were heading to Disneyland, she pulled it out and proclaimed, "Finally, I can wear this hat.  It's perfect for Disneyland!"  I'm glad that it got some use.

Thank you Walt Disney!

#2 Disneyland Trip

Disney California Adventure Park

The decision to spend the first day at Disney California Adventure came mostly from two boys who could not contain themselves from wanting to ride California Screamer (Trev was tall enough for it this year) and The Big River Run.  We hit every attraction (some several times), viewed my favorite musical - Aladdin, danced with a parade, and walked several miles of fun fun fun.

The Tower of Terror was just that for Rebekah.  We tricked her into going on it before she remembered it from last year.  Immediately after the ride, she informed us that she would not be going on any 'scary or fast or dark' rides.  We were able to get her to go on all of the rides over the three day adventure with the exception of The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain.

The Big River Run 

California Screamer

#1 Disneyland Trip

Newport Beach

Our first day in Anaheim took us to Newport Beach for some salty sea air.  We bummed around the waves, dug toilet size holes, chased seagulls, collected sea shells, and buried our toes in the sand.  It was all very therapeutic after a long 7 hour drive from St. George.

This picture makes a mama proud to have five kids.  Love you all!

Ah, the perfect way to end the day.