Well, one of my not so fond moments growing up were digging up dandelions for FHE. I remember my dad giving us knives and we all went out and started digging dandelions in our yard. Well I decided it was high time to give my children the same experience. The dandelions are out in full force this year. I went to Wal-Mart and bought some weed diggers (No Sharp Knives) and we all began digging up the dandelions in our front yard, at first Brendan said, "Wow Mom this is really fun." I knew this wasn't going to last long, but it was such a beautiful day and we had a ton of dandelions that needed digging. Three hours later we were finally done. The boys did really good and really stuck with it. There was a few, "Are we done yet?", "I'm hungry can we go in and eat." but I really tried to make it fun and we took a break to get some cute photos for the blog and of course to scrapbook. So hopefully I helped pass on the old Jensen FHE tradition of Digging Dandelions, Thanks Dad!!
My brother Stewart called about a month ago and told us about this concert at Temple Square. We all got tickets and we took Brendan and Jordan on Saturday Night. Wow, it was beautiful. The name of it is Joseph Smith the Prophet and it was composed and conducted by a very talented young graduate of BYU, Rob Gardner. It was beautiful, a few vocal perfomances with a full orchestra. If any one ever has another opportunity to see it, go you will not regret it. My brother traveled down from Boise just to see it. It was the Highlight of my day. There was one song in paticular that really touched me, it was called Irene (Your Baby Was Here). Emma sang this one and it was all about her still born baby and how she was too perfect to live on this earth. It was very touching to think what Emma went through. I am fortunate that I have never had to suffer this kind of loss. I hope I never do. My children are so precious to me. I couldn't help, but look over at the boys throughout the concert. They were so good and listening so intently as they admired all the musical talent as did I. I asked them what they thought after it was over and they both just said how much they liked it. Thanks Stewart and Julie for letting know about this. It makes me realize how fortunate we are to live so close and have the experiences to allow all of us to strengthen our testimonies.
Jordan won a Turkey Hunt and has been gearing up for this day. I have to say he is so cute in all his camo from top to bottom. He and Dennis left early look at the clock on this picture. I think they were up at 4:00. Jordan even asked us if he cold sleep in his camo. They went to Nebo up by Birdseye. They saw about 70 turkeys, but weren't able to get close enough to get a shot. Jordan came home full of excitement and with a truck load of turkey calls that the guide gave him. He was so excited they got to see them and learn how to call them in. He has until May 31st to get one. So I am sure this won't be the only early Saturday Morning for him and Dennis.
I left for Mesa to teach classes at CKC, the day after Emmalia's Birthday April 17th. It was a quick trip. I was delighted to be able to take one of our Designers, Diane Oliphant with me. We had a ball. It was Diane's Birthday on Thursday and I told everyone I could. Including the guys at the rental counter who obliged me with giving her a Diet Coke and singing Happy Birthday. We got to the convention and immediately began the long haul of boxes from one end of the convention to the other. Diane was a real trooper. We taught 2 classes that night including the 6x6 album crop, went to Wal-mart to buy some supplies and crashed in our Hotel Room.
Friday we woke up early to work on some samples and then off we were to the convention to teach more classes and go to the crop. We ate dinner late some KFC and crashed.
We had some time on Saturday morning and decided we would go check out the Temple Visitor Center. We met my cousin, RaNae and her children, Shilene and Blaine and there 2 darling daughters, Lydia and Alayna and saw the most beautiful photograhs of Christ, I have ever seen. We walked into this darkened gallery and the Spirit hit me instantly. I have felt like this several other times in Visitors Center one in paticular on my mission when I went to the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center. These pictures were so full of emotion. I will add the link here so you can all see what I am talking about. http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/ As we walked through the gallery there was beautiful music playing in the background as well as scriptures on posts to educate us on what was being depicted in the photographs. By the end, Diane and I looked at each other with tears rolling down our cheeks and was so grateful we made time in our busy schedule to stop by and see this exhibit. It was the Highlight of our trip.
We finished with teaching class and finding a couple of new designers and having a wonderful time at the show. Thanks Diane for a wonderful weekend!!
Happy Birthday Emmalia,
Wow what a Day!! I thought I could squeeze a birthday party in along with all the other things I need to do to get ready to go and I am going crazy. The girls started showing up in all their princess dresses and wow they all looked so cute. We played kiss the frog and got lip gloss for our prizes and then we made wands, princess hats, opened presents and had a tea party. We took tons of pictures and had a wonderful day. We love our princess!!!
Finally, We are home owners Again!!!
Here we are at Provo Land and Title with our Good buddy Brian signing papers. We are so excited to have our own house again. Now we get to start painting and working to make this house our own.
Dennis wanted to take the boys for a hike on Saturday morning with his brother Brent. Dennis didn't tell the Brent that the boys were in the car. The boys managed to stay quiet until they got up to the canyon, when Brent reached back to get something in the backseat he still didn't know they were there, they scared the crap out of him. Dennis was still laughing when he told me about it. The boys were pretty tough Dennis said, they hiked quite a ways and got to see some large herds of Elk. Dennis is so happy that his boys are finally old enough that he can spend some real time in the outdoors sharing with them the things he loves.
I wanted to do something different and not just scrap a holiday, but some of Payton's Personality that one day I will forget and want to remember.Last year, Everyday before he went to school he would throw the biggest fit and not want to wear socks. I took some pictures of him crying one morning and the instant I took a picture of him cryng he started laughing because it was not like me to take pictures of him crying. I got the best pictures you can still see the tears on his smiling face.Of course a year later he doesn't cry anymore. So glad I decided to remember this fleeting moment of his life.
Emmalia is Mommy's Princess and I truly believe she belongs in a castle. I am so blessed to have her in my life. She already loves me to paint her fingernails and toenails and put cute ribbons in her hair. I love her so much. She is so animated here, all the boys were playing Star Wars and she had to join in. See her attack pose with her flowered wand. She is so adorable!!!
1.What is your most embarrassing moment? I say crazy things all the time that get me in trouble ask my friend, Kristina. "This year our birthdays are only 7 days apart"
2.What is something that you think about and laugh at every time? My first kiss with Dennis
3. What is you favorite season and why? Summer, because it is finally warm, and we can go camping, fishing and dutch ovens and BBQ's.
4.Who is your hero? This is a tough one I have to many. My best friend Jenni. (She died of cancer almost 4 years ago.
5.What have you learned throughout your life that you would share as advice for others? Treasure your Good Health. Don''t be afraid of Trials they always make us stronger.
6.What is your favorite goofy thing that your spouse does which makes you fall in love all over again? Dennis has the best sense of humor that really dry kind. Just being around him makes me laugh. The way he is with Waiters, He still remember Bry the waiter who served us on our first date.
7.What is your favorite book(s) of all time? It has to be I want to grow up, I want to grow hair and I want to go to Boise (Children surviving Cancer)
8.What is one of your pet peeves? My lack of Organization
9. Where has been your favorite place to travel and why? Carribean Cruise, just got back and I love the sun and R&R.
10. Leave a Question of your Own. What do you love about yourself? My Big Brown Eyes
11.My question to leave is: Would you take a million dollars if you could never use a computer ever again!? Yes, I have to work on my computer daily and I would definitely replace work with a million dollars.
12. My question is: What is something you admire about your mom or dad? My mom and how she just loves all Children. She has the BIGGEST heart!!
Well Brendan and Jordan have been attending a Hunters Safety Class while we were on our cruise and Dennis has been working with them every Tuesday and Wednesday since we got home. They went out in the cold and wind to do their shooting test on Saturday. Dennis said they did a great job. Tonight they came in with their heads hanging low and I knew they were trying to trick me. They both had huge smiles on their faces and said, unanimously, "We Passed!" I am very proud of them they have worked really hard for this. I was busy working on putting some new music on the blog, I was downloading Your Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins, and I suddenly realized that my little twins are growing up before my eyes. I need to take every moment to cherish all of the milestones in all my children's lives. This year they will be turning 12 and this is a bit of evidence that they are growing up too fast.
March 23, 2008
Easter Morning the kids found their baskets filled with candy and a few fun things for the backyard. Now we need some warm weather.
