We LOVE You, Grandma!

This is for you Grandma Weldon. The kids and Kendon and I want you to know that we are thinking of you. We love you so much and hope that you will be feeling better soon.

ENJOY!


If you can't understand what they are singing, here are the words:

I love Pappa, he loves me.
We love Grandma yes siree.
She loves us and so you see,
We are a happy family!!

We love you Grandma!!!!

Biggest Loser

Hi Friends and Family,

I've been wanting to be a healthier me in 2008 but am lacking a bit of will power. I'm in need of a little motivation. So, to make the journey a bit more fun and get a much needed kick in the pants, I've decided to host a "Biggest Loser" Contest. It will be simple. Anyone who wants to join, CAN. We'll start on Monday the 4th of February and work hard for 12 weeks. The end date will be April 28th. At that time the winner will be the person who has lost the largest percentage of body weight. That's it!

Along the journey we can be each other's cheerleaders, motivators, coaches, sounding boards, support systems! We can share workout ideas, recipes, meal ideas, motivation techniques, goals and plans. I think it will be fun!

One question: What would you like to do for a winning prize? I have two ideas. 1)Everyone donates a minimum of $10 to the pot. Whoever wins, takes all. 2) Everyone who participates, commits to sending "something" to the winner. (a fun book, homemade something, healthy cooking cookbook. The ideas are endless and you're all fun and creative.) So, in your reply (the one where you say want to join me!) Let me know which idea you like best!

Please e-mail me or leave a comment ASAP if you would like to join. I will then e-mail you back with more info!

I'm excited for this fun, feel good journey!!!!

Lisa-Marie

lisamariejensen@gmail.com

P.S. I'm also looking for someone who might want to be a mediator of sorts. Someone who might not want to compete but would be willing to keep track of beginning and ending weights and announce the winner. I don't want to do this part, cause, well...I want to play and don't want anyone to feel like the competition is rigged!!!! :) It would be really simple. Let me know if you are interested. THX!

P.S.S Share this on your own blogs if you want. The more the merrier!

Jensen Family Week in Review January 21-27

"What do we do all week when it is too cold to go anywhere, school is canceled for days, the roads are covered in ice, the snow is two feet deep, and the wind is howling?" edition.

Consume LOTS of liquid calories via hot chocolate.

Study up on Clifford, No David, Tractors, and Firetrucks.

Fall off the train table, land on a tupperware box and get an owie to match the one on the other side of head.

Date night for Mom and Dad to Kendon's Archery Club Banquet. Kendon won the Biggest Bear Award and was made this year's Club President. Go Big Daddy!

Lots of creating.

Play together, get time out together!
Doesn't look like timeout works very well, does it?

Play memory. Again. Again. Again.
(Growl over current camera's picture taking ability.)

Learn the alphabet during breakfast.

Build sugar cube temples.

Practice acrobatic skills for when Mother ships us off to the circus.

Wish we were going somewhere warm. Like California. To see Baby Sarah. Again.

Start a family band.
(Curse camera again.)


Order new camera!

Oh, and the week wouldn't be complete without a little NAUGHTY!

Look at that... we CAN actually have a good time when it is too cold to go anywhere, school is canceled for days, the roads are covered in ice, the snow is two feet deep, and the wind is howling!

A Reunion Made in Heaven

Our dear prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away this evening. My sister, Kim, called me with the news just a little while ago. I was so shocked and my heart swelled with so many emotions. I cried (because that is what I do) and cried some more.

I am so happy for President Hinckley because I know that he is having a wonderful reunion with his sweet wife. Since her passing he has repeatedly expressed great sadness and longing for her. I was able to hear President Hinckley speak a few weeks ago, at a Stake Conference when I was in California. He spoke about the importance of treating women with the respect and love that they deserve. He of course mentioned his dear, sweet wife of whom he always treated in a respectful manner. He now gets to hold her hand again as they continue their journey together. And so, I am happy.
And yet, I am sad for me, because President Hinckley was scheduled to dedicate "our" temple one short week from today. I was so looking forward to hearing the prayer and blessing that he would pronounce upon that special House of the Lord and those who will serve there. I was so excited to know that any time I went to the temple, I would be walking where President Hinckley walked.
I will miss President Hinckley's sweet sense of humor, his bright smile that lights up his eyes and the room he occupies. I will miss hearing him say that he loves us all. I will miss listening to him speak of his lifelong sweetheart. I will miss his ambition and joy for life. I will miss the anticipation I always felt knowing he was "up next" to speak in a meeting. I will miss his sweet and simple and pure testimony of Christ. I will miss him.

But, above all, I am so thankful for President Hinckley. I am so thankful for the things that I was able to learn from him. I am thankful for the love that emanated from this great man and that through the Spirit I was able to feel that love. I know that he is a prophet of God. I know that the things he taught are true. I know that by living the precepts that he has taught I can be a happier me.

God bless you, President Hinckley.

June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008

This and That

Today I have been feeling a little like this...


and, unfortunately, like this too...

so after having a house full of these...


and for the evening, not one of these...


and it was suddenly this....


and Sirri's bedroom looks like that...


I began to feel more and more like this...

So, what did I do?

THIS!

I told my kids that if they would sit on the couch, not get down, and watch this...

I would get the house back to looking more like that...


I know, I know. Great parenting skills. I'm sure it will win me one of these...

But would you look at those happy and obedient children. You can't beat that...


With the children finally doing this...


I battled over whether or not to do these...


Well, my OCD self won, and now the kitchen looks more like this...


And now I am off to take one of these...


And I'll read a little of this...

Then, maybe I'll feel a bit more like that...

Question: What do you get when you leave your hubby home for five days with the kids while you play in California?

Answer:
Very jealous girlfriends!

Last night we had a Relief Society Scrapbooking night. Besides eating LOTS of yummy food and singing and dancing to great music like, "it's getting got in here..." and "nasty boys," (we might get ourselves kicked out of the group, Jaci) I was the recipient of much praise of my dear husband.

My girlfriends were all amazed that:

Not only was Kendon AT church on Sunday, but the kids were dressed in clean, matching clothes, their hair was done and they were welled mannered through Sacrament.

Not only was the house still standing when I returned home, but the bathroom had been cleaned, the floors mopped and the carpet vacuumed.

Not only were the kids happy to be with their dad, but he was happy to be with them.

Not only did he feed the kids but he actually made french toast, and breakfast burritos, whereas when mommy is home they get cold cereal for breakfast.

Not only did he make sure to call me every night before the kids went to bed, but his spirits were so high every time I did talk to him, I knew that he was actually having a good time.

Not only did he "let me go," but he did it willingly and truly hoped that I would have a good time AND he'll let me go again sometime!!!!

I know that I am so blessed to have the supportive husband that I do. I love him and am so appreciative of all that he does.

I love you babe!

Camera Help!

Question?

What camera do you all use?

We got a new camera for my birthday in December. It started "blacking out." Blacking out is not goof for people and likewise it is not good for cameras. We returned it (to an e-bay seller) and they do not have any in stock to replace it. They have graciously refunded our money. I love honest e-bayers.

Anyway, the camera was a Sony Cybershot. It was an upgrade of a cybershot we had previously. I've been fairly happy with these cameras. Except for the fact that the new one didn't have an option of automatically putting the date on the pictures. You had to do this to each pic manually. No thanks. This was a fact that we learned AFTER buying the camera.

So, instead of being sad that I am in the market for a camera again, I'm going to try and make the best of it and get one that has everything that I want.And here is the list of everything that I want:

• Price range of $150-200 (retail value could be higher if able to find a deal on e-bay. My hubby is the e-bay KING and real savvy at finding great deals!)
• Must be FAST. I hate to miss a shot because of a SLOW camera.
• Must have ability to stamp date on pictures (Preferably small and white, not huge and bright red. What are the engineers thinking? Don't they have scrapbooking wives who hate the huge ugly date?)
  
• Needs a view finder. It is difficult to take a good picture in the sunshine without a view finder. (Plus I like to steady the camera on my nose for a more still shot. Geeky!)
• Must not use "regular" batteries (ex: AA AAA etc.) I like to "plug in" my batteries, or the whole camera to recharge. Do those kind of batteries have a name?

So, dear bloggy buddies, family members (Cindy the photographer), friends, strangers...What have you got? Let me know what great cameras you might have that fit my requirements. I need help. And I need help FAST! When I post my week in review with horrific pictures from the cheapo, terrible camera we are using, you will understand the urgency!

PLEASE INFORM!

Thanks!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

Well, here is a recap of my FABULOUS trip to L.A. I apologize it is another little ditty but I've had this song in my head since leaving and it needs to get out. So without further adieu...

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane.
Sung to the tune of...you guessed it, I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane.

All my bags are packed, not so ready to go
I'm standin' here outside the car door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But my kids I'm missin', I can't believe

The plane is waitin', it's ready to leave
Please don't grow up without me, I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll remember me
Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

There's so many things we did for fun
Great pedicures to name just one
A great shopping trip to top the list

Hangin' with my sisters is always funny
Loved napping with you on my tummy
Please know that immensely you will be missed

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll remember me
Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
I'm so blessed to have met you
I dream that we will live near by one day

I Dream about the days to come
I'm sorry March is so far from
Until we meet again I'll have to say...

kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll remember me
Oh these darn tears why do they have to flow

'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go


I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I LOVE YOU SO!

I'm Off to See the Baby...

Sung to the tune of: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

(Hint: when singing L.A., sing as LA, as in la la la la. It flows better!)

Follow the right concourse signs, follow the right concourse signs.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the right concourse signs.

I'm off to see the baby
the beautiful baby of LA
You'll find she is a BABE of a babe if ever a babe there was.
If ever, oh ever, a babe there was, the babe of LA is one because
because, because, because, because, because,
just how truly darling she was. (and still is!!!!!!!!)

I'm off to see the baby, the beautiful baby of LA!


Wish me luck, I'm a little nervous about:
airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!
airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!
airports, and traffic and gangs oh my!

Just kidding about the gangs but big airports do make me really nervous. I have to change planes in SLC and I'm scared. Don't laugh. I know it is pathetic, but my little airport only has ONE terminal (if you can even call it that) and I like it that way. So, seriously, be thinking of me today and hoping and praying for me that I don't get a nervous wreck induced ulcer!

I'm already feeling nervous/guilty enough about leaving my family. They are in good hands (their father's most of the time) so I know they will be fine. I'm so lucky and get to go and do things by myself all the time because my hubby is so supportive. I'm so thankful for him! But it can be hard to be gone for so long. When I booked my flight, five days didn't seem long enough, but now that it is here, I'm missing my family a bit already and I haven't even left yet.

But really, I can't wait, because......


I'm off to see the baby
the beautiful baby of LA
You'll find she is a BABE of a babe if ever a babe there was.
If ever, oh ever, a babe there was, the babe of LA is one because
because, because, because, because, because,
just how truly darling she was. (and still is!!!!!!!!)

I'm off to see the baby, the beautiful baby of LA!