Come Baaaaaaaaack. (sniff sniff sniff. sob sob sob.)

My sister and her family just left after 5 1/2 fabulous days.

I thought I'd be so good and prompt and post all about the great fun we had.

Now, I'm just too sad.

I want no more tears.

I can't even stand myself.

It's too lonely.

So, I think I'll just go take a nap.

Boo hoo.

Jensen Family Week in Review July 13th-19th

• I finally got a camera back and have taken 106 pictures since Thursday! See, a camera is a need, NOT a want.

• Meg has learned to take all her clothes and diaper off in bed.

• Connor has taken to referring to himself in the first person. Interesting.

"Mom, can Connor have a popsicle?"
"Yes, Connor wants to."
"Connor didn't do it on purpose."
"Connor loves you."

• Sirri had her first soccer practice. She was cute in her teeny tiny shin guards. She was extremely shy. She was thankful to have one little friend on the team. She wouldn't let that one little friend out of her sight. She was pretty good and very fun to watch! She thinks she will like soccer.

She also has the curse of short Jensen legs.

But she tries HARD! Bless her little heart, and stubby legs!

• We added three new additions to our rock garden.

Mom's

Sirri's

Connor's

• We camped in our own yard.
• I learned a few things:
• I prefer camping when my bed isn't thirty feet away tempting me.
• We need to build a fire pit.
• You don't have to travel far to have a good time.
• The kids are quite talented at Bocce Ball.
• The kids LOVED it!
• It was worth it.
• 
  
• 

• We painted with ice cubes. Meg thought they were very yummy. I'm surprised she didn't get a major head ache from all the food coloring she surely ingested.

• Sirri has started to sound out words on her own.
  

"I LV YU HIDE." (translation: I love you Heidi.)

Five More Days!!!

Sirri's Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. Thank you for this night we could have. Thank you for our family. Thank you for our food. Please bless it. In the name of, uh...please bless Aunt Kimmy and Uncle Rich and baby Sarah. Please bless them to come to our house soon. Please bless them to drive safe. In the name.....

Can't wait to see you soon!!!!

Write? Right? Rite?

I have always Ben a good speller. Inn fact, in fourth grade I was devastated to lose the biggest spelling bee of the year to Brie Butler because I failed to capitalize the T in Tuesday. Know, I have knot forgotten that. I don't think I ever will. Being able to spell well is important two me.

This is won reason I really love being married too a Jensen. It is know secret that spelling is knot their forte. One day when Kendon and I were dating, he left me a note asking me two "please pick up the pitchers." When I realized he meant, pictures, I new that hour marriage wood always bee a happy one, four I find much happiness in correcting misspelled words.

So, I am shore ewe could understand my frustration as I sat in my van yesterday in front of the post office trying two spell the word, nausious. nausous. naucious. NAUSEOUS! I couldn't do it. I DIDN'T do it. I hesitantly put the cute handmade, handwritten, now RUINED, because of one misspelled word, card in the male.

And due you know what is two blame? Do you know why I struggled to spell that blasted word, nauseous? It is all spell check's fault. I know longer have too think in order to spell. Get it wrong? Can't remember if it's "i" before "e" or "e" before "i"? Never fear. Spell check is always hear. And it is ruining me. And I due knot like it.

But, hay! At least I have know glaring red lines staring back at me. Isn't spell Czech grate?!?!?

Heart Breaker.

A conversation while in Boise.

Sirri: "Grandma, I love being at your house."
Grandma: "I love having you here, Sirri."
S: "I wish you lived closer grandma."
G: "I wish you lived closer too."
S: "You need to move closer to me."
G: "No, you need to move. I was here first."
S: "Well, when we move we are going to have another baby. My friends James' mom, had
another baby when they moved."

An oldie, but one of my all time favorites!

And for the record...two things that aren't happening. #1 Moving. #2 Baby.

Today I was able to go to the temple. Right in the middle of my day. It was so nice.

As I was getting ready to go, Sirri asked, "Mom, why are you in your church clothes?"

"Because I am going to the temple."

"Why?"

"So I can help other people get closer to Heavenly Father."

"Mooooom! That is soooo nice of you!!!!!"

Isn't she sweet?!?!?!?

I really am proud of the sweet and empathetic person that Sirri is growing into. She is very observant of noticing when others do things that are kind. She is also filled with much empathy. I hope these are characteristics that will continue to develop in her.

This reminds me of the time when Meg was a baby and getting her first round of vaccinations. At 3 1/2 years old Sirri was a real veteran to shots. She new they hurt and was quite worried about Baby Meg. The nurse came in and Sirri saw the needles. She immediately got right up underneath that nurse, she was probably standing on her toes. Little, tiny Sirri clenched her fists into tight balls, looked straight up at that nurse and with determination and gusto in her voice exclaimed, "don't you hurt my little sister!" I was so proud of her that day!!!!

The Legend of Free Willy

One Christmas my sisters and I received the movie, Free Willy. Seeing as we were teenagers at the time, we most likely didn't receive any Barbie dolls or Lego sets or coloring books to play with after all the presents had been opened. So, instead we all cozied up on the floor and couch and watched our new movie. Somehow, that movie really grabbed our attention and our hearts and we were entranced by that whale and his young friend. Before we knew it, the show was over and we were all crying because the whale really did make it over the rock wall to his whale family and Jesse finds a home. Ahhh. Sweet.

Suddenly, the sweetness was over. Here it was, the middle of the afternoon, we were all still in our pajamas, wrapping paper and gifts were strewn about the living room, dinner had not been started, and ding dong....there was all the extended family at the door ready for Christmas dinner. OOPS!

Now, apparently Cindy and I continued to love that movie. Really. Love. It. Because, Bigelow Family Legend has it, that she and I watched that movie at least once a day for the next twenty eight days. 28 days. That is a whole lot of Free Willy.

Well, she and I grew up and still like Free Willy (at the least) but unfortunately (or fortunately) don't get the opportunity to watch Free Willy every day any more.

But guess who did......

Yep! The apple didn't fall too far from the tree. Though, Sirri and Connor didn't beat the 28 day record, they did make a heartfelt effort and pulled out ten days in a row. Wow. Not bad, seeing as that is the number of days we were in Boise.

Last night the kids went to bed terribly. T-E-R-R-I-B-L-Y! Anyone surprised? You shouldn't be. I'm not. (Can you tell I have had enough?!?!?!) They were standing on their headboards, throwing stuffed animals back and forth, jumping on their beds (Connor broke the wooden slats in his) sneaking out of their rooms on their hands and knees (thinking they were being so sneaky, but they weren't.)

Kendon and I tried to be patient. We really did. We tried to use Love and Logic. We really did. But in the end (which happened to be at 10:00) everyone went to bed sad and frustrated. The kids lost their privilege to go to the Spray Park today, which is a bummer cause that punishes me as well.

Well, last night at about 2:00 am Sirri woke up with a raging fever. She is just like me and always gets sick when she has had too much sun. After some IBU and laying with her for a while she went back to sleep just in time for Connor to wake up puking and with hurting ears. He wanted me to lay with him as well which I did.

As I was laying there, feeling so sad for the sick little guy, I was reminded just how much I love my buddy and my other two kiddos.

I was reminded that it is important to discipline and teach your kids but it isn't okay if it isn't with love.

I was reminded that Kendon and I have made a pact that our parenting decisions would always be motivated by love NOT power.

I was reminded that kids will be kids, but they won't be little for very long and that teenagers know the difference between a motivation of love and power and that we better figure it out before they do.

I was reminded that we believe in the Love and Logic program but it doesn't work unless you are dedicated and committed to doing it right.

I was reminded that we have been given these children as stewards from our Heavenly Father and He trusts that we will do the best that we can.

I was reminded that being a parent isn't easy, but it can be worth it.

I was reminded that the sun will come out tomorrow and every day is a new day!

You can cry your OWN eyes out Dr. Ferber.

Because my husband is a genius AND since he can't stand to let Meg cry it out, he came up with his own system to help her go back and stay asleep in the middle of the night.

Really, I should save all the details and have Kendon write a book and earn us millions. But, it's really a simple technique he has created here and would probably only fill a pamphlet. I don't know of anyone making the big bucks from a pamphlet. So, here it is.

The Kendon Method.

1. Take crying baby (namely MEG) out into the living room.

2. Set her on the couch.

3. Do not let her sit on your lap.

4. You may watch t.v., read a book, dose off. Whatever you are up to at 3:00 a.m.

5. Whenever said child tries to lay down on your lap, or have you hold her, ask, "are you ready to go ni-night?" Chances are she will say, "Nuh-uh."

6. Repeat steps 2-5 until child finally responds, "uh-Huh," and falls sleepily into your arms, ready to get off the couch and back into bed.

A few nights of this and your baby will decide it's much easier to stay asleep in their own bed.

GOOD NIGHT!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***Disclaimer: I've actually never tried the method. I've only ever observed. (Well, when I say observe, what I mean is sleep through the whole thing!) Success rates may vary depending on the commitment and "wonderfulness" of your spouse!

***Disclaimer's Disclaimer: Since originally writing this post I have had to use the method myself. It has been successful for me as well, though I much prefer it when Kendon works the magic.

Meg when she wakes in the middle of the night.


Hey, I just figured out how we can make the millions. I think I'll rent Kendon out. He can come to your home and put the method to use for you. Believe me, a sleeping baby would be worth every penny!

Jensen Family Week in Review June 29th-July 5th

This was my Kind of Week!

Sure Wish I Could SHOW You....

I wish I could show you...
just how much fun we had at the Spray Park TWICE this week.
Sirri and Connor have no fear about the slides this year and play play play their little hearts out.
Of course they stop every now and then for a snack. Those are my kids.
Even Meg loves the water.

I wish I could show you...
how well Connor and Sirri hold still for their sunscreen. It makes me happy.
Nothing worse than chasing kiddos around with a bottle of sunscreen.

I wish I could show you...
the half empty bottle of sunscreen from just one week's worth of fun.
Lots of sunscreen equals lots of fun!

I wish I could show you...
the Jodi Picoult book I read this week.
There is nothing better than sitting in the yard for hours, every day, reading a book while your kids play.

I wish I could show you...
the kiddos in their swimming suits since that has been the "official uniform" all week.

I wish I could show you...
The pounds and pounds of grapes we ate.
We LOVE it when grapes are on sale.

I wish I could show you...
Kendon's new grill.
We ate outside every night this week.
We grilled chicken, roasted hotdogs, BBQ'd hamburgers, and made pizza on the grill. (thx for the idea Gabi!)

I wish I could show you..
the looks on the kids' faces when we did fireworks.
This was their first year and it was priceless.
Oohing and aahing and jumping up and down. CUTE!

But alas...
I can NOT show you.
My camera looks like this...
Not quite so drastic, but you get the idea.
POOH!

God Bless the USA!

What's that you say?

Otherwise known as...
"Exploiting my Child's Innocence!"

Too bad these things are never as funny as you remember them to be. Oh well. Still makes me chuckle. In the background you can hear my poor dad. The only one trying to be mature and grownup and appropriate at the cemetery.

Did We Have a Blast in Boise?

Could we have spent one more second in the pool?

Do my kiddos have the best grandparents or what?
Was ten days too long mom and dad?

Wasn't it so great that our kids hit it right off, Carin?
Do yours miss mine like mine miss yours?

Like my grandma's hat? Isn't she sweet to watch out for me and my fair skin?

Speaking of fair, have you ever seen whiter (or wider) calves?

Aren't I blessed to still have three of my grandparents?


Isn't my sister a babe?

Like this picture?


Would you believe that we really had a good time at the cemetery for a father's day picnic?
Can you imagine how much my grandfather was missed?


WHO are my children playing in?

Is she so smart or what?

Can you believe that we only had one major meltdown the whole trip?
Are you surprised that he stubbornly kept one foot on the floor since he couldn't get off the bed?
How long do you think it finally took him to fall asleep?

Do I have the cutest kids or what?


Where did they come from?


Did we have a BLAST in Boise?
Do we miss you all?
YOU BET!!!!!

What was that about Connor the Manly Man????