That's What it's All About

Short and SASSY!

2011-08-10T21:43:00.004-06:00

Meg got a new haircut recently. It is a little bit, "mini me," and I love it! So does everyone else. She is constantly getting compliments and I didn't think it was possible for her eyelashes to look any longer than they are, but the short hair has done the trick. She has the most darling, perfect features for a short do and it just fits her personality to a T. It just might fit her personality too well!

Kendon: "I'm thinking we might need to grow Meg's hair back out. Boy is she ever SASSY lately."

Me: "I know. Seriously. She is Miss Sassy Pants."

pause
pause (thinking of MY haircut and MY personality.)
pause

Me: Wait a minute.....Oh well, I guess if the shoe (or hair) fits, wear it!!!!

M-E-G

2011-03-26T06:14:00.002-06:00

Here is another post that was in the deep dark depths of my draft folder. This one is 2 1/2 years old and warms and breaks my heart all at once. I forgot all about singing this song to Meg. I wonder when I quit. I can remember though, just how much she loved it. I might have to try singing it tonight and see if she remembers.

Was she the cutest baby or what?
---------------------------------------------

We LOVE the musical Annie at our house. Lately I've taken to singing M-E-G, instead of N-Y-C. Meggers loves it when I sing her, HER song!

Here's a little reminder of the tune, just in case. Plus, you can never get enough of Annie!

And here's my version.

M-E-G

What is it about you?
Your small.
Your cute.
Your tough.

M-E-G
I went years without you,
Now I can't get enough.
Enough of kisses all over my face
with lots of squishes too.
Enough of boogers all over your face,
Oh Meggers you know you're

my
M-E-G

Too busy
Too stubborn
Too fast
Too cute
Too fun
I'm sold
Again
On M-E-G

M-E-G

The loving at sundown
The hugs
That reach
my heart

That other house may have kids that are great
And a dog or cat or two
But, No other kid in
The whole forty eight
Can half compare
To you

Oh M-E-G

You make 'em all love ya

You're sweet
You're fun
You're still
The one

Amen For M-E-G

Don't forget to read the fine print....

2011-03-25T06:49:00.000-06:00

Here's an, "out of the blue," question Sirri posed to my sister's THEN boyfriend.

"So....when are you going to sign up to be my uncle?"

Apparently Sirri thinks that finding a spouse isn't any more difficult than obtaining, say, a cell phone contract.

Well, Travis, we're all so glad you decided to sign that dotted line.

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY, you two.
We love you both and are so happy you are so happy!

Chosen Family

2011-03-24T17:41:00.005-06:00

Last Fall, Kendon and I attended Connor's Thanksgiving feast at his school. There was one little girl from his class who's dad couldn't make it and her mom had passed away in a car accident earlier in the year. She was SO sad that no one was there to have the feast with her. Kendon and my hearts were broken and we included her in our little family feast. She still sobbed for her dad the whole way through the lunch because we were practically strangers to her. I only know her through helping in the classroom a few times a month. I remember being so distraught that there was no one there who knew her well enough to console her. As I looked around the cafeteria that day, I saw so many familiar faces. People that I know well. People that my kids know well. People that would have taken my child under their wing if necessary and would have been able to make it alright. People that are friends, but that we consider family.

Today, I was visiting teaching while Meg and Connor were at school. Somehow, two hours had passed. It was 11:20, and I was supposed to have picked Meg (and friends) up at preschool at 11:00 and Connor (and friends) up at kindergarten at 11:10. As soon as I realized what time it was I ran out to my car and started zooming down the street. I called Loretta (one of the preschool kid's mamas) to ask if she happened to have gotten the preschool kids. She hadn't, Ms. Tammie was keeping them, but she DID have the kindergartners. While I was busy chatting away, oblivious to the time, these two good friends took care of my "stuff." (Namely, mine and others' children!) Even though the minute I realized what time it was, my adrenaline began racing-mostly because I really dislike being undependable-but I didn't worry about the kids for one minute. I KNEW that they would be taken care of. I knew that someone would figure out I was MIA for some reason and take care of them. And they did.

What a blessing to live in a community and have such amazing friends that watch over me and my little family. I've been struggling with living "far" from my family lately and I'm thankful for a loving Father in Heaven that knew I needed a reminder that I have friends that ARE family.

I thought of making a list of all those who are my "chosen family," but the list would be long (and that seems a bit like junior high!) but those of you who are on "the list," know it. Thank you for being you and taking care of us.

I love you all.

Typical

2011-03-24T15:53:00.001-06:00

TYPICAL!
-----------------------------------------
This is a picture that has patiently been waiting in my drafts folder for three years. Oh man, how things can change in that amount of time. It's funny the things you forget about raising toddlers. The things you think you'll never miss, but looking back, you kinda do.

Is She Cute or What?

2011-03-23T16:44:00.001-06:00

Post Edit: I just showed this to Sirri and she said, "Oh, she is so cute. You can see the sparkle in her eye!"

Post-It

2011-03-21T21:02:00.001-06:00

I don't like it when Kendon goes out of town. (He's been gone twice in the last month.) BUT, I do love finding his hidden love notes inside cupboards, under my pillow, in the fridge, and all the silly other places he thinks to stick them.

So Proud...

2011-03-20T15:13:00.005-06:00

that Meg knew, "this is inappropriate," when playing a phone app game in which Santa "moons" you with his boxer shorts that say, "Merry Christmas!"

to be Kendon's Wrestling Wife. He is so supportive of Connor, win or lose, and gives just the right amount of encouragement without making Connor feel pressured.

that Connor knows our bodies are special and told his friend he shouldn't write on his hands, "cause our bodies are temples, don't ya know?"

of Sirri for working SO hard on her spelling words. Spelling does not come naturally to her but when she practices diligently all week it pays off!

Wrastlin'!

2011-03-20T14:32:00.007-06:00

Kendon
circa 1980-something

Connor
this weekend

I knew Kendon was a wrestler (wrastler as his family would say. yes we are from southeast Idaho!) when I married him and always figured we'd have a wrestler ourselves, and BOY DO WE! Connor started wrestling practice a few weeks ago and he loved it from the first moment he stepped onto the mat. This week he had his first two tournaments and he did so well. I was so proud of him. I was not only proud that he did so well (winning 7 out of 9 matches) but more importantly for his winning attitude and determination. Connor demonstrated very well two aspects of our family motto. He "worked hard," and he "had joy." I don't care if he **wins or loses, but I want him to always try his best and have fun doing it. And HE DID! Wrestling is not an easy sport. Sometimes it hurts (and makes you cry. ugh.) and you don't want to go back out there and finish the match, but Connor did every time. He NEVER gave up even when he was on his back being outmatched. He kept fighting until he heard that whistle blow. What great characteristics to have throughout your life.

We are so proud of you Connor Man!

**Though, honestly I like it when he wins better. I mean, who wouldn't? But seriously, wrestling is a tough sport to watch when you are the mama. Oh boy. Thankfully, he won more than he lost so MY tears were kept to a minimum. Phew!

AWKWARD

2010-10-19T10:57:00.001-06:00

After listening to Meg try to say her whole name...

CONNOR: "Meg Jensen Elizabeth. That sounds awkward."

SIRRI: "No Connor. Awkward is when you kiss a boy."

My Husband...

2010-09-22T19:31:00.004-06:00

sews.

does the dishes nearly every night.

never complains when I go out with girlfriends.

supports me in Relay for Life.

MY HUSBAND...

doesn't grumble (very loud) when I spend too much money.

keeps our lawn beautifully mowed and green.

does laundry

folds laundry.

doesn't put laundry away.

gets giddy during hunting season.

MY HUSBAND...

is hot.

can build or fix most anything.

doesn't snore.

helps me harvest and can the produce from our garden.

MY HUSBAND...

is handy. and handsy.

is a great cook.

makes a delicious breakfast every weekend.

MY HUSBAND...

does his own ironing.

reads to our children.

is a runner.

loves me.

I LOVE...

my husband.

Just You and Me

2010-09-16T19:28:00.005-06:00

Dear Meg,

Every single morning after the kids get on the bus and Daddy heads off to work, you look at me (typically grabbing my hand) and say, "It's just you and me, huh, Mama?" "Yep, sis. Just you and me." And it melts my heart and makes me smile. Spending time with just you every day has been such a delight!

Every night before I go to bed, I've found myself making sure to get all my house cleaning jobs done so that in the morning there will be plenty of time to play. To play, with just you! We have had dance parties, glam sessions (complete with mascara on those amazing eyelashes of yours,) soccer "games," walks to Aunt Wylene's for an apple, laying in bed reading or watching cartoons, sharing chocolate way too early in the morning (cause that what girls do!) and playing lots of make believe (typically you make me call you Grandma and I play the role of Meg.) Sometimes there are still jobs to do, but you don't mind and boy it is sure much more fun with a sweet little partner like you.Ever since you were a little tiny baby you have been such a lover. You love to snuggle and hug and you have a special way to make others feel loved and important. Sometimes when you are being "influenced" by others (ahem...Connor and Sirri) that side of your personality is harder to see. But, boy, when it is just you and me, your true self SHINES through!

I'm so thankful for this special time that you and I will be able have these next two years to be together. I hope it will be a time that you will be able to remember and look back on and feel joy. Because that is what you have given me these last few weeks....JOY!

I love you Meggers!

Love,

Your Mama

1/3

2010-09-08T19:24:00.007-06:00

A third set of school clothes....

A third backpack hanging on its hook...
A third kiddo in school!
Meg has anxiously been awaiting the day that she would get to go to school at Mrs. Tammies and it finally arrived!

my wishy washy, achey breaky heart.

2010-08-28T15:01:00.006-06:00

Two weeks ago:

"Seriously, school could not start soon enough."

"Is it the 25th YET?"

"If I hear anyone (Connor) torturing his siblings one more time..."

First Day of School:

"Maybe I don't want him going to school."

"Do I really have to put him on the bus all by himself?"

"He grew up way too fast."

Second Day of School:

"Is it really almost 11:00 already? Kindergarten is too short. I could use a few more hours."
-----------------------------------------------------

Man, oh, man. Do I ever have a wishy washy mama heart. One minute I can not wait to send the kiddos out the door and the next, I'm worrying about their day at school and wishing they were home snuggling on my lap. Sending Connor to school this year was so conflicting for me. He is SO ready to go and he could sure use a break from his siblings (and his mom. and vice versa.) But, with each child that goes to school, it just means that my season as a stay at home mom, whose job is to raise babies and play all day is coming to an end. Though, sometimes it's easier to do my job when I get a little break from the dears. See, my heart just can't make up it's mind. Am I crying as I watch the bus drive down the road because I'm sad or are they tears of joy that I have a little freedom? Maybe both. Who knows.

I do know this. He is one handsome kiddo.

Going....

Going..............

GONE.
boo. hurray! boo. hurray!
good grief.

Though...I do like hanging out with just this girl for a few hours every day.

First Day of School 2010

2010-08-25T21:34:00.008-06:00

SECOND GRADE

Mrs. Miller

Kindergarten

Mrs. Swainston

Bus Buddies

Sirri, Kennedy, Sydney

Thank goodness for friends!
Connor, Blaze, Russell

Things That Made Me Smile in July

2010-08-09T21:58:00.000-06:00

An easy "do" for Sirri. It's fast, needs no curling and has no part to be sunburnt.

This face.

Being recognized by a cashier at Walmart when she said, "Oh, I know you. You're the customer who is always so nice. I love it when you come through my line!"

Going to Rigby Lake every week.

This face

Watching Kendon sew.

The kids doing their chores. (And having it actually be helpful to me!)

My beautiful growing garden.

Meeting Baby Jade. (Affectionately known as; Little Toad. Meg is her counterpart; Big Toad.)

The kids playing baseball.

This face.

Finding out that Kim and Rich and their kids are moving many hours closer to me.

Grandma and Grandpa Bigelow coming to town for the Blue Angels Air Show and meeting Greg Poe.

Heidi and Brian's wedding!

Two Years and Thankful

2010-08-06T18:46:00.008-06:00

Ever so thankful!

Then
Now
Our own special rainbow of HOPE today.

Can you see {feel} it? It's there. Today and always. Some-days it's harder to see {feel} than others. But it's there.

Happy 7th Birthday Sirri!

2010-08-05T21:14:00.003-06:00

Sirri at seven...

learned to ride her bike and loves it
is a total fish (hence the pool for her birthday!)
wants to do her own hair
spunky
growing up
into friends and getting phone numbers
loves to sing, dance, and perform
helpful
dramatic/emotional
growing "tall"
cute cute cute
a pleaser
sensitive

tie dyed cake-inside and out

Happy 6th Birthday Connor!

2010-08-05T20:59:00.005-06:00

Connor at six...

ready for kindergarten
very observant
writes his first and last name
loves to tease his sisters
knows which sister "buttons" to push
thrives on attention (will take positive or negative)
so so handsome
has total beach boy, surfer dude, blonde streaked hair
loves to learn how things work
enjoys soccer
hard headed
has an incredible memory
skinny

Kendon made each of the boys these BLAST OFF ROCKETS. They were a huge hit. Thanks hon.

My Grandma is the Queen of Hearts

2010-08-04T22:29:00.004-06:00

The day after Relay we had an 8oth birthday celebration for my Grandma. The theme of the party was, "My Grandma is the Queen of Hearts!" I can't think of a more fitting description for my Grandma. She truly is the Queen of MY heart and I hope to be just like her someday....

kind
funny
sassy
smart
beautiful
back scratcher
classy
thoughtful
giving
generous
listener
talker
crier
loved
MINE
It was a fabulous celebration with all of her children, many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren and lots of friends. As I wacthed all the people who were at the party and saw the goodness in each of them, I couldn't help but think that the goodness in all of us is because of the goodness in her. My grandma's legacy is already beginning to grow and show itself and to live on in all of her family and friends.
It was such a great experience to have this family reunion in my little ole town, at my little old house, in my big beautiful yard. I never ever thought we'd be having such an occasion at my house, but low and behold, we did. It was such a special weekend and one that I will not soon (if ever) forget.

I love you, Grandma.
You will ALWAYS be the QUEEN OF MY HEART.

Relay for Life 2010

2010-08-01T20:08:00.000-06:00

June 25th was our 2010 Relay for Life with a Teton View. This year I was one of the major organizers. My official role was Team Development Chairman. I was in charge of of recruiting old and new teams, putting together and throwing our Relay Kick-Off (we had a very successful and fun carnival) and organizing and leading all the Team Captain Meetings. Last year our event had 38 teams and this year we had 48!

It was such a special experience to be so involved with a cause that it so near and dear to my heart. When I first realized the scope of all that my position involved I was really nervous and afraid that by the time the season was over, I'd be so overwhelmed and Relayed out. I was worried that my love of Relay would wain. Actually, the very opposite happened. Every hour that I spent and volunteered for Relay (which was a LOT) I truly enjoyed and I grew to love Relay and it's purposes even more. It was a real blessing for me this winter. I had a great cause to be fighting for, I made many new friends, and I was able to focus a lot of my "cancer anxiety" into a good cause. I'm excited for next year. I know that our event will grow even more and we will come that much closer to finding a cure for cancer and will bless many lives in the mean time.

This is most of our committee. What an fantastic group of people. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work with them. They are all so kind and dedicated and I want to be like them when I grow up. I personally had a Team Development Committee that was also A-MAZING! They are my best friends and I'm so so thankful for every second, minute and hour they spent dedicated to this cause and all because they love Sirri. What a blessing good friends are!

This year was also especially great because we had a family team called Sisters for Sirri. Family (and friends who might as well be family) came from all over to be part of this special experience. Our team was the #1 fundraiser because of the commitment and dedication of my family. I love them all and I am so thankful for all the help that they each were. What a great experience to fight back together and to honor Sirri in such a special way.

Our Team: SISTERS FOR SIRRI!
(Minus a few. Including....SIRRI! She was too busy running around with Brooke!)

Our #1 teammate, and the top fundraiser of the whole event, my older sister, Kim and her darling, Sarah! She raised over $1,200! I really could not be any more proud or thankful for her!
Kim and her kids came all the way from Los Angeles, California.

See the cape Kim is wearing? She also made each member of our team one of those so we could be SUPER Sisters for Sirri. (Our event theme for the year was Super Heroes Fighting Cancer) And my mom made us all purple tied dyed leg warmers. We were CUTE!

Beautiful Aunt Cindy and Sirri

Sirri and Brooke
Brooke is Sirri's #1 supporter!

Sirri about to take her Survivor Lap. I actually made it all the way around the track without crying this year. WHOA! Sirri, still didn't enjoy the attention and was sure glad to have Brooke there holding her hand. We had over 70 Survivors on the lap and it was such a great sight of HOPE!

Grandpa and Meg
Connor and Koy and Brooke and Sirri had such a fabulous time. They ran around the whole evening bumming dollars off anyone who would pity them (mostly Grandma!) and bought themselves all kinds of treasures; cotton candy, face painting, stinky perfume, and a chance to smash the "Beat Cancer Car." It's so fun that they are getting older and more independent and have such great friends to run around with.

This is one of the Survivor Quilts that was auctioned off at the event. It has Survivor's hand prints and signatures on it (including Sirri's). And because of the generosity of an acquaintance of mine, Dawn, it is now on Sirri's bed and Sirri loves it! I have the opportunity to serve on our regional training committee with Dawn this fall and I'm really looking forward to getting to know her better. Someone with that kind of heart is someone I want to be friends with.
The Luminaria Ceremony

During the Luminaria Ceremony the sky filled with bright, bold strikes of lightning. It was beatiful and the perfect touch to the ceremony. As soon as the lap of silence was completed the skies opened and it began to pour and blow. In perfect Rexburg fashion, it rained for about 5-10 minutes and then blew over. Most of the participants braved the storm and stayed to finish out the night. It was the perfect reminder that there is always hope and the sun always shines again, even when it feels like it won't.
My family stayed until after dark and until the kiddos were begging for their beds. They were all so tuckered out. I'm so thankful for the support that Kendon has been to me. For every hour that I spent doing Relay "stuff" he was home taking care of the family and being Mr. Mom. I absolutely could not have done all that I did without him as my partner and backup.

All in all, Relay was a fantastic expereince. I can't wait for next year. (I suppose it's a good thing I'm so gung-ho, since we're already planning for Summit Training. In fact I have a conference call tomorrow. Doesn't THAT sound professional?!?!?)

Remember...Once you choose HOPE, anything is possible!

CELEBRATE...REMEMBER...FIGHT BACK!

Christmas in July!

2010-07-18T21:49:00.003-06:00

Today in Singing Time, I was letting some of the kids choose their favorite songs to sing. One kiddo chose, Angels We Have Heard on High. I was sure that the poor boy who chose was going to get a mouth full from the other kids because he wanted to sing a Christmas song in July, but to my great surprise, all the kids were on board and sang their hearts out. It was a special little moment in our Primary and I could really feel the Spirit of the Savior and Christmas as we sang.

After we sang I told the kids that Christmas REALLY did come for me in July this year. Just this week my parents sent my sisters and our husbands all a little hand held video camera. They want us to be able to have a handy way to document our day to day lives so we'll be able to document, remember and cherish these fun days with little ones. (and I think they also want us to post the videos on our blogs, too!)

The very first video we took, each of the kids told Grandma and Grandpa thank you for the video camera but it was while we were eating at the picnic table and I'm not sure I want everyone to see me eat a carrot. So....you get video number two which happens to be of Meg singing, All the Single Ladies, while dancing on the table! I know. We teach em' young!

None the less, THANK YOU SO MUCH, Mom and Dad. We are thrilled with our gift and have already taken more video in the last 24 hours than we have all year! Your mission has been accomplished! LOVE YOU! xoxoxo

p.s. take your Dramamine before watching this, dad. I'm a bit shaky. Sorry. It'll take some getting used to, to hold that tiny little thing still.

Careful....You might get pulled over by the word police.

2010-04-17T19:52:00.000-06:00

Conversation #1: (Overheard)

Connor: "You can't say that." (to a friend after he said, "stupid.")

Friend: "Oh, yes I can."

Connor: "Well, not at my house, you can't."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conversation #2: (the morning after watching The Princess and the Frog)

Connor: "Mom, you better take that movie back and never rent it again."
Me: "Why?"

Connor: "Cause we can't ever watch it again."
Me: "Oh, really? Why?"

Connor: "Cause it says, butt."
Me: "It's probably okay. Is that the only bad word in it, Connor?"

Sirri joins the conversation: "Oh, so if a movie only says ONE bad word then we can still watch it?"

Oh, boy. Talk about opening a can of worms!

The conversation did not end there, by the way. We of course discussed that even one bad word in a movie is not okay. We might be limited to Barney and Friends as long as Connor and his word police ears are around! Really, I am proud that he is conscious of these things and I'm sure I'll be reminding him of this conversation one day when he tells me, "it only has ONE bad part!" So, I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

All I Need to Know I Learned Babysitting

2010-04-15T20:09:00.001-06:00

My house really is way too small.
I'm glad I have an education and degree I can use some day.
A box of fishy crackers doesn't go very far.
I can get most any kid to crack a smile.
Paper plates are a must.
Writing names on paper cups is a good idea, too.
I like hugs.
I don't like muddy shoes.
Put the markers up. High.
Put your book group book up high, too.
Mr. Clean Erasers really are magic!

And the most important thing I've learned from babysitting....if I can take the time and energy to be patient and loving with someone else's children, I can most certainly make the effort to do the same with my own.

Recently, I accepted a babysitting job. It's only a couple days a week for a few hours at a time. It did come at a time where it's nice to have a few extra dollars to "play" around with and stretch the budget. But, it didn't exactly come at the greatest time for me "emotionally." I'm feeling a bit stressed and over my limit as of late, but still really felt like I could manage the job and I have. But some days, my plates do feel a bit too full and they sometimes spill over. On those days it is my kids who unfortunately "get it." "It," being the wrath of their tired, cranky mother. All the while someone else's children are treated with respect, kindness, patience and love.

And then, it dawned on me the other day, that these kids of "mine" really do belong to someone else. These kids have been sent to me from a loving Father in Heaven. Really, they are on loan to me. He has entrusted me with their care while they are here on this earth. He has given them to me to teach and to nurture, with love and patience. And not just on the good days, but also on the bad and the tired and the frustrated. It is my responsibility and should be my honor, everyday, to treat them as I would and do someone else's children. For really, they are HIS.

I hope your life is always fairy tales and happy endings....

2010-04-14T19:41:00.002-06:00

The other day I was talking to a little girl about her daddy's wedding and his new wife. Sirri overheard and we then had the following conversation:

Sirri: "You have a step-mother, Ashlyn?"

Me: "Who do you know who has a step-mother, Sirri?" (Surprised she even knows what one is.)

Sirri: "No one."

Me: "Then where did you learn what a step-mother is?"

Sirri: "From CINDERELLA." (as in, like, duh!)

2010-04-06T19:26:00.000-06:00

From the moment I found out I was pregnant with Connor, I wondered what it would be like to have two kids so close together. (Less than a year!) I wondered what kind of relationship they would have and what I could do to foster a positive one. I dreamed that one day they would be the best of friends and had nightmares that maybe they would be worst of enemies.

A few years ago when they were both wearing size three pants, I posted this picture and caption:

"I hope Sirri and Connor will always be as close as their pants size."

Other people are apparently curious what it is like to have two kiddos so similar in age as well because I get asked about their relationship on a regular basis.

Tonight as Sirri and Connor were watching a movie, I was able to snap a picture that I think illustrates their relationship and warms this mama's heart.

Yes, they can fight like the best of them. I think that comes with the territory of being siblings. But at the end of the day, these two are:
CLOSE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Errrrr. I mean, HAPPY EASTER!

2010-04-05T20:46:00.004-06:00

The Most Beautiful Bride and the Nicest Boy in Boise

2010-04-02T21:01:00.006-06:00

Last week, my sister Cindy married Travis Worwood. She really was the most beautiful bride I have EVER seen and according to reliable sources, Travis is the "nicest boy in Boise."

When my dad was dancing with Cindy at their reception they had the following (paraphrased) conversation:Dad: "You know what the best part of this day has been, Cindy? Your smile."

Cindy: "I know. Scott (her dentist) did a great job on my teeth, didn't he?"

Dad: "I don't mean your teeth Cindy. I mean your smile. You can tell you are truly happy because of your smile."

I totally agree. Cindy is a beautiful girl to begin with, but that day Cindy radiated happiness and her countenance truly glowed.I have always loved being around new mothers with their brand new babies. It is so fun to remember how I used to feel when I had my first child and to remember the excitement and joy that motherhood brought me. It is the same way with newlyweds. It is such a great reminder of the joy and happiness that can and should come from marriage. It was nice to be shown a great example and have a special reminder of how I should feel about and treat this handsome man that I married nine years ago.......
I wish Cindy and Travis nothing but happiness and joy as they begin their life together. They absolutely deserve one another!

CHEERS to the Worwoods!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dipping strawberries and having fun hanging out with the family.

The Bigelow Bunch
You've done well, Mom and Dad. You should be proud.

The reception was so gorgeous. My mom really knows how to throw a party and Cindy had really neat ideas.

Marilyn Monroe cousins.
It is always so fun to spend time with Kim and her family.
We miss you guys!!! sniff sniff.

My college roommates. The "Shanty" girls.
Thank you so much for all coming. It meant the world to Cindy.

Lettin' loose on the dance floor. You should have seen Meg and Sarah. They were "raisin' the roof!" Too cute. And I'm sure I looked like the drunk lady. I always get a little carried away!

Daddy and his "little" girls.
All grown up.

Overheard

2010-03-18T21:31:00.002-06:00

Connor:
"Sirri, let's play with Mom cause she doesn't have anyone to play with."

I love him!

Another perk about living in a super old house....

2010-03-16T22:26:00.002-06:00

You're not too worried if the green paint stains.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Apparently, we're having a real heat wave here!

2010-03-15T14:52:00.003-06:00

Silly boy.

2010-03-14T20:49:00.004-06:00

As I pulled my recipe binder out of my pantry tonight I came across these CDs hiding on the shelf in the back corner.

I was instantly flooded with memories from 5 1/2 years ago, when this CD of 110 Silly Songs was the sound track to my life.

My heart swelled as I remembered that time in my life when I was a young new mom of a one year old and a brand new baby. Many days I would find myself with nothing to do and nowhere to go and so for the umpteenth time I would turn on these silly songs and we would sing and we would dance.

My days are different now. Rarely does a day go by when I don't have somewhere to go or something pressing to do. My babies have been replaced with kids. And our Silly Songs have been swapped for High School Musical and MP3 players.

And tonight as I ponder on those days gone by, I can't believe that I ever wished for them to be over. There were days that I longed for more to do than just sing and dance to silly songs.

And now, that wish has come true.
My days are filled and my calendar is cramped and if I don't write it down it doesn't get done.
And wouldn't you know it, I'm sure wishing for a day of nothing to do but sing a silly song or two. Or 110!

Mayonnaise....Mustard....CATCH-UP!

2010-03-13T19:27:00.007-07:00

I've been putting this off for so long since there is just so much to catch up on, but I'm just going to cover the basics for family history purposes and get on with blogging in real time again. That's the goal.

So here we go....

October

Meg had her tonsils and adenoids removed. She also had tubes put in her ears and a cluster of lymph nodes removed from her neck. The cluster of lymph nodes were not reacting to antibiotics and worst case scenario would have been lymphoma. Yeah, that was not funny. But, all is well. Meg's nose has cleared up since having her tonsils out and her vocabulary has exploded. I'm pretty sure she wasn't talking much cause she couldn't hear. Not to mention that her tonsils were touching and it probably hurt to say much. Poor baby.

And then, before we left for home, she tore the stitches out of her neck. NOT a happy camper.

November

My baby turned three. How did that happen? Seriously.

As soon as Meg realized her birthday was coming she started talking about her "bird-day pardee" and "Jocie and Hudson come to my bird-day pardee" so the lucky girl was spoiled with a little baby party. Neither Sirri or Connor had friend parties when they were three! Oh well. It was fun and sweet. We hda some friends over for pizza and Elmo cupcakes. I love three year olds. They are easy to please. We celebrated that night as a family at McDonalds and later at Grandma and Grandpa J's with an Elmo cake.

December

Christmas this year was so special as we spent it in Boise with all my family and were able to meet my new nephew, Luke, for the first time. It was so great for the cousins to get to hang out and get to know each other better. I think my kids' withdrawals from Sarah and Luke lasted clear through the month of January. Not to mention my withdrawals from my sisters.

January

Winter. Snow. Sledding. Cold. Hot chocolate. Cold. Snow. Kids can finally manage all their snow clothes by themselves. Cold. Snow. Hot chocolate. Winter. Snow. Cold. -25 degrees. Did I mention cold?

February

Ditto.....

And that ladies and gentlemen is why I need to post on a regular basis. Pretty lame-o!

Here's a quick rundown of each of our goings on:

Sirri:

Sirri is doing well in school and is finally catching on to reading. Reading does not come easy or naturally for her but she is really getting there through lots of practice. I'm trying to find the fine line between pushing her and letting her go at her own pace. I'd rather her have a love of reading than be the best reader. She does have a pretty good attitude most of the time and does her hoemwork and reading without much of a fuss.

One thing that does come naturally to her is being social and friendly. On Friday report cards were sent home and Sirri received an S- for both "listens attentively" and "follows classroom rules." She can't seem to follow either of these rules very well because she is always too busy chatting with her neighbor! (I know it shouldn't but this makes me giggle. And a little bit proud!) I do know she is not purposefully being rude or disrespectful and that makes me glad. And yes, we've had discussions with her. She does need to learn the right time and place for socializing and focusing. (Maybe she's a bit like her mom....) She did receive an S+ for being kind and considerate. Sirri has always had a tender heart and would never intentionally be mean to anyone. She is very empathetic and I love that about her.

Sirri's health is still well. We just reached a milestone and she only has to visit Dr. Hancock, her oncologist, every six months now. This makes Sirri very happy. (It makes me nervous.)

Sirri has reached another milestone in her life.....her hair finally fits in a pony tail! Whoopee. Six years old and wearing her first pony tails. The SIDE pony is her favorite.

Connor:

Connor is very much five and very much boy! If he isn't talking about poo, he is talking about pee. What is it with boys and potty humor? He loves to wrestle, play computer games, relentlessly tease his sisters and wakes up every morning starving.

Connor is still loving school and is looking forward to kindergarten next year. He is starting to read a little himself and loves to try sounding out words. He also loves to work with numbers. He is always counting things, adding and subtracting things, and amazing his mom with what he figures out in his head.

Now that the weather is finally starting/trying to look like spring, Connor can hardly contain himself. He asks me bright and early every day if it is warm outside yet. Even though it's not, he still bundles up and heads outside to ride his bike. It's like he has reunited with a long lost pal with that bike.

Meg:

Even though Meg is now three, she will still cuddle with me (or pretty much anyone for that matter, she just loves to snuggle.) This makes me happy. She better still be cuddling with me when she is thirteen, if I have a say so! She just has a way to make you feel so loved.

Meg is now a Sunbeam at church and she is so cute. She does pretty well most Sundays and sits (cuddling on her teachers lap) with her class and does her best to be reverent. I love to watch her sit with her arms folded singing the songs. Singing is one of her favorite things and she tries to keep up with the big kids even if she just sings nonsense. She does this in Sacrament too and it is so cute. I never tell her to be quiet cause it is so darned sweet. And I think the people siting around us like it too!

Meg is still our early bird and doesn't let anyone sleep in, ever. At least now she can climb out of the top bunk by herself so Kendon or I (mostly Kendon) don't have to get up to go get her. She climbs on down and gets right in bed with us. Don't even try to roll over and go back to sleep. She turns my head back, gets her face right in mine and says, "I can't see you."

Kendon:

Kendon is back to running. He is getting antsy for the weather to get nice so he can run outside more often. He is a fair weather runner! He is up to six miles again. He is also eating like a rabbit again, meaning lots of salads and cutting out sweets. He misses the cream filled donuts from Albertsons. He is getting skinny and even put on my size 10/12 jeans the other day. I wasn't sure if i should be proud of him or super annoyed. I think it's fair that I was a little of both! (Just so you know, and to make me feel better, the pants did fit him like stretch pants, not jeans. So, I'm still skinnier! But still.....errrrr.)

Kendon is getting excited about our garden and began ordering all our seeds the other day. It won't be long before he's out there rototilling the garden in the snow!

You can also tell Kendon is ready for spring to come by observing his new hobby. He has taken up building bird houses. I'm pretty impressed with his skills. He has a good time finding places to hang them so that we will be able to watch the birds nest from the house.

In sad news, Kendon's dog, Chuck, that he has had since before we were married, died. He was getting old but it's still sad. To Kendon it's like losing a friend. Kendon told the kids that he is happy that Chuck is running around like crazy in heaven!

Lisa-Marie:

I've been staying extremely busy with my volunteer position for Relay for Life. With every hour that I put in, I feel more and more excited and determined to fight cancer. I have an amazing committee that has made my job so much easier and I'm very thankful for them. We put on a carnival for our kick-off event and it was a huge success! We had over 150 people attend and at the end of the night had 25 teams registered! (For comparison, last year at the end of kick-off they had four teams.) We have had our first Team Captain Party and it was fun and successful as well. I've found that I love speaking to groups about how they can help fight back against cancer and it has been a great way for me to relieve some of the anxiety that I feel.

(I don't have too many local readers, but if you are, and want to form a Relay for Life team, let me know. It's a blast! Not to mention a good cause.)

Okey-dokey. I'd say that's gonna cover it. Stay tuned for more (entertaining) posts coming your way. This blog hiatus has been good for me and I'm feeling blog revitalized!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T12:58:00.003-07:00

Love,
a fire breathing dragon, a very brave doggy (who just had her tonsils out Thursday,) and a beautiful butterfly, who at the last minute decided to be the Swine Flu instead!

The Law of the Harvest

2009-10-26T20:46:00.009-06:00

35 pints
Garlic, Dill and Hot Dill.
Hot dill are our favorite.
Will definitely do more next year!

39 pounds shelled.
39 one pound freezer bags.
I want to plant five rows again next year.
Are you up to it Kendon?
He and Connor shelled EVERY single pea. Thanks hon.

First year doing carrots.
We'll see how they last.
Stored in barely moist sand in the cellar.

50 pints salsa verde
50 pints traditional salsa
Everything for our salsa came out of the garden except for the bell peppers and cilantro.
Cilantro goes to seed too fast.
The kids were great help with the salsa making.
Connor and Sirri cut up MANY tomatoes. It was fun to do as a family.
YUM! I think I need to go buy a bag of chips!

48 pints, a few quarts.
Kendon pruned the old, dead apple trees in our orchard this spring and what do you know, they produced apples! Very exciting.
The kids LOVE apple sauce.
I also have 6 gallon bags in the freezer that I'm slowly leathering. Yum.

Bad picture. Delicious corn.
30 quart sized bags.
We struggle growing corn. Most of this is from a neighbor.
We'll try again next year.

A BUNCH of frozen bags. I'm not sure what we think of those. Boo.
30 quarts canned. The kids loved bottled beans.
I think I'll stick to bottled next year. Bummer cause freezing is so easy.

27 quarts of pears
36 quarts of peaches.
Messy messy, but worth it.
Peaches: $17/box
Pears: $14/ box
Could have gotten a better price.

A real labor of love.
I think beets are disgusting, but Kendon loves them.
The kids do as well.
I do however think they are pretty.
One row a year is plenty.
18 quarts

6 little jelly jars.
Very easy to make.
This stuff just tastes like Christmas to me. Mmmmm.
While I'm out buying chips, I might have to buy some crackers and cream cheese, too.

14 quarts
This stuff is quite a lot of work.
It looks disgusting in the jars.
Stew is easy enough to make from scratch.
I don't think I'll do this again next year.

I LOVE having a real, underground cellar.
I feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I always wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Manly was so...manly!
Uh, anyway, I love my cellar.
Isn't it colorful?

So, Kendon is just as manly as Manly.
He left our house at 5:30 a.m. and shot this elk at 6:30.
He rocks.
Now, we have a nice and full freezer.

It was so fun to enjoy the harvest from our garden this summer. We ate many meals where everything on the table was from our garden and/or something Kendon had hunted. (All except the purple Crystal Light.)

It was so much fun to have the kids' help this year. They are getting big enough to help plant, weed, harvest, and can. It is always lots of hard work, but well worth it.

SNAGGLE-TOOTH

2009-10-26T20:21:00.005-06:00

Do you see the resemblance in these three?

Silly Meg.

Crazy Pumpkin

Kendon's elk

How about now?

A few weeks ago, while eating lunch, Meg fell off her chair and landed right on her face. She knocked her whole tooth out, root and all. The dentist said there is nothing that can be done except wait for her permanent tooth to grow in. Do you know how many years of family pictures that is? Ugh. The tooth next to the lost one was jarred enough that it is starting to turn gray. I'm thinking of having a t-shirt made that says, "Yes! my mom brushes my teeth."

"May all your dreams come true. Love, Your Fairy Godmother"

2009-10-07T20:51:00.024-06:00

Thursday morning we left home and headed to Salt Lake City. What road trip would be complete without a stop at good ole McDonalds and two kids doing who knows what in the back seat. I think it had something to do with looking at the insides of each other's eyes. Hmmmm.

The first time Connor asked if we were there yet happened to be at the South Rexburg exit. That would be approximately 6 minutes after we left our house. Oh boy. The kids actually did pretty well and their fighting was kept to a minimum. I can remember fighting with my sisters on trips and we still like each other so I guess it's just par for the course.

We made a stop at the Smith and Edwards store. It's against Jensen Family Law to drive through Utah without stopping at Smith and Edwards. The kids were thrilled to spend their own money on none other than treats! Once in SLC we spent the day walking around Temple Square and made a visit to the Church History Museum. They have a great kid's museum that is worth checking out. Kendon and Connor did a great reenactment of Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life.
Dinner was had at a great Mexican joint called The Mayan. The kids were not thrilled that we weren't eating McDonalds again. But in the end Connor said, "that place is awesome-er than McDonalds!" I think it may have had something to do with the cliff jumpers. The kids were enthralled. And Kendon and I devoured our fajitas!

By the end of day one I was already convinced that we need to do the family vacation thing much more often. It was so fun to be with Kendon and the kiddos and have nothing to worry about or do but just enjoy each other!
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Our flight left Friday morning at 9:45 and we arrived with plenty of time to spare. It was a good thing the kids loved watching the planes coming and going.

The kids all enjoyed the first leg of our flight. It dropped us in Las Vegas and we had to move fast and furious to make our connecting flight. Running through an airport with three kids in tow is not so fun. I felt like we were in the movie Home Alone. I was just happy we didn't leave any children behind. The second leg of the flight was a little more turbulent and I was just positive that four out of five us were going to be in need of the barf bag. Lucky Kendon was the only un-sick one. The first night in California I found a Walmart and bought Dramamine for the return flight home.
When we walked into our hotel the kids were so excited about the Goofy statue in the lobby. From that moment I knew this was going to be a magical trip.

We spent the afternoon at the pool and ate dinner in a quaint little hole in the wall Italian joint. We came back to our hotel to find we had an amazing nighttime view out our room window and a plate of Mickey Mouse rice crispy treats.

Man, I wasn't sure this trip could get better.

And it did!
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Walking into the gates of Disneyland was so exciting. Better, maybe, than Christmas. It didn't take long to figure out that Disneyland really is the happiest place on Earth. As we walked down Main Street I could remember being there with my family when I was about Sirri's age. That made me happy that she'll hopefully remember at least bits of the trip, after all.

The kids (and I) were trying to take it all in and wanted to see and do everything at once. We started with none other than the good ole Dumbo ride and the Tea Cups. Who knew getting dizzy was so much fun?

We were only in D.L. for about an hour when we had to head over to California Adventure for Sirri's Princess Breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. When we walked in the gates there were Pluto and Mickey Mouse. Sirri and Connor were so excited to whip out their amazing autograph books (thank you so much, again, Shelli). As you can see Meg was not as thrilled. She was just sure that the doggy was going to bite her!
Sirri and I had such a special time at the Princess breakfast. She was truly treated like a Princess. Sirri was invited up to the front to help introduce the first Princess, Cinderella. As soon as Cinderella came out and knelt down to talk to Sirri I lost it and I pretty much cried my way through the rest of the breakfast. I'm a pretty big baby to begin with and probably would've cried, some, no matter the circumstances, but I was just overwhelmed with the fact that Sirri is healthy and all her little six year old wishes were coming true. It was truly a beautiful morning. Snow White. The Princess Sirri was most excited to see. Just look at those hands held up to her heart. Doesn't that just scream, "I'm in heaven, here!!!!!"
When Belle came out, one of the moms there having breakfast asked if she could take the picture for me so I could be in it. I'm sure she saw Sirri's Make-a-Wish button and my tears and thought the worst. She probably wanted to make sure I had a special picture to remember this special day. I'm happy to have the picture, but feel bad that people were probably misled as to our situation. Sirri really was treated EXTRA special by all the princesses, actually by everyone who came in contact with her. We should have had Sirri wear a button that said, "I'm Fine!"

P.S. I think those Princesses have the best job in the world. Too bad I'm so old. And live in Idaho. And don't have a Princess body anymore. Sigh.

That afternoon my parents came to spend the day with us. My mom was supposed to be in town already helping after my sister had her baby. Only problem was, she hadn't had her baby. So my mom couldn't stand it and she and dad hopped a flight and came anyway! When Sirri made her wish, she asked grandma is she would be there and of course Grandma just couldn't disappoint! Having Grandma and Grandpa there made the day much more special.
They brought Baby Sarah with them and it was a blast having her there. That little girl just makes me smile. And giggle. I can't even look at her without giggling.

Please notice the girls' matching Minnie Mouse outfits. Kim made those as well as the Goofy shirt Connor is wearing. She is so talented and I think she needs to set up shop in front of Disneyland. I'm sure she'd make bank. (Too bad it's probably illegal!) Kim also made Sirri a very special t-shirt that says WISH across the front with gold stars wrapping around the back. Kim said it is her favorite thing she has ever made because not only did Sirri get her wish to go to California but Kim got her wish too; that Sirri's okay. Isn't that the sweetest thing ever? I can finally look at the shirt without crying. But it took some time. Sirri wore it on the plane and I wish I'd gotten a better picture of it.

Even more than Snow White, Sirri wanted to meet Tinkerbell. And when she finally did, Tinkerbell did not disappoint. Tinkerbell took extra time with Sirri and made her feel so special. Sirri could hardly speak she was so in awe of Tink. You can see in the pictures that Sirri kept poking her own hand she was so nervous. She later told Kendon (without being asked,) "Dad, I was so nervous when I met Tinkerbell." We sure wish Sirri would have still been in her Tinkerbell dress when they met. Oh well. It was still perfect. And of course, Grandma bought the girls Tinkerbell shirts! The day ended with Kim and Rich driving out to meet us for dinner. I was so happy that they braved the trip. They were pretty nervous being so far from their hospital on her due date! Little did we know, they needn't have worried. That baby didn't come for another week! The kids were so happy to see her and uncle Rich. Especially Connor. Ever since we left home he was constantly asking when we would see Aunt Kimmy. I even asked him as we were walking into Disneyland, "would you rather be here or seeing Aunt Kimmy?" ( I know that was a really loaded question.) But his response, "AUNT KIMMY!" So, thanks you guys. It meant a lot to us! Dinner would have been perfect if only my sister Cindy were able to be there as well. She was missed terribly on this trip. Out of all of us, Cindy is the one who loves Disneyland the most. I thought of her on the Dumbo ride and at Ariel's Grotto and especially at the beach. Love you, Cin.

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Before hitting the beach, we went to the Lilo and Stitch breakfast. What a blast. I tell you, Disneyland knows how to have a good time. There weren't very many people there so the kids (and the parents, too!) were really able to interact with the characters. Stitch and Kendon were really bantering back and forth and giving each other a hard time about their lack of hair! The kids played games and learned to hula and the food was delcious. Oh, and I had more chocolate milk!
Then it was off to spend the day at the beach. I can remember my parents saying what a neat experience it is to see your kids experience the ocean for the first time. Well, they were right! It was so so so much fun. Depsite the weather being a bit chilly, the kids absolutely enjoyed themselves.
I think my favorite part about the beach though, was watching Kendon enjoy himself so much. He was like a kid in a candy shop. He was in the water the majority of the time (or being turned into a Mermaid) and he had so much fun body surfing with the kids and me. It was so fun to watch him having so much fun. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Disneyland and California Adventure for one more day!What a sweet family picture. Oh, wait! Meg's finger is UP HER NOSE!
Kendon and Connor rode Splash Mountain. I was a little nervous about what Connor would think. He LOVED it.

We rode some more rides, met some more characters and ate more $8.00 hotdogs.
By this time, the kids were starting to feel a lot like I feel about this blog. READY TO BE DONE. We had had no melt downs the entire trip and it was so nice. We tried to be in bed at decent hours every night so the kids would always be well rested. We never even saw any of the night parades or anything but it was worth it to have happy kids. So, rather than push it on our last day there we ended the day even earlier. We ate a nice dinner at Rainforest Cafe and were back to the hotel and all in bed by 8:30.

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Before hopping our flight home, we wanted a few more magical moments so we ate breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. It was, of course, tons of fun. The kids loved being able to eat ice cream and cupcakes and peanut butter pizza for breakfast. I enjoyed two more glasses of chocolate milk.

When Belle came over to our table. she surprised us all by remembering Sirri from the Princess breakfast. She asked Sirri, "now, haven't I met you before? But you were wearing a different dress. Did you ever get to meet Tinkerbell?" You would have thought I was the six year old I was so excited that Belle remembered Sirri. I can't count how many times I asked Sirri, "how cool was that?!?!?!" The very last person we met as we were leaving was The Fairy God Mother. She was so sweet to Sirri and took an extra amount of time talking to her. Before she left she signed Sirri's book. She wrote:
What a perfectly magical way to end a perfectly magical trip!

Unfortunately, we still had a flight to SLC and a 4 hour drive home ahead of us.

Here I am at the airport after taking Meg to the bathroom for the 174, 375th time. I'm sure glad that she was potty trained for this trip, but so help me, if I had to escort one more person to the bathroom, one more time.....Ugh! I really like being home where they can go by themselves, thank you very much.

And here we are at the end. All worn out. I guess that's just how it ought to be. The more wiped out you are, the more fun you had! I guess we had a blast!

Sweet Dreams is right. This whole trip really was a dream. It was absolutely perfect. It's taken me so long to get this blog done because it felt like such a daunting task. How could I possibly document in words just how magical this vacation was? I can't. I couldn't. I didn't. I just hope we will always remember what a special time this was. We feel so blessed to have had this opportunity and we are so thankful to all the people who made it happen. It takes so many generous people with giving hearts to make trips like this possible. I hope some day we can give back and help make a wish come true for another child.

Kendon and I have both said that even after having such an amazing time we would give it all back in a heart beat if it meant Sirri not having to go through what she did. But she did and she made it and she is healthy and well and THAT is our wish. Our dream come true.

Or maybe I'm too tired....

2009-09-25T21:39:00.002-06:00

It's only day two and I'm already too tired to post. It's gonna have to wait. So much for my goal, huh? I'd rather go to bed so I have plenty of energy for our days ahead. Plus I want to use EVERY picture we've taken so I need Picassa on my computer at home so I can make collages.

Just know, we are being treated fabulously and having a great time!

Much love, from the happiest place on earth.

When You Wish Upon a Star

2009-09-23T21:31:00.007-06:00

When Sirri was diagnosed with cancer, all we wished for was that she would be well. That wish has been granted and our family couldn't be more grateful.

Now, Sirri has been given a wish of her own.

And tomorrow we are off to Disneyland!!!!!
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At Sirri's six month appointment, our oncologist, Dr. Hancock, told us that he was turning Sirri's name in to the Make-a-Wish organization. Kendon and I both had the immediate reaction of, "oh, we're fine. We don't really think we qualify what with Sirri's great prognosis and all." Dr. Hancock's response was basically it wasn't our decision. He was the one who made the decision about who qualifies and who doesn't and Sirri qualifies.

He asked us how many five year olds we know who have been through the experience Sirri has. He asked us how many five year olds we know who have to have CT scans and IVs and oncologist appointments every three months? Just because Sirri's story has a happy ending doesn't mean that she doesn't deserve to be honored.

And so in honor of Sirri and her life and her strength and courage, we agreed.
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We leave tomorrow morning and will drive to Salt Lake. We will spend the night there and then fly to Anaheim Friday morning. We have two days at Disneyland and then plan to visit my sister and her family in LA for a day.

Kim just happens to be expecting her second baby on Friday and I am just praying and crossing my fingers that that baby gets here SOON. The timing of the trip isn't the greatest, but what can you say when someone is sending you to Disneyland?!?!?! (Our 1st choice date to leave was two weeks from now giving that baby a bit more time to arrive and Kim to feel a bit recovered, but this is the date we were given. Sirri's original wish was to go see her Aunt Kimmy so, I do feel badly that it's not ideal. But, again, no complaints. We are just thrilled to be going!)
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My plan is to blog about our day every night, but we'll see how that goes. I just want to remember every detail as it happens so we can treasure these memories forever.

Again, we just feel so blessed and thankful for this opportunity. We know that there are so many kiddos out there who are struggling with illness right now, who deserve to make a wish themselves and we hope and pray that they will have the happy ending that we have. Kendon and I plan to give back to Make-a-Wish whenever we can and I'm looking forward to volunteering for them when we get home.
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Life is good. We are blessed. Wishes do come true!

Post Edit: It's 10:43 and I'm too excited to even go to bed. I know I won't sleep. This is even more exciting than Christmas!!!!

I Know Connor

2009-09-08T14:24:00.006-06:00

Last night, Connor slept on the couch.

Connor slept on the couch because, "when you can't treat your sisters with respect and leave them alone to go to sleep, then you don't get to sleep with them."

After Connor was finally asleep, I asked Kendon, "what is going on with our sweet little Connor Man? Is he suddenly reaching the terrible twos, at five?"

I went to sleep wondering what we could be doing differently with Connor. Does he need more attention or less? Maybe he needs more reinforcement or possibly we are being too hard on him. Is this a phase or do I need to brace myself for a long haul? After laying there for a while I did know one thing for sure, I better get to sleep because tomorrow was a new day and that doesn't always mean a better one. But, at least he has pre-school. Ah.
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After dropping him off at school and heading home my cell phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number but after saying, "hello," I recognized the familiar voice. Connor's teacher. Mrs. Jill. I immediately panicked and thought the worst. I knew I hadn't dropped him off sick, he had his bookbag, it's not show and tell day. That left only one other option; he was in trouble, already.

Mrs. Jill said that she wanted to talk to me when I dropped Connor off, but since there were other mothers standing there she didn't feel it would be appropriate. I really just wanted her to get on with it, so I could turn around to pick him back up, if needs be. Finally she did say it. And this is what she said.

She knows that she shouldn't have favorites but every year she does. And right now, Connor is her favorite. She said that he is so kind and respectful and a great example to the other kids. She said that he is adorable and sweet and that she just loves him to pieces.

Mrs. Jill could not have called on a better day. I was so thrilled to hear her say these things about my son and ashamed at the same time. While Connor has only been in her class one day and she might not really know who Connor is yet, I sure do. I know that Mrs. Jill is right. I know that Connor is a sweet kid with a really good heart. I know Connor is mellow by nature and his fits and tantrums don't make him who he is. I know that Connor is a kid who tries to do what is right but is learning where the boundaries are and how he might push those boundaries. I know that Connor is a good kid who needs a mom who will have a little more faith in him and who will always know and remember who he is.

Thanks for the reminder, Mrs Jill.

First Day of Preschool

2009-09-03T20:52:00.005-06:00

What a RUSH!!!

2009-08-23T13:29:00.007-06:00

I participated in my first ever triathlon, THE RUSH, last Saturday and it was AMAZING! I loved it. I feel really strong and proud of myself for accomplishing something that was so hard. I trained all summer and the early morning bike rides, runs and swims really paid off. I felt confident in myself at the beginning of the race because I knew that I had done all that I could do to prepare.

My final time was:

2 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds.

I'm ready to have a go at it again next year and I'm hoping to shave a few minutes off. In fact, I think I'm "triathlon hooked" and my goal is to do three next summer. Then, the summer after that, I'd like to train for the Olympic distance. (1 mile swim, 26 mile bike, 6 mile run.)

I think one of the greatest parts of this whole experience was training with my girlfriends. Even though our training sessions weren't always together, I knew that we were in it together. I gained great strength from knowing that I wasn't alone. We each overcame our own weaknesses and I learned so much from watching every one's growth. I am so proud of these ladies and I feel truly blessed to call them my partners and friends!

Our numbers and ages were marked on our calves and arms and we felt pretty tough. I was none too sad when my markings were still visible the next day at church! (I know, I'm so vain. But I think I earned a few minutes to feel boastful!)

Shelli, me, Jaci, Kris

Random stuff I loved, learned, or want to remember for next time:

When they say, "don't do anything new or change anything from your training the night before the race," they MEAN IT. I changed my bike seat out at the last minute because I was embarrassed that the cover on mine was all torn up. My seat did not stay in place during the ride and I had to stop twice to have it fixed. grrrr. Darn pride got in the way that time.
I would love a road bike but don't necessarily NEED one. I did just fine on my Grandma Bigelow's old cruiser! I think Grandpa was watching from heaven!
But...I still WANT a road bike.
I should wear a different color swim cap than everyone else so I'm visible to my family while in the water.
Triathletes come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Anyone who works hard enough can do a triathlon. The oldest competitor there (that I saw) was 69 and did the olympic length.
I have "cheerleader in my genes," as one friend put it. I loved cheering people on and couldn't pass, or be passed by anyone without giving them a little shout out! All the competitors had a very friendly camaraderie and that made the race so enjoyable.
Eat a good meal as soon as I'm done.
Train more hills for the run. That was tough.
Don't do cheesy thumbs up and victory arms every time you see the professional photographers. See for yourself. It's embarrassing.
Don't dawdle in the transition areas. You can still enjoy the moment without wasting so much time!
Volunteer for more "stuff." All the helpers weer so nice and helpful. The race couldn't have taken place without them. (What would Rexburg do without the LDS missionaries? They were all there!)
Even though I look no better in spandex then I did a few months ago, I can wear them with pride now because I feel like an athlete and I worked my rear off. SPANDEX PRIDE!!!

I'm not sure I can do this for another 11 years.

2009-08-20T21:58:00.004-06:00

This post could also be titled:

Do you suppose I'll cry when I send her to school EVERY year?
7:30 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon is a long time.
First grade = Lots of Firsts.
Will she find her classroom?
Will she eat her lunch?
She's not big enough to go to 1st grade. Her backpack is bigger than she is.
I hope she's not as nervous as I am.
Is it 3:30 YET?
No, I'm not homeschooling, but I've considered it.

Well, I was hoping to do this whole post just using bullets and cute little titles, but I'm tired and that's just not working. But I want/need to be done. So, I'm going to leave what I've got and just get to the point.The gist of it is, sending Sirri to school today was really hard for me. I worried about her all day. All day. I could list all the things I worried and fretted about but that list would be long and would probably go unfinished as well. (Plus, anyone who has ever sent a child off to school knows what I'm talking about.) I just worried.

3:42 slowly rolled around and the bus finally pulled in and guess what? It wasn't the happy ending I was looking for. I took one look at Sirri and new something was wrong. Sirri took one look at me and she was in tears. Full on alligator tears. And my heart broke. I hugged her shaking little body and could instantly feel the raging fever. Poor Sirri had spent her first day at school sick. Not to mention that she had insult added to injury when someone was mean to her on the bus. Grrrr. I really hate the bus.

I just wish all my worrying would have been in vain.

So, now I'm going to go to bed and try to sleep even though I know I'll worry about whether I should send her to school tomorrow and hope and pray that her second day can be better than her first.

Ist Grade Here I Come!

2009-08-20T21:37:00.004-06:00

Tinkle Tinkle in the Pot

2009-08-09T14:34:00.001-06:00

Sung to the tune of

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Tinkle tinkle in the pot
Ready to train her mom was not
Meg is such a big girl now
She did it on her own, give her a bow
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
Ready to train her mom was not
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
A pain in my rear this was not
It's so much fun, lots of cheers we do
And now when I go potty Meg cheers me too
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
A pain in my rear this was not
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
What a cutie I have got
She loves to tell her poo, "bye! bye!"
as down the toilet it does fly
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
What a cutie I have got
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
In her undies she will not
No more diapers in my home
Now my baby seems all grown
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
In her undies she will not

2009-08-05T20:43:00.005-06:00

I've never experienced the feelings people have on the anniversary of a loved one's death or of a traumatic event. It is hard for me to understand the specific struggles and emotions that particular day obviously brings. It isn't that I am feeling insensitive to or belittling their feelings, I understand them to be real, I've just been lucky enough, so far, to never have experienced them before.

But this week, I am beginning to understand.

This week is the one year anniversary of Sirri's cancer diagnosis. Of course, our story has a truly happy ending and for that our family is eternally grateful. That is why my extremely strong and absolutely heart sick emotions this week have surprised me so much.

This past week our lives and activities have been nearly identical to one year ago. The kids started soccer, we've celebrated birthdays, we attended the same family reunion in the same park, we had a doctor's appointment Monday morning. It has all been so eerily familiar that I have not been able to help but feel a bit of dejavu.

Rarely does a day go by that I don't think about Sirri's cancer. The majority of those days I laugh in the face of fear and relish in the fact that we kicked cancer's rear end. But then there are moments that the thought of a return diagnosis paralyzes me with horror. At times I can not help but think how lucky we were to dodge that bullet and I'm just waiting for the next round to strike. I hope that as the years go by the degree of dread will lessen, but I also imagine that I will have a bit of fear in my heart until the day I die.

This week has been full of those days of dread. The days that I am terrified simply by the word, "cancer." This week has been full of days with my children that are too short and long sleepless nights filled with worry. It has been a week reminding me that our lives will never be the same.

But, during Relief Society on Sunday our teacher taught about having faith through adversity and if we replace fear with faith we will feel less discouragement and heartache during our times of trial. This was truly a message from heaven for my aching heart.

As this week is winding down I'm beginning to feel more calm. Sirri had a CT scan on Monday and a visit with her oncologist today. All is still well and her prognosis continues to be that the cancer is unlikely to return. We are blessed. Truly blessed, I know.

This week I have also reflected on the people in our lives who were our life line when we needed it most. We are so blessed with wonderful family and amazing friends who may as well be. I know that Heavenly Father is watching over my family. I am thankful for the reminder this week to continue to celebrate life. I am thankful for my sweet Sirri and the rest of my family. I am thankful that this challenge, in the end, has made us stronger.

As the American Cancer Society would say, "Happy first birthday, Sirri!" Here's to MANY more.

Connor's First Fishing Trip!

2009-08-04T15:53:00.005-06:00

This post is from dad.

(a very proud dad at that)

I decided to take the day off from work and take Connor on his first fishing trip along with grandpa Jensen and my cousin's boy John (who is 13). The day goes as follows:

Of course I have slacked this year in buying my hunting and fishing license so we needed to be up early and get to Wal-Mart and meet grandpa at 8:00. Well, see, when you tell a five year old that we are going fishing in the morning, the five year old does not sleep very well.

I woke at 5:30 to get ready for the day and to gather my fishing gear (that sadly I have not used in quite some time). I showered and got dressed and went to round up my gear. When I came back in the house around 6:00 there was Connor standing in the living room with the biggest grin on his face.

Since Connor was up so early we had some time to kill before we had to pick up John and get to Wal-Mart, we sat around, ate breakfast and Connor kept asking, "when can we go dad?" After several excited, "when can we go?" dads' we loaded the gear and picked up John. We drove to Wal-mart and I got my long over due licenses, we went over to the fishing pole rack and choose a fishing pole that had Connor written all over it. He chose his pole and like a kid on Christmas morning he carried his pole with the pride of a first time father to the cashier. Connor was the newest and proudest owner of a brand new fishing pole.
We met up with grandpa Jensen around 7:45 and we all headed up to Sand Creek. Connor and I were just behind a big enough bush that we could not see grandpa and John. I set up Connor's pole with a worm and marshmallow and cast it into the water. I had to reline my pole and I didn't even get the line half way off when I looked over and saw Connor's pole just a bouncing.

Connor started to scream...yes I said scream. I told Connor to get his pole and start reeling it in. This was a sight to see since Connor has never reeled in a fish before. John came over to see what all the excitement was about and then started to coach Connor on how to land his fish.
Connor was so PROUD of his first fish.
The rest of the fishing trip I had to take a lot of bragging between Connor and John at how they were out fishing me. They both ended up catching 7 fish and both lost 5 or 6 more to my measly 4 fish. It was so fun to take Connor on his first fishing trip that I think I will do it again....and again.... and again....well you get the picture.

I think I created a monster....a fishing monster. Fishing is all Connor has talked about for a week and when can we go again. Thanks grandpa for teaching me to love fishing so I can pass it along to Connor.

Way to go Connor!
I am proud of you!

A Fancy Shmancy Birthday Party

2009-08-03T15:37:00.003-06:00

Who: Five squealing six year olds.

What: Painted fingers and toes. makeup. princess clothes. finger nail polish cake.

Where: The beauty college.

When: Sirri's sixth birthday.

Why: To celebrate the sweet birthday girl!

A Real Smokin' Birthday Party!

2009-07-28T14:34:00.000-06:00

WHO: Three best buddies.
Braxton, Connor, Koy

WHAT: Some marshmallow guns, hot dogs, and a campfire cake.

WHERE: Around the fire pit.

WHEN: Connor's 5th birthday.

WHY: To celebrate one GREAT kiddo!

FOREVER in Review

2009-07-26T13:56:00.015-06:00

Did any of you keep a journal when you were younger? Did your entries always seem to start like mine?

"Dear Diary. I know it has been so long since I've written, but I'm back and I promise to be better. I'm going to write every day."

Ha! That is how this blog is beginning to seem. But, seriously. I'm going to try and do better. Unlike when I was younger, now I have a husband who keeps "reminding" me that I need to catch up the blog and a brother in law who seems to miss my posts as well cause he knows exactly how long it's been since my last post and he won't let me forget it! (Hi Richard.)

So, enough of the small talk. You might want to grab some popcorn and a soda. This'll be a long one.

Heeeeeeeere we go.......

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First and foremost, Kendon has reached and surpassed his first weight loss goal. (Don't ask about mine.) He has lost a total of 33 pounds so far. He is looking absolutely amazing/hot/fit/ooohlala. I could keep going, but I won't. I will say though, I'm really proud of him for how hard he has worked and he is a great motivator to me. He has set a new goal and is still working his rear off. Recently my dad asked Kendon how far he is running now. His reply..."Oh, I'm still JUST running ten miles." Yeah. Just.

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In June my sister Kim and my niece Sarah came to Boise for a week, so of course, we had to join them there. My favorite part of the trip was being able to get to know and LOVE Sarah Jane even more. She is the funniest little girl and I miss her so much. My kids loved playing with her as well and it was so fun for them to be able to build a relationship with their cousin.

It was also a joy to get to know my little sister Cindy's boyfriend, Travis. My kids hung all over him the whole time and he didn't seem to ever mind. He is delightful and I look forward to getting to know him better. (hint hint. Please come visit me, Cindy!!!!!)

While we were in Boise Cindy took some new family photos for us. I think they turned out so well. I must say we are a pretty cute bunch. Right before our family pictures we had just met Travis. We were all still in pajamas, snarly nasty hair, a real great first impression. Then he and Cindy left to scout out a location and we met them there a few minutes later. When we got out of the car his first words were, "wow! your family really cleans up well!" To see more of our pictures visit Cindy's photo blog at Sweet Grace Photography. Cindy is in Boise for anyone who might be interested in setting up a session. She is very talented and fun to work with.

The main reason we all went to Boise was to celebrate my Papa's 80th birthday party. It was such a special weekend. All of my grandparent's children were there and all but two of their grandchildren were able to be there. It was really neat to be able to hang out with my cousins (we missed you Jeremy and Nick) and to be able to see all the people who love my Papa so much. My sister Kim made all the great granddaughters DARLING cupcake skirts for the party and I made t-shirts. The girls said, "I heart Papa," and the boys said, "My Papa Rocks!" They were a hit and Papa LOVED them. My grandma told me that she had so many of her lifelong friends compliment her children and grandchildren. I'd say that reflects more on my grandma and Papa than on us. It is their legacy and the lessons that they have taught us all that we are living.

I love you Papa and Grandma!
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When I was teaching in St. Anthony, 6 years ago, I first heard about the Relay for Life. The Relay for Life (RFL) is an all night walk sponsored by the American Cancer Society. I always thought it would be a cool thing to do but never made the effort. Then, cancer struck our family and several families in our ward. So, my friend headed up a team, invited me to join, and I couldn't possibly say no.

It was an incredible and very emotional experience to say the least. Our team raised almost $1500 and the event total was almost $35,000. I was so happy to be able to make a contribution to the fight against cancer. Our family has been beyond blessed and I hope that in my lifetime a cure can be found. Everyone deserves the happy ending that we had! I have to send out a great big thank you to those who donated. I have very generous loved ones and I appreciate you all.

The evening began with a survivor's lap which Sirri was able to participate in. She was not so sure about all the attention but she made the lap. Her mom was not so sure about trying to keep it all together and not do the "ugly cry" in front of all those people. It was very touching to be walking with people young and old. Cancer doesn't care who you are. Some you could tell were still fighting and some have been blessed with an ending like ours. It was kind of a surreal experience. Some days our experience with cancer seems like a dream and at other times it feels so real and scary that I can hardly breathe.

Two of my girlfriends and I walked nearly the whole night. We stopped very little. It kept us warm and it also felt like we were making a difference. Cancer leaves you feeling so helpless that when you have a chance to do something, anything, you take it.

I was asked to be part of the committee for next year. I said yes before I knew the scope of my responsibilities. It wasn't until I was informed that I would be needing a committee of at least six and would be going to Reno for training that I realized the scope of the job. But really, I still couldn't have said no! I'm excited. (I just wish I could take my committee with me to Reno! I bet it would be lots easier to find help! Thx to those who have already said yes!)

If you are ever given the opportunity to participate in a Relay for Life, TAKE IT! Better yet, come do it in Rexburg next year. June 25th. Put it on your calendar!
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The morning after the Relay we headed out for a week at Wolf Creek. This is turning into a 4th of July tradition that I LOVE. This is my (and my kiddos) kind of vacation. Here is a run down of pretty much the whole week. Eat. Swim. Sleep. Eat. Swim. Sleep. Eat, Swim. Sleep. Repeat.

My sister Cindy and mom gave Sirri some swim lessons and by the end of the week she could swim across the pol. She had a blast and was so proud. Connor LOVED having his daddy toss him in the air and throwing him in flips. Meg loved the water as long as it was warm. She got the shivers and shakes. Maybe if she had a little meat on her bones..... A little meat on her bones like her cousin Sarah!!!!! That girl NEVER got cold. She love love loved the water and it was so fun to watch her.
On the morning of the 4th, Richard and Kendon and I did a 5k. It was a blast. They had all kinds of obstacles that made it fun and helped pass the time. (Three miles is still hard for me! Sheesh.) Kendon was kind enough to stick with his wife. It was fun becuse we don't have the opportunity to run together often. Ever.

On the 4th we also went to the "This is the Place" park in SLC. What a cool place. I couldn't believe the cabins that these families lived in with TONS of kids. It made me apprecaite what we have and I've been trying not to complainabout our little house. The kids loved the train and pony rides. And please notice how darling the girls look. Kim made those matching dresses. She is so talented.

All in all, it was a fabulous vacation and I really appreciate the time and effort my mom puts in to making it happen. I know we aren't always the easiest house guests, but we had a great time and I miss you all!
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We got our garden in at the end of May and it has just blossomed! It is beautiful and (mostly) weed free. We planted tomatoes, beans, peas, potatoes, onions, carrots, beats, cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, summer squash, zuchinni, corn and TONS of pumpkins. We are hoping to have a pumpkin patch where people can come pick their own pumkins. Fun, huh?

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I wonder how many of you are still reading?

And really, I'm STILL not caught up.

Coming up:
-Connor's FIVE
-Seussical the Musical (starring Sirri and me)
-Meg is a BIG girl
-Signing Up
-PEAS Please

See How She's Grown

2009-06-02T16:02:00.004-06:00

First Day of Kindergarten

Last Day of Kindergarten

2009-05-27T21:11:00.003-06:00

Dear Sirri,

We had our first T-ball practice today and I came home with sore cheeks. You see, I had such a great time watching you play today, that I smiled so much and it actually made my cheeks hurt.

I was so proud to be your mom and coach today. You hustled when we asked you to hustle. You were so teachable and tried to practice new skills that we were teaching you. You called your teammates by their names when throwing them the ball. You threw the ball like a pro. You kept your eye on the ball. You stayed on your feet the whole practice. You ran the bases with lightning speed. You didn't complain that it was hot and you didn't ask when treat time was. (Not even once. And we all know you like treats!) You really tried your very hardest today. And most importantly you had fun.

I think this is going to be a great season and I'm so glad that we get to spend it together.

Goooooooo Green!

I love you.

Love,

Your Coach and Mom

Kendon's Update

2009-05-27T21:00:00.004-06:00

Kendon had his doctor's appointment yesterday and check out these amazing results!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...............................................................................

---------------Before: ----------- After:----------- Desirable Range:

Cholesterol --------211----------------151----------------- 120-200
VLDL -------------113---------------- 13 ------------------ 0.0-50
Triglycerides ------565--------------- 64------------------- 36-150

I know....I'm married to a total stud! A total stud who is going to be around a very long time because he is willing to do what it takes to take care of himself. And for that, I am thankful. I love you, Babe, and I'm so proud of you!

Kendon's been working his rear off. LITERALLY.

2009-05-25T14:38:00.000-06:00

Recently Kendon had a physical. All his blood work came back great except that his triglycerides were high. Quite high. The doctor put him on a prescription and said to come back in a month.

Kendon and I decided that this was a good opportunity to start getting back to better health. We want to be healthier so that Kendon would be able to get off the medicine, to feel and look better and most importantly to be better role models for our kids.

Our first move in our game plan was to cut out most sugar and all white flours and pasta. Cutting out the white flour and pasta has not been too bad, but cutting out sugar has been difficult for me. Difficult. Kendon has been much stronger than I have. He has had very little sugar in the last four weeks.

We also added more exercise to our routine. I've always been a pretty faithful gym goer but I'm trying to add some running into my repertoire as well. It's tough but feels good. We have the goal of running a 5K together on the fourth of July. That will be a piece of cake for Kendon. In the last four weeks he has gone from being able to barely run 1/4 mile and now he can run THREE without stopping! The kids and I love to stand at the end of his runs and cheer him on to the finish line.

I have a goal of losing about 20 pounds. In the last 4 weeks I've accomplished about 6 of that. 14 more to go. OUCH. Kendon on the other hand has dropped 18 pounds so far and is looking A-MAZING! I couldn't be more proud, or attracted to him! He wore his suit to church last Sunday that he hasn't been able to wear in over two years and he was smokin' hot!

This has been really fun to do together. Kendon is such a great motivating force for me. When I want to eat sugar (which is frequently) I can just think about Kendon and know that he isn't so I won't!

We go back to see Gary (our doctor) on Tuesday and I can not wait to see the look on his face when Kendon gets on that scale. And it will be so interesting to see what his triglycerides have done in the last four weeks. I'm guessing they are going to be slipping right off the charts! Just like Kendon's pants! It's time to go shopping. He needs some skinny jeans!

Hot and Skinny!

Whack! Whack!

2009-05-25T14:31:00.001-06:00

I DID IT!

and i'm thrilled
and happy
and can do it super fast
and only have to do it once a day
and will probably have short hair forever
and think it's spunky
and funky
and sassy
and me
and I don't have hair in my face
and I don't obsess about it all day
and I love it
and have no regrets

and I turned off the comments.
Because....I love it.

Sometimes dreams are meant to stay just that....DREAMS!

2009-05-24T12:29:00.005-06:00

If you were to ask me, "what would your dream job be?" I would be quick with my answer. Besides the obvious, of being a mom (cause that's the correct answer, right?) I would easily tell you that I have three careers that I dream of frequently.

First, I would love to be on Broadway. Unfortunately, I live in Idaho, not New York and more importantly, I don't sing. I should rephrase that. I don't sing well. I love to sing and do quite frequently. My kids have been known to even tell me to please stop. So, this dream is one that I know is not exactly achievable and I'm okay with that. I'll just continue stupidly grinning all the way through Hairspray and Grease and Annie and any other movie that has more singing than talking and know in my heart that I could do that. Really I could. With some voice lessons perhaps!I'll stick to community theater.
This is me as Lily St. Regis in Annie. 2002
This year I am in Seussical the Musical and will be playing Mrs. Mayor.

My next dream job is to be an EFY speaker. I would absolutely love that. I enjoy speaking in front of crowds and think being able to teach and inspire the youth would be such a special opportunity. Kendon doesn't get this at all. Most people don't. Just today we were asked to speak in Sacrament meeting next week and I eagerly said, "sure." Kendon on the other hand tried to get out of it since we only spoke about three months ago. (He did say yes of course, he'd just rather not!) Many people get an adrenaline rush from roller coasters (they make me cry) or fast motorcycles or watching an action movie. Me, I get a rush from speaking in front of groups. This dream, I know I could do. I've just never been asked. And probably won't. But that's okay. I guess I'll just keep saying yes to speaking in sacrament meeting and call it good.

My last dream job would be to own my own bakery that made fancy schmancy cakes and cupcakes. I LOVE decorating cakes and have done many for my own kids, family kids and neighborhood kids. Lots of kid's cakes. And they are all really cute and the recipients love them. That is the joy of making a cake for a kiddo. They are easily pleased. Well, this week I had the chance to make two adult cakes. And that is where my dreams came crashing down. Ask me to create a princess or mermaid or tractor or swimming pool out of cake, no problem! Ask me to make something that actually has to be pretty! Uhto!!!! Not as easy. I had no idea. I really thought I could do it. I had beautiful visions in my head, they just didn't quite recreate in cake. So, there goes dream number three. All crumbled up and smothered in frosting.

Kiddo cakes. Noone cares if they are lumpy or crumbly and the more frosting the better.

Adult cakes on the other hand.....
YIKES!

I guess you really can't have your cake and eat it too!

The Solution

2009-05-20T20:44:00.004-06:00

I've been really wanting to get that last post off the top of my blog for a while now. Well, ever since the moment I wrote it two weeks ago, in fact. That evening was definitely not my proudest moment.

So, here are some of my thoughts on parenting and my bedtime solution.

The morning after my melt down, or smack down, which is probably the more fitting term, I was reading my scriptures and was studying about patience. (Patience. Hmmm. Fitting don't you think? Ya, I thought so too.) I just really felt like I needed a reminder of the mother that I can and should be. All the scriptures talked about being meek and humble and gentle. All the things that I was NOT the night before.

As I continued my search for guidance and strength in being patient, I came upon these verses:

"But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence and with great patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst." Alma 32:41-42

As I read these verses that morning I read them with a different understanding than I have before. As I read them I imagined my children as the tress that I am to be nourishing. I saw bedtime in particular as an opportunity to feed and nourish these little saplings of mine so that one day they will grow into mighty strong trees whose fruit is sweet above sweet and precious above precious and who will bring me such great joy that I feel full. I saw bedtime as more than just a time of day but as one more opportunity to teach my children important life skills. Bedtime can be an opportunity to teach my children about patience even when we are tired. Bedtime is a chance to teach my children about prayer and being grateful. Bedtime is a chance to teach my children ways to cope and deal with frustrations in an appropriate manner. Bedtime can be a chance to teach my kids that sometimes we have to do things we don't want to. Bedtime can be a time to nourish and feed my little trees.

So, in an effort to make bedtime a time filled with less stress and full of more teaching and nourishing moments, I needed a plan. Last year, when we were having similar struggles I came up with the "sand art jars" plan. For every night that the kids went to bed well, they were able to put a scoop of colored sand in a jar. We did this until the jars were full and going to bed well was a habit. This worked like a charm and I needed something similar.

So, this time we have been making bead necklaces. Every night that the kids go to bed well they get to add a bead to their necklace. It has worked fabulously. In the last two weeks we have only had one night where the kids didn't get their beads. It is so nice. Even Meg stays in her bed and we have talked to Sirri and Connor about the influence their good example is having on her. I feel like bedtime is not a fight anymore, I can use the time to teach my kids valuable lessons, and everyone goes to sleep with peace in their hearts.
Being parents can be so tough and much of the time I wonder what kind of fruit my poor little trees will produce some day, but I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who will help lead and guide us in this journey if we will but take the time to ask for his help and study his word.

And aren't sleeping kiddos just so sweet?!?!?
Even when they're all sprawled out in funky positions and on the floor. (MEG! who goes to bed much better on the floor for some reason. Oh well. I'm not questioning it. It works!)

WWF

2009-05-05T21:19:00.006-06:00

I'm pretty sure I missed my calling in life. As much as I want to be the good mommy and all, and I try, I really do, sometimes I just fail. Miserably.

Last night was one of those nights.

It was last night that I realized I would have fared much better in life and maybe even have made millions by now if only I had joined the WWF! And I'm not talking about the World Wildlife Fund. I'm talking the wrestling association, here.

You see, we have been having a rough time with bed time. Again. You might recall this same trial about one year ago when we moved the kiddos into one room. That was a tough transition. I get it. And we got over it. Phew.

But, now, Meg is no longer in her crib, much to my chagrin. I'd keep her there until Kindergarten if it were up to me. But, since she started bailing over board, it wasn't really up to me. So, we put her in a big girl bed.

Two words to describe how it is going:

It's NOT.
(Does a contraction still count as one word?)

Three words.

SHE IS NAUGHTY.

Six Words:

Sirri and Connor are following suite.

This whole last week has been pretty rotten. I've pulled out all my best techniques and nothing is working.

Last night was especially bad. The kids were teasing and taunting me (yes, I was being taunted by a four and five year old.) They would come running out of their room, see me, go giggling back to bed. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

I tried to ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

That was a failure. Failure. Failure.

And before I knew it my inner WWF self came raging out.

I went screeching into their room, grabbed Connor by his pajamas and literally THREW him into his bed. Please take note, Connor sleeps on the TOP bunk. And I threw him clear over the top rail. My own child. I threw him. THREW HIM. THREW HIM!

I'm pretty sure I could compete with the big girls in the ring!

And then, to top it off as my children all stared at me in unbelief and probably frozen in fear (maybe they were just amazed at my strength! ha.) I had a few choice words to say. Including, but not limited to, "You are going to be so sad in the morning..." "Don't you dare get out of this bed one more time...." "If you think I'm upset right now..."

They eventually did go to bed. I did a little (okay a lot of) repenting. And I have come up with a plan that we are going to try. I'll let you know how it goes.

In the mean time, I've been coming up with a few ideas for my wrestling name....

Red Hot.

Fire Cracker.

Hot Tamale.

Just to name a few.

Oh, yeah? You wanna piece of this?!?!?!?!

April Month in Review

2009-05-04T15:31:00.009-06:00

April started out with beautiful weather which was so fabulous for our Community Easter Egg Hunt. Two of my friends began this hunt three years ago and it has grown so fast that I and a few other friends pitched in to help this year. It was LOTS of fun stuffing HUNDREDS of eggs and asking businesses for donations. (Okay, that part was OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE, but I did it anyway, and people were so generous!) We had a great turnout and the kids all had a great time and scored BIG! And forewarning for next year...no one try to touch Meg's candy! Woowee!

We started a new tradition this year by asking the Easter Bunny to come to our house AFTER church from now on. We didn't want to uninvite him all together, but do want the kids to remember the true meaning of Easter. So, the bunny was obedient mostly. He did stop by with orange rolls for breakfast, a book about Jesus to take to church and a note saying that he'd be back. The kids weren't disappointed at all and it worked out really nicely. We had a fun family egg hunt in the yard when we came home from church.

I am so thankful for the Easter Season. I just love spring. It is such a great time for renewal and fresh starts. I am so thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ and the sacrifices He made for my family and me. I hope that I can always rely on His atoning sacrifice in my life.

The weather has been very April-ish. Meaning we have had some GREAT days and some YUCKY days. On the great days (And even on some not so great days) Kendon has been a busy bee. He has been working the garden so it will be all ready for planting time. He tinned the shed roof so it won't leak any longer. He built me a strawberry box (yipppeeee). And he built us a fire pit.

Thank yo so much for your hard work, Kendon. I'm sure there is some calendar I can nominate you for. You definitely deserve a shot at being Mr. April!!!!!!

The kids could not be happier with the pit. It will be put to MUCH use this summer. Can you only imagine how many marshmallows will be roasted in that pit?!?!?!?!

Connor learned how to ride his bike this month without training wheels! He actually could do it on his first try!!!! That is one talented kid. He is getting better every day and if the weather would just stay nice long enough, I know he'd have it perfected right quick!

I'll have to get a good video of him riding. All the ones I have include me, the crazy mother screaming like a banshee because I am so excited! We have all witnessed that once, and that was enough!!

Sirri had a really super kindergarten program. It was a Patriotic theme and was absolutely DARLING! Kendon took some footage. I'll have to get him to help me post it on here. I just love America songs and cute kids and the combination is almost too much! The kids did so great and Sirri is a natural on stage!

After the performance Sirri and I went on a date with Brooke and Jaci. These girls were on a MAJOR sugar high and were crazy wild! There were really only college kids occupying the place by the time the rowdy ensued and they seemed entertained by the whooligans so Jaci and I just sat back and giggled! (I know-such great control we have!) Sirri even had enough gusto to suck her ice cream through a straw!

Speaking of being on stage....Sirri and Connor and I tried out to be in Seussical the Musical! A neighboring town does a play every year for the 24h of July and I was in it 6 years ago when they put on Annie. I was Lily Saint Regis, the floozy girlfriend to Rooster, and had so much fun singing and dancing on tables that I have wanted to do it ever since. So, this is the year! I have been cast as Mrs. Mayor (As in the wife to Mr. Mayor from Horton Hears a Who) and the kids will be Whos!!! Is Sirri not the perfect Who, or what? I'm super excited. I just hope my singing solos aren't long. I really don't sing. Uh, oh! (Let me re-phrase that....I love to sing, just don't do it well!)
Like I mentioned, the weather has been sporadic. So, one day when I was really needing it to be spring-ier than it was, I brought spring inside. I just love having fresh flowers in my house. Why have I not been doing this for years?!!?!? Well, it is going to be my new splurge! (HINT: If there happened to be a certain someone who lives with me that ever had reason to make me happy, some fresh flowers would work! And they are actually cheap at Alberstons!)

I also love the grass that I planted in some old vases. Connor has been fascinated as well to watch the roots grow in the glass jar! (Thanks for the inspiration, Ilene!)

Sirri has been into having her hair done, lately. Her hair is always done (for school at least) but now, she WANTS it done! That is a nice development. She loves to have it curled, "like Kennedy!" It seems like her hair is getting a bit thicker these days so now I need to learn some new dos besides just piggies. Kendon says it is hard for him to look at Sirri when her hair is all curled up like that. "She is way to cute and looks like she is 12!" (I think he's exaggerating about the 12 part, just a bit!)
Meg is SURE two, these days. She knows what she wants and when she doesn't get it, watch out. She thinks that she is as big as Sirri and Connor and tries to do everything they do. Including, NOT take a nap. Sorry Meg. Not gonna happen. That girl can also throw a fit. Yet, she can be so sweet in an instant. (Reminds me of someone I know! SIRRI!) Oh, and did I ever mention that her full first sentence was, "I not want to." Yep.

On the other hand, Meg is so sweet. If you get hurt or are sad she is so empathetic. She talks in the sweetest, high pitched voice and says, "you owie? you sad?" It melts you instantly.

Meg has also learned to dress herself. And she does a darn good job. She can even do her own shoes and socks. Very nice.

The other day I was pushing the FOUR AMIGOS on the swing and suddenly I realized just how big they are. (Including very heavy all together!) It seems that just yesterday they were our little babies. Now they are almost finished with kindergarten and riding bikes and wanting to call each other on the phone and shooting air soft guns. These four kiddos have basically grown up darn near siblings and are such great little buddies. I hope that it stays that way. If they have to get bigger, they might as well do it together!

Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day

2009-04-18T10:15:00.004-06:00

Teacher Appreciation week is May 3rd-9th. Show your child's teacher how much you appreciate the job she does with a "to teach is to touch lives" necklace from:

a little white house
custom hand stamped sterling silver jewelry

Mother's Day is also fast approaching.
May 1oth

Help your mother have those she loves always close to her heart with a custom sterling silver necklace.

This necklace makes for a great grandmother necklace. It can be made with as many charms as you have grandbabies!
Mother's Day and Teacher Appreciation Week Sale: All necklaces are buy one get one 15% off during the months of April and May.

As always, if you would like to receive a necklace yourself for Mother's Day, send me the e-mail address of your significant other, child, whomever, and I will send them an e-mail passing along the hint! You can rest assured, I will never give the e-mail address away to anyone.

Send e-mails to alittlewhitehouse@gmail.com

Gentle Reminders

2009-04-17T21:11:00.005-06:00

Wednesday was a good day of gentle reminders for me.

As I was getting in my van after helping in Sirri's class, Elder Holland's talk from this past General Conference was just barely beginning. The timing was perfect. I was able to listen to his talk from start to finish without any interruptions. (Even if I did have to drive home the long way and make a few extra laps around the neighborhood to finish!) I loved this talk in conference and it was a special experience for me to be able to really listen and reflect on what the atonement means to me and my life. As I sat and listened I could feel the Spirit whisper to me of the truthfulness of Elder Holland's words. The Savior has suffered for me and my sins and my heart aches so that I do not have to do it alone. My own personal cross has felt a bit heavy lately and I was thankful for the reminder to, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (St. Matthew 11: 28 & 30)
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Gentle Reminder #2

After school, Sirri was going over to Brooke's house to play. Connor and Koy had been playing all morning already and so they both needed to stay at their own homes. Connor was so sad and was begging and begging Jaci and me for him to go play at her house. During his whining and crying I happened to say, "Connor wants to go because he knows I will put Meg down for her nap and then ignore him while I get busy doing my own stuff." As soon as I said it, the truthfulness of my own statement hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt so bad that Connor was probably more sad about having to STAY HOME than he was about not going. I realized that I need to make a more concerted effort to make time for my kids individually and not just when it is convenient for me. That afternoon I did put Meg down for her nap and then instead of doing what I thought needed to be done, I spent time doing what really mattered. I played with Connor. Just he and I. We played Memory, and Slap Jack and I gave him airplane and buckin'bronco rides and we laughed and giggled and had so much fun together. And then, he even helped me do the dishes and fold the laundry after we had played. This was one of the greatest afternoons I had had in a long time.
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This is Elder Holland's talk in its entirety so I will always have a record of it

None Were with Him

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are.

Thank you, Sister Thompson, and thanks to the remarkable women of this Church. Brothers and sisters, my Easter-season message today is intended for everyone, but it is directed in a special way to those who are alone or feel alone or, worse yet, feel abandoned. These might include those longing to be married, those who have lost a spouse, and those who have lost—or have never been blessed with—children. Our empathy embraces wives forsaken by their husbands, husbands whose wives have walked away, and children bereft of one or the other of their parents—or both. This group can find within its broad circumference a soldier far from home, a missionary in those first weeks of homesickness, or a father out of work, afraid the fear in his eyes will be visible to his family. In short it can include all of us at various times in our lives.

To all such, I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family. I speak of the Savior’s solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation. Rightly He would say: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me. . . . I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold [me].”

As President Uchtdorf so beautifully noted earlier, we know from scripture that Jesus’s messianic arrival in Jerusalem on the Sunday preceding Passover, a day directly analogous to this very morning, was a great public moment. But eagerness to continue walking with Him would quickly begin to wane.

Soon enough He was arraigned before the Israelite leaders of the day—first Annas, the former high priest, then Caiaphas, the current high priest. In their rush to judgment these men and their councils declared their verdict quickly and angrily. “What further need have we of witnesses?” they cried. “He is [worthy] of death.”

With that He was brought before the gentile rulers in the land. Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, interrogated Him once, and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor in Judea, did so twice, the second time declaring to the crowd, “I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man.” Then, in an act as unconscionable as it was illogical, Pilate “scourged Jesus, [and] delivered him to be crucified.” Pilate’s freshly washed hands could not have been more stained or more unclean.

Such ecclesiastical and political rejection became more personal when the citizenry in the street turned against Jesus as well. It is one of the ironies of history that sitting with Jesus in prison was a real blasphemer, a murderer and revolutionary known as Barabbas, a name or title in Aramaic meaning “son of the father.” Free to release one prisoner in the spirit of the Passover tradition, Pilate asked the people, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?” They said, “Barabbas.” So one godless “son of the father” was set free while a truly divine Son of His Heavenly Father moved on to crucifixion.

This was also a telling time among those who knew Jesus more personally. The most difficult to understand in this group is Judas Iscariot. We know the divine plan required Jesus to be crucified, but it is wrenching to think that one of His special witnesses who sat at His feet, heard Him pray, watched Him heal, and felt His touch could betray Him and all that He was for 30 pieces of silver. Never in the history of this world has so little money purchased so much infamy. We are not the ones to judge Judas’s fate, but Jesus said of His betrayer, “Good [were it] for that man if he had not been born.”

Of course others among the believers had their difficult moments as well. Following the Last Supper, Jesus left Peter, James, and John to wait while He ventured into the Garden of Gethsemane alone. Falling on His face in prayer, “sorrowful . . . unto death,”the record says, His sweat came as great drops of blood as He pled with the Father to let this crushing, brutal cup pass from Him. But, of course, it could not pass. Returning from such anguished prayer He found His three chief disciples asleep, prompting Him to ask, “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” So it happens two more times until on His third return He says compassionately, “Sleep on now, and take your rest,” though there would be no rest for Him.

Later, after Jesus’s arrest and appearance at trial, Peter, accused of knowing Jesus and being one of His confidants, denies that accusation not once but three times. We don’t know all that was going on here, nor do we know of protective counsel which the Savior may have given to His Apostles privately, but we do know Jesus was aware that even these precious ones would not stand with Him in the end, and He had warned Peter accordingly. Then, with the crowing of the cock, “the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord. . . . And [he] went out, and wept bitterly.”

Thus, of divine necessity, the supporting circle around Jesus gets smaller and smaller and smaller, giving significance to Matthew’s words: “All the disciples [left] him, and fled.” Peter stayed near enough to be recognized and confronted. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus’s mother. Especially and always the blessed women in the Savior’s life stayed as close to Him as they could. But essentially His lonely journey back to His Father continued without comfort or companionship.

Now I speak very carefully, even reverently, of what may have been the most difficult moment in all of this solitary journey to Atonement. I speak of those final moments for which Jesus must have been prepared intellectually and physically but which He may not have fully anticipated emotionally and spiritually—that concluding descent into the paralyzing despair of divine withdrawal when He cries in ultimate loneliness, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

The loss of mortal support He had anticipated, but apparently He had not comprehended this. Had He not said to His disciples, “Behold, the hour . . . is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me” and “The Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him”?

With all the conviction of my soul I testify that He did please His Father perfectly and that a perfect Father did not forsake His Son in that hour. Indeed, it is my personal belief that in all of Christ’s mortal ministry the Father may never have been closer to His Son than in these agonizing final moments of suffering. Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required; indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.

But Jesus held on. He pressed on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph even in a state of complete anguish. The trust He lived by told Him in spite of His feelings that divine compassion is never absent, that God is always faithful, that He never flees nor fails us. When the uttermost farthing had then been paid, when Christ’s determination to be faithful was as obvious as it was utterly invincible, finally and mercifully, it was “finished.”Against all odds and with none to help or uphold Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the living Son of the living God, restored physical life where death had held sway and brought joyful, spiritual redemption out of sin, hellish darkness and despair. With faith in the God He knew was there, He could say in triumph, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”

My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Tomin Jerry

2009-04-13T19:11:00.003-06:00

While watching the cartoon, Tom 'n' Jerry....

Connor: "No, Tomin. No Tomin. Tomin is a naughty cat."

Sirri: "Who's Tomin?"

Connor: "You know, Tomin is the cat and Jerry is the mouse."

I told you.

2009-04-08T20:22:00.000-06:00

Remember how I told you Sirri will surely grow up to be a Sports Illustrated model?

Just in case you didn't believe me....

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times with this child...HEAVEN HELP ME!

66

2009-04-06T19:57:00.003-06:00

66 - The high today!

One happy mamma who couldn't possibly bear the cold and wind and snow any longer.

8.5 - The number of hours Connor spent outside today. Sirri and Meg were at a close second logging in at 6.5 hours. They had school and naps, respectively. Mommy came in at third. But barely!ZERO - The number of times Connor came inside in that 8.5 hours.

5 - snacks and/or meals eaten outside since yesterday.

300 - The temperature we grilled steak and potatoes at. YUM!
One zillion jumps on our tramp. Mommy's favorite toy!

5 - Loads of laundry done. All five folded by Mr. Jensen. aka: Supertrooper!

1 - House that actually stayed clean since no one was in it all day.

THREE filthy kiddos.2 - The number of seconds it took the kidlets to zonk in their beds.

#1 kind of day!

Unfortunately....

36 - hours until the next predicted storm blows in. Seriously?

Happy Anniversary!

2009-03-31T09:43:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was Kendon and I's eighth wedding anniversary. We celebrated last weekend while in Boise. Kendon surprised me with tickets to a dinner theater. It was absolutely perfect. The show was fabulous and it was a gift from Kendon's heart. He knows that I love love love stuff like that. (Sometimes I think I missed my calling in life and should have been a Broadway star. Too bad I can't sing!)

Yesterday to celebrate we spent the first half of the day with Sirri at the hospital having some dental work done (no big deal, I'll post details later.) The second half of the day, we cleaned the house and folded laundry. I did make a super fancy dinner of Hawaiin Haystacks and strawberry lemonade. (That is fancy, right?) We also had a delicious, Better than Whatever cake that the kiddos all helped us make.
So, all in all, it was just a regular ole day. But that was alright by me. We spent the day taking care of our family and the life that we have created together. The family and life that was only a dream eight years ago. And now, is a dream come true.

Happy Anniversary, Kendon. I love you and am thankful for you everyday!

Water Rocket

2009-03-29T16:03:00.004-06:00

Today when Kendon woke up from a nap he was excited to see that I had done a blog. Then he read it. I guess he wasn't too thrilled to read about and re-live our sicko week and would rather have read about the water rocket he and Connor and my dad built in Boise last weekend.

Because it was a very cool rocket and the three boys had a blast together that day and since I do everything that Kendon asks (HA!) here it is....

Here is some footage of the launch.

This video is titled:
Mom Screams Her Head Off.

I apologize.

I had good reason to be excited.
That rocket went clear up over my parent's two story home!
Very fun!

Wednesday, Kendon made these with his 11 year old scouts and they were a HIT! Here is a link to the instructions if anyone is interested.

WATER ROCKET

Week in Review

2009-03-29T14:27:00.002-06:00

Crazy "Every Other Day" Sickness Edition

Monday: Clean house. Just like every Monday.

Tuesday: Sirri and Meg begin acting sick. Take them to the doctor. Pneumonia for Meg. Just "the crud" for Sirri.

Wednesday: Sirri and Meg are just sick enough to be ornery, not cuddly sweet. Mommy is ornery too. Kendon coming down with the crud. Connor feels great and his energy level is infuriating.

Thursday: Sirri comes home from school feeling crummier than yesterday. I knew I shouldn't have let her go. Back to the doctor to make sure she is well enough to have some dental procedures done on Monday. She passes. You'd never know Meg had pneumonia. She feels great. Connor still bouncing off the walls. Poor kid needs out of the house. Kendon is miserable but his partner is in Mexico, so hi-ho hi-ho it's off to work he goes.

Friday: Sirri is fine and Meg is super sick. What? Is this the every other day, come and go as it pleases sickness? Kendon still sick sick sick and at work work work. Connor? You guessed out. Strong as a horse. Me too. Thank heavens for the Mommy gene that repels sickness.

Saturday: FINALLY! Everyone is feeling better. Good thing. Sirri has a birthday party she's been looking forward to all week.

Saturday at eleven: Sirri is acting strange. She swears that she is just tired and is "GOING TO THAT PARTY!"

Saturday at noon: I pat Sirri's back. She shoves my hand away. "Mom, I'm JUST tired. I'm going to the party."

Saturday at 12:30: "Mom, I think I better just stay home." And on the couch is where her fevered little body remained for the rest of the day.

Sunday: Sirri was a bit fevered this morning but is feeling better this afternoon. Do I dare believe it? Well, if the pattern of the week holds, it's Meg's turn anyway. Good grief.

Oh, and it is blizzarding out. Thanks alot Andrea.

I have lots of pictures of a counter FULL of medicine, sick kids passed out all over my house and even the blizzard, but I don't really feel like posting them. You all have great imaginations, I'll let you use them!

Here's to a better tomorrow! (Hmmmmm. Didn't I already say that once this week?)

KERPLUNK!

2009-03-26T20:51:00.004-06:00

This video of Meg, as a baby, just popped up on my screen saver.
It absolutely cracks me up!

Though Kendon and Meg are still very sick today, my spirits are up. So, I thought I'd share this to get rid of the "whoa is me" post of yesterday!

Is it really that funny, or am I just tired?

2009-03-25T20:24:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I took Sirri and Meg to the doctor. Meg has a bit of pneumonia in her right lung and Sirri just has the crud.

Last night as I was laying in bed I was thinking about what a great day today could be. I actually like snow days, vacation days and in this case, sick days. I like having all my kids home with me. Sirri doesn't enjoy missing school so I was hoping to make it a day where she was happy to be home, thankful for a day off. I was envisioning sleeping in, laying around in our jammers all day, watching movies, eating popcorn, playing play dough, painting nails. All things that are good for the soul when you are under the weather.

The morning started out well. The kids actually DID sleep in and we enjoyed a lazy morning of cartoons and making a big pot of soup together.

And then, without warning, the joyful morning walked right out the door and in stormed a bad bad mood and a few extra sicko bugs. Unfortunately, they all took residence in ME!

By late afternoon I was so cranky, impatient and down right plain ornery with my kids. There was not a nice thing coming out of my mouth and I knew it. I could hear myself, I just chose not to stop myself. The poor kiddos couldn't do anything right. I even thought to myself several times, "I hope you have a savings account for the therapy your kids are going to need after today." It was that bad. This sad state of affairs went on much too long.

Finally, I had had enough tears (mine and the kids) and tantrums (mine and the kids) that I decided mommy needed a time out and I shut myself in my room.

Luckily for the kids and me both, Kendon arrived home shortly thereafter. He was everyone's rescuer. He even brought home a Cocomotion machine. (Recently at bookgroup a friend introduced me to steamers and I've been hooked ever since. I've been making mine in the microwave which is just not the same. So, Kendon brought me the real deal home tonight! Very good timing, indeed. Thank you, babe. Steamers are the ONLY reason I don't want spring to come. Steamers are much more enjoyable when it is cold out! But I'm willing to give them up for a little sunshine.)

So, I took myself out of timeout and made everyone some hot cocoa. After Connor finished his first cup he said, "Mom, this really warms my heart." Yeah, me too Connor. And heaven knows, I needed some heart warming.

And, now that my kids are all tucked into bed and soundly sleeping, I look back on the day and know that I could have done better. I've been a mom long enough to know that sick kids (and mommies) can make for grumpy kids, who need more love and hugs and tenderness, not a grumpy mom. And even though in the moment, my impatience and grumpiness might have given me a feeling of control and power over the situation, it always ends up being a false sense of control and it is never worth it. (Just like the chocolate chip cookie dough I ate today. Never worth it.)

The part that makes me the most sad, is I can only imagine that at least once today, Sirri probably wished that she were at school instead of at home. That absolutely breaks my heart. One of my hearts greatest desires and goals is that my home will be a sanctuary and safe haven for my kids. I want them to feel that this is the one place in this big scary world that they can always feel safe, secure, loved and of much worth. Today, I didn't provide that.

So, tonight I am thankful for tomorrows. Because I'm praying that tomorrow I can be better than today.

I turned off the comments for this post. I know that you would all leave sweet comments saying that we all have days like this and to not be so hard on myslef. Yes, true, but for today, I really just needed a place to write this down and to take responsibility for my actions. No excuses.

When Sirri Grows up to be a Sport's Illustrated Model, I Won't be Surprised. Disappointed, yes. Surprised, no.

2009-03-19T16:14:00.001-06:00

Seriously. Sirri asked me to take every one of these shots. And she posed herself, too. Aye, yi yi.

2009-03-18T15:14:00.001-06:00

Top five reasons I should cut my hair.

5. I find my hair in the sink after I dry it, now. ICK.

4. I can't dry and style it in under three minutes. What a waste of my time.

3. My claustHAIRphobia is back. When my hair gets in my face it makes me all anxious and nervous like.

2. I have no patience. I don't like to wait. And growing your hair out, entails LOTS of waiting.

1. It looks like this by the end of every day. Not the cutest look.

Top five reasons I should continue growing my hair out.

5. My hair "flapped" while I was running the other day. I couldn't believe it. It's been years since my hair has been long enough to move on its own.

4. My kids like to play with my new "long" hair. Ah. Heaven.

3. I have a great hairstylist who I officially dubbed my "hair mentor" and she has been doing a great job making the many months of awkward stages a lot less awkward.

2. Uh?

1. Uh?

Hmmmm. I seem to only be able to come up with 3 reasons.

Wish me luck.

2009-03-17T13:45:00.004-06:00

I can still remember going to kindergarten on St. Patrick's Day. As soon as I approached the glass door, I could see inside. I saw desks overturned, papers strewn about the floor, gold chocolate candies waiting to be snatched up and eaten, Lucky Charms cereal for snack time, and my favorite, little green leprechaun footprints dancing about the floor.

As St. Pattie's Day drew near, I was secretly hoping that Sirri's classroom would have the same green and gold excitement awaiting her. Just in case the leprechauns didn't make it to school, I invited them to our house.

And from the kids' reactions this morning, the little green men didn't fail to deliver!

They played with all our green toys and books in the living room and forgot to clean up. They dyed our milk and toilet water green. They replaced the fruit in our fruit basket with green legos. They left a trail of gold chocolate that led to a box of Lucky Charms for breakfast. Along with bringing breakfast they left a basket of green food for lunch. AND even though I mopped yesterday, they left little green footprints all over the floor (and kitchen table, and bathroom sink and kitchen cupboards. Little stinkers!)

When Sirri arrived home from school she had a backpack full of St. Patrick's Day activities. Rainbow color sheets, leprechaun math, lucky clover pattern pages and even a cute little song. BUT, what she didn't have was a great story to tell about how the leprechauns came to her classroom.

Sure glad they were able to come here!

Green lunch-grapes, green apple, edamame, celery, jello, punch
(and some turkey. so, it's not green but they needed a little protien!)

I Hope You Grow Up to be Just Like Him

2009-03-15T14:53:00.003-06:00

Connor: "Mom, Grandpa Bigelow is a good guy, huh?"

Jensen Family Week in Review

2009-03-08T19:57:00.004-06:00

Monday

The week started out bright and early Monday morning (5:30 a.m. to be exact) when I was able to finally go back to the gym!!! Yippee! It felt great. Getting on the scale....not so much fun. But, considering that my jeans hardly fit, I knew that number wouldn't be pretty. Oh, well. Something to strive for. Blah.

Connor had to go to the eye doctor today. He got something in his eye Saturday. He was up crying nearly the WHOLE night Saturday night. We couldn't do anything to console him. He would cry, "It hurts soooo bad. When is it going to stop?" It was so sad. So sad it made me cry. AND you know Kendon and I were feeling really bad for the poor guy cause we finally just let him sleep with us. In all our five years of parenthood we have never once had a child sleep with us.

Monday it was still bothering him, so I took him into the doctor. The doctor flipped his eyelid inside out and cleared out his eye. The piece of "whatever" was still in there and it had caused large swollen bumps under his eyelid. The doctor said, "it looks like a leaf or something." Connor responded, "see mom. I told you I got a piece of that prickly stuff that Sirri gets stuck on her gloves in my eye when I was outside playing in the garden." Yep. He was right. That kid is so observant and smart. I should have known he knew just what he was talking about.

The eye doctor said that Connor was the bravest little four year old he's ever seen in all his years of practicing. Normally to flip a kid's lid would be like pulling teeth and would involve much screaming. Not Connor. He is so tough!

Oh, ya. Kendon caught a muskrat off the street. He let it go down in the canal.
Atleast this little guy had the decency to stay OUTSIDE.
(Yep...that's forshadowing!)

Tuesday

Tuesday morning Sirri missed the bus. Oops. That was my fault. We were too busy playing, "Mighty Mouse Hunter."

Yep. A mouse. In my house. ICK. Meg was the first to see it go scampering across the floor and her reaction was priceless. Lots of eeeeking and aaaaahing and oohoohoohoohing.

My reaction was not nearly as cute. No one wants mice in their house (it makes you feel like your house is dirty and gross and unkept. And I try very hard to be anything but dirty and gross and unkept.) Anyway I was mad. And here's the kicker....it went scampering into MY new room. My brand new, beautiful room. Oh, no you don't. That was when the game was on, and that mouse was going to die.

The kids were more than happy to help. Sirri and Connor armed themselves with their flashlights and chased it out from under my bed and into the closet and then into the kitchen behind the stove. We had him trapped. I loaded up a mouse trap with enough peanut butter for a hearty sandwich and we waited for him to come out. The kids and I stood on top of the kitchen table patiently waiting for the mouse to find it's breakfast and immediate death. I kept asking the kids if they were sure they would be okay watching the mouse get snapped in the trap. They were confident they wanted to watch. We sat there for about ten minutes, trying to be quiet, which is not an easy task with an excited four year old boy, and any two year old child.

Unfortunately, school was about to begin, and as much as I wanted to teach Sirri all about the circle of life (really I just wanted the mouse dead,) we had to get Sirri off to class. Iwas sure we'd come home to a dead mouse, but not so. That mouse didn't show his dirty little face the rest of the day. Much to the kids chagrin. After naps, they were ready for him. Connor was going to catch him in a rope and Sirri would then trap him in the mug.

Later that night as I was folding laundry on the bed that little stinker of a mouse went running out from under our bed and under the dresser. Kendon grabbed some gloves and a pair of pliers and CAUGHT that mouse with his bare hands. Ya, I know, pretty gross, but very manly!

I calmed myself by eating lots of mint chip ice cream and watching The Biggest Loser. Ya, I see the irony.

Wedneday and Thursday

Just regular ole days filled with lots of wind. I know. It's March. I'll just have to get used to it.

Friday

The kids and I went to the mall. That is big enough news for a post all it's own. Seriously, shopping and I....not the greatest of friends. I'm learning though, and I did buy myself a new purse. I should take a picture. I think you'd be proud, Paige. It is yellow. And really cute.

Sirri and Connor were so excited to have money of their own to spend for the very first time. My friend, Denae, recently did a post about her family's success with a new chore chart system. I've been waffling back and forth on a system for a long time now (seriously like a year and a half) and this post finally gave me push to just do it! I'm so excited because it is working splendidly. The kids have specific responsibilities now and are learning about money and tithing and saving and SPENDING. They both spent their whole week's worth of money at the candy machines. That was tough for me to let them do, but they were happy and that is how you learn. (I'll have to post all about the system another day. It's simple but works.)

Learning about tithing, saving and spending.

Saturday

Fun morning at the Indoor Archery Shoot. Let the archery season begin!!!!!!!
AND, Kendon built me shelves in my pantry! Hip hip hooray! Handy hubbies are so nice to have around! Thank you so much, Kendon. I appreciate the hard work!

Man.....from the length of things, you would think this baby was a MONTH in review! Who knew a mouse story could be so exciting. Or maybe, it isn't! Thanks for reading. If you're still reading, that is!

She won't be able to watch Hallmark commercials, either!

2009-02-27T19:42:00.001-07:00

Meg's newest favorite song to have sung to her at night is:

Goodnight Sweetheart, well it's time to go.
Goodnight Sweetheart, well it's time to go.
I hate to leave you, but I really must say...
Goodnight sweetheart, goodnight.

Tonight after the song was over Sirri said,

"Mom, I like that song so much, it almost makes me cry."

Heaven Help Me!

2009-02-26T19:25:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, Sirri came running in the house after school.

"Momma, Momma! Today was my best day ever!"

She could hardly get the words out fast enough.

"Really Sirri? What happened?"

"Austin kissded me! And I liked it! And I'm going to marry him!"

So, Sirri had a lot to say, but her mother was speechless.

"Ready or not, Austin. Here I come!"