We had a great day Sunday traveling down to Orem to see my nephew Andy report his mission to Mongolia. I was so impressed with his testimony and strong love for the Mongolian people. What a great missionary! I took my camera and had plans to take lots of pictures to post, but sadly after taking only 1 picture, my battery died, and since giving my spare battery to Kylee in January, I haven't taken the time to buy a replacement one for me- and I'm having issues with my new computer and can't get it on at this time. I loved seeing and talking to many extended family members for several hours after church at the Romneys. On our way home, we stopped by the new Skeen residence in Paradise for a tasty dinner along with the Petersens, Mom and Janet. Having the Skeens living in the same valley as me is a dream I've had for the past 20 years, ever since they moved from Mesa when we were living there. I have loved helping them get settled and absolutely love their house. It is a touch of Paradise, which is fitting.

Out with the old,

There wasn't much painting that needed to be done, but I was there to help with what did.

And in with the new! I LOVE this house.

Happenings

I am so excited to finally be able to do some long awaited posts! We've had a nightmare of a time with our computer- it's a long story and I won't bore you with the details- but after weeks of our old computer having one virus after another and finally dying, and then getting and figuring out a new computer, monitor and printer, I'm finally set loose to upload pictures and get some posts going. Tonight I'm only taking time for a few pictures, but in the coming week, I have several more over-due posts to do.

Cam celebrated turning 14 a week ago today. We always enjoy celebrating with the Weyerts as Grandpa Tom's birthday is on the same day. We had gone there for dinner with the whole extended family a few days before, then on Cam's actual birthday, he enjoyed having me do his paper route, then make his choice for breakfast (german pancakes, hash browns, scrambled eggs, sausage, and toaster strudels). I picked him up for lunch and took him to Panda Express, then that night, Mike and I took him out to Hamiltons. Tom and Freda joined us after that for presents, cake, and a card game. It was a fun day.

Kylee and Brody are doing great in Europe. They've been there 2 weeks, and I've loved talking to them every few days on Skype. What a great invention! It's so fun to see them and hear in person what they're up to. This weekend they're taking the train to Germany, then next week they're flying to London. Check out her blog on my sidebar if you haven't already. She's doing a great job of documenting their awesome adventure. We miss them, but are so excited for this great opportunity they have. I love this picture I took of them the night before they left.

This year I found these cool $4 St. Patricks Day shirts at Walmart. The kids enjoyed wearing them, and hopefully will get another years use out of them.

The day before turning 14, Cam got his braces off (after wearing them for 22 months). He was so excited, and thought it would be fun not to tell anyone and see how quickly people noticed. Jake and Jess noticed right away, but Mike hadn't after several days (and I was sure he wouldn't for a long time) so Cam finally told him. He got his retainers today which he has to wear day and night for three months, and he's not happy about that. Hopefully he'll get used to them and not complain about them every 5 minutes like he has today :)

Doesn't he look so much older suddenly? I hate it.

Goodbye Kylee and Brody

We were happy we got to see Kylee and Brody for almost a whole 24 hours when they drove to Utah to drop Salomon off to be taken care of by Brody's mom (mostly) and us while they're in Europe for 2 months. The Bundy's came for the evening, and we enjoyed a yummy meal of Mexican haystacks (my new favorite), lots of visiting, and a fun game of sardines. Two and a half hours after we all went to bed, Brody, Kylee and I were up to head off to SLC to the airport. Unfortunately for Kylee, she was feeling sick, and I had to pull over three times for her to take care of business off the side of the road. Sad! That's not the way you want to feel when you have an 18 hour travel day ahead of you. Happily, after a wonderful blessing from Brody as we arrived at the airport, she started feeling better and was able to enjoy the journey. Ironically, Brody started feeling sick just as she started feeling better, and had to make haste to the bathroom a couple times on the plane from SLC to Minneapolis. That just adds to the fun of the adventure, right? I was so happy to hear from them when they arrived safely in Prague.

Here's the two cute Bundy girls just happy to be here.

The boys love to play this game with Sal. I call it tormenting him, but it is pretty funny to watch. They get out their red lazer light and flash it around the room causing him to run wild in circles trying to catch it.

Whenever we're all 7 together and Lindsey is closeby with her camera, I love her to take some family pictures. You can never have enough of them, right? (even though most in my family would disagree. . .)

Here's the cute couple on the curb at the airport. Does Kylee look more apprehensive, excited or just sick and tired? It's hard to tell. I'm sure she was feeling all those things. I've been able to talk to her (through their computer) several times since they arrived on Friday, and it's been great to hear what they've been doing. Today they enjoyed attending the branch in Prague and hearing a talk from the daughter-in-law of one of my friends in our ward here. Her son and family live there. Small world! We miss and love you Ky and Brody, and think of you often.

Valentines Day

I had a wonderful surprise from Mike a few days ago. My first delivered flowers of our marriage (Mike is too practical to think the delivery charge is worth it) and they're so beautiful. Glenn Beck gave him the idea to use pro flowers, and I'm grateful. I've really enjoyed them.
Instead of decorating the kids room with hearts hanging from their ceiling, and taped to their door and treats strewn across their bed, this year I took the easy way out and just sent them on a treasure hunt throughout the house (going up and down the stairs about 8 times) to find their Valentines treats. They had fun, but asked why I didn't do the hearts in their rooms. Old traditions are hard to replace!

This had been the view from our driveway for most of the winter, it seems. It gets old. Real old.

It's a happy day when this is what I see when looking towards the mountains. It just makes my whole day brighter.

Arizona trip

I had an awesome weekend trip to the land of the sun. I absolutely loved being around family and friends while soaking up some sunshine and enjoying the blue sky. It really rejuvenated me! I think I can survive the rest of the Cache Valley winter now! I loved staying with Ann and Trace one last time as they've sold their winter home in Mesa. It was great seeing Mom and David, Paul and DeNae, and my great friends Lorene and Kristie and their families.

I enjoyed helping Lorene celebrate turning 50 earlier in the week by going to our favorite restaurant for breakfast- the Farmhouse. Love that place! We then shopped a little, and went to the movie Leap Year. That afternoon, Kylee and Brody came to spend the rest of the weekend with me and the Skeens in Mesa. That evening, we grabbed some KFC and went on a beautiful dessert hike. We ate our dinner around a campfire while watching the full moon rise over the superstition mountains, and hearing a pack of coyotes howling. It was pretty exciting. We played "hearts" back at the Skeens winter quarters, then went hot tubbing.




On Saturday, I enjoyed an early morning walk with Kristie, talking non-stop, then we all, plus Paul biked either to or from Saguaro Lake (Paul and Trace went both ways). It was so beautiful! I loved it so much. We enjoyed a tasty lunch at a restaurant on the lake. So much fun!


Kylee, Brody and I then met up with Mom at her trailer park to go shuffleboarding. We're big fans of the sport ever since our cruise last year. Mom and I had a thrilling come from behind win (I think this is the only game of the whole weekend that Brody didn't win. . . that boy is either so lucky, or ridiciously good at every thing he tries). Ann helped Ky and I make a cute Valentine craft, we went out to eat with Mom and David, then played another fun card game. Trace planned a really fun WalMart scavenger hunt that Ann, Ky, Brody and I had fun doing. Ann and I only lost by one point.



I loved spending time with my two wonderful friends whom I miss so much. They have enriched my life for the past 20 years, and I'm so grateful for their love and influence in my life. They're the best.



It was great to be home, and see Mike and the kids, and I have to say I even thought this scene through Sardine Canyon was beautiful! Afterall, there's no place like home!

This and That

Here are some recent happenings at the Jensen household. . . A week ago today, the inversion FINALLY lifted on Cache Valley, and this is the sight we were treated to! Awesome! I loved the beauty of the frosted trees and plants. It was almost worth the weeks and weeks of not seeing the sun. Almost.
I got a short cut and color this week from Stacie. She always does an awesome job. I was ready for a change, and she did exactly what I told her to do, but I don't think I love it this short. Thoughts, feelings anyone???

Below this picture (I can't separate them for some reason) is proof that the dreaded day has come. When one of my children are the same height as me. Does this mean Jake and I should start seeing eye-to-eye on more things? Haha- It's crazy that I don't look down on him anymore!


We had a great time having the Bundys come to stay last weekend. Ryan spent Monday in Logan working, and was doing some work on his little work laptop when he got back here. I thought it was cute so had to take a picture. Also one of his short hair which is a result of his crazy 80's hairstyle he did for our New Years Eve party.


Whenever they come, Lindsey always volunteers to make us dinner. She still does it, even though she's learned that I always let her! We always love eating her yummy concoctions.
It cracks me up that Lydia is big enough now to sit up and be fed a cracker! What a big girl. As always, Emma is great to play with herself and her "friends."

Cam, Linny, Emma and I enjoyed going to first dam to feed the ducks three loaves of bread. Those were some hungry ducks! We had almost every duck on the dam huddled around our pier by the time we were done. I loved it. It was a fun way to pretend it's not the middle of winter still.

Slammin 80's photos, and snowshoeing

I had to show these hilarious up-close photos from our New Years Eve party. Dressing up from the 80's was so much fun. We awarded prizes for the winners (everyone voted) and Cody (with the mullet) got first, Bundy (in pink with z shaped beard) got 2nd, and Kylee and Jessica tied for third. It was fun to see what everyone came up with.






This morning I went on my first snowshoeing adventure since Ricks college. It was so much fun, and great to be out in the beauty of nature. I went with my friends Nan and Janae, and we hiked for several hours on Blind Hollow trail near Temple Fork in Logan Canyon. It was so great to leave the gloom and doom of Logan (otherwise known as the inversion that never ends) and see the blue skies and sunshine! It was so beautiful. I had a great time, and think I may have to invest in a pair of snowshoes of my own.