July 4, 2010

July 4, 2010
We had ice creams. It was fun! (left to right: Auroiya, Tesla, Keilani, BraeLynne, Zzyzx and my niece Aurora) They had so much fun all day!

The Fair

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We Are Expecting Again!

So for all of you who we really stink at updating we are having baby #5. We want a total of 6 so in two years expect another one. :) The difference about this pregnancy is it is not a girl.
The ultrasound seems to think it is a boy this time!!
We are due on Uncle Dane's birthday December 19, 2008. We are excited for him to come. The girls are telling anyone who will listen that they are finally getting a baby brother.

Anyone who is still wondering if we are going to use our crazy name we have had picked out for 8 years, the answer is yes. We are naming him Zzyzx Tatton Jensen. A little John just wouldn't fit in our family. We are, however, taking any and all suggestions on a girl name if we get suprized in the end.

Jensen Update

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Innocent Children

I was cleaning the bathroom when I had this conversation with Auroiya who is now 5.

Auroiya: I am going to do my hair and then put some lipstick on but not too much lipstick because then boys will get the wrong idea.

Me: The wrong idea? And what would that be?

Auroiya: I don’t know. No one will tell me.

Crazy Weekend

This weekend was so crazy. We loved it!

Friday the landlord said they needed to take pictures of the house "for their own personal record" and then showed up with at realitor. They could be refinancing but the company they came with doesn't do refinancing. Then the realitor asked if the washer and dryer came with the house. No. It doesn't. My guess, these guys didn't know what it took to be landlords and that when things go wrong you have to fix them out of your own pocket and at times it can make things tight. If they do sale, I hope it is to good people.

My parents needed some info so they were going to drop by. No prob. Then we were sure we heard a HUGE bird hit the front window. When we looked over there was Power plastered to our window like a bug on a windshield. They were heading out to eat and wanted to know if we wanted to come. Instead they came and had waffles with us. My parents came by, Power and Stacie left. We watched a movie then the day was done.

So Saturday the house was still clean and we had a few friends that wanted to do something this weekend so we just invited them all to our house.

Then Chris, my brother, called and said he was in town and going to mom and dads. So we went over there until around 5:30 and came home to do our party. It turned out pretty good. (except the spaghetti we made, NASTY!) Including our family, there was a total of 8 adults and 12 kids. We had a good time catching up on life then went our own ways.

Sunday we got up, finished preparing our lesson then went to church. We are so crazy! We forgot it was Stake Conference. LOL! So we drove around and looked at houses and found the house Lonnon grew up in and it is for sale. He really wants to buy it, but that is not were we are in life unfortunately.

We went home and chilled until we realized the sink had leaked from upstairs to downstairs and ruined one of Lonnon's computers. We went to my parents to get some wood and rearranged downstairs. Now if by chance the sink leaks again it won't harm anything.

In the end, it was a crazy, but fun weekend. We just remembered how much we love entertaining people.

BraeLynne Needs Glasses

BraeLynne came home a few weeks ago very upset that she failed a test.
This strait A little girl was crying asking if she could just retake the test.
It was the eye exam at school.
I told her it was ok that she failed.
It shows me I need to take her to get her eyes checked.
Well, we went to the optometrist yesterday and ... she needs glasses.
Not a high prescription, but glasses none the less.

This is the one thing I wanted so bad for my girls not to need.
I have had to wear glasses and contacts for over 15 years and it is not something a little kid should have to worry about.
It should be like puberty and not hit until an older age. Oh well. Life comes at you fast.
Anyways, We are trying to get her to pick out a cute yet durable pair of glasses.
Here are the ones she picked out and Lonnon approved.

He told her if they break then, WE, the parents get to pick out the next pair.
They say to let the kids pick them out and then they will want to wear them.
At the same time I want something that can barely be seen so we can still see my beautiful baby girls face.
Oh well. At least she looks good in the MANY different frames there are out there. Few can do that.
It will be up to two weeks before they come in.Then we will take pictures and post them.

Daddy Pretending with Keilani

Last night was so cute. Keilani is into pretending lately and Lonnon is so good at pretending with her. Here is how last night went.

Lonnon was trying to fix the computer and the TV when Keilani came up to him.

Keilani: "Daddy, let's play 12 Dancing Princesses and I am Genniveve and you are Derick."

Lonnon: "OK"

Keilani: "I love you Derick!"

Lonnon: "I love you too Genniveve."

Keilani: "Derick lets dance."

Lonnon: "Ok Genniveve, but can we dance while I connect things?"

Keilani: "Yup! You have to stand to dance so it is fine."

The top of her head only comes just above his knee. She wrapped her arms around his leg, stood on his foot and started kissing his knee as he moved it back and forth with her attached to his leg.

Keilani: "I love you Derick!"

Lonnon: "I love you too Genniveve."

Now that is a multitasking dad. We love our daddy! The only boy in our house. We are so lucky he is willing to be the prince and knight in shining armor so often.

True Proof That Dane LOVES Kids!!!

Going through my pictures I have found so many pictures with Dane and our girls. He is so good with them. He is going to be a Gr-8 dad one day! Here is just a SMALL glimpse of this amazing Uncle.

BraeLynne at her Birthday party telling Uncle Dane what she wants. Both smiling away!

Now for anyone who may doubt that Dane holds kids here is oodles of proof. Auroiya is my snuggly one. Here she is on one of those days that she just wants to snuggle with a certain person and no one can take her away. She is hanging on to Uncle Dane and will not let go!! He is her man! And Look at Dane!! So calm and relaxed!!! He is so good.

The perfect picture. This one is one of my favorite. Every one of my kids has fallen asleep on Uncle Dane. I love how relaxed he is with kids. And how relaxed THEY are with HIM.

The perfect zoom in of Keilani and Uncle Dane! Now it takes someone special to fall asleep on like this. Yup. Real proof that Dane has always and will always LOVE kids. And WE LOVE HIM!!

Christmas Story Mimic

HELP ME UP!!

We were going to go play out in the snow to make our first snowman and Tesla couldn't walk in her snow suit. It was so funny to watch her.

She had oodles of fun until she got cold which was REALLY quick.















BraeLynne put snow in her mouth. She was the first one out and the last one in.







Auroiya was having so much fun that this was the only close up picture we could get. She was trying to look like Santa Clause with a white beard.





Keilani helped a lot with Telsa. She would not keep her gloves on so she went in early with Tesla.









The finished product. They loved the snow but not the cold. They are slowly breaking in to the Idaho winter.

Gotta Post Some Time

OK. Up date on life.
We had a baby girl December 27, 2006. Named her Tela Patience Jensen. She is now almost 1 year old. We moved to Twin Falls Idaho in August of 2007. We are in a little house and Lonnon just started working at Dell December 17, 2007.

Now, I need to get some pictures on here!!!

Big Belly

I haven't posted for a long time. Here are some pictures of my growing belly.

The girls wanted to make it so the baby could see out so they drew a face for her. Then they decided she would like pictures to look at.

Here is the finished product.

Keilani says the baby is growing and wants to come out so she can hold it. She kisses the baby constantly and they all think the belly button is a peep hole for the baby to see out of. she even brushed the babies teeth in the shower for me. Mint toothpaste on the belly button feels really weird.
Keilani decided the baby needed a drink of water and spilled down my pants. They all try to take care of the baby as though she was here. They even give her blankets so she can stay warm and try to feed her their food.

My big belly.

I slacked on the tummy lotion so i do have light stretch marks. I hope they go away. But i can not complain. 4 kids and very few stretch marks. i have been blessed. Yes i look huge but those are medium stretch pants from the gap and my only t-shirt that is pregnacy and it is a small. I have gained more with this pregnacy than any other. 40 pounds. Biggest part of the belly is now 40 inches. i have never been this big in my life. But...that is ok. i just want this baby to be healthy. and all signs are positive.

Three weeks till the due date. Wow! this has gone by fast. i will up date when i can. I think all I do is sleep and clean any more. thank goodness for husbands and their help!

Babies growing up!

I forgot, on Thursday morning, I went to take BraeLynne to school when she told me her tooth was loose. Why does this have to happen? When they start to loose their teeth it is just a big reality check that they are not our babies any more. School was hard enough (for me) and now the tooth thing! (Katie, did you find out the going rate for teeth?) I did say the toothfairy gives more for teeth without cavities. She is so excited because she doesn't have any cavities and brushes her teeth so much now. She is also teaching her sisters "to brush every day so you get lots of money for good teeth!" She hardly ever wiggles it, won't eat anything that will move it and pampers it like nothing else. At this rate that tooth will be out around Christmas. But it is loose and that is good for her. She just doesn't seem to want it to come out. LOL!

Katie said somethings that her kids say that make her laugh. It reminded me of Auroiya's prayer, "Heavenly Father, please help Tesla to grow fast so she can hurry up and come out and share my room. But don't let her be like BraeLynne and Keilani because I don't like sharing with them. Amen." At least she is honest right!!!

Traveling while Pregnant!

Well, I decided I wanted to go see my family this last weekend. I have the excursion now so I wanted to go see them now since I won't be able to make it to Kaden's baptism. I feel so bad. The problem was, Lonnon's unkle died so we ended up going in the opposite direction to Arizona. It was about the same distance it would have been to go to see my family. :( Oh well. I guess I will see them after I have the baby.

Right before we left I finally got a call from my Dr's office. I was highly advised NOT to do any traveling of any kind. But since I was going anyway, always know where the closest hospital is at, drink lots of water and liquids of almost kind, eat lots of snacks, and stretch every hour. On the way down I didn't want to hold everyone up by me needing potty breaks so I didn't drink much water. I would not advise this to anyone expecting. By the time I got there I was cramping pretty bad and having contractions. Not consistant ones but ones to claim them as contractions not braxton hicks. So Lonnon shoved so much water down me I was ready to throw up. What a good husband.

On the way back he bought me two gallons of water and told me I had 8 hours to drink it all. Then laughed. He made sure after I went to the bathroom I drank more water. I drank one and a half gallons in 8 hours. I peed every 1/2 hour. pit stops, rest stops, side of the road stops, then had to go again the moment I got back in the car. But, I did not have any contactions or cramping. Good for my husband!!! His mom kept up on me during the trip too. She always made sure I had water and something to eat! She was awsome. She always told me to sit and relax, put my feet up. This is the one time I can and I should enjoy it while I can and let people cator to me while I can. (She's right I will do it for the rest of my life on my family.) It was a good last trip for the next few months. I can't complain. And LDS funerals, we all know that we are sad for moment then have the family reunion. lol. Really it was good and nice to meet more of Lonnon's cousin's and family.

But Boy am I glad to be back home!!!

The Things Children Do

I don't know what to say. Isn't she cute when she sleeps? But wait, something is not quite right? Is that shorter hair I see?! Yup! Sure is.















This morning Keilani ran into the living room and I noticed she had shorter hair in the front. She had not only cut herself some short crooked bangs but she took out a whole section to the scalp, WHAT DO I DO??!!! I can't shave her head like her dad suggested. But he hasn't seen it yet. I can't cut it short or it will just look worse. I don't know what to do. I can kind of do a comb over but it is some wishful thinking and When I put a hair thing in it has to be combed to the side and the hair thing has to dangle at the very front of her head to even try to hide it. Good thing about hair is it grows back. Slowly is the problem.

Here is The whole chunk.














Here is her left side. As fat and long as my thumb. And I have big fingers.














Here is her right side.














Here is the width of how big the chunk is, as well as the angle of the bangs.














Here is all the hair left in the middle of the bald spot.














And last, the attempt at a comb over.














I wanted to cry. She came in the room and
I said calmly, "Lani, did you cut your hair?"
Keilani, "NO!"
Me, "Then come here and let me see it."
Keilani, "K mommy."
She ran right over and let me run my fingers through it.
I couldn't talk or breath. Finally I got out, "Honey, where are the sissors?"
Keilani, "I no no mom. You no?"
Me, "No Honey, I don't know. Can you find them for me?"
Keilani, "Nope! Day all gone!" and ran away.
I still haven't found the sissors. Or the hair.
I just keep looking at her and tearing up. (The pregnacy hormones don't help) She is actually embarassed about it. She wants me to "Fitts it" But I can't. So we just try to make it work so no one can see it. If anyone asks to see it she covers her hair and face and screams "NO" and runs away. She has only felt it with her hands and won't look in the mirror to see what it looks like because "My hayu es broken!" This is going to be hard for her. The first thing she does in the morning is asks me to "peas brusha my hayu" I don't know what will happen now. I just hope it grows back fast.

Quick Weekend Summery

A quick summery of our three day weekend was that we got to go to the Grand Canyon. It was fun. We bought a 2001 Ford Excursion. Lonnon flew out to South Dakota to get it. He drove it back, and then we left for Arizona 3 hours later. The poor guy got 1 1/2 hrs sleep in 48 hrs. We left for the Grand Canyon and spent Sunday at the Grand Canyon. It was a mostly a great vacation for OUR family. (I will explain this in a moment) When we left for the canyon, I left my camera in our hotel room on the table. So I have pictures before and after but during everyone else took the pictures. What great sports. Now I have to wait for the other 6 cameras that were in our family to give me copies to get some pictures to post. (Thank heaven for digital cameras!) As soon as I get them I will post them, I promise! And I will write a better blog about our vacation.

It was also an eye opener for the adults. I was very worried about our girls and made sure they had little backpack leashes on so they could not go anywhere. Brae is old enough so she could hold someones hand. We made it a huge point that they were never, under any circumstance, were they to be let go of. And were to be held by an ADULT at all times while at the Grand Canyon.

(Now comes the explaination I was telling you about)

While we were taking pictures we heard what sounded like a bunch of teenagers yelling and messing around. About 10 minutes later we found out that a little 2 1/2 year old girl had fallen over the edge of the canyon. This tore us all up. It hit close to home because of our childrens ages. It especially hit hard for Grandma Jensen because after seeing what family it was, she realized just 5 minutes before the accident Auroiya and the little girl said hi to each other and it made it even more close to home. The information we got was from one of the two men that climbed down to help the little girl. He said that the grandma had stopped to take a picture and the little girl slipped and fell inbetween the paved trail and the guard rail. Just a little bit before he had commented to his wife that that spot was dangerous and someone could slip and fall through that hole. Sadly the little girl did. The little girl had been stopped by a tree and two men had climbed down to stay with her to make sure she didn't fall any further. They had a rescue crew that had to repell down to get her (if that gives you an idea of how hard it was for these brave men to climb down to be with her) They took her in an ambulence and said she was alive but unconscience. What a horrible family vacation this had to have been. We have been trying to see updates but it has been hard to find any information except to search the internet.

The thought of loosing any one of my girls crushes me. Keilani is 2 and Auroiya is 3 1/2. The thought of the pain this family is going through sets me into tears. Lets just say my girls were held onto VERY close after this. Haveing family there made it much easier to watch our girls. Between family and friends that went, there were 17 people in our group. (only 3 were friends.) I pray for that family and I also pray we give thanks for the safty and health of our little ones and that they are still with us. Please everyone, watch your little ones so closely when you go places. You blink and they are gone. In this case, it may be the life that is gone too.

BraeLynne's First Day of School

BraeLynne started Kindergarten on Wednesday. She was so "excited, nervous and scared." I can't believe my baby is going to school. I did good. I teared up a bit in the car on the way home but it wasn't until after Lonnon left for work and Auroiya and Keilani were watching a movie in their room that I started to cry. My house was so quiet. I felt like I was home alone. I forgot how much Brae comes around just to say, "I love you mom." or "I just came to keep you company." Yes, I know, enjoy it for the moment because in no time flat it will not be so quiet but I still miss my little girl. I think they do 1/2 days for the breaking in of the mothers not the kids.

She loved her first day of school. She doesn't know anyone except a little girl Eliana, who is our next door neighbor but she is in the other class so they play at recess. But at least she knows someone at some time in the day right! She was so excited to wear her dress that Grandma Jensen made her for the first day of school. She actually asked if Grandma could make her an outfit instead of buying one for the first day. We all know that grandma's love these requests! She couldn't sleep very well the night before. She was asking so many questions. We said about 10 prayers. But she didn't want Daddy to give her a blessing because she doesn't want to .... I don't know how to explain it.... It is like when you have a blessing you are really really sick and you have prayed all you can and you need even more help "special help" and she doesn't think this counts as that no matter how hard we try to explain to her she wants to "save her special blessings". We will get one in there though. I just may take a bit until we get her to understand that it is ok.

Auroiya cried and wouldn't let me take her picture. She wants Brae to stay with her or wants to go with Brae to school. Just as long as they are together she is happy. Here are the drop off pictures and the pick up pictures with Auroiya.

Before



















After















Keilani missed her too and wants to get her hug in.















If you can't tell by this picture, she LOVED her first day of school.

Jensen's Family Night

We did a family nigt that we painted little figurines that the girls picked out the other day. We painted them with water color paints. (Thank goodness!)

Keilani painting her puppy














BraeLynne painting her kitten














Auroiya painting her hand pretending she is Mulan taking notes on her arm and about to take a bath to meet he match maker.














BraeLynne with her kitten














Auroiya with her seahorses














Keilani with more paint on her face and body than her puppy.



















The finished product. My attempt at painting with washable kids paint, ladybug, Brae's blue kitten, Auroiya's pink seahorses, and Keilani's multi-colored puppy.














But we did have a great night tonight. And I got to see more creativity from my kids.

BraeLynne meets Kindergarten

Friday was Kindergarten orientation. I took Keilani and Auroiya to my friend Carmen's house and Brae and I went to the school. She said she is excited but a little shy and scared.
We met with her teacher and I was happy to see there is not a ton of kids in her class. Not all the kids were there but I only counted 12. The classes can't be too big because we have 2 other elementary schools less than 2 miles away in two different directions. Half our ward is in a different school.
We all met in the class room. The teacher asked BraeLynne if she knew what her name looked like.
Brae (very proud announced), "B-r-a-e capital L-y-n-n-e"
Mrs. Ward, "Very good. It took me three tries to finally spell your name right with the capital L."

If that is what it took to get her name to stick out in the beginning that is fine by me. But out of the twelve kids there she was the ONLY blond. I think she will stick out as it is. It is a good mix of races but they all have dark, dark brown hair or black hair. Then there is a little toe head blond right in the middle. That is my little girl. (giggle, giggle)

Then Brae went and sat in a circle with the other kids and I got the privilege of sitting at her desk for the next 1/2 hour filling out more papers. Not very comfortable. Imagine sitting in a little chair, your knees popping up, your pregnant belly in between them leaning over to fill out paper work of what you kid likes and what things they know. I wasn't the only pregnant lady there so it wasn't like they could let all of us go sit at the one big chair in the room.
They really emphasized that they do not teach the children as a group but really work on their individual needs. They will test them and start from there on the ABC's and reading. They will even take them into the first grade reading levels when and if they are ready. This makes me feel much better because there are a few kids I know (in other classes) that don't know their ABC's yet can't spell their own name. Brae has been learning to read at home and I really don't want her held back by other kids being behind her. Or left behind if the rest are ahead of her. This made me feel more at ease.

I have had a hard time with the elementary schools here. They look like prisons. They have very small windows, if any at all, they are those big glass blocks that let light in but no one can see in and they are so high up that no one can break them. The playgrounds are all on that bouncy rubber stuff. So it looks like they are playing on asphalt. There is, however, a little grass that they can play on but not much. (There are grassy areas in other area's but not much on the kindergarten area.) Last but not lest, there is chain link fencing all around the school with chains and locks to keep them shut. The parents drop their kids off at one side of the fence and pick them up at the other side of the fence.

I do feel better now that things have been explained to me. The windows are to protect the children from any freaks that want to look in and seek out little children. It lets light in and bad people out. The little grass is because we have had a drought here for the past 9 years. But they have shaded the play area and they only let the kids play outside for about 5-10 minutes because of the heat. In the winter they let them play outside longer because it is cooler. The fence is because then the teachers can monitor the kids and adults better. If the kids can't get out without the teacher knowing they know where the kids are. If they see the parent they will let the kid out but this way the kids are not going home with strangers and the teachers know what kids have gone home and which are still there.

I am so far impressed with the school. But we will see how things go when she starts this Wednesday. I hope it does go well.

I am lucky I don't have to worry about the bus picking up and dropping off (or lack there of like poor Alli, Brae's cousin) The school is actually walking distance and right behind the library and our church house. I would walk instead of drive if I was not under "no exercise" restrictions from the doctor. But it will be nice exercise after I have the baby. I will walk about 1/2 mile there and 1/2 mile back which makes it 2 miles every day. that is some good walking in my opinion.

I do think I will miss her oodles and oodles. I agree with Katie, I love my little girl but I really LIKE her. She is my little helper. I enjoy watching her grow and learn. I love that what she knows is mostly due to my teaching her. It will be really hard to just see the out come of someone else teaching her and watching her play with other kids. I catch myself tearing up about it all the time. It should go well though. She goes at 9 am. I can spend time with Auroiya and Keilani and pick Brae up at 11:40. Come home, eat lunch, have a nap/quiet time and go on with the day as usual. I should be easy when the baby comes if this schedule works.

I just hope I have taught her the right things so she can "choose the right". She asked if I would buy her a "real CTR ring" to help reminder her and so she can teach others to choose the right too. She wants a ring that doesn't dye her finger green. I think we will see what we can do.

bathroom sink

Lonnon bought the cutest faucet for the kids bathroom. You turn tigger in the honey pot to turn it on. the kids love it. It is easy enough they can use it but hard enough to turn that they haven't been playing so much in the water! Now I can decorate the bathroom in a theme and not just pink. My hubby has such a great eye for cute things!