Deaf Youth Activity -- Hiking

I Hate Pepper!

No one in this family like pepper -- except for Rick.  And he generously dumps it all over his dinner.  I don't see how he can even taste his food.  As for me, I can't eat anything remotely spicy -- including pepper.  If there is pepper anywhere near my eggs I might as well throw the whole thing out -- or give them to Rick.  Well, the other day Jenna got the big square pepper container out of the spice cupboard and dumped it all over the floor.  Those containers will not close!  So I put it in a high cupboard.  Well today she found another pepper container one and dumped it all over the floor as well.  Jaiden was just trying to be helpful by offering to help clean it up.  I tried to stop her telling her I would sweep it up but she was already there with a wet rag wiping at it.  The next thing I know she is SCREAMING  bloody murder.  The poor girl got pepper in her eyes.  I tried to be sympathetic but after ten minutes of witnessing non-stop screaming and flailing around I started to lose my patience.  It must have been bad though since she even let me pour water into her eyes.  Perhaps I should have been more sympathetic and patient instead of telling her that screaming wasn't going to make her feel any better.  She finally calmed down after what seemed like forever.  After all of the coughing and sneezing subsided, we all had very clear nasal passages!    

Happy Sabbath!

Jase did fast offerings this morning and then he and Janika went to a youth meeting at our church.  Today Janika got called to be the first counselor in the Miamaid presidency and Jase was called to be the Deacon's Quorum President.  They were both set apart after church and received neat blessings.   By the time we finished most of the food from the potluck "break-the-fast" was already gone.  Most potluck stuff is totally out for people who have Celiac disease, but I had made a gluten-free meatloaf and Janika had made two containers of jello and so I knew there would be at least a couple of things I could eat.  But the meatloaf was already gone and the jello almost gone, and most of the other food people had brought was gone too.  By the time Rick came out for a bite, the only thing left were some rolls and celery.  So I went home and made another meatloaf, salad, rice, and vegies so that my hubby could have something to eat when he got home.  Then he went to a Seminary 9th grade orientation meeting that one of the Stakes was hosting and I went to a baptism with three of my kids (who were very tired and restless).  Then I stayed up late trying to catch up on my blog!      

Another busy Saturday

This morning we brought Janika over to her Young Women's leaders house for an early breakfast celebrating some of the young women's birthdays (including Janika's very belated birthday).  Rick said, "What is up with all of these breakfasts lately?"

Then we all got in our big red van in order to go to Janika's voice concert.  Jase arrived home from his scout camp just as we were leaving and so he was able to come with us too.  It was nice to actually have the whole family together!  Jase had fun on his scout camp but unfortunately they got rained out of most of the activities which is why they ended up home early.

Janika did well at her concert.  Most of the students were piano students -- Janika and another girl were the only vocal students.  Her teacher had each of her students do a regular number and also a personal composition.  We are glad that she did that.  It was a challenge for Janika.  Rick taught her the basics of how to use his studio equipment, including the finale program, but then left her on her own.  He didn't help her at all.  She really stressed about it but finally got it done and it turned out very pretty.  She wrote a song called "He Is There" about the power of prayer.   I thought the other kids did well on their piano compositions as well.  What a great skill to learn!   Here is Janika with a few of the other students.

After the concert the whole family went to Costco.   Rick had to teach me the "costco etiquette" since I was too absorbed in my kids getting their free samples and didn't realize that there was a line of about ten carts patiently waiting for us to get out of the way.  Oops, sorry!  Our kids wanted to stop at every single place that was offering free food or drink.  No wonder it takes Rick so long to go grocery shopping on Saturdays!   We left with two huge overflowing carts.  Jared was playing around in the aisle with his beloved green crocheted hat that Jase made for him, and threw it up somewhere and it never came down.  We searched and searched between cases of diapers and boxes of cereal but with no luck.  He left feeling very disappointed.

On the way home we passed a bunch of bikers on a 100 bicycle race.  Rick said, "How do people have time for leisure activities on Saturday?"  I pointed out that perhaps they didn't have seven children.  As a side note, we see our neighbors out sitting in their perfectly manicured yard visiting almost everyday and I must confess that I feel a little envious.  I always think, I never have time to sit outside and just visit!   Likewise when people mention various TV shows I really feel out of the loop.  We never watch TV -- who has time for TV?   Of course I MAKE time for blogging (hee hee) and so maybe it is just a matter of priorities.  Anyway, we came home and put everything away and got the kids started on their chores.  Rick is temple worker and had his temple duties all afternoon and then there was the whole running around thing with Janika (see "Diary of a Wimpy Mom") and then I bribed the boys to keep an eye on Jenna and worked a bit in the yard for a bit.

Jase baby-sat while I brought Janika and her friend to the Young Women's broadcast at the Stake Center.  I am not sure what happened to dinner -- I think Jase fixed macaroni and cheese for the kids.  The broadcast was very good and it was nice to have a little quiet time.  I look forward to re-reading the talks later.  Rick stopped at a couple of stores on his way home and was just starting baths when we got home and so all of the kids got to bed late (again) and so did I.  Well, that's our Saturday!

Diary of a Wimpy Mom

I always liked that fact that Janika was a bit of a homebody.  However, now she is suddenly a bit dissatisfied with the whole "hanging out at home thing" and wants to constantly be out playing with her friends.  Friday night she and her friend started chatting over facebook about going ice-skating that night at a new ice-skating rink we have in our area.  Soon texts and instant messages were flying all over the place and before you know it they had rounded up a big group of both boys and girls to meet at the rink.  She had a blast (and bragged that she never fell once -- which is really good considering that was her first time ice-skating.)  Rick ended up picking up Jani and several of her friends after-wards driving them all to their various homes. 

Then the next day her friend calls back and wants her to go see the new movie "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."  My first question, "Do you have a ride?"  She assures me they have it all worked out.  The whole group thing didn't work out as well today, however, and after plans changed several times and rides didn't work out, she was left begging me to drive her across town to pick up her friend and then meet their other friends.  This is where the whole "Diary of a Wimpy Mom" comes in.  After telling her I wasn't going to be the driver, I ended up giving in at the last minute agreeing to pick up her friend across town.  Then we missed the other ride connection and ended up bringing the kids to the theater too.  After all of this running around lately, (plus to and from Stake dances with late night pick ups and early morning drop-offs for other activities and so on and so on....plus carting the friends home too who live all over the place....well, you get the idea.) 

We had to stay up and have a late night "talk" with our daughter.  Not to be a party-pooper on the recent surge in social activity, but we do have lots of children and other responsibilities besides carting teenagers around.  It is still almost two years before these kids start getting their driver's license's (not that I'm ready for that either).   I guess we just have to reach some sort of balance and hopefully the other kids' parents will all take their turn as chauffeur.  Any suggestions from those of you who have gone through the whole teenage thing?

A bug!

Jenna was so fascinated with the roly-poly found in our neighbor's planter.  We have all been enjoying the beautiful spring weather!  Jenna just loves to be outside.  All of the other kids are old enough that they can play outside on their own without me watching them every second (which is really nice!)  But now that Jenna has learned to walk she likes to wander off and so we have to watch her really closely.  So much for getting the dishes and laundry done!

Jase's Sience Fair Project

Jase didn't need any help at all with his Science Fair project.   He even figured out how to make a graph on the computer himself, which is more than I know how to do.  He did his project on speed stacking -- which is one of his latest past-times.   He is really quite fast at them and it is fun to watch.  (That is what he did for the talent show last week).  At least speed stacking pulls him away from the computer/Wii screen here and there.  He taught the other kids to do it too.  Did you know there are actually world-wide competitions in speed stacking?

I Want To Be a Mom!

Jaiden was "Farmer of the Week" this week.  So we made her scrapbook page, and Monday I brought Josh and Jenna in to her class as part of her show and tell.  We showed her class the scrapbook page and read them one of Jaiden's favorite stories.  She got to wear a crown all week and be the first one in line whenever the class lined up to go out to recess or wherever else kindergarteners line up to go. When I picked her up from school on Thursday, she said, "tomorrow is such a big day for me!  I get to bring my farmer of the week hat home, I get to dress up as a mom (for occupation day)..."  Big day indeed. She also got to bring in the reading and writing basket after writing and decorating a letter to her class.  When I asked Jaiden what she wanted to be when she grew up she immediately said, "I want to be a mom!"  She will be a great one too!

Jaiden

High School Musical Revue

Last week Janika found out that the High School was having auditions for their Musical Revue.  She immediately wanted to try out.  It was last minute, but thanks to voice lessons and and an upcoming concert, she already had a Broadway number prepared and memorized.  The audition went very well and she got in and also got a solo/duet song.  Way to go, Janika!  She started rehearsals this week and has been rehearsing everyday after school from 3:00 to 5:00.  She is loving it!  I am also enjoying hearing Broadway music playing in our kitchen rather than that other pop music she always listens to.  It is innocent enough, (she censors her music very carefully) but I still like Broadway better!  I can't wait to see her perform!

Science Fair

Today was the elementary school science fair.  I was impressed at how many kids participated.  There were some really neat projects!  It was so fun and provided some interesting dinner conversation later on as we discussed the various ideas.  Jared and Janelle both did a great job on their projects and Janelle ended up getting 2nd place in her grade.    Way to go, kids!

No more braces!!

Saturday is a busy day!

Our Orthodontist has these really cool parties a couple of times a year where all of his patients, along with their families and a couple of friends, get to go.  Today was one of them.  For this one they reserved an entire movie theatre.   The choices were "Alvin and the Chipmunks," "The Princess and the Frog", "Blind Side", and "New Moon".  The kids were planning on seeing "Alvin and the Chipmunks" again, but it was already full when we got there.  Janika had said that "Princess and the Frog" was "evil" and "scary" and "would make the kids cry".   Seriously, those were her exact words.  Well, Janika can be a little overly dramatic at times, and so I hoped that this was the case because I knew that the kids would be really disappointed if I didn't let them watch a movie once we were there, and this was really the only other feasible choice for them.  Janika was going to go see "Blind Side" with me and the boys were going to take the little kids, but Jani offered to stay with the little kids and see "Princess and the Frog," so they wouldn't get scared (even though she really did not like that movie).  She is such a GREAT big sister!  So she took the kids to see it and they liked it.  They didn't get scared or freak out or cry or have nightmares (so it couldn't have been that bad!)   I took the boys to see "Blind Side."  It was SO good!  I highly recommend it!  Very inspiring movie!

Rick stayed home with Jenna and put up the tramp while we were gone.  Yeah, we finally get a tramp again!!  Hip Hip Horray!!

Then I took Jared and his friend, Carson, (and Jase) out to Fiesta Fun for Jared's belated birthday bash.  Carson also came to the movies with us.  The boys had fun eating pizza and playing video games.  They raked in a ton of tickets which they cashed in for some cool prizes.


Tonight I took all of the kids to the ward dinner and talent show (Rick had temple responsibilities and so he wasn't with us).  Janika sang in the talent show and Jase did his Speed Stacks.  They both did a great job.

It was a fun day but by the time evening came I was exhausted and still had to bathe the kids and get them to bed.  By this time kids were bickering, the house was a mess, the kids wouldn't go to bed, and Rick was very late getting home since he decided to go grocery shopping after the temple.

I brought Janika to the Stake dance with her friends and then tried to tackle a little clean up.  I called Rick to tell him that one of us needed to pick up Jani from the dance at 11:30 p.m. and that we also needed to bring her to her young women's house tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m.  Ugh!  He said, "I'll take tonight if you take tomorrow morning!"  (Man, I will be glad when this girl learns to drive!)  The 6:00 a.m. thing was for a service project -- making breakfast for the Bishop -- and Jani was the only young woman who actually showed up.   But I think she had fun (in spite of her lack of sleep which she more than made up for throughout the day!)

Scouts and Space Derby

Geography Bee

Jared participated in the Geography Bee this morning and did very well!  He had studied a lot and I was praying that he would be able to do his best and remember the things he had studied.  Well, he ended up getting third place out of the fourth grade.  I am so proud of him!!

Elementary School Science Fair Projects

I am embarrassed to admit that with this many kids, none of them have ever participated in the science fair before this year.  Not that I am against it by any means -- I am all for science!  It is just that I am often feeling just a bit overwhelmed by everything I have to do and also somewhat intimidated by the whole science fair project thing.  In past years, the kids would bring home notes from school asking about their interest in the Science Fair.  I would look over the note and nonchalantly ask, "Would you like to be in the Science Fair?"  They would say, "No thanks."  And I would actually feel somewhat relieved and say, "Okay, well maybe next year." 

Well, this year, Jared (age 10) hasn't really taken a lot of initiative to sign up for anything outside of regular school and scouts. He has been going with the flow and doing very well in school, but I was hoping he would show an interest in some extracurricular activities on his own. So when he came home and said, "I want to do the Science Fair AND the Geography Challenge," I was thrilled! He said he wanted to get some plants and water one with water and one with Coke and see how they grow. 

So we bought him some plants and let him go at it! Janelle (age 7) didn't want to miss out on the fun and so she asked if she could do a Science Fair project too.  I think we chose something a little too difficult for her to do completely independently though (like I said, I am new at this) and so next year we will keep it more simple!  But it has been a great experience for my kids.  I have a feeling that there will be a lot more Science Projects coming from the Jensen family in the future!  Their school Science Fair is next week. I am excited to go and see all of the presentations!

Middle School Science Fair -- Janika 2010

Janika (age 14 -- 8th grade) packed up her Science Fair board to bring it to school complaining, "My project is so lame, I am embarrassed to bring it to school.  It is like something a kindergartener would do."  I assured her that it was fine and that she could do something a little more elaborate next year.  After school she said that the science fair went fine and there were plenty of projects much more juvenile than hers.  Then I get a call from her the next day during school saying that she wasn't even paying attention to the announcements until they said "First place in the category of product testing -- Janika Jensen."  She was extremely surprised to say the least!  

Fun Youth Activity!

We had a deaf youth activity where we invited all of the deaf teenagers in our surrounding area.  Everyone met at the "spinny park" to play "steal the flag" and other games and have pizza.  We had a great turn-out and were absolutely thrilled!  Everyone had such a fun time.  We hope this is just the beginning of what will eventually become a strong, fun youth program for the deaf!!