Jensen Talent Show!

Tonight we had a talent show for our family and for my mom and dad who arrived in town for a visit this week.   Rick put Janelle in charge and helped her make invitations.  For the program Jaiden danced to "All The Single Ladies," and Jenna also did a dance.  Rick played the piano, "I Am a Child of God" while everyone sang.  Janelle showed her art work and played the piano.  Janika and Jase sang the duet "What I've Been Looking For" from High School Musical (they sounded really good together!).  Jared wanted to show off his flips and so I videotaped him at Anti-Gravity the other day and then he and Rick put together a youtube video showing off his skill!  It is AWESOME!  You can view it here:  Trampoline Tricks.   Josh showed off his running skills by running around the rug, and I signed "I Can Hear the Bells" from Hairspray while Janika sang it.  She sounded awesome by the way.  Overall it was a fun little show and helped Grandma and Grandpa to see some of their grand-kids' amazing talents! 

Las Vegas

Rick and I just got back from a little overnight trip to Las Vegas.  We went to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary and also to attend the Deaf Expo. It was interesting to see so many deaf people and to see sign language going on wherever we went -- I have never seen so many deaf people in the same place at the same time!   There was some live entertainment going on and book signings from some deaf actors and actresses (Marlee Matlin, Sean Beady, and a couple others.)  

Vegas has changed a lot since I have been there (several years ago).  They have done away with almost all of the free attractions they used to have (and cheap food).  Now everything costs money and is very expensive.  The Titantic and Human bodies exhibitions were $50.00 a person!  And the shows a lot more than that.   So we didn't go to any of those -- just went to the expo for a few hours and then had dinner and walked up and down the strip.  We were on our feet all day and probably walked at least seven or eight miles.   We must be out of shape because we were both sore from it.  Rick is so sore he is walking around slowly like an old man!   It was nice to get away though and just relax and have some good meals and good company.  Janika did a wonderful job babysitting overnight and brought all of the kids to their swimming lessons this morning.

Fifties Party

We were invited to Phil Theobald's 50th SURPRISE party.  They had a fifties theme.  We just love the Theobalds -- they are such an awesome family!  And they all sing!  We always joke about how we wish one of our kids would marry one of their kids.  One can always hope, right?  The party was a lot of fun.  The girls dressed up (including me).  The boys didn't dress up but they had fun too.  I mean they served hamburgers (hot off the grill), chips, and shakes -- what's not to like?  The kids were in heaven!

 Josh wore his Star Wars shirt even though I told him that Star Wars was not around in the fifties.  He didn't care.  The girls had fun dancing around to the fifties music, Rick and I got a few dances in, and even Josh asked me if I would dance with him.  (Which is pretty surprising!)  It was so fun to listen to Phil play his guitar and sing (he even sang "Happy Anniversary" to us -- 18 years today!)   On the way home I stopped to take a picture of the gorgeous sunset over the temple, but the picture didn't really capture it.   Fun evening!

 

Flips!

I brought all of these boys to Anti-Gravity.  I brought reading material but had more fun watching them do their tricks!

 

 

Time Alone -- Splash Pad

Rick signed up to teach at EFY in Ogden on the 24th of July and offered to bring all of the kids with him to spend a couple of days with family so that I could get some time to myself.  I was SO excited!  Ever since we've had kids I don't think I've ever been home alone for two whole days!  I've been on several 7-10 day trips with Rick away from the kids, but never where I had the house to myself.  When Josh was a baby, Rick brought all of the other kids up North for a few days and Josh stayed home with me.  But this is the first time being completely alone at home.  I didn't really have any grand plans -- I just wanted to relish in the quiet and catch up on some computer and cleaning projects.  Since I didn't have anyone to cook for I just made big salads for my lunch and dinners.

Monday my visiting teacher came over for a visit and then I worked for several hours on my college curriculum updating it for the upcoming year and then went to a meeting with the other college ASL teachers.   I stopped at the library and got a bunch of books on CD to listen to while cleaning the house.  I enjoy listening to books on CD while I work but when all of the kids are home it is way too noisy with too many distractions.  It was weird to have the house so quiet.  On Monday a few of the kids' friends called or came over, but as soon as I told them that the kids would be out of town for a couple of days the phone and doorbell stopped ringing.  Well, I guess I can see who the popular ones around here are (and it is not me!)

Tuesday morning I had a visiting teaching appointment to see some sisters in our Deaf Branch.  Sister Slobe picked me up and we headed to the two sisters' homes.  After our appointments I worked on one of my blurb history books and cleaned out the laundry room.  I heard the fireworks and watched a few of them from my daughter's bedroom window.  But that wasn't too exciting without the kids and I was tired so I went to bed.

Wednesday I went running/walking and then did laundry, cleaning, and computer work.  I caught up on a few blog entries but I am still far behind!  My family returned around dinner time and I had dinner waiting for them (although they weren't too thrilled with having potatoes and squash for dinner but that is what we had available).  I really enjoyed the quiet time but was also glad for my noisy brood to return home safely.  I know that someday I will probably have far too much quiet, alone time and will wish for noise and company.  But just a little of it now and again in this stage of life is welcome and heavenly!!

P.S.  In Ogden, Gerilyn and Grandma Jensen took the kids to the Splash Pad while Janika stayed at Gerilyn's house to work and earn money towards a new comforter for her bed.  Here are the splash pad pictures!

 

 

Congratulations Haulee and Shane!!

Congratulations Haulee and Shane on your beautiful baby girl!!

Facebook announcement from from Julie:

Yesterday was such a special day for our family Miss Jhi Jules Nishikawa came to us!!!! 8.5 21 Inches long!!! She has lots of beautiful hair and looks like her Daddy! We all love her so much!!!!! Haulee was a trooper and worked so hard all day and Shane never left her side! We love you all so much! So it's official i'm a Grammy!

Painting

Janika has wanted to redo her room for a long time.  So we finally gave in and purchased the paint for her -- bright green (her favorite color) and black for the accents (shelves, desk, window seat...).  Her room before had one purple wall (as shown in the picture and three yellow walls).  She pretty much did the whole thing all by herself -- which was a huge job!  It took her two full days and she really did an awesome job.  She used this as one of her big Young Women's projects.  Rick came in near the end and helped her finish off the job with the last coat and some final touches.

 It turned out so cute.  Here is a picture of the process.  I will post a picture of the (almost) finished room when she actually cleans it again.  I say "almost" because she needs to find some new handles for the dresser and desk drawers and  attach them, repaint her skinny desk drawer, find some material to make a cover for her window seat cushion and get new blinds.  But at least most of the big stuff is done! 

 

Jenna Funnies

Jenna is at such a cute stage right now.  She is three years old and will be four in October.  She loves to dress up in princess dresses or ballerina tutus and get her nails painted.  Here are a few of the cute things she has said lately: 

Jenna put on her shoes and asked, "Are these on the right feet?"  I said, "No."  Then she lifted up her right foot and put it over and next to her left foot so that her legs were crossed and said, "Now are they on the right foot?"

Jenna woke up this morning and looked outside and said, "Look outside!  It is a beautiful day to play with friends!"

Jenna asked Gerilyn, "What is your favorite color?"  Gerilyn told her that she didn't have a favorite color -- she liked all of them.  Jenna said, "Lynn -- God says you can't go to heaven if you don't have a favorite color!" 

Jenna was standing on a little plastic playhouse in a way that her legs were in semi-splits.  She exclaimed:  "This is awkward!"

Jaiden was giving Jenna a piggy back ride and started running with her and Jenna said, "Don't startle me!"

When giving Jenna a stern "talking to" about some things she had done wrong, including lying, she said in a very worried voice, "But I am repenting!"

Jenna was helping me do some work around the house and I said, "You are such a great little helper!  (She beamed).  Then I said, "You are my little buddy!"  To this she exclaimed, "I am NOT your little buddy!  Buddies are boys, I am a girl!"

Jenna was over playing at a neighbor's house and when I went to pick her up I overheard them saying something about getting married.  I said, "So you two were pretending to get married?"   With wide eyes Jenna said seriously, "No, we real got married.  He kissed me -- on the lips!  I tried to get away but he was too fast!"  (I guess she is going to have to learn to run a little faster to get away from those boys!)

We love you, Jenna!

San Diego continued