Christmas Newsletter 2014

Here is the link to my Christmas Blog which I update annually!

Jensen Christmas Blog

Christmas Newsletter 2014

We would like to wish our friends and family a very Merry Christmas this season and thank you all for your love and support through the years!   

Here are a few of our highlights from this past year:

In the Spring our family went on a cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico and had a great time!

This summer Janika, Jase, and Jared all had an enjoyable EFY session at SUU in Cedar City and Rick and Wendy had fun being EFY session directors for a week in San Antonio, Texas!

We also celebrated our 20 year anniversary this year!  We enjoyed a fun little get-away, which included seeing the Broadway show, Wicked!   Rick did a remix of the song he wrote for our wedding.  It turned out great, and you can listen to it here:  I Believe in Dreams 20th Anniversary Rendition.

Rick has been busy teaching Seminary at Pine View High School and Institute at Dixie State University.  He decided not to do the Hands and Harmony Carolers this year so that he could participate in an outreach interpreter training program called ICAN.  They have tried desperately to change his sign language from RSL (Rick's Sign Language -- that he learned during his Hands Up years) to ASL (American Sign Language).  He has loved the program and is doing well and has enjoyed interpreting in the community and at DSU for the past several months.

Wendy has also been very busy with the activities and events of all of our children.  She is working part time -- interpreting at Dixie State University as well as in the community.  She was recently called to be the Primary President in our ward and enjoys working with all of the children in the ward and with her awesome presidency! She has also been trying to reteach her husband sign language for 20 years.  She's beginning to see some results. :)

Our kids have been really busy too!  Before graduating from Tuacahn High School, Janika represented her school as the Seminary President as well as the Sterling Scholar in Family and Consumer Science. In April, Janika finished her duties as the Santa Clara City Princess. She spent the summer working at Krave and spending time with her friends.  She is currently attending Snow College on a full-ride scholarship. She has been paying all of her bills herself and has proven that she really can do adult things!  She plans to finish up a year of school and then serve a mission. We are very pleased with her ambition, decisions, and drive.  She's not only beautiful, but smart too!  She has the potential of becoming the "whole package" as soon as she learns how to keep her room clean.

 Janika and her roommates at Snow!

Jase just turned 17.  This past year he got his driver's license, starting dating, and got a job at Arctic Circle.  He does a remarkable job juggling school, work, friends, cross country, and track -- all while continuing to earn straight A's.  He was adventurous on our cruise and decided to try some new cuisine such as frog legs and escargot (below).  The same adventurous attitude has also allowed him to meet LOTS of new female friends.  When they seem interested in his looks / personality / drive / ambition, he quickly hands them a card with his credentials and information on it.  Oh how lucky we are to have a young man who learned from scouting days the true meaning of "be prepared!"

 

 

 

Jared is 14 and in the 9th grade at Snow Canyon Middle School.  His talents include doing flips, juggling balls while riding a unicycle, and running.  He joined Jase on the Cross Country team this year at the High School and recently won first place in his grade in his school's "Turkey Trot."  Jared enjoys playing frisbee and night games with his friends.  Jared has a fun sense of humor and also does very well in school. He enjoys making narcissistic videos with his friends which enlighten all of us about "the daily life and choices of Jared."  As of now, these videos have not been released for public viewing.

 

 

 

Janelle won third place in the fifth grade Geography Challenge and achieved the "Give Me Liberty Award" this year in school.  She just turned 12 and is now attending Lava Ridge Intermediate school where she is getting straight A's.  She recently graduated from Primary and started Young Women's!  The highlight for Janelle this year was playing the part of Brigitta in St. George Musical Theater's "Sound of Music!"  She is quite the "mother hen" and wakes the entire family up at 6:15 a.m. every morning for scripture study.  She also reminds everyone to "wash their hands" and finds other ways to boss everyone around, including her dear old dad.  It's been tough to deal with, but I just keep reminding myself she needs to practice somewhere.  I encourage her to practice on her siblings.

 

 

Jaiden is 10 years old and in the fifth grade. She participated in Jazz/Hip Hop at Trio this year, and is now taking a tumbling class.  She is always having dance parties in the basement and constantly doing cartwheels and splits in the kitchen.  This year she got braces on and then six months later got them off.  Jaiden is in the Arrowhead Elementary School Choir and on Student Council.  She loves hanging out with her friends!  Due to her sister's beckoning, she is able to keep her room clean and wake up for scripture study (sometimes).

  

Braces On... 

 

 Braces Off!

This was an important year for Josh since he turned eight years old and was baptized!  Josh was also excited to start Cub Scouts this year!  Josh is in the third grade and is in the Chinese Dual Immersion Program at school. He says he's learning Chinese at school, but when his dad tries to speak it to him, he can't understand what his dad is saying.  Josh says it is because his Dad is just making up words and doesn't really know Chinese.  I guess Josh doesn't understand RCL (Rick's Chinese Language).  Josh ran his first 5K this year at Swiss Days! He enjoys reading, piano lesson, and playing lots of fun games with his family!

 

 

Jenna is six years old and is as lively and spunky as ever!  She started kindergarten this year and loves it!  She is also in the Mandarin Chinese Dual Immersion Program.  Rick tries to talk to her in Chinese too, but she says the same thing as Josh.  We're wondering what they are teaching them over at that school.  Jenna is VERY social and wants to play with friends every minute of the day!  She loves to dance around the house and do art projects. We're hoping that her art projects will turn into "decorating our yard" in the future, so she can take care of the weeds, grass, trees, etc.

 

 

 At this Christmas Season we wish to express our gratitude for our friends and family and especially for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We are so grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with all of you.  It reminds me of a scripture:  "For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then to vanisheth away"  (James 4:14).  We're grateful to know all of you in this life, and especially to know and learn of HIM.  He is the reason why we have this life.  We hope you are able to have a year of growth and learn of HIM as well during this Christmas season. 

We wish you all the best in 2015!!

Happy Birthday, Jase!!!

 Jase just turned 17.  This past year he got his driver's license, starting dating, and got a job at Arctic Circle.  He does a remarkable job juggling school, work, friends, cross country, and track -- all while continuing to earn straight A's.  He was adventurous on our cruise and decided to try some new cuisine such as frog legs and escargot (below).  The same adventurous attitude has also allowed him to meet LOTS of new female friends.  When they seem interested in his looks / personality / drive / ambition, he quickly hands them a card with his credentials and information on it.  Oh how lucky we are to have a young man who learned from scouting days the true meaning of "be prepared!"

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were glad that Ruthe Ellen could join us for our Thanksgiving meal and for Ultimate Frisbee! 

Jubilee of Trees

Turkey Trot

Jared won first place in his grade and third place? overall.  Great job, Jared -- and thanks for the turkey! 

Jaiden and Josh Scholastic Awards

Great job, kids!

Jaiden's Braces Off!

Doesn't she look fabulous?

Happy Halloween!!

Halloween was fun!  It is nice when the kids are all old enough to plan and put together their own costumes!  All I had to do was put some strips of red material on some black clothes for Josh to be a Ninja, and put some cat-makeup on Jenna and get some nerd glasses for Jaiden.  Everything else they did themselves!

This morning I dropped the kids off to the school and ran to the dollar store and partyland for some glow sticks and Jaiden's nerd glasses.  Then I hurried back for the kindergarten parade.  Jenna had a fun Halloween party in her kindergarten class and then we ate lunch at home and headed back to the school to help Josh with his costume.

Jenna played on the playground for a while and then we watched the parade of kids in their Halloween Costumes.  It was fun to visit with friends while we watched.  Then I brought Jenna and Josh over to a Halloween Party over at the Grants.  They had a great time!

I brought Jaiden, Josh, and Jenna to the little Trunk-Or-Treat that the Young Men/Women put on.  Janelle helped with it since she just started Young Women's a couple of weeks ago.  Jase and Jared didn't help with it since Jase had to work tonight and Jared went straight to a friend's house and then to a Halloween Party with friends. 

The kids enjoyed the Trunk-Or-Treat and were excited to get cotton candy at it!  Then I took them trick-or-treating around that neighborhood even though it was still early.  We came home and got the glow sticks and then went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.  The weather was beautiful as it usually is for this area!

Jaiden was begging to go trick-or-treating with her friends this year instead of with us.  So we moms talked and gave the go-ahead for Emily, Bradley, and Mariposa to go together and told them that they had to have glow-sticks, watch for cars, stay together, and only stay in our neighborhood where we know everyone. 

Josh ended up going trick-or-treating with Seth and his parents and so I only had Janelle and Jenna with me and so it was weird only having two kids.  I missed having Jaiden and Josh with us!  Jenna really wanted to go trick-or-treating with Clarissa and it worked out that we ran into them as they were leaving and so we ended up going around with Clarissa and Audrey and their parents.  The kids had fun and got a TON of candy!  

Rick offered to take the kids the trick-or-treating but I told him that I enjoy taking them out.  I love seeing all of the children in their costumes and visiting with our neighbors and getting exercise in the cool night air.  I told him that he was welcome to come too since we don't get many trick-or-treaters on our street anyway, but he opted to stay home and pass out candy (and fold laundry and clean up). 

We did want someone home, though, since we knew that Janika was coming home and bringing four of her roommates.  They were doing a little road trip this weekend.  They arrived tonight and Rick fed them pizza and then they went out on a group date to Laser Mania and then to a Haunted House put on by a dance company. 

The little kids were very tired by the time we finished trick-or-treating.  The teenagers were all out late.  Jared arrived home from his party about 11:15, Jase got home from work about 11:30, and Janika from her group date about 12:30 a.m.

Our first attempt at putting together a Ninja costume for Josh.  Just put your head through the opening of a black T-shirt and wrap the sleeves around and there you have a Ninja Hood!  (Although I should have wrapped the sleeves in the back, not the front.) 

I thought it was neat that Jared went to school dressed as a missionary!  He and his friend ended up getting a big group of guys to dress up as missionaries too -- a refreshing switch from all of the blood and gore that is out there on Halloween!

I was glad that Jenna wanted to be a tiger again this year so that I didn't have to search for another costume.  She switched to a kitty cat for trick-or-treating tonight though as you will see in the pictures below...

Jenna with her best friend, Clarissa, as Elsa (from Frozen).  Elsa was probably the most popular costume among little girls this year!  There were also quite a few little girls dressed as "Anna."   Clarissa's little sister, Audrey, was Anna and they looked darling!

 Josh and his fellow Ninjas!  Josh said, "I was worried that their costumes would be cooler than mine, but they weren't!  I thought my costume was cooler than theirs!"  Funny Josh!

When Jaiden told me that she wanted to be the "Bisque Guy" from Studio C for Halloween I was skeptical to say the least!  But it turned out really cute!  She came up with this costume completely on her own (and can even mimic his voice).  I just pitched in by picking up the glasses.  Thumbs up to Jaiden for creativity!      

We threw this together the night before Halloween and it actually turned out really well!  We were going to go with a black T-shirt on his head (see first picture) but then I happened to see this little ninja mask (which they aren't allowed to wear at school) at the dollar store and so I picked it up for him to wear with his costume tonight.

 

We had found this dress in our box of dress up clothes (originally made for cave man/woman costume) but we thought it would also work for an Indian girl.  Janelle made a cute Pocahantus!   

 Jenna switching to a kitty costume (which was cute too)!

Poor Jase had to work tonight and miss all of the fun festivities.  He didn't seem to mind though.  I think he is enjoying bringing in the dough!

 Neighborhood Trunk-or-Treat -- with cotton candy!

These pictures were from a couple of weeks ago with Mitch Seely and Peter Pan and Janika as Wendy.  Janika had come home and she and her friends had a big Halloween party before their friend, Alex left on his mission.