Black Friday and Rudolph

Months ago I ordered six tickets for Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Tuacahn for Thanksgiving weekend, thinking that the married kids would be in town and we could all go together as a family. I thought Jenna might be interested since she had been in the Jr. version of the show at Lava Ridge last year. But Janika and Brandon weren't able to come for Thanksgiving and Jase and Ellen weren't able to either. So it ended up just being me, Rick, Jaiden, and Jenna (Josh had other plans) and so I told Jaiden and Jenna that they could invite a friend. Jaiden brought her boyfriend, Maddox, and Jenna invited Bria (Maddox's little sister). The show was darling! We really enjoyed it! Afterwards Jenna and Bria went to a friend's house and Jaiden and Maddox came over to decorate gingerbread houses! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a really nice Thanksgiving -- it was very chill! There were just six of us -- Rick, Wendy, Jared, Jaiden, Josh, and Jenna. Janika, Brandon, and Everett were in Bear Lake with Brandon's family, and Jase and Ellen were with Ellen's family. Baby Eli was finally able to leave the NICU and come home on Tuesday, so that was a nice Thanksgiving blessing for them! 

Jenna was a HUGE help with the Thanksgiving dinner this year! Wednesday our whole family put up the Christmas decorations in the house along with the outside lights. Jaiden's boyfriend, Maddox, came over to help and he and I did the outside lights. Putting up the Christmas decorations is always such a big job and took most of the day. Jenna started on the Pre-Thanksgiving cooking for tomorrow. She made the pretzel-jello and some pumpkin spice bread. Later that night I took Josh Christmas shopping (Fashion Runway and Ross) and Jenna continued cooking, making the gluten free stuffing and candied yams all by herself without even being asked. She did an awesome job on everything too -- everything turned out perfectly!  

Thursday morning I prepped the turkey and started the turkey cooking (turkey bag) in the oven and the kids started peeling and cutting the potatoes. Jared came over early to help. The kids set the table and then played video games (Mario, Boomerang Fu, and Smash Bros). The turkey finished right on time, but I still had several things that needed cooking. So I took out the turkey and left it in the bag and covered it with foil and put a couple of towels over that to keep it warm. That worked well and I was able to finish cooking the yams, the gluten free stuffing, and rolls in the oven while we cooked the regular stove, gravy, and vegies on the stove. I had cooked the turkey neck and giblets and used those juices for the gravy, so we didn't have to carve the turkey too early. 

I didn't have Rick carve the turkey until everything else was pretty much finished. That worked out well because then the turkey didn't get cold (like it sometimes does) before everything was ready. The turkey was very moist and delicious and just fell off the bone! Jenna had done a great job with her cooking -- everything turned out just right! We had a very nice meal. Rick was feeling a bit off this morning and was starting to feel dizzy, and so he went to take a long nap while we all cleaned up. 

After everything was cleaned up, everyone took a nap and then I went for a walk in the sunshine. Then the kids played more video games and then we all watched a Hallmark movie. It was a lovely day! 

And putting up Christmas Decorations (yesterday) -- I didn't get pictures of the inside decorations yet...

We had a plain green wreath, which I decorated with leftover Tree Ornaments

And Jenna decorated her room! 

Happy Birthday, Rick!!

Janika and Brandon gave Rick a luggage scale and magnetic hooks that you can hang on the wall while cruising! Tonight Rick and I went out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse for his birthday. It really good! The only down side was that we had a gift card which didn't work! They apologized and said that they had never been able to get the cards from this particular company to work. Since they couldn't get it to work they gave us $12.50 off to try and make up for it. Rick is going to try and follow up with the company to see if he can get some answers! 

Rick pretending to be on a diet...

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Grandma's Little Peanut

This week was the usual interpreting and so forth. I went to a parent meeting for Madrigals for a Jazz Festival at Northern Arizona University in February. It kind of sounds like caroler type music! Janika, Brandon, and Everett came to visit this weekend, so that was fun! We went to Josh's soccer game Friday night, it was freezing! We got a quick bite to eat at Rumbi's on the way home. Saturday morning I had an interpreter workshop on Body Positivity. It was interesting. Josh had activities for Sadies all day long. 

We got to play with Everett -- he had a cute little shirt on that said "Grandma's Little Peanut!" 😂 While Everett was napping Janika and Brandon and I took a tour of the traveling tabernacle. It was neat! Then I brought Jenna and Grace Christmas shopping. That night we watched Disenchanted (a sequel to Enchanted.) But Enchanted was WAY better and so this one was a disappointment. We had church today and then spent time with the family!  

Josh, Sadies

Josh went to Sadies today and had a good time! For the day date they went hiking at Snow Canyon and then went to In-N-Out Burger for lunch and then went Walmart to do a scavenger hunt. Then they went to Anna Basso's grandparents' house and made home-made pizzas for dinner and while the pizzas were cooking they went to do pictures and then went to the dance (held in the gym). After the dance they went to Anna Basso's grandparents' house to go hot-tubbing. Josh enjoyed this dance a lot more than Homecoming since he didn't have to play or pay for anything, ha ha! 

Pictured: Mason Ballantyne/Anna Basso, Daniel Packard/Lindsey, Josh Jensen/Kylie Bray, Adam Parkhurst/Ashley Harris, Caleb Parkhurst/Emma Bray

Baby Eli, Two Weeks!

I finally got to see baby Eli! He is two weeks old today and as precious as can be!

 

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandma Westra!

My mom turned 80 on Monday! She looks and acts way too young to be 80! I emailed all of my siblings and suggested that we do a dinner for her to celebrate. Everyone thought it would be a great idea and so we planned on tonight. I had the farthest to come since everyone else lives up North. I left Friday morning (after helping set up flags in our neighborhood for Veteran's Day) and then drove four hours to Janika's place to visit with her and Everett for a couple of hours before heading to my mom's. My family all met at Asian Star for a nice meal and then mom and I watched a movie and then did an exercise swim the next morning. I was able to go see my newest grandbaby, Eli on the way home! It was a quick trip -- but worth it! Happy Birthday, Mom! 

ASL Board of Education!!

Rick was recently in the Church News. You can read the article HERE! 

L to R: Elder Mella (Area Seventy), Emmalee Christensen (S&I Teacher/ Chair of FSDY & Deaf Symposium), Bishop Hodson(SLV 2nd Ward), President Sutton (Mesa Branch), President Merrill (DC Branch), Elder Peter M. Johnson, (General Authority Seventy), Bishop Ballard (Provo Ward), President Hancock (FL Branch), Rick Jensen (S&I ASL Coordinator), President Stringham(Provo Stake)

Jenna, Into the Woods

Jenna decided to audition for Snow Canyon High School's play, Into the Woods. None of us are fans of that particular play, but figured that it would give her some experience. Middle Schoolers are allowed to audition, but typically get very small parts, and Jenna was no exception. She was cast in the very minor role of Sleeping Beauty. I think it was difficult being in such a small part after playing the child lead role of Jane Banks in Mary Poppins three years ago. But in spite of all of the work and little stage time, she is still glad that she did it. She made some great friends, especially with Maddox's younger sister, Bria Thompson, who is now a part of her friend group. So that alone made it worth it! She wore Janika's former prom dress for her costume and looked beautiful! Many of her friends came out to support her in the show. She is so lucky to have such amazing friends! 

Jaiden came down for the weekend to watch the show on Friday night. She came early to warm ups to pass out mini martinellis for the cast members (which I guess is an alumni tradition). She also brought roses for each of the seniors!