BFF Romantic Corner: Candlelight Dinner

Tonight Jenna (age 11), asked if she and her friend, Clarissa, could fix Rick and I a special candlelight dinner for our date tonight! We wholeheartedly agreed! They did such a fabulous job! They dressed up as cute little fancy waitresses, decorated the stairs and basement with candles, played soft music, and served us a delicious meal of tacos, followed by dessert. First they called their "restaurant" JC's Romantic Corner (J for Jenna and C for Clarissa). But before the end of the night they switched the name to BFF Romantic Corner. After the meal they cleaned up the kitchen so that we could watch a movie. It was the perfect date! Love these cute girls!!

We tipped them $10.00 ($5.00 for each of them). They were really happy with that!! Here is the Facebook Post with comments! 

Besties on Picture Day!

 Waiting for the bus...

Cute Little Entrepreneurs!!

Jenna got a cute miniature snow cone machine with a hand crank a month or so ago. (You can see it in the picture with a white handle and green lid). She is constantly making snow cones and trying to sell them to family and friends. So when Cortnie invited her to help with her lemonade stand she jumped at the chance! These girls sold lemonade (and snow cones -- until they ran out of ice) for about an hour (in the heat) and made about $22.00. They split up the money and each walked away with $5.50. Guess what Jenna is saving her money for? A bigger and better snow cone machine!

SHAC: Jenna and Friends

Sand Hollow Aquatic Center was closed a good part of the summer while the dome was being fixed, but opened back up in July. Allison offered to bring the girls since they all had a free pass on the starving student card that needed to be used by August 31. I am so grateful that Jenna has such good friends to spend time with! 

Fun in the River!!

Allison brought the kids to play in the river nearby. They had a blast! Gorgeous scenery!

Jenna's Graduation Party

A few days ago Jenna asked me if she could have a few friends over for a little graduation party tonight. I said that would be fine and put her completely in charge. She made invitations and delivered them to her three best friends, Clarissa, Anna, and Lindsey and asked them to each bring a treat. The party was scheduled from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m..

At noon I brought Jaiden to dance (she drove for driving practice) and then brought Josh to Walmart so that he could get some things with the gift card he got from the Orthodontist and then we drove back to pick up Jaiden. When we got home at 2:45 Jenna's friends were already at the house. They were all sitting around the kitchen table coloring pictures that she had printed off. I said, "I thought the party started at 7:00!" I guess they decided to start four hours early, ha ha!!

The girls had a great time at the party and I didn't have to do a thing! They all brought treats and Jenna made some snacks too. They had a dance party in the basement, went swimming, and then played Jackbox. Terrific girls!!

Jenna Fifth Grade Graduation from Arrowhead Elementary

My baby girl just graduated from Elementary School! I am excited to see my little girl move on, but I am also sad to close this chapter of my life. All seven of my kids graduated from Arrowhead Elementary School and so this school will always hold a special place in my heart! I am grateful to the amazing teachers and staff at Arrowhead! I will miss them! I will miss everything that accompanies elementary school -- the classes, the programs, the field trips, the holiday parties, the choir performances, the plays, the music demonstrations, the field days, the fun runs, the family weeks, the competitions, and even the Science Fairs! I will miss spirit-day on Fridays and the Halloween parade around the track. I will miss walking through the hallways and seeing art work on the walls. Arrowhead Elementary was built in 2005, the year my son Jared started kindergarten. So even though all of my kids graduated from there, he was the first one to attend all six years there, followed by all the rest of my kids. I will always have fond memories of the fifteen years my children attended Arrowhead! Farewell Arrowhead Elementary! We love you!

Because of restrictions due to Covid-19 the fifth graders had a "drive-through graduation." We all drove up to the school and hopped out of the car to take a picture of our son or daughter with their teachers, watch them receive their awards, and then take a few more pictures in front of the school. A few days ago this cute "Give Me Liberty" sign showed up in front of our house. So fun! Jenna made these cute little clay figures for each of her teachers -- one for Mrs. Sparks and one for Mrs. Ping. She loved both of her teachers! Mrs. Sparks had several of the Jensen clan pass through her classroom through the years. We will miss her! 

Clarissa's mom, Allison, sent me this cute picture of Clarissa and Jenna on their first day of school when they were starting kindergarten and their last day of school, graduating from Fifth Grade! I am so glad that these two are still best friends!

And some pictures of Arrowhead...

EFY Jaiden 2019

I had so much fun at EFY this year!! I went with my friend Emily Williams. We went to the BYU Provo session, and our session had 1,500 people!! It was the biggest session of the summer! The theme for EFY this year was "Trust with all thine heart." I had such a great company and my counselors were named Mariyah and Grant. My companies name was "The dead rise" (1st Corinthians 15:29).

After we first checked in, we went to our dorms and met the girls in our company. They were super fun! And there was 2 other girls from Snow Canyon there! Our dorm was in the middle which means that our dorm is where we would always meet. After we got to know our counselor, we went up to meet the boys in our company. They are also way fun! When we were done playing some get to know you games, we went to the EFY orientation. We got to see our whole session and meet our session directors! Our session is HUGE!!!

After dinner, we met with our company for FHE. First our session directors gave us a lesson, and then we went to our company spot to play some games and do goal setting. Then we walked back to our dorms and had reflect and review. We lived in Helaman Halls, so we had to walk like 5 MILES to get everywhere. But I like staying in Helaman because you get your own bathrooms.

On Tuesday we had our morning devotional and then we went to breakfast. After that, we had our gospel study, and then went to our morning side. Then we had our first two morning classes. The first two classes are the same for every teacher. They were recognizing the spirit, and finding answers to questions. They were really good! After that we had lunch and then we headed off to our afternoon classes. The classes that my friends and I went to were called "A peak at the playbook: scouting Satan's game plan" and "3 ways you can lose your testimony and not know it." They were both super good classes! Then during free time, Emily and I had our variety show tryout. We were singing a song called "Super Friend" from the flash. It was really fun! We didn't make it in though because there was like 3 katrillion people who tried out. After that we had dinner and then did our cheer and banner prep for games night. Then, we went to the dance!!!! It was so much fun!! I literally love dances. I danced every single slow song!! After that, we got ready for bed and did R&R.

On Wednesday, we did our devotional, gospel study, and breakfast and then we went to the morningside. Then we went to our classes. The morning classes that I went to were, "Sharing your faith with testimony, tolerance, and love" and "Our individual influence." They were both super good classes!! Then after lunch we had our afternoon classes. Mine were "Safely anchored through faith in Christ" and "Your dreams vs. God's will." and these classes were also awesome!! After that we had free time and Me, Emily, and some of our friends went bowling. It was a party!! Then after dinner we had games night!! It was so fun! Then we had pizza night which was also a party! Our counselor kept taking funny bitmoji videos and sending them to the boys and it was hilarious. Then we did R&R and went to bed.

On Thursday we did the devotional, breakfast, and gospel study, and then we split up for the young mens and young womens activity. We learned about the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. It was really cool! Then the young women went to the morningside which was also super good! After that, we had lunch and then the variety show!! It was really good!! Then we had free time, and then dinner. After that we had the musical program and the fireside. It was super good! Then we sang the EFY medley and went to our testimony meetings. It was good! Then, because it was the fourth of July, we got to watch FIREWORKS!!!! It was soooooo much fun!! They were like playing music and we were just all having a party! But then by the time we got to bed it was probably almost one in the morning! Because our dorms were closer to the fireworks they had to close them all off. And then once we got ready for bed, Emily and I had to plan our devotional.

On Friday, since we got to bed so late the night before, we skipped breakfast and slept in. It was great!! We met up with the boys for gospel study and then we went to the morningside. After that we did our sharing the gospel activity and learned how we can be better missionaries. Then we went to lunch. After that we had the session showcase and it was awesome!! We were all super pumped and we basically had a dance party!! After that we had free time and my friends and I went bowling again, and then we also went to this way cool art museum thing. After that we had dinner and then we took pictures with our company. Then we went to the dance!!!! It was soooooo fun!! I danced every slow dance again!! After that, we did our taking it home message and then we did our company taking it home and we reviewed our goals and stuff. When we were saying goodbye to our company I cried so much!! I miss them all!!

Then on Saturday, we just packed up and left. I miss everyone so much!! EFY is so fun and is a really cool experience. It really strengthened my testimony and helped me to become a better person.

Jaiden's Birthday and Southwest Dance Concert!!

Jaiden's birthday was on the same day as opening night of her dance concert. She had a dress rehearsal from 9:00 to 1:00 p.m. and then the girls in her dance concert took her out to lunch for her birthday! Meanwhile her friends at home decorated her room and set up a scavenger hunt for her. She has such great friends!!

  
   

 My cute Beehive, Sofie, was in the concert too and so I gave her flowers and a hug too! 

 

  

Jaiden Jensen is 15 years old today! She is beautiful inside and out and so talented! She is intelligent, kind, a great friend, a leader, a singer, a dancer, an actress, a great student, and has a wonderful sense of humor. I am so grateful to have her as a daughter!! Happy Birthday, Jaiden!!

Jenna, First Day of Kindergarten

First day of kindergarten! Best friends, Clarissa and Jenna!!