Janelle 21st Birthday and Solar Eclipse!!

The solar eclipse was pretty cool today! It was so weird having it get kind of overcast when there were no clouds in the sky! Janelle and a group of friends actually drove to Ephraim to watch it! And Jaiden got to see it too at the MTC. Here are a few pics! 

Sister Jaiden Jensen and Sister Udy in the MTC

Janelle and her friends went to Ephraim  They also got to see all of the sheep in the street while they were there, which brings me back to my Snow College days!! 

Chicago Trip (By Janelle)

Visiting Chicago was seriously so fun and such an awesome experience! Me (Janelle), Jared, Jenna, and Dad all went. We started out by heading to the Vegas airport bright and early at 3:00 am on Thursday, October 14th. That was also my birthday, and if waking up at three isn’t the best present ever, I don’t know what is! We flew to Chicago and got there around noon, and then took a train called the Blue Line to downtown Chicago. There was quite the scenery and the buildings were all HUGE! There were so many buildings and the architecture was super well done. We walked down to the hotel and dropped some stuff off and then walked to a restaurant called Portillos. It was really good, we had Italian beef sandwiches that you dip in gravy, and they have cake blended into a shake! It was bomb.

After that we walked to lots of different places like the church they have there, the bean (which was super cool but my dad announced that it was my birthday and at least 100 people started singing to me), and a bunch of other parks. It was super cool. We also walked down by Navy Pier and the view of Lake Michigan was gorgeous. Chicago honestly did a really good job of being a big city but still having clean parks and involving nature. Then we went to Chinatown which was fun! We didn’t stay for very long but bought some souvenirs there which was cool. Then we took the red line back and crashed at the hotel! It was a great day! We did lots of walking (about 9 miles and poor Jenna was complaining for at least 8 of them) and got some super pretty views. 

The next day (Friday, October 15) we got up and ran to the store to get breakfast, and then we were able to go to the Chicago temple! It was really pretty and really good to be there, and this was Jenna’s first time which was exciting. After we went to the temple we went to a restaurant called Giordano's to get some of Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza. It was really good. We had originally been planning to visit six flags on Saturday but decided that we would end up going on Friday night instead. So we chilled at the hotel for a bit and then went to six flags! It was fright fest and super crowded so we didn’t get to ride very many rides, but it was still fun! My favorite that we went on was called Goliath. There weren’t too many scary people around so it wasn’t really a big deal. I don’t like scary people so this was definitely preferable :). Then we went back to the hotel! It was a way fun day!

On Saturday (October 16) Dad had decided he wanted to go to a deaf convention while we were here, so we dropped him off and parked at the church and then walked to the Chicago zoo. We didn’t get to stay super long but it was cool and free which makes it way more cool! We saw zebras, flamingos, monkeys, even snow leopards! And a red panda that was really cute :). When Dad called us saying he was done we headed back to the car to pick him up (Which was quite a ways away so poor dad had to wait for like an hour). Anyway, we picked him up and then we were able to go to the North Side of Chicago and the very edge of the city. It was really cool! It was super diverse and there were so many different languages that were being spoken. Then we went to the Cub Stadium and then we went and got ice cream at a place called Oberweis that was really good and then we got to see Jared’s mission president, President and Sister Shumway. They were really cool people and their goodness just radiated from them. It was super cool to meet them! After that we went back to the hotel! It was a fun day!

On Sunday we spent the day in the south side of Chicago and started out by going to Febbie Shola’s house, who is an awesome Nigerian lady. We couldn’t stay for long because she had to work but she gave us TONS of Nigerian food and a gross soda called Malta. We took it back to the church to eat, it was baked chicken with jollof rice and plantains. It was pretty good! We got to meet Darlene and go to church (and in our free time we went to Obama’s house) and it was really cool! Jared and Darlene were able to share their testimonies in church to fill up time and they were both so powerful. Everyone applauded after Darlene which in itself shows some differences between church here and in St. George haha.

 After church we went to Darlene’s house in the Lowe building and were able to talk to her and hear her conversion story. It was really special, she’s super sweet. She has five children: Sharon, Michael, Goodluck, Goodness, and Goodnews. Gotta love those names! All of the kids were super cute! They also gave us a bunch of Nigerian meat pies, which were actually really good! It was fun to meet with them. Last we visited Abiola and his family, and they were super awesome too! We told them we didn’t need more food, but alas, they still came out with a huge tray of food that we had to eat. They were awesome though and gave dad some traditional Nigerian clothes! It was really cool to meet these people and get a feel for their culture. It was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Darlene Gaston (one of our favorite people!)

Happy Birthday, Janelle!!!

Happy Birthday, Janelle!! Click HERE for her Facebook Post with comments and pictures!! 

 

Janelle is 18!!!

I can't believe that Janelle is officially an adult!! She is such a joy to have in our family! Janelle is easy-going and continuously happy! She has an "attitude of gratitude" and enjoys the simple things in life. She is such a wonderful example to me! She has so much faith and is amazingly consistent with studying her scriptures. I learn so much from her insights and have several "quotes by Janelle" in my own scriptures.

She isn't afraid to try new things. She works hard at whatever she does and I know that I can depend on her! Janelle loves Christmas, Christmas music, singing, lasagna, and the color green! She is especially grateful to have such incredible friends!! Janelle will be an amazing missionary, wife, and mother someday! I am honored to be her mother! Happy Birthday, Janelle!! (Janelle is currently celebrating her 18th birthday by buying a goldfish -- just because she can. Apparently you have to be 18 to buy one!) We love you, Janelle!  (From my Facebook post -- Click HERE to see the pictures and comments!) 

We had cake and ice-cream as a family for Janelle the Sunday before her birthday while Janika and Brandon were in town. The cake shows the number "18" in candles, but in the picture it shows up as "81!"  Boy, she really IS old, ha ha! Click below for her birthday song fail, ha ha! (Wait for it)!

   

Jaiden made Janelle a cute t-shirt that says, "It's called Adulting." It is from a song from a Phineas and Ferb movie and Jaiden played the song on her phone while Janelle opened the gift. Janelle loved it! Her friends decorated her car and gave her some cute little gifts. Her friend, Brea and her mom, brought in pizza for lunch to celebrate! Brea also gave her a beautiful soft blanket and a cute little stocking for Desmond (Janelle's official "adult" purchase -- a new beta fish). 

The speech therapists that Janelle works with for her Internship gave her a little goody bag filled with some fun prizes and her Young Women leader brought over a balloon and some scrunchies. Janelle also received some clothes and shoes and other odds and ends from us. Janelle received a card and money from her Grandma Jensen and her Grandma Westra helped her set up her very own ROTH account! Wow, she really IS an adult now! 

Janelle's friend, Emily Ord, gave her this home-made card. I thought it was so sweet! 

Janelle's 17th Birthday!!

Janelle is 17 today!! Thus the sign drawn by her sister with a reference from Mamma Mia: "You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen..."  We asked Janelle what she wanted for dinner and she wanted Costco lasagna! So that is what we had. Janelle didn't know what she wanted for her birthday and so I just gave the birthday money to her and told her she could go shopping. But she is so busy that she didn't have time to go shopping and so she didn't have anything to open! Her friends decorated her car for her birthday!

Janelle's Birthday and Birthday Party

Janelle is now a teenager!  Happy Birthday, Janelle! 

 

 

 

 Janelle told her friends that her favorite candy was Almond Joy and Recess Peanut Butter Cups.  Look how many she received for her birthday! 

Janelle's Birthday (Harry Potter Themed)

Janelle turned 11 today!  And since 11 is the magical year that children start Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry, Janelle chose this as her theme for her Harry Potter birthday party.  She invited a few friends over on Saturday in order to make dragon eggs, magical potions, decorate cupcakes, and play games.  One of the highlights of the party was our very own special visitor (the "fantastic futura") who came to tell the girls' their future.  Of course he was hilarious and had all of the girls laughing at his funny fortunes.  The girls took home party bags that they decorated themselves to protect their dragon eggs and to house the vanilla popcorn and candy that they got from "Honeydukes Sweet Shoppe."  Janelle loved all of her gifts and spent the rest of the evening playing with them.  She received two secret diaries -- one with a lock and key and the another electronic one that is activated by her voice.  She also loved her Chinese Jump rope and played with it all evening.  It also made a perfect toy for string games such as cat's cradle and Jacob's ladder.  She got a cute water bottle, treats, and colored duct tape that came with a book on how to make cool things out of duct tape.  Everything was just perfect for her!      

 

 

On her birthday she received her official invitation to Hogwarts.  She opened up her presents before school.  From us she got clothes, hair supplies, a bananagram game, and treats.  She also got a card and money from both sets of Grandparents (thank you!).  She brought treats for her school class.  She had caroler rehearsal tonight and the carolers all sang "Happy Birthday" to her in harmony.  I love the way Janelle is always so grateful and appreciative of everything she gets.  She excitedly raved about every gift and said "thank you for making my birthday perfect!"  She is such a sweetheart!