1st Place!

Jared's very first scout activity as a new Wolf was the Pinewood Derby on March 23, 2008. He was thrilled to take 1st place overall with his "Iron Rod" car! Jase took 4th place and won "Most Unique Car" with his Elmo car (see next post).

We are so grateful to Uncle Grayson -- a Pinewood Derby Specialist -- for helping the boys make their cars and for driving over four hours with his awesome computerized track to run our AWESOME Pinewood Derby for us!! (I am especially grateful since I am the Cub-Master!)

The Golden Egg

Grandma Jensen threw an Easter party on the same day of Jared's baptism. We all participated in the Easter Egg Bash and all of the grandkids searched for their candy-filled eggs. This year a "silver" egg and a "golden" egg filled with money were also hidden. It must have been Jared's lucky day because not only was he baptized, but he also found the coveted golden egg! Way to go Jared!

Jared's Baptism

Rick baptized and confirmed Jared on March 15, 2008 up in Ogden. Jared was so excited! Janika and Jase sang "I Like To Look For Rainbows," and Jared's Aunt Gerilyn and Grandpa Westra gave the talks. Jared bore such a simple sweet testimony afterwards. After the baptism we all celebrated with a dinner of Jared's favorite foods at Grandma and Grandpa Jensens afterwards. We are so proud of you Jared!

Trip To Zions

Over the weekend we went camping with our friends, Laymon and Tara Adams and their kids: Heather, Logan, McCabe, Kaylee, and Hannah. Their four youngest are the same ages as Janika, Jase, Jared, and Janelle. so the kids had fun playing together.

It was quite cold during the night so I didn't sleep much but the kids seemed to do okay -- except Josh had a screaming fit for about 15 minutes at 4:30 in the morning which I am sure all of the nearby camp-sites heard!

Zions -- Day Two

Top Row: Jase, Heather, Janika, Jared, McCabe

Bottom Row: Logan, Hannah, Tara, Josh, Kaylee, Janelle, and Jaiden



Today was Jared's eighth birthday (Saturday, March 8th). It was a beautiful day and perfect for hiking.

We went on a long and fairly difficult hike (well it was only about 2.7 miles round trip but felt like three times that long) but the kids did great! I was amazed at how well little Jaiden did! She didn't complain at all. The waterfalls and ponds were really neat and worth the effort to see. When we finally reached the highest of the Emeralds Pools and waterfall Jared was playing around on a big rock and fell into the water. He was soaking wet and had to hike the whole way back in wet shoes and socks. (That's him in the blue shirt and camouflage pants hiding his head). He was in a pretty bad mood for awhile after that!

There was snow at the pools as you can see in the background with Josh and I. I was glad that I felt well since I was right in the middle of the morning sickness part of my pregnancy!

Hiking at Zions

February 15th our friend, Michelle Robinson (in purple), flew out from California to spend a few days with us. She and Rick met while Rick was on his mission to Santa Rosa, California, and they have kept in touch ever since. This is the first time she got to meet all of our kids in person! During her visit we went to Zions for some hiking. The trails still had quite a bit of snow and ice on them and so we weren't able to get very far, but we still had a good time sight-seeing. It was on this trip that we made the announcement to our kids that they would be getting a new sibling this Fall! They were excited and immediately started throwing out every "J" name they could think of!

2007 Christmas Newsletter

Merry Christmas from the Jensens!  We hope you are enjoying this season as we all reflect on our Savior and the many blessings we have been given.  We have enjoyed catching up on your lives and would like to share an update on our family as well.

Janika just turned twelve and is an absolute delight – I would be tempted to keep her this age for a few more years if I could!  She is a wonderful baby-sitter to her younger siblings and is a fantastic cook.  She LOVES to sing and has sung many solos this year.  She has thoroughly enjoyed school choir and especially enjoys performing as a Hands in Harmony Caroler.  She is a very good student in all her subjects and was one of the winners of the Reflections contest in literature. 

Jase just turned ten. This year he participated in soccer, school choir, piano lessons, and scouts.  This was his first year performing as one of our Hands in Harmony Carolers and he did an awesome job!  He loves friends and video/computer games.  He is a top student in all his subjects and enjoys playing football and basketball with his friends.

Jared is seven.  He is very energetic and LOUD!  This year he was involved with soccer and piano.  He loves to play with friends and with his brothers and sisters.  He is a good artist and writes fun stories with illustrations.  He is also a great performer (when he is willing).  He just sang a duet with Jase for our ward Christmas party and everyone commented on what a little ham he was.     

Janelle turned five in October.  She loves writing her name and has taught herself to write a few words like “go” and “cows.”  After writing pages and pages of “Go Cows Go!” we concluded that we had better start expanding her repertoire of words.  She is sensitive and  always concerned for everyone.  When Josh had his finger pricked at a doctor’s appointment and then put his finger in his mouth she worriedly exclaimed, “Josh just ate blood – is going to turn into a vampire?” She is very imaginative and outgoing and will talk to anyone who will listen.

Jaiden is three and a half and still as feisty as ever.  She goes to pre-school with Janelle.  She and Janelle are very good friends and are constantly playing (or fighting).  Seconds after they get into an argument Jaiden will ask Janelle, “Can we be friends again?”  Jaiden has no fears. One time Wendy saw a spider in the living room and Jaiden shouted, “I will save you Mommy!”  Then she sang, “Super Girl!” as she ran into the room with her Kleenex as a weapon.  The spider was flushed in no time!

Josh is twenty months.  He loves to run around the house, dance in circles to music, and empty all of the spices out of the cupboards.  He loves to play outside and insists on being where all of the action is!  He says lots of words and has a big smile and contagious laugh. When he wants something he points to it and shouts, “I do!”   

Rick was taking classes towards his Ph.D. earlier this year, but since we weren’t moved to an area where the program is taught, he couldn’t really continue.  So he decided to go ahead and direct the Hands in Harmony Carolers again this year.  He was also involved with EFY again – session directing in Logan, and teaching in Idaho and Virginia.  This year he was transferred to the middle school for Seminary and absolutely loves it.  He is less than a mile from home and so he walks to work (and Wendy walks with him to keep him company).  

Wendy stays home with the kids but still does a little free-lance interpreting for the Deaf as well.  Last Spring she compiled and wrote the e-book “Celebrating Motherhood: A Tribute To Mothers,” which many of you contributed to (thank you!) 

Rick and Wendy co-taught at a local tri-stake couples’ conference and also taught the youth and family class for a seven-week “Strengthening Families” program in St. George. 

We had a little break from the kids by going to Jackson Hole in the Spring and celebrated our 13^th wedding anniversary in July by taking a week-long cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. We also had some fun vacations with the kids including a week long stay at our time-share at Powder Ridge.

We feel very grateful for our family and friends and especially for our knowledge of the Savior. We wish all of you a wonderful Christmas and fantastic new year!