Deaf Branch Party

 We had a fun time at our Deaf Branch Christmas party! We ate delicious food, watched a Nativity program, got surprises from Santa and enjoyed good company. A big thanks to all who helped put this together!

Thank you to Janika Jensen and Jenna Jensen for portraying Mary and Baby Jesus! 

Caroling

We went caroling...

It was cold. No one could hear us sing. We could barely hear each other sing. I was paranoid that one of my kids might fall off the hay wagon. I couldn't wait to drink my hot chocolate and get back to my nice warm house. I think I'll have Rick take the kids next year...

Happy Birthday Janika!

Well, I am officially the parent of a TEENAGER -- EEEK!! Janika is an awesome daughter. I mean she definitely has her moments, but overall she is a joy to be around. When we go to parent teacher conferences, her teachers all praise her up and down (except they do say she is just a little bit too quiet.) One teacher says she wishes Janika would be just a little bit naughty for once! But she needn't worry -- Janika saves all those times for home.

Janika certainly fits the "oldest child syndrome" -- you know, responsible, high-achiever, confident, and BOSSY! She often takes on the role of a parent and tries to discipline the kids. I have to remind her that she can't order the kids around (only Dad and I can do that!) Except when she is baby-sitting...

Janika is a great cook. For Thanksgiving I turned several of the salads over to her. She is a natural nurturer. Not only does she help tremendously with the kids but she watches out for mom and dad too. She overheard me complaining that I was always hungry (after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease). She started making me all of these little containers of fruit jello and little gluten-free treats. She then labeled them all with "MOM" in permanent marker and yelled at anyone else who tried to touch them.

School comes easy for her. She gets all of her homework done without parental involvement and gets straight "A's." She gets herself up early and off to school without any prodding on my part. In fact, I hate to admit this, but I am usually still in bed when she leaves for school. Janika is perfectly at ease singing a solo in public. Her first solo (in sacrament meeting) was when she was just three years old. She has a lovely voice that will continue to blossom as she gets older. She and her dad performed in Les Miserables at Tuacahn all last summer and Janika loved it. She has also enjoyed performing with the Hands in Harmony Carolers and in the Honor's Choir at her school.

Janika is skilled with her hands as evidenced by all her projects including making Capri-Sun bags. She is showing an interest in sewing which we are very happy about (especially since I don't sew). Someone needs to pass down those wonderful homemaking skills! Janika is also skilled with the computer. I go to her for help if I don't know how to do something. She loves blogging (especially reading blogs of her friends and family). Janika makes good choices. She says her prayers, reads her scriptures, writes in her journal, dresses modestly, and is kind to others. If someone is being left out at school Janika is the type of person that will intervene and be friendly to that person.

We are so grateful to have Janika for our daughter! I know that being the oldest of seven children can be difficult sometimes. She ends up with a lot of responsibility placed on her shoulders. She handles is so well and is a huge help to me -- I don't know what I would do without her. Thanks Janika -- we are so proud of you! We love you -- Happy Thirteenth Birthday!!

Pirate Island Pizza

Tonight we celebrated Jase and Janika's birthday by taking them to Pirate Island Pizza. This is a new place in our area and it is decked out with all sorts of pirate decor including a huge pirate ship. Janika and Jase were each allowed to bring one friend. They had a fun time playing all of the games in the arcade and trading their earned tickets in for prizes. They ate kids' meals and a group sang to them (including Jack Sparrow!) and gave them fried ice-cream. They all had a great time and came back to our house afterwards for a movie.

Playing in Leaves

The kids were out playing in the leaves...yes, in December!! They were having so much fun laughing, throwing, rolling around, and burying each other. I had to stop what I was doing and grab my camera!

Janelle's Kindergarten Program

Janelle was so excited to have us come hear her sing in her little Kindergarten Christmas program. She kept saying, "Remember -- you need to come to the school tonight and hear me sing." I assured her that we wouldn't miss it! Our little Rudolph was so dang cute!

Happy Birthday Jase!

Jase just turned 11 today! He is a fifth grader at Arrowhead Elementary -- here he is with his Reflections Entry in Photography. We didn't do too much today for his birthday, but we have a fun evening planned for him this weekend. Here is just a little bit about Jase. The poor kid probably always feels like he is being picked on. Janika is always giving him a hard time about certain habits such as: popping out his chin, wearing shoes without socks, popping gum all over his face, and forgetting to brush his teeth or take a shower. But they are still great friends. Jase collects Capri-Sun wrappers everyday at recess for the bags that she makes and picks her up from the bus stop (on his roller-blades) whenever he gets out before she does. Janika is always excited to tell him funny things that happened at school.

I give Jase a hard time too when he talks in a LOUD voice right next to me, or when he rides around in circles in the kitchen on his Heelys instead of cleaning the kitchen or when he wipes all of the food onto the floor when washing the table. Jase really is a great kid though. He always gets himself up on time and ready for school without any prodding. Janika says that if he doesn’t get up she just tells him that the toilet is overflowing. He bolts right up. When the younger kids wake up early he is good about getting them breakfast and turning on a show for them. He often tends the kids for me in the morning while I go for a walk. Jase is responsible and remembers when he has an obligation – like going to scouts, or taking out the garbage.

Jase is really bright in all of his subjects and is part of the Excel Learning Program at school which is an accelerated program for some of the advanced kids. He almost always gets his homework done without me having to remind him and he gets excellent grades in school. (Even if he does complain about too much homework).

Jase has an incredible memory (I remember him beating me at memory when he was only three years old). He is good at chess and other games of strategy and last year he was the top Fourth Grader in the Geography Challenge and went on to compete at District. He was a great Cub Scout and earned pretty much everything you can earn -- including the Arrow of Light. Now that he is eleven, he will be going on to Boy Scouts. I am sure he will go on to get his Eagle Scout and he will be a great missionary someday. He is a good leader and is confident and perfectly at ease with himself. His usual school attire is a t-shirt and either basketball shorts (most of the year) or levies when it is cold (although he doesn’t get cold very often).

Jase plays the piano and sings with the school choir. He is well-rounded and likes to try new things. He is good at sports – especially roller-blading. We are grateful for Jase. He is an awesome kid and we love him very much. Happy Birthday Jase!!