Janika Preference

Janika was really excited about preference last night.  She and her friends had a lot of fun planning their dates and putting everything together.  They had a small group of three couples:  Janika Jensen and Josh Mecham, Kiara Christensen and Kade Derrick, and MickiAnne Harris and Jaylin Perez.  They told the boys there were picking them up at 11:00 but they actually kidnapped them at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast (they forewarned the boys' mothers).  They went in their pajamas to a park overlooking the city for muffins and juice.  After breakfast they went to Fiesta Fun and rode the go-karts and bumper boats. Then everyone went home for naps and plenty of time to get ready for the evening date.

That evening they had pictures taken at the college. and then they met at Kiara's house for dinner.  Rick grilled the chicken and Kiara's mom prepared the salads.  Then they headed out to the dance which was held outside in the courtyard at Tuacahn.  It is a good thing that the weather warmed back up in the past couple of days.  I thought it might be a little chilly for an outdoor dance in March but the kids said it was perfect.  They all had a great time.  Of course there were a few hiccups -- having to wait on one of the girls to finish getting ready and therefore running late for the evening pictures (hopefully they got some cute ones before running out of light), Janika's straps on her dress breaking -- first one and then the other (thank goodness for those little straps that keep dresses from falling off the hanger -- those were used instead), Janika coming down with some type of allergic reaction or something and feeling really sick for awhile at the dance, and a couple of other things.  But all in all everything seemed to go really well and the kids looked gorgeous and had a great time!  When the girls walked the boys to their door at the end of the date each of the boys gave each of the girls a pearl necklace and earrings.  Sweet!   (I'll add the date pictures after we get them back from the girls who took the pictures)...

Happy Birthday Jared!

Jared turned 12 on Thursday, March 8th!  When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday he just said, "Money to buy games on my Kindle."  So that is what he got!  Along with some new socks, candy, and a kindle cover (which we have yet to order).  Jared has always been interested in rocks and so his Grandma and Grandpa gave him Grandpa Norman's cool rock collection that they had inherited.  Jared also checked the mail to receive his card and money from Grandma Jensen.  I had come down with a yucky cold and wasn't feeling well all day and so I cut my ASL class a little short.  I was grateful that my other Thursday night work obligation ended up being canceled so that I could be there for Jared's birthday pizza dinner (even though I couldn't eat any), and cake and ice-cream.

Jared celebrated his birthday on Saturday with his best buddies at Anti-Gravity.  The party was "officially" over at 4:00 but two of the friends stayed until way past bed-time -- one finally departing at 11:00 (which ended up being midnight after we changed the clocks!)  He is super excited about the new air soft BB gun he got from AJ (me, not so much, but as long as he is happy and uses caution...)   If you are wondering about Jared's bad need of a haircut, it is because he and I decided to try letting it grow out.  Rick isn't happy about it but I promised him that Jared will still look like a missionary -- we just have to get through those awkward stages in the process.

 Bridger Buehner, AJ Soderquist, Jared Jensen, Noah Stelter, Boots Fisher

 

  The coolest part of turning 12 is receiving the Priesthood.  Jared was ordained a Deacon today and received an awesome blessing.  He also bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting and it was very sincere and sweet.  Congratulations, Jared -- next week you can pass the sacrament! 
     

Cute Jenna

I have a picture of Janika in this same outfit when she was three (which I will have to scan in and post side by side later).  I think it is so cute, except Jenna kept taking off the hat and I didn't notice that it was puffy instead of flat at first.  But I love her little poses!

Baptism and Driving

We had the opportunity to attend a baptism for of one of our branch members in Mesquite (Gavin Julian, son of Melissa and Nephi Julian) and so we thought it would be a perfect chance for Janika to get driving hours in.  She just finished Driver's Ed and now needs 35 hours of driving practice before she can take her driver's test.  Rick has been having her drive with him to and from school and to and from young women's on Wednesdays and other places, but that doesn't amount to much.  He had her drive him to Costco and other shopping last weekend and I had her drive when she and I went shopping today.  But this is the first time driving somewhere that is over 15-20 minutes.  It took us an hour to get to Mesquite (she drives a little on the slow side, which is fine, I am not complaining).  It does stress me out though to be riding with someone who is new at driving!  She did pretty good though.  We arrived at the baptism and back home again safe and sound.  Congratulations to Gavin Julian on your baptism -- and thank you for letting us be a part of your special day! 

Puzzles

I love that Josh is so into puzzles right now.  He used to be one of our most temperamental and difficult children, but right now he is one of our easiest and most mellow.  When he gets home from school he starts working on his puzzles and will do it for hours!   When he has finished all of his puzzles he starts doing extra work and reading extra books in order to earn more tickets.  When he has ten tickets he gets a prize -- and what does he choose?  Another puzzle of course!   He is now up to 150 piece puzzles which he completes all by himself.  The puzzle he is working towards right now is a 250 piece puzzle.  His birthday is coming up next month and I know exactly what to get him!   (The Thomas the Train puzzle was his first puzzle and one that we had had around for awhile which is why it is missing a couple of pieces.  So far he has been good about keeping the pieces together on all of the rest of them!)

 

   

Manner Spoons

We have been working on the improvement of manners at our house -- especially around the dinner time which seems to be getting louder and more chaotic as the days go by.  Rick helped Jaiden with a FHE lesson on Manners Monday night and then the kids played "Father May I."  Rick picked up some Wooden Spoons at the Dollar Store which the kids are currently painting.  For dinner last night, everyone was on the look out for good and bad manners.  Whoever displayed poor manners was stuck with one of the spoons.  Each spoon was assigned a clean-up job -- dishes, clearing and washing the table, clearing and washing the counters, and sweeping the floor.  We did see a drastic improvement in manners.  There is one problem, however.  Usually the above mentioned jobs are done by Janika, Jase, and Jared.  But on "manner spoon" days the three oldest  are very careful not to be caught with bad manners.  We didn't count Jenna -- she certainly would have "earned" one or two.  So Josh, Janelle, and Jaiden got stuck with the manner spoons for various reasons and of course they all need help with the jobs.  So although we do have children exhibiting more manners at the dinner table, it does mean more work for mom and dad in the clean up process.  But I guess I shouldn't be worried about that since the goal after is to teach good manners -- right?

New Ticket Pockets

We still use tickets at our house for rewards and discipline but every once in awhile we have to switch things up and add some new excitement to the program.  The ticket envelopes were getting pretty shabby and disappearing and so Rick had Janika paint these pockets which he hung on the door.  Now each person has their own pocket in order to keep their tickets.  The oldest two are not doing tickets any more and Jared is on his way out.  We still do them with Janelle, Jaiden, Josh and Jenna.  Only it doesn't work very well with Jenna since she helps herself with tickets from the Bank whenever she feels like it.  But she is practicing!