Happy New Year!!

Josh went with Hailey, Jocelyn, and Lilly to the Stake Dance and Jenna had a party at our house with friends! A lot of her friends were out of town, but a few were able to come -- Clarissa Williams, Cortnie Kendrick, and Grace Freeman. 

Surprise Date!!

A couple of days before Christmas Rick brought in an envelope and there was a letter for Wendy Jensen from "Magic Hands Massage." Inside there was a flyer saying that I had been recommended by a friend for a free dinner and massage seminar that was to be held at the Cliffside Inn on December 30th. The Cliffside Inn is a really nice restaurant with delicious food and an incredible view of the city. It was advertised as more than a simple massage seminar though -- it sounded pretty sketchy. Plus the flyer was only for one person -- not a couple.  I asked Rick if I should just throw it away, after all, it didn't sound very "appropriate" for a woman to go to something questionable like this. 

Rick said that he thought I should go -- it was a free dinner and maybe I could learn something. I just didn't feel comfortable with the whole idea -- besides, how did this business even get my name and number? He said to show it to Jase and Ellen. Jase said, "You were chosen? We were at a restaurant and they asked for names and addresses of people we thought would be interested in this and we put down a whole bunch of people. We were hoping that Ellen would get it!" Then Ellen said that her sister went to one of these seminars and that it was really fun. She said, "Don't worry, it wasn't anything crazy." Well, that all made me feel a little better about the whole thing, but I still wasn't sure I felt comfortable showing up to something like this by myself.  I wondered what to do, because I could tell that Rick really wanted me to go. The whole thing seemed rather strange. 

Anyway, I was totally stressed about what to do. The flyer asked for a RSVP and included a phone number. We headed up North and I put off the decision for a few days. After we got home I thought I had better make a decision since it was the next day. So I pulled out the flyer and texted the number on the flyer and when I typed up the number two contacts popped up in my phone -- one was "Family Story Podcast," and one was "Rick's Laptop." I started laughing and felt incredibly relieved! Rick was behind this whole thing!! I called up Rick and said that I went to RSVP for the dinner/seminar and guess whose number came up!! He acted all innocent like he had no idea what I was talking about. He had no idea that this secondary number of his was in my contacts! I went ahead and texted the number to RSVP and this message came up: 

"Thank you for your response. Because you have responded within the 24-hour deadline, you are eligible for a free one night stay at the Best Western Inn. It is here that your massage therapist, Rick E. Romance, will demonstrate some of the techniques discussed during the workshop. Please respond by texting 1 to accept the invitation, or 2 to decline the invitation." 

So needless to say I accepted! So the plan was for me to show up to the restaurant and ask for the seminar and then Rick would be waiting for me wearing a wig. (This is one of the wigs he was thinking about getting, ha ha!) But since I knew it was him we were able to go together (which I much preferred anyway!!) From the moment we arrived Rick was "in character." He spoke in an Australian accent and pretended to be a single guy who made a career in massage therapy. He even brought his laptop that did indeed include an entire power point on the benefits of "this type" of massage therapy. It was so funny! I was worried that the waiter might ask where he was from, but thankfully he didn't, ha ha!

After dinner we went to the hotel where I enjoyed a very nice full body massage from my own personal massage therapist! It was awesome!! I feel fortunate to be married to someone who is so creative and fun who makes our marriage interesting to say the least!! 

SNOW!!

 The kids are always excited when it snows over our Christmas Break stay up north! 

Cousin Time!!

 One of the best things about Christmas Break is Cousin Time!! 

Layla made this darling picture for Jaiden! It is Jaiden as Spongebob with Layla! So cute!! 

Merry Christmas!!

Skyping our missionary, Janelle!! Janika and Brandon were able to join us over zoom, but we weren't able to get a hold of Jase and Ellen! 

Christmas Eve at Grandma Jensen's House

Rick found a dozen or so rounds of slides in his mom's basement and took them home and digitized them all for a Christmas present for her. He played a slideshow of them all during dinner and everyone enjoyed them. We had a delicious dinner and then Gerilyn taught a lesson and the kids did a little nativity. Then Santa came and passed out presents. Jared had the privilege this year and he was so hilarious! He had everyone laughing with his jokes and quick wit! 

Then we went into the front room for presents! This year Grandma made these darling patriotic signs for all of the grandchildren for their hope chests! Jenna and Jaiden had fun holding Chantel's baby girl,  Ruby!  

Early Christmas Day

Last night after we finished all of the Christmas Eve festivities I asked Rick, "Did you get anything for the stockings? Because I didn't!" He said he didn't either. Woops! I asked if anyone would be terribly disappointed if I didn't put the stockings out.  I mean I could always fill them with fruit from the fridge, ha ha. They said that they didn't care and so I just left them on the mantle this year. The married kids slept over and we all got up around 8:00 to open presents. 

The kids had picked out most of their presents and so there weren't very many surprises. The caroler sweatshirt for Josh was a joke. He ordered all of his gifts on Amazon and I mentioned that he wouldn't be getting any surprises. He still had a little bit of money left in his budget though and said that we could get him one surprise. Rick is constantly talking about the Hands in Harmony Carolers and saying that if only Josh would do it then he could have a caroling group again. So I joked that Dad would probably get him a Hands in Harmony Caroler sweatshirt. He totally thought I was serious and was whining and complaining over the very thought of that. I told Rick about it and he thought it would be funny to get him one. So he pulled an old caroler sweatshirt out of the closet and told her to add the words, "I want to be a (Hands in Harmony Caroler)." But this sweatshirt version actually said "Hands in Harmony Carolers," instead of "Caroler" and so she put "I want to be in (Hands in Harmony Carolers) 2022." The sweatshirt was from 2012 and so she easily turned the 1 into a 2! It certainly got the desired reaction out of Josh, haha, but before he said something he would regret, I assured him that the sweatshirt was NOT actually his surprise! The family did get a couple of surprise gifts, like the new Jackbox games. They had fun with that throughout the day. 

Janika and Brandon surprised us with this cute sign that says "Grandma and Grandpa's Treasures." It wasn't quite finished, but they added some ribbon and clothes pins so we can hang up pictures and drawings (someday) that they grandkids will do. We love it!