This just in.

She shaved her arm hair too! And now it's growing back all prickley and pokey.

On the other hand; I sent her off to her first day of 3rd grade and DIDN'T cry this year!! It's early out so she'll be home any minute and I'll post the ritualistic "first day of school" picture later.

Happy freedom to all the other moms out there sending the older children away for the day!

Discovery.

And I'm not talking the satellite channel where you learn all kinds of wonderful things about our world and the animals and people that inhabit it.

I'm talking about finding A LOT of pre-teen leg hair in my razor Sunday morning!

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

She's only eight- going into the 3rd grade!! What am I going to do with her?!

P.S. I know you are all just dying to know what's been goin' on at our house the last 4 months...updates will follow soon. But I feel I'm at that point where maybe I should just pick up and move on from here. Sorry to be such a slacker-it's been a busy summer!

Tuesday's Trauma

Tanner-Man and I were in my room yesterday morning. We were on the bed--he was in my spot pretending to be asleep and I was sitting on the end looking for a file on the laptop for daddy. He went to get up with a hand on the dresser. As he was turning around his hand slipped and he fell hitting his head on the edge of the dresser really hard-splitting his perfect little face open wide. I heard the BONK and thought "That one's gonna hurt real bad" and went right for him. He had fallen head first in between the bed and dresser, with his legs hanging onto the bed for dear life. Thank goodness I was right there to grab him quick.

He started bleeding bad and I panicked for a minute. We got a washrag from the bathroom and held each other real tight. I paced the floor (up AND downstairs) just flipping out that he'd need stitches. The bleeding stopped and we were able to get into the pediatrician. The irony is that he had had his 3 year well child check on Monday; I asked if that's normal? Oh well, two co-pays in two days. Good news is that it could be glued shut-no needles at all needed! Nurse Liz put the numbing liquid onto a cotton ball and taped it to his face for 15 minutes and then the doctor fixed it all better with the Dermabond. I promised him ice cream and he kept telling me, "I get ice cream after Dr. --- fix me." It was a lot deeper than I first thought it was too-when the doctor cleaned it you could see how bad it really was.

On the way there he still had a precious smile for mommy! We ate our ice cream and then snuggled on the couch with blankies and popcorn for an afternoon movie together. Today he's just fine...I think it will heal no problem and the scarring should be minimal. He had me scared for a minute though; that mommy worry is pretty powerful stuff. Took a couple hours for me to stop shaking.

Out of the two kids this is the first trauma to need extensive medical care...my poor baby boy!

Day 1,096

This was day 1. With your mommy.

Meeting your daddy. (the hair cut was not mommy's idea)

Meeting your sister-who said, "I promised myself I wouldn't cry". But we all were crying tears of pure JOY!

This was day 365.

This was day 730.

And today is day 1,096. (Last year was a leap year so it added a whole 'nuther day!)

How does this happen? Why do they have to grow up? I like them little. He's good right where he's at-let me keep him for a while longer this way.

I know that's not possible, and you will eventually turn 4-so for today, day 1,096 I wish you a very Happy Birthday son!

Back Home...Miss Me?

Our cruise was all we had hoped for! Can I go again? Like NOW??!

I know this is going to be a pretty lengthy slide show, but I had to add a little from every day's experiences. Grab a bowl of popcorn and hang out for a minute with Dee and me on vacation!

(Further details about the locations we visited will have to come later...I've been on here too long today.)

**If you go to the "view all images" and on the right side select "gallery view" you will be able to see the captions I spent ALL DAY typing in.

Bon Voyage!

Bags are packed (mostly).
Passports in hand.

We're getting the heck outta here-tomorrow!

I'll check back in when we get home from Florida, via Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Mexico, and the Bahamas. I hope this cruise is all that we need it to be. And I hope that we come home refreshed, relaxed, and tan! And I know that the kiddos will be safe with grandma Steph. But, will you maybe check in on them for me?

Go Fish.

"Do you haff n-eee thir-teens?"
(turn up your volume a lot)




It took FOREVER to get that video loaded, so if you are interested in seeing Tanner play BINGO (super cute) jump over to my facebook videos. It's letting me post them easier there.

Her Legacy.

Marybell Glenna Kneedy Jensen 1929-2009

Her parents John and Sara.

Her siblings.

Marybell so young.

Alan so handsome.

She's so beautiful. 1950

The children: Debra, Scott, Wes, Darell

The grandchildren: Heather, Weston, Dee, Chris, Carrine, John, Maddie, Damaris, Jenna, James, and Benjamin.

The great-grandchildren: Morgyn, Jacob, John, Isacc, Jared, Grace, Samantha, Taycie, and Tanner.

Grandma, you are sorely missed already. We think of you every day. We promise to live our lives by your example of honesty and unconditional love. Thank you for all you taught us.

Thanksgiving 2007-all of us together.

Another Loss.

Grandma Marybell Jensen (my father-in-law's mother) passed away Friday just after midnight. The viewing is scheduled for today, Tuesday from 6 to 8 at the Kaysville Lindquist mortuary. Her funeral will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, February 4th at 11 am (same location). I will update at another time. But I ask for your prayers to be with the family.

Nursery Time.

I always joke with Dee that Tanner is going to overhear something we say and repeat it to his nursery leaders-how embarrassing some (most) of it would be!! He is picking up on so much these days and a while back Dee even called him a "Word Regurgitator". Yeah, he made that one up-and I laughed, but it does adequately fit the bill with our little Tanner-man.

So, it was reported to Dee Sunday as he picked Tanner up from class that another boy had needed his mom to come in to change his poopie diaper so Tanner proudly announced...to EVERYONE.

"I'm not poopie... Just GAS!"

Can you imagine?? I would have died laughing if I was in there trying to teach. And as the proud mamma here...I couldn't love this little boy more!! He makes me smile everyday.

Top Tip of the Day.

When you go on a movie date with your DH (dear hubby) and you sneak candy bars in from Wal-Mart make sure you don't leave a half eaten Caramell-O in the bottom of your purse. The real soft carmel will leak out onto anything-and EVERYTHING you have in said purse. It's pretty messy. Just thought I'd share and let you all laugh at me and then you will remember not to do it yourself. Have a great Monday!!

Looking Back.

Since it's now two weeks into the new year I figured it's about time I check in and let my people know that we are still kickin' (some of us barely). I noticed that I may have missed a few things you will want to know about (and see) from the last couple of months. Let me catch you up!

November was Taycie's birthday!

And we learned that Tanner is a chocolate cake thief:

December was great. We opened Christmas presents and within 10 minutes we were knee deep in wrapping paper. We loved visiting with all of our family! Thank you g-mas and g-pas for all the spoiling of the children (and the parents too)!!

January has caught us off guard to say the least. 2009, so far, has been 19 days I wish I could forget (most of it). Dee had the flu New Year's Day. Good thing he had the holiday off-he wouldn't have made it in. Five days later...I got it. There are very few times I can say I've thrown-up all day long; and I have never had the aches in my joints like that before! That was just BRUTAL!

On the 6th I had a doctor appointment to confirm this:



Dee made me buy the digital test so there was no confusion. It was a bit of a surprise.


However, one week later there was a problem (some bleeding) and I went back to my doctor. On the ultrasound we could see some sort of defect with the heart (it would pause and flutter) and that there had been no growth (still only measured 6 weeks at 7.5 weeks).


I've been on a bit of a roller-coaster ride this last week. I didn't think a miscarriage would be so hard to go through. There are lots of emotions and hormones you would normally have 9 months to figure out...I had to process them quite quickly. I'm sure I'm on the mend now and that it is all going to work out...we will be just fine.

**I have to say to all my mom-in-law's family I love you and I am so sorry for your loss. I have been so self-absorbed I never replied to any postings about Rachel's passing. Now I just feel like I'm too late to say anything. I've loved looking at the pictures you've posted from California...it looks like you had an amazing family experience and I thank you for all your hugs you have sent my way.


SO-looking on the other side...I do smile because of these things:

• Tanner. He says "funny boy" and "good boy" about himself and calls me a "seet-heart". He rubbed my back when I was sick. He is a complete joy to have at home all day. He is learning to say prayers-we have to pray a second time just for him. And he helps me sort the laundry before finding the *PINK* gloves and slippers and climbing into the dryer.

• Taycie. She is so responsible. She gets herself up and going every morning for school. She studies so hard and brings home good grades. She loves to read. She loves Primary (she's in my class this year!). She wishes me sweet dreams every night when I tuck her in.


• Dee. He only has 9 days left of school! He will go to campus on the 28th for his last night of class. He's amazing. He made it, I knew he would!! We have a Master in-da-house! HOLLA! (am I qualified to use that term? probably not-sorry.) He is so strong. It will be such a relief to not have the pressure of school on him that he has worked through these past 3 years. When he comes home from work we get all of him now. He is so much the foundation of this family. And he is able to make me feel better about things. I really really love him.


• Soup. Good neighbors brought me yummy soup. Dee even went out and found me yummy soup one night.
• My niece is serving a mission and I started her blog. I had to take my mind off other things...it's turning out nicely. Visit if you'd like: sisterstoriestinger.blogspot.com
• Family. What would we do with out them? And since you belong to mine-let me say I love you! I think 2009 will eventually turn out to be a pretty good year. (HOPING!)