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!)
  
  
  
  
  

Taycie got dunked...TWICE!

Here's Taycie and Daddy on Saturday. Two of my Angels.

All I can say is BEST DAY EVER! In regards to Taycie this day was as important-emotional-spiritual-special-life changing as the day she was born.

The previous few months have been very difficult. I thought it was all her with the bad attitude, and the lying, and the disobedience, and the arguing. See, I've always thought of myself as optimistic and full of faith. I guess I had something to contribute to the horrible feelings between us. I've been short fused and frustrated. In all honesty I didn't think the adversary had that much power over me. Turns out he will push absolutely anyone and everyone to bring suffering within a family and impede the work of the Lord. He knew he couldn't stop us from baptizing her, but he really tried hard to keep me from enjoying it, even on that very morning.

But when we arrived at the church and walked into the Relief Society room where the font is the power of the spirit overwhelmed me-"hello friend!" I finally felt a peace come over me. It was such a relief. So I cried, and cried-and prayed a quiet prayer of repentance. Then cried some more, through the entire program actually. She brought her knees up and they popped out of the water so she had to go under again. Everything else was perfect. Fun fact: I was baptized in the same font 20 years ago.

So my baby girl has been telling me for two days now how good it feels to be baptized-that is priceless. And that same peace was waiting for us back at home. I sure hope it stays. Thank you to all who came and shared this special day. It meant the world to us.

Nightmares and Panic Attacks.

All night last night I had nightmares of missing Taycie's baptism due to the fact that I forgot to bring extra (dry) underwear for her and daddy to change into. And in the time it took me to drive home and back to the church house they proceeded through the entire program without me. I woke several times with my heart pounding from my chest and every muscle in my body shaking.

She's 8 today. And appearantly I can't handle it. I think I'm having a nervous breakdown. I don't think I can throw a "good" party and I just don't want her to grow up dangit!!! I'm the mom and that's the end of it! No more birthdays for her.

M.I.A

Side note: this post originated on October 28th. Looks like the MIA bug hit me twice in trying to update all of us.

I can see on the calendar that I've been Missing In Action since my last post. But you see I am really here. That is, I'm here at home wondering what happened to October and why has it gotten so cold so fast?? I have so many updates to tell I don't know where to start! One family member at a time I guess.

Dee is working hard, all the time, non-stop. Work and school have him plenty busy. We are lucky enough to have him surface for meals on the weekends. He's finished with another class as of Tuesday this last week and has only TWO more to go!! We can see that Master's diploma framed and mounted on the wall already. He's finally glad he decided (or that I pressured him) to go on after his Bachelor's. "Just one more year," I heard myself tell him over and over again. Easy for me to say; I'm not the one writing 20 page papers. But now...NOW he only has two months left. I couldn't be more proud of him! We will celebrate January 28th as a new holiday for our family.

I need to wish him a VERY belated b-day; the first time my mom had to go to the hospital was Sep. 21st...his birthday. Sorry the party had to end early babe. I'm glad you are ok with being 31 this year. And I am glad that you are ours! Isn't he handsome?!

Me. Is there anything worth updating me over? Not really. My exercising/losing weight idea got lost somewhere between my mom's illnesses and the cold weather. There is an unused treadmill at my parents' that is going to have to find a home with us somehow. That, or I'm asking for a gym membership for Christmas so I can GO and work out. I really need to loose a "few" before our cruise. I wonder all the time "how does the day get away from me?" where I don't think I am ever going to actually get the house work done besides the daily dishes and emergency laundry when we've all run out of clean things to wear. And then there are mouths to feed. What? You people get hungry? I'm in a bit of a cooking slump. Should help us loose weight. HA! I wish.

Right this minute I am fighting off some beast of a headache. Can't quite figure out why I have it in the first place. I've saved this post-draft twice already to walk away and come back; maybe my eyes just can't handle the computer screen today and it will get posted tomorrow.

That was a sinus infection-we all took turns being sick for a few days. Dee was sick for a solid month between bronchitis and sinus infections. We are once again on the mend, as of today.

Taycie had a fun fall soccer season and they won most of their games! Go Pink Panthers!

She's loving school. We found out she needed glasses to see the board (she was coming home with misspelled journal entries). She was able to pick out two pair and they look very cute on her. She was a very cool Tiger for Halloween. Taycie's first quarter grades were excellent! She almost doubled the required reading points and loves math. As always she's on the run, loads of energy she doesn't know what to do with. She is looking forward to the upcoming events: her 8th birthday, her baptism, and Christmas!! I am reminded every day, several times a day.

Tanner looked up at me from my lap Sunday afternoon (Oct 26th) and said "shun-beem!". It made me smile ear to ear and I kissed his little face all over. I'm thinking they were singing the Sunbeam song in nursery. He wants me to sing to him all the time now. Every day he is saying something new, finally copying anything we want him to learn. Some new words include: stay, come, up high, show, sh-ong, TEE (for tv) off and on as he pushes the button while we are trying to watch something-he thinks that's pretty funny. And while those are more easily interpreted here is a list of his slightly more complicated language: buh-lay=blanket, mi-mi=milk, ooesh=shoes, gauk=sock (shoes and socks have off's and on's attached when he's dressing -OR undressing when he shouldn't be. I think he's going to be a nudist when he grows up. He does have some mad dressing skillz when he is wearing clothes but he wants to do it himself=resulting in this.

I love that I get to be home with him all day, we are bestest friends. Except for when he's attempting to escape nap time. He loves to play on the "pan-o" we finally found batteries for and he'll sit on the coffee table where there is just enough clearance for him to pull it in close. I'm telling ya, I just don't know where the frog's legs gene came from. You know how you say a big buff football player has a neck the size of your thigh? Oh, well that's what daddy says anyway...our Tanner Man has legs the size of daddy's pinkies!

He was the Great Pumpkin for Halloween. He was thrilled that poeple would open their doors offering him bowls full of candy. It was a fun trick-or-treating trip around our block and I had made homemade chili for us to all come home to and warm up with. YUM YUM!!

That should get everyone up to speed on our family to today...good to see you (and be seen)!! Have a happy weekend! We should-daddy doesn't have any homework, HOORAY!!