Cooper Brigham Jensen

Cooper Brigham Jensen joined our family on April, 9th 2013.  He weighed 6 lb. and 15 oz.  He was 20 inches long.  This is him on his special day...his blessing day which was June 9th, his two month birthday. :)

Who would have thunk that we'd have 6 kiddos?  Well, they are here.  HE is here. I knew he was supposed to come.  No surprise when he did.  And we couldn't love him more.  What an angel.  A gift from Heavenly Father.  What a great life this is, and what a great blessing he is. 

I am exhausted and a terrible blogger these days...hmmmmm...I wonder why?  :)  SOMEDAY, I will catch up, but for now I am going to enjoy the moment.  Smelling him, holding and cuddling him.  He is already two months old.  Smiling, alert.  A happy boy.  But he is growing.  Growing fast.  Sigh........Why do they always do this?  I know now, after six of them, that it goes fast, so with each little one I enjoy them even more.  Pretty soon he will be running with the rest of our pack.  Joining the group or the "posse" and Brandon would say.

But for now, I am going to savor each moment and remember them when he is all grown.  Love him. 

Zach...this is for you!

Zach says I never post anymore...he is right. I am just too busy! But I thought I would do a quick one just for you, buddy. This summer is slipping away. Don't they always? We have done A LOT of things this summer. It started with swimming lessons for Megan, Zach and Gavin, and piano camp for Megan and Tanner. Then, just as they ended we headed out for our St. George/Grand Canyon adventure. We spent our time swimming, hiking, fishing, sight-seeing, celebrating my birthday(29...again) and heading home through Manti to see the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Shortly after our return home, several of us started to get sick. Megan and Tanner...with Megan seeming the worst, until Tanner ended up in the hospital with pneumonia, the day after his last baseball game. Yikes. This was not fun. But he was okay and doing great now. Thank goodness. I also was very sick with bronchitis for days and days, and Dad was sick also. Okay, this is summer right? This was not supposed to happen! Talk about putting a damper on our summer activities. Soon the 4th of July was upon us and the kids went up to Grandma's house for the annual water slide and BBQ(I stayed home with Leah to rest for awhile...still recovering) and then headed home because Dad got free tickets to the Stadium of Fire with the Beach Boys!!! It was so much fun. They were so good and sounded perfect. I took the kids up to Park City on the 16th. We went to the Olympic Park to watch the skiers and see the ski museum. We went to the Nike outlet so Tanner could get some things for back to school, and we stopped at Deer Creek on the way home. I was lucky enough to be able to see Wicked which is in town at the Capitol Theatre. It was my second time and I went with my mom a.k.a. Munga. She loved it. It really is such a great show. I loved it just as much this time as I did four years ago. The next day it was off to the zoo for our first time at Rocky Shores, the new exhibit. It was SO great. Such a great exhibit. Well done and beautiful. Tanner took GREAT pictures and video also. He didn't want to leave. On Sunday, the 22nd, we took the kids up to Cascade Springs. It had been a couple of years, so it was time to go again. We came home through the Alpine loop on the American Fork side. It was incredible. I love nature and these miracles we live by, the mountains. The next day was our, day in "The City of Salt Lake City." You know, the Olympic announcement? ha ha Anyway, we spent the afternoon and evening touring the Church Office Bldg. the Beehive House, the Church History Museum, the Conference Center, the Brigham Young Cemetery, the Brigham Young Park to name most of them. The Museum has a children's section that kept the kids busy for a LONG time. It was worth the trip. On Pioneer Day, we drove out to the Salt Flats. I know, weird. But I really wanted to do it. If it wasn't for a little summer rainstorm it would have been better, but we got the point(they are really cool) and had to get to our 24th of July BBQ anyway...up at Tyler's house in Layton. The kids had a lot of fun playing and doing fireworks with their cousins. Today was our Seven Peaks day. It was our first time going this year as a family. Tanner had already been with friends. We had a fun day. Gavin said he wanted to go back, just me and him. I love that boy. Why does he have to start Kindergarten? I didn't order this. I told him no, but he is growing and wanting to go anyway. Dang. That little man is the apple of my eye. ;) So that's our summer thus far. Pictures to come. To be continued... P.S. I put spaces in this post, but they aren't showing up. Oh well.

This cracked me up...

STOP IT

I LOVED it when he said it. I had to rewind it and show Brandon right on the spot...he was out of the room. I don't catch ALL of conference. Just can't right now with all the kids, but we do our best. I just happened to hear him say this at the time, and I thought it was genius...or I should say, rather INSPIRED. Love every word. The world around us would be better if more people would heed these words. I believe we are here to build one another up...not tear each other down. Especially in our families and in the church. I believe we have a great responsibility in those areas. Let's just understand one another. We are all in this together. Let's just be a little nicer-more kind and patient.

Leah Rose is 2

Two years ago today, an angel came to us from heaven and we feel beyond privileged that she just happens to belong to us. :)
Leah Rose Jensen is loved beyond words. She has the sweetest, most fun personality of any little gal on the planet. She even says please and thank you every time she is given something or wants something. She is sweet and kind, yet has a little bit of sassy spunk as well. She is a little miss smarty-pants. To me, she is a three-year-old in a little two-year-old body...please...SLOW...DOWN!!! Her brothers and sister couldn't love her any more. She is like a sunrise after a long, dark night. Her spirit has and continues to bring us so much JOY. When I have a bad day, I just look at Leah and my other kids as well and think, "Oh that's right, none of that petty stuff really matters...THIS...these people...they, are what matter. THIS is why I am here. THIS is why I was born.

Thanks for helping to make it all worth the ride, my little Leah Rose.

I love you to the moon and back...to infinity and beyond...and forever and ever.

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

Happy, happy birthday.

Love,
Mom

Surprise! It's not just St. George... It's Disneyland!

Last Saturday (the 17th) we told the kids we were going to take a little trip to St. George. Some of them were happy...one wasn't too thrilled. He(Zach) remembered our time there in August and how fried and hot we all were, and he wasn't wanting to return any time soon! So I told the kids we probably wouldn't be going to St. George because some of us didn't really want to. They weren't very happy. Megan and Gavin started to cry. Then I said, "Why don't we go somewhere, where you can use these?" And I pulled out Disney ears. We videotaped their reaction:


Highlights from the trip:

Zach hugging me and thanking me several times for taking him.

Zach finally getting to try his quarter in the Esmeralda machine and get his fortune told. That's ALL he asked for on the whole trip. A well spent quarter!


Gavin riding several rides for the first time such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Tower of Terror. After he rode each time, he would say, "That was AWE-some!" The child has no fear.


Gavin closing his eyes and grinning as the Teacups went round and round.



Me running to Peter Pan from the Teacups(with the four kids) while Brandon is trying to yell to me he is going to take a sleeping Leah back to the hotel. Keep in mind it was 11:45 pm...I was trying to make it onto the ride before closing time! And, it was our last day. Whoops! What? You mean I have a baby to take care of? I guess I got carried away. You gotta do what ya gotta do to get on Peter Pan! It's always crazy busy.

Staying out until midnight one night with Tanner, Megan and Gavin riding on Matterhorn, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Teacups and Dumbo Elephants. It's the best time to get on some of these rides!


Tanner giving up his seat on Triton's Carousel to Leah when there wasn't another one for her, and then a lady giving her spot to Tanner after she saw him. :)



Leah's reaction to the Woody and Jessie characters. She was calling out "Woody" and "Jessie". We had no idea she was such a fan until she saw them. It was so cute.


Zach wore his ears every day, every minute around the parks! He was so faithful and so excited to be there.


Roz talking to us at the end of the Monsters Inc. ride...One of the things she said was to Zach, "Young man in the third row: Nice ears!"

Using the Fast pass and Ride Switch(for parents) passes. We would get 6 fast-passes, and then also use a ride switch so some kids got to go on rides twice in a row. Once with dad and once with mom. Sometimes it worked out and sometimes there was a little squabble...not naming names but it may have been an issue with these two:





Zach was chosen to be the rebel spy on Star Tours. They took his picture and he was the rebel spy for the ride they went on. He called out, "I'm not a spy!" and everyone laughed!

Eating Dole Whips in the California sun in December. Megan thought it was a little bit of heaven.



Me going on Tower of Terror twice and wondering why I do it each time because I am a bit afraid of heights. I have to admit, even I end up liking it. :) Gavin is less afraid than me. He said on his last ride, "Mom, I am not going to say goodbye to the real world." Because they say that on the ride right before you "disappear". He ended up saying goodbye and waving anyway! LOL In the second picture below, I am on the middle row on the far right. Yep, that's what I look like when the doors open to reveal how high we are. Yes, I do admit I am a spaz!




On our second night, the kids and I went on Splash Mountain over and over again after 9 pm! No line whatsoever. It was a blast. We did it again the next night.

We loved the Haunted Mansion Holiday. I liked it better than the regular Haunted Mansion. We love The Nightmare Before Christmas.


We loved Small World decked out for the holiday. Leah was thrilled since it was her first visit. I couldn't believe how wonderful it all was.




The hotel had Santa Claus visiting in the lobby. Gotta love Disneyland during Christmas time!


Tanner, Megan and I went and saw "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln". It is great, and I was sorry Brandon didn't see it this trip. Next time for sure.

Tanner held my hand at times throughout the parks. I cherished this, because he is getting so big and acting all teenager-ish lately.

Zach didn't want to leave and stopped in the gate on the last night and said, "I can't do it! I just can't leave." The kid is a HUGE fan, that's for sure. Thankfully, I convinced him to go, so we only attracted a little bit of attention. Phew!

Stopping by the beach(Corona Del Mar). There is never enough time when we go to the beach. It's too bad we can't plan more time on these trips. It was Leah's first time at the ocean. I hadn't even put the kids in suits because I thought it would be too cold. So they ended up getting their clothes wet! It was actually pretty nice considering it was December.


Zach said a prayer just before we started to drive home. He covered all the bases: Thankful for the great trip, thankful for keeping us safe, please keep us safe on the way home etc.

He said it well.

The guys wanted to stop by here:



Which was not a problem, but then here too:




Yes, Pasadena is a bit out of the way, but we managed to get there throughout all the CA traffic so that Tanner could see the Rose Bowl. We got into St. George at about 2:30 am. Ouch. It was still a great trip. Great Christmas surprise for the kids.

What a great week

This past Sunday, the day before Halloween, our four kids sang, "Families Can Be Together Forever" for our primary program. I am telling you, it's moments like these that make being a mom worth it. I held it together without a tear, until Megan's primary teacher came up and was paying us compliments. Then she said, "Doesn't this make all those tough days as a mom worth it?" I could hardly answer...I was choked up. Yes, it truly does. It makes it all somehow worth it. They were fabulous and several people said it brought tears to their eyes and told us how much they felt the spirit. We were proud of them, because it was the best job they had done...even in all of our practicing. They were awesome!

Tanner also just tried out and made a Bantam basketball team. He is such a great little basketball player and we wanted him to take it above just the city rec level. Yay Tanner!

I also made all my kids enter the Reflections contest at school. Megan drew a picture, Zach wrote a story and Tanner entered a photograph. We just found out that Tanner and Zach (and maybe Megan) are moving on to the next level! Pretty cool. It's truly a happy mom week and I am so proud of my kids. What joy it brings me to see them succeed and become such great little people. I love them so much.

Don't cry because it is over...

Smile because it happened.

My dear Aunt was very sick these past few months. She was diagnosed with pancreatic/liver cancer this past summer and was not expected to live more than six months. She had a stroke on October 7th and passed away on October 13th. I was able to go and say goodbye to her the day before she died. Having the chance to say goodbye, is something I hadn't experienced before. I was very grateful to have the chance and have those few tender moments with her. I will never forget that.

In June, I took her some gifts and she gave me some things she had wanted me to have before she died. She also asked me and two other nieces to speak at her Memorial Service. It was such a nice visit and we had a great time talking about my dad(her brother) and other things.

I will miss her presence in my life. The thoughtful birthday cards and Christmas cards...and just the fact that she was around. She never married or had children, so all her nieces and nephews were her children.

I was proud to say a few words in her honor. It was a beautiful fall day and as per her request there was a nice luncheon afterward with boxed lunches. It was great food and great to see some cousins that I hadn't seen for many years. That was what Aunt J wanted, for all the family, particularly cousins to visit with one another.

Misc. Ramblings

Happy 4th birthday to my blog! It's been a little over four years since I started this. It was after Gavin was born and we had just been to a dance performance for my four-year-old Megan, and I wanted to document the day with some pictures and video. Now I just can't seem to keep up and I am about a year behind. Oh well.

Life is good. I am enjoying this time. Tanner is still a little kid(so to speak) and still enjoys sitting on a lap or two and isn't embarrassed to be with me...yet. The twins will be baptized this week. Yes, I mean "The babies", which we called them until they were about five. Gavin is a joyful and happy four-year-old. He is just too dang cute. And baby Leah(we call her Lilo) is fast becoming a little girl with each passing day. Sniff sniff...

There is an adorable mother quail sitting on her eggs in our backyard. Tanner is very watchful of her and checks on her all the time. He is our serious animal lover. The kids are thinking up names for all of them. Seriously, there are probably about 9 or 10 eggs out there. I can't imagine keeping track of that many babies born all at once. Amazing! Tanner has been busy and happy doing all kinds of jobs to earn a little extra money when we bounceback to Lagoon this week. He wants to play a basketball game and win a jersey. He says he is confident. I love that kid.

Every time I look at the mess around me I try to remember how great life is, and these sweet kiddos are growing way too fast. Summer has passed quickly. Although I am already ready for the schedule the Fall brings. It is starting to become harder and harder to find things to do each day.

Happy August!

Baby Bird

Yesterday, Gavin came running to me and said there was a bird on the ground. It was in my mom's neighbor's driveway. Sure enough, when I went over to look there was a baby bird laying in the driveway. It had fallen from the nest. It seemed to be okay and after we went to get Brandon and Tanner, we decided to try to put it back in the nest. Without touching it, we scooped it onto a paper plate and after Tanner climbed the tree, dad handed it to him and Tanner carefully put it back into the nest without touching it. Hopefully, its mom will take care of it and it wasn't hurt. It looked okay. Gavin and Tanner were so concerned about it and we checked on it several times after, to make sure it was still up there. Tanner said it was such a cool thing to see those adorable baby birds up in that nest with their little beaks open.
I just don't think there was much room and that's why he fell out. It seems like somebody else besides us could use a bigger house! LOL
Thanks Tanner for being our hero!