Check out my Slide Show!

Family Vacations.

Now that school is back in session, I have time to tell you about our fun trip to Yellowstone National Park. We had a client who owed us some money who operates a hotel in West Yellowstone. We've had this credit for about four years and decided it was time to use some of it. We invited the entire Jensen Family to accompany us and we had a great time.

If the truth be told, I'm not very good at vacations because as soon as we get near water or other situations, I tend to become "Nazi-mom". You know, "Be Careful, please don't even step one foot near that shallow puddle because you might drown." Of course it's not that extreme, but sometimes it approaches it. As you can imagine, Yellowstone with its natural lakes and hugemongous waterfalls, I was more than a little tense. I got over it, though, and just enjoyed the incredible scenery. Here are some of our Cool Pix.

Hair by Daddy

Better Picture of Nate

Very Cool Dude! We took this picture this spring while playing at the Sand Dunes in Snow Canyon State Park.

Alarm Clocks and Phone Calls

Friday, Amy's alarm goes off-- Incredibly obnoxious as always and I jump out of bed, push her in the shower and jump back in bed. While bemoaning my new lot in life as mother of a child who attends school that starts at a ridiculous hour, I looked at the clock. It took me a few minutes the process that somehow Amy had set her alarm for 4:00 a.m. instead of 6. AAARGHH!! Of course I couldn't fall back asleep until, oh, I don't know 5:45, only to be awoken at 6. HAPPY DAY!!

Then, last night, at 2:36 a.m. I got a call to go to my sister-in-laws as an in-home babysitter for her kids while she had her baby at home. Luckily, for everybody, she had the baby within the hour and I got to go home and go to bed. Tonight I'm cutting all phone lines and electricity in my house so I can Finally Get some zzzzzzz'z.

Nate the Namer

Nathan loves those white picture dictionary books. He will look at them for hours labelling each and every thing he sees. Then he brings it to you and wants you to name them too. After hours and hours of saying , "yes, it's a cow. MOOOOO," I've started saying-- "Go read it to . . . " filling in the blank with whichever child happens to be in at the moment. And he never gives in. If you don't recognize his comment right away, he'll continue repeating it until you say, "is that a . . ." or some such comment. I can tell he'll be a great executive. He simply won't let you ignore him.

He really is so cute. I find myself smiling at everything he does because I'm constantly melting inside. Now that Robert and I have probably decided not to have any more kids I keep thinking that all this cuteness is going to go away. I'll just keep him two forever. Can I do That?

Katarina Ballerina

Katie has never taken a dance class. This has not prevented her from comandeering every leotard in the house. Each day after her requisite time in the public eye is complete she sheds every stitch of clothing for a swimsuit or leotard. Her especial favorite is an old dance costume of Amy's that is literally in shreds. Yesterday I bought her a new leotard for gymnastics. She wanted sparkly. Translation: sleeveless and sparkly-- something I avoid like the plague. So, no sparkly. But then, the great compromise appeared-- A really cute black leotard with rhinestoned, ruffled sleeves. After 10 minutes of negotiation and explanation about immodesty, I grabbed it-- full price tag and all. It was a happy day. It made up for the extra few dollars watching her strut around like a little peacock. She's asleep now. She's wearing it.

7 Going on 70

Matt is so smart-- he's read all 7 Harry Potters and remembers absolutely everything in them. Matt's excited to start cub scouts soon and be baptized. He's funny and a ton of fun. Wise beyond his years.

SCHEMER/DREAMER!!!!

Maggie always has something to talk about. She's already designed innumerable amusement parks in her head, written her own inspirational song and knows exactly who she wants to be when she grows up. It just changes from day to day.

All Grown Up!

Amy is growing up-- she's 11 and in the 6th grade which in our school district means a whole new school. There were tears in my eyes as she walked to the bus Wednesday, but she loved it. So much for allowing our fears and insecurities transfer to our kids. She's awesome and she knows it so she'll do great. I wish I had had that kind of self confidence at her age.

THIS BLOGGING THING IS OUT OF MY LEAGUE!

So, I'm looking at my friend Sandy's blog and Kristie's myspace page and I'm feeling like a total idiot because I CANNOT figure this stuff out. Then I remember that that's what JARED does for a living!!!?!!? I refuse to feel badly that my normally extremely computer-literate self is not quite up to snuff. This is a picture of our family reunion in Yellowstone National Park. This was so much fun. We also finally did Disneyland this year-- extremely fun, especially with Grandpa acting as babysitter at every ride so we could do everything we wanted.