Princess Class

I love the library.  I mean, seriously -- LOVE it!  They offered a "Princess Class" for 4 and 5 year olds one Saturday afternoon, and I am SO glad Krystal went.  It has been several weeks ago and she still talks about it non-stop.  The girls were visited by Aurora and her sister-in-law (Prince Phillip's sister) and instructed on how to be  proper princesses.  Best. Class. EVER!

They colored tiaras and read a story before the princess came in, and Krystal worked mighty hard on her tiara ... she colored all through the story and when the princess first came in.  But, when the princess asked all the minis to stand up so she could see their beautiful dresses, Krystal dropped her marker and stood up as high as she could on her tippie toes and did a big twirl.  She was in the very back, but, I am telling you -- it was as if a ray of sunshine were spotlighting her with angels singing -- she was just so sweet.  (I'm not prejudiced at ALL!)  :)

The princesses talked about good manners and sitting proper and being honest and working hard and getting an education and more.  It was really something.  Krystal has a.maz.ing. posture ever since (she already sat quite feminine-ly as it is), but now she truly sits princess-esque.

And, I just loved this picture, because Krystal is so so small for a nearly 5-year-old.  She always surprises people with her nonstop speaking skills and smarts.  She is a true princess ... I am convinced ... this class was made for her.  :)

Melynda's Birthday Bowling Bash!

We went bowling for M's birthday!

We haven't been bowling in FOR.EV.ER.  So, the kids were extra EXTRA excited.

hahahaha ... I love it when Mom's eyes are closed and other funny shots she manages:

Okay ... check out everyones' forms in the following pictures.  Can you guess who got the strike?

Yeah.  It was Dad ... the gramps.  I took probably 5 pictures of him bowling ... and EVERY one he had the same amazing form ... and he got quite a few strikes too!  Although, I have to admit - that I look QUITE professional as a bowler ... except that I bowled many a gutters.  :)

Me and my sis.  Sure love her!

Happy Birthday to an awesome girl!  (her b-day was feb. 19th ... just a little late posting, eh?)

Onward ...

The weather was beautiful ... and, although I was really feelin' all the walking around in my legs and feet by the time we got home ... the kids all just fell asleep the second their heads hit their pillows.  Look at all the fun we had!

Here we are inside the Eyring Science Center.  Marissa came here for a Young Women Activity and has been begging for us all to go ever since.  She was really excited to show everyone her favorite things.

I loved watching the (old) Jenson boys explore.  Ty, Bran, AND Jers are all so naturally curious.  I really got a kick out of them experimenting and reading the explanations and what-not.  They certainly are related.  I bet they're all three the same on the toy aisle at the store too.  Tyler sure gets distracted down those aisles.  :)  And ... haha - I just love cute Julia peeking in on that picture on the right.

Thank HEAVENS for Aunt Tina this trip, because Krystal was such a grump - and Tina just kept makin' her smile and giggle!

LOVED this picture of Aaron lifting TyTy :)

Ahhh - that was really a fun day.

Falling in Love

I found this picture on Marissa's camera.  She took it on Christmas.  Can I just tell you that I fall in love a little more with my sweet hubby when I look at this?  I just LOVE him!

Our Super Saturday

We Jensons all met awhile back on a Saturday afternoon to take the kiddos to the Bean Museum and the Eyring Science Center.  It was quite the production - and after that weekend was when all the crazy health issues took a turn for the waaaaaay worse.  However, we all had such a fabulous time.  I met everyone there straight from teaching piano and judging at piano festival - so, I didn't have my camera. These pics were all taken with Marissa's.  Not bad, eh?

Oh how these cousins love to be together!

Cute bums all lined up in a row!  :)

Here are the boys petting the iguana ... or whatever that was.  And here is one of Krystal's few smiles.  She was happy as a clam to be with her Jeremy, but she just kept saying over and over to me:  "Mom, you DO realize that there are DEAD animals everywhere!  Why are we here?  All the animals are dead!"  She was thoroughly disgusted.  (She would have nothing to do with the lizard even though IT was alive.  haha)

Marissa's favorite animal ever - the wolf.  And her best buddy ever - Anaka.

Aaron inherited my old camera.  And, for some reason, it cooperates a lot better for him than it did for me.  But, he doesn't mind blurry pictures either.  :)  Nice drama skills, Aarbear - quite the natural.

Here is Krystal who was furious to be by the DEAD butterflies.  Pure torture.  Good ol' Tina was able to get a smile outta her, though!

And we're off to the Science Center ....

The walk there was as eventful as the museums themselves!  More pics tomorrow.

MyMarissa

So, I really DO need to recommit to blogging our going-ons ... boring or not.  My kids will love it all their lives, right?  So will I.  Marissa ended up with the flu YET AGAIN!!!!  this past week ... and we are all still trying desperately to get rid of the coughs and sniffles.  Truly ... I blame the crappy gray color of Utah right now. 

But ... she also got contacts this last month and put red in her hair just this week.  Cutie.

I honestly don't know what I would do without this girl.  We butt heads OFTEN, sure ... but, we really rely on each other and enjoy being together too.  She works hard in school and managed to get a 3.8 GPA this last term.  WoooHooooo!  My family knows the issues Marissa and I had over her math skills/homework/habits ... but folks, this past term ... math was ON. HER. OWN.  I am so so proud of her .... SO PROUD!

Krystal and Aaron loooooooove having Marissa babysit ... and this is just one of the reasons why ... here she organized a little baseball game with them in our backyard one of the days the weather was tricking us and making us feel like winter was perhaps coming to a blissful end.  Too bad so sad.  But - they had a lot of fun this afternoon.

Ya know ... sometime in January Picasa changed its format ... and I'm still trying to figure out my new camera -- and getting pics on the computer has been pretty frustrating and slow going.  But, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it ... and the rest of February pics will be up and coming!  Let's all pray for Spring .... pleeeeeeeeeeease!! Oh ... and also for no more coughs and sniffles!!!

Aaron Update ... and excuses

We have really had a crazy last month due to sickness.  Krystal had strep .... and has had a cold/cough pretty much all of January and most of February.  Marissa has missed more than a week of school this last month because of sinus issues and the flu.  I've been miserable with sinus/coughing issues.  Tyler had his worst bout of gaut yet and ended up taking a week and a half off of work trying to recover.  It's been a mess.  Aaron got the flu -- but survived without a trip to the hospital for the first time ever!!!!  Hoooooooray!  Poor guy DID have to be dragged (throwing up) to the doctor's office.  How miserable is that?  Being in the car with the flu is THE worst.  Anyway ... Tyler and I didn't sleep for 2 days while we worried ourselves sick about Aaron and the balance between keeping his tummy settled and his blood sugar up.  We all seem to be NEARLY better now ... just lingering coughs and sniffles.  BUT -- here's to a better month.

Aaron got new glasses!  He really doesn't need them other than for slight astigmatism, but he wanted them so bad ... ???  weird.  Anyway - he only needs to wear them when he's in school or practicing the piano.  He has this strange tick where he moves his eyebrows up and down ... and the eye doc thought he was squinting ... so thought maybe glasses would help.  hahaha.  Aaron is just quirky ... and this squinty/eyebrow thing is just his latest phase.  Silly kid. 

Aaron also performed in the Piano Festival this month and did fabulous.  He scored a Superior* and will earn his first gold cup in April.  I have to admit - it's tricky to keep at it - we keep letting the days slide by without practicing ... but he manages to keep plugging along (and we practice GOOD when we get the ball rolling :)).  Here's Aaron with his bud Isaac at Festival.  They got to play in the same group which Aaron thought was really cool.  Thank heavens Isaac's Mom took a pic ... cuz I didn't even bring a camera!  DUH!

I have so much to blog about ... but we just haven't been at 100% lately --- and regular life just requires .... well, more.  :)  Anywho - I guess I'm usually behind by about 2 weeks in the blog world anyway.  Many more random posts to come .... :)

Krystal

Krystal is in love with the things her grandma makes her. She seriously wears something homemade almost every day. This hat is her FAV.OR.ITE. Is it just adorable or what? She has such a talented Grandma Pat.

And here she is playing superhero with Tyler.  Just memories I know she'll want to always have ... she has "lots of strongness!":

I (never) Want My Mullet Back

So - Marissa and I both had our hair cut.  After my last hair cut - ya know, the mullet I apparantly requested - I have had some extreme anxiety about having anyone even touch my hair.  And then I took Marissa to Fantastic Sams ... and the SAME lady that cut my hair before came wandering out from her break to cut Marissa's.  Why didn't I just walk out right then??????  Stupidity .... Fantastic Sam's - you are dead to me.  But, anywho - I went to a lady who used to live in our ward and came highly recommended (Tara Atkins) - and, I'm telling you - I was in and out in 30 minutes TOPS (I can't stand how long haircuts/styles usually take), she did a FABULOUS job on my hair ... AND understood my instructions (who knew that was possible?), and she is very affordable.  I ended up taking Marissa to her to have her Fantasic Sam's cut fixed ... and it is SUCH a difference.  How do we look?  :)

Hopefully Tara is around for awhile ... I just can't handle the stress!!  ;)