Salt Flats

Salt Flats 10-18-2008

We went to the Salt Flats with Grandpa Todd and Grandma Lu, and our little family. It is always so fun! We thought it would be fun for Justice to ride his motorcycle where he didn't have to worry about running into anything. He is getting pretty good! He really likes to ride it and all summer has been riding it with Clay or I on the back to help with balance as he is doing the throttle. Uncle Tony and Jake let us borrow some training wheels (thank you!) so that he could learn to ride by himself. I think he was ready to try, but then we realized that we forgot the foot pegs (whoops), but Justice didn't mind. I love it so much that he likes to ride motorcycles. I hope that he continues to enjoy it because I have big plans for him, I am kidding, sort of. Ha! Ha! No really he tells me that when he grows up he wants to be a motorcycle rider and a swim diver. That is music to my ears.

We are very lucky to have kids that let us haul them around. We enjoy riding so much that it would really suck if our kids didn't like it. We have had four wheelers around since Kaila was born, and now with motorcycles, I feel very fortunate that my kids love it as much as I do. I seriously could ride everyday/all day and camp everyday as long as I got a shower every once and a while (thank goodness for the toyhauler)!

Justice checking in after being out on a ride. I just love how cute he looks in his gear!

Taking off for a ride. He did let Kaila ride it since we had misplaced the key to her fourwheeler and could not bring it. Kaila is getting pretty good as well, but I think she likes the fourwheeler a litte bit more. Griffin also likes to be taken for rides, he climbs up it and begs and waits until someone will take him for his turn.

Griff in the back seat of the rhino. Always a smile on his face when he is riding, oh how I love it!

Kaila with her big piece of salt. The salt is so thick that we had to chip at it to get a few pieces off. Thanks to Grandma Lu's example, they even tasted it. YUMMY!!

Here is Justice with his piece. He is also showing me how strong he is. Can't you just see those muscles bulging out of his shirt?

Griff woke up from his nap he was taking while I was driving. He was wondering what everyone was doing by the water. He also wanted to go and walk in it.

Justice showing me his muddy hands. He did try to wipe them all over me until I told him that if he did he would die.

Playing by the waters edge with Grandpa Todd.

Have to have little pit stops to have a treat. Justice loves to ride on the back of Grandpa because he goes so fast. However, Grandma gives him a run for his money on her Rancher.

Clay would seriously kill me if he knew I put this on here. Please do not tell!! He is just hitting a small jump here, but he has a lot of fun.

And lastly, this is me on Clay's motorcycle. I can barely reach the ground with my tip-toes, but that won't stop me from having fun on it. He still owes me my own, so I had to make sure that this one wasn't going to work. I think I may get one just a little smaller. This one has so much power, it is such a blast to ride! I LOVE it!!!

Finally updating the blog!

Halloween 2008
10/31/2008

So I am finally updating the blog! This is for you Julie and Annilee since I have been telling you I would do it for months now. Sorry! I have no idea how people can do this daily. I get on thinking that I will update, first I go through emails, about 30 or so daily, then I start checking my favorite blogs to get my daily fill and to feel like I know what is going on in everyones lives, then hours later (seriously, hours!) I look down at that little clock at the bottom of my screen and it says numbers like 12:30 am, or 1:45am then I think that if I am going to get the kids up on time and not be so onry in the morning that I should probably get to bed, so I shut down the computer without updating my own blog, then shut down the house, check the kids, and finally about 30 minutes later get into bed. I do this daily! So for those who even care to read, I will try to do more photos than words, because I don't really want to type much. I hope I can get this to work the first time or I will get very pissed and probably not try again for a month or so. Ha! Ha!
So someone please tell me how I get the pics to come after the enrty. Tell me if I do this wrong, but I write first, then I put the curser down a few lines, then I go in to get the pics, then when I go to see thm, they appear before the post. This makes it harder for me to do several updated blog posts at a time. PLEASE HELP!! tell me what I am doing wrong, because everyone else seems to know how to do this. This is what makes me mad!!

Okay I figured it out with Clays help, what a head ache, he selected it, then did a drag up to the top. There has to be another way that is easier than that. There is no cut and paste? What?! I know that sounded easy as I said that, but I tried it before he came and it did not work for me. He has that kind of effect on technology, it instantly likes to work for him after I try it, for hours sometimes, but only about 10 minutes today. Anyway, if there is an easier way please let me know.

This is Griffin showing me what a skunk does best.

He is just so freaking cute! The tail on the skunk wiggled when he walked, it was so adorable, the costume fit his personality perfectly! The butt says " Little Stinker".

Justice is a pirate, he was so pissed because I made him have a goatie, eventually, after I told him that real pirates have them, he liked it and was not so mad at me. His favorite part of the costume was the sword, although it is not in the pic here because he was hitting us all with it.


Kaila was a witch. This costume was sewn by Grandma LuAnn about 20 years ago. I bought a dang cute witch costume that had a lot of colors, but she did not want to wear it because "witches wear black mom". So LuAnn dug out this one she had in the basement and she loved it. It was black, and it had a cape! We ended up without the green makeup, because I thought it looked funny, I have to mention that it is what Clay told me to do, like the the witch on Wizard of Oz, I even bought red lipstick although you really can't tell here because it had worn off, and she hated it. Of course, because that is Kaila for you!

Justice got this eye patch and teeth from Grandma LuAnn, he loved them! This was at the very end of the night so the makeup had well worn off.


Isn't she the scariest witch you have ever seen? This is one of her faces that she pulls often.

How can you resist this face? He really is not that cooperative with pictures, I had to stand on my pip-toes and aim over his head to get this, but what a cheese!

This picture is of all the Jensen side grandkids. Tessa is Dorothy holding her little pup Todo, Jake is Iron Man holding Justice's sword, Justice is a pirate, Jaycee is Snow White with her costume falling off, Cheyenne is a Barbie witch with a little mini skirt, and Kaila also a witch dressed in black. They all were so cute!

Changing the blog a little!

Thank you to Lindsay and Annilee for the suggestions to help me with the pics. I have not tried it yet, but will try tomorrow when I have my memory card with me. I hope it works. Cross you fingers for me please!!!!

So we laid sod on Thursday night and Friday morning. Thank you to Todd and LuAnn ( my in-laws) for coming and helping on Thursday night. They just came to say hi, when they saw us laying sod, they just jumped in and helped lay part of the front corner until it was dark. Then Clay went out and laid until about midnight and got part of the back yard done, while I got the kids to bed. Did I mention that it was the day of our anniversary? Yes, we laid sod for our anniversary. Aren't we so freaking lame?!!! Then on Friday morning Casey (Jorgensen), Clays friend from work came over to help lay along with Todd. They were here at 6:30 am, and by the time I woke up and got the kids ready they had just about laid most of it. I only got to help lay a few pieces, fill in the holes, and cut some that had overlapped the sidewalks. Not much help, but I really did want to. I guess I get to mow it!!! No, really I am excited about that. It has been years since we had a yard and grass to mow. We haven't put in yards in the last 2 houses, so it has been about 5 years, since the Richmond house, that we had to cut grass. Clay and I used to fight over who got to mow. Sounds lame I know, but .... I can't really find and excuse sorry! Anyway, thank you to Todd and Casey for helping, and also to the neighbor Jaelyn for having Kaila and Justice come over to play, it really did help. THANK YOU!!!

We are also finishing the family room in the basement, so we have had drywall guys in and out. Clay has been so busy, Friday evening he was doing finish work, and getting it ready to paint. He has just a little more finish work to do, then we can paint in the next few days. Carpet is supposed to come on Friday. This is great news to us, because we will have another place to hide, I mean retreat to, when we need some space from the kids.

So back to our anniversary..... we have been married for 9 years! Which means I have known Clay for 11 years. That seems so crazy. I told him ten years means a cruise right?!!! Something besides laying sod. We have always had something kind of big happen about the same time, like getting a new car (2 or 3 times), signing papers on a house (2 times), or been at Lake Powell (2 times), or something. 3 years ago we went to Cancun (2 months later) but called it our anniversary present. It is not that we don't want to, or can't financially, it is just that Clay doesn't like to miss work, or really can't because of certain jobs needing to be done. So I told him that no matter what we are doing something for #10. I may just plan it and surprise him you never know. We did go out without the kids on Saturday, this is not a norm for us, we take the kids everywhere. We went to Hamilton's for dinner, and then to a movie. You have to know Clay to know just how BIG that is, he hates the theatre (I think I have mentioned that in a previous post). We went and saw Tropical Thunder, very interesting show, we laughed, but it was a little different and I don't think I would recommend it to anyone. But it was fun holding his hand through the movie, it felt like we were on a date in college again. Thank you to Todd and LuAnn for watching the kids while we enjoyed a dinner and movie we really appreciate it!

*** But I do have to say that Clay is seriously the best husband, I could not have found any better. Clay you are the love of my life! You are my best friend, and I really don't think you know just how much I love and appreciate you. Thank you for giving me such beautiful children. You are a great dad to the kids, and they love you so much. I can not imagine my life without you, you make me so incredibly happy. Happy Anniversary, babe! I would do it all over again in a heartbeat, I love you!!!

That will end my post for the evening, hoping that I will be able to post pics next time. Good night!

I finally did it!!!

I WATER SKIED!!!
That's right, I finally did it! I water skied! We are lucky that Clays parents have a boat, and that they are willing to take us out with them. So, finally I broke down and tried it again. It has been 11 years since I tried, and I remember very vividly the crash as I drank gallons of water. But after a little coaxing, I figured "What the HELL" and just jumped in to try again. I got up on two skis and I was afraid to cross the wake for fear that I would do the splits and crash, so I just held on and let the boat pull me. That's right no tricks for me! It was actually pretty dang fun, and I think I will do it again. I am kicking myself in the butt for not being brave enough to do it the last 11 years, just think how good I could be... WOW! Clay thinks that I should try the wake board next time, so I probably will. No more Mrs. Scare -D- pants, I am can be BRAVE... right?!
Here is a pic... I hope this works! Well it didn't work the first time, so I am going to continue to type, then try again.

I can not believe how good Clay was. I have not seen him ski for at least 3-4 years. It was great to see him enjoying himself out there on the water. He also wake boarded, and I was amazed. I bet he hadn't boarded in 10 years, but he was trying to do a few tricks, a 180 jump, it was pretty cool.


And of coarse brave little Justice will not be left out in the fun, he had to do it too. He has skied with Grandpa Todd a few times when we have been at Lake Powell, so he had to do it again at Glendale. He has the biggest grin on his face the entire time.

And here is a pic of Grandpa Todd and Grandma LuAnn skiing there hearts out. I really cannot believe how much they enjoy it. They are really good!

And a few random pics of Kaila (the scare -d- cat), and Griff. He loves to drive the boat, but gets in the way a little, so he is standing while still "helping".


Okay. Now this is really making me mad. It will not upload any pics. This is the reason I am so discouraged and haven't posted in a while. It is saying something about internal error. This sucks!! If anyone out there in blog world can help or has any suggestions, please help me!! Or I will really be pissed and stop this whole blogging thing altogether. HELP ME!!!
So I guess that I will have to try to continue some other time after I figure this out. I know it can be so boring without any pics, so I will try later. UGH!!!

Okay, so after playing with it for a while, I got pics in but I don't know know to insert pics into the typing. Do I need to upload image as I am typing??? Anyway, you get the idea, here are some pics of us skiing and boating.

RODEO!!

So I am blogging again, it has been a long time. I think that the picture thing discouraged me for a while. But I am back, at least for now. It is very, very late and I am in American Fork spending the night at my parents house. I love spending time here!

I brought the kids down to the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Days Rodeo. I haven't been for a few years, maybe 4 or so, (I didn't miss one growing up) but I love the memories that I think of when I think of Strawberry Days, rodeo, parade. There was so many people there that this was the first time that we did not get to sit in the same stands that we have sat in every year. The anouncer says that this rodeo is the longest running rodeo at I believe he said 86 years (?) My dad has been to 58 years of it, WOW! I can definitely say this was the coolest rodeo I have ever been to in my 29 years. Thanks to the FMX (Free Style Motocross) guys! They did some awesome tricks, and had the entire audience excited. As for Justice and Griff, they had the biggest smiles. Justice was too cute, he was clapping and kept looking back with the hugest smile making sure I was seeing it. Griff loved the motocycles. The last trick was a back flip, that he did twice, the audience was amazed, and actually it had more of a reaction than the entire rodeo. Not that the rodeo was boring, because I love to watch the local guys and everyone from Utah, but as my dad says " You've seen one rodeo, you've seen them all". This was the first time that there has been MX mixed with the bulls at a rodeo, at least in PG, but that made it worth the $12 ticket, every single penny!!! And of course, I forgot my camera in my bag that I had taken in my parents house. Of course, that is how my luck is when something cool happens.

We also went swimming today at the Logan Aquatic Center, but only for about 1.5 hours. I promised the kids we will stay until we are bored next time. They were so good to help me out with Griff while I was outside filling in the trenches for the sprinklers. The time passed so quickly that when I finally looked at the clock it was past 12:30 and I still had not packed us to stay over in AF. So by the time that we left the house and finally got to the pool it was 1:45. Then they do the poo check at 2pm, and we had to leave at 3:15 to be on our way so we didn't hit too much traffic in SLC. By the time we left the valley it was already 4pm, because I had to make a few stops to the bank and the Jensens house. We actually made great time, 2 hours, and that was even in rush hour traffic. (I have been told by Clay that I drive too fast). But we where right on time, and I even got a shower.

I still need to post about Lake Powell, and Father's Day. But I would like to have some pic for that so it is not so boring. Wich me luck with the pics, I'll need it! So until then........ Good bye!

More to come later, but just blogging in to say hello!

So I know I haven't posted in a while, sorry, although I am not sure if anyone even reads this. Anyway, for my own journaling purposes, I guess I will update a little. I need to post about Mother's Day, Griff's birthday (both on the same day this year) (also my brother Troy's b-day), my birthday, and a few fun things the kids get to do before school ends.

So about my birthday - May 17th -

I am an OLD woman!!! I am now 29 years old, and robbing the craddle just a little. Yes, Clay is still 28, at least for another month and a half. Clay made me an awesome magnet board to hang above my computer. It was almost full of drawings in about 20 mins. Kaila loves to draw and since there is a new place to hang stuff, she thinks it needs to be full. She also hung her award ribbon that she won in her 1st grade race. Clay and I usually don't celebrate much by ways of gifts, but this was a suprise and I LOVE IT! Thanks Clay!!! Isn't it weird to think of age, I mean, to say that I am now 29, holy crap! I sure do not feel that old, and I sure as hell hope I don't look that old. I try to do things to keep me feeling young anyway. I hope this will be a good year, I am sure it will be! So being my day and all, I chose what we were going to do. I rescheduled my haircut to open up the day so...... I chose to go to a motocross race. There is a track in Willard, Ut., by Smith and Edwards, it is an awesome track. You have to be a member to ride there, but not to just watch. I would love to get a pass to ride there, at least for Clay right now and also for Justice to learn on, but we will see. So we spent the afternoon watching motocross, the weather was great! We saw Tyler Ciriako, a neighbor boy growing up as well as I taught him in Primary. He is so cute! He did pretty well. I could spend all day, everyday, around a track and motorcycles. I love that exhaust smell, and just the atmosphere. However, the kids got hot and whiney, so Clay ended up taking the boys to the car and so Kaila and I finished watching the races. Justice only wanted to see the little kids ride. Griffin was pretty good, and loved it at first but when it started to get too hot, he just wanted to play in the dirt. On our way home, we went to eat at Maddox in Brigham City. The turkey steak and mashed potatoes are the best! I get it every time. Yum!

BTW - Thanks to everyone that called or sent a card for my b-day, I am very grateful!!

Troy and Connie, I got your messages and thanks for calling even though I never got to talk to you, it is the thought that counts right?!

Megan, better late than never!! Thanks! I know you were out of town, so that is an excuse I will except.



May 11 - I will have to break this up a little -

It is my older brother Troy's birthday. Happy Birthday!!! I was not able to get a hold of him because of such a busy day it was. I called once, but it was busy and I know they have two lines, so I checked my phone to make sure it was the correct number and it was, so I told myself to remember to call him later that evening, but then I forgot. So Happy 35th birthday!!! We love and miss you and your family! I was thinking of you though and even said "Happy Birthday Troy" outloud, to myself. If that makes sense. Please come home soon, we miss being able to visit with you (and I mean for good)!

This day is also Griffin's Birthday!!! He is 2 years old!! I can not believe that my baby is two. That 2 years has just flown by. Griffin is such a cute little man. These pics are a few of his latest. It was nice sharing my Mother's Day with him, I know that it won't happen that often. We actually had him open presents the next day because by the time we finally got home, he was tired and not really in the mood to open gifts. We did have him blow out his 2 candles on his actual birthday though. He has been such a fun addition to our family. Atfter Kaila and Justice we thought that our family was complete, one for each of us to handle. Now, even though we are out numbered, I cannot imagine our family without him. We love you Griff!!

Okay, I was trying to post a few more, but for some reason I go to add image and it will not let me add anymore. Have I mentioned that I am not very technical??? So I will have to finish my post and then add pics to another one.

Mother's Day 2008 is just another day for me I guess. However, I did get a bookmark from Kaila that she made in school that is actually pretty cool since I just discovered I like to read. (But only certain books about War, Pioneers, futuristic weapons, and a few other authors that I discovered in my in laws library. They have so many books, I started going through them and found a few that looked interesting. My latest read was Fire and the Covenant - by Dean Hughes, loved it! I read it in 4 days. That sucker almost 800 pages. I have not yet started those vampire books that everyone is talking about. I am not into that kind of stuff ie.. things that are not real or never could be. But I do have them in the back of my car, I just keep finding ones that seem so much more interesting.) I hope no one is mad at me for that... sorry! Anyway, back to Mother's Day...Justice also made me this cute card in school, he hid it in his backpack so it would be a surprise. Griffin, with help from Kaila, made me a picture with his hand and some "beautiful artwork" drawn all over it.

The great thing that I was looking forward to the most on Mother's Day was the call from Jon - Clay's brother who is on a mission in Roseville, California - talking to him was great and it made my day. He is only out another 6 months YEAH!!! He is as close to me as my own brothers and I really do think of him as my brother. We can not wait for him to come home so we can go riding. I don't think he is able to read this, but we love and miss you Jon!!!

We also had a nice dinner at the Jensen's. Julie, my SIL, made enchiladas they were great! Then after dinner the kids played on the swings, tramp and of course a game of T-ball. I think everyone had fun. It was so nice to finally have everyone (minus Jon) back together. We really have missed everyone!!

*******I was not able to see my own mom on Mother's Day, so HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM, I love you!! You have been one of the greatest examples in my life. You are such an amazing person, you have gone through so much but yet have so much faith. You are so willing to serve the Lord in any kind of calling and always have a smile doing it. You are a person I strive to be like. You are always so happy to see my kids, and they love it. Sorry I was not able to spend the day with you, but I did think about you. I love you mom!! *******

An of course 2 days after my bday is Todd's (my FIL), and Jake's (my nephew) birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We went up Providence Canyon to have a little dinner and fun. We all had our motorcycles and fourwheelers up there, and had alot of fun. My tinfoil dinner was great and fully cooked! Kaila and Cheyenne had so much fun on Kaila's little 4 wheeler, they were laughing their heads off. Griff just wanted a ride with whoever would take him. Justice had fun playing with Jake.

That will end my long post, at least for now, or until I can figure out how to post more pics. But that will have to wait until tomorrow. I look forward to no school next week. Maybe I will be able to get a few more things done. But speaking of next week... I will try to update this before I leave to Lake Powell for the week. I majorly need some sun, I am getting waxed and ready!! HaHa!!

To you from AF

I am not so good at updating this blog. We don't have alot going on, or else I don't bring the camera so not much fun there.

So I finally made it back down to good old AF, my hometown. It is so amazing how much I miss this place (I know, it is only 2 hours away), I always feel so comfortable here. The reason for my visit today is for Ann Andrews wedding!!! Ann was Megan (my sis) best friend growing up. She came along to most of our family vacations for the last 15 years or so. For a while she really was part of the family. She looked amazing in her dress and all of the pictures she had out were so dang cute. I was able to see people I haven't seen in a while. A lot of my neighbors growing up. The Andrews family, Brenda and Jozette Judd, Kristi and Kevin Krommenhoek. All of Meg's HS friends (hi Jayni). It was great! I forget how much I like being in a city that I actually know people.

I really wasn't planning on staying overnight, but as it usually turns me and the kids are staying. I have to work at 9am so we will be leaving pretty dang early to make sure I get to work on time. I think the Dr that is working will not stay too long, so that will be nice, hopefully I get off by 12 noon, that would be pretty nice.

Also tomorrow by BIL Brady is graduating from Utah State University!!! Yeah for him!! Now only 7 years left. WOW! He and Julie (Clay's sis) are moving back to Ohio for med school. He is planning on being a podiatrist (feet). He has worked so hard for this, and we are so excited for him, but not happy they are leaving us. :( We are having a little dinner afterwards and I am bringing my moms famous mint brownies.

My moms brownies are the BEST!!! You have never had a better mint brownie EVER! Because I was coming down for the wedding, I asked her if she would help me make them as I have never attempted them on my own, my mom is the best she already had the brownie part made and then when we got back from the wedding, she frosted, froze, frosted them for me. So I did not even have to do anything. She is the greatest. Really I think she knows that I really can't bake, and there is a little trick to the frosting part. So they are ready to go, she covered them for me and now sitting on top the microwave for me to take them in the morning. She will not even get to taste the result of her labors.

As I am typing, my dad is making fun of me for having a blog, he is not technical at all. Just a few months ago he finally got a email addresss. Now he and his high school friend Terry can send eachother stuff. Yipee!! My dad is so funny! He still does not have a cell phone, he just figures that if he wants to talk to them, he will call them. He doesn't think anyone should be able to call him if he is not home. I always think of an emergency situation, and what would happen. Thank goodness my brother Randy, and my BIL Andy have them (they work with him). Just in case right?!

So it is late, and as usual when I am with my fam, we don't go to bed at least until midnight. I love it! At my house I am the only one that stays up late. Clay is usually in bed snoring by 10pm. Ha Ha! I tease him so bad, he really is like a grandpa. So I have to get to bed, I am getting up in 6 hours. I hope I don't fall asleep at the wheel. Bye for now!