You'd better not pout, you'd better not cry........

.....SANTA CLAUSE is comming to town!

We went to see Santa on Monday for family home evening. Jacob was excited to see Santa and was just fine to sit on his lap and tell him that he wanted a train set for Christmas......side story.... (When we were shopping in costco a couple of weeks earlier, we spotted a train set that we wanted to get for Jacob, so we tried to put it on the bottom of the cart without him noticing. Needless to say he looked down through the cart when he was standing in the back and saw the train set, exclaiming "is that for me"? We had to put it back and tell him no, you'll have to ask Santa for one. Ever since that time when we ask him what he wants Santa to bring him he states with excitment "A train set".)....end side story....Abby on the other hand was just not so sure about the jolly man with a white beard.

We then proceeded to the St. George, UT temple where there was a nativity out front and we listened to the Christmas story. We also decided to go into the visitor center at that time. They had an exhibit of photographs of the Saviors life called "Reflections of Christ". You can not take part of this and not be poured out on by the spirit confirming to you that "HE LIVES". What a wonderful time of year to remember not just the birth of our savior, but his whole life. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful family home evening.

THE NAPTIME BANDIT STRIKES AGAIN!!!!

What Happens

when you are in

persuite of that perfect holiday picture? Do your kids sit still and smile




just the way you would like them

to, and at the same time? Does your three year old ever look at the camera

and smile naturally? Will there ever be the achieval of that



perfect holiday card picture ?

It may not have been what I had in mind. But after a half an hour of bribing and making funny noises this is the best holiday picture ever!

Who woke up Abby?

One fine morning I heard noise comming from the kid's bedroom not long after I had layed Abby down for her morning nap. This is the conversation that followed.

Me: Jacob did you wake up Abby?

Jacob: No mom.

Me: Then who did?

Jacob: You did mom.

Me: Oh, then how did you get into Abby's bed

Jacob: I climbed the green chair

The lovely green rocking chair is right next to the crib, creating the perfect climbing tool to get into the crib. This is the first of many occasions to follow of Jacob finding himself bored with whatever cleaning or other meanial task that mom is doing, and so he chooses to wake up his favorite sister as an alternative to finding something quiet to play. These days are so precious and wonderful. I was not truely elated to find Abby awake so early from her nap, but how could you get mad at such innocent sweet faces?

YOU WANTED TO SEE THE SWISHY TRAIN???

What else did we do on our last day???

We went to Mini's house and she gave Jacob a big smooch.

We went to Mickey's house where he was making a movie.




We went on one last rollercoaster ride.

(I seriously took this picture while we were on the rollercoaster, no photo editing here, just plain old happy rollercoaster fun.)
YOU CAN'T HAVE MUCH MORE FUN THAN THAT!!!!!

TUESDAY

(Jacob and Abby trying to watch the Muppet pre-show while Mom is trying to get a cute pic!)

FIVE MINUTES until the laundry is done, then back to the hotel room. Today sure has gone by fast. Unfortunately the normalcys of life just don't go away. I really try to be a minimalist when packing, Jase will tell you otherwise, but there are just some unforseen things like blowouts, tons of spit up, potty trained accidents, you get the picture. Anyhow when I sit down to write I definately lose momentum and my body starts to recognize that it is exhausted only to realize that tomorrow is comming no matter how much I might want it to be delayed for a few more hours.

Today was our last day with the Bartold family. Jacob and Josh are the best of buds. This morning when we were leaving the hotel room Jacob said to me "Mom I have to go with Joshy he is my best pal." He says some of the cutest most precious things. I knew from the moment that Jacob was born and Josh held him and saw him for the first time that they were going to be best buds. I love spending time with Jason's family like this. It bonds the relationships of these cousins like they are brothers and sisters. They are all truely best pals and will keep in contact for years to come. I had a wonderful childhood and grew in love with my family, but I never had the love with my extended family as these children do. They love each other sooooooo much. I love my cousins, but I defianately don't know them, to be in a room and have a conversation with them is almost to have a conversation with a stranger only to find out that you have the same grandparents. I love being from a large family, it's all I've ever known, but now I am finding out the benefits of having a small one.

(The cousin clan)

LAuNDRY's DONE!!! We hit the park hard today, knowing that it would be our last all together. We went to fantasy land with our early admittance, then we did the Matterhorn, what a fun ride. Then we headed over to California Adventure and saw some characters. Jason and his family tried to convince me to go on "Tower of Terror", but I absolutely refused. I hate the rides where you free fall. I lose my entire sense of control every time. You know those dreams where you are falling, and then you wake up landing on your bed, your body actually jumps and bounces the bed, well it's like that, and I truly do not like it at all. So Jacob and I bought a Churro and shared it with another young boy who was standing next to us while we were waiting. Jacob also had some fruit punch Crystal Light which made his upperlip stained red. Consequently, all of his pictures have a red mustache little boy. What would life be if there weren't pictures of little boys with red mustaches? We then went to the Muppet 3-D show and over to the water rapids one more time. We all had ponchos on so we wouldn't get wet, but the water came up from a spout in the bottom of the bot that is supposed to drain the water out and sprayed jason from the underside. His shorts were soaking, but his top was dry, quite the site. We had a lot of laughs, it was fun. Then over to get some lunch and say good bye to the Bartolds. Everyone commenced to see thier own attractions as individual families from there. We went and visited a few more characters, then we went to the Tiki room where there is a bird show production, saw Jasmine and Aladin, went on the "Pirates of the Caribbean", and then on the train that goes all around the park.

(He bought the churro all by himself, it was so cute!)

Jacob has been asking us to go on the "Squishy" train since yesterday night. Jason and I have had the hardest time figuring out what this was. So, we went on the red train again. We kept asking hi questions like what color it was, and if it went fast or slow. Well, apparently it goes FAST and It has ONE ORANGE STRIPE! While we were on the red train we asked him if it was the Monorail as it went by, and he said yes, but not to definately, Jason and I were still unsure. This was the only other train in the park that we could think of. When we went out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa to Knotts Berry Farm, for the Chicken dinner, ohhh, so good, we related the story to them. Grandpa says, yeah, the monorail, how come you guys didn't take Jacob on it? We said how is that the "Squishy" train, he said cause it "Swooshes by". Jason and I were still confused, then the light turned on in both of our heads, Ohhh, the "SWISHY" train!!! Thank you Grandpa for interpreting.

So, tomorrow morning off to the "SWISHY" train!

MONDAY




WHY DO WE CALL THIS A VACATION? Seriously, there is nothing relaxing or vacationing about this. We walk many many steps throughout the day and encourage and scold our children in their behavior. We eat on the go and just Go...Go...Go. Hence we returned to our room not much after 8:30 tonight, because the park closed at 8, and I am just plum tired. Abby has fallen asleep at her usual time around 5:30 because she fought through her afternoon nap today, which means her little internal alarm clock will wake us gently and promptly at 0600. Jacob had a power nap before the fireworks over the castle and he is awake next to me in bed as I am typing this. Abby is still asleep in her stroller, because I have neglected to get her ready for bed and put her in her crib just yet, and Jase is on the other sided of Jacob on this bed passed out 30 minutes ago! Thank goodness the park doesn't open till 10 tomoorow, oh wait, our family is going at nine because we can get into the park early one day, and for that day we just happened to pick tomorrow. Oh, I just want to pass out.

Today was wonderful! We spent the day doing things that Jacob wanted to do. We rode the train around the park, went on the Whinnie the Pooh ride again, Twice! Then we mosied over to fantasy land and went on the pinnochio and peter pan ride there. We took both abby and Jacob on the Nighmare before Christmas haunted mansion ride. Both kids were equally nuzzeling their faces into my and Jason's necks. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride was good, but it was time for Abby to eat lunch, and she just wasn't impressed. We ate a Turkey Leg for lunch, mmmmmm, those are so good. We watched the parade with our cousins and then Jase, I, Jacob, and Grandpa Jack went on the "Matterhorn" again. Jacob calls it the volcano ride. He quite enjoyed it. We then commenced to go pick a spot to watch the fireworks and have a corndog, another Disney Land eatery must have, and jacob fell asleep momentarily after pushing off. Our day in a nutshell, seems like we could have done so much more from the sound of it, but let me tell you this was plenty. Tomorrow, we're off to watch some more shows and ride some more rides.

Disney Land 2009!!!!

(Saturday)

Abby, just can't stand the idea of not being in the tub with Josh and Jacob when they are having so much fun splashing around together. We arrived in Califorinia yesterday around 10:00 am, checked into our hotel, threw a bunch of things together and headed out to Disney Land. We walked!!! It is only a couple of blocks from our hotel, we can do it in about 10 minutes, a nice walk it is too, except for the comming back part after you've been walking all day in the park. We had a fun afternoon, so fun that I neglected to take any pictures of anything we did while we were there on this first day. We went on quite a few rides. First was the "Matterhorn", which is Jason's absolute favorite ride. We were so surprised that Jacob was actually tall enough to go! He was sooo excited, a little apprehensive at first, but when all was done, he had a blast. Then we continued to ride other rides around the park with Jason's family. It was so much fun, but such a long day. I think I was more excited than Jacob was. It is so much fun to have children, and to want them to experience the good things in life. We took Jacob 3 years ago, but he doesn't remember it, so this is all a new experience for him, and I couldn't be more than tickled pink to just watch the magic in his eyes. So, we ended the day with a crying baby and a tired boy on the walk home and then two excited cousins in the bath, and a cousin who was just happy to be out of the stroller to crawl and move on the floor.

(Sunday)

Abby's internal alarm clock went off at 6:15 this morning, not my ideal time to wake up when on vacation, however the Bartold clan wasn't much behind her at 6:45. We walked into the park early around 8:30 and went seperate ways for a while, that is big kids and adults to their attractions, and Brittany and I took Josh, Jacob, and Abby to ride the Pooh Bear ride. We were hoping to see Pooh Bear there, but he wasn't up quite that early. After we did that we walked over to Toon Town and Josh and Jacob were in seventh heaven just running around and being in such a magical type town. They have so much fun being together.

If there's a fire truck, that's where you will find Jacob!

When we finished in Toon Town it was time to meet up with the family over in California Adventure. While we were waiting for dads to bring us our tickets to park hop, the kids were playing on the "O" in the CALIFORNIA letters.

Right before lunch, we met up with Mater and Lightning McQueen for a family photo. We then commenced to go though the park there. We went on California Soarin, which is one of mine and Jason's favorite rides. Unfortunately, Jacob wasn't quite tall enough to go. He was so unsatisfied with his height that he just kept measuring and remeasuring himself at the measure guide, just to make sure he hadn't grown a few inches in a couple of minutes. Poor kiddo, he was so devestated. Next time Jacob, next time you will be tall enough. We had a wonderful evening there. My favortie was the "Play time" parade. It was right in front of us and the characters were all so colorful. Jacob and Abby were just enthralled with the whole thing. The day just went by so fast. Jacob and Abby have done quite well despite all the schedule changes. We didn't get back to the hotel tonight till a quarter to midnight with both kids crashed before we left the park. Jacob really wanted to go on the Nemo submarine ride after we watched "Fantasma" the water show, so we took him, because why else are we there? Jason said he had the hardest time staying awake, he just kept dozing on his shoulder, and then he would jerk himself to stay awake. We are having so much fun, and can't wait to do more tomorrow.

Happy trails till tomorrow from the land where dreams come true.

Better Late than Never

This picture was taken a long while back. I saw it when I was going through my pictures and decided that I needed to post it. This is a little glimpse into our life. I feel like I spend a lot of my time at work. Jason is so good to stay at home with the kids and take care of them on the days I work. Occasionally when we didn't have any patients at work, Jase would bring the kids up to visit me, and to feed Abby. It was an enjoyable time. Jacob is so smart, he knew just what to do with that stethoscope. He is a very curious boy and Abby makes a wonderful patient.

This is Sally! Jason and I just love her. She is my co-worker and the nurse who delivered Abby. She is such a wonderful woman, always wearing a smile. She makes every patient feel like they are the Queen. She loves working as a Labor nurse, and she loves her two grandsons, she only wishes she had a grandaughter too.

It was here... Now it's gone...

Oh, the drudgery of sitting here updating the blog from THE WHOLE SUMMER. You think I would learn, but no! Here I am once again trying to blog a whole three months all at once. There is not much to say for my procrastinating personality...Dad! As I have been updating myself on everyone elses blog, I see what fun summers each has had, and I think....Wow, my summer was pretty boring and uneventful, but after reviewing the hundreds of pictures that have been taken, I realize that it hasn't been that boring after all. I just love summertime. It refreshes me. I know we are inside most of the time due to the triple digit nature of the summer weather here, but the warm evenings are quite nice. I love the smells, the sounds, and the energy the summer brings; the grilling on the back porch, sitting on the swing on the front porch, the neighbors bringing over their dead snake that they killed while on a hike for family home evening, family reunions, grandma visiting, swimming in our neighbors pool, and visiting family up in Utah where it is much, much, much cooler (did I mention that it is a lot cooler in Utah than in Nevada?). So, here we go. All the most wonderful things about summer are about to un-fold for the Jensen family.

JUNE

We had just gotten home from a shopping trip in St. George. Abby makes some of the sweetest faces at this stage(3mo). She had just become interested in her toy that hangs from the handle of her car seat. As I got out of the car sitting next to her I pulled the animal down just to entertain her, and then she laughed, yes she giggled. I couldn't believe my ears. I was so excited I ran in the house to find the camera and took a video.

She giggled much harder before I captured it on video, as things usually go. I gues we just have to learn to appreciate those moments as just memories in our heads. She is just so precious, growing and growing.

We recieved a package from Grandma and Grandpa Jensen. Thank You! We love packages!

This is what we found: A new soft blanket for Abby, A truck pillow case for Jacob, peanut butter cups, animal crackers, stickers, a bubble gun, and a rubber band gun. Oh, what fun!

It's time for me to go back to work! I am packing so that we can drive to Utah for me to work my first weekend there as a mother of two. I have two special children who are so wonderful to take a nap together so I can accomplish this daunting task before me. If only this moment would last for a few hours vs a few minitues, I will take what I can get. Note the empty suit case and Abby cuddled in between the pillows and wrapped in a blanket just above Jacob's head. Oh, may they sleep long enough for me to get packed.

It was a very cold weekend in Utah. We stayed at Dave and Jen's house. We were able to go to the farmer's market. We love to go see the entertainment and look at and taste all the fresh fruits and vegetables. On our way home we met up with Grandma and Grandpa Love. That was a treat and just happened so perfectly. Grandma just had to buy a little something for Jacob while we were visiting at the Flying J in Nephi, UT. They went around and around the store just looking for the perfect toy. Jacob picked out this gas truck. He was so excited. He loves any truck that has a trailer attachment. I left the camera in the car and was not about to go back out and get it, so here's Jacob being very pleased with his gift from Grandma and Grandpa Love.

When we got home Abby looked so cute just laying on the bed just before we were going to call it a night. I just had to take pictures of her. I started out taking a couple, and they didn't look quite right, so I decided to start playing around with the settings on the camera. I have a lot to learn about picture taking. By the time I had taken about twenty five or so pictures of Abby with this bright flash the last look of "mom are you done taking pictures of me yet" is what I got. In the words of Abby "Mom I am so tired will you put that darn thing away".

If I could sing.....(Oh, what a beautiful morning!)

I was driving to work this morning, usually the sun is shining brightly in my eyes and I can't see the road. However, on this particular morning it was so beautifully cloudy. I couldn't resist taking these pictures. Aren't the clouds just beautiful? I think the clouds and the mountains are just picturesque. You could say I was in a cheery mood this morning, enough anyway to notice and appreciate the beauty of the world and the sun not shining in my eyes.

BATH TIME

Jacob is so excited to have Abby in the bath tub with him. At this particular moment he is swaying her back and fort making the ripples in the water if you notice in the picture. He thinks he is so silly; and he is.

Children will be children! I think that somewhere inside me I always looked forward to the day that Jacob would do this. I know it's kind of insane sounding, but I just couldn't stop laughing.

I was in my bedroom cleaning or something and when I looked out into the hall across into the bathroom was this toilet paper trail. It didn't stop there.....It kept going and....

Going....All the way down the hall, and then going and going some more straight through the family room....

To the doorway of the laundry room, where there sat a little boy unrolling the toilet paper.


This is truly my most favorite part about potty training Jacob. When I asked him ever so kindly "Jacob what are you doing?" he simply stated " I'm rolling the toilet paper mom"....Like duh, what does it look like I'm doing? Plainly Precious!

"I'll Love you forever, I'll Like you for always, As long as I'm living, My
baby you'll be." (Robert Munsch)

THE SUN BURN
I think that this is oficially Jacob's first sun burn. He and Jase were outside setting up a small pool that we had bought, and then the both of them commenced to swimming in it for the next hour or so, with out sunblock on. This picture was the night of the incident, unfourtunately it continued to get more red over the next couple of days, despite how much aloe I slathered on or how much water I gave him to drink. Then of course the peeling of the skin.......poor Jacob......What a trooper though, he didn't complain too much about it, mostly when it was time to put on the aloe.

Bed bugs

These are two of the cutest binky bed bugs that I know. Jacob likes to come in our room in the morning and cuddle up and watch cartoons for a little while. Usually, Abby is awake at this time, and he likes to lay next to her. Abby just loves Jacob, and she always wants to see what he is doing. Jacob loves her too.