'Til we meet again

Matt's father, Richard Alma Jensen, passed away on September 11, 2008. Even Stewart felt the void his leaving made when we went home for the funeral, looking for his Grandpa throughout the house. Matt's brothers and sisters all came together to help their mom plan a beautiful funeral and graveside service that paid tribute to a great man who should have no regrets about the way he lived or the work and service he did while he lived. He celebrated his 80th birthday on February 22, 2008 and his 50th wedding anniversary on August 25th, 2008. What a legacy as his wife, all 8 kids, their spouses and 26 grandchildren sang his favorite family home evening hymn, "Love at Home." I always felt loved by him in his home and mine and am grateful that I knew him, loved him and am married to one of his sons. Because of Dick and Joann, Matt is a kind father, hard worker and has a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will miss you, Dad!

We'll never forget

Today Casper asked me why everyone was celebrating the flag at school today. For a second, I couldn't think of why and looked at the calendar to see if it was a holiday I'd forgotten. Even though I forgot the day today, I hope I never forget the way I felt that day. Matt and I had just been married that January and he was deployed at the end of August to Saudi Arabia. It was a difficult separation for me, so I was in Salt Lake City visiting family and working on a project for a professor that had overseen my thesis at the University of Utah. I was sitting in the car, waiting for my mom to take me up to the U. and listening to the radio. I heard the announcer break in and say that a second plane had crashed into the twin towers in New York City. I first thought it was an advertisement. Then I ran into the house to tell my mom and turn on the TV. I watched in disbelief and cried. I went up to the University but didn't do any work, just watched TV with all of the students and teachers in the cafeteria. Matt didn't call from Saudi Arabia very often due to the difference in time and his schedule, but he made sure to call me and his parents as soon as he could to let us know the base there was safe but in total lockdown. For the rest of his time there, 3 months, he carried a gas mask wherever he went and never left the base. A year later, Matt and I were able to visit Ground '0' on the 4th of July. We talked about several men he had known in his career that died that day in the airplanes. I cried then and felt so angry that anyone could hate a nation or people enough to destroy so much, especially so many lives. I'm grateful to live in a nation where terror is not usually the norm, that I can be angry about it when it does happen and that so many good people have come together to heal and help each other. As I told Casper about that day, he got tears in his eyes and asked if he could say a prayer for all of those people that died that day. It's important that we never forget!

My daughter is growing up

From Blogger Pictures

Whitney flew to Salt Lake City last week with her Grandpa Casper to visit for a few days. It was hard for me to imagine the day would ever come that my kids would travel without me, but it was a great experience for her and fun for my parents and brother's family. She was able to play with her cousins, have her hair done by Aunt Launi, and have everyone's undivided attention. I never worried about her for the 3 days she was gone and according to both sets of grandparents, she was a model child: ate all her meals without leaving the table, slept through the night with only a nightlight & even took a nap each day. I'm glad to know she can behave better away from home than when I'm around. She's already planning the next trip!

A Celebration of "Galactic Proportions"

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

From Blogger Pictures

Our oldest son, Casper, turned 6 on August 31, 2008 and we're STILL celebrating, it seems. I'm so glad that he is so smart and healthy and so brave at taking things in stride that might be hard for other people. He was such a happy, even tempered baby; so quick to smile and laugh at everyone he met. He still has such an engaging smile and is quick to give a hug. He makes me so glad to be a mom.

On Friday, Matt, Stewart and I had the chance to read "SuperDog" to Casper's kindergarten class and share pictures of him growing up. We handed out Spiderman light up, stamper, bubble pens for a treat and they were a hit. After we found out that there were 3 birthdays that day, I suggest non perishable treats everytime! We ended the visit with a QUICK lunch in the cafeteria. I love kindergartners. They still think it's cool when your mom and dad visit.

Casper wanted a Star Wars party with 3 of his friends, his cousin Jackson and Whitney and Stewart. I really didn't know what a "Star Wars" party would entail, but he seemed satisfied to be led into the direction of a swimming party on Saturday afternoon. My parents, my brother and his wife, and their son, Jackson, arrived just in time to make Star Wars masks with Dallin, Max and Brigette and then we headed out to the pool. For snacks we had watermelon and Sun Chips with juice boxes and water. The Milky Way Galaxy ice cream cake that Casper helped make and decorate was a great hit in the hot summer heat and the perfect presents of Star Wars legos, a Star Wars transformer, a Batman motorcycle, and a helicopter were so well received that Casper said, "Wow mom, I have so many nice new toys that I think Santa can take a break this year from giving me presents."

My dad took us all to the Diamondbacks game and though we were taken out of the competition in the first 4 innings by the Dodgers, we enjoyed watching the fans and eating hotdogs. Chase Field is amazing! During good weather, the top is left open for the grass. When it's hot, they close the top and run an air conditioner!! It was such a nice respite from the heat to watch live baseball indoors.

The wheels on the bus go 'round & 'round

Ok, so when your 6 year old starts writing full sentences on the back of the baby, it's time to start school, don't you think? How can I be mad when he writes, "I love you mom and dad?"

Casper really has loved school and his teacher. On Wednesday night as I was tucking him in bed, he so poignantly said, "When I'm at home, I want to be at school and when I'm at school, I want to be at home."

I felt the same way at summer's end. It's been an emotional week for all of us. The time of my life with all 3 kids at home has come to an end and my work now really begins to help them prepare for being on their own someday...I worry what things they'll be exposed to, the innocence that will leave. Yet, I'm excited for the friends they'll make and the things they'll learn to do. Whitney and Stewart missed him terribly. It surprised me how lost Whitney was without her older brother and how overwhelmed she was with being the 'older sister.' I have enjoyed the quieter time in the day to spend one on one with her.



The weekend before school started we kidnapped Matt and went camping, canoeing and fishing for 3 days without showers, flush toilets, TV and cell phones. It was a grueling trip, but beautiful with the rain each night and the cooler days. I'd never been in a canoe before; needless to say it was a little disconcerting to feel every move of my curious and fearless 6 year old, accompanied by the squeals of my fearful and most vocal 4 year old. Stewart was so miserable he fell asleep in the bottom of the canoe. Despite all of Casper's and Matt's efforts, we didn't catch more than a few crawfish.



The kids really progressed in their swimming abilities this summer. Casper is looking forward to being on the swim team next summer. He loved the freedom being able to swim gives him while going down the waterslide and diving with the big guys off of the diving board. Whitney became comfortable enough to completely submerge her face underwater and dive for toys. We're still enjoying our own pool each day after Casper gets home from school. Two weeks ago we had some friends spend the night at our house and for some reason, the younger boy and Casper decided to throw all the rocks and wood they could find into the pool over the fence. I was so shocked I didn't even yell and Casper felt so bad he completely cleaned it up by diving for 45 minutes for all of the rocks.

Thumbs

Oh the thumb-sucker's thumb
May look wrinkled and wet
And withered, and white as the snow,
But the taste of a thumb
Is the sweetest taste yet
(As only we thumbsuckers know).
--Shel Silverstein

I was driving home from the library today with my kids after an afternoon of sun at the community pool and tuned into the 'cacophony' of sucking noises from the back of the minivan. ALL THREE of my kids were at sleep's door, sucking their thumbs like crazy. My oldest, Casper, has started to ask for help to stop in the daytime, but I'm not sure what to do at night. The dentist recommended adhesive tape, which we've tried and which lasts as long as Casper and Whitney can each stand their thumbs being bound with tape. We've used the Numbzit, or yucky tasting polish, which lasted as long as it took to suck it off.

So, what's a mom to do?