I needed a change!

Well something had to change I was sick of the everyday old me. I was stuck in a rut and had to get out, so I made an apt to get my hair done. I was very dis-appointed when I found out Katy had moved up north. I ended up going to someone I did even know, but she did a good job and here is the out come. The new me!

Merry Christmas!

We had a great Christmas this year and I love seeing the sparkle in the kids eyes as they are so excited for Christmas to come. This year we had a Jense family Christmas party the weekend before Christmas and then spend Christmas day here at home. We went to Colby's and Travis and his family came down on the day after Christmas and it was fun to see them and get the kids together. Being on the Employees Who Care committee at the hospital I was able to go and shop for some of the angels off our angel tree. It is always a bitter sweet event. I love the feeling and thought of helping others, but there is always a part of me that feels so saddened for those we can not help. It is times like this I wish I had more money, but no matter how much money I had I would not be able to help everyone. And so I am full of heartache wishing I could do more, and often wondering if I have done all I can. It is easy to ignore the need around you and think no one in our area needs help, but this year was much different. Due to the hard economic times the care and share had several names that were not taken from the angel trees and thus several families which were not helped in this time of need. And when you know that it really tears at your heartstrings. My family decided we were going to buy gifts now when they were on sale and throughout the year and set aside for next year so we can help more than we were able to this year. By not waiting until last minute and bargain shopping we will be able to make our money go further, but not buy cheaper gifts. We may not be able to help everyone, but well try and help all we can.

JENSE CHRISTMAS 2008
Ridge: gas station, new shoes, lincoln logs, and jacket.
Aspyn: clothes, a doll, horse, chair and color tray.
Easton: Boots, wrangles, toy (cowboy, bull,& horse), & a webkin.
Trey: new webkin, basketball, football, and a wrestling mat.
Jim: IPOD nano, knife,& hiking boots.
Brandy: IPOD nano, & New Nikon camera(I LOVE IT).
The Family: Basketball Hoop, Rock Band, & Movies.

{ROCKSTARS}

{WRESTLING}

{ASPYN}

{TILDON}

{KYLER}

{TROY}

{BAILEY}

Christmas Party and Program

We had the Summit Christmas party Dec 23rd. We had dinner at 6:00 with a special visit from Santa and then the primary kids did a excellent job on the program that followed. Trey played Samuel (one of his favorite characters) and Easton was a non believer. Everyone had a great time.

McKenna (Babysitters Little Girl)


Aspyn w/ Santa


Easton w/ Santa


Trey w/ Santa


Trey (Samuel)


Tyson - Shepard (Easton's good friend)

Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for my family. Each one is so unique and adds so much. We have a family motto in our family and seems to say it daily. "We love you no matter what". It started when Trey would get down on himself so bad and I started saying it to him and it just sorta caught on. Now anytime someone is having a bad day, or messes up someone will quickly turn and say the family motto to them. Even little Aspyn has caught on. I ended up turning it into a FHE lesson. I wanted my kids to know that I might not like the action or behavior they choose, but I still love them.

I am thankful for my family and Jims family. Little did I know when I started dating Jim I would be getting 4 sister-in-laws. They have accepted me and the boys and made us feel welcome right from the start. I have to admit it is a little different sitting around the table with glitter toe conversations, Anne of Green Gables, and other girlie talk. I had no idea what glitter toes where let alone they cost so much at the salon, and I have still never seen Anne Green Gables (sorry ladies).

Now Rambo I could probably recite word for word. My brother and I both had Rambo knives and we would dress in camo and paint our faces. We would hide and climbed around the chicken coops and barn out back all day pretending to be Rambo. So ladies if I look at you funny during the conversations around the table, its not that I don't agree with you, I probably have no idea what you're talking about.

Well I decided Aspyn was going to have at least both sides of the spectrum so yes she has had glitter toes and loved them. However, the other night she had on spiderman pj's and was running around shooting webs at her brothers so we'll see.

This year I had to work the day before and day after Thanksgiving so we had Thanksgiving at our house with Colby and Travis family it was a lot of fun. Very different without Grandpa Kesler but nothing will ever be the same. The kids have such a great time together and I am so thankful to live close enough they can remain good friends. Enjoy the pictures!

The Boys

Singing Away

Kaitlyn and Aspyn


Clay Pigeon Shooting off the Back Porch

Making Rolls

Trying to make it look like Kaitlyn was in Bailey's hand. We were off a little, but we had fun.



Having Fun Just Goofing Around

I'm a Girl!

Well the day started off like any other I was getting ready for work, and decided to put my hair in curlers. I went into the kitchen and got the boys breakfast and finished getting ready. Easton followed me into the bathroom and was watching me take the rollers out of my hair. I took the last one out flipped my head over and shook out the curls. I was placing the finally hairspray on some curls when Easton said "Wow mom you look like a girl today." I stopped for a minute and wondered what I looked like the other days. He must have caught my confusion because he handed me a mirror and said "No look mom". "You really look like a girl." O the funny things kids say. So I let Easton take a picture of me looking like a girl.

GROOVY BABY!!!

Well here it is Thanksgiving and I am finally getting our Halloween pictures posted, but hey at least I am getting them posted at all right? Well I took my camera to get lots of pictures and guess what dead battery so some of these are not the best and I even stole some off a friends blog (Thanks Brooke). Well Jim was a great sport and dressed up with the rest of the family and we had a great time. He was not to sure at first, but he admitted at the end of the night it was a lot of fun and even asked what were going to do for next year. We went down to the trunk er treat and the kids of course had a blast. Jim, Trey and I even won a prize for our costumes. After finishing our trunk er treat we headed into Colbys house to see them. Bailey answered the door and took of running. She was laughing so hard and wanted Colby to see Jim. It was a fun night, and I owe a HUGE thanks to my hubby for stepping outside his comfort zone and dressing up with us. It's much more fun when the whole family's involved. I love you Babe!!!

Jim Jense Family: Trey- Jack Sparrow, Easton- Cowboy,
Aspyn- Tinker Bell, Ridge- Lion

Colby Robinson Family: Bailey- Leprechaun,
Brock- Rodeo Clown, Kyler- Cow
(cheerleader and cat are some friends down the street)

Photo fun w/ Aspyn!

Well Aspyn and I had some fun with the camera this weekend. Here are some pictures we ended up with.

A Buck For Brock!

So I have had this picture of Brock and this years buck for awhile and have not gotten it on my blog. Sorry little buddy! You can tell by the smile on his face he was so excited to get to go deer hunting with his dad this year, and had a great time. Colby is such a great dad and it won't be too many years and the kids will be old enough to go hunting on their own. They are growing way to fast.

This Ones For Trey!

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Jims Goat Hunt

Well Jim had another successful hunt this year. Him and a good friend of ours (Jay) drew out for mountain goat in Idaho. He was very exicited to be able to go and hunt there. We love Idaho and enjoyed riding our horses in the mountains near Palisades before we moved to Utah. Jay was able to get a nice goat before Jim went up for his hunt so Jim and a close friend from Utah (Doug) went up together and were expecting a great time, but mother nature had other plans. They got dumped on. It ended up snowing about 8- 10 inches several days while they were there and needless to say the hunt ended up taking longer than expected. But towards the end, the weather finally lightened up and they were able to hit it hard again. Here is the end result.

Jim is very happy with the haired up coat and of course is already planning a full body mount. Great job Jim on another successful hunt.

Aspyn's Sunday Hair Do

Well I have been trying to do some different things with Aspyn's hair and several people have asked me to post some pictures. So here is a picture of Aspyns hair on Sunday. (I copy hair do's of people blogs so don't think I am all creative). Aspyns hair is almost to short for this style, but we made it work.

Summit Primary Rocks!

We had our primary program a few weeks ago and the kids did a great job. They were dressed like future missionaries and they even had their own badges. We have a small primary, but we have great kids. They work hard and I love working with them. I think I learn more from them, then they do from me. Keep up the great work kids!

We can all be missionaries right now!!!!!!!

Being Goofy!

Trey's already got the cheesy missionary pose down!

{Love & Logic}

I am taking a parenting class called love and logic, and I am really excited about it. I know I have a lot to learn about being a parent and I do a lot of things wrong. I have wanted to take a class like this for quite awhile and I finally had the chance. There is an awesome teacher here in Parowan that teaches the classes at Parowan Elementary and Enoch Elementary schools once a year. I highly recommend them. We have only been in class about two weeks now and still just getting into some of the concepts. I am really wanting to learn and make a change so I have tried to apply everything I've learned so far and I am excited to see the changes we have made already.
Just the other day Trey turns to me and says: "Mom can I ask you something"? "Sure" I replied. "Why all the sudden are you being a really good mom." I explained to him that I had a lot to learn about parenting and I was taking a class (which he knew)to help me be a better parent. I told him I was going to try really hard to be a better mom. He handed me a piece of paper and said "I drew this for you and was going to send it in to Dr. Phil, but now I don't think I need to so you can have it". I was laughing so hard. What a sweet boy he is. It almost broke my heart to know he thought I needed Dr. Phil, but on the other hand at least he cares for me enough to see me do better and succeed no matter what its at, and raising children is definitely an area we can not fail. So bring on Love and Logic, Dr. Phil, whatever! I am willing to get any advice I can when it comes to the upraising of our future generation. I am not perfect and I will make mistakes, but I am sure going to try and be a better mom!
So thank you Trey for caring about me enough to be honest with me and a big thank you to Mrs. Graff for helping be a better educated parent.
Enjoy my drawing I know I will:)


P.S. Didn't he do such a great job at the family pictures. Notice how Jim has no hair! I love it!

Scrap-a-thon

Well I participated in the first digital scrap-a-thon this weekend at www.digitalcandy.ca It was a blast, but a tone of work. Once again I had trouble posting my LO's so I am posting to my blog. I will have to figure out what is going on and why I can't post to the site in the mean time enjoy the digital scrapbook pages I made. We were to make eight LO's in 3 days and given specific things that had to be done on each LO so here they are. I only have one more left yippie!!!!

1.) Black & White photo w/glitter or foil element.



2.) Scraplift Rachel. I used LO (Love9)


3.) Use a photo in a shape other than a square.


4.) One word title & crumpled or worn out paper or element.


5.) Scraplift Christie. I used LO (Cool in the pool)


6.) Use song lyrics or song title.


7.) Use an imperfect photo (blurry, bad lighting etc.)


8.) They had a template of a LO that you had to put your spin on. Here is mine. Sweet I am done!

Sunshine Speed Scrap 10/29/08

I participated in my first speed scrap and had a blast. This is the finished product. I was supposed to upload it to the gallery, but they were having some trouble with things uploading so I am posting it here on my blog for all to see. They are giving away a prize and of course I can never have to much scrapbook stuff so wish me luck. I know you have seen these pictures on my blog before but they were the first pictures I opened so they are the ones I used for my LO. For those of you who have never done a speed scrap they are great fun and very addicting. This was my first one so I was not sure what I was up against. They give you 10 mins to complete each step before they announce the next one. There are about 6-7 steps and then you are give some time to put a few finishing touches on your layout and submit it. Not to bad for my first time, and four kids running around like crazy didn't help. Now that I know you need an hour or so devoted to your computer I will only participate at night from now on. You should have seen my house when I was done. Yikes! But it was so much fun. The kit I used was from Duchess Designs "Giggles & Secrets".