Weekly (or two) Wrap-up

So, there's been no weekly wrap-ups in awhile. I'd like to blame it on being busy but I think it's probably just more being lazy than anything. I've come to the realization that it's okay for me to be a bit lazy every once in awhile and in fact, it's kind of a New Year's resolution for me to make sure I'm getting some lazy time in. I work hard the rest of the time, so I think I deserve it. Of course, being the scheduler (with a touch of undiagnosed OCD) that I am, I will probably have to schedule this lazy time!
Anyway, the last few weeks have been filled with sick kids, getting the house back in order after the Christmas explosion, getting back into the grind of the every day life, dealing with the massive amounts of snow that we've been getting, and celebrating a gagillion birthdays that seem to always hit at the same time-(Happy Birthday everyone!). So it has been busy!
Last week Kade & I were able to join Nick & the Joy School crew for a field trip to the fire station. One of the kid's dad is a firefighter so we got the behind-the-scenes tour and full access to the trucks! I honestly don't believe that I have ever been to a fire station. It was awesome! The kids were so stoked to get to climb all over the firetruck and ambulance. It was really so much fun!
So I am usually not a big fan of the winter. So many people know this about me that they are surprised that Ben and I are still living in Utah. I don't just dislike the winter, I loathe it. Except....it's starting to grow on me. Well, this year at least. I think it is because this month has not been just filled with gross never-ending days of inversion and guck and hard icy snow. It has actually been snowing a lot-in fact, it is right now. This has been kind of nice. It's actually beautiful outside-our view of Mt. Timp is awesome! Also, with snow comes lots of sledding, which we are taking full advantage of this year. We've been a few times in the last couple of weeks and had so much fun! We are all definitely enjoying the big tube that we got. It's so much fun to fit our whole family on it-of course, I don't have any pictures of that-but believe me, we all fit on! I think the kids also love the fact that once they're all worn out, dad can pull them home! Anyway, as much as it hurts to say this, I'm actually beginning to enjoy the winter a little bit. Shhh! Don't tell anyone.

Random Cute Kid Quote

"Mom, I don't know who to marry. Could you help me pick? " -Nick

I like green!

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease. You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Sledding Partay

On Saturday we had a sledding party at the park across the street from our house. We finally got to try out our awesome new three-person sled that Santa brought us. It was super fun. It was perfect weather and even got a little warm so everyone had to start shedding their layers. We also had some good laughs about our poor cross-dressing second children whom we're too cheap to buy new snow clothes for! It's funny how just a few couples with a few kids each can add up. We basically took over the hill! Afterwards we went back to our house for some hot chocolate and goodies. We had such a great day!

Huh?

After Christmas!

The morning after Christmas, we packed up our teeny tiny car (hopefully our last family trip in it!) and headed off to California! We went to stay with Ben's sister, Emily, in Mission Viejo. She's moving in a week or two so we're glad that we could go see her before she did. We haven't seen her since before Kade was born and the kids love their Auntie Em! We also got to meet her boyfriend, Don (aka Donald Duck as my kids would say). They were so nice to put up with us! We went to the beach to play a lot and even got to see dolphins! It was the first time that I had actually seen them in the ocean-I was so excited! Emily & Don also watched Skylar & Nick so that Ben, Kade, & I could go to the Wyland Studio so I could drool over the beautiful artwork. I'm definitely gonna have to save my pennies so I can buy something there someday but for now I'm happy with the calendar I got.

This is Ben & I right before we were hit with a wave-notice it's under us!

The Tongs were also down in California so that Spencer could hook up with some of his old surfing buddies. On Saturday we met them at Balboa Island to hang out. The kids were so stoked because we actually got to take our car on a ferry to cross over to the island. At Balboa we went on the merry-go-round and ate lunch. I also found my little dream cottage (where I will someday house that Wyland statue I want). I'm pretty sure the price tag is at least 10 mil but one can dream, eh?

Afterwards we headed to Newport so we could go to the beach. We got to watch Spencer surf-someday I will join him but not in freezing water! The kids didn't seem to mind the water though. They plunged right in and had such a blast! Kade even ditched his wet pants & ran around in his diaper as happy as could be! And the best part-we got to see more dolphins! Yeah!!!

We decided to beat the New Year's drunks and head home on Sunday. We were so sad to go, especially me. We had so much fun and Emily & Don were so great to have us there! I love California and the beach like crazy! It ended up being wise for us to leave because Kade started coughing and Nick had a fever the whole drive home. I guess freezing cold ocean water + bad parenting = sick kids. Ha ha. We stopped off in St. George on the way home to visit Lisa and her family. They made us some yummy dinner and offered for us to stay, which I wish we could have, but we decided to get the kids home to their own beds and not spread our germs any further! The only storm we hit the whole trip was on the way home around Fillmore, which set us back a bit. We finally made it home at 2 am!!
So New Years Eve we were exhausted beyond belief and Nick & Kade were still sick. The kids were also so ready to just chill and actually get a chance to play with their Christmas gifts-as was Ben. We let Nick & Skylar stay up until 10 to watch the ball drop in NY. They were so excited to ring in the New Year! For Christmas Ben got me Super Mario All Stars for the Super Nintendo-so old school but so much fun! Ben & I stayed up and played original Super Mario Bros. & Ben kicked my butt. He almost won the entire game but we decided to turn it off to ring in the New Year ourselves. Regardless of the picture of drunken-style Ben we remained totally non-intoxicated! It wasn't the most exciting New Years we've had but it was nice to have the time to relax after our vacation because it seems that is often hard to do. Anyway, Happy New Years Everyone!!

Christmas!

We had such a fun Christmas season. On Christmas Eve we did the traditional Jensen family party at my mom & dad's. It was a little different this year because instead of getting together later in the afternoon and staying until bedtime we got together in the morning because a giant storm was on it's way. We had a great dinner (lunch), played Christmas Bingo, and acted out the nativity as my brother read colorfully from the Bible. Nick was Joseph-he has no one to contend with for the part yet-and Skylar & Kade were wisemen, although Kade refused to participate in the actual show because he was exhausted. He crashed right after and then everyone opened presents.
As the snow began to fall, we all decided to head home and everyone mostly made it home before it got too bad-it took my sister over 2 hours though! Anyway, it was a little different to actually have the whole evening to just relax after. We had gnocchis for dinner which is a new favorite of the kids and then we broke out the Christmas jammies and watched 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' on TV until it was time for bed. It was more difficult for the kids to fall asleep since they didn't have the ride home from Grandma & Grandpa's to crash. Skylar was still wide awake until 11:30 but finally some sleeping came....
And so did Santa! Nick came in to inform us about 4 am that he was pretty sure that Santa had been there. We were grateful that he went back to sleep and we actually got to "sleep in" until 7:30. The kids of course loved all the loot they got and Mom & Dad of course realized they got too much. Favorites for Skylar were the Digital Art Studio and a singing Jasmine. Nick's favorites were his "Batman robot" and X-wing ship . Kade loved his Dancing Spiderman and Batmobile. Ben and I were excited to finally move into a nice comfortable, quiet (no boings! in the night!) King Sized bed-however, the jury is still out on whether I like the hugeness of the bed! I miss having Ben so close! I think he's just fine with it since I have always been known to be a restless sleeper!!
After the presents were finally opened (including presents for all of our pets!) we had Ben's family over for lunch and more presents. It was an exhausting, yet fun day.