Silly Kids.

Porter thinks his big sisters are the bestest, coolest people around.  They only have to pay a little attention to him, and he's theirs.  But put on matching tshirts and shorts (and wig)??? 

Nothing could beat that!

Maisyn- you got the gold star on your forehead for the day!  Way to go, sister!

We'll miss you, Sebastian!

Don't ask me why I didn't take a family picture with him.  Because I'm kicking myself now.  But we did get one for Payton.  Sebastian was a foreign exchange student living with our friends, the Milburn's, this past year.  He is from Columbia and returned home to his family last week.  He is sorely missed already.  What a kid!  We were impressed with him the whole year through.  He was kind, respectful and full of energy.  He had such a great attitude that seemed to spread to everyone around.  He made fast friends with everyone at church- adults and youth alike.  Porter will always remember him as the "magical guy".  We are grateful to have met him and be even a little part of his "American" experience.  Thank goodness for Facebook!     Good luck in Columbia, Sebastian, and hope to see you again soon!

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, June 2010

Field trip time rolled around too fast this year.  I think this is visit #6 or 7 to the zoo with my one of my children for a field trip.  But it was wonderful all the same.  After waking up to clouds and chilly breezes, cranky kids and missing shoes, I didn't think I was ready for a day at the zoo.  But little did I know...

The best big sis to share her day with her little bro.

Celebrating a friends bday AT the ZOO, with CUPCAKES- how awesome is that!

Best buds are even patient with the little man.

Finally posing alone!

Best buds' big sister got Porter to ride on her shoulders.  (secret:  he likes pretty girls.)

Maisyn and Summer.

Watching the walrus.

The polar bears are always my favorite- especially at feeding time on a sunny day!

Penguins.  Porter loves the penguins.

Helping the little man see all the cool animals. 

He really liked the big fish tank.

I don't think his teeth match up quite yet.

We could have stayed at the sharks all day. 

And we ended the day like this.  What else could a Mom ask for? 

Can't wait to see where Maisyn goes in 4th grade!  Until next year....

Victor Falls Variety Show 2010

Maisyn, Summer, Sarah, and Annie performed a dance/lip sync in this years' show.  They had a show at 2pm for the school (and Grandma and Grandpa got to come!) and then again at 6pm that night.  They looked adorable!  Annie lip synced during the chorus while the others danced.  Thanks to all the Mom's who helped choreograph, drive and dress these 4 little cowgirls.  Their song of choice was Hannah Montana's "Hoe Down Throw Down".  If I knew how to include songs on posts I would have it playing for you. 

But trust me.  It was cute. 

Mountainview 7th and 8th grade Choir Concert

Riley sang in the Advanced Girls' Choir this year.  Sydney sang in the 7th grade girls' choir.  Ms. Rice- their favorite teacher! - was gracious enough to plan the concert with all choirs combined to make one evening in June that families could see all of their children.  Yeah!  So here they are. 

Riley with the Advanced Girls' Choir in their white tuxedo shirts, sang 3 traditional songs.

Sydney and her choir sang 2 songs accompanied by the piano.

This is Maisyn and me watching- or should I say waiting - during intermission....

Then the Disney Dazzle began!  They had several Disney songs mixed in with a little play acting out Beauty and the Beast.  Sydney got to play some dishes!

The combined choirs also sang a Journey song - Haley T. had a solo for the girls part

along with another boy who sang the boys part.  It was very "Glee-esque".  Impressive!

I don't think Riley will continue with choir in high school.  So this was it for her. 

But she had fun and will always remember Ms. Rice as one of her favorites! 

Sydney made Advanced Girls' Choir for 8th grade next year and is thrilled to have

one more year of singing bliss!

Happy, happy Father's Day!

To my dad!  I love you Dad!  Couldn't let the day go by without paying tribute the my dad.  He game me my dark hair, my brown eyes, my nose, my incredible math skills and the idea that I can do whatever I set my mind to.  Thanks for all of that and so much more!  I miss you all the time and can't wait to see you again! 

I want to wish my father-in-law a happy Father's Day as well.  We are very blessed to have him so close and such a big part of our family's life.  I'm grateful for his influence on my husband and, now, on our children.  We love you "nampers"!   And I couldn't let this day go by without remembering my amazing

brothers-in-law.  All of them make the world a better place.  Thank you, Tom and Brian,

for loving my sisters and all the craziness that is our family.  And to Craig, Mike, and Tom for helping

to make the Jensen's a family I can call home, too.

"L" is for Larry.  And the "love of my life".  Just have to say that this man is everything I've ever wanted, more than I deserve and all that I could ever need.  

Thank you, honey, for making every day better.  Thank you for 5 beautiful children.  Thank you for working so hard to take care of us and our home.  You are simply amazing.  I appreciate you more and more as the years go by.  I don't think I even knew the half of what I was getting when I married you. 

You make me laugh.  Even when I don't want to.  You make me cry just thinking of how much you love me.  You are my best friend.  I am grateful to have you in my life.

 

Thank you for this.  Our beautiful family. 

You are truly a partner in this thing called life. 

And I consider myself one lucky girl.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!  I LOVE YOU!

Today in the car with a 3-year old.

Porter:  "blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. Kangaroo. blah. blah. blah. blah. Penguin.  blah. blah. blah. blah.  Mom.  Mom.  blah. blah. blah. blah....(So you get the picture, right?) blah.  blah. blah. blah. blah.(head turn) HEY!  COW!  HI COW!  HEY!  HI HORSE! Hmmm.  Hmmm.  Hmmmmm.  Hmmm. (sing songy now- translated into Mom language) Water Kangaroooooo. Water Kangaroooooo.  Water Kangarooooooooo.  Water Kangarooo.  Water Kang-cun.  Water Kang-cuuun.  Water Cancun.  Water Cancun.  Kangaaaaaroooooo. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah. blah."

I wish I knew what went through the head of a 3-year old!  I might understand what he's saying more often.  Although, it may not be nearly as entertaining...

Happy reunion!

The year, 1990.  The place, BYU.  Desert Towers, to be exact.  Freshman year started out with trying so many new things.  It was my first time in Utah.  My first time living away from family.  I didn't know a single soul.  But I quickly made friends with some amazing girls.  Three of us became fast friends and were inseparable from that point on.  So many memories!  But those are for another time. 

Fast forward to 2010, March.  When I got home, Larry told me I got a message from Jennifer!  I couldn't believe it!  Her family had moved to Washington about an hour away!  So we talked, for a long time.  We made a plan to meet for lunch.  And it was like no time had passed.  We had a great visit catching up on the past 20 years.  The last time I saw her she had babysat Payton while we went sledding back when we lived in Provo.  Payton was not even a year at the time.  Now Payton is almost 17 and a big sister to 4 others!  Jen and Scott have 6 kids!  It was so great to catch up, page through my old college photo album, laugh really hard and hear stories of how we got to be where we're at. 

After all these many years of exchanging baby announcements and Christmas cards, I look forward to getting our families together often.  How fun!  So more pics and posts to come from the great Jensen/Pulsipher reunion, part II!

Reflection on Motherhood

Yesterday was beautiful.  The sun was shining.  Breakfast was made to order.  I was able to go to all 3 of my church meetings because Larry took care of Porter at home.  I got to relax outside on my new lounge chair- thank you Larry and Sydney!  My closet clean-out has begun- thank you girls!  I enjoyed the gifts. I enjoyed the dinner at the in-laws cooked by the hubbies and cleaned up by the kiddies.  I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant Mother's day. 

I always knew I wanted to be a Mom.  It's nice to look back on my experiences in Motherhood each Mother's Day.  I need to be reminded why I'm here.  Why I chose to be a Mom above all else.  It's easy as I browse through pictures from long ago to revel in the blessings that surround me.  So bear with me.  These are just a few images that speak loudest to me today on what I think about when I think of Motherhood.

These guys are first to mind.  The most beautiful, rewarding, trying, amazing group of people I ever helped to create.

My own mother and my life as a little girl with my family.

Larry's mother and what I still learn about being a mom from her.  How grateful I am that she raised her son to be the husband and father that he is now. 

The motherly "duties" that give me a sense of accomplishment.

Basketball.  Lots and lots of basketball.

Again, these 5 people that get to call me Mom.

Motherhood in Disney World is like a double bonus in the happiness department.

My girls getting to know their Oma.

These future Moms and how they amaze me with their natural abilities to adore their brother!

Fun with my kids.  It seems to be rarer these days than it used to be.  Perhaps I've gotten old, but I need to carve out more times for the sillies.

Some of my favorite Moms around.  My sisters probably don't realize how much I rely on them for my own success.  Memories I hold dear give me a foothold while the future will always include lots of phone calls, emails and girls' weekends!

This guy right here.  He is the reason I can get up each day and do what I need to do.  He is my partner in this rollercoaster call parenthood.  He is my partner in life.  My better half, to say the least.  I love him.  I adore him.  I thank him for letting me be a Mom 5 times over.

I have chosen to surround myself (whether near or far, far away!) with Mothers at all stages.  I watch them.  I study them.  I commiserate with them.  I ask lots of questions.  I try to glean everything I can from their experiences, good and bad, so that I can discover what works for my family. 

Thanks to all of you- I hope you know who you are! 

Happy, happy Mother's day and hope these good feelings last a good, long time!