Acts of Kindness and Halloween

Today is Sunday and I was surprised to wake up today to Robbie bringing me breakfast in bed at 7:40 AM. He had apparently had the idea last night to get up (on his own) to make me breakfast since I so rarely get to eat before going to bishopric meetings and rarely eat much until all meetings are over around 3:00 PM on Sundays. Plus, Robbie said he felt that he hadn’t been very nice to me lately and wanted to do something nice. He had made me toast, eggs, and even gave me half of his donut that he had received last night at the Ward Trunk or Treat. His gesture meant so much to me and was so thoughtful. Sure love this kid!

Here are the pictures of our "Jensen Family Circus" costumes for the Ward Halloween Trunk-or-Treat....it was so fun and I love Amber's creativity which adds so much joy to life:

 

Post Halloween costume ready

The Boyntons, Cummings, Palomayas, and Sullivans all joined us Halloween night for soup and rolls and then trick or treating (Sullivans had to take off for that part).  Older kids went off on their own and all the adults took the younger kids

We also had family pictures today...more to come but I sure liked this one of just our kids. This crew is so fun and a member of our wards said the same today to us, "It's fun to watch how much fun your family has together!"  Amber and I went to bed last night saying, "I just love our family!"

Luz de las Naciones

About a month ago a man in our ward, Ralph Knudson, approached me and asked if our kids would like to try out for el Coro de Ninos that would be singing as part of the Luz de las Naciones show.  I asked them about it and they were interested.  Hallie was a little young and Aubrie is just about too old but we headed over to the Murray Stake center the following week for auditions.  

We got there and not a soul was speaking in English and I could tell the kids were super nervous.  I spoke with a few people to try and figure out what we needed to do (I LOVE being around Latin people especially when no one speaks English.  :)) and filled out the paperwork and the kids each had a number.   The director, Israel, explained everything about tryouts to everyone there and we totally stood out because we were the only ones talking since I was translating for the kids (and we were the only white blondes as well :))  Each child there auditioning had to stand in front of the camera and announce who they were, sing scales for a few minutes to see their range and then sing Soy un Hijo de Dios--but they made an exception for our kids to sing in English.  

When I realized they were singing solo in front of the entire room I thought for SURE they wouldn't want to be involved.  But all three of them got up there when they were called and sang pretty well and definitely loud enough.  I was SO proud of them.  I wouldn't have wanted to do it.  

We waited a few days and got an email saying they were all chosen to be in the choir.  I think I was as excited as they were.  They sent out music via email to have the first song memorized.  It was "Los Colores" which is a song like "Twinkle Twinkle" but for Latin America.  Its a song to learn in kindergarten.  We worked on it for awhile on Friday together and  then  I took them to their first rehearsal yesterday.  I absolutely am thrilled for them.  So much is in Spanish around them.  They do get instruction in English but all 4 songs will be in Spanish and they get to perform in the Conference Center in March and the performance is broadcast all over the world.   It will be such a good experience to have the rehearsals and technical rehearsals and costume stuff, etc.  There are 1000 participants in the event (over 500 are dancers) and it is part of Roots Tech Conference 2018 where people are coming from all over the world to participate in.  The theme of the event is My family: Mi Herencia.

Fall break turned out to be at home and Ryan working. It was a lot of reading and playing in our yard. But Wednesday when school got out early we organized a soccer game at Creekside park for any kids from the school/parents to play. It was SO. FUN. Probably 40 people were playing at different times of the 2 hours we played. And I love playing games when everyone gets way into it. It was a trial run and so we are going to start playing every Monday after school since that is our relatively free day.  Although with soccer being over and until skiing/basketball start, we have so much more free time.

Anyway, kids from all 4 kids classes played with us and probably 10 parents came in and out of the game. Becky Jo and I had organized and her and her girls all were there. Really I did come home on cloud 9. It think we all did. I love soccer so much. I love that the kids are enjoying it so much this year in particular.



Clara just really is my own personal ray of sunshine. I kiss her all day long. And she's so bright. I cannot believe the things the she understands, the words she uses and the way she connects all the people in her life. She spends a fair amount of time at school and she knows all the kids teachers names and most of the kids in their classes that she's met. She knows all the connections of how we know people (church or sports or school usually) and she says hi to all. She is usually found singing too. Lately it has been a lot of nursery songs, her 3 preschool songs and she quotes movies all the time too.  Oh I want to freeze her 3 year old self for a few more years.

Fall picture snapshot....catch up....

 SEPTEMBER

PART of a really large yard project of making our yard more manageable but still nice. 

 

 

Ryan and I had an overnighter in Park City and stayed at Tara/Becs condo.  It was a beautiful hike up to the top of the Canyons resort (that we didn't know was actually like 6 miles and we had to run the last few miles) and then an amazing ride down the skilift. Followed by a delicious dinner at Vessel.

 

Work bonding time at TopGolf

Braces for this missy. 2 years to go....

 

Ryan coached Robbie's team solo this season and was wonderful with them. 

For the Primary program, Robbie told a story about Paul Flandro from our ward and his dedicated life.  

OCTOBER

oh Millcreek canyon in the fall....3rd year in a row we hiked it in October again to see this beauty

And we were starving afterwards and stopped at our usual....Cafe Rio

Lincoln's first birthday party

First tooth is OUTTA there

One of Aubrie's teammates' mom, got tickets for the whole team to go watch a Real soccer game at Rio Tinto stadium. 

Co-op preschool has been a dream this year.  Abby joined in after they moved here in January.  With her its 6 girls and one boy (Clark, Cherith, Macey, Eva, Abby, Clara and Charlotte).  They all get a long WONDERFUL and we've used the 5 in a row curriculum and try to just let them learn what they want and its gone so well.

Becs and Jayson!

Guess who happened to be serving that day in the visitors center at the St. George temple while we were there for Becs sealing....our wonderful Katie girl from NH! 

Ryan always knows on Monday night, come join me for some shows and lots of folding into the kids' baskets. 

Mariam and Liz ran a marathon together in S. Jordan and we went to run the last mile and cheer them on. 

One of Robbie's dates with dad had an extended invitation to Jay and they hit up Buffalo Wild Wings for Robbie's first time.  Greasy food and 10 TV's to watch all kinds of games= one very happy boy(s)

A 4th grade performance 

1st grade performance