Friday, August 8, 2008

Bear Lake w/ the Jenkins

Every year all of Jon's dad's family gets together for a week of fun at Bear Lake. We biked, swam, played at the beach, introduced BS (the card game) to Gma & Gpa Jenkins, played behind the boats, and got in plenty of tennis and volleyball. The food is always great and this year was no exception, especially with all of the famous raspberry shakes. The crazy power lines got cut TWICE during the week making us improvise some of the meals but as a result we discovered the biggest pizza I've ever seen (36")!

Seen anything good lately?

We've been a little out of touch with what is out on video and want to know what's good. Not everything makes it to Mexico and now that we're back we want to know what you've seen and liked. Post us a comment and let us know your favorites of the past couple of years. Thanks y'all.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Lagoon and Kangaroo Zoo with Grandma Jane









Both were a HUGE success!! The girls LOVED the time to play and enjoy their Grandma and cousins, Mikell and Braden. All of the Jenkins went to dinner that night and we couldn't calm them down enough to eat their food; they were still so wound up from all the fun they'd had.

4th of July

This is by far the most patriotic I have ever felt for the 4th. It's so great to celebrate being citizens of this great country. We have so much more appreciation than ever before. Even something as simple as seeing the flag warms my heart.
I need DeAnna to send some pictures of the fireworks and pool party. These are of Lauren and Rissie with their cousins, Keira and Garrett, doing finger paints with Aunt Betsy at Grandma and Papa Lee's.
Garrett used himself as a canvas.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Two minute update

Okay, I have literally less than five minutes to cover a months worth of our unblogged lives. We have LOVED being home and are finally starting to feel settled - if that's possible. We have barely had time to breath being here and there with both of our families. It's wonderful. Everyday I am thankful for something new about being home. We miss GDL but we LOVE being home more. I have missed seeing everyone's blog so once we get home from Bear Lake I'll have to update myself on all of your lives. Until then - enjoy your summer!
Lindsay, I am so glad you found us. I'll catch you soon.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Good-Bye

Sunday was the last day in our ward. I hugged my friends and shed a few tears knowing that I would probably never see them again. (Jon wasn't nearly as sad, he has had a rough time in the bishopric not being able to communicate.)
Yesterday, we spent our last play date with our good friends at "Old McDonalds", as Lauren calls it. Then as we said good-bye I gave my friend a copy of the BoM. I've never done that before and I'll admit I was pretty nervous, though I don't think she knew. Some one wise once said that if you haven't been nervous in a while, it's time to expand and leave your comfort zone. Having said that, I need to be a little more nervous a little more often! :) I don't know if she will read it or if she will think of my faith again once I am gone, but I feel better anyway.

Here are a couple of Funnies from Lauren:

I was preparing a recipe Jon's mom gave me when Lauren walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, "Mmmm, it smells like Grandma Jenkins!" small pause, "She smells pretty yummy!"

THEN, while we sitting down to eat it Lauren giggles and says, "MOM, my nose freaked out cuz of my pop!"

Thursday, June 5, 2008










Anna - Rissie - Lauren...Anna's picture refused to turn. Maybe this is just fun for us but we thought we would post it anyway to show how different and similar they are.







My screen shows two rows of three pictures...sorry if they went scewampous on yours. Trying to make this work right just frustrates me.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Dilemma / Throw her away

Dilemma
We are down to 16 days until we fly home and we
are SOOO excited. Lauren talks about it everyday - ALL day. It's great packing up knowing that our adventures in Mexico are drawing to an end and the great USA is so close we can almost taste it. Speaking of "taste" - I am having a terrible dilemma in that I am now deciding it's time to go easy on the sweets and think about getting back into my cuter clothes - BUT I have a pantry full of yummy treats. A pantry that I am trying to empty in two weeks. I hate the idea of wasting food - ESPECIALLY desserts. Most are treats brought and collected from home like: Stawberry shortcake, Chocolate PB bars, Rice Crispy Treats, Swedish Fish, Flan, Blueberry muffins, tapioca pudding, LOTS of cookies, you get the idea. I've been rationing them and purposefully neglecting them so I wouldn't get lectured at my doctor visits. Now it's me against me. What's a girl to do?


Throw her away
Lauren told me the other day that we should throw Rissie away. WHAT? Where did this come from? They play so well together. So
, wanting Jon to be part of this conversation, I said, "Okay. Go ask your dad and make sure it's okay with him." When she realized I wasn't protesting, she stopped to analyze her proposal. I also reminded her that if Rissie's in the garbage she can't go with us to Utah. A look of concern came across her face and she said, "But I'll miss her." By the end of the conversation she decided that she loved Rissie and didn't want her thrown away. She has everyday since reminded me that she loves her sister and wants her to come to Utah.

Familia Jenkins

Familia Jenkins
Lagoon Day


Daddy's princess on her pony.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House
The kids put this together in Bear Lake for the Jenkins Annual Snowmobile trip. Our poor kids...when we unloaded the car of our suitcases Lauren asked,"Do we live HERE now?"

Where's the fire?

Where's the fire?
Jon's dad tried to change the fire alarm but with it linked to the security system the fire department was automatically contacted. So after five minutes of obnoxiously loud alarms going off the truck showed up. Oops

Date with Daddy!

Date with Daddy!
Jon took Lauren to Hollywood Connection for some one on one time together. It was a hit. :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME
September 17th 1978

Where does it hurt?

3/14/05 Lauren's cough continues, and after her heartbreaking cries of, "I don't like my cough." I asked her where it hurt, thinking it could be either her throat or her chest. She said, "Right here." Then mouth wide open she pointed to her throat with her entire hand in her mouth and her finger at the back until she gagged.
2/19/08 This morning, we are eating breakfast when J interrupts the brief silence with a small basement burp. Without missing a beat, Lauren says, "What do you say, Daddy?" He excuses himself, then still in her motherly tone adds, "We don't fart at the table do we?"

Junk Food

9/16/08 Yesterday Lauren learned the difference between junk food and healthy food. So this morning, when she saw Rissie with a piece of candy, she said, "Mom, can I please have some junk food?"
2/9/08 Today Lauren asked me to redo her hair because it was "falling off!"

2/27/08 Lately L. has been insisting that I call her Cinderella. Sometimes I can hear her upstairs call for CINDERELLA. in a mean "step sister" tone, then in a sweet voice will answer, "I'm coming." She failed to pick up her toys when I asked, so I tried her new name and it worked wonders.

2/29/08 So L. is watching her old favorite and after Dory explains to Marlon that memory loss runs in her family, Lauren says, "It runs in my family too, Dory."

Cookie Dough

L: (in her sweetest voice) "Mom, can I have some cookie dough please?"
M: "Sure."
L: "Well," pause, "do you think you can get it from the fridge so I can like it?"
4/20/2008 So Lauren got some gum (not a fan) for being a good girl. Later, Jon asked her if she had swallowed it. She said, "No." Then he asked if she threw it away. She said, "No." So he asked her where it was, she told him it was in her throat.

Anna two months

Anna two months
L. and R. have been singing and dancing to their new piano that plays fun tunes. L. has been learning them and singing them around the house. A few days ago I overheard her sining, "Mary had a little sheep, little sheep, little sheep,...

Finding the Moon

Lauren shouts, "Grandma, there is the moon!" She started singing Twinkle Little Star, but in the mean time we had turned the corner and she soon discovered it was gone. So she tells Grandma, "We need to find another moon." 01/13/08

Lunch on the "patio"



Lauren has a new fascination with cokewatches. What's a cokewatch you ask? It's Lauren's word for Cockroach! :)

Grandma Jenkins

Grandma Jenkins

Grandma & Papa Lee

Grandma & Papa Lee

Anna's first week

Anna's first week

Anna's first day

Anna's first day

4 weeks - ALREADY

4 weeks - ALREADY
Her first and last day of church in Mexico

The Trike

The Trike
L is lounging while watching our tennis match...this is the trike that ate me.

Kids are the best source of laughter

  • I was getting dressed and L happened to be there and as I reached for my br_ she asked, "Mom, you put your b__bs on?"12/07
  • R had gotten in trouble for something, then after some reflection L said matter of factly, "Well, she's learning."12/07
  • L just told Jon to look at her stomach then lifted her arm, pulled down her sleeve, and showed him her armpit.12/07

Story came to play

Story came to play
These three happy girls just finished spinning in Daddy's chair. What kid doesn't LOVE that? When Story's mom came to pick her up she gave me the door prize she'd won. It was a full hour massage at a spa in town. It was HEAVENLY! Thanks Brooke.

L"s Nursery Teacher and friend Lesley

L"s Nursery Teacher and friend Lesley
Sunday doesn't come fast enough for L. to go with her teacher to Nursery. She will scout her out in S.M. and wave to her the rest of the meeting. She loves her.

Who's Here?

Rissie's Birthday

Rissie's Birthday

Lauren Louski Lou

Lauren Louski Lou

Hello Marissie Maroo

Hello Marissie Maroo

A. Missy & Hrma Malia

A. Missy & Hrma Malia
Loved the visit!

Ready for Church

Ready for Church

Rissie"s stuck

Rissie"s stuck
She yelled for help and I grabbed the camera

Rissie"s NEW look

Rissie"s NEW look

Ponytail Girls

Ponytail Girls

L"s B-Day Party @ Gma J"s

L"s B-Day Party @ Gma J"s

She"s done it again!

She"s done it again!
You'd think she enjoys getting it untangled with that grin.