Merry Christmas!

Meet Adelaide Laney Jenson, born October 24, 2013! Grandpa was disappointed that she didn’t show up on his birthday. Abue is just disappointed that she lives so far away. She is going to be one spoiled little girl!

 

Four generations of oldest children—Carol Bright, Ann Jenson, John Jenson and Adelaide Jenson

 

A composite of Carol Bright and Ann; Tom, Ann and John; John and Adelaide

John and Laney are still living in Rexburg, where John is studying psychology. He works in the Reading Center on campus during the school year and helping developmentally delayed adults the rest of the time.

Timothy will be in Rexburg starting January 3. He will be studying Landscape Architecture. He plans to get an associates degree at BYU-I and then move to Moscow, ID for more schooling at University of Idaho.

James graduated from high school and is making the transition from kid to adult. He plans to serve a mission in the future and is taking two institute classes to prepare. His writing was published twice this year, once in a school district magazine and once online.

Hannah is a senior this year. She keeps very busy in two orchestras and working at McDonald’s at the mall. She is also serving on the Stake Youth Council and as the orchestra president. Hannah enjoyed playing in the Hymns of Thanksgiving orchestra this year.

Otherwise, life is about the same. Tom is working hard and playing hard. Ann enjoyed her third year singing with Hymns of Thanksgiving. Both Tom and Ann enjoy visiting with the folks at the nursing home twice a month for Sacrament Meeting.

We hope all is well with you, and that you have a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love, The Jensons

Five Drivers plus One Car

Equals EMPTY DRIVEWAY!

I thought I'd better find a picture of our car so I can remember what it looks like.

Multiple Personalities

A friend shared this blog post on facebook today.

http://www.scarymommy.com/multiple-personalities/

Fortunately, Hannah is #5 most of the time. It can be a bit frustrating sometimes that she is so mature and independent, but it really helps with the following list for boys.

Here's my male version of multiple personalities.

1. I know everything #1: 14 to 18 years. Exhibited by the rolling of eyes every time mom or dad makes a suggestion. If eye rolling doesn’t stop the suggestions, an irritated “I know. Get off my back.” usually does the trick.

2. I know everything #2: 16 to marriage. This is different than the first stage because now they are certain they know more than everyone, including parents, grandparents, teachers and leaders of all kinds. You can tell a boy is in this stage when you have a good view of his nostrils, and he only has a view of his own nose as he looks down at everyone.

3. I just turned off my brain: starts at high school graduation and lasts until they are forced to start a full-time job, serve a mission or start college. At this stage all a parent can do is shake their head and hope the kid doesn’t end up killing himself with all the stupid things he is doing.

4. I thought you were 15: One of the wisest mothers I know told me that teenagers will revert to a previous cycle through all the stages. So if your 15 year old suddenly starts acting like he is 5, take a deep breath and remind yourself that he is 5…plus 10.

5. “Thanks, Mom” stage: In this stage he is uncharacteristically grateful for all the things you taught him and all service you gave him in the previous 20 years. This usually shows up about one year after he leaves home.

In the old days at the MTC, they would have the parents and missionaries attend a meeting together before parting. While we were there to drop off Johnathan, one of the speakers said, "Sometimes we wish we could send missionaries out when they are 16 because if we could, the missionaries would still know everything and their mothers wouldn't cry."

I'll end with my favorite text from Johnathan during his fist year of college. "Thanks, mom, for teaching me how to wash dishes and do laundry. I just taught my roommate how to do it."

She's here!

I'm just a proud abuelita!

 

Adelaide Laney Jenson

October 24, 2013

 

John and Adelaide

Tom and Adelaide

Hannah and Adelaide

Tim and Adelaide

"You're so lucky, John" (Tim's quote)

James and Adelaide

Abuelita and Adelaide

 

John and Laney said that in the weeks before she was born they wondered if she was stubborn. They said it took several nurses, a doctor and 1.5 hours to get her in position for a stress test.

 

Laney was scheduled for a C-section on October 24, but went into labor the night before. Adelaide was born at 8:08 am October 24. John said she was angry that they didn't let her do it her way so she pooped all over the doctor. He said, "She's just like her parents...full of crap."

 

She may be stubborn, but she is a very good baby. She hardly ever cries.

 

However, they feel that she picked her name and refuses to be called anything but Adelaide.

 

I may have mentioned this before, but here goes...

 

I was nearly 25 years old when John was born.

He is 25 now when Adelaide was born. I am 50.

I just think that is a cool pattern.

 

My mom is the oldest of her family.

I am the oldest child and grandchild

John is the oldest child, grandchild and great grandchild.

Adelaide is also the oldest child, grandchild and great grandchild.

I think that is cool, too.

Beat the Bishop Challenge

Bishop Smith challenged us to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. Then he told us we could Beat the Bishop if we read more, and told us how many pages we'd have to read each day to finish all the standard works by the end of the year. I know I could read the Book of Mormon by then, but All the scriptures?

My first thought was, "That's so much. I don't know if I could do it."

My second thought was, somewhat facetious, "Ann, just what in your life could you NOT give up to do this?"

So I made my plan and I started reading. I am at Deuteronomy 11 as of this morning. I've been reading for 8 days. That's a total of 271 pages in 8 days.

It's been really interesting reading about Moses and the children of Israel. Even after 40 years wandering in the wilderness and all the miracles they had seen the people still didn't have faith. Every little thing would get them complaining again. "Oh, no! We're thirsty. We should have stayed in Egypt where we always had enough to drink."

How often do I do that? In my eating alone?

How often do I think about the good old days when I never worried about eating the right foods?

How often do I feel sorry for myself because I need to eat this way for health and can't be part of the world?

This is the hard part of the journey. I am wandering around in the wilderness of processed, high-fat junk food. I'm seeing blessings here and there, but my faith is still weak. Time will make it stronger, and I need to keep my thoughts on the blessings He has given me from eating this way and be grateful for the healthy food I have so abundantly.

The speaker at church yesterday talked about the law of the harvest. He said we forget we need to plant so we can harvest. I am planting right now with every grain of rice I eat. When I choose to eat wrong I am ripping the seeds back out of the ground.

He said we would get 100 fold return on our efforts. So far:
1. Discomfort during exercise is gone.
2. More energy and endurance.
3. My heart supplements have been cut in half.
4. My hormone supplements have been cut in half.

I'm so impressed!

Last week was a hard week for several people we know. Most of all for an elderly member of the ward. He is still struggling a week later. When Hannah learned about what was going on she wanted to visit this person to give comfort and try to help. She prayed for him.

What 17 year old is outside herself enough to care that deeply about others? To want to help a 70+ year old man because she felt so much compassion for him?

She did this without any prompting from Tom or I. I was so impressed with her.

What a silly cat!

First off...I updated the post in January which is titled "The Holidays" I was looking through and realized I had left out some really neat stuff.

 

 

 

I always suspected I was really a cat lover, but Tevye has been showing me just how much.

This was the ideal place to store Hannah's cello until we got a cat.

The case is made of fabric so he just climbs it like he would any tree.

 

From here he jumps to the top of the Grandmother clock 

 

 

  

 

 Best Friends

 

He loves any blanket...especially if they are soft and fuzzy. 

"Go get your own. This one's mine!"

 

His new favorite place.

 

 And...

He's great training for being a grandparent.

Borah Homecoming

 

Hannah and Kalan

Hannah was so excited for Homecoming this year. We found the dress at Penney's, and fortunately, Hannah had a jacket she could wear with it. One of the YW leaders came to do her hair and make-up. Yes, she actually wore make-up! Tom and I were in Rexburg. The kids sent pictures so we could see what was going on.

#24

Rexburg Temple...We finally made it to Rexburg while the temple was open!

 

I think I'm in love with my  new camera!

 

Summer...in pictures

 

 

April...The Dam Run in Emmett. We started waaayyy down there. All the level ground or downhill parts wouldn't add up to one football field. 3.8 miles UP! But I made it...10 feet at a time sometimes.

 

 

JUNE

 

 

The Pied Piper of Boise. At the Bright Family Reunion Tom always announces, "I'm going up to the spring now" and all the kids go along with him.

 

 

Right after the Family Reunion we went camping in American Fork Canyon with the Grubers.

 

 

Then a day at Lagoon. It's time for the pre-mission traditions.

 

 

 

JULY

 

 

 Baby shower for Laney

 

 

And we got a new pet...meet Tevye. He's about three months old now.

 

 

Then I went to the Oregon Coast with my girlfriends for a week...

 

 

followed immediately with a family vacation in Yellowstone...

 

 

 

and the Tetons...

 

 

followed immediately by girl's camp.

 L to R: Back: Charity Cummings, Kennedy Franz, Emily Luker, Paige Zohner, Megan Brown, Me, Kristin Conrad

Front: Noele Alder, Samantha Scholes, Ciara Loman, Blakely Conrad, Kaylie, Kylie Jenks, Maggie Walker

 

It's so nice to stay home!

I'm in love!

John and Laney sent this to me this morning. Since they finally posted a photo on facebook I feel I can do it here. It is so amazing what technology does now.

 

Isn't she gorgeous?!!!!

 

I love looking at this picture. I could look at it all day. Being abuelita is going to be fantastic!