Some Things I Love

I have some random pictures that I needed to post and I had to figure out how to tie them together, then I realized how...they all represent something I love.

I Love this man!  I also love the fact that these two kids really love him.  Look at how happy they are when daddy is home.  They are also happy to have a human horsey ride.

I love the stylish apron that my sister-in-law Camie gave me for Christmas!  She picked out the fabrics and had it made.  I have used it several times, but it seemed most appropriate to wear it with a dress.  
I love my kids...but also I LOVE NURSERY!   I have finally started taking my scriptures back to church with me because I actually have occassion that I can use them.  Jacob and Claire also LOVE nursery, here they are after church with the 'Child of God' crowns that they got in nursery.

I also really love my new computer.  I got an iMac and I would definately do it again.  It takes up so little space, and even though I am still getting used to the whole new operating system, I find the programs very easy to use, I especially love iPhoto.  Since I am not a scrapbooker iPhoto is my kids' only chance of having baby books.

Disclaimer: this post does not represent all things  I love,  just a sampling!

Big Papa's Big 60

My Dad turned 60 on New Years Eve and we could definately not let the event pass without a big hoorah, even if the old grouch would say he wants otherwise.  We did not let him know that we were celebrating until people started to show up, not necessarily because it was a surprise, but because he might uninvite everyone or disappear himself if he knew what we were up to.  The party was a big success, Kaci, Bri, and I had quite the spread of food and lots and lots of friends and family were there to celebrate.  All of the grandkids were there, and in honor of the event we made them all T-shirts that say "My Grandpa is 60" with a great picture of him in the Hannah Montana wig.  

We even got Uncle Rob, Dad's brother to come for the event.  Dad was soo surprised that I think he might forgive us for the party and the T-shirts (even though we made one for Rob that says "My Brother is 60").  Can you tell that they are brothers?
Yes... you do see 60 candles, we had to make 3 cakes with 20 candles each, but it was worth it.  And do you know what!?!?!  The old guy got all 60 in one breath, you can see him celebrating right here.
Like I said, all of the grandkids were there in the special t-shirts.  This little one is ALWAYS happy.  It is probably harder to get a picture without a smile than one with... FYI--this is my nephew Brighton.
For a gift, Dad got a gigantic universal remote, lapsized I would say; it works too.  He loves it!  Jacob thinks all things remote are a phone, even the oversized ones.  Here he is having a conversation on the still in the package giant Universal Remote!
We had a big game of two-truths and a lie about Dad and also a game to see how well Dad's friends knew him.  We had poster's with 1947 trivia and some really great old pictures of Dad as well.  My personal favorite was the Huge 60 pin with flashing red lights...it was great but because it was magnetic it didn't last long with all of the grandkids around.  He tries to put on a grouch front, but does this guy really look so tough?

We had lots of food.  Please notice that even the chex mix is in a serving dish that says "60".  Happy 60 Years Dad, We Love You!

Sledding

When we were in Wyoming for Christmas we took Jacob and Claire up in the mountains for a sledding trip.  Claire really really loved it (she thinks snow is about the best thing ever).  We think Jacob liked it, but it was so hard to tell because he wouldn't crack a smile which is not like him at all.  Maybe he was having fun outside of the cold factor (he doesn't think cold is much fun).

If you could zoom in on this picture, you would see a huge grin on Claire's face.
See what I mean about Claire loving it and Jacob not smiling!?!?
The end of a sledding run with mommy!

Even Grandma got in on the fun.

Claire loved being pulled around on the toboggan, and we think Jacob did because he kept on sitting back down on it and asking us to go.  He never did smile though!
This quite possibly was one of the best days yet for Claire.

Christmas vacation

So, blogging kind of fell by the way side over Christmas vacation, so here is an attempt at a marathon catch up.  We celebrated Christmas with the Jensen family a few days before Christmas then flew to Wyoming on the 23rd to spend Christmas and new years (and Grandpa John's 60th birthday, pictures to follow) with the Streeter family.  

This is just part of the chaos on Christmas day at the Streeter house with 2 Great Grandma's, 1 Grandma, 1 Grandpa, 6 Parents, 1 9year old, 1 8year old, 1 3year old (she is 4 now), 4 1year olds, and a 6 month old.  It was a full house!

This is Jacob and Claire's cute cousin Brighton (the 6 month old).  He is quite possibly the happiest baby ever!
Jacob really liked Breckin's new truck, but he was much more interested in using it for a seat than pushing it around.
Jacob and Claire dressed in their Christmas outfits with Grandpa and Grandma.
Grandpa John...he made the mistake of trying on the Hannah Montana wig that Kamryn got for Christmas (it turned out to be a much bigger mistake than he thought, stay tuned for the 60th birthday pictures).
Claire and Jacob loved the "hot".  Here they are enjoying it with Grandma (I am sure she will love me for posting this picture).  They told everyone over and over and over about the "hot".
Jacob got a bear almost exactly like one that his daddy had as a little boy from Aunt Amber.  It is really cute and by the way Amber, he loves it and cuddles it every time he sits in his rocker to watch a movie.
Jacob, Claire, and Cousin Clayton on Nana's piano (I am sure the keys got a good cleaning after all of their beautiful music).

This picture was Christmas eve in Cody, we had a white Christmas, and Claire LOVES the snow.  I think it is a great picture of her.  She probably walked a 1/4 mile before Daddy had to turn her around and carry her in the house kicking and screaming.
Santa brought play-dough, cookie-cutters, and candy in stockings for Claire and Jacob (Santa was feeling so brave).
Jacob took a little bit to get used to the opening thing, but after a few presents he got so into it that we had to put some other people's presents out of reach.

Christmas party

A week and a half ago was our ward Christmas party, and Dani and I were happy to be there without the added stress of planning it this year! We sat front and center with the Browns during dinner - Jacob loved sitting at the table like a big boy!
Our kids ate a ton! They ate everything, too - rolls, veggies, salad, and ham.
Afterwards, they watched the ward talent show (or at least the first 3 performances):



We then walked with our kids around the gym with our kids, who were searching for anyone who would feed them chocolate. They found quite a few people who were glad to share! We were really just waiting for Santa!

Claire ran right up to Santa and happily sat on his lap.

Jacob would've rather just said, "Santa" and "Ho ho ho" from a distance.

Here's our family Christmas photo. And our christmas tree
We're looking forward to being in Wyoming this year for Christmas!

Random photos (and stories - worth a skim)

Here is Claire with her head in a mixing bowl
Jacob also thought the mixing bowl was better used as a hat. Side note: both of these mixing bowls are in a cupboard they are not allowed in (because months ago, Jacob threw one of these mixing bowls and cracked it pretty badly). Dani was upstairs for 10 minutes ago and came down to her kids laughing at each other and saying, "Hat."
This is a picture at Nana's from Thanksgiving weekend. Claire and Jacob were practicing for the big Turkey day... little did they know that they'd be sleeping through dinner!
They loved to sit up to their own table and play. They're really getting into make believe. Dani watched one day as Claire took one of her favorite stuffed animals (a monkey) over to table with the diapers in it. She took out a diaper, laid the monkey down, and tried to put the diaper on. Very cute!
Click on this picture and take a close look at that face Jacob is making - it's hilarious!

THANKSGIVING TURKEY-BOWL SHOUT-OUT: to my dad! For the first time ever, we had 4 Jensens on the same team, which proved to be a winning combination. The official Turkey Bowl patriarch (by multiple years, may I add) more than held his own, playing quarterback and guiding his team down the field with a very New-England-Patriots-like efficiency. He was the unanimous MVP of the Turkey Bowl. Good on ya, mate!

Once there was a Snowman (videos!)

Jacob loves this song! He's so excited that he's always a few beats ahead. The four or five times before these were recorded, Jacob would flatten himself on his belly by the first time I got to, "In the sun he melted," then he'd lay there until the end, pop himself up, clap, and beg for more.

Claire wasn't nearly as interested. She had places to go.

Walking in the Snow

We recently awoke to snow on the ground, so I took Claire and Jacob out on our deck to walk around a little bit in it.
Jacob wasn't sure he liked it very much. He liked to talk about it, but actually being in it didn't excite him.
Claire, on the other hand, marched right out and did some laps around the table. She loved crunching the snow under her feet (just like she loved crunching fallen leaves). Notice her little turned-out-feet walk (except Vicki, don't notice it because it'll make you worry)
Jacob just stood in the same place the whole time. I got him to move only when I held his hand. It was cold, but he really just didn't want to walk in the stuff!

Little artists

We posted the fingerpainting fun we had with the kids. A few weeks ago, I came home to some more art, hung on the wall! One day, the one on the top was there. The next day, Claire and Jacob done had their own individual art

How fun! Claire really went to town with the crayons.
Jacob grabs the crayons full-fisted and upside down, it's funny!
The table spread and prepared for some artwork!