Graduation x 3

At the end of this school year I had 1 child finish middle school, another finish elementary school, and another finish preschool. And whether you call it graduating, promoting, or just plan getting older, all kids finished something important. So, what do I have to look forward too? Alec starting high school, Rachel starting middle school (dreading it already - hate middle school), and Amy starting kindergarten. 3 kids....3 schools...ohhhh all that driving.

Amy shaking Ms. Leslie's hand as she congratulates her on graduating from preschool!
Ms. Celia and Ms. Leslie...the best preschool teachers a 5 year old could ask for.

Rachel on the last day of school celebration. Helen, Claire, Alley, Rachel, amd Erika.

Rachel's last minutes in elementary school. Amy and I there to celebrate with her and her classmates and long time friends of Sunset Elementary.

Mrs. Weldon handing out promotion certificates and candies to the kids. A duck key chain too...not sure why?

Rachel and Mrs. Weldon...what a great teacher!!

Alec's promotion celebration!!!

Alec with good friends Taylor Bills, Devin Badger, Matthew and Peter Cable, and Daniel Newman. These guys are why we transferred to Junction. Taylor and Devin made his last year in middle school great!

Here is Alec with School Board, and church friend, Bill Dunlap handing him his certificate of completing/graduating form middle school.

30 for 30

Ok, for all those ESPN watchers...it's not that program. I have been lacking motivation to do any blogging. So, I have taken the idea, tweaked it and decided for the next 30 days, I will post 30 times. Steve thinks I won't, but watch...I will. Who doesn't' like a little challenge? The side benefit for me...I will get all caught up on the last six months and more of family events.

Ahhh, Spring...NOT

I love spring...really, I do, but oh my gosh allergies ruin it for me. This picture totally captures how I feel during this other wise wonderful time of year. And unfortunately, Rachel suffers more than me. I feel bad sending her off to school looking something like this and feeling even worse. Last night I heard about some kind of natural way (less expensive way) to help with seasonal allergies. You are suppose to eat locally made honey. Could it be that simple? Probably not, but Rachel and I going to give it try. Zyrtec + Nose Spray + Eye Drops=burn out.

Bye Bye Nibble's

Nibble's died yesterday...well maybe the day before because he was really stiff when we found him. He hadn't been eating for days, so I begin to think and get excited (don't tell Rachel) that maybe his life was coming to an end. Anyone that knows Steve and I, knows we are not pet lovers. We just can't get past all the hair...the poop...the work to see how much fun they can be. In fact, when we moved into our new house Steve offered Rachel $50 to get ride of him. Of course she didn't take him up on the offer...she loved that hamster. So, yesterday after we discovered he had past over into the next life...I tried to conceal my joy while Rachel cried her eyes out. She was so cute...as she cried and tried to catch her breath she said "I know that (sniffle) it isn't that big of deal (deep sniffle) and I really am ok (really deep sniffle) I'm just going to miss him." That's my Rachel...love her!

Nibble's and Rachel in better times!

5 seems a little young.

Whenever Rachel isn't using her ipod...you can bet Amy will be. She walks around the house, plays in her room, and dances in front of the mirror all while listening to her sister's ipod. Favorite songs right now...You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift...her favorite singer right now too), Big Time Rush, Gummy Bear, or Mai Ai Hee. When I'm not shaking my head and thinking to myself she is way too young...I'm smiling because it is so cute.

Celebrating!

For all you parents that pay your kids for their grades...you really make it hard on us parents that don't. Alec approached us almost 2 years ago and asked if he could get paid $20 for an A, and $10 for a B. Uh...no! "The reward for all the hard work is the A, Alec" we said to our poor 12 year old boy. "But, straight As does merits celebrating." That's when the steak dinner to Sizzler (he's a sucker for any place with all you can eat anything) came into our lives. After 3 semesters of almost making the grade...Alec finally brought home a perfect 4.0 report card. The 3 other semesters he missed by having only 1 B+...that was tough. But, a deal is a deal. Last night we went to Sizzler to "celebrate". Alec got the 18 oz Porterhouse Steak with all you can eat salad bar (nachos and ice cream) and was in complete heaven.

What have I done?!!

After running only 2 miles today (couldn't do anymore because I would have died right there on the track) I thought to myself..."I used to be able to run 13 miles". What the heck happened? So that very day I decided I was going to run another 1/2 marathon, and never...I mean never go another 4 months again without running. So, I am back to the drawing board again. Adding mile after mile to each weeks training and working back up to that place where I used to think that 2 miles was only a hop, skip, and jump.

Christmas Report...a little late.

Christmas was a little different for us this year. The move made it a little hurried, with a little less fluff. We didn't' put out all our decorations, the fluff, (Steve managed to put out more than what I wanted) because we were still trying to find a place for all our "regular" house items. We did seem to squeeze in all our family traditions and activity during the holidays. Christmas cards went out late, again...and we missed the Nutcracker. Next year those will be at the top of list. Here is the run down...

Amy telling Santa what she wanted..."I want an orange camera, just like my sister Rachel's."

It wouldn't be Christmas for us without having the Annual Jensen Christmas Party. Even though it was a little hard to pull it off (two weeks after moving) but, it did keep us motivated to get through all the boxes. The kids had their little Christmas get togethers too.

Christmas Eve PJs..not our normal Christmas Eve present however (was mine growing up). Steve and I's Christmas Eve present has usually been a new family game. Steve put his foot down this year and said not one more game. After packing up all our games to move, he declare we had enough. Party pooper!!
Amy's Dora Christmas nightgown made her so happy that night. Two days earlier when she spotted them at Kohl's all she did was cry because I wasn't buying them right then. Patience Amy...patience. You can't see Alec's PJs, but they are Raider ones. He was a little dissappoited because all he wants these days are Colts stuff. He didn't know what was coming up the next day. Rachel's fit her perfectly.

I love looking at the Christmas tree with Steve late on Christmas Eve (or early Christmas morning) when the kids are all in bed and we finished all the present stuff.

Yep...this is the time on the microwave when the older kids got up and wanted to get started. I refused until 7am. Steve is a little more indulgent...and lets them thumb through Santa stuff and stockings.

Alec stoked about his iHOME alarm clock for his iTouch. Anything to do with his iTouch or the Indianapolis Colts...Alec loves.

I know I will be seeing this sweatshirt everyday, all day, until it's just too warm to put it on. Not pictured is his totally awesome Potter Barn Teen AFC logo sheets and navy blue duvet with Colts logo on it bedding and BB gun. It's so cool!!

Rachel styling in her orange sweatshirt that Alec gave her for Christmas. He took one look at that in Old Navy and said, "That's what I am getting Rachel, she'll totally love it because it's orange!"

Rachel is so practical with her wants. She wanted a video camera...so she got a FLIP from Grandma and Grandpa Hibler. It has been used daily. And not just by her. Not pictured is a rock tumbler ( I hate it!) and her Style Savy and Cooking Mama 3 games for her DS.

Ever since her birthday, Amy has wanted an "American Dirl Goll" (remember what she calls it from her birthday blog) bed. Well, Santa brought one. As you can see...she loved it. She forgot all about the orange camera she earlier asked Santa for.

You can't tell from here...but that would be her very own pink DS that Amy is hugging. Not pictured is a DS game, American Dirl Goll crafts.

Amy's top gift? The Christmas marshmallows she found in her stocking. She ate 3/4 of the bag before breakfast.

The kids gave me a much needed stool for around the house. When you are trying to reach the top cupboard...being short really sucks.

If I didn't love him so much...I would kill my husband. We agreed on very simple Christmas presents this year because of all the things we wanted to buy or have bought for the new house. I was completely content with the shutters we were putting the house for Christmas. And he was happy with garage closets and new couches for his Christmas presents. But, no...he didn't listen. And I should have known this from past agreements we have made at Christmas that he wasn't going to follow our plan. You are looking at one of the most special and most thoughtful gifts Steve has ever gave me. But, the necklace is only the symbol of the real gift. He wrote this letter to me that I will cherish forever. So, the necklace just reminds me of the letter and all that was written inside the card. But, it doesn't hurt that the necklace is beautiful too. I LOVE YOU STEVE!

THE END

Christmas Card

For journal purposes I like to post our Christmas card picture and letter we send out to our family and friends that live far way. Here is 2009's:

Greetings from the Jensen Family,

We hope this letter finds you and your family happy, healthy, and enjoying the Holiday Season. Life has been good to the Jensen’s this past year, so we’ll just “cut to the chase” and fill you in on the highlights of each month.

January was full of indoor soccer games. Rachel joined an indoor soccer league with several of her favorite team-mates from past outdoor teams.

February had a little of everything. Father/Daughter Night with Rachel, Amy started ballet, and Alec earned his Life-Scout rank advancement badge. He is now working on his Eagle and hopes to have it within the year.

March brought the best news of the year. Amy’s body has responded well to the shots and medication to treat her Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. We’ve been able to eliminate the daily ibuprofen and hope to have the disease in complete remission by this time next year.

April brought a surprise trip to England for Steve and Trisha. Steve had business, but we were able to work in several days of driving around the English countryside (last time we mostly stayed in London). Highlights were Warwick and Dover Castle, The Ancient Roman Baths, and all the charming and fairy-tale-like villages of the Cotswold’s (seriously they still have thatched roofs and cute cobble stone streets).

May was the end of several months of training for Trisha. She ran her first, but not last, half marathon.

June marked a milestone for the Jensen’s. Alec turned 13, which gave Steve and Trisha their first teenager. So far…so good.

July brought the annual camping trip to Lake Tahoe, swimming and golf tournaments for Alec. At the Tri-Valley Championships Alec smashed his individual backstroke time, but lost 1st place by only .01 seconds.

August Rachel turned 10. August also brought a trip to Canada for a family reunion and family vacation. We visited Waterton Park, and both Banff and Jasper National Park. The mountains and scenery were absolutely breathtaking. The lakes look like they’re filled with blue PowerAde (due to glacial silt). In fact our Christmas picture this year was taken in front of Moraine Lake, near Banff. We’re definitely heading back up there soon.

September brought work, work, and more work for Steve as the fiscal year came to an end.

October’s highlight was the “girls” vacation to L.A. to the American Girl Doll Store and Disneyland. The men stayed home and went to the President’s Cup Golf Tournament in San Francisco.

November we listed our home on the market and sold it within 2 weeks. We thought we’d take advantage of the soft market and upgrade our house. We bought a new home we had been looking at for over a year.

December 4th we moved into our new house. Our new address is 2728 Rivers Bend Circle, Livermore CA 94550. It’s only about 1 mile away from our old house. We love it and are busy moving in and making it into a “home”.

That’s the quick summary of 2009. If you want to follow the Jensen’s more closely check out our family blog. www.trishajensen.blogspot.com

We would like to wish your and your family a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

Love,
Steve, Trisha, Alec, Rachel, and Amy

Our baby Amy is 5!

Wow...what a celebration Amy had turning 5. It started out with human candle lighting at school and chocolate chip cookies to share. It ended by falling fast asleep on the couch from pure exhaustion and a few unforgettable things in-between. It was a birthday that none of will ever forget. I never wanted a baby around the holiday season, but what's fun about Amy's birthday being during the Thanksgiving time is that during the holiday week...it just feels like her birthday. Something I can't say about any another of our birthdays. The absolute highlight of her birthday is her reaction when she opened up her very own American Girl Doll. She never saw it coming. It was priceless...and I missed filming it. Fortunately...we have many photos of the event to demonstrate how much she loves her "American Dirl Goll" No, that isn't a typo...that is what Amy calls her doll. She has switched the D and G around...why I don't now. But, it's just too darn cute to correct.

This is at her birthday celebration at preschool. She gets to wear the birthday vest and a birthday hat. All the kids stand in a circle and Amy walks around and claps her hands in front of each child and they clap their hands above their head and hold it like a candle that is lit. Once everyone is "lit" she blows out each of the "human candles". They sing happy birthday and then Amy passed out her treat of choice...chocolate chip cookies. I scored on that easy treat.

All Amy wanted to for her birthday was to go swimming. So, that is what we did. She invited a small group of friends and we went to Fremont Swim School. It's a small indoor pool in Livermore. They swam for 1 1/2 hours then we went back home to have cake and presents.

Each of the kids got a swim academy shirt for coming to the party. L to R is Libby, Alice, Madison, AMY, Zion and Matthew (Abby and Jack couldn't come).

Here's the clan at home around Amy's cake Steve made for her. Amy requested a "Fish Cake" because fish swim and it would "match her birthday".

Another master piece from Steve.

I think this birthday dinner requested actually came from Rachel and Alec. Regardless, it was very yummy and Amy loved getting sung to.

Opening of the American Girl Doll...I mean American Dirl Goll. I will just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Calling Grandma and Grandpa to thank them for the doll. All other gifts (even from her own parents) didn't stand a chance against this one.

At the end of the night...she didn't even last a 10 minutes into the movie before she was off to dreamland.