Faces of a 2 year-old third child


 

 

Pizza and Happy Birthday!
Toby's newest words after the last few days of celebration are "pizza" and something similar to "happy birthday"! He's doing terrific turning into a 2 year-old boy and did great with all of the attention showered on him with Grandma and Grandpa Jensen and Sally, David, Ruby, and Sadie all here. His gifts were of the "choo-choo" (another new phrase) theme and all of his toys make NOISE (especially the leap frog radio his OWN mother got for him)!
TJ and Heather helped open the presents (Heather before the party even started) and blow out the candles (TJ with some "wetness").

 

The Jensen Men - 3 generations










TJ's prized possession from Rachel Ray after being baptized 

Next Generation of Jensens

Which direction are we going?










Grandma Jensen is a good example 

TJ's Baptism . . . What, me afraid of a little warm water?!?
TJ did terrific on his baptism day. He looked great with his hair cut, a real necktie, and unfortunately, a slight rash on his face. I had a great time being with him and talking about what he is doing now in making special covenants and promises. Just spending time with him today was a huge blessing for me, let alone being able to baptize him and confirm him. 11 years ago I baptized my brother Nathan who is in Brazil on a mission - and 11 short years from now TJ will be on a mission!

Loaner car or "the other woman" while the bike is in the shop
Since the bike turned out to not be ridable last Saturday after the 4 boy roll over - I had to go out and get a replacement vehicle. Although it doesn't hold as many passengers as the bike, it is more comfortable, faster, and has a stereo. We're gonna keep it even after the bike is fixed. The kids say that now we have two minis - a mini cooper and a mini van. They love to go for rides - in a rare twist TJ wants to see the center mounted speedometer get to 90 with the top down and Heather wants the top up all of the time. It could have something to do with the wind that blows in the back when she goes on rides in her swimsuit. Toby wasn't too crazy about the mini at first, but now he won't get out without having to reach down and pull him out (which is one of the benefits of having a convertible - easy access to back seat). Susan hasn't even touched the car yet - she said "it is like meeting the other woman."

 

TJ's BIG DAY
Last Saturday, Nov 4, was a fun day. I got up early and pulled the cars out of the garage so I could clean it up and so I could put together the basketball hoop for the trampoline. The kids "helped" as Susan and I did the preparations for a birthday party (order and pick up pizzas, put up decorations, mop the floor, prepare gift bags, pick up the cake and ice cream . . . oh, wait, Susan did all of those things - I put together the basketball hoop for the trampoline).
The party went well - I just set some lasertag guns out in the garage and they spent the next hour "shooting" each other. TJ preferred to sit inside with us (his family) and reminded me what I was like at my birthday parties as a kid - too much action and attention made me feel uneasy. Susan coaxed him back outside and he had a good time watching all of those crazy boys. Susan and I talked about how much we appreciate having TJ once we saw the energy of his peers. But, maybe he is that way at their birthday parties?
Heather was a big helper - she got along well with the boys and loved all the action and excitement. Toby loved the pizza.
The party wasn't over until the boys started hanging on the basketball hoop I spent all morning on (it still lists to one side now) and then they went out front and sped down the culdesac on the 4 seater bike and tipped it over. Their parents started showing up just in time.
Hopefully I can get the bike fixed soon - I ordered some parts for it. Oh - and the picture of TJ here is him making a "birthday party activity list" for all of the boys to read and choose from - he had a great time and is the best behaved 8 year-old I know!


 

Ward Trunk-or-Treat (otherwise known as "Sit Around the Church Parking Lot and Give Other Family's Kids Lots of Sugary Candy in Preparation for the Next Day's Primary Program Practice") was last night. Heather was a witch (a very sweet, kind looking one in the pic) and Toby was NOT Lightning McQueen, but rather a member of his pit crew. TJ was a knight, but didn't come to picture time because he was too busy watching over his new baby turtles. Come over and see them sometime, he even has "turtle rules" posted above their aquarium. Susan even says they are cute!

Heather on back of "Powell Pride" with Seth and Megan Wildung (Seth is doing his personal grooming to benefit the fish off the back of the boat)
Heather had fun on the water trampoline and making lots of friends. She would play all day until we watched movies up top at night where she would fall asleep and I would have to carry her down to bed. TJ was usually the last kid up at night and we even made a special trip to Walmart to buy him frozen cheese pizzas.

Tim got a shirt that said "I have a large mouth . . . " and you'll have to ask him what the back of the shirt says :)
 

Lake Powell with the Wildungs
Our "base camp" was well equipped with two houseboats, 3 jetskis, one speedboat, 3 towables, 2 tv's, 1 projector, 1 awesome sandy beach, 4 sand pails and shovels, 17 kids, 14 adults, 2 4x4's, and LOTS of food
Heather loved riding the jetskis - she would control the throttle and then stop just to yell "AWESOME!"
The speedster boat handled great and did some terrific spinouts full of kids. Heather liked it except that she couldn't breathe when we went too fast. TJ drove the boat and made it go fast, but he liked the canoe the best. He watched all 6 Star Wars movies within 24 hours with "Captain" Tim.
I finally matched Seth's speed on the jetskis of 69 mph - we both think we'll have to lose some weight to reach the 70 mph mark :) 

Mommy's at Super Saturday - so Daddy and the kids went to the lake!

There was a little bit of crying and fear, but they overcame it (didn't really have a choice) and TJ and Heather even practiced driving the boat! Toby got to ride on daddy's new jetski with daddy, too! Now we're really excited to spend the next 5 days on the bigger Lake Powell (even though Mommy and Toby aren't coming with us). . .