Little Livi Love

A few weeks late, but here's Livia at 5 months.

Pay It Forward: In Real Life

A few days after my last post, Pay it Forward, we experienced a pay-it-forward in real life.

We were in San Franciso (on Thursday) for the day. Both Sam and Livia were doing so well, considering we were out and about for so long. We went out to dinner with Jared, Allyson and Brigham. All of a sudden, Livia decided that she was done with San Francisco. She cried and screamed uncontrollably. We tried to console her... but nothing seemed to help. We felt bad for the other people, so Jason and I kept taking turns taking her outside to help her calm down. Every time we came back in, she would start all over again. And Sam, well, he decided he needed to go to the bathroom... about 3 or 4 times. Our food came. Our food got cold. Between the two of us, we were in and out of our seats, snatching bites as we could. Brigham also was a little tired and had a few meltdowns. So pretty much everyone in the restaurant knew we were there.

When it came time to pay our bill, the waitress brought our bill and showed us a receipt. A couple that had been in the same area as us earlier had felt sorry for us that we couldn't even sit down and enjoy our meal. So they paid $50 towards our bill.

When the waitress told us that, I was so touched that I almost cried. I was so embarrassed that my child was disrupting everyone else, yet a couple was understanding and sympathetic to our situation.

It is so nice to know that there are generous and kind people out there... even in San Francisco.

Pay It Forward

PAY IT FORWARD:

"The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice--for you! This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (I can only hope.)
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It WILL be done this year.
4. You have no clue what it's going to be... it may be cards, a bookmark, something delicious, or a complete surprise to you (and me!)... who knows?
5. Most importantly you must offer the same deal on your blog - the first 5 people to comment on your blog get something made by YOU!"

Sammy-isms Challenge Answers

I know everyone is just so anxious to find out the answers to the quiz from a couple of weeks ago. So here they are.

1. goon-goon = finger (don't ask me why!)
2. pon-pong = Grandma, Grandpa (yes, that gets confusing)
3. bowie = butter, bottom
4. hoppy = helicopter (always said with a big smile)
5. owe-ee = Elmo, elephant, Andrew (his cousin)
6. pees = please, peas, peaches

On Friday I will try to post the answers to the Sammy-isms challenge (a few posts down).... hurry you only have a few more days... so far AJ is the winner (since she's the only who really cares about my game... and my feelings... JK.)

facebook frenzy part I

As many of you fellow facebookers know, there has been a 25 random things craze goin' on. I think it's fun to read them about others, so in case you feel the same way, here are a few interesting... and many uninteresting things about me.


1. I recently cut my hair and I think it's the second worst haircut of my adult life.
2. I have the two cutest kids in the world!!
3. Reading is not my first choice when I have a spare moment.
4. I love doing logic puzzles and playing tetris.
5. Jason and I watch way too many TV shows... but at least we do it together!
6. The most dreaded part of my day is when I have to decide what to make for dinner.
7. I am a very narrow-minded cookie baker. (I only like one recipe.)
8. My toe nails are always painted.
9. I want to ride in a hot air balloon some day.
10. I love the color red.
11. I'm finally warmed up to our dog, Maggie.
12. I do not ever want to get into a car accident.
13. I lost my wedding rings in North Dakota over Christmas at Walmart. I was on the 6:00 news and my rings were returned to me. (I truly believe the best people live in ND.)
14. I like to wear high heels because I feel skinnier. (I wish I had longer legs.)
15. My husband is more than a year younger than me.
16. I think my baby girl, Livia, has the cutest little elf-like ears.
17. I sleep with 3 semi-flat pillows every night, or I have a bad night.
18. My husband is my favorite cuddler.
19. I love that Sam (my 2 1/2 year old) kisses any part of me that I say hurts me.
20. I really want to get nice furniture this year.
21. My high school closed a year and a half ago due to a lack of students between my town and the two other towns we were joined with.
22. I grew up on a farm 10 miles away from a town of about 100 people.
23. I loved living in Argentina and meeting the amazing people there.
24. I despise carrying full milk jugs.
25. When I look at my husband and kids... I know I am one LUCKY girl!

Great Date at Eight

For anyone interested in a really fun date... Comedy Sportz is something you could consider.


This was our date tonight. It was absolutely hilarious! And it was clean! I definitely recommend it to anyone... even if it's not on a date!

The one in Provo plays every Friday and Saturday night at 8:00 and 10:15. And there is a show on Thursday night as well, but I think it is different, so I don't know if it's any good.

There are 33 of them throughout the US. For the Friday and Saturday shows the cost is $10 at the door or $8 ($1.19 for a service fee) but that way you know you'll get a seat. Our show was sold out by 7:30 when the doors opened, so I was glad I got our tickets online earlier in the day. The Thursday show is only $4.

Here is the website for anyone interested:
http://comedysportzutah.com/

Happy Spaghetti Day

Today is Spaghetti Day. At least it is for my family. Every year for as long as I can remember, on February 26 I have eaten spaghetti for dinner. Why? You ask? We had a tradition in my family that we each got to pick dinner on our birthday. My younger brother, Andrew, always picked spaghetti.


He loved spaghetti... and hated broccoli. He once told a sister in our ward who had invited us for dinner that he was allergic to broccoli so that she wouldn't make it.



My first two memories involve Andrew. The very first being the time we left home in the middle of the night when my mom went into labor with him... that was 26 years ago last night. And the second memory... not as nice...



When Andrew didn't want to play "My Little Ponies" with me, I got mad and lied to my mom. I told her that he bit me just so he would get in trouble... he did. He didn't cry when my mom bit him 'back' though... he just looked really hurt and confused.



Andrew was always so kind-hearted. One of his classmates didn't invite him to his birthday party, but he still begged my mom to buy him a present anyway.



This family picture was taken on June 18, 1994. Just 3 days before Andrew died in a car accident. He was 11 years old.



So again this year, like all the 26th of Februaries, including the one on my mission, I will happily eat my spaghetti dinner in remembrance of Andrew.

Happy Birthday little brother, you are still in my heart and my thoughts... I love and miss you dearly.

sammy-isms challenge

For a 2 year old, I think Sam speaks fairly well. I (and sometimes others) can understand most of what he says. However, he does have a few words that only a select few (such as his mommy and daddy) will understand.

So here's the challenge. I will give you a quiz of my favorite sammy-isms... you give your best guess and the person who gets the most correct is the winner! (For your prize, I'll send your kid some stickers.) In a few days, I'll post the correct answers, so hurry, the clock is ticking....

1. goon-goon
2. pon-pong (2 words apply)
3. bowie
4. hoppy
5. owe-ee (3 correct answers here)
6. pees (and 3 again. and you'll need all 3 of these to get credit for this one)

Have fun!

a few new do's

Do #1: DO get a comfy new recliner...

because every woman deserves one.


Do #2: DO allow your husband to get an almost-as-comfy recliner...

so he won't steal yours.


Do #3: DO get a new 'do' when the first 'do' gets too long...

and tangly and heavy and unmanageable... and you get the point.


Do #4: DO the new 'do' that I still have to do or it just looks yucky....

but at least it DO not take me as long now...

a niecely arrival

Our little niece has arrived! Taylor and Shelly (Jason's little sister) have just earned an addition to their little family. Skye LeeAnn Jensen (not sure if I spelled it right) came early this morning weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz. Yeah, that's pretty much all I know. (The picture is from a phone to a phone to email, so excuse the quality!) Congratulations Shelly and Taylor!

a faceless family

As I was checking my email this morning, Sam was in the office too, playing right behind my chair. I didn't look at what he was doing until he finished his project.

I guess he doesn't like faces, or eyes, or binkies.