My Strings Section

Doesn't everyone look great? I am so proud of my kids. They are practicing really hard and are so cute with their determination. They played in their first concert on April 30 and all did very well. Everyone was playing only the open strings. They are working on the D major scale now so that they can learn some notes. They can almost play 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star'. We have so much fun practicing together. Sahara can't wait until she gets her own "instment". I loved how her hair turned out that day. Definitely my little Fluffy.

I know I have been absent from the blogging scene for awhile and I surely won't be voted the best blogger everbut here is the cutest picture . I have to share it.

Clarification!

The Esther that was helping us was not Esther that is on her mission. It is Esther Michela. She knew Aunt SandraLee and Uncle Chris in Maryland. She became a good friend of the family and is now visiting my Mom for a month on the farm. She was a wonderful friend to come and help out. Thanks Esther!!! Sorry for the confusion!

4TH OF JULY

Here we are selling fun and excitement for the Cache Valley area. We are all selling fireworks in the Macey's parking lot and the Ridley's parking lot in Hyrum. We opened the stands the Friday before the 4th. There was not much business for the first couple of days. I was able to help out for most of the days. I was down in Layton on Tuesday, but other than that I was out there helping an extremely good cause. My parents were doing this to earn some extra money to help pay for some of the adoption expenses with getting Julianna.(Or as I would say Nana) Sarah, Katie, Mom, Esther, and I split up between the two stands. Grandma and Grandpa Jensen even came out to help. They were incredible!!!!! I was so amazed to see two of the people I love and respect most in this world behind a wooden counter convincing people of the best buy for their money!! It was AWESOME!!!! David even came and helped out for several hours. Such a supportive husband and Son-in-Law. I don't think I have ever been so tired in my whole life. Working 10-14 hours a day in a 24 foot stand in hot weather for 6 days was hard. It was a sacrifice of time, energy, and family time. But it was a sacrifice I would do again. I got to spend quite a bit of time on the slow days catching up with Mom. On the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th of July there really wasn't much time to socialize. We were kept busy all day long with customers. I am so glad that I am not normally a working mom. It was exhausting and I really missed the time I have with the kids! Who would have thought! It was an experience!!! We had signs up all over telling about Mom & Dad adopting 19 children so that people would come and know they were supporting a good cause as well as getting their fireworks. In the evenings all the little kids came and stood in front of the stand and waved at the people in the street as they drove by. It was so CUTE!!!! We even had some very generous people who just donated money to my Parents. They came away with $1,300 in donations and about $7,000 from the the sell of the fireworks. It was such a blessing! Isn't the Lord good? He was watching out for us as we sold fireworks!!

Isn't she CUTE!!! Definitely the cutest of us all!!!

Gracie just couldn't last as long as the rest of us. She fell asleep in the middle of the Hyrum Fireworks show. I don't know how. It was so loud. We were right by the field where they were shooting off the fireworks.

Bear Lake and A Birthday

I promised Tyler in February that we would go to Bear Lake for his birthday and that we would go swimming. So I kept that promise, but I wasn't sure at first if it was going to work or not.

This is what we encountered on our drive through the canyon. At least it was pretty. Joshua took this picture . I thought it turned out pretty good.

As always seems to happen in our family there were casualties immediately. Oh well. They had their consequence early on and then did not want it again so they ended up being very good for the rest of the trip.

Gracie isn't in trouble she just wanted to be a part of the action. She does it all the time. If someone else is crying she comes up and puts on her fake cry just so she can join in.

It ended up warming up though and we did get to fulfill Tyler's birthday wish. I ended up with so many pictures it was hard to choose between them. It is hard to believe we are celebrating another birthday. Time is going by so quickly. I am trying to enjoy every second!!!!

Aren't We Cute!!!!!

We had some fun out in our yard taking pictures for both grandma's Mother's Day gifts.

It was so cute and they were very cooperative. Surprisingly enough.

All I had to do was remind them it was for grandma and they would smile.

I'm Seeing Spots!!!!

We have had a very eventful 6 weeks. Joshua came down the chicken pox and passed it on to Micheal, then Gracie, then Tyler, then Sahara. Luckily the Twins had it in Kazakhstan while I was there adopting them. No one seemed to get it at exacltly the same time, so it has been a long drawn out process. Every case seemed to get worse too. Thankfully there aren't anymore coming down with it. Any way here are some pictures of our poor unfortunate children.

Aren't they pitiful? And believe me I don't look any better having gone

through this with all of them.