Maggie

I had some ideas for some pictures to take with Maggie and the boys.  However Maggie just wasn't in the mood so I relinquished.  This was as good as I got.

(Notice, however, her toenails do match her outfit.)

Father and Son's Campout

Father and Son's Campout 2013... 

It only took 11 years for me to have my 

very first

 true blue 

100% genuine

 partner in crime to celebrate the occasion.

We planted tomatoes, ate nothing but steamed broccoli for dinner (there was no one here to tell me it was yucky) and I PAINTED MY OWN TOENAILS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY MARRIED LIFE.

I painted Maggie's too.  

I know how you feel gal -

From birth I sat alone in church with my mother and six siblings.  It was all I ever knew and miraculously my blessed mother had all seven of us to church every week 15 minutes early (this is not an exaggeration this was Olsen family LAW) and we didn't dare get rowdy.  Initially that was because as Bishop my dad would sit on the stand and give us the furrowed brow, lowered corner mouth look and raise his big giant pointer finger in our direction.  Ya, it was a death stare and it worked.  I remember him taking me out of sacrament meeting once for being down right naughty and we went into the men's bathroom and I got a spanking.  Then he sat me up in a tall windowsill where I couldn't get down from and shook that big scary dad finger at me and told me I had better learn to sit reverent.  It terrified me for life.  I learned to hold still and be quiet.  It was a good thing because he was called from being a bishop to the Stake Presidency and it wouldn't be until my junior year of high school that he would sit with our family in church again.

Now Maggie, I'm not saying you won't see your dad again until you are ready to fly the coop but chances are you may spend a good few years sitting with just Ma in sacrament meeting.  When Jonathan was sustained to the High Council last Sunday the High Counselor had him remain standing and said, "Now everyone take a long look at Brother Jenson.  I want you to know who he is because it will be a good 10-12 years before you see him in your ward again."  The congregation laughed and little Matthew welled up with tears not quite understanding why his dad wasn't going to be coming to church with him anymore.  He curled up on his lap and sobbed through Sacrament meeting.  It broke my heart.  He really loves his Dad.  So do I.  We explained that he was just going to be serving in another ward and would MOST ASSUREDLY be going to church just at a different time and for a lot more hours on Sunday (lucky Dad).  And on a rare occasion we may get him with us. 

(For any who may read this blog that are not members of our church, Jonathan received a calling to serve in a leadership position that simply has him serve with a broader group of people in our church than our own congregation.  He attends during other congregations church services and meetings and serves/teaches them.)

And so we begin our adventure of Mom and the not so reverent clan sitting alone on Sunday.

Wish. Me. Luck.

Lots of Luck - P.L.E.A.S.E.

And so dear Maggie, I know how you feel to know nothing else than just Mom at church (it has it's advantages)

However because Jonathan received a new calling we did get a very special treat of having Grandma and Grandpa Jenson come back to Grants Pass and visit.  Jonathan's father Eugene C. Jenson ordained Jonathan a High Priest in the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 8th, 2013.  We were so thankful they made the effort to come and share this special occasion with our growing family.  Here our a few pictures of the posse that evening after the boys had run around outside the church playing tag and and getting nice and sweaty. 

P

Yep, them's my Grandpa Jenson's ears.  I may not carry on the family name but by golly I will carry on those Jenson ears.

I look at this picture and have this brief moment of wonder... who is this women and what the heck happened?  Where did all of these children come from?  Did I really do all of this?  When?  I remember my mom expressing the same sentiments and now I really get why.

Today's two favorite conversations

Conversation #1:  Michael discovered a really fun new way to play with his plastic army men.  He loads them into a mini frying pan and takes off running with them.  Andrew, recognizing the exquisite joy that is being had in this new found game REALLY wants a turn cooking up toy soldiers.  So as Michael reenters the kitchen Andrew approaches him and in his sweet as honey, high pitched, nicest big brother ever voice willingly throws himself under the bus for Michael's sake and well being and says, "Michael, do you want me to hold these for you so you can go and play with another toy?"  Michael paused, "Ummm, nope."  And off he ran.  Jonathan and I got a good laugh out of it.

Conversation #2:  Tonight while Jonathan was tucking the two big boys in bed, "Okay boys, get to bed.  I love ya.  You need to get some sleep so we can be up early because I'm taking you to school again tomorrow.""...YOU ARE!!??," they reply.  "Yea, but this time let's not get pulled over by the cops okay?"
I do have to hand it to the man.  He has driven the boys to school maybe 5 times the entire year.  I have been dead dog sick with strep throat.  Jonathan hadn't sleep more than 5 hours in 48 hours, had been at work until 1:30am only to be greeted by a bright eyed child that was AWAKE when he got home and didn't want to sleep, only to be called back to the hospital before sleep had settled in and scurried home by 7:30 am because his fever stricken chill ridden wife hadn't been out of bed for 2 days and he wanted her to stay there and not have to take the boys to school.  The night before he was up changing the bedding for his sickly wife (ummm me) who had broken out in a sweat so badly she had soaked her side of the bed and pillow and clothes and was huddled in a ball shaking on his side of the bed looking for warmth.  Not to mention working all day, running the boys to everything everywhere and doing all the grocery shopping.  Truly the only thing the man hadn't bent over backwards to do was nurse the baby... but I can't really blame him for that.  And what does his mad dash pace to save the world, and his wife get him?  I big fat disco lit parking spot dead center in front of the elementary school with cars having to squeeze around and behind the police car to get to the drop of zone.  Lucky guy huh?  I guess the one thing he had going for him was he was running a little behind and not every parent in the county saw his claim to fame.  Gotta love that man.

Queen Bee

I had this idea for some really cute pictures to take with Maggie.  It didn't go as well as I was wanting.  She just wasn't in the mood. This was the best one I got so I gave up.  

(Take note, her toenails do match her outfit)

Magdalene

Maggie is three weeks and one day old today.  She looks just like the each of the boys did and melts our hearts just as quickly.  Today she celebrates her first Easter.  She was the first one up this morning bright and early ready to welcome in the new day.  We have been sitting in the loving room waiting for the sun to rise.

Each one of the boys were named with biblical names and so it would seam logical that Maggie would have received the same.  Before Maggie was born I did a lot of reading in the Old and New Testaments trying to come up with a name for her.  One evening while sitting in bed reading I read the account again of Mary Magdalene coming to the empty tomb and finding the risen Lord to be gone.  A brief moment later she is called by name and realizes that the Savior of the world was risen and He was here with her, to love her, to succor her, to sustain her.

The name Magdalene stayed with me that night and while lying in bed Maggie came to mind.  My shortened, sweetened name of a beautiful daughter of God.  And so that is what we call this little sis.  After having received a name and blessing from her Father in church last week our Maggie was too blessed with great faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter my little Maggie Lynn.  I hope you will always remember the inspiration for your name.

Missed a Spot

Tonight over grilled cheese sandwiches, applesauce, and steamed broccoli my children began asking me what they used to do when they were 2 years old.  Tell me what I did!  They loved hearing about what they did and the trouble they caused.  My memory is so incapable.  All of them have been terrible at some point in their lives.  I have vowed to sell each of them to the lowest bidder but I can't remember 8 years later what it was that made them so terribly two in the moment.  So here is to a renewal of recording the lives of my children.

Michael = mascara.  I am pretty sure there is a similar blog post for this child not too long ago.  He has such a gift to apply it without getting it anywhere but on/near his eye.  For that I am really thankful.

How can you not love a guilt ridden face such as this?

Step into Mom's office while we try to get that darling make-up job off.

Be Still

A few nights ago Jonathan was working and I had mounted my gallant steed I call "motherhood."  I was cracking the whip, ripping down the job chart, and firing up dinner.  It was within a matter of only minutes that I felt my saddle had loosened and with each gallop I was sliding down further and further until I was grasping the underside belly of that horse and holding on for dear life.

The chicken was on the grill preparing to become dinner.
My 8 year old was practicing the piano.
The 7 year old was feeling sick so he was lounging on the couch.
The 4 year old was picking up toys.
The 2 year old was helping in the kitchen.

And then in the slightest moment the 4 year old comes out of the bathroom half naked with poop everywhere.  Huh?
The 8 year old storms mad as a hornet from the piano screaming for help because he just can't make sense of his song.  He needs my help right now!
The fevering 7 year is reduced to tears and needs mom to come here right now.
The two year old, seeing a window of opportunity, pushes a chair to the kitchen counter, climbs up and empties the soap pump to sputters all over himself and the counter.
Chicken, was there chicken cooking?  Let's redefine dry meat shall we.

In that single moment I stood in the kitchen begin bombarded by 4 little men, slick n' slimy soap, poop smeared legs and floor, tears n' chills with aches, screams and pounding white and black keys and a smoking grill.  My 38 week pregnant belly, swollen legs, and contracting uterus were so weary beyond measure all I could do was laugh and imagine one more in the mix... a wailing hungry baby needing to be fed by the only one that can do it, mom.

I think I am losing it but I found such joy in that moment.  It was a moment when I had no control.  I was simply holding on for dear life and enjoying the ride.  Clinging to motherhood, upside down, at a galloping pace.

It was real life.  It was utter delight. It was such trivial things to just marinade in.

Grandma Dear I Love You So...

It's not every person, nor every day that one can wake up and say, today I have lived 100 years.

January 8th, 2013 my maternal Grandmother, Uwin VanBuren awoke to having lived through a century.

Oh, how I love her.

I have never heard her utter a terse word.

Her carpet was always immaculate.  When she walked into a room she would scan the carpet for a piece of string, blade of grass, anything that didn't belong and quickly remove it to the garbage.  She had the most amazing set of finger vacuums I have ever known.

She made really creamy macaroni and cheese that my brother Ryan loved.

We always played Rook around her kitchen table.

She loved to sit on her patio in the evening and enjoy the warmth of Orangeville summers.

Her garden had an infinite supply of green peas in the early spring.

She loved us and even made us jam when we trampled through the mulberries under the tree in our bare toes and came in with purple footprints on her new cream carpet.

She always used peach colored Dove soap.

Now she lives in an assisted living facility.  Her eyesight has been gone for several years due to macular degeneration.  She lost my Grandfather 8 years ago.  He would have been 100 this year also.  But her mind is sharp and her memory clear.  I can walk into the room and say, "Hi Grandma!" and she knows just who it is.

Happy 100th Birthday Grandma!

Myself, Grandma Van Buren and my mother, Barbara Olsen

Jenson Family with Grandma Van Buren - Summer 2013

                                   

Shoes

I was filled with gratitude today as I walked into my closet to find Michael's little Sunday shoes sitting there.  At first I walked past them to grab my own slippers but stopped and went back just to look at them.  I couldn't help but smile.  This little pair of shoes came from cousin Dallas as has 90% of everything my boys have all worn.  These little black shoes have made their way down the line through all four of the boys and I just simply love them.  I feel so blessed to have had the last 9 years, nearly a decade, of nurturing the little men in my life.  Each one so completely unique.  They all have worn the same pair of shoes but not one of them have walked the same path.  I have learned and grown from each one of them and the road they have trodden.  It is humbling to realize I am beginning to have moments of motherhood when I pause and look back on what has been and not always reflect on what still lies ahead.  I wonder if I will have another that will wear these shoes or if I am beginning the end of a beautiful era in my life.  Life passes so sweetly.  There is so much tenderness, and joy along the way. I am just so filled with gratitude for memories.