What Jensyn says

I have noticed on other people's blogs lists of words that their toddler uses. I think it is a grand idea to keep track of what is being said. Darwin and I started making a list over a week ago and since then Jensyn has started speaking in sentences. I am amazed by how smart she is and how quickly things change. Here is her list that her parents are SO proud of....

car (usually sounds like "tar")
doggy
cat
cheese (for the dairy product and a camera as well)
shoes (one of her first words)
nose
ear
hair
eyes (and if you are holding her and she says it she will poke you right in the eye)
toes
Mommy
Daddy
Papa (more like "bobby")
Grandma (comes out pretty clear)
Luke (what I want to name our baby boy-so I have been having her say it hoping that Darwin will jump on board and give our baby a normal name)
Darrin (my little brother)
Mialee (Jensyn's cousin)
cow
horse (more like "orse")
Elmo (used to sound like El-me)
treat
pee
bath
please ("peas")
spoon
baby
book
bear
hat (this is what she calls lids)
NO
juice (any beverage is juice)
truck
bus
ball
chair (sounds like "share")
Jazz
nevermind (I was surprised the first time she said this-quite a big word)
right there
uppy (for zipper)
hop
uh-oh
out
more
phone
keys
door
house
home
hand
bird
elbow (sounds like "bellbow")
knee
box
at
whoa
coat
bye (also buh-bye)
night
dark
bubbles
hi
help
me
mine
this
Coke (thanks to Darwin)
bow
tractor
purple
pink
I want
church
apple
Knox (her cousin)


I love the way she talks!!! I love being her mom and listening to her little voice.

Nice weather in Arizona

As most of you know, Darwin and I are taking real estate investing classes. I love doing this. We go to Glendale (right by Phoenix) Arizona six times a year for a week at a time. It is such a wonderful opportunity to be taught first hand by practioners who have been investing for years. The classes are held at the Renissance Hotel and at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The weather was wonderful. It was usually in the 80's. I can't believe how pretty Arizona is this time of year. I was totally impressed. We had a lot of fun, but we missed Jensyn like crazy so it is good to be back.

This is the "main campus". It is a very nice hotel.
This is the stadium were a couple of classes are held a day. It is the same stadium that the Super Bowl was at in February.
I know this is super fuzzy, but this is the Las Vegas Strip at 6:00 a.m.
Darwin in front of a football player at the stadium.

What a silly guy!

The Next Step

Darwin's last day of work at Hill Air Force Base was today!!! He has decided that he wants to do Nouveau Riche full-time so he will get full-time results. So congratulations Darwin on firing your boss. We are quite excited for the things that are to come because of this decision.

I had thought about doing a "Retirement Party" for Darwin but retirement sounds like time to relax. Darwin will be busy with Nouveau Riche and building our marketing business, so instead of a "Retirement Party" we had a "Firing your Boss Party". It was suppossed to be a surprise (and don't think that I am the one that told) but Darwin's cousin emailed him asking him questions about it. So Dar, I hope you enjoyed your day and I wish you the very best!

Me, Darwin, and Jensyn after all of the partying and clean-up.

My mom made this for Darwin and I LOVE it! The stars and spirally things are made out of fondant frosting.
Darwin and his cake!
Darwin, Jensyn, and Alan.
Jason, Jensyn, and Darwin.

I wanted to take more pictures while everyone was here but I forgot.

Jensyn Loves Oreos!!!

Ok, Jensyn really loves anything that has sugar. My mom has a cupboard full of snacks that is at the perfect level for the grandkids. Jensyn is sure to take full advantage of the easy access on a regular basis. Well she found the Oreos. She would seperate the two cookies and lick the cream off. I don't think she was aware of how much chocolate got all over her face, arms, and clothes. (Sorry that there is glare in the picture from the sun.)

Oh yeah, and she was watching t.v. too. But she know that she has to sit on "the rug" instead of the carpet or the couch when she eats snacks in the family room.

I tried more than once to get her to look at me but I had no success. She is good sharer. Everytime she got a new cookie for her she would get one for her cousin Payton (who did not eat the Oreos that Jensyn kept bringing her-so she at those too!).

So Intense!!!!!

This weekend Darwin and I (and my mom, Darrin, and BJ) had the opportunity to attend an ISA Regional Training at the Marriott in Salt Lake City. We listened and were motivated by some very powerful people. People were from all over, Utah, Arizona, Chicago, Florida, and other places. For those of you that don't know, in August Darwin and I decided that our lives needed a change of direction. We joined a company called Nouveau Riche (N.R.). Our thinking has been changed forever. A lady from Florida said yesterday, "This is not a job. It is self-improvement with a paycheck." I never noticed how much negative self talk I do. I need to be so much more positive about myself and others. It is so important to be surrounded by people that are positive and supportive as well.

I love N.R. I love that there is unlimited potential in so many areas (knowledge, earnings, improvement, etc.). This company was set up by Jim Piccolo. He wanted a company that it didn't matter what a person's current status is they can make as much money as everyone else. This company is definitely not about just money. It is about service and time. It allows you time with you family because you aren't strapped to a 9-5 job. You decide on your hours. Also service is a huge thing. Paying it forward is the belief of many many many people in this company. If yo have the opportunity and the means to help out other people then you should. Our goal as humans should really be to make things easier and better for everyone. I love that it goes right along with the feelings that I have and there are no conflicts of interest.

In January N.R. was featured in the magazine called YOUR BUSINESS AT HOME. Darwin and I would love to have you all read it. I know so many of you could benefit from the information inside of it. Let me know, so I can get you a copy.

My mom, Darrin, BJ, and Me

Happy Easter

Jensyn and Darwin at the Easter Egg Hunt in South Ogden

We had such a fun Easter weekend. On Saturday we went to South Ogden for an Easter Egg Hunt. Jensyn did not seem to care very much about getting eggs nor did the other kids/babies in the same age category. So mostly we just took pictures of Jensyn and Darwin and I picked up the eggs.

Jensyn in the play house at Grandma Nancy's during the Easter Egg Hunt

Later that day we had another Easter Egg Hunt at my mom's house. Then we had a hot dog roast and then an adult Easter Egg Hunt. My sister-in-law Jeri Dawn hid eggs for the adults. One egg had a $50 bill and two eggs had $5 and seven eggs had numbers in them, the rest of the eggs had treats. Well $50 is very motivating for adults we all ran and searched as quickly as possible. It was very intense. My brother BJ did not know that the eggs had prizes in them. He gave all of the eggs he found to his three year old, Boston who proceeded to throw the filled eggs into the fire (from the hot dog roast). Well, we went through our eggs and no one had any money. I was thinking that it was burning away in the flames. After a few minutes my other brother, Jason (Jeri Dawn's husband) came to the back yard with a lot of eggs. He found all of the money and he felt bad so he wanted to re-hide the $50. It was a fun thing to do.

Jensyn and Darwin right before church. I love Jensyn's dress. Thank you Grandma Parker!

Me and Jensyn (she wanted her drink so she was pointing to it saying, "juice").

Cute girl swinging

On Sunday we went to church in our new ward (well the ward that I grew up in-but it is still new to us). After we went to Darwin's Grandparents' for dinner and another Easter Egg Hunt. Jensyn finally participated!!! She would see an egg and put it in her basket. Darwin and I were thrilled. After a weekend of hunts she figured it out.


I am very grateful for the Easter holiday and for what it means to me. I am grateful for Christ and the atonement. I hope that we can all keep the true meaning of this holiday in our hearts at all times.

Do try this at home

Darwin, my mom, and Darrin

Every year (maybe twice a year-I am not sure) my parents stand up raw eggs for the Equinox. I was only able to get one to stand. I think total my dad, my mom, Darwin, me, and Darrin got ten to stand up. There are seven still standing and it has been over 12 hours since we did it. I encourage everyone to try this.

The letter "G" at preschool with Grandma Nancy

The Letter G
Jensyn, Boston, Payton, and Hayden making Goo-Goo Goggles.
Gum
Girl and Grandma all start with G
Boston, Payton, Hayden, and Jensyn listening to a song about sticks.

Today Jensyn went to preschool with Payton, Hayden, and Boston. Grandma Nancy was the teacher. She teaches the three little boys at least once a week. The kids talked about the letter G. They found things that start with G. They colored pictures of things that started with G. They ate grapes, sang, and decorated an Easter Egg. I would say that all of these kids are lucky to have such a creative/hard working/fun grandma.

To the McKellars

Jensyn's good friend, Dallin DeGroot. Two Sundays ago Jensyn said "Dallin" for the first time

in Sacrament Meeting because she wanted to share her treats with him.

Saydee Knight, Emma Groves, and Jensyn.

Last day in nursery at the South Ogden 3rd Ward.

Jensyn keeping herself entertained while I was packing. She put on

her socks and shoes all by herself.

So we have successfully moved in with my parents. So far, so good. It is a little weird to back "at home". I love it though. I am glad that I can talk to my mom all day-I think she may get tired quickly of me following her around all day to talk. When I was living in South Ogden I called her multiple times a day to just tell her things. I think Jensyn loves being with her grandparents. At bedtime she gets double the kisses. It has been nice to just relax a little after the crazy 10 days that I had. I can't believe that Darwin and I got all of the stuff done that we needed to. To be completely honest the last set of boxes that were packed were labeled "Random" because it was stuff that just didn't fit in with anything else and I didn't know what to do with it. My two younger brothers, Travis and Darrin helped us move and pack. They packed up my kitchen and they just dumped things into boxes.....I wonder what things will look like when we unpack. I am grateful for their help and everyone else who was willing/unwilling to help but did so. We lived in such a great area. Thank you ward members (and Nate) who helped move the big stuff.

We're Moving

Well as lots of people know, we are moving. It is very sudden and shocking. Last Saturday night we listed our house on KSL Homes for Rent and by Sunday morning a couple had called on it and wanted some information. On Monday we met with the lady and her two kids and on Tuesday her husband came and looked at our house. They asked if there was any way that they could move in on the 15th. Darwin said "yes" as I looked at him in disbelief. I said, "That is like 10 days away and there is a lot that has to be done..." Well, Darwin won. We are moving in with my parents on Thursday of next week. We have been house hunting for awhile. Last night we put an offer on a house in Roy, so now we are waiting to see if they will accept, counter-offer, or reject it.

I am feeling a bit stressed out about the whole situation. I hate change. And this is MAJOR change. I am nervous about a bigger house, which means a bigger payment. I am extremely sad about moving away from our ward and all of the wonderful people that live here. We have made some very good friends. We have the friendliest neighborhood. If I stay busy with all of the packing that needs to be done I am fine. But if I think about all of the people that have impacted my family's lives then I just cry. On Wednesday night my ward had the funnest Enrichment Night. We had a Tea Party. Lots of people heard that we are moving. Well, all night I made jokes and tried to laugh it of and act like I was totally fine with it but as soon as I walked in the door at home I just started crying. A lot. I know that we are doing the right thing but I hate that things are going to change. I worry about Jensyn adjusting to everything that is going on right now.