hitandmiss

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Oh Baby, Baby!

It is with much excitement and joy that we await the arrival of grandchild #12,
Baby Boy Dalton
scheduled to arrive June 29th!

Saturday the sisters threw a baby shower for Tanja.

Cute decorations, fun activities, yummy food and wonderful family & friends
made it a very festive occasion.

Pam & Janis

Elena & Aubree

Smile! Oh, wait, don't smile.

How come my kids let me wear my mustache above my nose?

This.....

....became this!

Janis & Anthony

Mom & Izzy

Birgid & Izzy

Sandee, Anthony & Ayrel

Sunny & Rebecca

4 generations!

Oooh! Ahhh!

Anne (Brad's mom) and her friend Sunshine made this amazing quilt, representing important events in Brad and Tanja's lives.

I sure hope Ayrel & Avery took pictures of people and things I missed (like the Mother-to-be and her other sweet sisters who toiled and slaved to make this such a fun party!), since my selection is quite limited.

After all the fun and games, well, we had more fun and games!

Avery, Rachele and Oliver play soccer

Andrew, Anne, Sonja, Tanja, Brad & Logan

We played Mexican Train with the Dalton's while waiting to take them to the airport for their red-eye flight back to Maine. Why do I think we would have stayed up until midnight regardless?

But wait, there's more!

Even though the initial plan was to be in SLC for Tanja's baby shower it turned out that I was able to get in on a whole lotta other good stuff:

Friday lunch with (most) of my girls! We missed you, Hyuna, Tanja & Elena :(

Sonja & Aubree

Silly Jilly & Brei

Aubree & Rachele

Avery & Ayrel

My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!

Friday afternoon baseball game - Curtis's team dominates! Curtis plays 2nd base -

he made no less than 4 assists for outs on 1st and had 3 solid hits!

(I think a little guy in a baseball uniforms is about the cutest thing on earth)

I might be his biggest fan, but I'm not his only fan!

Friday night party to celebrate my niece Cheryl's graduation from BYU - at the Manor House, of course!

Front row: Kelly, Ayrel, Avery, Andrew, Andrew's pie, Jake, Cheryl, Sonja

Back row: Pam, Ben, Jill, Laurie, Brei, Rachele, Soren, Soren's Packers Cap, Tanja & Brad

Cheryl wasted no time venturing out into the big wide world - she was on a plane and in South Korea by Tuesday night for a 6-week immersion program!

Saturday morning Brei and I went on a run together :) and I was privileged to get a preview of the duet she and Kelly will play for the recital later today :)

Brei and Kelly playing Beethovan's 5th - too bad the video I took won't download :/

When they played it at the recital most of the kids were playing air piano by the finale!

Tanja, Rachele, Ayrel & I spoiled ourselves with pedicures :)

Saturday afternoon piano recital - so many memories!

This is how the Jensen sisters show their love and support -

Brei had no idea her sisters were going to show up in the same skirt!

I was scared to take pictures during the recital since the teacher very firmly said we couldn't because the flash might startle the students. But then I remembered that I had my camera set so it wouldn't flash. And that I'm the mother of the teacher. And I noticed that other people were filming. So I ignored the dirty looks and snapped a few pictures. I feel no guilt.

Kyle played Carnival, Morning Mood, and his duet, Skip to My Lou perfectly!

Elena after playing Alouette and Adagio. She also played a duet, Cherry Blossom Time. Her dress makes me think of cherry blossoms!

Jake played Prelude, Jamaican Jive and a lively duet, A Merry Life

♪♫♪ The talented Bunker family ♫♪♫

Brei with all of her students

Following the recital (and some delicious treats) it was time to put the finishing touches on the shower preparations. I actually didn't do much at all other than play with grandkids and sample food. I like being a grandma. A lot!

Sunday morning was spent on the farm. After breakfast we went out to check on the sheep and the goats. It was noisy!

Avery had to jump on the bed to get her wiggles out before church.

And warm up her singing voice.

Brad &Tanja and their cute country home

with a great backyard view

Sunday afternoon we planned to gather for a quiet afternoon of relaxing and snacking at Liberty Park. Hahaha, so did half the population of SLC. And instead of simple snacks, Sandy brought a full-fledged meal for all. We had a marvelous time together!

Sandy, Andy, Janis, Aubree, Mango, Mom, Rachele, Chris, Kia, Sara & Page

Andy, Sandy, Janis, Mango, Mom & Aubree

Ayrel, Avery & Tanja

Pickle!

Curtis & Mitchell

Marc & Mango

Curtis, Emma & Sonja

Sandy & Craig

Moi, Janis, Mom, & Sandy

Saturday evening took us back to the Bunkers for - can you believe it? - more good food and time together! I can never get enough, but 3 full days might tide me over for a week or two.

But wait, there's more!

The End

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Random

Our neighbor's cat likes to climb ladders

Our cat likes to sleep

I love tulips, a lot.

New methods for creating Easter eggs

Bake on oven rack at 350° for 30 minutes

If 1 explodes then you get speckled eggs!

After eggs have cooled (ice bath recommended), roll them in dyed shaving cream. Use a toothpick to swirl the food coloring, don't mix thoroughly, and use baggies or plastic gloves unless you want your hands to coordinate with the eggs :)

Allow to sit at least 20 minutes, then rub off extra shaving cream with a dry cloth.

It was messy but fun and easy.

A very good day

I participated in my first triathlon sprint, and had a blast!

The swim: I didn't drown. The bike: I didn't crash. The run: I didn't walk.

The weather was great; my swim time was about what I expected (9:15, including 1:32 to transition); my bike time was faster than I expected, and I aced Heartbreak Hill - must have been because my boyfreind was there to cheer me on! (47:07); my run time was about what I expected after biking (22:16, which includes transition). My overall time was just about where I thought it would be - 1:18:38, except I took longer in the first transition than I had hoped.

I met a lot of really nice people, didn't have to wait in line for a professional stretching session, and enjoyed the very friendly atmosphere.

Unexpected end of the race goodies: a yummy, spicy burrito (better than a bagel, for sure!), a cool hand towel, and a very cool necklace.

Just as exciting, a jar of my granola was auctioned off at the Scout fundraising dinner for $50! Right up there with a plate of Kirsten Arroyo's cream puffs!

Friday, March 29, 2013

How Much Fun Can Be Crammed Into 42 Hours?

Whoa - did you see that?

It's kind of what the last few days have felt like....

Soren & Rachele and family arrived in El Paso Wednesday afternoon about 3:30, driving from Tucson after spending a fun-filled 3 1/2 days with Ayrel, Ben & Avery.

We knew the clock was ticking, so as soon as Grandpa & I could change out of our work clothes we all headed to Adventure Zone for some fun.

There are no pictures due to a camera with a dead battery, so use your vivid imagination to see:

a) the yummy, dripping tacos

b) kids running around berzerk with tokens and prize tickets

c) Grandpa & Mitchell-1, Grandma & Cutis-0, round 1 on the go-karts; Soren & Curtis-1, Grandpa & Mitchell-0, round 2 on the go-karts; Rachele-too much fun and multiple spin-outs both rounds; Mitchell-Best Kodak moment of the night on his rookie solo ride on the go-karts

d) Curtis-5, Mitchell-5, Soren & Aubree-negative 10 on the bumper boats

e) Everybody wins at miniature golf!

Back to the old homestead for root beer floats, and then 8 happy, sleepy people headed to bed.

This is what Thursday morning looked like. Yes, Aubree is in the picture.

Mickey Mouse waffles for breakfast (thank you, Uncle Kris, for sharing your cool waffle iron!); playtime and lunch at the park.

And then it was time to saddle up for a great ride in the desert!

Jackie gives riding tips to some buckaroos

Mitchell is ready to ride on Axelrod

Aubree practices her balance on Mickey

(aka Mickey See Mickey Do)

Curtis is a natural on Sissy

Cowgirls and cowboys at home on the range

The sun was shining and there was a slight breeze, making it a perfect day to ride.
Aubree proved to be a true cowgirl - after about an hour and a half of riding Mickey with Jackie using a lead rope, the pleasant weather and rocking gait put her right to sleep in the saddle!

Aubree with Jackie at the end of the trail

The ranch dogs were great entertainment. It's obvious that we have another animal lover in the family!

After dinner we walked to the little neighborhood park and enjoyed a lovely evening visiting while the kids played. Because they have boundless energy.

Do these pictures look grainy because of all the sand or because of the diminishing daylight?

What kind of Jensen gathering would this be without a game of Mexican Train?

(preceeded by Boggle, Slap Jack, El Paso Monopoly, and Guess Who)

This is what Thursday night looked like. Yes, Aubree is in the picture.

Our dogs were so happy we didn't forget about them, and happily let Curtis and Aubree walk them on Friday morning. Then the Draper Jensens headed to the office for a proper good-bye to Grandpa and a surprise Easter egg hunt before heading back to Arizona and some fun times with Aunt Candice, Uncle Dave & their family in Phoenix.

Even though it's been said before (more than once or twice), any visit, no matter how short, is relished and appreciated by the old folks at home. Thank you for coming and playing with us, Mitchell, Curtis & Aubree! And thank you for bringing your terrific parents!