Thursday Tidbits

*I'm quite pleased with my NaBloPoMo progress. I've been able to keep up with daily blogging and it's fun.

*I registered Emersyn for an Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyer program this afternoon and it was so cute to see an account number with her name on it. We are going in March and I figure she might as well start getting the rewards at a young age. I'm not sure when we'll go to Hawaii again after this trip though. It's our last trip for awhile....then time to start paying off cars and spending our money on different things.

*Last night Brett and I went on a date while Ems spent the night at her Nana's due to a variety of circumstances (good ones). We ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and had the stuffed chicken tortilla's. They were SO tasty!!!! After dinner we decided to just go get some ice cream instead of splurging on dessert at the resteraunt. We made a special trip to the store to buy the ice cream and then came home and fell asleep after watching Biggest Loser online. Perhaps the show about weight loss made us subconsciously not desire the ice cream? Probably not, I think we both just forgot about it.

*We are still on the hunt for a car. We found one that is a *good* deal but we want a *great* deal. We're playing the waiting game and hoping the dealer comes down in price or that another deal comes up.

*I've decided to schedule one family weekend a month where we have no plans except to have fun and enjoy each other. I don't want Emersyn to look back on our lives and not have any memories of just being home on the weekends and hanging out. This weekend is our family weekend and I've carefully guarded it (although we may end up car shopping). I've turned down offers to hang out with friends, get my hair colored (which was a hard one to refuse) and go to a baby shower. I'm proud of myself. I'm looking forward to getting the garage cleaned up and maybe even our master bedroom closet. I should take before and after pictures but I'm too afraid of being judged for the "before". It's bad folks, REAL bad. :)

*I had a great meeting this morning with the "retreat committee" at my church regarding our 2011 women's retreat in February. I am also coordinating the "young married's" retreat in April. Something about me makes me a good candidate for retreat planning I guess. :) For the women's retreat I am in charge of my least favorite thing ever.......FUNDRAISING. Bleh. It is totally outside my comfort zone but I am doing my best to have a good attitude and let myself be challenged and stretched. Wish me luck. :) The committee is fun....I'm the youngest person on there easily by 20 years or so. ;)

Thursday Tidbits & Random Pics

*The other night while my mom was in town we went to Best Teriyaki for dinner. We didn't order Ems her own dinner, figuring she could eat off our big portions. When my mom tried to give her some rice, Emersyn said, "It's okay....my cheese-bare-ger (cheeseburger) is coming!". I think she grew a little too accustomed to cheeseburgers while my mom was visiting!!


*This week I am feeling a little fried. It's an adjustment getting used to a new schedule with Brett's work weeks. I am realizing the importance of being prepared for the week by the time the week starts on Monday morning. This week I was not prepared, thus we have eaten out every night and my fridge is BARE. I need to be better about scheduling time at home. What can I say though, I'm a social girl. :)

Emersyn and her cousins....

Genevieve, Annabel and Penelope...Uncle Brandon & Aunt Marcy's new puppy!

*A couple nights ago Brett was driving too fast around a corner and Emersyn exclaims, "Oh! Daddy tipping Mommy over!"


*My mother-in-law told me that the other day Emersyn told her "Gigi in Heaven with Jesus on an airplane....Mommy crying...Mommy miss her". How precious is that?


*The other day I was extremely irritated mildly upset with my husband regarding a particular issue (don't get me started....) and expressed my concerns to him on the phone. After I hung up Emersyn goes, "ohhh....Daddy naughty!". Hahahaha.

Emersyn and Estella enjoying the leaves!

*I am making THIS yummy pumpkin bar recipe this weekend for a get together. It's not so much a bar though, it's more of a pumpkin cake but it's YUMMY!


*After years and years (literally) of offering, I am finally going to take my neighbor up on her offer to let me clean and organize my house. I am stoked. Sherrie is an amazingly clean and organized person. I know a lot of people give her a hard time about it but it's only because we are all J E A L O U S!! I think that we all have our talents in life and organizing is NOT one of mine. I'm hoping we can make some progress before the holidays but I'm not holding my breath. Life is busy for both of us. :) You know I'll be taking before and after pic and blogging through the progress!!

Emersyn and baby Sophia

*I am really wanting some grey nail polish. It's all about grey it seems this fall. Is it gray or grey??


*This might be my favorite quote EVER……A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

I love my girl.

Thursday Tidbits

*Yesterday was our last morning of gymnastics! It was a fun class but I don't think we'll re-enroll until Ems is a little older. She was the youngest of the bunch (along with her buddy Emery) and some of the moves they wanted the kids to do were a little advanced for their age. They had fun running around though and it was fun to see the sheer joy on Emersyn's face as she ran around. I took this picture (above) on my phone right before we left; doesn't she look like a little gymnast in her warm up suit? My mom got it for her at Gymboree, LOVE IT!!

*Tuesday morning I was having a bit of a rough time; I can't remember why exactly. All I know is that when I went to Bible Study and got to hold my precious little Sophia Rose, all was right in the world. :) It surprises me how much I LOVE my friends' kids. I mean, duh, of course I like them and am happy they are friends with Emersyn. But I truly LOVE them, like a family member. I am so proud of Sophia's mommy too. You know those women who are just natural parents? She is one of them.....Sophia is so lucky to have her!

*This week has been a little crazy and Emersyn has gotten to spend some good times with my mom due to me working and having various other commitments. Normally I get really sad when I don't get to spend as much time with E but since I know she is with her MiMi I am okay with it. They are such little partners in crime together and it makes my heart SO happy to see and hear them play together.

*This morning I had a meeting for the ladies retreat that I am helping plan at my church in February. It was refreshing to spend time with older Godly ladies and come up with our theme. I am excited to be taking on a bigger role in women's ministries at my church and it's very timely seeing as I will have a little more time on my hands after the first of the year. I am really praying that God will use me in this ministry. I am a fairly confident girl but whenever I leave these kinds of settings (like my meeting this morning) with women who I don't know incredibly well, I get so nervous afterwards and thoughts flood my head like "I hope I didn't say anything stupid, offend anyone, etc.". I know that my confidence needs to come from God and through Him, I can be assured that I am doing the best that I can.

*Three weeks from tomorrow we are going to Sunriver with some friends for a couple nights. I cannot wait!!!! Sophia and Stella, two of Emersyn's besties, will be there with their parents and it's going to be so fun. Just thinking of the cute picture opportunities is enough to make me squeal with excitement. :)

*I am thinking that I am going to overhaul my blog after the holidays. I think I need a new title, especially if we are thinking of adding to our family in the not too distant future. ;) I'm excited, it will be a new chapter in my life as a SAHM and deserves to be commemorated with a new blog title, etc. :)

*This Saturday night we are having a family night, just Brett, Ems and I. I am missing a dear friends birthday party but because of the crazy emotional weeks that I have had, I need a night OFF. Not that having my mom here is stressful or anything, but I definitely need a night to re-coop from the chaos of the last few weeks. I just hope Vanessa can forgive me. :(

Happy Thursday everyone!!

Thursday Tid Bits

*What's a post without pictures, right? Through out my tid bits, I have uploaded pics from Emersyn's play date with Estella on Sunday afternoon. :)

*This morning Emersyn had her two year old check up! She weighs 26.1 pounds (48th %), 36 inches tall (94th %) and her noggin' is 15 inches around (98th %). I love my tall, slim little bobble headed child!! The dr. was impressed with her vocabulary and ability to form sentences and use them correctly, like "bless you mommy" "I eat dinner first" or my least favorite "no mommy work!". The dr. advised that I keep Emersyn on whole milk for awhile longer, even though we techincally could have transitioned her by now. My mommmy instinct said to keep her on whole milk and it was right. :) My poor baby had to get FOUR shots (one was a make up shot from last time) and I am praying that she isn't under the weather as a result. She was not pleased with four pokes but quickly got over it with the help of three stickers. :)

*One of Emersyn's new bestie's was born this afternoon!!!! (Obviously I am assuming they will be besties but odds are good) Welcome Sophia Rose, we can't wait to meet you!!!

*We are going to the zoo tomorrow morning for a picnic with Estella and her parents and I am so excited!! There is a new monkey exhibit that I have been wanting to check out. After the zoo, we are going to take a meal to my friend/hair dresser who just had a baby last week. I can't wait to hold baby Tyler. Then tomorrow afternoon, we have a birthday party for our neighbor's three year old. Fun fun family Friday planned!!

* I got an exciting phone call from my mama this afternoon....I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say more yet but I'll keep you posted. ;)

* I got some champagne grapes at Costco today. Have you ever had them? They are tiny sweet grapes that are DELISH. I am using them in a fruit salad for my friend's meal and plan on enjoying some myself. I imagine Emersyn will dig them too. :)

*Emersyn is going to start having weekly playdates with one of her little buddies, Rowen and his baby sister Charlotte. I am so so excited for her to hang out at their house while mama works! :)

*Brett and I have determined what Emersyn is going to dress up as at her buddy's harvest themed birthday party and it is so stinkin' cute (but also a surprise). :)

*I'm thinking that tomorrow is going to be the date that we have our first pumpkin spice latte of the season. Brett and I always have the first one together; it's tradition.

Thursday Tidbits

I went to check on Emersyn last night and out of no where she says, "apple" in her sleep. Too sweet. :)

It's been awhile since I posted some Thursday tidbits so I thought I would give it a go today....

*I'm super excited to go see Michael Buble in a couple weeks!!! He is just so stinkin' good looking talented!! Ha! :) Emersyn is going to have a sleepover at her Nana and Papa's; her third one!!

*I feel like my baby cravings have been quenched (for the time being) now that my BFF is pregnant. I am going to live vicariously through her for now!! Tomorrow I am going to visit a new baby though that was born yesterday. Hopefully that won't reignite any of those longings. :)

*Emersyn is ever changing and growing up right before my very eyes. Something that she has started to do which is just LOVELY is shrieking at other kids. She is so funny. I think she get's jealous or threatened. For example, at Trader Joes they have tiny shopping carts for the kids. See below:

Sorry the picture is so blurry but Emersyn is a speedy little shopper. Anyways, while in Trader Joes, we would encounter other kids pushing their own little mini shopping carts. Emersyn would leave her cart and go over to them and there cart and kind of shriek at them, almost like accusingly! I told her, "Emersyn, they have their own cart....come back and get your cart" but it was like this funny territorial thing. She was like that at the zoo today, if she was looking at an animal and another kid would come up next to her and look she would shriek like she was jealous they were there too, not because they were necessarily in her space. She has also kind of started pushing other kids. Not very often but the other night her and Estella, her little BFF, were playing on a slide together and Ems would get frustrated if Stella would just sit on the top of the slide and not go down and kind of push her. I think she is just learning how to communicate too but I hate the shrieking thing. She will also shriek at adults that say hi to her if she is in a bad mood or too tired. Oh man. The terrible two's have arrived early it seems. :)


I can't complain too much though. She is generally a very sweet and loving child. I think she is just developing a strong willed personality with really shouldn't surprise me too much seeing who her daddy parents are! :) Anyone else have experience with this type of territorial thing in their toddler?



*I have started going to the gym when I can after work. Not only do I get a chance to work out....I get a chance to READ!!! I have actually been enjoying my magazine subscriptions lately! I need to order the new Jodi Picoult book at the library now that I will have a chance to read it!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Thursday Tid-Bits

Oh man, I have been a bad blogger lately!! It was so much fun blogging daily back in November as a part of the NaBloPoMo challenge...perhaps I need to challenge myself in this area! :)

Here are some random thoughts swirling around in my head this Thursday afternoon.....

*I have some thoughts I want to share regarding the conclusion of my "Anonymous" book study this Winter. What an incredibly powerful book that really spoke to me and has challenged me. These thoughts kind of coincide with New Year's type resolutions so I am hoping to have these thoughts typed out this evening to participate in Kelly's Korner's New Year Resolution Blog Carnival, why not? :) I love me a good Blog Carnival.

*Our church has a ministry for expecting mother's called "Expecting the Best". I personally was blessed by this ministry during my pregnancy through the encouraging note cards, prayers, emails and meals when Emersyn was born! The director is stepping down and has asked if I would oversee this ministry. I am just thrilled!!!!!! I believe that pregnancy is such an amazing time in a woman's life and such an opportunity to be prayed for and draw closer to the Lord. Thanks Erika for thinking of me!

*Emersyn got her "big" present from her Nana and Papa this week. It is a darling wooden rocking chair that has her name on it! It is truly a keepsake. I asked her Nana to write on the bottom of the chair so that Emersyn will have it forever.

*We are going to FINALLY take down our Christmas decorations on Friday. I just haven't had the energy to do it after work this week. I am excited to get it all put away and then get Emersyn's play kitchen put together. That was our present to her. I will be sure to take pics of her initial reaction to the kitchen. I think she will be sooooo surprised!

*Speaking of surprised, look how cute she was when we gave her this chair on New Year's Day from her Grammy and Grandpa and us.....

I *heart* personalized items!!

"Did you say this chair is for ME??"

"I LOVE IT!!!!"

"It's just the right size for cuddling Twin!"

*I forgot I didn't ever blog about our New Year's Day! I made quiche for the very first time and it turned out wonderfully! We had Brett's family over and every one was there. Brett's brother and sister-in-law had driven up from CO and surprised everyone. I am sure it made Brett's parents so happy to have all their kids and grandkids in one room. Everyone had a great day, there were Scrabble games played, football watched, and I even managed to sneak away for some smokin' deals at Gymboree! I wasn't able to buy Emersyn's dress for next Christmas in advance like we did last year but I did score some other cute clothes for her to wear this Spring. I made friends with a cashier there that always sneaks me a 20% off your entire purchase coupon, whoo hoo! It pays to be friendly! :)

The Jensens- New Year's Day

All right....I think that's enough tid bits for now. Plus, I have another blog to keep up with now too! :)

Happy Thursday everyone!

Thursday Tid-Bits

*We are now officially Oregon Zoo members!! We got a promo in the mail for a great membership deal, $59 for 14 months. We figure that we should make it a goal to go to the zoo once a month. It is fun to have a place to walk around, plus, as Emersyn gets older she will appreciate the animals. We are very excited. We haven't taken Emersyn yet so that is another first milestone that will be fun to capture!!
*Emersyn loves dancing these days. She hears ANY music and starts grooving. Her favorite is the "Veggie Tales" theme song. When it comes on she starts waving and Bob and Larry and then shaking her booty and laughing. She is so cute.
*Emersyn has started throwing mini tantrums and darn it if I can't help but laugh. Last night she was trying to play with the nightlight in her room that is plugged in. I told her no and she did her devastated crying face and then crawled over to cuddle. Then she went right back to the nightlight and this time when I said no, she looked right at me and didn't care. So I went over and took her hand away gently, said "this isn't for babies" and she did her Shrek face (where she shows me all her teeth) and whined and then went right back to the nightlight. This time I gently flicked her palm and said no again and she started bawling again. So dramatic. She throws fits at resteraunts now too, lovely. If we aren't feeding her fast enough, she will scream in between bites. Like high pitched makes my ears bleed screaming. SO naughty. This baby to toddler transition is very.....interesting.
*We went to the NIKE employee store the other night and got Ems her first pair of official walking shoes! She has tiny feet for her age, 3.5. That is funny to me considering how tall she has been so far, I wonder if her growth has slowed down. We have her one year appointment the week we get back from our trip. We got her one pair of size 4's that will help her learn how to walk and then a pair of size 5's that are the "Shox" kind. Love it!!!!

Okay, I think that those are all the tidbits that I have for ya! Happy Thursday!!