Grandma Jensen Funeral

I flew out with Jackie and Dallin from Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City for Grandma Jensens Funeral.  We debated whether we should take the whole family and drive or I just fly.  Jackie and Dallin wanted to come, and they knew Grandma Jensen well.  I was hesitant flying or driving with the little boys, they have had little couphs and with COVID and face masks I did not think it would be the best.  It would have been neat to have my whole family there, but I am glad that Jackie and Dallin got to come.  

All of my siblings came, which was neat.  Matt, Tony, Elly and I all stayed in Logan so we got to see and visit a bit which was so fun.  I love my siblings and even though it was for a sad reason,  I am really glad I got to see them all.

We had a mimi MEP at the park in Preston and 30 of my 35 cousins were there!

These are cousins closest to me in age and we came from Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, and Washington!  This alone shows how big a part of our lives Grandma was and how she touched each individual child and grandchild!!

I love the memories I have of my Grandparents.  They loved me and loved family and knew the gospel and shared it in their lives.  
 

Road Rash

I was running with Jeff at 5:40 in the morning while Jackie was up and out for seminary.  I have enjoyed running this spring/summer and was training for a marathon but then it got canceled.  I did a 5K, 10K, and half marathon just myself and it was fun but when my marathon was cancelled I kind of quit.  I was still running a bit but not long runs.  Jeff and I were running 3 miles and I tripped a fell hard on the gravel.  I cut up my hands, elbow and knees.  It was interesting, my knee that wasnt cut up bad hurt the worse.  I couldn't even bend it the first day.  It is experiences like that which help me to appreciate the good in life I have.  I am going to run as much as I can once I am healed up because I am grateful for a healthy body that can move.  Running has been very good for me through covid and family dynamics.

Dallin got worst road rash than me.  He had a very unfortunate event when a person tried to buy some shoes from him (on a Sunday afternoon while we were trying to have church in our living room).  The person gave him counterfeit $300 and tried to take off but Dallin jumped in the drivers side window and went a few blocks before getting thrown out!  Cops were called and hopefully they find the guy, but Dallin is out his shoes and sores.  We are so glad that he was not hurt worse!

 

Camping labor day weekend

We rented these off road machines that were so fun.  Jeff really liked it and took all the kids, except Brea because she was not interested, in a ride.  This is the first time we have done anything like this and I think it will not be the last.

Our campground was right on the river, which was fun to float and splash in.  The site was pretty big and on a hill so we didn't feel like we were on top of other campers.  Brea made this soft puffy blanket, with just her fingers.  She started and finished it while camping.

This is the first time our whole family stayed in the camper and we all really liked it.  It was so nice having water in the sink, a toilet that flushed, beds, lights, music, a fridge, and heat. Ya we are definitely spoiled.  Dallin slept in the tent with Zeus, but Zeus decided he needed out and broke a hole in it!  

Dad and Alyssa floating down in our inflatable kayak.

 

Ephraims 3rd Birthday

 

Ephraim was so excited for his birthday.  He wanted a dinosaur theme.  He has a full and vibrant personality.  He gets super excited and super mad and everything in between.  We all love our Ephraim and the fun boy he is.  He is very fond of the word "poop" right now and thinks it is hilarious everytime he says it which is daily.  He recently got potty trained and had it down in a couple of hours!  He is going to preschool two days a week and loves going to the park, rain or shine he wants to go to Park!

Ephraim helped make his dinosaur cake and listened to "baby shark" on alexa at the same time.  It is so cute to see him sing and act out baby shark!

Alyssa dressed Ephraim up like a King and treated him like royalty as well.  He sulked it all up!

Jackie is working at Wendys and brought Ephraim home a cookie on his birthday, he LOVED it!

It snowed a good 2" on Ephraims birthday, so here he is sporting his winter hat at the beginning of September.

Ephraim black eye Jan. 2020

Ephraim hit his eye hard on some tiling window at the house we were staying at for pobal.  We are not sure exactly how it happened but it swelled up and he could not open his eye for a couple days

As the days passed the blood worked its way down his eye. He had a good shiner for a couple weeks.

Cousins 2020 Pobal St. Anthony Idaho

Happy New Years in Idaho

Driving down. We were able to meet up with Tony & Nicole in Wyoming and stay the night at a motel.  It made it fun to swap kids the next day for the rest of the ride.  We stopped in Pinedale and used their community center pool, basketball, and rock climbing wall.

The great "Things" with all the family, it is tough with that many, but so fun!

Our cute 16 year old wanted some poses in the snow. It snowed and snowed while we were there.

Fun and Games and Grandma & Grandpa Pirtles house.  Aunt Norma came and played "Cover your assets" and won!

The sleepover of siblings on Grandmas floor (and couch)

Brent and Gaylene had us for christmas and they made a super fun and challenging scavenger hunt for us, with riddles and little disks that we could scan to find the next clue.  They took us all around Idaho Falls to a japanese garden, the library, an art musuem, and at last a yummy little cookie shop.  What a great gift and lasting memory!

Grandma & Grandpa passed out presents to everyone, it was so fun to be together to open them.  They gave the older kids a personal Book of Mormon with tabs that had questions they could turn to in the scriptures for answers, along with a personal handwritten note from both Grandma & Grandpa and $10 (wow - that was a really great gift).  They younger girls all got these matching heart fleece hoodies that are so soft, they loved being matchy.  My parents also gave us all a fun puzzle/quilt block that we had contest putting together, we have played it alone at home and it is a fun brain game.

Ephraim had a little accident on the stairs and got a shiner.  This picture makes me laugh, but it was really sad to see his eye.  It puffed up so much he couldn't even open it for a full day.  But he didn't mind at all, it did not stop him one bit.

Ahhh Baby Samuel was a big hit at the POBAL

Brea really got into the plays during the talent show - she was a hoot.  It was so fun to see what they came up with and how they all worked together to put on a great show

The Ice Palace was beautiful and we got to see Elsa and Olaf!  Sledding was fun, the whole experience was really magical.