3 little girls

…that’s right! Watch out Michael. You are really outnumbered now!

so, how about a post….

The truth is that I can barely keep up with living my life right now, let alone writing about it. However, for some really sweet reason there are about 3 people out there who love to hear what I have to say. So here’s a little taste of what we’ve been up to. Since I am so far behind (and trying to organize this somehow), so this time I’ll catch up with Megan.

A little night owl, I often come up to find that Meg has piled her bed with toys.

I can’t believe how fast she is growing up. She is always making new discoveries and doing little grown up things. The other day when I asked her what she wanted for lunch she told me she wanted hotdogs and pepperoni with cheese on top. (First thought, Eww. Second, Okay, it’s her first recipe!) We made it and she ate it. It certainly wasn’t the healthiest lunch, but I couldn’t help but adore her the whole time.

In May she had her first dance recital. There really is no other word than darling. She was so excited to “dance on the big stage.” Every once in a while in the weeks before, she would say something like “Mom, do you think that when I am dancing up on the big stage everyone will say Look at that dancing girl, she is so darling!?” I couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t get nervous at all and loved all of the attention that Grandma Lu and Grandpa sent by way of a giant bouquet and Grandma Banana and Papa with balloons. I am sure it’s no stretch to say she is a natural diva.

Megan also finished preschool. It was so sad to say goodbye to Miss Shan who is retiring this year. I can’t believe I didn’t get a picture for this. We’ll have to get one, Miss Shan is nothing less than saintly around here.

About a week ago, Megan got her big bike. This was a huge event at our house. Mike spent weeks searching through catalogs and bike shops. They finally settled on this cute “pink bike with a bell!” She was beyond ecstatic when Mike brought it home. She has ridden it a few times without the training wheels, and is coming along great!

Last week, she started soccer again. She really gets in there and runs after the ball and almost made a goal today. She’s doing awesome. It is fun to see her take more of an-ahem-interest in actually playing while on the field. ;D

yes, i know i have a blog.

I just can’t seem to find time to post anything lately. We’ve been up to some fun stuff. I promise something up by tomorrow. Until then I am going to shamelessly link to Brodi’s hilarious blog in hopes of wining a great new book. Read it, she is so funny it makes me want to get on the whole author thing myself. (Yea, I am trying to find time for that too. If you are wondering what I am doing, so am I????? Where are these days going? They seem long, why am I not getting anything done? Why are there pots from Thursday’s dinner still in my sink? Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I am going to make dinner now. I am shamed.)

koryn

Memorial day is always a little different for me. I honor and respect our veterans for sure; but May 25th is also the day that Koryn passed away. This is always a bit of a tough one for me. Honestly I am never quite sure what the best way to handle it is. This time around, I thought I would honor my awesome little sis by sharing a few memories of her.

She was full of it as a little girl. Super cute, and super mischeivious. She used to tell me that she could get me in trouble for any naughty thing that she had done. We certainly had plenty of fights. But we were also best friends. (My Mom called us Mutt and Jeff. I am not exaclty sure what that means.) My Mom could also galvanize us together by sending us to our room or singing “Love at Home” which drove us both NUTS!

I wish I had a picture of her in her shamrock dress. My Mom made it for her birthday and it is one of my favorite memories. She loved it!

For one of her birthdays, (probably around 1st grade) she had a “pink party” (her FAVORITE color). My Mom put pink celophane on the windows and had a bunch of different pink candies and ballons all over and a pink K cake. It was so magical.

We played Barbies for hours. I love watching my girls play with their dolls and remembering having similar “Pretend your girl said…” conversations.

Getting our red nightgowns with sheer red robes (which we LOVED) and Jem and the Holograms dolls for Christmas.

Walking home from the bus stop singing at the top of our lungs. (I was in high school by then, don’t ask me why this wasn’t embarrassing.)

Sitting on the stairs while she cried about a bully at school that called her “plateau” and feeling so protective for my sweet little sis.

Riding around in Nibs and listening to Duncan Sheik, loving that I was the cool big sister.

Playing on the beach and running in the water, our legs stinging with salt and cold.

Singing–a ton! Hymns, silly songs, popular songs, harmonizing and liking the way our voices blended.

Driving to Oregon for a short visit and watching the sunrise in the hilly area at the Utah/Idaho boarder and feeling so hopeful about the future and so confident about how this cancer nightmare would end.

Laying with her in the calm night, rubbing her back after throwing up or a coughing jag and feeling so protective for my sweet little sis.

Picking up rocks in Moab and the Uintas to send to her with promises of camping trips in the future.

Going shopping and making cancer comments in front of a less than kind  sales assoc. who kept staring at her bald head.

The Hawaii Make-A-Wish trip–it was hard in a lot of ways, but I loved sitting on the beach with her and Pamela.

Hamming it up in hospitals. “Big burger, big burger, big!”

Being so proud of her and Sprague when she graduated and how happy it made her to walk with her class.

Sitting in Sacrament Meeting and having her lean over and say “You can rub my back if you want to.” Then flopping down onto my lap.

Getting darling letters and articles that she had clipped for me out of her Family Fun magazines. That’s right, my cute sis subsribed to Family Fun in High School. She was so excited to be a mom. She even kept a journal of ideas that she wanted to use “When She Had Kids…”

Saying “There IS no excuse for you!” When she would say “Excuse me.”

Yelling about doctors and drugs and people who where less than well-meaning–calling them “doo-doo heads” and “Big fat meanies” to let off steam and still be able to laugh.

The number one thing I miss the most is the sillyness. We were so silly and cheesy together and that is something that only she and I could share. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a pretty big ham, but most only see the very tippy-tip of the iceberg. We had ridiculous names for eachother and the silliest dumb things to eachother and I LOVE thinking about it still. When people ask me about my sister, I like to tell them that she was a lot like me, only more. She was happier, more giving, cheesier, more fun, she was just great. I love you Koryn, I know you are doing great things somewhere else. I can’t wait to see you again.

sweet and sour meatballs

Every once in a while I just get a craving for something like this. If you like to make fresh meatballs, go for it. I like to make this because it is seriously easy and quick so I use frozen.

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 1/2 Tbs cornstarch
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tbs soy sauce
• Frozen meatballs (However many it takes for your fam. For us, it is about 15 balls.)
• 1 can pineapple chunks, drained
• Rice
• Broccoli or peas (or whatever)

directions:

1. Prepare rice as directed.

2. Add first 5 ingredients to skillet and stir until combined. Then add meatballs  and pineapple and allow to bubble until rice is done.

3. Cook vegetables. I like something green to balance the sweetness of the meatballs, but do what works for you.

4. Serve meatballs over rice. Pretty simple, very easy. Some people feel that green pepper and onion are vital to a sweet and sour dish. I don’t, but if you do–add them! If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m an easy-going cook. You don’t have to do it just like I do. I rarely measure, so I guess I don’t even always do it like I say to. Oh boy, time for bed…

we have a little news…

Right now it is about the size of a lemon, but by November, we will have a a fifth Jensen in the house. Right now, I am still really sick. However I am way excited and looking forward to entering that much more pleasant 2nd trimester. Here’s how we announced it to family:

You’ve got to love Megan’s willingness to cooperate. We actually thought it was pretty funny–and a little typical.

…and one great mother-in-law

Happy Mother’s Day to my fantastic Mother-in-law, LuAnn. When I looked for pictures of Grandma Lu, I was surprised to find that we didn’t have a good shot of her alone. It actually makes a lot of sense. She is always in the middle of the action, making whatever it is we are doing a sucess. She is amazing and I am glad I have had this second mother to learn from too. We love you, Grandma Lu!

one great mom

Happy Mother’s Day to my favorite Mom! You are so much fun, we all light up when you come to play. I feel lucky to have you closer so that we can play a lot!  You are the best! We sure do love you, love you, Grandma Banana!

chicken salad sandwiches

This is Mary Winter’s recipe (as I remember it–so it’s not perfect.) When I was pregnant with Emily, I craved this so much that I finally called and begged for the recipe. If you know Mary, you know you want anything she makes. (She is so wonderful!) This will generously fill 5 or 6 large croissants or about 10 small ones. It is ideal for showers and parties, but Mike doesn’t complain about one for dinner either.

ingredients:

croissants or rolls (see above)

2 large chicken breasts

1 apple (you could substitute grapes)

3/4 cups grated cheese

~3 Tbs. mayonaise

~2 Tbs. miricle whip

~1/4 tsp. black pepper

scant 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

directions:

1. Boil chicken in salted water and allow to cool.

2. Chop apple into bite-sized pieces.

3. Chop or shred chicken, according to your taste. (I like to shred it, that’s what Mary does.)

4. Place the apples and chicken into a mixing bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix gently.

5. Slice rolls if necessary, and stuff with the mixture.

6. I serve this with salad and fruit.

Here is an easy pleaser for salad; you can use mandarin oranges if strawberries aren’t in season. Also, feta works if you don’t do bleu cheese. (But, I like the bleu.)

Strawberry Bleu Salad

ingredients:

3-4 cups mixed greens (I recommend Dole spring mix or 7 lettuces or a head of butter lettuce and some spinach.)

1 pint strawberries, washed and sliced

8 oz. bleu cheese

1/2 c. slivered almonds

1 bottle of poppy seed dressing

directions:

1. Roast almonds on a cookie sheet at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. (Keep an eye on them, they can burn quickly.) Let cool.

2. Toss all ingredients and serve. Doesn’t get easier than that.

wow tara!

My cute photographer friend, Tara took this pic for a class and I loved it so much I had to share. Check out some of the other cool ones she took and vote while you’re there. You rock, Tara!