January 2011

Our family has decided that 2011 is going to be one of our greatest years ever and it has already taken off with a bang! We were fortunate enough to have Jeremy's parents come and be with us for nearly a whole week early in January. We greatly enjoyed having them here with us talking, going out to eat, and swimming at their hotel. The kids loved the pool and hot tub and entertained the adults with incredibly painful, but hilarious belly flops. They had enormous red marks to prove their fun!



Scentsy is doing a Spring Sprint training tour all over the US this month and next. My sister, Andi and I, were able to attend in Portland along with one of my fabulous Scentsy Director's, Christa Gefke. We had a great time and learned a lot!

Jeremy is feeling absolutely amazing and has more energy than ever since his surgery in December. He is quite the father and is always teaching our boys how to be men. Together they created this awesome hook board for the kids to hang their after school things on in the garage. It is pretty sweet!

Avery has finished ballet and has decided that she would like to try her hand in something new: gymnastics. She starts this week and is very excited about it. She is even going to be writing a report about her new activity for school.


The last week of January we were blessed to have my awesome brother, Michael Jensen, and his family come stay with us for my birthday. We had the best night watching Brian Regan live and laughed our heads off at his great comedy. Our kids got along perfectly and it was such a pleasure having them in our home. It ended much too quickly!





I have always enjoyed cooking, but my love for it is growing by the day! I am always looking for new things to create and enjoy with my family.


I turned 32 on the 29th of January and I must say that it was the best darn birthday ever! I was surrounded by my favorite people and loved soaking it all in. I think 32 is my favorite age so far. My darling friend, Erin Case, sent me this beautiful hand-crocheted hat...isn't it just cute?! One of my best friends from high school, Yvonne, has an incredibly talented husband, Malo. He hand designed and cut this GORGEOUS iron wall hanging for me. It now resides prominently in my bathroom above the jetted tub where I can stare at it for as long as my bubbles will float!

Lisa Evans Artwork

Were any of you just in love with the Nordstrom holiday art in 2007 and then again this year? I have just loved it and found the artist today! Her name is Lisa Evans and I LOVE her birds! Just thought I'd share...you can google her and find more of her art on etsy.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread
Makes 3 large loaves or 9 mini-loaves.

Blend:
6 TB butter
3 c sugar
3 eggs
One 29 oz can of canned pumpkin (3 cups)

Combine and add to wet mixture:
6 c sifted flour (best to keep this on the lesser amount than over)
1 TB cinnamon
1 TB nutmeg
1 tsp cloves
3 TB baking powder
2 tsp salt

Cheesecake Filling (Whip together and set aside):
Three 8 oz packages of cream cheese
¾ c sugar
3 TB flour
6 egg whites

Pour pumpkin bread mixture into sprayed mini-loaf pans, filling ½ way. Spoon cheesecake filling over pumpkin mixture in each mini-loaf pan. Cover with remaining pumpkin bread mixture. You can let it bake this way or swirl it a bit with a butter knife. The pic above shows it just left unswirled.

Bake 45 minutes in 350 oven. Let cool about 5 minutes and then wrap with plastic wrap. Let set over night before serving or giving away. This ensures an extra moist loaf the next day! Also good served fresh from the oven, but I quite like it chilled the next day. :)

My Granddad and Grandma York

These two people are some of my very favorite people I have ever known. My granddad passed away when I was only 8 and I have always felt him very near...always watching over me. My grandma will live to be a zillion! I am so proud to be granddaughter to such beautiful, good people. I miss you, Grandpa.

Avery's Letter to Santa

This little girl never ceases to amaze me with her sweet, kind little heart. This was her letter to Santa this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Avery with all the trimmings!

Zack with our good friend, Alexandra.

Elisabeth trying ranch dressing with her Momma, Lisa. We love the Sorensens!

Lisa decorated the table so beautifully!

Steven, our new friend, and Donaldo, our awesome neighbor, cutting up the turkey.

This year for Thanksgiving we were snowed in to town, so our great friends and neighbors, the Sorensens, invited us over for dinner. It was a fabulous evening full of old-time records playing, candlelight dinner, and just a fun, happy Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for good friends who treat us like family!

Make a Difference Day

On October 24th we had the opportunity to help build an entire park in Richland, WA. It was an amazing experience and the park went from a field to stunning in one day! Our whole family was able to participate thanks to Jeremy's company, who sponsored it. This was one of the pictures that was taken by the company that day and I just wanted to share it. I love seeing my family working side by side and enjoying every minute of it!