She's like 100

Ok.. ok, she's not really 100, she's ONLY 76!! But I tell her all the time "your like 100", so I knew she'd appreciate it! I'm talking about my mom! My mom turned 76 on Tuesday, so this entry is a tribute to her! She's fu-nny!

I've been trying to think of the words to describe my mom... smart, and smart-A**, airheaded, competetive, bossy, patient, funny, athletic (i know, and she's like 100), opinionated, a survivor, loving, listener, a good friend... I mean like a really, really good friend, an amazing grandma, curious, worried, and spoiled.

Some of my favorite things about my mom are the following:

1) She text's (I know, and she's like 100). My mom texts her kids and grandkids all the time! It's the best. I love watching her text and reading (or maybe I should say interpreting) her texts too! For example:

- "hi"

- "I didn't get the C"

She's my favorite texter ever! People that are under the age of 76 and say they can't text should be ashamed!!

2) She's a crazy fiend of a game player... super competitive and ALWAYS wins.. ok, so sometimes in a friendly little game of "Hand and Foot"she "accidentally" forgets to play her foot, but remember, shes' like 100! She also plays domino's, phase 10, and I don't know what else - like 50 other card games.. I think she was quite possibly a dealer in Vegas in another life!

3) She was the most amazing mom, when I had Alex, I can remember thinking "I have no idea what I'm doing" and even when I did stuff wrong, she was so nice to me! She never once told me what to do or made me feel like I didn't know what I was doing, I think she was just so glad to have another little grandbaby all she could think about was being a good grandma!

Alex has tons of great memories too like.. Big Bear, Banana pie with foam, golfing and mini pancakes!

Happy "100" birthday Mom! I love you!

Eat your heart out girls!!!

Check him out - This is one of many stunning photos' taken of Alex by my good friend Sue Richardson.. If you ever run across an amazing photograph on my blog, and think "wow - that's a great photo", its a Sue photo.. you should also check out her website at http://www.suerichardsonphotography.com/
What can I say... apparently I make good looking children... ok child, but whatever!

The mis-adventures of ME!

How many guys does it take to push my car out of the parking lot? FOUR.... 3 big burly guys, and one old skinny guy! However many, I'm grateful for the help!

Tonight, I left work late, as usual and when I got to my car, I knew I was in trouble... 1) because there was only one other car in the parking lot, 2) my tires are bald and there was massive snow in front, in back and on top of my car.

I tried for about 20 minutes to budge me, but no luck... keep in mind, I'm dressed in work clothes, and I don't mean work boots, coveralls and flannel, I mean MY work clothes, ya know - black pants, high boots and a flimsy sweater... After no luck - a guy came to help me! He and I tried for another 10 miutes until he was overcome with fumes, and I sent him on his way!

Finally, while waiting for my knight in shining armor to leave the gym and come rescue me, this old skinny guy came to help me! He was so nice, and he had a blanket, which he used to look underneath the car, but there was really nothing he could do either... Finally - the 3 burly's drove up in a big ole "getcha unstuck truck". They all got out of the truck, geared in full coveralls and beanie's, and pushed my car until I was free as a bird! Thanks heavens for Burly's!!

This is not exactly what they looked like... but kinda!

Scuse me, Mr. President..

I don't mean this entry with any dis-respect, but I have a few questions about tonights State of the Union address...

1- Rather than 1 hour and 30 minutes, why not reduce it to 30 minutes and ask people to not stand and clap every 10-12 words?
2- Why is Nancy Pelosi reading what looks to me like a copy of "Tuesdays' with Morrie" right behind the President?
3- Why do they always zoom in the camera and freeze on the chubby old guy who accidentally fell asleep? Is it a subliminal message for the rest of us?
4- Why doesn't everyone stand and clap? What happens to the "non-standers and non-clappers"? Do they get in trouble later for lack of enthusiasm? Or, perhaps they don't speak english? Or maybe they are seat fillers, like at the Oscars?
5- How do you know when to stand and clap and when to sit quietly? There seemed to be some confusion amongst the crowd on this particular item. For example, sometimes Condoleeza stood and sometimes not, but she should probably always be a stander / clapper, in my opinion.
6- and finally... why would they zoom in on a Latin guy who is laughing when no one else in the audience is laughing? And when what was said, wasn't funny! That seems inappropriate to me too... but not sure who is "out of line"... they latin guy, or the cameraman / producer for that particular shot.

I guess that's it for now! I tried to watch it for awhile, but then Kenyon came home, asked why President Bush was on T.V., and promptly turned it over to the Jazz game! Hopefully, whatever was said, was for the best.

I love you much!

We heard the news tonight of President Hinckley's passing. Happy for him, sad for us! Even though we knew it must happen, it certainly doesn't make the day any easier! Today feels emptier! Today I was even looking through Alex's mission papers, and I thought how cool it was that he has an original signature on his mission call!

Think of the welcome he will receive from Heavenly Father and from his dear wife who has waited patiently for him.

I'm grateful for the many opportunities that I have had to hear him speak, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be in his presence at General Conference and the Day of Celebration! He was called to be the Prophet when Alex was just 7 years old - so for Al, he's really the only prophet he can remember.

One of my favorite memories of him, was the footage of him waving has cane, rather than using it to walk! I can't believe that he was 97 years old and still as sharp and wise as can be! Just goes to show what the Word of Wisdom can do! What is your "Favorite President Hinckley'ism"?

He makes me want to "BE" better! I love you President Hinckley!

Oh Happy Day!

On Saturday, January 19th, Alex went to the Bountiful, Utah Temple for the first time. It was a great day, and we had a lot of support from friends and family!

Alex is 30 days away, and just one step closer to his mission! It was such a blessing to see so many people that have supported Alex and helped him get to this point, in the temple with us. Grandparents, Scott and RaNae, Mike and Megan, Bishop, Lela. We dearly missed our "Tanner Family" who is spread all over the globe!

We had a great experience in the temple - we met some very dear friends of Alex's Mission President - President Bulloch! They were in the same session with their daughter, who is soon to be married. They were able to tell us about President Bulloch's personality, style and how well Alex will be cared for! It sounds like it'll be a match made in heaven. Sister Davies, the woman we met said that she would write to President and Sister Bulloch right away and tell them that "Elder Petersen is on his way!"

A special thanks to Alex's two Grandmas! We weren't expecting to see Grandma Petersen as she had a heart attack on Monday, January 14th. But she was there and we were so happy that she could share in this special day. Also, Grandma Dixie drove up from St. George for just one day, to be in the temple with Alex.

We had a great day! Thanks to all of you who were able to be there with us! We love you!

Flippin' Funny!

Why, oh why do I love this movie so much! I watched it 2-3 years ago and remember it being pretty funny - but no where near as funny as it was last night when Kenyon and I watched it with Elder Al P., Mitch, Ben and Mac.

There are so many funny parts to this movie and now that Elder Al P. is super close to being one of these guys - it's just that much funnier...

Will Al P. follow in the footsteps of...

Elder Rogers - The senior companion, who ran out of testimony after his girlfriend ran off with his former companion, but then finds it at the end of the movie (his testimony... not his girlfriend)

Elder Van Pelt - the obnoxious guy with all the hot girls writing to him, but can't really look away from the "flippin"mirror? And has an issue with the way his companion says "book of mormons" rather than "books of mormon"

Elder Johnson - the District Leader and stalwart elder and his never ending antics with the audio cassette player.... Oh that Elder...

or...

Elder Calhoun - The nerdy yet loveable greenie..

Can't wait to get all of your opinions about our very own Elder Al P. and who you think he'll most resemble in the mission field...

Dude, we miss you already!

Alex's BFF Chris entered the MTC 8 hours and 46 minutes ago! He is headed for the Oakland California Mission, spanish speaking! Chris and his family have been so good to Al and he's feelin' a little lost today!

We love Chris, and are so proud of him, but today is emptier!

I am Cool!

Never.. ever am I the coolest person in my family.... until today!!

So - Alex has had an i-pod since, oh I don't know.. he was like 7 and he's on #2, because first he had the regular old i-pod - you know the ancient white one... and now he has a video i-pod.. pretty cool!

I bought Kenyon a mini i-pod a few years ago and then last year, replaced it with a video i-pod too... but all this time - I've never had one! I think I'm about the only person on the planet that doesn't have one! I even had the following conversations with my friend one day...

Kris... "Do you have an i-pod"

Jenny.... "yea"

Kris...... "Gosh, your daughters and I are probably the only 3 on the planet that don't have i-pods!"

Jenny... "They both have one"

Kris.... "Oh"

Now keep in mind that her daughters are 5 and 8... Wow - even a 5 year old has one.. I'm super lame!

Well you can probably guess my news... In early December, we went to the Galileo Christmas Party.. It was amazing and although, I would have loved to win the trip to Africa, or one of the $1,000 gift cards, I won an i-pod shuffle! That was exciting because I finally had an i-pod, but I didn't know if I really wanted it to shuffle - that seems weird to me, so I decided I'd go trade it for a Nano!

When I went to the Apple store today, I looked at the Nano, and then found the I-Pod Touch! Yep - I bought it and officially launched myself into lead contender for the title of "Coolest Person In My Family"! Uh huh? Uh huh!