Happy Days.

One morning we were walking to school and the kids were being quite rambunctious.  A nice looking lady with a smile on her face looked at them and said, "Oh Happy Days!" She saw what I sometimes fail to see when I get caught up in the commotion of getting kids to do what they are supposed to do.  I told myself,  "she is right, these are happy days!"  

We have been keeping busy around here.  

The days and weeks go by fast.  

I'm glad Spring is just around the corner.  

To wrap up the kids' birthdays, we had a little hot chocolate bar party.  Two of Jana's kids also have February birthdays, so we wanted to have a little celebration with all 4 kids.
  

We had a fun afternoon celebrating that these 4 kiddos are part of our lives.  

They are wonderful children and I'm glad they get to be friends. 

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My mom came to visit us one weekend and we headed to City Creek.  I absolutely LOVE spending time with my mom, we always have interesting conversations and she is a little busy bee when she's at my house.  She always helps with our laundry, washes dishes, helps with my kids and eases my load.  She is amazing and we love the time we get to spend with her. 

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Braden had been begging me to take them to the indoor pool for a while now.  So one afternoon after Brielle came home from school we headed to the pool.  It was the perfect activity on a long winter day.  Brooke LOVED it, although it was a bit stressful for me.  She wanted to do her own thing and be a big girl like her brother and sister.  We swam for a good two hours.  It was a fun active activity, it seems like it is so hard to be physically active during the winter.  I'm glad Braden MADE me take them!:) 

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The days seems to be warming up and this makes me so happy! 

We get to go out to play for at least an hour every day.

I've decided that watching the development of a child is quite amazing.  Brooke is learning so many new things every day, it is such an exciting time in her little life.  I'm glad that I get to watch everything and I don't have to miss anything!   

Winter is almost over! 

Woo hoo!!! 

Jumping for joy! 

Our little neighbor Hazel is a month younger than Brooke and it has been so fun to watch them become such big girls!:) I'm excited that we have a little girl for Brooke to play with. 

We planned a girls' lunch with my good neighbor friends.  My friend Michele recommended this amazing Vietnamese restaurant close by.  I have been craving Pho, that soup you see above.  My brother introduced our family to pho...and ever since we had it in DC I've been wanting to eat it again, and it didn't help that my friend Michele posted a picture of it on instagram.  

So, I mentioned it to my friends and they were in...somehow it worked out that all of their husbands were off that day and I got a babysitter and we were able to go without children! 

It was such a stress-free lunch! 

There is nothing like being able to eat in peace, with no interruptions!!! 

We were all thrilled that it worked out the way it did! 

...and the pho was out of this world!!! 

(Thanks for the recommendation Michele!!! I knew it was going to be good because you know Vietnamese food!) :)

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Scott's older brother CJ and his family came to town and we were glad that we were able to get together and visit with them. CJ came for a dental conference and his family was able to join him. 

We met up with them at Temple Square one day and went to the Church Office Building's observation deck.

I've been really wanting to go there and I'm glad it worked out for us to go.  

Scott finished early and was able to join us! 

The view is amazing and you can see the whole valley from up there.  

Brookie can be a ittle timid sometimes.  She was holding on to Scott's leg and wouldn't let go. 

The Capitol in the background.

It was fun to see everything from all the way up there. 

The cousins had a fun time together, playing and running around. 

Most of the Jensen grandchildren. 

Multiplying and replenishing for sure!

It was a really enjoyable afternoon and we were glad to see family! 

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Brielle is becoming quite proficient at the piano.  

She LOVES it and I don't even have to ask her to practice every day, she just does it on her own.  

She got her recital piece for their spring recital and she has been practicing very diligently.  

It is not quite mastered yet but she has until May to perfect it.