Smart Boy

This is how I found Jensen playing while I was cleaning up my bedroom.

He knew they went somewhere!

Jensen's First Christmas

Jensen was a good traveler on our way up to Utah for the holidays. He feel asleep with his book open to Grandma Knudsen's page hoping that we would get there sooner.

Santa made a visit on Christmas Eve to the Knudsen household. As tradition goes he makes everyone sit on his lap and tell him what they want.

Later that night we watched a DVD made by my brother, T.J. This is another Knudsen tradition. It is a year in review of special events and vacations. He made a movie just of Jensen. He did an awesome job! It was fun to see how much Jensen has changed since he was born.

Jensen is way excited to open his presents in the morning. He looked so cute in this little outfit that read "Santa's Lil' Helper" on his bottom. It was cute until he woke his Mama up at four in the morning crying because his hat fell over his face.

On Christmas morning, Jensen was more interested in eating the wrapping paper than what was inside. He'll learn.

These are two of my cute nephews that are showing off the capes that I made for them. This was one of the projects that I have been working on.

We enjoyed being up in Utah for the holidays (besides the freezing cold weather and the flu bug I caught). We had a great time being with the family.

Not Your Normal Recipe Blog

I got put in charge of dessert for Quincy's family Christmas party. I kept thinking of what I wanted to make. I knew I wanted to try something new. Not sure what I was thinking. I have been craving, that is kind of an understatement, more like lusting for a piece of Lion House Cake. It is a yummy chocolate cake with whip cream in the middle of the three layers and thick chocolate frosting on top, almost too much frosting, and I love frosting. If you ever go to Salt Lake it is a must to stop by the Lion House and get a piece. Sometimes you can be lucky enough to find it at a Deseret Book with the Lion House Pantry. Vegas is not lucky enough to have one of those so I couldn't go purchase it. So I decided to bake it myself.

The baking part went fine, it was putting it together. . .

This is what it should look like.

Me trying to frost it. Stupid frosting is sticking to the cake. Wanted to give up.

Not too bad. It's leaning and uneven but somewhat presentable.

Four hours later. The cooking gods are not on my side, obviously.














After the one hour drive to Logandale.


Well I have learned my lesson. Just stick to what you know. I think from now on I will always bring my chocolate chip cookies when asked to bring a dessert.

Maybe I should of asked Santa for cake decorating classes.

I Looked Out the Window . . .

. . . and what did I see . . . SNOW!

Can you believe it? Snow in Vegas! Most people here would be happy to have a white Christmas. Not this girl. That white stuff is the reason I live 350 miles away from my family. It is really coming down. I don't even know where my coat is. Brrr!

Sew . . . A Needle Pulling Thread

A friend of mine has been wanting my help sewing an apron. (I have her fooled!) We had been trying to get together for awhile now. It's hard to find time, especially this time of the year when both of us could do it. Well it finally happened last Monday. We spent most of the day making a really cute apron without a pattern. It was fun being creative and sewing. I forget how much I enjoy sewing. That is when everything is going right of course. Sometimes I have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine. I love it when it is sitting in the cupboard, hate it when I am trying to sew.

While sewing she talked about all the things she wants to make. I was thinking more power to you girl. But after she left I was on fire with all of the projects that I want to make. It was contagious. It's like I have found a new hobby all over again. I have been to Joann's probably five times in the last two weeks. I spend hours on my new favorite website etsy to get ideas. Now I just keep on adding things that I want to make for people and there is only 13 days left until Christmas. Where did December go?. . . Heck where did November go?

I wish I could share what I am making because I am so excited but I can't because some of you are lucky enough to be getting one of my creations. You are probably saying "Please not me. I don't want to end up with a bowling shirt with one sleeve longer than the other." But I can tell you right now, no bowling shirts. But secretly I am sure my high school friends still want matching ones. We always talked about making those. Maybe one day.

This is one of my projects. My friend and I made these for our youngins. Jensen had a fashion show last night showing them off. He only played for a little while. Then he started to whine for his dad to save him. He really is trying to sit up more but still ends up side crashing or nose diving.

Been a Very Good Boy This Year

Since we live too far away to get Jensen's picture taken with Santa and his cousins, a Knudsen tradition, he was a big boy and went all by himself.

. . . I think I heard him whisper to Santa that he wants a basketball jersey, any toys that make noise, and a little scooter just his size. . . and a wii for his mommy. (So thoughtful!)

Don't you just love his monkey socks? If I thought those were going to show up I would have looked a little harder for the plain brown socks.

Tongue, Toes and Tickles

Jensen has found his tongue and toes. He has starting doing this thing with his tongue that makes a smacking sound. So cute! He also loves his toes. When I am changing his clothes he grabs them and tries sucking on them. He didn't get his love of feet from his daddy.

We also found Jensen's tickle spot.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

This little Charlie is ready for his first Thanksgiving. Oh how he loves those sweet potatoes!

We will be spending the big day with Quincy's family this year. It is interesting how we all have different food traditions on the big day. Of course you have the staples like turkey, potatoes, and stuffing. But sometimes its those unusual sides that make the meal. For Quincy's family it is pomegranate salad. To me it is rainbow jello (yes, I am from Utah) and yams. Quincy's family isn't big on yams so I signed up to bring those. Jensen and I might be the only ones eating them but I have to instill those traditions early.

I have so much to be greatful for this year. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Our Handsome Little Man

Just wanted to share Jensen's six month pictures with you. We spent a lot of time waiting to get these pictures done. But they were definitely worth it!
Isn't he such a handsome man?

Two years ago on this day. . .

. . . Quincy and I almost didn't get married. That's right. We showed up at the temple and didn't have the correct paperwork. We had been told that Quincy didn't need a living ordinance recommend, only me. We had quite the scare when they said that we might not be getting married that morning. They couldn't get a hold of his bishop. He was out of town due to the holiday weekend. Luckily Quincy's stake president was in town and came to the rescue. Everything went as scheduled and the rest is history.

This year we said that we weren't going to get each other presents. I obeyed but Quincy didn't. Which I am glad because he came home with red roses. Which I dropped all over the floor when I tried to snap a picture of them for the blog. Needless to say I had a big wet spot with a red tint to it on my carpet. Quincy says I keep things interesting.

To celebrate we had a night out on the town. Dinner at Cheesecake Factory and then we went to a movie without little Jensen (thanks Kanet's for watching him). We saw Fireproof, a great movie about marriage. It had a little featured film feeling about it but the message was wonderful.

Quincy said we have been married as long as a mission. Like the Mormon missionary movie - It's been - "The Best Two Years!" Happy Anniversary Q, Love Ya Babe!

Six Months Already!

Jensen and I went to the doctor today for his six month check-up. I can't believe that my baby is six months old. Time really does fly when you are having fun. I am so blessed that I get to be his Mama! We have so much fun together at home. I give him a million kisses a day which makes him giggle which makes me kiss him more.


Jensen's Favorite things at Six Months:

His thumb. (Is that genetic?)

When his Mama reads to him, his face lights up.

His silky blue blanket that he puts over his head when he takes a nap.

His jumperoo that his Aunt Jody gave him.

Any toy that makes noise, especially candy wrappers.

He loves to flirt with anyone that will comment on how big and blue his eyes are.

Playing with Daddy on his keyboard.

Jensen's First Halloween

List of Activities

Jensen and I went to the Pumpkin Patch with Marian, Ellie, and her mother Connie. I don't think that you can call it a pumpkin patch in Vegas. It was more like a pumpkin parking lot. I guess that's what we get living in a desert. We did have fun posing the babies for pictures and picking out squash to make baby food. (I have the best intentions anyway.)

Jensen is finally eating baby food. He hasn't liked his rice cereal very much but seems to like the squash. He still gets more on his bib than he gets in his belly.

On Halloween we went to a Mommy and Me class with my friend Amy and her 'lil pumpkin. The babies got to dress up in their costumes. Jensen loved to look at all of the other babies. He even found him a girlfriend that kept giving him hugs.

We attended our ward's trunk or treat. The kids loved Jensen's costume. We even saw Princess Leia and Darth Vadar there. Of course we ran out of candy so we packed up our trunk and headed home.

Yoda I am

Happy Halloween

from our little Yoda

U - N - L - V !!!

The Kanets invited

us to the UNLV game last weekend against Air Force. It was Jensen's first football game. He sat on his Dad's lap most of the game just smiling and enjoying the game. He was a perfect baby!

The game wasn't bad either except that UNLV lost at the end. Don't worry my family, I am still a true blue - BYU fan. You know just supporting the local team. BYU plays UNLV tomorrow. Hopefully it's a close one for those UNLV fans!

In Honor of High School Musical Three!

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Three Bad Dudes!

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Blonde Moment 1,987,345

. . . My brothers would argue that I have way more blonde moments than that! I am just glad I can blame it on something.

Today was a typical mom day, feed the baby and then headed to Henderson to run errands. I went to JoAnns first so the food from Costco wouldn't spoil in the trunk while I was shopping. I was enjoying looking around, you know pushing a cart, and finally decided what I was going to get. I waited in a huge line (not sure why they can't have more than one checker). Finally, I got up to the register and go to grab my wallet. . . NO WALLET! I had left it home. I had taken it out the previous night because I needed something from it. Oh, I was embaressed. I didn't even have eight dollars in cash to pay for my items. So I drove all the way back home grabbed my wallet and then drove back out to Henderson. Round trip from my house is about 20 miles to Costco, and did that twice - so that is about six dollars in gas.

The highlights of both trips was rocking out to my new cd George Michael's Greatest Hits (thanks Di) and of course Jensen smiling at his blonde, crazy mama.

Stay tuned. I am sure I will have more . . . it's just if I admit them or not.

Walker's Day Off

Quincy had a rare day off this Wednesday due to their office relocating. His work told them not to come in because they would just get in the way with the movers. Quincy said that he wanted to do something fun. That means a day of shopping for me but before I could get my shopping shoes on Quincy planned a trip to Red Rock Canyon in fear that we would end up shopping on his day off. Both of us had never been there before. We took our favorite salad from Cafe Rio and had a wonderful day. The weather was perfect.


This sign says 'Savers and Spenders'. We both chuckled because that defines us as a couple. Quincy is pointing to the Savers. I guess you know what I am.


Quincy and Jensen doing their best Britney Spears imitation.

Happy Valley Trip!

So it feels like FOR-EV-ER since I last blogged but I have been busy! Jensen and I had a wonderful vacation to Happy Valley where we got to spend time with family and friends. Here is a small recap of our trip to Utah.

Jensen got to ride on the airplane for the first time. He was very good, sleeping half of the way and playing with his toys the second part. I don't think he let out one cry.

Jensen got to spend an afternoon with his Great Grandma and Grandpa Ivie. They came down from Ogden just to see Jensen.

On one of our adventures we went to Gardner's Village in Murray. They were having their Witch Festival and it was so fun to pose next to all of the witches. This is all eight of the Knudsen cousins.
One night we went to Thriller. It was a bunch of dance performances based on different Halloween characters like Frankenstein, Jason, and even Chuckie. They had these dead people walking around before, during intermission and after the production. They would try to scare you. Luckily, I had Jensen on my lap most of the time so they stayed away from me. I see dead people!

One day I got to meet up with my friends from high school for lunch and for bowling. What else would we do? That is often what we would do for our G.N.O.'s back in high school. Maria even gave us bowling names like the good old times. It was so fun to see Maria and Erica as moms. They both have the cutest girls. By the way, I still got my bowling skills.
Quincy came up to Provo to fetch his wife and son. We did get to see the BYU game versus New Mexico. It was freezing cold in Utah. You can even see in the picture that it was snowing on and off. Needless to say, I didn't drag my feet too bad when it was time to go home to sunny Las Vegas!