GO CARDS!!

The Arizona Cardinals are our favorite team. We went to see them play the first weekend in December. As you can see from the pictures the tailgate party is half the fun. Wow - there are some crazy people out there. We try to get over there for at least one game per year. If we are lucky, we hit a couple.

Cindy usually sets us up to go the the Suns basketball game the night before and sets us up in "suite" seats! We love going over to Phoenix for games!!

Pine View Panthers 8th Grade Football

Ozzy's motto this year was "Quality H2O". He had surgery on his knee two weeks after football season started. He was on crutches for a few weeks and restricted activity almost all of football season. He stuck in there though and went to every practice and game. He was the "Waterboy" for the whole season, except for the last two games. He talked his doc into releasing him to play just before the last game. He did get a few plays in. His team played for the championship so he was lucky enough to get one more game, in which he even got to play a little more. Ozzy is #24.

Family Pictures

Family Pictures taken in November 2009

Albuquereque New Mexico

I went had the opportunity to visit my mom while she is serving a mission in Albuquerque, NM. I flew over and spent 4 days there. While there we were able to visit Old Down Town where the first settlers and mission was, Chaco Canyon (Indian ruins) and also the LDS temple. We spent some time shopping and also went to mom's ceramics class and made a few Christmas ornaments. I had a great time!

The Proposal

November 10, 2009, Tyler and MacKenzie flew to Provo to take Tyler to the MTC. While there, Mackenzie Morrison (nephew) made a surprise visit to his sweetheart, Julie Hansen, to ask her to marry him. Julie is a student at BYU and this has been a TOUGH semester for them being so far apart. Can you just imagine, in the old days, when they didn't have cell phones to be in constant contact!!
(Now who could turn down a face like that!)
Best wishes you two!!

I LOVE MISSIONARIES!!

November has been an exciting month for our family. Tyler Morrison (nephew) entered the MTC on November 11, 2009 to serve in the Riverside, California mission. We will miss him so much but we are lucky enough to enjoy his humor in the letters he writes home. We are so proud of you Ty.



Picture(left to right): Derek Hughes, Andy Bolos, Josh Jensen, Adam Bangerter

Andy Bolos (we'll claim him as one of our sons) has been called to the Washington DC South Mission. He spoke in church on Sunday, Nov. 15. These are a few pictures after church. Andy entered the MTC on December 2, 2009 and will report to Washington DC on December 23, 2009

DeAnne's Poem

Occasionally I find the urge to write a poem. This time it was DeAnne's turn to be in the spotlight. I first met DeAnne Wilkins way back in the early 1990's. We worked together at Melaleuca and then for many years at WalMart. We were quick friends and have stayed friends through out the years, the ups and the downs. So here it is -

DeAnne’s Poem
August 2009

She’s been around the world and back again,
Stopping at home just to check in.
A round of golf, a Broadway play,
She makes the most of everyday.

Switzerland, England, Italy and France
She loves to visit, when she gets a chance.
But the Alaska Fishing trip and hunting a boar
Trying to wait until next year, WOW, what a chore!

Empty nest for DeAnne? Absolutely NO WAY!
She’s got her animals and they’re here to stay.
There’s Maggie and Murphy and the Kitty Cats too.
They all keep her busy – they’re part of the crew!

Her animals and family, they’re one in the same
And for all the hair loss they cause, there’s always Rogaine.
So keep them around, they’re always great fun
Even if they do keep you on the run.

DeAnne loves to golf, takes great pride in her game.
She’ll soon be inducted into the Hall Of Fame!
Do they even have that in golf? I wasn’t quite sure
But Tiger, watch out, on the PGA Tour.

Why just the other day she was walking the course
Even though it was hot, she had no remorse.
She walked up to the ball and gave it a whack
And what do you know – IT CAME RIGHT BACK!!
So how many dimples does a golf ball have?
I’m not sure, let’s ask DeAnne.

From the mark it left in the middle of her core
She counted at least 52 or more.
52 divits on one little ball,
Who’d have guessed, she can STILL count them all.
The ball left its marks, yes all 52.
Her souvenir: A round, slightly purple, spotted TATOO!

Now, What about Bob, Did I hear someone say?
She made a great catch when she snagged him that day.
Yes, we all know to keep up with DeAnne
She had to get herself one heck of a man.
Now twenty years later in true wedded bliss
She’s had some mighty good times and none she would miss.

Now when she left Wally World and said “Goodbye”
I can’t help but think there was a tear in her eye.
Now she’s an advocate for children, stands up for them in court.
This includes a lot of behind the scene visits, and work of that sort.
Representing the little ones that are sometimes forgotten.
Helping them out of situations that are often quite rotten.
Standing up for those that have no choice
Doing what she can to give them a voice.

We’ve all grown to love you and all that you are.
You always encourage us to raise the bar.
Stand up strait, Do what’s right
And never, never give up the fight.

Well here we are and it’s your day
And what we all just want to say
Have a Better than average, Bright and WONDERFUL Day!!

We love you DeAnne
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

GOOD NEWS ALL AROUND!!!

We had a great week with lots of EXCITING announcements starting with and in no particular order:
#1 - Addyson (Justin & Jessi's little girl) is going to be a BIG SISTER!! Corgrats Justin & Jessi. We are so excited to have another addition to the family!! Due April 2010??

#2 - Jack & Cindy (Mel's sister & brother-in-law) are expecting not ony 1 baby, but 2!! TWINS!! Congrats again and LOTS of luck! Due April 2010?? #3 - Tyler John Morrison (Bonnie's Nephew) received his mission call to the Riverside, CA, English speaking mission, leaving November 11, 2009. He will be an awesome missionary! Best wishes Ty!

To all of the above good luck, best wishes and we love you!!!

Austin Has His Knee Scoped

Ozzy had his knee scoped last Friday, Sept. 4th. Believe it or not, this is actually BEFORE the pain killers:).

Doc had to cut out some torn cartilage and drill some small holes under the kneecaps to help it stay in place.

Oz is well into his football season and HOPES to be able to play by the end of the season. It is a week post surgery and he is off crutches and doing therapy on a stationary bike.

Mel For Washington City Council

Yes, this is for real. Mel finally threw his hat in the ring. He has been having so much fun and learning A LOT on his campaign trail. He has many "Meet the Candidates" meetings and was on talk radio this morning introducing himself and his points of view. He is running for Washington City Council. There are two spots open and ten people running! This has actually been a great refresher course for high school government class.

Good Luck Mel! May the votes be with you!!

Josh

Josh was ordained to the office of an Elder today. We had a short meeting conducted by President Bangerter. Mel conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Josh and then Josh was able to bare his testimony.
Yes... he still has a little facial hair but I'm sure that will change with a little more time.
Congrats Josh.... we love you!!
Mel Jensen, Josh Jensen & President Bangerter

Mel, Josh, Austin, President Bangerter, Adam Bangerter, Derick Hughes, Mitch Peterson & Sadie Sandburg.

WE LOVE THE BEACH

We spent the weekend in Oceanside California with our friends the Brinkerhoff's. What a great trip. We left Thursday afternoon and spent the night in Primm Nevada. Did a little shopping at the outlet mall there, had a "German" themed buffet (whatever that means) and spent the night at Buffalo Bill's. General consensus - we can take that off the "to-do" list.
Next day we headed out at 6:00AM to the BEACH. When we got to Oceanside we went to our favorite little hole-in-the-wall fish & chips joint and had some lunch then it was off to the beach. We spent a couple of hours there in which I promptly sunburned my shoulders. That evening we went to a car show/cruise in over at Escondido. We walked up and down the streets looking at lots of cool cars and a few strange people including one with a boa constrictor wrapped around his neck.
Saturday, 4:30AM the fishermen (Mel, Josh, Nate & Colby) headed out to the long awaited fishing trip. They went out of Point Loma and headed south down into the Baja Mexico area. They had a great time fishing. Mel broke his pole about an hour into the excursion but between the four of them they caught 28 Sea Bass and one shark. Colby caught the 4 foot long shark. Though they couldn't bring a shark onto the boat they reeled it in and got a good look at it before they cut it loose.
When the guys got done fishing they stopped and got a picnic lunch and brought down to the rest of us that were already on the beach. Janet and I took the rest of the kids and were at the beach since 9:30 that morning. We stayed the rest of the day at the beach playing in the sand, catching sand crabs and boogie boarding. We played hard all day.
For dinner, we had ice cream and then went to a great little pizza place in Carlsbad. The Brinkerhoff's were having so much fun they decided to stay another day on vacation but we headed home on Sunday. The way we vacation it takes me a week to catch up on sleep and laundry but we had a blast. We are already planning next year's outing!!

Mel at Strand Peir in Oceanside
Strand Peir

Sadie playing in the sand

Josh, Nate & Colby on the fishing trip

Getting the live bait before heading out to fish

World's Greatest Fish Fry (Well Almost)

After a great fishing trip, what else can you ask for but a great fish fry! We had our friends over to share in the feast. There were enough fish & chips to go around many, many times. The guys cooked for and hour. Mel battered and cooked the fish while Doug and Nate kept the fries cooking in the fryers. We ate so much sea bass and it was soooo good that I just had to take a few pictures. Here is one of the kids getting a head start on the food. Here's just a sample of what we had for dinner. YUM!!

Pine Valley

We went to Pine Valley with my homies from work. We stayed at the DSC cabin (it's huge) and we had a blast. It was much cooler up there - around 80 - 85 degrees instead of the 114 we left in St. George. It was so nice and comfortable, we really didn't want to come home. We went fishing at the PV Reservoir (below). Went on a tour of the PV Chapel.

Found 5 pioneer cemeteries -waayyy back in the mountains.

Took a few cool pictures

Took the kids and some of the not-so-little kids snipe hunting.

Took another tour of the chapel - it was sooo cool!

Took pictures of lots of deer. They don't seem to be afraid of people!

Ozzy

Hope you can see this, it's kinda small. I thought it was kinda cool. Ozzy did this on his facebook page...