Happenings

Well...I didn't get a part in the play. But like I said before, I wasn't expecting one. Well, I guess I can't say that I didn't get my hopes up just a little, but it's not like I was surprised. What I'm really glad about is that I tried it. I was so so so nervous beforehand and I made Chris go with me even though he just sat in the car, but I did it. I thought I did okay, but I know my voice did get a little shaky in the middle of the slower song. No matter what I do, that's always what happens when I get nervous. I'm proud of myself for giving it a shot and I'm still really excited to go see the show at the end of August! And maybe one day I'll give it a try again. Maybe go for a smaller deal show with a larger cast.

Not too much has been going on recently. Chris is still looking for a job and it sure is slow going. What a crappy time to be unemployed. My job is doing well though and we're grateful for it. Next week I get to go visit the missionaries I work with from Martin's Cove. I've been reading a lot lately about the Martin and Willie handcart groups and I've been touched many times by their hardships and their faith. I'm really excited to go there and visit those historic sites and the wonderful missionaries that are there.

I do have a few pictures to share. One is a really cute picture of Chris and me at baby Logan's 1-yr old birthday party. The others are from the Jazz playoff game we got to go to and see them beat the Nuggets! What an awesome game! Until this year I had never been to an NBA game so I'm glad we got to see a few this year. We bought our friend's tickets this time that were in the 11th row, right above the portal where the players come out. They were awesome! Thanks to the Kellers for such a great deal!

An AUDITION

THE DREAM:
So when I was a little girl I used to tell my parents ALL the time that I wanted to be an ACTRESS. My grandma would take me to musicals all the time and I always made her stay afterward just to watch all the cast members come out and go home. I admired them and wanted SO badly to be like them! I've always loved musicals and music in general and as a little girl I dreamed of being on the STAGE.

THE PROBLEM:
I get STAGE FRIGHT! Ok, so that's not the only reason. I mean, I was pretty involved in sports all the years I was growing up and that took up most of my time. But still, being stage fright has kept me from doing a ton of things in my life. I was never in choir, I wouldn't sing at church, I wasn't normally in talents shows or other performances. I just get all shy and scared and my voice gets shaky and it goes downhill from there. I mean I won't even play charades, that's how much I HATE being put on the spot.

PROGRESS:
A few times I have actually gotten up the COURAGE to do something brave. Like both my freshman and sophomore years in high school I sang a duet in the high school talent show. Then my senior year I finally got the guts to AUDITION for a play(and only because I didn't play volleyball that season, but that's another story) I auditioned for The Wizard of Oz, and let me tell you that was pretty dang scary. Well, I ended up being in the chorus for that show and then two years later I was in another small show called Charley's Aunt in which I had a fairly significant speaking role. What a crazy time, they were so fun!! Both times it was such a liberating experience for me!

TODAY:
Well here's why I'm telling you all this. I'm AUDITIONING for a show!! On Friday night my mother-in-law called to tell me that she cut out of the paper an ad for auditions for a show called PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES. I was shocked!! Nobody has ever heard of this show, but I grew up listening to the music and I love it! Even today I'll put in the CD on my way home sometimes and rock out BROADWAY style. And since I've always thought that I'd like to be in a community theatre show again sometime, I decided that I just have to give it a shot. I'm scared out of my mind and I'm totally not counting on anything coming of it, but I'm really excited about it. I'm glad that I've decided to just give it a try and go outside of my comfort zone a little bit. We'll see how it all goes...wish me luck!! Better yet, BREAK A LEG!

Grandpa Jensen

Grandpa Jensen turned 80 years old in February so we had an awesome birthday for him on Saturday! The whole family was there along with lots of friends, neighbors, and many others that love and admire him. The party started with lots of good food!


Then we had a little magic show by Uncle Dale. Grandpa used to do magic shows for all the grandkids, church activities, and all sorts of other things. He passed that talent on to his son Dale, and now I think Chris might even be looking forward to learning the tricks of the trade. :) After the show Grandpa read us some of his cowboy poetry. I really love to hear and read the things that he's written because it seems to me to be a really unique way to keep your own personal history.

The last event of the party was when everybody got to choose from some of Grandpa's treasures. You see, Grandpa Jensen has a hobby of going to auctions and buying all sorts of crazy stuff. He seriously bought a box of extra large bikinis one time and gave it to Chris. I mean, what the heck?! Anyways, amidst all the crazy weird stuff he actually has some really cool stuff. He honestly has a room full of random items at his house and his wife kinda made him get rid of some things. We got some really cool stuff I think. Anyways, it was a really fun day and one of the best parts was hearing Grandpa bear his testimony. I love having such a big family that shares the gospel. I want that to be my family some day. :)

I really should write on here more often. But sometimes I feel like my life just doesn't keep up with all you guys that have kids and take sweet pictures all the time. But hey, I guess for the few of you who might care I'll just give a little update.

Christmas festivities were pretty awesome. It was really nice to have our first Christmas together and spoil each other a little. Then of course we went over to his mom's and got spoiled by her too. She bought all the kids a Wii! (And we've been playing Mario ever since! :)





Lets see, after that came a pretty difficult time for my mom and her family. My grandma was supposed to come to Utah for our wedding in June but was diagnosed with stomach cancer that very week. They gave her 6-8 months I think and on January 24 she passed away. My mom has a really big family and so it was pretty hard for everybody and still seems kind of unreal. Anyways, I got to go home to MI for the funeral and to be there for my mom. It was great to see everyone and to also get to spend some time with the family.



Other than that, life is pretty normal. Work is going great for me, and I also might have a softball coaching opportunity this year. I'm still crossing my fingers for that!! Chris is in the middle of searching for a new job so we're crossing our fingers on that one too, that it doesn't take too long to find what he's looking for. We're doing great, trying to stay healthy by eating better and going to the gym. Props to Chris for losing 20 lbs in only three weeks!!

This weekend we're going to stay in Logan for Valentines Day. I dont have to work on Monday and after all the stress of the past month, I'm excited to get away for our first Valentines Day! On that note, I have the best husband ever and I cant believe how perfect we are together. I'm grateful for and undeserving of him at the same time.



Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Lots of love,
*Ashley*

Christmas is in the air!!

I feel like we've been going non-stop lately! Work has been crazy with preparations for all of the year-end accounting stuff so I've been sooo busy. Thanksgiving was totally amazing, I'm so happy that I got to spend some time with family and be home on such a great holiday for the first time in the past 5 years. On the flip side, this is the first time I've ever celebrated a Christmas away from home. I'm really sad about missing our family's Christmas party and not getting to spend it with my Grandma when it will probably be her last one...but there are definitely so many reasons why I'm excited about this Christmas:

1) I'm really excited for our first Christmas in our home. I'm excited about spending Christmas morning with my husband and beginning our own family traditions.
2) I LOVE having a house to decorate! Granted, I don't go around putting something in every nook and cranny, but I love having our own tree with our ornaments, my own nativity set, yummy smelling candles, and a few others things.
3) I'm excited about taking part in my husband's family traditions and seeing how he's grown up celebrating Christmas.
4) NO traveling!! Seriously, getting back and forth between two of the snowiest states is extremely stressful sometimes. Last Christmas my brother and I were really close to spending the night in the airport in Minneapolis and I seriously had a nervous breakdown.
5) I'll hopefully get to talk to my brother!! (this is something I would get to do either way, but I'm still excited) Eric is on a mission in Boston since August and I'm excited to hear from him. I miss him a lot.

Here's a few pics from Thanksgiving and our Christmas decorations at home :)Some of my family celebrating Thanksgiving at my parents house

I LOVE my nativity set!!

Our kitchen table

My Grandma gave us this for Christmas this year

Our awesome tree and some presents!

Anniversary

So today is our 6 month anniversary!!! I feel a little bit lame every time I say that, but I still think it's a big deal. I can't believe it's been that long, I love us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!

Christopher turned 26 on Saturday! We went out to dinner to Chili's with some our amazing friends and came back to our house to celebrate afterwards. Chris opened his presents from me at the party and got new shoes, Guitar Hero 5, and tickets to the Jazz/Raptors game on November 18! The cake follows the Jazz theme. I ordered from the wife of a friend of mine from work. Wow, I've never had cake so good! www.ladow.org/stacycakes So good!! In the pic below, you can see the guys playing GH. I love the intensity on TJ's face as he sings! haha

It was a great day to celebrate, and so fun for me to be able to surprise Chris with all my planning. :) I couldn't ask for a better husband!