Brek's Pictures

Once Brek's marching band costume was really coming together, we decided that we wanted to get some professional photos taken of him in it. But with the tightness of finances, we couldn't afford any of the people we have heard of in the area, plus I prefer to use photographers that I actually know, and that narrowed my local photographers down to the couple that runs our town's newspaper, and I really couldn't afford them either. So we decided to ask Joe's sister Janelle if she could take some pictures when we came out for Christmas. We were so happy that it worked out. She came over New Year's morning. Brek was quite the pill, considering the late night from before and being upset about cousins leaving and all, but she still managed to take some wonderful shots and dealt magnificently with a stubborn 4-year-old:

Yes. Some real, actual marching did take place during the photoshoot:

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Joe! It's hard to get a real, genuine smile out of him, especially in front of a camera. He thinks he looks all "sporty and athletic" but I think he just looks happy.

Some Father-Son shots:

This is when Brek started melting and right before he fell on the floor, because, as he put it, he "didn't have any legs."

Some family shots:

The rest of these are my favorites, and I'm hoping that we can get them blown up and printed on canvas or create some sort of gallery and hang them in Joe's band room. Hopefully we'll get a great a tax return, or otherwise we'll have to wait until we're rich and famous. They are just too awesome!

So if you're in Utah and are in need of a great photographer with reasonable prices, I totally recommend Memories by Janelle!

The Last Day of Our Vacation - aka New Year's Day

Brek enjoyed helping Grandma Jensen shovel the snow:

That evening we went over to Peter and Marisa's. Brek ran into the wall. He temporarily wore an ice pack:

You can see the bump in this next picture. And cousin Jessica gave Brek nail polish to paint my nails, and Joe's nails, and Joe's toenails. And then we made sure he painted Jessica's nails before she left for her blind date.

And someone else gave him a candy to turn his tongue blue:

It was a fun night. And a wonderful end to our visit to Utah. And a fun start to our 2015!

December Part 4 - The rest of our vacation and New Year's Eve

One morning Brek convinced Grandma Jensen to pull out her cello. This is one of Brek's favorite things to do when we visit.

Then Grandma suggested we get out one of the old broken violas hanging on her wall and turn it into a more appropriately-sized cello for Brek. She pulled out an extra cello bow and go to work teaching Brek proper position and technique.

And then they started playing duets:

This is one of my favorite pictures:

Another day Joe & I had a date and when and did some shopping. We went to lunch at Zupas like we always do which is my favorite restaurant and I got the same thing that I always get. So yummy!!! We did some clothes and shoes and Costco shopping too. It's nice to visit a city after living in rural country. Then we met up with my sister and her family and saw the new movie Annie. Very cute!

On New Year's Eve day, we drove up to Salt Lake and went to the zoo. It was a free admission day. I knew it was going to be cold, but I wasn't quite expecting freezing. Brek was pretty whiny and unpleasant. There weren't as many animals out as we had hoped. But we hung in there for an hour or so and called it good. We did get to see the gorillas (inside, thankfully), and an elephant out playing in the snow, and the sea lions and seals (not even the polar bear was out!), but we did see the brown bears, and then the tigers too. They were pretty active.

Trying to get a picture with the tiger. Not such a good one:

Then inside. Brek liked the big turles the most:

Before we left we stopped and got hot chocolate in the zoo cafe.

That evening cousins arrived!!!

Playing with Jensen, Eliza, Mara, and Olaf

It just so happens that Mara and Eliza's new Christmas pjs are the EXACT SAME ONES that my mom got for my nieces, which match Brek's pjs. So they wore them on New Year's Eve together.

Tea party with cousins and Olaf:

Brek, Eliza, Mara, Lizzie, Olaf, and Sabrina

Our brother-in-law Matt got a race car driving simulator for Christmas, so he brought it over for our New Year's Eve party. As the evening dwindled down and got later, even Brek took a turn. His cousins Rose, Nora, and Mara were helpful so he could have several turns. Apparently he's really good at crashing:

It was fun partying with the Jensen family to ring in the New Year. It was the first time Brek has gotten to stay up until Midnight, which he of course thought was totally awesome (and of course made for a cranky boy the next day). We're grateful that Brek has such wonderful cousins that play so well with him. Happy 2015 to our family and friends!!!