Jensen Jamboree

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Ode to my Sisters

So, I started this post several weeks ago when my sister had a birthday. But I had a hard time getting pictures to load, so I saved it and gave up. I didn't come back to it until now, when my sister-in-law had a birthday as well. So, I'm dedicating this post to the 2 of them. I must say, I'm probably the luckiest person in the world when it comes to sisters.

My sister-in-law Rachel is awesome! I have known her since I was about 11. Her dad used to come and fix our computers, and she would tag along. My first year at Girls Camp when I was 12, she had me as her "secret sister." It was actually a pretty hard week for me; I was feeling left out and lonely, but each day I would get a thoughtful gift and note from someone that knew me and was thinking about me. It made Girls Camp a positive experience. The next year, she was actually my "big sister." I've adored her ever since!

My dad has wanted her to marry my big brother Mark since about that time, when they were 14 and 15. He really got serious about it when they went off to college and Mark was on his mission. The idea made me really mad, and I would explode any time my dad would bring it up. She was MY friend, and I didn't want to give her up to my brother. Luckily I had those 2 years of Mark being away that I could get used to the idea; I finally realized that having a sister-in-law that I actually liked would be a good thing. She is a great addition to our family and I am grateful for her for many reasons, but here's a few for now:

1) She brings a softer side to my brother, and as a little sister, that's always a good idea.
2) She likes to laugh and have fun.
3) She is caring and thoughtful of others. She likes to make suggestions but isn't offended if things go another way.
4) She is patient and loving.
5) She has 3 beautiful daughters! (And one of them shares my middle name!)
6) She is a great cook!
7) She always looks for the positive, and doesn't judge others because of differences.
8) She is fun to talk to.
9) Family is important to her, and that is important to me.
10) She is a hard worker, and always willing to help. She'll accept help when offered it too!

I loving being with Rachel and love having her as a sister and part of the Biggs family!

My sister Tracy is probably the greatest gift I have. I think this quote sums it up perfectly: "God knew I loved you too much to just be my friend, so he let me be your sister." I definitely owe everything to her.

Tracy has been my best friend since forever, and besides my dear husband, she's the one friend I know I can count on at anytime, for the rest of my life.

She is forgiving and understanding. She is quick to forgive and does not hold grudges.

She offers good advice and counsel.

She is so fashionable and cute! I love her style!

She has some adorable daughters and one mystery baby on the way.

She even named her 2nd daughter after me - not sure there is any greater compliment a person can pay you.

She is beautiful, inside and out.

She loves to love.

She likes to have fun! We enjoy playing games and being silly in our own way.

I love our opportunities to chat and talk about whatever is on our mind.

She doesn't mind when I cry.

She is willing to sacrifice for others.

She married a pretty amazing guy. I have to say that brother-in-laws don't come any awesomer. (Yes, awesomer is now a real word.)

Well, I think that sums things up rather nicely. I'm grateful for my sister. She's the best! I can hardly wait until we live closer to each other; at least I really hope that happens someday.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Crafts

So, starting back in October, I started having this major desire to be crafty. I started with beading, because that is what I actually had. I have to fix one of my necklaces, but after re-doing the same necklace about 5 times, I finally got it to a satisfactory piece of jewelry.

Here is my multi-colored necklace.

I have actually had these beads for forever, like since middle school. I have wanted to make a necklace with them for a long time, but never did, until this past fall. I am quite please with how it turned out, and I have received a lot of compliments about it too. I only wish I had more beads to make some more necklaces like it for my sisters and mom, but I used them all up for this one.

I also made a black one, but that is the one that needs to be fixed, so I'll have to post pictures of it later. It's the same general design, multiple strands and such, just black beads.

For Christmas, I actually found some really cute door hangers with bells that Joe and I gave to each of his siblings' families. There were 3 though that I thought had really ugly ribbon and I figured I could re-do them to look better. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture in the before stage to justify my work.

I did however take a picture of the ugly ribbon.

The finished projects turned out like this:

One of the things that I did over Christmas while with my family was to go through all of my mom's craft books and materials. I'm pretty sure she didn't appreciate all the things I brought with me on loan, but I know my dad didn't mind that I cleared out so much space in her closet and in the garage. I have so many things I want to do. Joe helped me make a list of craft priorities. The first one was to do a baby blanket "Marisa-style" for my cousin Brittany who is having a little girl in February. "Marisa-style" means the snipped frizzy edges like how I made the quilt for our bed. (If you don't remember, I gave it to Joe for his birthday, so look in the August files; I don't know how to link you to it in my blog.)

Anyway, Joe helped a lot with the cutting and creating a pattern. I really appreciate his tastes and opinions about colors and contrast and materials. He was also a great help with the seam-ripper when I needed help fixing my mistakes. I couldn't have done it without him.

The top layer is all cottons. I had a shirt when I was a little girl out of the bow material. I don't think the picture does it justice, but we felt it really turned out very cute. I love the alphabet squares, the light purple, and the light pink too. The front is the side that has the frizzy seams. With each wash it frays more and more. It's awesome.

The back is all flanel.

I am really excited to give it to her!

It has been fun being crafty. There is so much more to do, but right now the crafts are on hold while I finish my transcription stuff. Maybe I'll get to do a couple hours each week in the evenings and on weekends. We shall see. Just stay tuned for more craft projects.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

A New Biggs Baby

Throughout my 3 week sojourn at home with my parents in CA, all were hoping that my sister-in-law Rachel would deliver their 3rd child, the mystery baby. Unfortunately for the rest of us, the baby wasn't ready to meet us and decided to come after all the strange relatives had left the state.

So, Annalies Rachelle Biggs was born on January 8, 2010. She weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces and was 20 inches long. Unfortunately, I can't get a picture to load so you can all see how cute she is! I think she looks like her mom Rachel, but the rest of my family thinks she looks like my brother Mark. Proud big sisters are Heather and Katie. Katie was especially excited to tell me that baby Annie arrived AFTER her own birthday (Katie turned 3 on the 7th.) Mom and baby are all doing well. I can hardly wait to meet her in the next few months. Being an aunt sure is the greatest thing ever!

So the Biggs family continues to be a family of girls. My parents and siblings think I'll be the first one to have a boy (and they only think it is funny because I used to be so against having boys. I think they have forgotten that I have grown up and changed, even in the past year.) :)

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Today

I couldn't let today pass without wishing my little niece Katie a happy 3rd birthday.

I tried to upload some more photos of her, mostly from my wedding, but for some reason blogger wasn't letting me. oh well. This one is cute!

Katie is a little sweetheart, with a firey personality to match her hair. She's got that stubborn streak in her. I claim it's the hair, but my mom claims it is my influence, since her middle name is Renee, like mine. My mom calls her "Cuddle bug," and that is so fitting. She loves to give hugs and loves. It makes me so happy! I sure do wish I saw her more often. She is growing up so fast!

I got to meet Katie for the first time the day I got home from my mission; she was 6 weeks old. Just a couple days later her father, my brother Mark, was able to bless her. It was a very special experience and I was so happy I was able to be home and be a part of it.

I love being an aunt so much! It is a lot of fun. So, a shoutout of loves to my Katie today.

Happy Birthday!

Thursday, December 31, 2009

My Nieces and Christmas Dresses

I've probably said it before, but being an aunt is so awesome! I've got 5 adorable nieces with fun personalities that I love being with. So here are a bunch of pictures of them

Heather Lynn Biggs, 1st grade, age 6-1/2

Kathryn (Katie) Renee Biggs, age (almost) 3

This is Katie hanging from a tree, and I include the first one only to show the contrast to the 2nd one, which I find to be hilarious.

Adelynne Irene Belt, age 4-1/2

Amy Elizabeth Belt, age 2-1/2

She got very concerned - She was trying to put her hands in her pocket and her foot against the barn all at the same time like the "big" girls. We were worried that tears would follow, but...

She decided it didn't matter and she could be HAPPY!

Showing off her beautiful blues

I know I'm not one of the nieces, but I love pictures of us together.

Here I am keeping Amy warm.

Now, for what you really want to see: Growing up, my mom made my sister and I new dresses every Easter and Christmas, that is until we reached middle school and decided we were too big for that sort of stuff. But now that my mom has 5 granddaughters (only 4 at the time of these pictures, and maybe one more to come from my sister), she thoroughly enjoys sewing away in their behalf. 2009's Christmas dresses were the best I've ever seen. I think my mom is amazing! I think you'll agree that these 4 girls could not be any cuter. So without anything else from me, enjoy the pictures!

Katie and Amy trying to keep each other warm, and cousin hugs too.

Starting from the oldest, Heather

Here's Adelynne

She says the head tilt is her "cute look"

Katie

She really got into the modeling

And Amy

LOVE this one!

And all 4 of them

Flashing the world

Hands on the hips is so sassy!

I love this one of their feet

Family Pictures

Over Christmas we had family pictures taken. Our photographer was Rebecca Knudston, who also took mine and Joe's wedding pictures. She is a lot of fun to work with and I love the results she gets.