Ploopy's Past

Pam Wins the Battle!!

2011-01-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

Rylee finally let me put in pigtails!

She HATES when I do anything to her hair...even just comb it out after a bath!

So when I sat her down and forced pigtails on her...she was angry!

...and sad

About an hour later, I found her looking in the mirror and twirling

How cute are those little pig tails?

She loved them from then on

Here's what Rylee's hair looks like at all other times

I love my Jelly Bean!

Scott gets a new truck!

2011-01-06T13:59:00.000-08:00

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x2

4.7L Magnum V8, 20" Aluminum wheels,
full Class IV towing package &
stainless steel side-step "nerf" bars

Happy 35th Birthday Scott!!

2009-03-20T12:45:00.000-07:00

August 9, 2003

Greg and Brian kept wondering where the "real" birthday

cake was when they saw this very small frosted brownie

cake. (Scott, Pam, and Cheryl ate some Atkins ice cream

that Scott made).

Rylee Breaks Her Leg!!

2009-03-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

Rylee and Chase were running around the house playing together nicely. One turned around and went the other way and they crashed into each other. Rylee turned as she fell twisting her leg on the way down. She wouldn't put any pressure on her leg and when it started to swell the next day I decided to take her to the doc. Her doctor looked at the leg and said it was broken and that we needed to take her right to the children's hospital where they can treat her better. So off we went!

Rylee returns from the Dr's with her new pink cast!

Teddy makes it all better.

Close-up of the cast
She'll need to keep the cast on for 6 weeks!!!

I think she kind of likes this thing.
So much for a carefree Summer!

The x-ray showed a hair-line spiral fracture of the lower left tibia.

Happy Mother's Day - 2003

2009-03-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

We had a great Mother's Day meal at Scott and Pam's house.

The "Moms" all pose for a picture.

Pam's Birthday and Other Stuff

2009-03-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

Pam turned 32 on May 2 and got this cool swing

and some cool cucumber candles
Sleeping like a baby - Max is spoiled!

Dad came for a visit and we took him to Sadies for some authentic New Mexican food

Mmmmmmm.....

Easter 2003

2009-03-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 19th 2003

Easter Bunny Day!

One tradition I loved as a kid that I carried into my own family was to have Easter Bunny Day on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. That way we can keep the Bunny and Christ seperate and give them each their own day.

Rylee just can't wait to eat her "Chop-it"

She found the "chop-it" (chocolate)

The boys check out their stash

Rylee loves her new big red ball

Video games galore!

How many games can 2 boys enjoy?

The Backyard is FINALLY done!!

2009-01-10T18:27:00.001-08:00

After much back breaking work our backyard haven is finally done. We put in a trampoline that is sunken to ground level, some grass, a play structure and a beautiful covered patio Scott built himself.

Covered patio skeleton - the beams are the only thing Scott needed help with
Decorative corbels

A look from underneath

Finished product - nice job Scott!!

Geckos around the base of the poles

Looks professionally done, eh?

Max enjoying his part of the outdoor haven

More geckos bracing up the beam

Finally - a finished backyard!

Scott and the boys acting silly on the patio cover - Rylee in the window

Our front walk with our new lighting

The sunken trampoline

Father's and Son's with Grandpa J

2009-01-10T18:07:00.000-08:00

It was fun to have Grandpa Jorgensen here to go to our Father's and Son's with Scott and the boys. They loved hiking with him and the campfires too!

Father and Sons

The boys with Grandpa

Scott and his Uke

It was too windy to have a fire so they sang by the lantern light

Nice smile Chase

On the hike with Grandpa

Rylee Jean turns 2!

2009-01-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

My sweet baby girl turned 2 today!

Getting ready to blow out the candles
She did it! Rylee calls the candles "to you" - so cute!

Uncle Greg has some fun with the Birthday Girl

Rylee rides her new bike

Here's the Cheesy Birthday Girl

and our Cheese Ball Chase

Brooke and Mitch hangin'

Mitch and his cool orange hat

Brookie is so fun to hang out with

Rylee, Brooke and Chase on our trampoline

Scott goes international

2009-01-10T17:52:00.001-08:00

Scott got to travel to Costa Rica to do some training - here is a composit of his attempt to take a panoramic picture of the beach his hotel was near.

click on the pic to see a larger view

Halloween - 2002

2009-01-10T17:42:00.000-08:00

Mitch wanted to be something scary this year. Chase had to settle for Zurg (Buzz Lightyear's nemesis) because Buzz costume was in storage. Next year buddy!

Mommy made Rylee be something girly and pink. What a pretty princess!!
We all got to go to Mitch's class party

Jacob, Jonathon and Mitch

Sleeping Beauty - there's only so much candy and fun a princess can take!

1st grade at Seven Bar Elementary

2009-01-10T16:59:00.000-08:00

Today Mitchell started all day 1st grade. My little boy is now a little man!

In front of his classroom door
At his desk

With Ms. Brown - what an awesome teacher he has. We are so lucky!

Preschool starts - August 2002

2009-01-10T16:37:00.000-08:00

Chase's first day at Calvary Lutheran Preschool.

He's excited to be a big boy now
This is the reading loft

Chase with Ms Darlene

Chase on the playground

Rylee thinks she should be in preschool too!

To Infinity and Beyond!!

2009-01-10T15:16:00.000-08:00

Chase LOVES Buzz Lightyear. I made him this costume for Halloween 2 years ago and he wears it all the time. Rylee just had to get in on the fun. She brought the top to me several times and I finally figured out she wanted to wear it.

She just had to have it on...Chase thought it was a funny idea

Isn't she the cutest superhero?

Rylee Lightyear...to the rescue!!

To infinity...and beyond!!

Flying around the house is hard work!

Our Move BACK to Albuquerque!

2008-11-07T13:04:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why but I have NO pictures or even record of our move back to Albuquerque after a 2.5 year temporary stint in Hillsboro, OR. Intel sent us to OR so Scott could get some training for the newest technology coming. We loved our time in OR...beautiful trees, moisture, trees, moss, rain, trees, grass, mist, trees, beaches, lighthouses, trees, drizzle, and GREEN! Green in OR is not an accent color like in ABQ. It is so lush and pretty especially compared to the desert of New Mexico.

But, alas, we knew it was temporary! I think the reason we so enjoyed being in OR was because we knew it wasn't forever. I was struck by how many women in my ward alone (not to mention the general population) were on medication for depression! It was amazing! I guess when you don't see the sun for 8 months of the year you can get a bit sad.

We got there in 2000 and moved into the Evergreen Ward in the Hillsboro, OR Stake. We lived in Jackson School neighborhood with Mitchell's school, Jackson School, being right inside the neighborhood! We would have walked to it more if it hadn't rained so darn much! :)

We were quickly given callings, Scott as the Scout Master and I was always a committee member of some kind. Mostly I was known as the Scout Master's wife. We met some great people! Our Bishop's family, the Arrington's, the Stott's with kids exactly our kids' ages, the Chambers who liked to camp with us and had 2 scouts that became Eagles shortly after we left, Mitch's friend John and his family who lived across the street and John played with Mitch even though he was a couple of years older, the new Bishop Moore and his family who had a son get his Eagle because of Scott's influence.

Rylee's First Birthday!!

2008-11-06T18:26:00.000-08:00

Rylee Jean Jelly Bean is 1!!

Here is the cake we shared. We also got her a smaller cake so she could make a mess...but she did NOT want to make a mess.

Marilyn Stott holds the cake with Pam holding Rylee.
Chase and Mitch can't wait to dig in!

Where's Rylee?
Peek-a-boo!

Mallory Stott had her first birthday on April 8...just four days before!

Rylee's new toy has given her all sorts of confidence...

she takes 3 or 4 steps on her own after letting go of it!

Isn't she a sweet One Year Old?

My little Jelly Bean

Crapaw's request...more Rylee!

2008-10-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

I made Rylee's Christmas dress
A look at the back

Rylee loved all the lights at Christmas

Mallory Stott is only 4 days older than Rylee and her first friend

Rylee loves to dig in the trash! This time she struck gold...well, ribs. She gummed that bone for hours and now we have to put our trash up high!

A happy girl with carrot sticker on her forehead

I love this face!

Open wide!

The kids say good-bye to Daddy's red truck

3 Years Later...Time for Scott to get a New Truck.

2008-10-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Lease was up on Scott's 1999 Ford Ranger,So why mess with a good thing...

2002 Ford Ranger Edge

4-Door Supercab
4.0L V6 SOHC Engine
"On-the-Fly" 4WD
5-Speed Auto Transmission
4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
Dual Airbags
AM/FM/CD Stereo System
Air Conditioning
Twin jump-seats in the back for Mitch and Chase!
And Yes, it's bright YELLOW!!!
...much to Pam's chagrin!

Pam performs magic with her violin.

2008-10-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Pam must be doing something right with her practicing...

Rylee loved the music so much....
...it soothed her right to sleep. :)

February 2002

A major victory!!!

2008-10-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Rylee Finally Takes a Bottle!!!

After putting up quite a fight for 4 months, Rylee succumbed to thirst and figured a bottle wasn't that bad.

It's been a struggle with Rylee as my milk dried up when she was 5 months old. She is a teeny, tiny thing and we worried she wasn't getting enough nourishment. FINALLY, we can feed her and plump her right up!!

January 2002

Happy 2002 from So. Cal.

2008-10-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law, David Young, gets squished at the bottom of this huge pile. You can see Chase's head, but you only see Mitch's blue shirt and dirty socks in the middle.

(From top to bottom: Aunt Dianne, Chase, Clarissa, Mitch,Brayton, Whitney, Wesley and Uncle Dave)
Grandpa Felshaw looks on as Rylee starts to climb the end table.

Chase and Collin play in Aunt Dianne's truck.

Chase's nickname is Cheeseball, but here it's hard to tell who's who.

Mitch tries his hand at roller-hockey with his cousins.

After about 4 seconds with rollerblades on, he decides his tennis shoes will do just fine!

Chase also got into the hockey routine, but he didn't quite make it as far...(notice Brayton's huge skate-shoes he's wearing)

Not sure what I am laughing at here, but I'm sure it really funny!

Felshaw Family Pictures - 2001

2008-10-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

The Originals... (minus one mother)...then we added a few...
...and a few more...

We are a Happy Family!

p.s. Story on Clarissa's broken leg. We had sold our trampoline to Danene and her family. The very day we put it up in their backyard the kids were having a ton of fun when Clare got bounced up a little too high and landed wrong on her leg. She didn't fall off...but landed on the trampoline and broke her leg. Then we tortured her more by taking family pictures the next day. What a trooper!!

Gma & Gpa visit OR - Christmas Time 2001

2008-10-25T11:57:00.001-07:00

We were so grateful we got a visit from Gramma and Grampa J, even if it was for only 48 hours!

The Jorgensens

Christmas 2001
A better view of the house.
Grandpa stands on the porch after putting the finishing touches on the house.

Grandma & Grandpa on our front porch. Mom made the garlandon the railing to the left out of branches cut from our Christmas tree.(If you look closely, you can see the rain--that Dad complained about the whole time!)

Grandpa and Mitchell finally complete "the tower".Notice the cow in the loft!

"Grandma and Rylee, sittin' by the tree..."

Mitch and Chase put together pieces of Grandma's old tree and decorate.

Mitch shows Grandma his official US coin set from 1995, the year he was born. As you can tell, Rylee is ecstatic!!!

Grandpa and Mitch work on Lincoln logs while Grandma and Rylee look on.

She isn't even crawling yet! :(

Rylee is in charge of the knives!

Rylee helps "unload" the dishwasher.
Rylee just loves Grandma Jeannie's Santa Kneeling at the Manger

My sister Dianne painted it

Rylee holds on to the built-in "handles" in Grandpa's favorite position.

Rylee's new hat

2008-10-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Isn't she the cutest reindeer you've ever seen??

Christmas, 2001

Thanksgiving in Medford, OR - 2001

2008-03-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

We have totally enjoyed living in Oregon for many reasons. One is green. The color green here is not an accent color...it is everywhere!! Another reason is the coast/Tillamook Cheese Factory. Both are so fun to visit.

One of the best reasons we love it here is the fact that we live only 5 hours away from our favorite Grandparents that really aren't our Grandparents. Dave and Marcia Zachies lived in Moberly, MO for many years and my mother -in-law Jackie and Marcia are the bestest of friends. Marcia practically raised Scott's little sister Jenny and has been a big part of the Jorgensen's lives. They are Grandparents to our kids and that's that!

Everyone should make an effort to visit them. Everytime we come we are treated like royalty. Shrimp cocktails, fresh homemade mac-n-cheese (not from a box), and the kids love it here. They even have a neighbors cat that comes by for visits so the kids can play and pet.

We went down to Medford for Thanksgiving/Mitchell's birthday this year. It was so fun!

My cute little family eating Thanksgiving dinner
Marcia, Dave, Mitch and Pam
I love this picture of Marcia and her method of keeping Rylee from falling off the counter. Nice stretch for a Gramma!!
Chase loves Marcia so much he thinks she's a bed!
Marcia and Rylee are the best of friends. Rylee prefers her over her own mother!!

Mitch got some Tinker Toys for his birthday and he spent all Thanksgiving Day/his birthday creating this cool race car!
Dave got himself a new DVD player...he spent the whole day putting his toy together too!
Mitch left his Rescue Hero jet alone long enough for Rylee to have a turn
Rylee checkin' out Russell, the neighbor's cat
She loves his fluffy softness

Pam takes on the violin - Fall 2001

2008-03-12T16:11:00.000-07:00

I turned the big 3-0 this year. I guess as an early mid-life crisis I decided to start violin lessons. I've always loved to listen to the violin and also to watch it being played. It's such a beautiful instrument and I wanted to try. I got myself a violin on Ebay and found a sister in the neighboring ward who teaches. I have only had 2 lessons but can already play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Check me out!!

Here is video proof

Mitch turns 6!! - 11/22/01

2008-02-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Mitchell!!

This year his birthday falls on Thanksgiving Day! We went down to Medford, OR (about 5 hours away) to celebrate Thanksgiving with Dave and Marcia Zacheis (very good friends of the Jorgensen's, like grandparents). Marcia had a whole party planned for Mitch. She had invited some neighborhood kids over. It was fun to see them celebrate with a kid they barely knew.

L->R Peter, Matthew, Chase, Madison, Mitch, Rylee, Scott, Pam
Mitchell sitting next to his "best" friend Peter, and new friend Matthew.

We fooled Mitch with "trick" candles
Those eyes say it all..."thanks G'ma!"
Mitch scores in the gift area
G'ma has some competition...Rylee absolutely LOVES Marcia
Marcia helps Rylee open her gift from G'ma J
Mitch gives Marcia a "thank you" hug for his new art set
Dave volunteered to put all the toys together...what a sport!

Mitch handcuffed himself to the ball
Chase loved crawling into the ball
Rylee Girl looks so small
What a silly man
At least Scott's head is really not this big

Halloween 2001

2008-02-23T15:33:00.001-08:00

Halloween in Hillsboro

Superman for the 3rd year and Buzz Lightyear for the 2nd... Mom had to make a new Buzz top to replace the old and over worn one from last year, he wore it everyday he loved it so much!!

Pumpkins from left: Pam's, Scott's, Mitch's, Chase's and Rylee's with some porcelain friends

Mitchell Starts Kindergarten!!

2008-02-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

September 2001

Jackson Elementary

Mrs. Quinn's

Afternoon Kindergarten Class

At the front door of Jackson Elementary School

Hillsboro, OR
In front of his classroom
His cubby
Cutting out his name circle - used to show which job he has that day
Circle time with Mrs Quinn's guitar
Mrs. Quinn

Chase Starts Preschool!

2008-02-23T08:28:00.001-08:00

Calvary Lutheran Preschool
September 2001

Chase is the "poser" in our family

At the door of his classroom - same one Mitchell had last year!
Teacher Christi takes his picture to go next to his name on the chart
Chase finds his name
Story time with Teacher Christi Chase colors a picture that will become his snacktime placemat

He's talking to Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Cooking at the imagination station
Chase loved the bean table...beans all over the floor at the end of the day!
At the bean table with friends Joshua and Antonio
Recess time!

2008-02-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

Summer of 2000

This is a cute video of Chase singing. He was our performer as a toddler, always singing or dancing around and if you weren't watching, he'd bug you until you did watch.

I think this video is HILARIOUS! I have had thoughts of sending it into America's Funniest Home Videos but never did because I probaby think it's funny 'cause I'm his mommy.

What do you think?

p.s. I added a video of Mitch explaining how he broke his arm...you'll have to scroll down.

Rylee Jean, Jelly Bean - August 2001

2008-02-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

I was told (by my Dad) to put more pictures up of Rylee. So here she is in the outfit Aunt Jenny gave to her. Isn't she a cutie?

Stylin' in her embrodered jeans and shirt
Mommy made the headband to match perfectly
Her favorite pass time - spitting

Smiley Rylee!

Mitch gets his CAST OFF!! - August 17, 2001

2008-02-21T12:31:00.001-08:00

Five weeks later...

Arriving at the doctor's office
Chase is a supportive brother
Making noise while waiting for the doc.
Dr. Voss checks the cast
Sawing the cast off
Smelly cast, smelly cast...
It took 3 baths to get all the dead skin off...yuck!
Comparing the 2 arms
The doc gave Mitch a "reminder splint" to help him

remember to be careful for the next few weeks
Here's our Mitch...all in one piece!
The shading around the break area is new bone growth
The doc said that these areas with new growth will be stronger than before the break!

Chase is finally potty trained! - August 2001

2008-02-16T13:04:00.001-08:00

THE RULE: No Big Boy Pants till he pooped in the toilet.

So he sat on the potty and waited...

...and waited...

...and waited...
...and finally, he fell asleep!

(note the half-eaten sucker in his hand!)

No More Diapers!!

Chase loves is Matchbox underpants

Mitchell Brakes His Arm!!

2008-02-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

July 16, 2001 - Mitch and his friend John from across the street were playing on our trampoline in the backyard. I was in the house watching Chase and Rylee when John comes running in the house yelling that Mitch was hurt. I walk over calmly. Mitch can be a bit of a drama-king. He looked up to me and said..."I think I broke my arm!" He had his right hand covering where the owie would be and thinking that he just scratched himself and would need a kiss and a band-aid told him to move his hand so I could look.

He moved his hand and I almost screamed! His arm was broken and I knew this as a fact because his arm was drooping in the middle! I told John to go home reassuring him that he wasn't in trouble at all and thanked him for playing with Mitch. (John is over a year older than Mitch). He ran home and I called Scott to let him know we'd be at the ER. As I'm bundling up the 3 kids for this trip, John's mom comes over to see if everything is OK. I show her the drooping and her mouth drops. She quickly offers to take Chase to her house so I would only have to deal with Rylee (I was still nursing) at the hospital. Gratefully I send Chase with her and hop in the car. Scott met us at the ER.

On the way Mitch tells me how it happened. He and John were finished jumping so John jumped off the trampoline to the ground. Mitch tried to follow, but since we live in Oregon and it's ALWAYS raining, the pad was wet and Mitch slipped. He fell over the chair he was supposed to use to get down and landed with both arms extended. The left one broke.

Consoling Mitch after he learned he will have to have an IV-that scared him!
My sweet little boy!After the IV trauma - Mitch is considerably more calm

Isn't your arm supposed to be straight in the middle?

Here's how broken his arm was...BOTH bones!!!

Closer look

The doctor had to put Mitch out completely to re-set his arm. Even though he was unconscious he still screamed when his arm was adjusted. Scott had a hard time with that.

Putting on the temporary cast

Rylee Jean helps Mitch feel better Always good for some laughs!
Taking x-rays to make sure they set it correctly
Here are the re-set bones
Rylee is happy Mitch is OK!
Fitting the sling

Ready to go home...4 hours later

Chase missed his "Buh". John's family made cards and Chase had fun while at their house. They went out later and got them both Hot Wheels as a get well gift.

Rylee's Blessing

2008-02-16T12:12:00.001-08:00

Moberly, Missouri

July 1, 2001

Members of her circle

L-->R Bryan O'Loughlin, Uncle Brad, Uncle Greg, Daddy, Rylee Jean,

Uncle Matt G'pa Jorgensen, G'pa Felshaw

Bryan and his daughter Maddie with Scott and his daughter Rylee

The whole family

Rylee's grandparents
G'pa F is a proud man
G'pa F asking Rylee how G'ma F is. Rylee was the last to see her

just before she left heaven to join us here
G'ma J joins the proud
G'ma J almost out lasted Rylee

Rylee Jean is a superstar!
Jenny and Rylee
Rylee and her cousin Hannah

My Princess Rylee Jean

2008-02-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

Our precious girl is here! Born on April 12, 2001 at 3:03 PM Weighing 7 lbs. 5.5 oz. and 19 inches long......at Tuality Community Hospital!

Prepare for Number 3!

2008-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Pam is due on April 22nd

This sonogram taken on Friday, Sept. 15, 2000

Happy Birthday Mitch!!!

2008-02-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

...a few days early.

Friday, November 3, 2000
Being Mitch's last day of school this year, they celebrated his birthday with Pam at his side. Mitch even made his own "birthday cake" out of homemade Play-doh!
Pam gets to go in to school each month and help out.

Jenny, Pam & the Kids Head for the Coast

2008-02-14T15:58:00.001-08:00

Scott's sister Jenny came out to visit us while we lived in Oregon. We had a great time going to the Tillamook Cheese Factory eating yummy ice cream and cheese curds...mmmmmmm. Then we went to the beach and saw a cool lighthouse.

Jenny, Mitch and Chase looking out at Tillamook Bay
On the Oregon coast at Oceanside
Cape Meares Lighthouse -- I love lighthouses!
Unfortunately, Scott had to work so we went without him

My Mother

2008-02-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Jeannie LaVona Widdison Felshaw

1940-2000

Headstone at the grave site at Oakdale Cemetery in Glendora, CA.
Flowers taken from Jeannie's famous Rose Garden.

My Mommy. How I miss her. After suffering from many, many different ailments stemming from a uterine rupture during the birth of her 5th child 26 years earlier, Mom decided it was time for comfort and peace. She died in the wee hours of the morning on January 31, 2000. She was 59 years old.

I am confident that my Mother has placed herself in some sort of Nursery Leader position there in heaven. She had such a deep love for children. I'm also convinced that she hand picked Rylee Jean (middle name a tribute) and sent her to me. Hand picked both the best and worst of Rylee just for me! Mother's blessing and revenge all wrapped up into one!

Mom had amazing talent. I always called her a professional seamstress. She did sew for money at times, but mostly for the love of it. She was incredible. She made all her daughter's Easter, Baptism, Prom and Wedding dresses. She even made my wedding dress out of 5 different patterns because I was picky.

She also made the BEST bread. EVERY Saturday, growing up, was bread day. She would have mounds and mounds of dough on the table and we kids would snitch bits of that dough. Then she would bake at least a dozen loaves...oh the fresh, warm, buttery bread...mmmmmm.

She worked in the schools as an aid to the Special Ed classes. She had a lot of experience with special needs children having raised one herself. She also had a lot of compassion for those kids.

She was the "grandma" of her ward. After 30 years in the same house and therefore the same ward at church, she became known for her love of babies. If there was a new baby, my mom would take it upon herself to give that new mom a break from holding her baby. She could get any fussy baby to settle down and even fall asleep. Ultimately, the new mom's sought her out!

Although she was in and out of hospitals, bedridden, sick, and suffering my whole life...she still found the strength to be a great Mom. She still made us pajamas every Christmas. She tried hard to make our lives as normal as they could be. I miss her emencly but I also know her suffering has ended and she is hard at work for the Lord.

I love you Mom. See you later.

We've Moved to Hillsboro, OR

2008-02-14T11:49:00.000-08:00

525 NE Amanda Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124

February 2000

Christmas Letter 1999

2008-02-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!!

Our letter comes to you a bit later than usual this year. We had to make sure all our "news" was official before we sent it off...but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Our family has had a great year and the boys have been growing and growing.
TIGER, our new kitty, joined the family this summer. He is so cute and cuddly but watch out! He is a good stalker. Hiding behind doors and chairs, he sneaks up behind you and WHAM! He’s got your leg in a death grip. The boys have fun torturing the kitty, and the kitty has fun torturing Pam by attacking the Christmas tree. One of his favorite things to attack is our toes under the covers in our bed. Sometimes we have to kick him out of the room so we can get some sleep.

CHASE has grown the most. He started walking at about 10 months (like his brother) and had his first birthday in July. He soon got tired of walking and decided to try running. He got pretty good at it, however, it looks more like prancing than anything. His first word was "kitty", or as he says it, "deet-dee". This was a big relief for mom because ever since he found his voice, he’s been having conversations that no one can understand. Now he has a slew of words to say: bah (ball); mah (I want that); daaaa (dad); mama (mom); uh-huh (yes) and mm-mm ("no" with the shake of his head).
Chase is a true comedian. He proved that when Scott’s family was here for Thanksgiving, performing for all! He would stand with his belly out growling or stand on his head laughing or hit himself on the head saying "ow, ow, ow!" If no one is watching, he’ll come up and hit you ‘til you do, then it starts all over again. He also loves to take baths, watch Blues Clues and "talk" on the phone.

MITCH is now a "big 4 year old boy" (as he puts it). He got a "big boy bike" for Easter so he could join the neighborhood kids in the cul-de-sac riding bikes. It was getting kind of hard for him to keep up on his little tricycle. He started pre-school this year with some other kids in our ward. He loves going to a different friend’s house every week to learn new things. Between pre-school, church and kids down the street, Mitch has made many friends. Mitch took swimming lessons this year and can now put his head underwater all by himself, which is amazing.

PAM has been very happy just watching the kids play and be silly, which is an everyday occurrence. She turned 28 this year and went to her 10-year high school reunion in August. It was interesting to see how people looked exactly the same; the only difference she could see was an additional 20 pounds per person (including herself). She served as the Personal Progress Advisor in the Young Women’s Organization at church. About mid-year she was changed to the Mia Maid Advisor for the 14 and 15 year old girls. Pam was not without injury this year either. Just before Thanksgiving she had a bunion removed from her right foot. She had 2 pins sticking out of the top of her foot for 3 weeks! She is now on her way to a full recovery and will hopefully not have any more pain from that foot.

SCOTT served as the first counselor in the Elder’s Quorum at church. He still reigns as the Rocket Man of the family but has recently been challenged by our nephew, Brian, who made a couple rockets for the Annual Thanksgiving Day Launch this year. He’s coming up on 7 years at Intel Corporation in the Microcontamination group. However, Scott is the source of our biggest news this year. He has accepted a new position in Portland, Oregon. He will be working to develop Intel’s newest technology: making computer chips on huge 12-inch silicon wafers (as opposed to 6 or 8-inch wafers). We will be there for at least 2 years, then transfer to the next site that converts to 12-inch wafers.
We are excited for this big change in our lives. Mitch was not too happy at first, but then one day, out of the blue, he told Pam it was "OK with him" if we move to Portland. When it became official on Dec. 20th, he ran upstairs and packed his suitcase full of toys and informed us he was ready to go!

We have enjoyed our stay here in Albuquerque and will miss all our friends and family. We have been blessed with people here that care for us and have served us in many ways. Our hearts are filled with gratitude, especially during this season of giving and remembrance. We thank our Father in Heaven most of all for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. We hope things are well with you and yours and wish everyone a very blessed and happy new year!

With much love,

The Jorgensen's

Blogging our past

2008-02-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

I've started this blog in order to transfer some pages from an old family website into this blogging format. That way I can make a cool book from Blurb.com like I've seen several of my friends do.

Monkey Pants is a blog for the present...and eventually the future as it arrives in the present. This blog will be for our past. It will start from where the JorgensenFamily.org site was created in 1999...but eventually I will post things that are even older than that.

I hope you enjoy...or not. It's mostly for me anyway!!