Makin Clan

family pics

2010-04-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

so .. everytime my family gets together we take family pics. this time my darling friend. amy, came over and did the honors. she did a great job.

hippity hoppity easter!

and so it goes ...

2010-03-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

i just registered my twinners for Kindergarten and i could just bawl my eyes out. i can't believe how big they are getting. it's so SO fun to see them coming out of their shells. it's so funny to see brianna - who reminds me so much of myself when i was little - no matter how cute i do her hair in the morning, she always come home looking like punky brewster. just a hot mess :) and i love every ounce of her. brooke loves school and calls herself "daddy's designer." she is all girl - always picking out people's clothes and matching things. i am glad that she has this gift, because anyone who knows me knows i could DEF use some assistance in this area. i still remember in high school having my girlfriends (after HOURS of me doing my hair and getting dressed) look at me and say "Jen, you are NOT wearing your pajamas to this party." i wasn't wearing pajamas, but in their eyes, they could have worn my outfit to bed.

chaser (HOPEFULLY) will get into Spanish Immersion. his teacher says that he is "on the fence" and that she will re-evaluate in April. I have been praying - she says that academically, he is there - it's just behaviorally. i talked about how sometimes he gets bored and this may help; i know that Justin and i will be in there advocating for him.

then ms bogo - she is just so precious. she is HILARIOUS. she makes us laugh out loud sometimes. she is just a breath of fresh air and always just so happy. some days i just hold her and rock and rock. her little spirit just calms me and illuminates love. i could just eat her. our friend, jake, taught her a song, "poo poo on the ... potty" and she sings that all over the place. especially at church. we just love her.

as for justin and i, i recently "left" alpine treatment services to be at home more - which i have LOVED! there is so much that needs to be done and i just love being with my little ones. i interviewed for an internship today and it seems too good to be true, so i am just weighing my options and sorting things out. justin loves working and he (i KNOW) loves not having me around at work. i felt like i put in my blood, sweat and tears for two years, and it was time for me to let go and just trust that all would be well. i knew that as i pulled away and focused on my family, the blessings would come. i am so grateful for the constant support from my wonderful friends and family. i couldn't do it without you guys.

i have realized that it's not that i don't like blogging, i just don't like posting pics. or i need to be trained or something ... i have done it before .. but i don't know how to format them etc

enough of me.

2010-02-03T20:55:00.000-08:00

yes .. it's true. i am 30. and my BABY is two. whichi thirty makes me feel restless and anxious. i still feel so young .. so that is good. justin spoiled me and i had a blast with emilias at the spa (fabulous!!!!) and a wonderful dinner and movie with my precious friends and family. i am so blessed.

so i got a gym pass.

that is going well.

most weeks.

i am so blessed ...

Turkey DAY

2010-01-14T21:42:00.001-08:00

Here are my kids on Thanksgiving.

BOO YAH!! i'm a blogger.

2010-01-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

Here is November in a NUTSHELL :) my twinners turned FIVE!!!!!!!!!!! so dang CUTE!! i am so proud of them .. they are so great. And this is Bailee in her birthday suit at Emma's birthday party :)

more pics

2010-01-14T21:35:00.001-08:00

this is as close as i will ever get to anything to do with clowns.

i'm just saying.

better blogger

2009-12-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

okay .. i am going to do my best to be a better blogger.

i have been SOO busy with everything that this just falls through the cracks. so SO much has happened this year and i have so much to be grateful for.

we are all neslteld into our beautiful home here in Utah. we are so grateful for our home and we look forward to years of memories here :) i can't wait to renovate!!

my kids are growing like little weeds.

chase is in first grade and turned 7 this summer ... he loves science, swimming and art. he has a passion for creating and he is always cutting and pasting and gluing. many times not in that order. he loves his sisters but he still BEGS for a brother. luckily, he has many male friends that he can bounce around and play ninja with. i can't wait to watch Chase continue to grow and learn; he is so wonderful.

brianna is getting a mind of her own. she has a love of dancing and anything athletic. she loves to read and snuggly with mommy and daddy. she adores her family and she is easy to discipline. you just have to quietly say "brianna, that disappoints me" and she falls apart at the seam (if only that were the case with the other three!!) i look forward to watching her develop her talents and start kindergarten next year.

brooke is such a little sunshine. she loves to entertain, play dress ups and change her clothes at least three times per day. she is quite the little designer; she often dresses better than me (which isn't that hard). she loves spending time as a family and coloring. she can just sit and color for hours - which comes in handy. i can't wait to see what this next year brings for Brookie Cookie.

bailee. oh bai fay. she is a little bug. she loves to laugh so hard and make you chase her. i can't believe that she is going to be TWO this Christmas. time flies so fast and i just can't believe it. she has a little temper that, of course, she gets from her father (not me :) she is a fire ball and i couldn't be prouder. i can't wait to see how many creative ways we get to come up with to reign that little girl in.

as for me and bear, we are continuing to grow the business. justin has had a business partner, jake shoff, for the last year - and he has been such a blessing. we are planning to open a new Treatment Center JAN 1 and we are so inspired and honored to be a part of the process of addiction recovery. it is such a miracle to watch people's lives transform as they grow closer to Christ and overcome their addictions. justin and i are doing what we love and we couldn't be happier. justin is amazing at what he does and i can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for us!!

Last Day of 2008

2008-12-31T09:37:00.000-08:00

*the consequence of Jess not having our baby when we said ... she won't do that again, now will she?

Happy New Year everyone. i, personally, am excited about 2009. i just feel good about it. i know in my heart of hearts that all of our hard work will pay off in 2009.

Recently, we went back to Virginia to visit family and meet my sister's baby - we spent two days in the hospital, however it was not with my sister's baby. it was with my dad. he is doing better, but please keep him in your prayers that he makes a strong recovery from his complications with his knee surgery.

i am so grateful for my friends and family that continue to stand by us despite all of our shortcomings and faults. if there is one thing that i can reflect on being the main thread, or theme, of my 2008, it's: Family. family is so important to me, and means so much to me. we have been blessed in so many ways - but at the end of the day, none of it means anything if i don't have my family.

i wish you, my friends and family, a wonderful 2009 - may you all have faith in the future, stregth to press forward and health in your family.

love,

The Makin Clan

merry christmas.

2008-12-18T11:43:00.000-08:00

i just wanted to tell all of my friends and family merry christmas. i am not sending out Christmas cards, because they are old school for non-bloggers. update on us: we are busy. i am a YEAR into my program just about! and my kids are just little bugs that i squeeze daily. sometimes they are naughty, and there is no squeezing, but most days there are.

i am grateful this year for my many blessings of 2008. it's been a roller coaster of a year - and i don't think that 2009 is going to slow down, but i love my life. i am grateful for my precious family (Bear, Chaser, Cookstas, Banana and Ms. Bai) & the rest (Roonie, Bex, Jessica and Mom and Dad - as well as the in-laws - my "other" sisters, my wonderful friends (Emilias Cristofferson, Cache Money and everyone else who makes me laugh), my learning team - Jana and Brandy - couldn't have made it through this year without you, and to all the of the people and places (Carols Copy Center!! David & Katie = my heroes) who made this all possible.

love you all so much.
have a hot cocoa on me (they are 3 for $5 at Harmons) ... i'll put a check in the mail.

Merry Christmas
-jen

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! almost.

2008-10-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

i am so tired i can't sleep - sarah m.

that is so how i feel lately. i need to sleep but my head is spinning at night and so sometimes i don't crawl into bed until 2am. i am turning into my sister becky. it's only 11PM, there is still hope tonight. it's not like i don't fall asleep once i hit the pillow, it's just a matter of getting there. it's a bit like showering - so worth it, but quite a pain.

here is a classic pic for your enjoyment. night.

ms bai

2008-09-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

bailee is already 9 months now and i just can't believe it. she is crawling, choking on food and laughing her head off. she is a joy - and it is so wonderful to watch her not only interact with justin and me, but her chase, brookie and bri as well.

she is her own self:

her eyes are blue & her hair is blonde

she does everything her own quiet way... although thanks to my mom (who she is pictured with) she screams. she has definitely found her voice. every day is a joy with bailee. she wakes up with a smile across her face and screaming "da da da da" ... i try to teach her "momma" or at least "ma" .. she refuses. she is her own self.

i look forward to watching her grow up - though it's going much too fast already ...

b & b

2008-09-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

banana & princessrella.

brooke longs to be cinderella and is going to be "princessrella" on Halloween. she can't wait. she is so soft, precious and pure ~ i just marvel at her intuition as a sister, daughter and friend.

brianna lights up a room. she is so sensitive and is always there to offer compassion and understanding. she sometimes is coy, but then when no one is looking she lets her guard down ~ i cherish these moments.

brooke and brianna are not only sisters, but best friends .. they fight with and for each other.

i am learning that the bond of twins is something that i will always marvel and long for from afar. there is a connection that is deep.

untouchable.

2008-09-28T19:19:00.001-07:00

here is me and my little man ... mr. chase. he is a joy and every day he learns something new. i strive to be like that. teachable. he is such an example of what i hope to be like when i grow up.

he is so resiliant as well ... he forgives quickly and doesn't let the little things bother or get to him.

every time i am less than perfect, and i have to yet again apologize he says "i know mommy."

one day i hope to be like him.

2008-09-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

this is the man that balances me out. well .. half of him.

another crazy day

2008-09-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post that it's been yet ANOTHER crazy week here in the Makin Home. You think that having my kids back in school would help me have time to get my life more in "order" ... not so. Good thing I have wonderful family and friends to help to remind me to continually stay balanced. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and for the joy that it brings to me. I just thought I would drop a note and tell all that I LOVE THEM, and you know who you are.

"You cannot spread the light of the gospel if you do not glow yourself"

-Pres Thomas S Monson

To all my glowing friends .. i love you

2008-08-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.playlist.com/node/46378197

embarassing pic

2008-08-29T10:18:00.001-07:00

this is the most recent pic of our family from our family reunion at the beach house .. it suits us:

i am looking else where, zoned out; justin is just happy to be there; bailee is sucking on her finger; chase is upset about something or other; brianna is smiling at the wrong camera; brooke refuses to smile...

us in a nutshell :)

2008-08-29T10:08:00.001-07:00

this is my first post. it's intimidating, but people have been blogging since the dawning of time. most people that know me know about our family - justin. jen. chase. brooke. brianna. bailee. as my kids grow and start school, it's everything in me to not just become a puddle on the floor. but i seem to hold it together ~ at least i don't follow the bus. .. although i see the inticement. i think i spelled that wrong. and so it goes, my first blog.