PERSPECTIVE

Today was a little rough.  It was the first time my children have been to a funeral.  Jax's football coach's mother passed away after a 5 year long battle with breast cancer.  Even more devastating, she lost her life on Christmas night.  While I find it comforting that her family surrounded her and I know that she was so very loved, as I listened to the pastor, I totally understood as he tried wholeheartedly to get everyone to realize that her 6 small grandchildren will forever associate Christmas and New Years with the day they lost their grandmother and the day they buried their grandmother.  He wanted these kids to know that it was not a sad day.  That this was now a time to celebrate these days.  Time will eventually heal those wounds.

It was not until Joe's 12 year old son stood up and spoke about his grandmother, that it really hit Jax, or myself, for that matter.  I pretty much started bawling at that point.  Angel spoke so highly of his grandmother,  The one thing he repeated, through his tears, was, "she always taught me to never, ever quit.  My grandmother came to every single one of my football games even when she was sick, she never quit and she taught me, to never quit or ever give up."  Jax told me that he was quite impressed that Angel stood before such a large group and spoke and then said to me, "Angel was lucky that his grandma went to every one of his games."  I agreed and then said, "true, but Jax, she was so sick, and now he does not have a grandma." 

He sat and pondered that for a second and said, "yeah, but they did a lot together in the time they were together."

Yep Jax, you can't get time back, and tomorrow is too late sometimes.......

It's all in the perspective.

Railroad Park

With one night off from task force we decided to head out to Railroad park to attempt a Christmas photo with Santa and a train ride with the kids.  Well, you know how that goes......  one little schmuck wanted no part in posing for pictures, some of the lights were not working on the train ride..... but we made the best of it...  and Santa was overly cool about us taking pictures with our own camera inside the train.

SHOP WITH A COP

This year I took on yet another task.  It is called the, "907 Group" through the POSA organization through the Scottsdale Police Department. I don't often advertise the things I do outside of our family or neighborhood to others.  This one I kept to myself for quite awhile.  I was even shocked when Tommy decided to get his a few guys from his squad involved.

The 907 club takes children from families of fallen and injured officers from around the state of AZ shopping for Christmas.  They are escorted by officers from agencies as a way to show families that they are still part of the law enforcement family.  In a way I think it was a form of healing for me as well.  My kids learned a valuable lesson this day.  I think they were shocked to see so many children at one time or another kissed their mom or dad goodbye for the day or night, and they never came home again.  Thankfully I only had to coordinate about 15 children to shop for my group.

When all was said and done, over 257 children went shopping, and over $47,000 was spent in just a few short hours....  and I was pretty darn tired!!

Updates

Yes kiddos and big kid alike...  I will update this baby tonight...  for now...  be happy I got the i-Touches going and a workout working.... I have 634 pictures to play with and one month of things to go through....  and a house to clean and you kiddos to pick up after....  anyone want to help?

WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS!  WE HOPE YOU ARE SAFE AND WARM WITH ALL YOUR LOVED ONES AND GOODIES THIS HOLIDAY EVENING!

LOVE,
THE JENSEN FAMILY
TOMMY, DEANNA,JAX, BRINKLEY, AND JUSTICE  

PINK GLOVES and a Golden Trophy

Adrenaline was running high all week in our house.  Practices were a little more amped, it was a little harder to concentrate on homework, even I had to rethink my daily things that really needed to get done...outside of taking care of my "other 25 boys."  The last six months of Jax's work had come down to his final game of the season....  The AZYSFO State Championship game between the Titans and the Vikings.

During Wednesday's practice, Jax ripped his beloved pink gloves.  The gloves that we had bought for the month of October.  The gloves that had brought him touchdown after touchdown and win after win.   The gloves that everytime a player made fun of him for wearing, he flattened them, sacked them, tackled them, or just flat out, took them out.  He made the last minute decision to switch to one black and white and one pink.  Whatever works.

During Friday nights practice, one of the Dad's and I met with Steve Breaston, #15, of the AZ Cardinals.  He graciously handed over 53 tickets to Sunday's game against the Rams along with hats, food and drink vouchers and parking passes.  Just to do a good deed for the boys. The story of how it all came about is way to long to even go into, but I can only hope that anyone reading about Jax today, decides TO PAY IT FORWARD too.  I quickly calculated that he donated over $700.00 worth of goodies to our TITANS family and man do we feel loved!!

ONTO THE BIG GAME.......

With all that adrenaline flowing, eye black smeared, signs waving, freshly patched knees, coolers filled, hearts racing, and 21 TITANS anxiously waiting to hear their names called out before the whilstles blew, I said one quick prayer to keep these boys healthy and unhurt during this final game of their JPW season. 

Our first half did not go very well.  We scored only one touchdown but had over 75 yards in penalties for false starts, off sides and tackling in the back field.  Our little guys were anxious and making a lot of mistakes.  Thankfully our defense was holding strong, as always, and the Vikings were not able to score. At halftime I could see how upset Jax was.  He was beyond angry and could barely contain tears of frustration.  The only words that came out of his mouth were, "I WANT MY PINK GLOVE MOM!"  After a coaches talk and some quick oranges our boys came back with a new outlook on the game.

The third quarter brought on a few penalties at the start but the Vikings finally stopped covering the BIG BOY and on came his first touchdown, pushing the score up to 12-0.  Jax was excited and finally found his groove again.  He had been making all his tackles and hitting everyone but had way too many kids covering him to risk a pass his way.  Later in the night Jax told me that he finally looked at David, our quarterback, and told him, "I can't drop the ball (shaking his hands that were now wearing both pink gloves   .......throw to me." David agreed..... and the Titans came alive again.

A few plays later Jax scored his second touchdown of the game. This boy was psyched beyond belief.  he was all over the field, making tackles right and left and made a huge fumble recovery to allow for the final touchdown of the game.  The game came to an end with the TITANS victorious with a score of 26-6.  I couldn't wait to pass out their golden CHAMPION medals.  I took a chance buying them in advance but knew these boys were that good that they would win.

It wasn't until each boy had their medals and I went to put Jax's around his neck that I realized that he had HUGE tears of joy streaming down his face.  That was when I lost it.  I had been completely emotional all week about this game but really tried hard to keep it in check.  He was so happy and I was so proud.  A few of the other moms kind of made fun of me about me crying, others started getting tears in their eyes when they saw mine...either way.... I didn't care...... my kid scored two touchdowns and played his heart out for this team and I was simply PROUD beyond words!

You earned the right to be called a CHAMPION Jax.  You earned that Huge golden trophy for your Coach and your played your heart out with those pink gloves....even with all those boys that had the nerve to make fun of you for wearing them.  You had the last laugh though didn't you?  I will miss your team as you move up to a new level next season.  It will be bigger and stronger boys and you will have to train to meet the demands of that team.  I know you can do it.  You have proven yourself this season.  You proved you are capable of being a top athlete, an honors student and wonderful son.  Not that any of those were ever in question!!!!  Keep up the great work.......Just make sure you take a shower!!!!!!

Dear Jax,

Everyday I hear I have yet to blog again, it has been so many days since I have blogged or, Mom, why haven't you blogged?  Well, kiddo, here it is. Just for you.

As you read this, I hope you keep in mind, that it is not just for you.  It is about our entire family.  Your season is coming to an amazing end this Saturday.  No matter what the outcome, you have come a long way in 6 months.  You trained hard, you learned from amazing men, you listened, you worked as a team, you worked on your own, you gained knowledge and muscle mass and size...Lord did you gain size.... and you matured.  We are very proud of you.  No matter how your game ends, know that you have won.  You learned what it felt like to lose a game that was lost on uncertain terms and you learned what victory felt like.

I hope that you realize that it has been a long 6 months for your entire family.  Every person has given up time, energy, and other things to always be there to support you and your love of football.  From the 4 days a week practices to 4 days a week with practices and games, it has never been easy to get everything in and make it seem simple, but everyone has given it their best for you so that you could be successful on that field every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and on game day Saturday.  Please don't ever forget that Jax.  It has been so much more a part of your success than just your practices, than you will ever realize.  No matter what your little sister or brother may say or do, they look up to you and respect the young man you are becoming and the athlete that you are.  Don't ever tarnish that image Jax.  It is an honor to hold such a place in a family.

I hope you know how proud I am of you.  I listen to parents talk about you and how many of them are shocked that this is your first fall season. You are still my little boy even if you stand nose to nose with me.  I want you to do your best on Saturday and when that last second ticks away, hold your head high, because no matter what, your family will be there with you, proud as ever for the season you have had and the player you have become.

I Love You!
Mom

Star Student and Field Trip Time!!!

Last Friday Justice got to go on his first field trip with his class.  He was so excited to ride the bus and go to the farm he could hardly contain himself.  He came home when the names were drawn for the chaperone's and tried very hard not to cry that I could not go with him. I knew he would have a great time even without mom!!!  Mrs. Moore made sure he got with his best buddy Anawin's group and his mom, which made it even better. I am so glad he had such a great time even if mom couldn't go with!!!  There will be many, many more field trips I am sure I will get to go on with you!!!!!

Justice was the star student this week so I sent a special lunch with him to make it even more fun since we could not celebrate his day with him like the other kids get to on their star student weeks!  I think his "big sandwich" from Subway with all his special surprises inside the bag and coming in at the end of the day with a big bag of goodies to share with his class while he shared his star poster with the class was a great way to end a fun day!!!

Justice loved that Freedom Bear went to football practice and was actually in the huddle for the biggest game of the season for Jax.  Mrs Moore told the class that Freedom Bear had never been to a practice before so that was pretty exciting!!!!!!

For his star student week we had a lot of fun doing all the little projects that go a long with being the start student!  On Monday Justice brought in a few of his favorite items.  They ask that you don't just bring in a bunch of toys so I made him think of things that he really liked or loved.  He took in his Nintendo DS (no surprise there), his blanket that Jax had as a baby and Jax has given to him to sleep with now (even though in the middle of the night...it still ends up wrapped around Jax's neck, Jax's football picture (because Justice can not wait to play football like his brother) and a bag of his DS games!  On Tuesday he took a book with him.  He is not into a "favorite book" so we just chose a Curious George book.  I am really bad about reading to my kids, even though they read to each other and love reading.  Wednesday brought on the estimation jar.  Lots of sour patch kids and gummy fish... (gross) and Friday was his love letter and poster!  He got jipped with having Thursday off for a holiday and the field trip, but we made up for it with a special star lunch on Monday of the next week!

Here are a few things Justice wrote about himself on his poster:

3 amazing facts about me:
I LOVE BROCCOLI AND BIG SANDWICH FROM SUBWAY
I GET TO PLAY TACKLE FOOTBALL WITH MY BIG BROTHER NEXT YEAR
I JUST LEARNED TO RIDE THE E300 BLUE SCOOTER THIS WEEK

Mommy's favorite *****  I am special because...I LOVE MY MOMMY!!!!

I AM 5 YEARS OLD
I WALK TO SCHOOL
MY FAVORITE COLORS ARE RED, BLUE, AND BLACK
AND I SHOW PEOPLE I CARE BY TELLING THEM THEY ARE MY BEST FRIEND!

Dear Brinkley and Justice,

Hi little crumbsnatching loves of my life,

I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you how proud of the two of you I am.

We are going on almost 6 entire months of football and there have been only two times that you could not or did not want to go to practice.  That in its self is a miracle. No one has gotten sick, no one fought about having to load up 3, 4 or 5 times a week, or whined about unloading everything once we got to practice...ever.  It has not been easy on anyone but you two have absolutely given 100% to Jax and his entire team.  It would not be possible for Mommy to help out the boys the way that I do or even get Jax to practice to be as successful as he is, without all the effort you two put into all the time away from home.  It is never easy but you two work hard to make the days a little simpler. I am sorry for the times that I get frustrated when we are at practice.  It makes for a very, very long week when you guys fight and do not get along so sometimes Mom looses her cool too.  

After Jaxi wins his championship game the two of you will each get a special day just to yourselves.  Mommy will let you pick out a movie or something ultra special to do, just to say thank you for supporting Jax through summer, fall, and into the winter!!!

I love you and I know how much Jaxi loves you for the support that you give to him all week long.  

Thank you for being such an awesome daughter and sister, son and brother!!! 

YOU TWO ROCK!!!

All my love, 

Mom   

DECEMBER 4TH

I THINK SOMEONE IS A LITTLE HAPPY..... CAN YOU GUESS WHO IS GOING TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON DECEMBER 4TH?

WAY TO OWN IT TODAY TITANS!!   27-0... I THINK YOU PROVED YOUR POINT!!!!  BRING ON THE VIKINGS AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!!!!

ENTIRE WEEK OF MAKE IT OR BREAK IT

 JUST PICKING HIM UP BY HIS THIGH..................................

PAYING JAX BACK WITH A FACEMASK AFTER JAX HIT HIM WITH A FACEMASK BY ACCIDENT BECAUSE HE IS HALF OF JAX'S SIZE AND HE TURNED AROUND AND CAUGHT JAX'S HAND UNINTENTIONALLY!  FUNNIEST THING IN THE WORLD WHEN I TOLD OUR REF, "IF MY KID WOULD HAVE MEANT TO FACEMASK THAT LITTLE TYKE, HIS WHOLE HEAD WOULD HAVE POPPED OFF!!!"  OUR REF, ANYA LAUGHED SO HARD SHE HAD TEARS ROLLING DOWN HER CHEEKS!

WE HAVE COME TO THAT POINT...


WE ARE MAKE IT OR BREAK IT IN A LOT OF AREAS RIGHT NOW.


ONE IS READING AND SPELLING, AND QUITE WELL, I MIGHT ADD,  ONE IS ADMITTING TO LIKING A BOY, A BOY THAT HER BROTHER IS "ALLOWING" HER TO LIKE BEAUSE HE IS COOL AND HE IS A "QUARTERBACK."  I THINK THIS IS PROGRESS ON BOTH PARTS.  JAX IS LOOKING OUT FOR LITTLE BINKY AND BINKY IS STARTING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NOT EVERY SINGLE GUY ON EARTH IS DISGUSTING ANYMORE.  AS LONG AS I DON'T TALK TO HIS MOMMA WE WILL BE ALRIGHT...  BECAUSE I THINK I HEARD BRINKLEY'S LUNGS EMPTY OUT WHEN I WALKED UP TO HER AT THEIR GAME SATURDAY MORNING, JUST TO SAY HI.  I WILL NOT ENCOURAGE THIS ONE TOO MUCH, BUT I HAVE A FEELING WITH BIG BROTHER APPROVING IT, MR. QUARTERBACK MAY JUST HAPPEN TO SHOW UP OVER AT OUR HOUSE ONE OF THESE DAYS!!!


TOMMY IS ONTO  HIS NEWEST "KNOW YOUR LIMIT" DETAIL.  WALKING THE BAR DISTRICT WITH PBT'S TO SHOW BAR PATRONS WHERE THEY ARE AT WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT!  FUN STUFF I MISS SO MUCH!!!


AND FINALLY, OUR WEEK COMES DOWN TO "THE GAME."
THE GAME THAT WILL END THE SEASON OR TAKE US TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER THE LIGHTS AT MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT WILL BE SPONSORED BY RIDDELL AND UNDER ARMOUR AND ESPN WILL BE PRESENT THERE.  SO  "THE GAME" IS ON ALL OUR MINDS.  ESPECIALLY JAX'S.  WE PLAY A TEAM WE PLAYED BEFORE.  THEY CHEAT.  JAX HAS ALREADY MADE UP HIS MIND TO RUN THEM ALL OVER LIKE MACK TRUCKS AND ONE BY ONE THEY WILL GO DOWN AND OUT OF THE GAME.  HE AND HIS TEAMMATES HAVE A PLAN.... THEY ARE GOING TO PLAY LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER PLAYED BEFORE, HARDER THAN EVER, HIT LIKE TRUCKS, RUN LIKE THE WIND, CATCH EVERYTHING THAT COMES THEIR WAY, HIT EVERYONE IN BLUE AND HIT THEM AGAIN IF THEY THINK THEY WANT TO GET BACK UP AND THEN TELL THEM TO STAY DOWN......  BECAUSE IT IS GAME ON FOR THESE KIDS!!!!


HOPEFULLY I WILL I HAVE A VOICE BY THEN, BECAUSE I HAVE SLOWLY BEEN LOSING IT FOR THE LAST TWO GAMES AND NOW IT IS JUST A HIGH PITCHED SQUEAK..............................................................I AM GOING TO NEED MY LOUDEST SCREAMS FOR THIS GAME.  (MY KIDS ARE LOVING THIS, I BARELY TALK IN THE HOUSE NOW)    SO JAX AND I ARE SLEEPING WITH HUMIDIFIERS AND VICKS.  YUM.....

SEMI'S ... HERE WE COME.......

LOSING

Jax's 70+ yard touchdown run!!!

I am a firm believer in learning how to play fair, play hard, be a good winner and a better loser.  Unfortunately I didn't know how difficult it would be to comfort a crying 10 year old little boy, or 24 for that matter.  No matter how big my kid is in size, he is still a little boy, who has just had his heart shattered into a million pieces after losing a football game because adults taught children how to cheat and hurt other children.  All Tommy and I could do was hug him and tell him how proud we are of him.  What more can a parent do?

I have never seen little boys go after other little boys like this.  Inmates in a jail yes, little boys? no!  We watched 10 year old little boys try to, and successfully hurt 95% of our boys in one way or another.  Two of our quarterbacks were seriously injured.  One with a possible chip in his hip bone and the other with a possible concussion.  We had boys that had intentional helmet to helmet hits, intentional jumps onto their arms, hands, and even Jax took the intentional jump to his achilles.  Fortunately we have a professional team trainer that loves to run because she was non-stop the entire game.  I laughed when Jax told me that he "accidentally" stepped on the other teams quarterbacks hands... after he took him down during a play.  I must have given him some kind of look because he immediately came back with, "hey, I helped him up after...."  Then I burst out laughing but it didn't take out enough of the sting!!!!

A tough loss yes, but a good lesson that Jax needed.  You see, Jax had never lost a football game.  Somehow, he has always been on the winning end of the clock when it has come to football.  He has lost during soccer and baseball but I honestly think that it didn't matter because he didn't love those sports.  He lives to watch football and learn play.  He respects his coaches and wants to learn.  Baseball and soccer were were just whims but football is his "it" sport..... except for the fact that he has coaches that are trying to talk to him about baseball..   but that is a whole different ballgame all together...................  and blog.............

So.....we move forward to our playoffs with only one questionable loss ....  and the real possiblitly that my son could head to the Arizona State Championship playoff game for the East Valley Junior Pee Wee Division for the Valley.  This could get interesting....  real quick...............................

Friendship

Funny thing about friendships....  when they are real, they can come and go and you can say anything and then laugh about it and still want to be around each other.

Take for instance..  one of the women I really look up to.  The other day we were joking about a few different things and she says, "wow, I remember when we (her and her husband) were their age (insert a certain couples name) and we worked out together and had the perfect house together and our kids were perfect in school together and I was the perfect stay at home mom and I cooked and my husband came home to me and it was just perfect.  I totally started laughing and said, "when I was her age I had the perfect career, a nanny, the perfectly clean house, I worked out every day, went to work with my husband everyday, came home with my husband every day and had the perfect life.....bahhhh and now I have her sucky life that I totally hate cuz it ain't perfect to me....funny how that works huh?"

She laughed so hard she almost spit her drink out too.  I never realized how much of a good friend she really is to me until that day.  Funny how you never really know who your real friends are until you really need them or until push comes to shove and it hits the fan.  Or when you don't need anything at all and you just want to sit and do nothing and say nothing.  That is when you know who your friends really are.  The ones who can enjoy the silence with, without having to break it.

And on that note... three kids fighting means I don't get to post yet another blog post......  this is getting so very old......

4-d

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!

I SHOULD BE DOING A MILLION AND 6 OTHER THINGS RIGHT NOW... SEEING AS THAT OUR 5 YEAR OLD IS STANDING HERE NAKED, WRITING HIS COLORS FOR ME WHILE WAITING TO TAKE A BATH, BUT SOME THINGS CAN WAIT.

I DON'T KNOW ANY COUPLES WHO HAVE BEEN WHERE WE HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW ANY FAMILIES LIKE OURS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT..BUT WE DO..
AND WELL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH TO YOU MY LOVE!!!
ALL MY HEART ALWAYS,
BUNNY

MOM

For one,you're not the only one who can take over blogs.Thanks for telling me all that stuff(go to my blog and read it people).2 things 1, why'd you suddenly take over my blog,just kiddin,but seriously.2 you are the best mom ever,'cept for the fact you hacked my blog but still love ya more than cinnamon toast.

LOVE YA,
JAX

p.s. thanks for the towels
p.p.s  go to my blog,it's funny       what to do: go to blogs we tend to bother,click all about Jaxi,this'll get me some readers

READ IT PEOPLE WHO READ MY MOM'S BLOG,PLEASE........AND LEAVE COMMENTS,

SOARIN'

THEY ARE COMING TOGETHER AS A TEAM!!!  AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF HOW FAR HE HAS COME THIS SEASON!!!   STILL UNDEFEATED AND THE TEAM TO BEAT!!!! 

GO TITANS!

THE FINAL SCORE AGAINST CASA GRANDE....28-0!!!