Maui 1 of ?

A few pictures of our Maui vacation so far:
We took a boat out to Molokini & Turtle Town today. We saw about 10 turtles, it was fantastic. Jay is a natural snorkler & such a cutie too!

Jeppson cousins chameleon hunting at Kula.
Annie, Jay, Brennan, Spencer & Carter

Boogie boarding

Grandpa Jeppson opening up a coconut for the grandkids to try.

July 22nd
Our nephew Spencer was baptized by his dad Mike. Very special day!

Ridge with his cousin Annie

Jeppson Aloha

I'm taking a break from my N.M. posts due to lack of space on my computer. It's not letting me save any pictures which is frustrating because I want to get them loaded before I have MORE fun pictures to add. I think we just need to buy some more space for our computer.

For all my avid blog readers, (Sari, Brenna & Carie) I won't be posting for awhile.
We're escaping to Maui paradise! Sigh, I know I have a charmed life. :)
Since our last trip in 2006, we've added 2 more Jeppson grand babies and a hubby (Rob) for Stef.
Good times are coming for sure! It will be fun to have the whole Jeppson Clan together. We've all been counting down the days...

Can't wait to spend some time with these girls...

We'll probably take more pictures in this exact spot.

I might "accidentally" miss my flight home!

Miss you all.

New Mexico Part 2--The Farewell

Sunday July 13th 2008 was THE day.
My niece Chloe S. sang "I hope they call me on a mission," while her sister Emmy & Jaydan went up on the stand and stood there for moral support. She did a fantastic job, the girl is fearless. After her song was over she stood there and said "I love you Uncle Seth!" Such a sweetie.

Then the sisters (Me, Sariah & Brenna) sang "As I Have Loved You." The arrangement was beautiful. Michelle McCutcheon played the piano and Cami Bluth played the violin. They both wrote their own music because the arrangement that my mother picked out didn't have sheet music. It was beautiful, & sounded just like the CD. It was hard to not get choked up and still sing. We sang part of it in Spanish, since that is what Seth will be speaking down in Honduras. I'd say the accompaniment was definitely prettier then our singing, but the spirit was felt. An act of love. Seth gave a great to the point (short) talk. I think he timed it at 6 minutes. It was heartfelt and sincere, again the spirit was felt.

Dinner afterward was a grand affair. Mom had been preparing for days...Dad knocked himself out cooking 2 huge briskets. Delicious! He graciously gave me a bottle of the Claude's brisket marinade and shared a couple of his secrets. Now all I need is a roaster...
It was a sweet time to be all together for such a joyous occasion. I love my family.

Outside shot:

Mary Jo & Marion Jenkins (a.k.a. Meme & Papa) with Matthew Ridge

The Jenkins Cousins (most of us)
Seth, Jayden, Me, Sariah, Joseph, Rachel,
Brenna, Harmony & Megan

Mamacita y Seth

Ridge with Grandma Muffin

Sariah & I with our very handsome (single) cousin Ted(dy)

Chloe, Jay & Emmy rode in back of the truck home from church. The house is just down the street & Emmy is ready in her car seat. :)

Brenna, Seth, Jamey & Sariah
There won't be another picture like this one for TWO whole years!

The whole family. ( - Matt, Asher & Ridge.)

The great-grandbabies. My mom bought a blow up jumper that the kids loved! Great thinking as usual Mom!

New Mexico Part 1

Here are some pictures from our quick jaunt out to my homeland of Carlsbad, NM a.k.a The Land of Enchantment. We had a wonderful time with our entire (almost) family! I have a TON of pictures since the occasion was Seth's mission farewell, and am trying to sort through them. I plan to eventually publish my blog into book form via Blurb so I'm going to post my favorites instead of a slide show.

Waiting to board our plane. Jay was extremely excited to go to "Mexico" to visit Punkin, Muffin, Uncle Seth and all the crew. That's right, my parents are known as Muffin & Punkin.

Seth drove to Roswell (Area 51) in dad's truck to pick us up.

Jay & Lily with apples from Meme & Papa's trees. My mom cut them up and the kids dipped them in cinnamon/sugar. They literally gobbled them up.

Ridge, Seth and my grandmother Meme at the pool.

Jay loved the slide and diving board.

My darling sister Brenna who JUST had a baby, with her hubby Sean and baby Daisy.

Jay & Lily riding Meme's baby buffalo. The daddy buffalo was "too hot so sit on."

This is the bell at the Jenkins' compound that many of my High School friends (who shall remain nameless) liked to ring in the middle of the night. Small town, lack of other entertainment around. The rope is now tied up to keep other ringers at bay.

Enjoying summer watermelon, compliments of Meme.

I love this picture because of the pure JOY on my son's face. Punkin let him drive all over the place. Jay loved it!

I know this picture is retro/blurry looking but I still like it.

McCutcheon's ranch. Dear, dear friends of the family. Thanks Steven/Seth for taking the kids for rides while we practiced our musical number. Jay was so excited to be on the ranch. On the way up the "driveway" he asked in a very concerned voice: "Mom, what if the cowboys won't let us into the ranch?"

Me & my seestas shooting off Roman candles.

Seth worked one of Uncle Joe D.'s firework stands this summer and kept some of the good stuff for our post 4th enjoyment.

I thought Ridge was missing, but he was behind "Tomas" (toe-mas) the scooter chillin' with Two-Bits the fat yellow lab.

The Land of Enchantment

The N.M. state pledge: “I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico and the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures.”

Today is our 5 year anniversary of living in MO! That is the longest time of our married lives that we've stayed in one place. We have grown to love Kansas City and all the green trees, fireflies, yummy BBQ, our great friends, fun shopping and historical church sites. However today is not a post about Missouri. I'll do one of those another time.

Today the fun is all about Nuevo Mejico! Every so often, I get a little bit homesick and miss good ol' New Mexico. Mi familia, the dry desert, being able to see the sun rise AND set, the hot DRY heat, stopping at the Border Patrol (just to tell them that yes we are U.S. citizens) on our way in from El Paso, green chile, & fantastic Mexican food. Good thing I am headed there TOMORROW for Seth's mission farewell! I can't wait to see my whole family. I also get to meet my new niece Daisy. It's been too long my seestas...I feel some hula lessons coming on!

A few weeks ago, on my way to the store I noticed some Yucca plants growing & stopped to take pictures. I observed a moment of silence in honor of the State Flower of my enchanted homeland, but that was mostly b/c it was EARLY (6:30 a.m.) and I was all alone while the boys were tucked in their beds at home with Matt.

Some of my friends call me "The Enchantress", but not for the reasons you may think (although let's face it my personality can be enchanting)-- It's because that is how I introduce myself: "Hi I'm Jamey Jeppson and I'm originally from New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. I am an Enchantress."

It's a great way to make friends, TRUST me!

Here are a few fun facts about where I'm from. My Jeppson family is already familiar with the State song. They made up their own words (thanks Stef) like Oh, fair New Mexico, the land where grass won't grow, and where it never snows...etc. Here are the real words and a snazzy little rendition of the music so you can sing a long.

I also love the state motto. It's very fitting.

New Mexico was the 47^th state in the USA; it became a state on January 6, 1912 .

State Abbreviation - NM
State Capital - Santa Fe
Name for Residents - New Mexicans
State Nickname - Land of Enchantment
State Motto - "Crescit eundo" - It grows as it goes
State Song - O, Fair New Mexico

O, Fair New Mexico

Song by Elizabeth Garrett
Adopted March 14, 1917

Under a sky of azure, where balmy breezes blow;
Kissed by the golden sunshine, is Nuevo Mejico.
Home of the Montezuma, with fiery heart aglow,
State of the deeds historic, is Nuevo Mejico.

Chorus:
O, fair New Mexico, we love, we love you so
Our hearts with pride o'erflow, no matter where we go,
O, fair New Mexico, we love, we love you so,
The grandest state to know, New Mexico.

Rugged and high sierras, with deep canyons below;
Dotted with fertile valleys, is Nuevo Mejico.
Fields full of sweet alfalfa, richest perfumes bestow,
State of apple blossoms, is Nuevo Mejico.

Chorus

Days that are full of heart-dreams, nights when the moon hangs low;
Beaming its benediction, o'er Nuevo Mejico.
Land with its bright manana, coming through weal and woe;
State of our esperanza, is Nuevo Mejico.

Listen to NM State Song & sing along of course!

Someday...

I want to have a set of these in my master closet. It's an Asko washer & dryer. The company is in Sweden.
Although I love my house, I dread dragging my laundry down stairs to the laundry room and then lugging it back up. Since our closet is where most of our dirty clothes are anyway, this would be the perfect solution.
I got this picture from Ashlynn who lives in St. George and designs beautiful kitchens, I love her taste.

Crack-a-lackin 4th!

Twas the night before the 4th of July, Jay was found in his bed like this & we don't know why.




Asher got to drive the John Deere first, & Jay was NOT happy. Asher was though.


Proud to be an American!
4th of July shirts & swimsuits.



Jaydan River 5 years old.


Asher Nickolas 3 years old.


Matt with 1 year old Ridge.


The spread at the Kusgen's beautiful home. (Thanks so much for hosting!)
Yummy burgers & hot dogs. Beans from Jack Stack BBQ, jalapeno corn, pasta salad, yummy green salad, fresh fruit, dips & chips. The all American meal. The desserts took up an entire counter on the other side of the room. Sidenote: See the cool Pepsi-Cola sign on the wall? Jenny & her sister painted it on there. Muy talented familia.


Jay & Ash on the boat getting pumped to go tubing!



A. on the left, J. on the right

A. looks like the king of his domain.


Alka Seltzer rockets for the kids. Asher was the last one to stop making them. He loved making them shoot up and especially the big "POP!"


We watched the fireworks on Raintree Lake. Here is a shot with 4 of the 5 of us. Jay stayed with the big kids while the adults went out on the boat. We all had a fantastic day! We are so blessed to live in this wonderful country.