Jepson Family

Update

2008-09-18T18:59:00.000-07:00

So I have been a little behind lately on posts. So here is a quick update. I was girl's camp director and we had a lot of fun. I will post some pics soon. That was in July followed by the Judd family reunion. We then tried to get everything together before school started. I had little luck with that and still have suitcases in my spare bedroom (they are empty though :) ). School started and all is great.

Darren - is taking 21 credit at UNLV this semester and should if all goes well graduate with his first bachelors degree in University Studies, Management and English. He will then keep going and get a second degree in Construction Management. He is still working for Perini and they are coming along on their project on the strip. It has been a great experience so far and he has learned a ton.

Christopher - started first grade and is enjoying his new school. We decided to start public school this year because private was TOO $$$$, you get what I mean. It has been an adjustment for all. Chris loves it because he has a lot less homework. I however have been a little worried. We are working on our behavior, he loves to be the class clown (I wonder where he gets that from... DAD). I am thinking of starting him in karate.

Jen - is teaching 8th grade BOYS health. Yes I said boys, it has been an adventure so far. I am actually co-teaching so in a day I teach almost 400 students with another teacher. It feels more like a college course. We have survived so far, I guess we will see. I am going to play in a women's volleyball league once a week. We have practices a couple of times and my joints are not loving the jumping, but it is a lot of fun.

Other than that everything is about the same. We are doing good and keeping VERY BUSY! I will post some more when I get time. Maybe in another month or so lol.

2008-06-26T21:33:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

2008-06-25T14:11:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2008-06-25T13:49:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dominica Tuesday June 17, 2008

2008-06-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

St. Kitts, WI - Saturday 21, 2008

2008-06-25T13:18:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

Antigua

2008-06-25T13:09:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Jepson Family Caribbean Cruise

2008-06-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

Cruise Details

Sunday June 15th - San Juan, Puerto Rico - This that you see behind Chris is Castillo San Felipe Del Morro. It was a fort built by Spain to keep out pirates and other countries trying to take over San Juan. It was under several different countries until the U.S. invaded and took possession of the Island. (Jen's version of the story is always watered down and not as interesting as the tour guides :)

Monday June 16th - St. Thomas *USVI* One of the most beautiful islands, it is know for it's shopping and we went to Megan's Bay (voted top 10 most beautiful beaches in the WORLD). We had a ton of fun snorkeling and shopping.

Tuesday June 17th - Dominica - This day we went into the rain forest and hiked to a waterfall. The people on this island were very poor and it is just changing it's focus from bananas and farming to tourism. It is the most untouched by the outside world.

Wednesday June 18th - Barbados - This island we went on a excursion that took us on a catamaran and we were able to snorkel with the turtles.

Thursday June 19th - St. Lucia - We went on a pirate ship and Chris got to sail the boat and act like the pirate captain. They also fired off cannons and we had a treasure hunt. Another one of my favorite islands!

Friday June 20th - Antigua - This day was rainy and so we took a tour of the island by bus. We went to a old boat yard. It had the most amazing hotel there, I would love to go back and stay in some time. This island is still under British control I think.

Saturday June 21st - St. Kitts, WI - This was also one of my favorite islands. They had beaches where you could snorkel amongst sunken ships, we went to a beach and found a beautiful place to snorkel. Chris was a natural, once I get out underwater pictures back I will post some. There were also monkeys all over. Chris got to pet one, unfortunately we did not get a picture of it though.

Sunday June 22nd - San Juan, Puerto Rico - We finished back up in San Juan. We had an amazing time and had a ton of fun with the Jepson family. We would love to go back to some of the islands some day.

2008-06-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

2008-06-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Puppy

2008-04-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Remember the puppy I wrote about back in March? Here he is now and he sure is cute. They affectionately call him Uno because he is the only one.

2008-04-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

Darren, Chris and I went to a carnival for a local elementary school. Fun was had by all and Chris got his hair painted.

Fishing April 2008

2008-04-27T13:18:00.000-07:00

Chris and I went to Page last week and had a blast fishing on Lake Powell. Christopher loves being with his Gramps and Gran and is quite the fisherman.

City Center

2008-04-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of the project Darren has been working on with Perini. City Center will be one of the largest singly financed projects in the nation when it is completed. He is loving his new job and much to my delight realizing he chose a field he enjoys. This job has been a blessing and a wonderful opportunity for Darren.

2008-03-28T23:30:00.001-07:00

Here are some of our most recent family pictures.

Easter Celebrations

2008-03-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

Chris (Jodi's husband) taking the kids for a ride. We were able to do our traditional Judd/Jensen family Easter morning in the beautiful hills of Northern Arizona. We had our egg and basket hunt, dutch oven breakfast and then a wonderful spiritual message on why we really celebrate Easter. It was a great day that brought back fun memories from my childhood.

Best Friends

2008-03-28T23:16:00.000-07:00

These two absolutely love hanging out together. You never knew what funny thing they were going to say next. It was so much fun spending time with family during spring break.

Happy 100th Birthday

2008-03-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

We were able to celebrate the 100th birthday of my Great Granny. While everyone was in town for the wedding we went over to the rest home to be with Gran. We are all truly blessed to have her in our lives and what an amazing legacy she has created during her lifetime. It is not very often that your child can know his Great Great Gran. Happy Birthday Granny, we all love you!!!

Puppies

2008-03-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

The kids were not completely sure what to think about the puppies being born, but it was sure fun to be there. Unfortunately we lost one of the two babies the day after she was born, but mom and her little yellow boy are doing fine I am told. (Misty is the mom and she belongs to Jen's parents) Chris seems to think that he needs this little one, I however am not as sure about wanting a chewing machine :)

Spring Break

2008-03-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

Spring break was spent in Page this year. Lisa and Brooklyn flew into Vegas and then we went to Arizona and spent a week playing and having a ton of fun. We took the dogs for runs, played at the park, worked on Melissa's and Eric's wedding (which was beautiful), the kids watched puppies be born, went out on the lake, had 3 Easter egg hunts, went on quad rides and played at the park. Jodi was down with her kids and we all just had a ball.

Tooth Fairy $$

2008-03-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

Chris has lost his first two teeth. His math side has officially come out and he has figured out how much $$ he can get with the remaining teeth he has. He went as far as doubling the amount because he thought he could just get gold teeth to replace the permanent ones. He figured it was a great idea until I told him that gold teeth cost money. So I guess he decided that wasn't going to work out so well. He will get all the $$ out of that poor tooth fairy any way he can :)

2008 Update

2008-03-28T22:38:00.000-07:00

As you can see it has been a while since out last posting. So here is an update on 2008. Darren is still working at Perini and loving it, I am starting the last quarter of the school year...the countdown is here, and Chris is doing well in school and loves math. He has also finished up basketball and started T-ball. His team is the Giants and Darren is an assistant coach and I am team mom.

2007 pictures

2007-12-17T20:53:00.000-08:00

Jen & Chris Nike 5K For Kids Race

"No Fear"- 4th of July Page, Arizona. You can guess what happened next!

"Roping Lesson" - Chris and Gramps

Fun pics from 2007

2007-12-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

"Soccer Star" - He got the nicest kid on the team award, you know mom was excited about that :) I am a little too competitive.

Darren & Christopher Cali 2007

"Catch of the Day" - summer 2007 (Jen's dad, Chris, Korey/nephew)

Christmas 2007

2007-12-17T20:00:00.001-08:00

Well it is looking more and more like a Christmas letter will not make it out in time this year for the holidays. This will have to be the next best thing. This year we will be going to Arizona to spend the holidays with my family. Darren's parents have decided to go on a Hawaiian Island cruise since the kids will be with the in-laws. Darren, Chris and I are looking forward to seeing all of my family and spending some time in beautiful Northern Arizona. I am sure we will be playing in the snow, four wheeling, playing some football and if my dad has any say scouting for his upcoming buffalo hunt.

Here is a couple significant events that happened to the Jepson family in 2007 -

We took our first family vacation with just the 3 of us to Disneyland. Christopher loved the ocean and was not afraid to ride any of the rides. - June

Chris turned 5 and is still stumping his pediatrician on his age, because of his size. - July

The Jensen family started up our tradition of going camping on the Boulder Mountains in Utah. We fished, canoed, hiked, played on the quads and started a bug collection. - August

I started my 4th year of teaching at Brown JHS, and retired from coaching for a while so that I can spend more time with Chris. - August

Christopher graduated preschool and started kindergarten at American Heritage Academy, a private school in Henderson. He loves his teacher and has the best penmanship in his class. - August

Darren took an internship for Perini, who is one of the largest construction companies in the nation. They have already promised him a full time position as soon as he finishes his degree. He is still attending UNLV and is working towards obtaining his bachelors degree. - October

What the Jepson family is looking forward to in 2008

We will be going on a cruise to the Caribbean this summer with the Jepson family.

Christopher will be going into 1st grade. Where has yet to be decided.

Hopefully many other wonderful memories and adventures to write about next December.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope to see you in 2008. Las Vegas is always a great vacation destination and our door is always open.

with love,

The Jepson Family

Christopher

2007-12-05T21:01:00.000-08:00

Christopher – This is his first year of kindergarten. He is attending American Heritage Academy, a private school for K-8 students. Chris is at the top of his class, and I have been told several times by his teacher that his writing is often used as the class example.
He is really enjoying school and is like a sponge, soaking in every bit of information that he can. His first basketball season starts in a couple of weeks, he thinks he will be the next Larry Bird (he’s the only white, famous basketball star I could think of right off the top of my head J). Darren and I love every moment with him. Christopher has become and very polite, thoughtful and bright young man.

Darren

2007-12-05T20:51:00.001-08:00

Darren – Most recently has made a career change and is now working in his field of study. He is working for Perini, which is one of the largest construction companies in the nation. The project site is The City Center located in Las Vegas, NV. which when finished along with its casino the Cosmopolitan, will be the largest project ever built in Southern Nevada. This move has been a positive change both for Darren and our family, as we tend to see him more often now.