Jeff and Anita Sorensen Family

I'm a writer...who knew????

2010-07-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

I finished my very first novel. The Soul Keeper is what I have named it. It is a little Paranormal meets Romance. So far I am at the "sending out query letters" stage. No lines are forming to pick me up as a client, but I am sticking to the motto..."There might be thousands of "no's", but it only takes one "yes". So, if there are any literary agents, or publishers of fiction literature out there that want to take a chance on a first time writer....here I am. =)

Seriously?

2008-08-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, I don't think I will ever get the hang of this blogging thing. So I will just do an update and hope that will keep everyone at bay until I get something interesting to post.
Jeff - He and his buddy Ty took Sotty, Taylor, Zoe, and Ty's two boys tubing down the Salt River. Anyone who is familiar with the Salt River in August may now take their few moments to get their gag reflexes under control. (pausing) Ok, anyway, they had fun, but Jeff came home and proceeded to run a raging non-stop fever for 2 days. I called it "Pond Scum Fever" The doctor called it a sinus infection. I'm still not convinced.
Anita - I'm not up to much lately. I have had a couple of photography shoots, but not a whole lot due to the excruciating heat of Arizona. Relief Society is keeping me busy. Apparently the heat brings out the "best" in people. Emma and I are enjoying our one on one time now that the kids are back in school. Oh yeah, and I'm taking piano lessons.
Jon - We haven't heard from him in a while, but the last update we got, he was trying to get registered at UNM in Albuquerque for the fall semester.
Taylor - He is back at school, and already registered in the band. He's a drummer!! His Jiu Jitsu is going well. He is getting close to earning his Weblos badge and Arrow of Light in Scouts. He had fun with Uncle Scott on the river and keeps telling me about how Uncle Scott would sneak up and scare them. He also told me that he swallowed some of the water. (pause for the gag reflex thing). I then had a little talk with him on "What mommy needs to know, and what mommy doesn't need to know."
Zoe - Is busy with Piano, and Jiu Jitsu. She did the river thing too, and so far hasn't come down with any horrendous symptoms. She was visiting her friend Harlee the other day. Harlee found a stray puppy and Zoe wanted it. Jeff told her "No". After the crying stopped, she and Taylor started discussing puppy names (yes, for the dog she wasn't getting). She wanted some typical name like "fluffy", but Taylor wanted "Pathetic Moon Sac" (Apparently from X-Men III). Jeff and I laughed for a while over that.
Brigham - Is loving school. He told me that him and his friend Darius love to play football at recess. Yesterday he said "Mom, I thought I was gonna miss the ball, but it landed right here (pointing to his arm) and I caught it. I just ran and ran and I got a home run". I'm thinking he might need a few more lessons. Brig is also taking Piano. He had his first recital, and he did so well. I think he was so keyed up though, because as everyone else played their pieces he would sit ramrod stiff, holding on to the edge of his chair with his eyes wide open and his mouth all tensed showing all his teeth. When the person would finish their piece he would exhale loudly like he was holding his breath and clap really dramatically until he was the last one clapping. I'm thinking a little benadryl before the next recital might not be a bad idea.
Bryce - Isn't really digging the whole Kindergarten experience. He is a little miffed that they are still doing "Pre-school stuff". Hopefully things will pick up for him soon. Jeff dropped him off at school the other day and he said "Dad, do me a favor, don't say goodbye when you drop me off, cuz it kinda makes me cry". Now we just say "Have a great day".
Emma - Has picked up the standing thing. She is rather proud of herself. She also has discovered the stairs. The very next day she discovered a gate. She is starting to get the hang of waving "bye bye" sadly, she usually waits until the person has already left, or she waves with her hand behind so the person can't see her waiving.

Zoe's Birthday

2008-06-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Zoe and Harlee go to breakfast at....Jack In The Box....Mmmmm!
Zoe getting a pedicure. Ahhhh that feels nice.
Harlee gets one too.
Zoe's pedicurist (what is the technical name??) gets down to business.
Harlee gets filed.
Zoe picks pink polish.
Harlee picks blue polish.

Now Zoe gets a nail polishing.
Harlee too.
Time for a Hamburger???
I love that old fashioned comic pages wrapping paper!! It makes me think of Grandma Dille.
Showing Nona her "Littlest Pet Shop"

Bryce's Preschool Graduation

2008-06-25T11:36:00.000-07:00

This is Bryce's school picture at Mrs. Rebekah's Preschool.
Bryce got ready for his graduation day all by himself!
A few last minute activities while Mrs. Rebekah got things prepared for graduation.
Bryce waits in his chair while all the families file in.
Bryce sings with his class for the families.
Bryce and his best preschool buddy Stratton.
Bryce and Mrs. Rebekah.
Bryce gets family support!!
I'm a Graduate!!

Zoe Earns a Yellow Belt

2008-06-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Zoe's last moments as a white belt.
Sensei removes the white belt and is ready with the yellow belt.
On with the Yellow Belt.
Sticks and Stones (Sensei's nick name for Zoe ) shakes hands with Sensei as a Yellow Belt!!!

Family Picnic

2008-06-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

Emma had her first picnic. We brought her strained green beans and some squash, but she preferred the grass and dirt. (OH MY GOSH SHE IS SO CUTE!!)
"Mmmm, salsa looks tasty"
Brig takes a minute to eat! Mom is too "computer illiterate to figure out how to turn this picture".
Bryce plays.
The playground.
Balancing Act.
The Mayor of Monkey Bars.

Service Project

2008-06-25T07:52:00.001-07:00

Our family helped with a service project for Family Home Evening. There were three families helping with the work, so it went really fast!
Taylor and Zoe got right to work and helped get all those pesky weeds pulled.
Brigham dug right in. He was the hardest worker there.
"Whew... this is tough work when the garden tool is bigger than me!"

Don't worry! Bryce took control of the "Weed Scraper Thingy" (yes, that is a technical term.)
Brigham and Dylan demonstrated amazing "Team Work" skills and filled up the garbage bags.
Taylor helped haul the full garbage bags around to the front curb for the garbage man to pick up.
After the work was done, we were rewarded with Pizza and Popsicles. Yummmmm!
Zoe apparently wanted to eat her food in "Peace".
Finished!

Disneyland

2008-03-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Goofy's Kitchen was a blast! Chef Pluto came out of the kitchen to snap a photo with us.

The Sorensen Family visits Mickey.

We couldn't get enough of "California Screamin'"

Emma's favorite ride. "Strollin' in Leisure"

Beach Bums! Taylor, Zoe, Brigham and Bryce have fun in the surf.

Daddy and Emma play in the sand. Emma smartly protects her skin from that pesky sun!

Emma

2008-03-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh!! Have you ever seen a more beautiful fat baby in your life?

Beautiful Emma in her blessing dress. Friend Danyl made it using mommy's wedding dress.

Murphy's Law: If it can happen, it will! Don't fret, it washed out thanks to friend Heidi's fabulous "gentle cycle" washer.

Bryce and Emma. Just a gorgeous picture.

Our newest little Sorensen. Emma Leise. Nov. 4, 2007. 7lbs, 9oz

Bryce

2008-03-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

Bryce with Whittney before that stinkin' Nathan came home from his mission and stole her!!

Bryce let Whittney's new Hubby know just where things stood between them. Whittney was his girl first. I told Bryce that Whittney was getting married and moving to Snowflake with Nathan. He said "Ok, when she gets done, then can I marry her?" I said "Sure"

All my kids call whipped cream "rabies" (due to a Scooby Doo episode) Bryce seemed to come down with a bad case of "Rabies"

Firemen sure are cute!!

Twins? Nope, just cousins. When we visited Uncle Brett last summer we were amazed at how much Bryce and his cousin Bronson looked alike. A lady in Walmart even asked if they were twins. Anyway you slice it, they're just cute!!

Brigham

2008-03-27T16:29:00.000-07:00

Brig loves his new sister Emma. He is very gentle with her (no small fete for Brig).

This was Brigham's first day of Kindergarten. (I know, it's a little outdated) but I still silently celebrate that day each and every time Brigham climbs on the bus to head for school. Yeah, quit chastising the mom. He was as eager as I was. I followed him to school that first day to get pictures. After about five minutes of snapping shots in his classroom, he gave me and exasperated look and whispered "OK mom, that's enough. Now leave already."

Brigham loved hangin' out with Cousin Ian. Ian plays the guitar. He busted out the little guitar and showed Brigham a thing or two. That cousin Ian is WAY cool. I think Brig has an Idol.

Brigham loved playing in the snow at Aunt Kimalee's house. We were in Utah in Jan of 07 for Uncle Kevin's wedding. Mommy loved seeing the kids play in that nasty cold wet stuff, then leaving it all behind. Of course mommy also curses the blasted heat of AZ too.

Zoe

2008-03-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Zoe wants to grow up and get married in the temple just like Whittney. Zoe pleaded all night long at Whittney's reception "Mom, please take a picture of me and Whittney"

Zoe loves her "big sister" Whittney. Whittney has been the (almost) exclusive babysitter for the Sorensen kids for over seven years. They think Whittney is their very own. Whittney recently got married and moved to snowflake with her new hubby. I don't think the Sorensen kids realize that she won't be "hanging" with them on Tuesday nights anymore. (That was date night for mom and dad.)

Zoe and Emma at Whittney's reception. Zoe's the best big sister ever!! She loves to take care of Emma. She gets sad when Emma won't calm down for her and mom has to step in. "Why does she stop crying when you hold her and she won't do that for me?" (how does one explain "lactation" to a nine year old without the nine year old vomitting?)

Zoe and her best buddie Harlee

Taylor

2008-03-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

We visited Aunt Kimalee and family last summer. We went to this really fun place (called "The Tree House" I think) Taylor really got into the different cultures area. He dressed up in almost every costume. Those of you that know Taylor know that this is a rare show of interest!! (and yes, I cringe at the whole "ewww, who with headlice last tried on that hat")

Taylor is so sweet with little Emma. He will even change a poopy diaper (with an adequate amount of gagging of course)

Tay's last minutes as a yellow belt.

Off comes the yellow belt (sensei has style!!)

On with the Orange Belt!!

Taylor bowing to sensei. What an awesome orange belt!!