*me and my grandpa jensen*Raymond Dorian Jensen
April 24, 1934 -June 26, 2006
He was born very premature. The doctor didn't even put a birthweight on the birth certificate, told Great Grandma Lucille that "He wasn't more than a bar of soap after a hard days' work." He was too little for diapers, so she wrapped him up in cotton and put him on the oven door to stay warm. "It's a wonder he ever made it." Great Grandma Lucille would always say.
He grew up with an outhouse, a coal stove, an not much toys. "It's not like today with those them Lego's and Barbies."
He didn't get baptized until he was almost 9. His Grandma Jensen and him took the UIC electric car and went to the Logan temple and got baptized in the pretty font that had the golden ox around it. Not long after that they started baptisms in the wards.
He served in the Korean War . He met his wife, Afton Johnson, at a dance in 1957. Three dates later they eloped. Grandma Afton's mom said it would never last.
They had eight children - Kenneth (my daddyo), Karla, Vernetta, Stephen, Ron, Dorian, Katrina and Jennifer.
He had gone two rounds with chemo. But decided in June 2006 that he was tired and wanted to go home with his wife. He passed away holding my Grandma's hand and all his children standing around him. It was bittersweet for all of them.
I always watch a video my Aunt Jen had made with my Grandma Raymond about a year before he passed away from Malignant Melanoma (skin cancer). It's surreal to watch him because it seems like he hasn't gone anywhere. Still in his overalls, sitting in his seat, and saying "Hey Tawns. How ya' doing?" whenever I walked in the front room.
Micah never got to meet him. But loves whenever someone talks about him - especially my Grandma Afton. She's still healthy as a horse and loves every year when her birthday comes around because she's that much closer to being with Raymond again. She welcomes every age spot, wrinkle, backpain, and forgetfullness. They loved each other very much.
It was a special Easter because we got to remember what a great guy my Grandpa Raymond was - and how much love is in that family.
We're loving dress up time. I almost feel bad when she spits up, or spills on an outfit....ok maybe not. She loves her sunglasses too - she keeps them on for a whole 10 minutes...before she figures that they are impeding her vision and rips them off.
We went to dinner with our neighbors/cousins last night. After we had about 2 people comment on her chunky chunky cheeks within 5 minutes Hali turned to us and said "They're like jowls. A cute little bulldog." We were laughing so hard. Because it's so true. She'll grow into them **crossing my fingers ;)**
And because this has turned into a Isla Blog here's a pic of my babers and I. He's been spoiling me with taking Daddy Daugher dates and leaving mommy to zone out. Don't you just love when they do this?!? I never take sitting on the couch and staring at the tv for 30+ minutes uninterrupted. Now that I think about it, I can't even remember what I watched- my brain literally turned off.
Or when we would do endless practicing of holding her hands and making her abs work out: 
But then when she was a week away from 6 months old she just started sitting by herself. I remember when Janae said they will flop all over the place and then all of a sudden in a matter of 2 weeks they would be sitting up all by themselves. 
And now our little girl is becoming stronger by the day and wants to be left by herself to explore and play. Yes I rhymed. 
She's 6 months already! She started sitting up all by herself this past week in a half, waking up halfway through the night (always playing and talking) drooling, chewing, and everything that comes along with teething. 
Tawni Afton Jensen