Lea's birthday - photos

A few snapshots of Lea's life here on earth. She's very photogenic and has always been adorable! Can't believe she's so grown up!

Daddy's baby girl - Jeff looks really young huh?

Blessing Day - Provo, UT

Christmas 2003, Richland Wa - cousin Paige Sorensen

Jeff's graduation from BYU. My parents had Lea and while they were waiting for us, some very nice lady gave Lea this lei because she was so cute and the lei matched her dress. Very sweet.

Mostly notice the date - this is actually in AZ the winter after we moved to Phoenix and Jeff went to the snow (that's what we AZ folk call snow and we "went" because well it doesn't snow where we live so we have to drive to it....if you can call it snow) with my sisters fam, brothers fam and parents. Lea is 1 1/2 and well it's good I wasn't there to see this.....

Lea - age 2 1/2

Halloween 2005 - Hunt family bunny costume

Hannah Webb and Lea - Easter in Vegas 2006

Lea and her bud Ethan - Fall 2006

Her first hair cut - so cute and all the curls are gone. I loved her curly hair, but it's so cute without them too. 2007 (yes she was 4!)

Lea and Brisa - sweet friends even though they don't see each other very much. 2009

Lea's Rock Star party with her ROCK STAR friends: Brisa, Brynn, Sara, Lea, Halle, Laura and Rachael - rockin' out to Hannah Montana movie soundtrack. Fun party!

Our "short" hike (thought it was 3 and it was actually 5 1/2 miles!!!) at the Oregon Coast. This is the view from the turn around point - yikes! Lea, G-ma Judy, Anna, Nathan (Jeff's older brother), Jase.

Sorensen family reunion - Logan, UT 2009. The birthday kids! Brendan turned 18 on Aug 1st and Lea's birthday is July 29th. Brendan is off to his first year at BYU-I and Lea to first grade.

I love to see the Temple

This is for my benefit - maybe yours, but mostly a journal entry and something I need to remember.


Satudary morning our ward Relief Society went on a Temple Trip to the Mesa, AZ Temple. We met at our church building at 5:30 am and drove 45 minutes to the temple. My friend Erin emailed me early in the week and suggested I go with her. Knowing full well I am NOT a morning person - she went out on a limb and said I needed to go along. I agreed and decided 5:30 am would be the best time as it wouldn't be too much time away from the family.


Friday night we hosted our babysitting co-op (15 kids for about 4 hours - until 10 pm) after which I stayed up to clean up and went to bed at 12:30 am. Usually when I have to get up early for something, I don't get much sleep - too nervous I'm going to miss it. Up at 4:30 am and I was actually ready to go when Erin came to get me.


So I was pretty tired, but suprisingly awake for me at that time of morning. I (shhhhh!) slept through most of the session, but was alert enough to know what was going on around me. It was a wonderful experience being there with sisters from my ward and to know what a great "family" I have away from my family. I'd never been to the Temple during daylight hours - we usually go at night and the Celestial room was very bright at this early time.


Many of you know, we've had a few melt downs with Lea this past week, Erin has struggled with her boy the same age and our friend Sharree is in the same boat - something about the start of school, end of free time, and completely exhausted - our kids have all revolted to any sort of parenting - in which case, there is much yelling, screaming, crying and tears. Not always by the child - at least in our house. All in all, a bad mom week for me.

As I stood in the Celestial room, taking in all the architectual detail, I decided to just let my mind go - to stop looking for inspiration on how to deal with Lea when she's melting and just listen. I thought of my parents all the way in Norway - so far from us, unable to visit AZ for 18 months. I thought of our past months travel to see family. My family means more to me than anything in the world. We are very close - even at the extended family level - we are bonded together and I love it! Then my mind cleared and I had a distinct impression of three things to do with Lea: Patience, talk with her calmly and listen. What? and the same impression was there again. My shoulders felt lighter and I relaxed as I was able to fully appreciate the guidance I had just received. I've never had one of those "Ah-ha" moments before - at least not like that. It was truly amazing and I wished so badly for my parents sisters or brothers to be there with me, but I knew I had friends to help out and a loving Heavnly Father who would help me along the way as I try to be a good mom. Yes it's not easy being a parent and He already knows that - how often have I been the difficult child for Him and my own parents..... don't answer that. :)

One more thing I remember is the overwhelming feeling that I was doing a good job, I'm a good mom, but I can do more. I can be better and to be patient. It was a tender mercy for me and I am so grateful.

The rest of the day was pretty fantastic as well. I usually wait for everything to fall apart after visiting the Temple and being on a spiritual high, but today was just about perfect for me. Jeff was home for once on a Saturday with no work obligations hanging over his head. Free from a work laptop and a cell phone that was constantly buzzing with new emails, texts and phone calls. For once in a very, VERY, VERY long time, our Saturday was a family day and I loved every minute of it.

Where in the world are the Risenmays....

Here's a brief update on where we've been for the last month. or not so brief as we've been very busy! 4 states, 4100+ miles, 67 + hours in the car (almost 3 days worth!), visiting with 400+ family and friends, packing and unpacking the car at every location - about 10 times! I'm a pro at packing now...and very exhausted to just thinking about it.

We left July 2nd for Idaho Falls, stayed with the Webbs and enjoyed a great 4th as always with Jeff's family there and his friends from high school. Best Fireworks show West of the Mississippi.....not bad. :) The Webb kids and our kids are very close in age and always have fun together. They each have a friend - we always appreciate them putting up with us... I mean putting us up when we come to visit.

Left from there on the 5th to Boise, where Jeff hopped on a plane and head for home to work. Starting a new job and leaving the slave world of public accounting he no longer has a months worth of vacation....sad to see that go, but happy to be out of there! I drove 5 hours with 3 kids by myself!!! The car was extremely loud, but I'm actually grateful because then I wasn't bored and tired. Silver lining, I guess. We only stopped one time to find Abbey's bottle under my seat and I think we made record time.

Arrived in Richland, WA (I grew up here and was staying at my parents house). They decided to go to Nauvoo for the week and see my sister and her family in the Nauvoo Pageant. So my parents and both my sisters and families all left for the week were in town. I might be offended by that, but it was fine. :) The kids took swim lessons and I was able to hang out with my brothers and their families. Nice to know they still don't mind taking care of their little sister. :)

Left Richland, Monday July 13th taking my 14 year old nephew Dallin after he arrived home from Nauvoo the night before. I decided my trip would be more fun if I had a helper and I knew Dallin wouldn't mind hanging out - although I forgot to warn him about typical Risenmay behavior and there were a few shocker moments. :) We drove to the Oceanside, OR to spend a week with Jeff's family - no Jeff was still at home working. They were all very helpful with the kids and we had a great time. Abbey was still not liking anyone so anytime I walked by without picking her up, she screamed, if anyone else even dared look at her, she screamed, you get the idea. We enjoyed the beach, hiked and the Tillamook Cheese factory.

Back to Richland on Friday the 17th and to Twin Lakes the next day with immediate family. (Another 5 and 4 hour drive).

Twin Lakes is great! We stay in little cabins - not top of the line, 5-star cabins, but a one room, shack with a bed and a fridge. My kids sleep on the floor, Abbey in the port-a-crib and everyday we fold up their stuff to have room to move around. Fun huh!? :) We ski every day, have church on Sunday, family night, kids night and more fun! Aside from my family there were 4 other main families - grand total of 170+ people in our group. My family has been going for 35 years and the other families came along a few years later. It's hard to explain what a great vacation this is for our family every year. Lucas skied and Abbey skied with my dad (he's 71!).

Back to Richland on the 25th and ready for another trip to Logan, Utah on Thursday the 30th for my dad's family reunion on July 31st and Aug 1 - the Sorensens. Jeff flew into Salt Lake that night and my dad and I picked him up there to head back to Logan. We get together every 3 years and it's a great experience. Grandpa Sorensen was an only child and he passed away in '86 and my grandma passed away in '96. Their posterity totaled around 240 not all biological, but nonetheless we're all family!

My parents were leaving for the MTC after the reunion to Norway! We had a few tearful, but happy moments together as we said our good-byes. We're planning a trip there hopefully next year if we save up enough.....working on it.

Headed home on Sunday Aug 2nd. About 8:30 Sunday night as we were approaching Flagstaff, I looked at our phone, noticed the date and gasped. "uhhhhh, Happy Anniversary!" :) Not a big deal I forgot, because we're usually on our way home every year around our Anniversary. So 8 years - wahoo! At least we were together and the kids were sleeping and almost home to crash before Lea had to start school the next day. 1st grade - wow, I'm old. :)

Pictures to come, but now just imagine, a lot of time in the car, movies, McDonald's toys, Hannah Montana hoedown throwdown, gorgeous weather, singing in Norwegian, family skits, plenty of water to play in and LOTS of family (we consider our friends to be family) to be with - makes for a month of memories to last a lifetime! Can't wait for next year! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEA!!!

Lea is 6 years old and will be in first grade starting next Monday. She was born in Provo, Utah, 2003 while Jeff was finishing up his Masters at BYU in Accounting. Almost 2 years to our 2nd anniversary. She of course was breach and was born c-section at some early hour of the morning. Lea doesn't get the same post as the other kids for a few reasons. We didn't have digital camera when she was born - we borrowed Jeff's brother's camera (Thanks Steven!), we're currently on vacation and I don't have access to baby photos and I'm not even sure we have an ultrasound picture of her anywhere. I know we don't have a 3D one because that wasn't available to us through BYU insurance or most people at that time.

The delivery was rough. I was very nervous and threw up twice before ever being prepped for surgery. The nurses were excellent and Jeff was able to be with me the whole time (not like the other 2 - he was in the hallway and came in just after the surgery began). Dr. somebody always called her "Wrong way Corrigan" because she was breach - didn't really like him. My 2nd appointment, he told me I had gained too much weight and to be careful.......I digress... :)

Lea was beautiful at least that's what Jeff told me. I had some complications (severe pain in my shoulder/neck area) and they sedated me after she was delivered. I didn't wake up until 6 hours later only to be too drowsy to do anything. I had no idea how I got to the recovery room and I was so sleepy, I couldn't carry a conversation on with any of the nurses. I fell asleep holding Lea only to find Jeff freaking out I was going to drop her and a nurse come back to wake me up another time to feed Lea. I have VERY low blood pressure and only got the night nurses freaked enough to wake me up to re-take my vitals because they were so low.

We hadn't agreed on a name, but when I asked Jeff what he thought she looked like, he said Lea was the first name that came to mind. (This was the name I had wanted all along.) I had one good friend from elementary school and a college roommate named Leah and Lea. I admired and loved both of these girls so I knew Lea would be a great name. Next was the decision for "h" or no "h". No "h" it is. :) Her full name is Lea Ann Risenmay. Ann after her two grandmas with the same middle name. Grandma Nancy Ann Sorensen and Grandma Judy Ann Risenmay.

None of my family was there because there were all at Twin Lakes, but they were coming to Logan for my dad's family - Sorensen family reunion. (Which we're going to attend tomorrow.) Everyone came to the hospital - it was very special to have so many family visitors. Jeff's brothers and fam (Steven, Nathan and Mandy) were able to come and Lea was able to see her cousin Jase again born a couple months before.

12 days after Lea was born, we traveled to San Bernadino, CA. My nephew Bracken was playing in the Little League World Series for the West Division. My mom, Jeff, Lea and I, traveled through Vegas to see Jeff's parents and for them to mee their first Granddaughter. We had a great time visiting with them and cheering on Bracken as his team won and was headed to Williamsburg, PA!!! Bracken graduated from high school this year and some of his teammates from that team won the State Baseball Tournment this year for Richland High School (Bracken goes to a rival high school......) ;)

Lea is such a sweet girl - she loves everyone and has lots of friends. She's very shy although her kindergarten teacher said she wasn't and stood up in front of the class often to read stories and reports. She's a good student and very creative. She is always thinking of others especially her brother and sister. Although not very daring, she does try to new things. She played t-ball and soccer this past year and is looking forward to more soccer with her friends. She can be very stubborn, which gives me good hope she'll be able to stand up to any negative peer pressure she may encounter. She loves to read, write, color, play dressup and even play xbox with her daddy as long as he's not playing any shoot 'em up games. ;) She's very sensitive and is a joy to be around. Love you Lea!

Lea, Tanner (cousin from Wickenburg) and Lucas - playing in the puddles and rain storm at Twin Lakes, WA. Best vacation ever and the only kids playing in the water were the kids from AZ. :)

Rock Star!

Pictures in an above post:

"I might even be a rock star........" (Hannah Montana). For Lea's birthday (a lot early since it's actually July 29th), we came up with the idea of a Rock Star party!! Lea loves to sing and dance so it was perfect and there are lots of songs - mostly from the Hannah Montana movie that fit perfectly with the theme. She was allowed to invite 6 friends since she'll be turning 6. It was difficult to narrow it down to six because Lea has a lot of friends, but we managed and were able to get it done. Why have the party so early? We'll be out of town for all of July and school starts the day after we get back - no time then.

My niece Shayla returned for another week visit - love having her around. She's so helpful and lets me sleep in - love that! Thank you Shayla! So we returned to the waterpark - this time the Chandler Aquatic Center, and another one, but Shayla took all the pictures that day.

Lea asked me if I would make a post about her birthday similar to Abbey's and Lucas'. Sure, but I don't think we even have a ultrasound picture for her and we didn't even own a digital camera when she was born. We borrowed Jeff's brother (Steven's) camera and have been through at least 4 computers since she was born. How much technology has changed since 2006! Happy birthday Lea! Love you!

Lucas' birthday party - Arrrrrrr!!

Bring on the pirates and Burger King. For his birthday on June 10th (we wiped him out!), started by going to the waterpark with Lea and Abbey and I. Burger King for dinner with the family - Lucas chose BK with the play structure. If you look closely at the "airplane" you'll see someone who doesn't really belong in the play structure, but still sees HIMself as a big kid. :) The following Saturday, was the pirate party - a big red X marked the treasure and they boys had a great time (I think....) making spotting scopes, playing with waterballoons, and being boys without any girls around to play dress up and dollies. :) Enjoy the slideshow!