We took a week’s vacation to the Nature Lodge in Mondulkiri (about a 3.5 hour drive from our home). Besides the rats keeping us awake at night in our lodging, it was a wonderful trip. (We asked for traps and ended up catching 3 forrest rats and the last night it was quieter but still a little noisy.) It was great to take a break from people and just get away as a family. The A-frame house we stayed in was a great fit, and we didn’t have to worry about bothering anyone. There was a loft at either end of the house with bed. The kids could play outside while we sat on the steps – it was a nice relaxing atmosphere.

The Nature Lodge had a pool and we enjoyed swimming three days and the other two days we visited a waterfall. Both places we ate at had pool tables, and since there were rarely other guests, our kids got a lot of practice playing. We had lots of good Khmer and western food.

The Nature Lodge had penned sheep and 5 horses that wandered around the property. The kids enjoyed feeding the horses (Cambodian ponies) leftover lettuce and carrots we had brought. The horses were quite friendly and when the food was all gone they came up to our lodging and waiting for more.

We celebrated Clara’s birthday the first two weeks of March, ending with leaving on a family vacation the day before her birthday. Clara’s countdown calendar included a movie night, small gifts, a trip to a night carnival with rides and snacks, a peacock helium balloon, and some other things.

Clara wanted a horse cake for her birthday. She made the chocolate cake, and I decorated it per her instructions. She chose spaghetti as her birthday meal with salad and garlic bread. We had a fun night celebrating Clara’s birthday and she said (after gifts) that is was her best birthday ever.

March 3rd we held our yearly graduation and recital to celebrate the completion of the 2022-23 school year! We’re very proud of everyone’s hard work this year.

Graduation & Recital

Seventh Grade – Rebecca Grace Jensen
Fifth Grade – Isaiah Emil Jensen
Third Grade – Anna Grace Jensen
Fun Grade – Clara Grace Jensen
Preschool – Ezra Emmett Jensen & Micah Ebenezer Jensen

WELCOME
Opening Song – The Son of God Goes Forth to War

RECITATIONS
Clara – Poem
The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Anna – Recitation
John 9
Isaiah – Poem
The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Becca – Recitation
The Life of Elisha – selected scenes

Presentation of Diplomas & Certificates
Volcano Experiment
Dessert Buffet and End of Year Slide Show

This is a picture of the kids working on finishing up their Botany Science notebooks. They did some beautiful work on these during the year.

Ages 2, 4, & 10. These boys are a bunch of fun and can be a bunch of trouble. When you hear the younger two laughing hysterically, you can almost guarantee that they are having loads of fun doing something they think they shouldn’t be doing! The other day when I went to investigate this sound, I found one trying to clean the other’s bottom on the toilet. Loads of fun. . . . It’s such a gift to watch them play together, and we’re so happy to have them all!