FIVE YEARS

The best decision I have ever made!!!

Christmas Season Highlights

Christmas cards have been sent,



Neighbor gifts delivered,



Gingerbread houses made,



Jack managed to stick a nickle in an outlet and a m&m up his nose and survived it, all in one night,




I turned 25 and we celebrated, we also celebrated 75% of our extended families birthdays (nearly everyone in our family has a birthday in Dec.)



We've played in the snow (Jack keeps begging the sun to bring it back),




Shawn and my prayers have been answered and he is busier than he has been in the past few years, which stinks because he has been going in early and staying late, yuck. But we feel VERY bless, we will deal with the crappy hours, well he will.



Jack has learned his own version of a few Christmas carols and has made up a few of his own including... Jingle bells (jingle bell jingle bell all the way home, one more neigh neigh), All I want for Christmas is my two front tires (mater style), Oh timing belt oh timing belt how lovely is your rubber (Mater style too), Frosty the snow plow(yeah you guessed it, mater style) and last but not least, Merry Merry Ka-chow (McQueen style) Not the sweetest Christmas songs but he loves singing them!



And the shopping is 99.9% of the way done.

No wonder the season goes by so fast!!!

New Family Photos

My darling and very talented friend errin took these great pictures of our little family. They are so beautiful, apparently I had a lot of favorites, thanks Errin!

For Jack

Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches.. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car..
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it… And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen… Sealed with a kiss.

To the One I Owe My Life To

I love that my Mom and I have birthdays right next to each other. Mine is on the 8th followed by hers, today, on the 10th. The day before my birthday I was thinking about where my Mom was 25 years ago. I remember so vividly Jacks birth and how hard and special it was and the sacrifices and blessing that have come from that day. But rarely have I thought about the day I was born and the sacrifices that my Mom made that day and every day after that. She has always put us children and My Dad first before any of her needs. She is incredibly thoughtful.

This is such a small thing in perspective to all the things she has done for me, but she knows how much I love peppermint ice cream and I can't remember a birthday ever going by without her buying special peppermint ice cream for my birthday. That is so... my Mom, she knows how to put a magic touch on everything and make us feel so special. That is my favorite thing about her.

I also started to wonder, as my Mom, how many diapers she has changed, how many bedtime stories she has read, how many times she has layed by the side of my bed waiting for me to fall asleep, how many times I woke her up in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep. How many messes she has cleaned up because of me, how many sack lunches she's made, how many hours she spent doing my hair and making sure I always looked nice. I wonder how many time she cried because I hurt her feelings, how much money she has spent on Christmas, birthday gifts, and school clothes. How many nights she stayed up way too late to make sure I got home safe, how many ride she has given me. This list could go on and on and on, I am sure I haven't even touched the surface. But the point is I have the best mom in the world and she probably doesn't even care that she has spent every second of her life providing for her children. She has truly taught me what being selfless is and I owe her the world for that. I couldn't ask for a better Mom. I have had such an easy, happy life because I was blessed to have her as my Mom. Happy Birthday Mom I love you with all of my heart, Thank you for being My Mom.

SANTA

"I want a Boost and a New Mater, because Austin broke the tow cables off mine."
- Jack Christmas 2009

Giving Thanks

I have enjoyed this fall/Thanksgiving season more this year than I remember in the past! I love the weather, the smells, fall decorations, the colors, and remembering what I am blessed with in my life.

So here is a list of the things I am Thankful for, both big and small...


I am grateful for this big cheesy grin that I get to spend my days with. This little man keeps me going even when I am tired or worn out, or frustrated. I passed down the trait to Jack of being a pleaser, not always the best trait, but hey there could be worse. Jack makes sure if he sees that I am sad or mad that he says, "Mom's Happy" or "Mom you are my best friend ever" it seems to work most of the time, he gets out of a lot of trouble by saying it too. I am glad I get to hangout with my best buddy everyday.



I am grateful more than I can say for this man! He is the light of my life, he lifts me up and makes me feel like a super model. He is the most creative, fun, lovable, hard working, giving, easy going, talented Husband and Dad I know! Jack and I are so lucky to be loved by him.


I am grateful for my parents. Jack lights up every time he sees them. They have so many wonderful traits that I wish to have one day. I look up to them in many ways. They have and always will be my guiding hand. I am grateful for their selfless examples and willingness to give and help when ever needed. I have, and ALWAYS will be proud to call them my Parents.


I am grateful for my mother-in-law that takes the time out of her busy schedule to watch Jack on Tuesdays while I work. She has for years and it means a lot to me. Jack loves to play at her house with all of the old toys. I am also grateful that she and my Father-in-law raised such a great young man. Don't they say behind every great man is an even better Mother.


I am grateful to have a sister. There is just a bond given at birth between sisters. I love to call and chat with her about nothing. She can always relate or at least does a great job at making me believe she does. On top of that Jack wouldn't be dressed cute if it wasn't for Aunt Carly. She is very giving and thoughtful.



I am grateful for my little brother. He always makes me feel like my cooking is amazing and even asks for my recipes! That makes me feel so special :) coming from a family of amazing cooks, and me not being much of one, if someone asks me for one of my recipes or calls me for tips on cooking they are top on my list.


I am grateful for my friend Rakel. She makes me get out of bed three times a week to work my butt off, literally! She pushes me to complete things I would say were impossible. I love running with her, she is so fun to have "girl talk" with, every girl needs that. She gives great advice and is a great listener.

I am grateful for a healthy strong body. In this past year I have found this inner strength that I didn't know I had. I have pushed my body harder than I ever have. It has been hard work but it feels great. I find myself so often giving up on myself if it doesn't come naturally to me. Running or anything athletic is one of the many things that I am not naturally good at, but I feel grateful for the strength and will I have to be healthy!

I am grateful for DVR. We just recently got it and I love that I get to watch Studio Five, Rachal Ray, Ellen and Oprah. Shawn loves it too, there has been a few times that I have made Shawn watch some crazy Oprah or some craft I want to make from Studio Five. It is so fun!


I am grateful for St. George and the beautiful clean place that it is. I feel lucky to have it as my home.

I am grateful for the fun play groups I have to take Jack to. We look forward to them every week.



I am grateful for Shawn's amazing talent of wood working. I have a beautiful home to show for it. Just wait to see what he has in store for Christmas!!!

I am grateful for the all around belief of God, what a blessing it is to me. I wouldn't make it through one day without His light and the faith of his existence.

I guess this quote sums this super long gratitude post up.


"If you want to feel rich, count all the blessings money can't buy!"

Photography Class

For the past 8 weeks I have been taking a photography class. It has been so informative and fun. For the final week we were asked to present a project. I chose to take pictures of my sister and her family. I picked them as my subject, I then quickly realized that I am not a good photographer and that families with small children are nearly impossible to get a good shot. Kudos to all of you that are photographers, it may look easy, but it isn't. I took over 300 pictures and maybe 10 are keepers, maybe!

So back to the class, I worked hard on getting these photos all put together and when I got to my class my usb drive wouldn't work! I was so bummed, so I thought I would put them on my blog and get your feed back. I am fully aware that they are beginner looking and I have a lot of practicing in both photography and editing!