JAXSON 8TH BIRTHDAY

For Jaxson's 8th Birthday we put in an Olympics party! With less than a week to go before the party we had a lot of preparation to do - however we had a great time getting ready for the event. It became a family affair trying to get ready for the party. We had an obstacle course to make, cupcakes, party favors and several of items to finish up.

The first thing everyone did when they arrived at the party was make there own country flag and country name. The kids were all very creative. We listened to the Olympic theme songs and assigned everyone a competitive number for the games. The first event was the obstacle course. The kids had a series of things they had to do to complete the course, including; balance beam, hurdles, jump rope and more. The next event was the tug-o-war, followed by the discus throw and the long jump. We had a 50 yard dash and a 200 yard relay, in addition to a trampoline contest.

During the trampoline event, Reagan woke up from her nap and was standing in her bedroom window naked. I went up to help her and notice she had pooped out of her diaper and there was a log of poop on her bed, in addition to poop being all over her legs, blinds and chair. Madi was super sweet to help out and rinse her off in the bathtub so I could clean up her room and get back to the party. (This was something I was not prepared for or expecting during the party, but we got through it.)

After all of the games, we had torch cupcake cones. I baked cupcakes in an ice cream cone and put ice cream on the top, along with yellow colored cool whip and yellow and orange sprinkles.

All the kids left the party with Olympic themed water bottles and gold medals.

Jaxson loved this party because he loves anything to do with sports! Knowing this Dan and I gave him the following for his birthday, baseball and street hockey gear.

FULL TIME MOMMY

It's official, I am a full-time mom!

I have waited for this day for a long time. My heart is so full today because I get the privilege of being able to stay home with my kids and to become a better mom to them. I know there are going to be several days where I wish it was the other way around; however i have worked most of their lives, so I am going to try and enjoy it. I know this job doesn't come with much praise, but I know in the end it will have much reward.

Now I have to figure out how to be a mom and get a good routine going! There is so much I want to do in improve myself as a person and a mother - I just hope I can find the time to do it all.

I guess over the next couple months time will tell!

I love you Madi, Jaxson and Reagan and I am so blessed to be your mother.

DANCING IN THE RAIN

Dan and I attended the adult session of Stake Conference over the past weekend and I learned something that I will never forget. The message that one of the speakers gave has had a strong impact on me and I hope to continue referring to this message throughout my life when things seem hard and when difficult times seem to never end.

I don't remember the speakers name, all I remember is that he spoke about getting very sick last fall, so much that he was completely paralyzed from the neck down as a virus spread throughout his body. He being a young father, had to 100% rely on the people he loved including his immediate family and his ward family to help get him through this trying time. He had several young children at home which made it difficult for his wife. As he lay in his hospital bed not being able to move, he experienced deep sadness and at the same time deep love for the people servicing his family. He couldn't not believe the charity and kindness that he received during this time in an effort to keep is family going both emotionally and financially.

He did recover and is continuing to recover from his illness. What he said was this simple:

"LIFE IS NOT ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS, IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN!"

When I feel sad or discouraged, I will always remember this message and what it means to me. Life is about living it and not waiting for everything to be perfect, because it will never be perfect. There will always be something that will challenge us or discourage us. It's about learning to be happy in these moments anyway and knowing what things around you that are good!

Too many times I find myself complaining and this small quote has given me new insight on how to handle my trials.

JASON MRAZ

We love Jason Mraz at our house! Our favorite song is I'M YOURS!

One day while in the kitchen, I started singing the lyrics to this first-rate song and Reagan decided to help me out (with her own version) As I sang:

Open up your mind and see like me, open up your plans and your free...

Reagan joined in with: Open up your pants and you'll find love, love, love

I automatically looked at Dan and he immediately said I didn't not teach her that! The correct lyrics to the song are:

Look into your heart and you'll find love, love, love

Dan and I were laughing so hard, little did she know what that actually meant. I tried to teach her the correct lyrics and she kept telling me, "No mom, it's open up your pants." I couldn't get her to agree with me, so we left it at that and laughed for weeks about this little incident.

YOU NEED TO PUNISH ME!

Funny Story...

I left work early on a Friday afternoon so Dan and I could take the kids to see a movie. We were planning on seeing the Tooth Fairy, with Dwayne the "Rock" Johnson. Jaxson was especially looking forward to this. I left work later than I wanted to, as always and called Dan to tell him I was on my way home and to get the kids ready. Well instead of getting the kids ready they were off playing with friends and we had to go round them up.

We weren't sure where Jaxson was playing; however the next door neighbors told us he was at Dylan's house. When we went there, nobody answered. Dan even called out to the back yard to make sure they weren't playing outside and didn't hear the doorbell ring. He received no response, so we left and began our search for Jaxson. We started calling other neighbors and driving and around, nobody had seen him and he was no where to be found. We dropped Reagan off at my parents house anyway and continued to look for Jaxson. About 20 minutes later we went back over to Dylan's house and he had been there the entire time. They just didn't answer when Dan called out to them. Dan told Jaxson to go home and told him he was in trouble.

By this time we had already missed the movie (which we had purchased tickets for), so we went to pick Reagan back up and take her home. My parents were kind enough to offer to babysit her later so we could still catch the show, but we weren't sure if rewarding Jaxson at this point was a good idea. Jaxson then called us while we were picking up Reagan from his friend Jacob's house, asking if he could go to Karter's. Dan replied by saying "What are you doing at Jacob's? You are supposed to be home. You are in trouble for not letting us know where you were." We went back to the theater and explained our situation with our son and they were kind enough to give us a credit for our tickets.

As we arrived back home, Jaxson was in his bed sleeping (because he knew he was in trouble). At that time Dan and I had decided to go to the later show, because we didn't want to sit home on a Friday night and do nothing, so I went upstairs to talk with Jaxson about what had happened over the last hour and a half.

I woke him up and asked him if he knew why he was in trouble? He stated it was because he didn't tell us where he was going. I agreed and also explained to him that the reason it is a problem is because I love him and I worry about him. I told him it is about being safe! Not knowing where he is is scary and he always needs to let us know where he is going.

I gave him a hug and told him I forgave him. I then asked him if he wanted to go to the movie and he told me "No, because I needed to punish him." I responded with "What if I am done punishing you?" he stated that he shouldn't go to the movie because he got in trouble.

He honestly was not going to go to the movie because he thought he shouldn't due to his actions. It was so cute that I had to try not to laugh out loud. What a sweet boy to know when he had done something wrong and needed to face the consequences of his actions. At that point I really wanted to take him to the movie. We talked some more about safety and forgiveness then after some convincing he decided to join us for the movie.

JOESPH SMITH

On Martin Luther King Day we decided to take Madi and Jaxson to Temple Square for the day. I thought they would like the movie playing in the Joesph Smith Memorial Building about the life of the prophet Joesph Smith.

We started out our day by delighting ourselves with lunch at the Lion House. The kids had never been there and they have delicious rolls, not to mention everything else. As we ate lunch we talked about Brigham Young and how the house we were eating in was his home. We ate far too much - pie, rolls, etc. and then off to the Joesph Smith Memorial Building we went.

The kids learned quite a bit about Joesph's life and what he was able to accomplish here on this earth. The message was quite powerful! I will forever be amazed at what he endured and the faith of this man. I truly believe he was preordained to bring to pass the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I don't believe many people would have had the strength and tenacity of this man to keep going the way he did. In spite of all he suffered he never denounced the truth of what he had seen and been taught. He gave up his life for us so that we could have the gospel in our lives. I am indeed grateful for the prophet Joesph Smith! I just hope my children got a glimpse of what a remarkable man he was!

After the movie we headed over to the visitor center at temple square and learned more about the pioneers and the construction of the Salt Lake temple. We spoke to the sister missionaries for a while and wandered through all the exhibits in the visitor center.

It was an excellent way to spend the holiday. I can only hope that I am teaching the right way to live and what matters most in this life. I am grateful for my family and the blessings it brings me!

HOOPS and MORE HOOPS

Madi and Jaxson both enjoyed playing basketball this winter. It made our Saturday's a little crazy having two games each day, especially because they were never close together. Madi usually played at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning and then Jaxson would play in the early afternoon. (Nothing is ever convenient)
Madi got to played with a couple of friends from school (Adalyn and Jessica). This was her first time playing and she really liked it. It was a workout for her that she wasn't used to, running up and down the court. The girls were interesting to watch because most of them didn't have much experience and nobody wanted to touch the ball. As soon as the ball landed in their hands, they were automatically looking for someone to throw the ball to. I'm glad Madi enjoyed playing the game instead of focusing on the win, plus it was nice to get some physical activity in!


Jaxson's games on the other hand were entirely different. It is amazing to me how competitive the boys become at such an early age. It is all about winning to them (although we try to teach him otherwise) I do love the confidence Jaxson possesses, it used to bother me until someone told me that it will go away quicker than it should, let him enjoy the fact that he believes he is superior at everything!

Sports with Jaxson is always entertaining because he is so in to it. The boys on his team are all fighting for the ball and when given the opportunity, it isn't about teamwork, its about being a ball hog. Jaxson is actually a talented player for his age. With Jaxson being my only boy, I am going to enjoy watching his as long as I can. (I know there are still a lot of years left in him, so maybe I won't always feel this way; but I'm glad I do now.)
Jaxson also gets to play with several friends in the neighborhood and friends from his baseball earlier in the year. Even his coaches are his baseball coaches. I believe it gives the kids a good sense of sportsmanship and teamwork, even if they all want to ball. It is excellent associating with the same kids with every sport.

LITTLE GYM

Reagan has been enjoying Terrific Tots at the Little Gym over the past few months. At the end of each semester the parents get to attend the class, while the kids show off their gymnastic skills and singing voices. At the end of the program they all receive medals.

Unfortunately for me, due to my working schedule I missed most of the program; however Dan was there to support our family. It disappoints me not to be able to be a part of all this. My kids are growing up way to fast and I hate missing out on what they love to do.

Reagan's favorite part of Little Gym is when they get to play in the gym. She has no problem trying everything. That girl is not afraid of anything. I love her fun personality! The other fantastic thing about Little Gym is she gets to go with her cousin Cash!

CHRISTMAS JOY'S!

I definitely felt the hustle and bustle of the season this year being a working mom. I can't tell you how many nights I stayed up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning working on gifts, shopping, baking or wrapping presents, etc. just to find myself getting up at 6:00 or 6:30 the next morning. In spite of it all, I love Christmas! I love doing things for other people and I love seeing how excited my kids get in helping others. I love watching their faces and the excitement in their eyes on Christmas morning. I love baking and enjoying all the Christmas treats that are around (English toffee, mint sandwiches, orange sticks, peppermint ice cream, cookies, etc.) I love getting up early the day after Thanksgiving and shopping with the rest of the crazies of the world. I love reading Christmas stories and hearing about acts of kindness and service. I love seeing everyone in their new Christmas outfits for church and listening to the program during sacrament meeting. I love hearing about our Savior and reading the Christmas story from the scriptures.

This year I decided to let Madi have a Christmas Party with her friends, but make it a service party at the same time. She invited most of the girls from her school class and they all came over on a Saturday night for an evening of "Sweets!" Sweet-service, sweet-treats, sweet-friends! We tied 20 blankets for the Christmas Box House and then made modge-podge stocking and Christmas tree ornaments. He had hot chocolate and cookies and did a gift exchange for the girls. They are all very "sweet" and LOUD, but had a great time!

One of my favorite events at Christmas time is the white elephant gift exchange we do with my family. We decided a couple of years ago that instead of drawing names for each other that we would do white elephants instead. Dan and I starting planning our gifts at Halloween. First we purchased the ugliest looking cat from the Halloween store and then spray painted in grey. Growing up we had a cat named kitty that had mange. Every year she would grow an enormous amount of hair and then she would shed it in large patches. Every summer we could expect to see kitty running around with wings while she was in the shedding process (it really was disturbing). With that in mind, I cut the hair on the cat and gave her wings, the final touch was the name tag we put around her neck, which said MANGE! It was hilarious when Melissa opened the box. Our next gift proved to be a gift that everyone thought of. A month ago, our family was getting pictures done and there were several emails going around about what to wear. Doug decided to take it a little further and had Becca take a picture of him in some black lingerie with the words JOY next to him. He emailed the picture to everyone stating that this was what he was planning on wearing. Dan and I then ordered post-its and a large poster of Doug for our next gift. We even threw in a Crazy Mom calendar (pictures of my mother at her best). A few others made ornaments of Doug and a framed picture of Doug. It was quite hysterical. Everyone (including Doug) had a good laugh!

I started a tradition a few years ago where I purchase a ornament for each of the kids. Something that represent them that year. My plan is then they grow up they will have a box of ornaments to take with them to put on their first Christmas tree. I remember being newly married and not having money to purchase a tree, let alone the ornaments, so i thought this would be a good way to start them out and help them remember different things throughout their lives. This year The kids received the following; Madi - Twilight ornament, Jaxson - football, Reagan - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Santa bought the kids some incredible presents this year. Reagan received a mini-trampoline which we put up in the playroom. Dan and I got sick of her asking to jump on the trampoline everyday. She didn't care if there was snow on it, so we helped Santa out and gave him this suggestion. Reagan also received a collection of Mickey Mouse items, including ad train, Pluto the dog and memory game. She can't get enough of Mickey. I love it! Madi's favorite this year is the Twilight series, I made her wait until she finished 5th grade to read the series and then when summer hit, she read the first three books within a few weeks. Anything Jacob she loved and she received it too (calendar, hat, puzzle). Santa also brought her a vanity for her room along with a hair straightener, blow dryer and accessories. Jaxson as always wanted sport related items. Santa is wise and brought him a snowboard, la-cross sticks and golf clubs. That boy is so active and wants to do anything where he can keep moving.

TEMPLE SQUARE LIGHTS

Every year we visit Temple Square during the holidays to see the spectacular lights and to help get us in the holiday spirit. This year was particularly cold as walked around main street and around the temple, so we didn't spend much time there; however Reagan loved the colorful lights and walking through the trees. After our short visit to Temple Square we visited Grandma English and brought her a basket of holiday treats. Grandmas always has her village up around her tree, so the kids are mesmerized by watching the moving figures beneath it.