Bedtime routine

The other night we were doing our same old nightly bedtime routine: get the kids jammies on, brush teeth, blah, blah, blah but then it was time for bedtime stories. Maggie was over tired and so Brandon and I were doing our best to calm her down. When she finally settled down I went into the boys room to read stories to them. I found Jacks laying in Brady's crib reading him a story and singing him a bedtime song. It was the cutest thing. After they had both fallen asleep Brandon moved Jacks into his bed so he would get a better nights sleep then he came back out to veg on the couch. Later that night we went into check on the kids and we found that Jacks had gotten out of his bed and climbed back into Brady's crib and fell back asleep. It was too cute!

New family pics!!

We just had some pics done for Braden's 2nd birthday. I think that they turned out pretty darn cute! Thanks to Amy Harrison for making family pictures sooo fun. Here's just a few!

Halloween Fun!!

This year we had a long weekend because the kids were out of school on Friday. I decided to take full advantage of having them all at home. We started the weekend off with a Halloween party on Thursday night that our fun neighbors Peg and Rand Johnson threw for all the kids in the neighborhood. They fed all the kids dinner, had a fish pond and played a bunch of games. I think the kids were gone for at least a couple of hours. When they came home they couldn't stop talking about how much fun they had. On Friday night we had Brandon's parents over for a "spooky" candlelight dinner. They each sat down with their own menu and had to order two different courses. But what made it so fun was that they didn't know what they were ordering. On the menu we had things like: vampires delight, witches brew, cyclop eyes, fiery darts....I think there were about 11 things to choose from. They even had to order their own silverware. The kids LOVED it and thought that the witches brew (homemade rootbeer with dry ice) was totally awesome. It was so fun to watch Jacks try to eat his jello and ice cream with his knife. After our dinner the kids got to watch a scary Halloween show. They had a great time. Saturday morning was great too! The kids carved their pumpkins, played outside and got ready for trick or treating. We visited grandma great and then walked down main street in Springville to trick or treat at grandma's store. We only had time to hit a few stores but it ended up being just the right amount. After dinner the kids headed out and trick or treated with all their frineds around the neighborhood. The kids had a ball. It was so fun to see Braden get into it. It was the perfect weekend!

Life is totally busy but I wouldn't want it any other way! We've had some pretty exciting things happen the last couple of weeks in our family so I thought I would share. Jacks has started a new soccer season. He had his first BIG game on tuesday and was so excited. he did great and was so excited that his two good friends Clark and Warren are on his team. He got super tired from all the running around but he managed to score 2 goals anyway!! Way to go Jacks!! I can also say that Jacks no longer has a vampire tooth. Last weekend Jacks was complaining about his top front tooth bugging him so I wiggled it and his tooth was hanging by a thread. But when we tried to pull it out Jacks got all scared and wouldn't let us pull it. He decided to take matters into his own hands. He kept playing with it by twisting and turning it and he pulled it out all by himself. It was really cute to see him, he was giggling and laughing-he was so, so proud!!





Over labor day weekend we took the kids hiking to Stewart Falls near Sundance ski resort. Round trip it was a 4 mile hike. The kids did great. Maggie walked a lot of the way all by herself I was so proud of her. The kids loved it when we finally made it to the huge waterfall at the end. It was a great afternoon.

Braden is just a crack up!! He just thinks he is so big. The other day he started pulling at his diaper and trying to take it off. I took it off and asked him if he needed to go potty. He said "yeah" so I took him into his bathroom and sat him down on the toilet and he went!! I was so proud!!



Ever since Jacks started 1st grade Maggie has been asking when she will start preschool. Well she finally started and was so cute about it. Her teachers name is Mrs. Wall and she goes 3 times a week. She picked out what she wanted to wear the night before and helped me decorate her school bag she loves school and can't wait to go back!!

A BIG Day

I can't believe it!! Today the fact that I now have a first grader has finally hit home. It was awful. Let me back up a second. Jackson had a great day. He loved his new teacher Mrs. Antonino, he found a friend to sit by at lunch, had a great time playing with friends at recess. He loved everything about first grade. He sailed through his first day without any hiccups at all. Me on the other hand. I was a wreck!! I put on my game face in the morning while Jacks was getting ready for school. I wanted him to be excited about his new adventure. But as soon as I dropped him off I lost it. I had this huge pit in my stomach. It was like I didn't even know what to do all day. I put myself to work with projects to do around the house and played with Braden on the swings in the backyard. But when lunch time came around it felt so strange not to have Jacks around. It was then that I realized all of the everyday things I take for granted. Like making lunch. I watched the clock the rest of the afternoon and then finally picked him up at 2:30 (today was early out day). He gave me a great report and showed me his really loose top front tooth. He wiggled it all the rest of the afternoon. But was too afraid to let me pull it out. Even his karate teacher noticed that he had a wiggly tooth because he couldn't stop wiggling it. After dinner he wanted it out but was too afraid to let me pull it. After about a half hour of him trying to pull it out I finally got the floss out and tied it around his tooth. It took a couple of tries because the string kept sliding off but once we got it on good it only took one pull and his tooth came flying out! Jacks didn't even cry!

Maggie's Dance Recital

This summer Maggie started her first dance class. She went every Tuesday morning and learned a hip hop routine. At the end of summer class her teacher Sara Mower did a small recital for family and friends to come and watch Maggie's class perform. It was so cute it was held in the basement of her teachers house and it was just Maggie's class so it only lasted about 20 minutes. They showed us their dance, what they do when they need a break from dancing and then the tumbling they've been working on.

Summer Highlights

Ok so I know I am a slacker!! But seriously where has the summer gone? I can't believe that my little boy will be starting 1st grade next week. But until then we are going to do some serious playing. Here are a few summer highlights.


We have had a great time spending time at Utah Lake this summer. The kids will stay out for hours and hours. This is our new favorite boating toy.


the kids have loved running through sprinklers, playing in the pool and going down the big slide in our backyard

Braden's favorite little splash pool

The kids loved riding their bikes in the children's parade

Jackson playing t-ball!!

Brandon's parents put a zip line in their backyard. Braden would scream every time we tried to give someone else a turn!! He loved it!

Maggie wake boarding with her dad!!

Jacks learned how to get up on ski's without me or Brando helping him this year! He is quite the little skier!!

Other things we have enjoyed with the kids: late night movies in the backyard, camping up at Strawberry with grandpa and grandma, going to 7 peaks, story time at the library and just hanging out and playing with friends.

Maggie Moo

My little girl is growing up and I can hardly believe it. Yesterday she had her very first dance class and absolutely loved it!! Before her class began she told me "mom I don't want you to watch me at dance". It really broke my heart to hear her say that but at the same time I was so proud of her for being so independent. When we got to her class I walked her in and she looked at me and said see ya later mom!! When I picked her up she told me all about her class and how much fun she had. I am so glad that she is three and able to do things that she enjoys instead of just watching Jacks all the time on the side lines.

Ogden Marathon

I did it!! All 26.2 miles of it!! I can't believe that I actually ran a marathon I never thought I would. But it was great!! The first 20 went by so fast and then I hit the wall!! I seriously didn't know how I was going to run the last 6 especially the last 3. It hurt to even walk! But I finished in 3:55 and I made my goal!! I was so excited. My cute hubby ran in the race too!! He had a great first half and then started throwing up every 2 miles after mile 16. Even though he didn't get the time he was hoping for I couldn't be prouder of him for finishing at 3:46. Way to go babe!!

The Pink Hog!!

Ok so I just can't get enough of this little 15 month old of mine!! He brings a smile to my face just thinking about him. I love that he thinks he is just as big as his big brother and sister. The other day he got into Joel and Shari's garage and pulled out the pink hog!! The funny thing is he knew just what to do with it. He can push the gas, steer around sharp corners and maneuver his way around just like all the big kids. He cracks me up.

Spring Break

Ok yes I realize that spring break was a long time ago but I uploaded these pictures onto the computer tonight and I couldn't help but remember how much fun we had in St. George. The kids had a great time climbing the red rocks, going into Zions park, swimming and just relaxing. What a fun vacation we had!!



I thought it was supposed to be spring break




Jackson and Maggie's snowman



I just love Maggie's pose!!



throwing rocks



he is all boy

Conversation with a 3 year old

This is the conversation that I had with my little Maggie today:

MAGGIE: "mom guess what I ate"

ME: "I don't know what"?

MAGGIE: "Boogars"

ME: "buggers eww yuck! Maggs don't eat those"!

MAGGIE: "but mom they're yummy"!

Easter

I love Easter time! I love the hunts, coloring Easter eggs, all the blossoms coming out on the trees and the tulips and daffodils all around. Things just feel so alive after the dead of winter. I love playing outside with my kids and seeing my friends out in their yards! Even if we do have a few days of cold and snow mixed in with the good weather it doesn't seem to bother me too much because I know it will all melt away soon.

We had a great Easter this year. We had an Easter egg hunt and colored Easter eggs with our friends the Eves on Saturday. On Sunday morning the kids woke up to find that both the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy found our house. Yes Jacks lost his 2nd tooth!! How exciting. We went up to grandpa and grandma Jackson's house for our family Easter egg hunt. The kids looked so cute in their new Easter outfits and we headed for church. I am thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ and for His sacrifice for each of us. I hope that I can be a better follower of Him and be more worthy of His blessings.

Highlights

Ok so I know that I am way overdue!! It drives me crazy when I get behind because there has been so many exciting things happen in our family. So I thought I would touch on a few "highlights" that have happened in the last little while and then recommit myself to keeping up on our little family blog on a more regular basis. (At least that's what I'm telling myself).

On March 11th we celebrated Jackson's 6th birthday!! I can NOT believe that he is 6 years old already. Time flies by so fast! I just love that boy to pieces. He is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. He puts a smile on my face every time I see him! He had a great day it started out by waking up to his bedroom door being decorated with a Happy Birthday sign and balloons and then coming out to open his presents! After opening his presents he ate his favorite breakfast waffles and an orange julius. Later that afternoon he had a jungle birthday party with about 13 of his best friends. The kids had a great time decorating jungle hats, going through a jungle obstacle course where they had to crawl through poisonous vines, crawl through a bat cave, jump over quick sand, make it through the alligator pond and hop over spiders nests. They did a sticky frog throw and then went on a snake hunt. And what party isn't complete without a good old pinata, opening presents and eating birthday cake and ice cream? He had so much fun and all the kids were so good. And if all that wasn't enough excitement for 1 day just before bed Jackson lost his FIRST TOOTH!! Which was a pretty BIG deal around our house. Jacks has been trying to loose a tooth for about a year now. (He kept wiggling his molars and telling me he thinks they're getting loose)! It was a great day and I sure do love that boy!








Around the middle of March my cute hubby and I spent the weekend in Springdale, Ut. We met Vance and Mel Barrett and stayed at the Cable Mountain Lodge just outside of Zion National Park. It was sooo nice to have no schedule. It was a super relaxing trip! On Friday morning we slept in, went for a quick jog and then came back and hiked Angels Landing in Zions. That night we played hearts and then tried to get into the hot tub but after sitting in a luke warm hot tub for about a half an hour we decided that it wasn't going to get any hotter despite our efforts and the managers efforts to heat it up. The hard part was getting out because it was dang cold outside (in the 30's). The next morning we slept in again, went for our long runs Brandon did 14 miles and I did 12 (probably the hardest run of my life!! I wouldn't recomend running 12 miles by yourself it gets really boring)! After our runs we went back into Zions and did a couple of smaller hikes the lookout and the end of the Narrows. The sun was shinning and the weather was beautiful we couldn't have asked for a nicer day!! I just want to shout out a BIG thank you to my parents for watching our kidos and to Brandon's mom for watching them a night! You guys are the greatest thanks so much for taking such great care of them and for always being so willing to watch them. And a BIG thanks to my hubby. I had such a great weekend-just the 2 of us I love you more than words can say!!

On April 6th we celebrated Maggie's 3rd birthday!! My little girl is growing up way too fast. She is the sunshine in my life!! I love that little girl so much. She makes me laugh at the crazy things she say's. She is my 16 year old trapped in a 3 year old body. When she smiles her eyes light up and she has this little sparkle in her eye! I am so glad that she is a part of our family. Maggie has been talking about her 3rd birthday since Jackson's birthday so when she woke up in the morning the first thing that came out of her mouth was "daddy am I 3 yet?" She woke up to her bedroom door being decorated with signs and balloons, she opened her birthday presents and ate her favorite breakfast, cereal! Since she didn't have a friend party I wanted to take her somewhere special but all she wanted to do was play with Kate and Ginny (our 2 cute little neighbor twins). My mom and I were able to convince her to go to lunch at Wendy's with us. It was a lot of fun we met my dad and uncle Jeff down there. Once we got home she played with Kate and Ginny and the rest of the neighbor kids the rest of the afternoon until it was time for her party. Her party was a lot of fun surrounded by our favorite people! For dinner we had homemade pizza, rootbeer and lemonade (Maggie's favorite), opened birthday presents and danced to her new radio with high school musical and the cheetah girls blaring in the background!! The kids put on quite the show even Braden was getting into it! We sang happy birthday and she blew the candles out on her princess cake. What a great day!!!








On Saturday over Easter weekend I ran 17 miles!! This is the farthest I have ever run and I was so nervous about running this far since my 12 mile run was so hard. But believe it or not I felt awesome!! It was actually a really fun run!! Me and 3 of my friends drove our car up to Hobble Creek Golf course parked our car and ran up the canyon 5 1/2 miles and then turned around and ran the rest of the way home. The first 5 1/2 miles were hard because it was all uphill but once we turned around I felt great!!

On Sunday morning we decided to have our Easter egg hunt early since Brandon was flying out to Oklahoma that afternoon for work. We were on our way up to grandpa and grandma Jackson's house and just as we were about to pull into the driveway I swear we heard Braden say "grandpa" in his own baby lingo!! It was really exciting maybe he will talk after all! I sure love that little boy of mine!!