Captain Awesome

You are 7 months old now Harry!

Congrats my little awesome.  You are so happy and laughy, you truly are a joy to be around.

May your next 7 months be filled with all the things you love; eating strange crap off the floor, rolling under the couch and kitchen table (probably looking for more crap to eat), bouncing up and down, pulling your brothers hair, laughing til your spit up, tasting mom's flip flops, and making the biggest splashes you can in the bath.  You are our Captain of Awesomeness!

The Heretic Queen

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

✭✭✭✭ (out of 5 stars)

Sort of a sequel to her first book, The Heretic Queen covers Princess Nefertari's  (the niece of Nefertiti, well we think so, we will never know for sure) struggle to gain the love of the people and become the Queen of Egypt ruling alongside Ramses.  Just as readable as the first, this book was a great sequel.  I am looking forward to her book about Cleopatra.

8 Years Ago

Happy Anniversary to us!

 In a quiet little chapel, eight years ago (April 28, 2001), I married the love of my life. Before our family and friends we said our "I Dos" and started our life together.  Two of my most favorite memories of that day (besides the obvious of getting married-duh) was my Grandfather walking me down the isle, and my Dad preforming the ceremony.

We looked so young, and skinny.

We had an oh so cheesy Hawaiian Luau for our reception, with paper fish hanging from the ceiling and plastic palm trees.  It was so fun to be surrounded by our family and friends, laughing, joking and dancing the afternoon away.

Five years ago (April 28, 2004) I was sealed to the love of my life for time and all eternity.  We choose to get sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, because when I imagined getting married I always pictured that temple.  I will never forget kneeling across the alter from Jason, surround by our family, knowing that even though it wasn't going to be easy (for so many reasons) I was doing the right thing.

We have had our ups and downs, and then some more downs.  We have moved across the country three times.  We have had the blessing of becoming parents, twice, and cherish our two little boys.  We have laughed, and I have cried (Jason has the emotional capacity of a robot) and we have made our share of wonderful memories.  It hasn't always been easy, in fact for us it is hardly ever easy...but we make it work, and it is worth it.  To be a family, forever.

Happy Anniversary to us.

ps. If you wonder what year the cards, flowers, and gifts stop coming...for us it is apparently the 8th anniversary.  We celebrated the day, stuck in the house with a sick toddler and cheap Chinese food.  Jason promises me that someday we will have a romantic getaway, like we used to.  A quiet vacation, filled with food, lounging and sight seeing...maybe Scotland.  Just give us another 7 years and maybe I can make it happen.

Nefertiti

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

✭✭✭✭ (out of 5 starts)

Part fact and part fiction this book tells the story of Nefertiti, the first female Pharaoh of Egypt.  Written with ease and understanding the book was a pleasure to read.  I flipped through the pages just like I was catching up with an old friend.  Beautifully written.

Flashback Friday

In December we took some family pictures, in the hope of using them for our Christmas cards.  It was so hard to get good pictures, the wind was blowing, it was starting to rain, and Clark was going crazy.  I was not really happy with the lady who took our pictures either, she acted like she did not know what she was doing (and some of her editing techniques looked weird).  She was really nice, just not worth the money we paid her.  Overall it was not a great experience, but here are a few of the pictures I did like.   

This was a cute family picture, but Jason HATED how he had to hold this picture frame.  Ha ha ha, it does look a little dorky.

Poor little Harry was not allowed in this picture...don't I look so voluptuous (GAG).

Cute little Tuna, believe it or not we did comb his hair down that morning.

Me and Clark, forcing him to give me a kiss.

Jason and Harry, even then he was so extra chubby.

She really like Jason and Clark, she took a ton of great pictures of them...I am little jealous.

April and Harry.

Our little family. 

Photos taken by Jaime Jackson

The Boys

I have been home for a couple weeks now, and although I miss my family, I am glad to be back.  It was WAY to long without Clark, way too long!  I was relieved when Clark was so happy to see me, he gave me the biggest hug and did not let go all afternoon.  It is good to be a complete family again, and I can tell the boys think so as well.  The boys had a check-up last Friday, and all is well.  Harry is sure catching up to Clark, faster than anyone can believe.  Harry weighs 29 lbs, and Clark 32 lbs.  Yep, only 3 pounds difference.  They are six inches different in height (don't worry Harry is the shorter one)...but the exact measurements have slipped my mind.

Clark is still doing his speech therapy once a week.  Ms. Julie is so good with him, and really has shown us a lot of ways to help him.  He can say ball, star, apple yes and no.  The biggest difference in his talking, is that he is trying a lot more.  Before I went home we were doing pretty good on only using his pacifier only for naps and bed time.  But it was one big party while I was gone and we have to start all over again, needless to say it is not going well the second time around.  He is such a little monkey, climbing on everything.  His favorite new thing to do is climb the cabinets in the kitchen (and yes, we gate off the kitchen but he climbs right over it) and play in the cabinets sprinkling spices everywhere.  He has discovered Toy Story and Monster Inc. and watches them all the time, dancing around mimicking everything they do.  

Harry can now roll over, both ways.  He also scoots and drags himself across the floor.  I can't believe how fast he can get around now, and any day he will be crawling.  We lose him all the time, and find him under the table, or stuck with his legs under the couch.  He is so giant!  He is wearing most of his brothers clothes now, 18 months (and even then sometimes it is hard to get the shorts over his little bum).  He has the best chuckle, and laughs all the time.  He still hardly ever cries, and is happy just hanging out with everyone.  I have been trying to give him more fruits and veggies, but he still hates eating baby food.  He is just not interested in that soft and gooey stuff, but he will go crazy for a french fry or blueberry waffle.  He is still sleeping through the night, and wakes up cooing and chucking in his bed every morning.

It is so fun watching the boys learn and do things.  I love spending my days with them, and I couldn't ask for a better job...although a pay check would be nice.  I pray everyday I can teach them the things they need to know, and be a good mom for them.  I hope they are as happy, as they make me.

The Robber Bride

The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

I am no good at writing book reviews, and my brother says it is really boring when I try.  So, from now on I will keep it short and sweet.

I give this book  ★★★ 1/2   (out of 5 stars).

It was a fast paced and decent read, I got through it in a couple days.  And the story line was interesting, the who's and why's kept me turning the pages.  But I was not satisfied with the ending and the characters, although complex were a bit dull and unlikeable.  I haven't really made up my mind about Margaret Atwood (as a must read author) I think I will try another one of her books before I decide.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Happy Birthday Papa!

I can honestly say you are the best Dad ever!  You have always been a pillar of strength in my life, guiding and pointing me in the right direction.  You taught me to be a hard worker, and be proud of who I was...and to stand up for who I was.  I admire how you always seem to know the right things to say, things that we need to hear.  You are so strong and faithful, and I am thankful for your example in my life.  You teach me so much...

I have loved getting to know you as a Grandfather.  The boys love you so much.  I hope that they will have more time in the future to spend with you, and hopefully learn from you.  Thanks for always being there for my family, helping out when we need, listening when we need.  I love to hear your stories, and spend time hanging out.  I love you so much, and I hope you had a great birthday.  Can't wait to see you in October!

Laura Getting Married

Last week, April 9 2009, Laura got married.  MARRIED!  I can hardly believe it.    She is all grown up.  No more hourly texts helping her make her every decision, no more 'good night I am going to bed' phone calls.  She is Jamin's now...and I sure do miss her.  It was such a beautiful day.  There was some rain/snow in the morning, but by the time we walked out of the temple it was all sunshine.  

She was such a beautiful bride, and her dress was gorgeous.  I have never seen her as happy as she was that day. 

Jamin sure is the cutest.  One of my favorite things about him is his smile.  (It reminds me A LOT of Laura's smile.)  He is everything I prayed my little sister who find for a husband...kind, generous, hard working, thoughtful and he likes me so that is a huge plus.  I love that he loves, to just hang out with the family playing cards and watching movies.

Laura and Jamin choose to get married in the Manti Temple, for time and all eternity.  Despite the long drive there, it was the perfect place.  I had never been there before and I loved its beauty and history.  I am so happy that I could be there for their special day.  They are such a cute couple, and have a unique spirit about them.  It was so much fun being with family and friends, we made wonderful memories that I will always treasure...always.  Thanks to Gramps for a tasty after wedding lunch at my new favorite Chinese restaurant, The Snow Dragon (in Manti or Ephraim).  I feel so blessed to be able to afford to travel home for Laura's wedding.  I feel so blessed to have such GREAT family and friends.

I took a ton of pictures that day, a ton!  Most of them are posted on my FLICKR account.  Go check them out, and congratulate Laura and Jamin.

To Quilt or Not To Quilt

I always think about quilting.  I think it is beautiful, and love looking at different patterns.  So for Laura's wedding gift I wanted to make her a quilt.  So, I went to Walmart and got 8 yards of yellow, red, and white Hawaiian print fabric (her wedding colors were red and yellow).

After 4 VERY late nights...the boys would not let me work on it during the day so I had to stay up to 3:00 every morning.  I finished everything (except the tying and sewing on the back, which I waited to do when I went home).  I was pleased with myself, and despite the sore neck and lack if sleep I had a great time making it.   I still have a lot of technical problems I need to work out before I try to make my next one...like the most important, I don't have a sewing machine (a very nice lady from my church let me borrow hers to make Laura's quilt).  I have a hard time cutting and sewing the squares straight lines, and a lot of my rows were crooked.  But I think that will be something I can fix easily with practice and more time.  I loved picking out the colors, trying to find patterns and that kind of stuff, but I still need to learn a lot of technique.  

The finished product.  I made it to be a queen size...but my math skills are lacking and it turned out to be more like a king size.  All in all...I was happy, and I think Laura and Jamin were too.

This was Clark's baby blanket I made before he was born.  My favorite thing about it was the fuzzy red backing I found.  You wouldn't believe it, by looking at the blanket, but I spent a long time trying to make sure all the stripes on the blanket went the same way.

This was the first quilt I ever made.  I think I was 15 or 16.  I made it for one of my Young Womens personal progress goals.  I just used some old scraps of fabric my mom had lying around, I was SUPER excited about the cow print.  The backing I used was just the bedspread I had at the time.  Nothing fancy, but maybe the beginning of my quilting bug.  I gave it to Emma when I moved out (or rather she stole it from me).

So, to quilt or not to quilt?  I guess I have gotten a little better over the years.  I have been looking for a new hobby that doesn't involve reading and watching tv.  This one may be too expensive.  I would rather learn to knit.  But I can definitely see a few more quilts in my future (I am working on a wedding quilt for Chelsie and Jeremy next).  I think I am only going to stick to squares for now...and what ever you do, don't look to closely or you will see ALL my MANY mistakes.  Also, to Laura, don't wash it....I am afraid it might fall apart.

Happy Birthday Cody!

Happy Birthday Cody!  Sorry your birthday post got lost in the hustle and bustle of Laura getting married.  I am so glad that I could be out in Utah to celebrate your birthday with you.  You are so fun to be around.  You always have the best comebacks and witty remarks.  I love how much you have grown in the last year.  I am so proud of you for going back to school.  You are a great Uncle, I love the way you are with the babies.  You can make them laugh so hard, and you know the special way they like to be put to sleep.  They do love you so much, I know my boys miss their Uncle Cody.  You also are a GREAT brother.  You are always there for your brother and sisters...to talk to,  hang out, or help on whatever computer/music/food/anything problem we are having.  

I loved it so much when you flew home with me to Hawaii....even though it was kinda weird everyone thought we were married LOL!  I had fun hanging out and getting to know you better.  I don't know what I would've done without your help taking care of Clark.

You really are one of the best brothers a girl can have.  I love you so much, and I hope you liked you Happy Birthday breakfast in bed (even though you wouldn't eat it in your bed).  You are always missed.