The Christmas Tree Farm

Jack was hiding his face from the wind and was not watching where he was going.


Finding our tree.


Helping Daddy get the tree to the truck.


The family.

There was a Curious George Christmas special on the day before Thanksgiving. We had already been thinking about going to a Christmas tree farm before that, but when George went and Jack watched the episode we knew that we had to do it! I think we have found the way our tree will be bought every year. It was really fun! Jason researched it and found a farm in Ogden that sold trees 10feet and taller for only $25! Anyone who knows me or my family know that a tall tree is a must! I definitely need something taller than my husband. So, we planned to go the day after Thanksgiving and make a day of it. We drove up around lunch time, stopped at Subway and headed on to the farm. Jack was so excited and he loved choosing the tree and "helping" Jason cut it down. There were quite a few good ones and although our trunk is crooked, we think that our tree turned out pretty nice. It was really nice to have it up and to be able to enjoy it for so long this season. Jack has taken to reading his Christmas stories by the tree and then falling asleep by the tree with me or Jason every night. When I want to get bugged by this, I think that he will only be this little once and I really want to make this season as special as I can. So, I think he will be sleeping by this tree for the rest of the month!

My sister and her husband chopped down my dad's tree (about 17feet) in the forest. They got a permit from their landlord and got a beautiful tree! I think next year we will try for a permit and go to the forest! It's the only way to go!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving this year was a lot of fun. My brother leaves on his mission on December 30th and it was my year to be with my family so we headed over to my parents house for the day. Jack was super excited to see what all the fuss was about. He had been talking about Thanksgiving in preschool all month. I hope he wasn't disappointed... it was kind of like any Sunday, but we still had a great time. We sat down to dinner and Jack said, "Is there any pumpkin pie in this place?" I think he had heard a lot about pumpkin pie and was wondering why a key piece of the meal was missing. :) It was pretty funny. We missed my sister and her hubby. It was her first year away with in-laws! Jack put on a show for us singing the songs and poems that he learned in preschool. We watched movies and enjoyed being together. Later that night, we headed over to Jason's parents. We are lucky that we live so close to both families.

I am thankful for quite a bit this year... We have been very blessed and I don't think we should ever really complain about anything. I am blessed that we have a beautiful house in a wonderful neighborhood. I am blessed with our neighbors and the support and love that we are surrounded by. Jason is happy to have a job in this unsteady economic situation. We are so thankful that I am able to stay home with Jack and the medical transcription job that allows me to do that. I'm thankful for our dog and the happiness that she brings to Jack. ( I don't think that Jason is that thankful for her!) I'm thankful for my friends, my health and both of our families.

Most of all... this year (and probably every year to come) I am thankful for my family that I am creating with Jason. Jack brings me more happiness than I can even put into words. It really is something to watch your child blossom into a little person. He is an awesome kid. He has a wonderful personality, a kind heart and just a GOOD spirit. I love everything about him and I am finally feeling like I get what everyone talks about when they talk about a parents love. I would truly do anything for him. I know that Jason would as well. I am super thankful to be pregnant right now. I guess. :) But, seriously, we tried and tried! I am so happy that Jack will have the opportunity to be a big brother and have the blessing of a sibling. I love my siblings and would not want to be without them. I think Jason and I are appreciating it more this time around because we can feel the love and joy that Jack brings into our home. It will just double with Savannah. I was always nervous about loving my next child as much as I love Jack, but over the last couple of months I know that it will not be a problem. A parents love is a great blessing and I am so thankful to be a mommy!!

I am thankful for my wonderful hubby and the wonderful father he is. Whenever I get nervous about raising my kids or making it in this world with as scary as it is, I am reassured to think that I am in this thing with him and because of that we will all be alright! I love him!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Bring on Christmas!

Oh, he's so cute!

I am going to do the yearly Thanksgiving post next weekend, but I just have to say... I'm so excited for Christmas. I think Jack's face says it all! He can't wait... we have all our shopping done and most of our decorations out... It's going to be such fun!

28 Weeks!

28 Weeks!

I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel! I am finally at seven months and when I say that I am due in February people are getting excited and not looking at me in pity because it is so far away! It is just around the corner.

This month wasn't very exciting. I feel like I am just waiting now. I enjoy feeling her jump and move around like crazy. Jason and I were actually able to lay in bed and watch her the other night. It seems like we should have done that already, but I really have a hard time remembering that I am pregnant this time around. I said to my friend the other day that I need to get my act together and realize that I will be having a BABY in two months and so I should probably start to get things together. We do have clothes and stuff... and we are planning to get her room ready after the holidays. But, still I feel like I haven't really given her the proper amount of attention because I am so busy with Jack!

I haven't ran again since my last post and I miss it! I know the pain won't be worth it though so I am content to cycle and lift for now. Cycling still feels awesome and I think I will be able to do that until she comes. Weight lifting is still okay, but I will probably have to drop weight down in the next little bit. According to my own scales, I have only gained 1lb this month!! YAY! I am hoping that holds true for my doc appointment after Thanksgiving! I go again on the 2nd of December and have my glucose test. I hope that I don't test positive again. With Jack, I tested positive and had to go in for additional tests and that was awful. Of course, it came back negative so it was just a waste of time. Hopefully, I can avoid that this time. In the meantime, we are enjoying the beginning of the holidays and I am so excited to be a part of making this baby girl during such a special time of year! I can't wait to meet her!

Zoo Babies

Baby elephant and her mommy.



My friend Kari and I took our boys to the zoo the other week to see the new babies. It was a beautiful fall day and I can honestly say that I will NEVER EVER go to the zoo in the summer again. The animals were so much more playful in the cooler weather and the babies were so cute! I especially loved the baby elephant. She was following her mom around and trying to eat whole pumpkins. She was just like a baby, very playful and curious... and unstable on her feet. It was a fun day and a nice goodbye to fall. Jack and Coleman always have fun together!

Animal Love

Jack saying goodbye to the kitty.


Jack taking care of Zoe after her operation.

We have had a couple of interesting weeks involving our animals. First, we have said goodbye to a loved member of our family. Our kitty, who we had for about five years, has found a new home. She actually went back to our friends who originally gave her to us. We have thought about giving her away for sometime, but have loved her so much that we had a hard time actually doing it. But, Jack is not the softest when it comes to animals and Zoe definitely did not respect the kitty's personal space. My friend, Celeste, called and asked if we would consider giving them the kitty since her daughter loooves cats, especially white ones and they desperately wanted a pet. We thought about, talked to Jack about and finally decided that it would be best for her if she went to a less crazy household where she wouldn't be tormented by little boys or dogs. She was seriously the best cat ever and we loved her a lot. We are happy that we can see her anytime we want and that she has a good loving house now. Jack talks about her every now and then, but Zoe keeps him fully occupied for the time being. It is working out for all of us. Jason especially loves not having a litter box to clean!

After we gave the cat away, we got Zoe spayed. We knew her "time" was just around the corner and I definitely didn't want to deal with that. We found a vet and took her in. It was really nice to have her so calm for a couple of days and it was nice for Jack to have a chance to take care of her. She has since become a little bit more a part of our family and we have learned to love her a little more. Jack especially loves her to death. It is worth it to have her to see them play together. She seems to miss the cat, however. :)

Halloween

Buzz Lightyear


All of our pumpkins. We got one for Savannah.


Jack and one of his teachers.


His preschool class.


His own pumpkin from school.

Our Halloween week was super fun. Jack is at such a fun age. I seriously CAN NOT wait for Christmas this year! We started the week out by going to our ward Halloween party and the Spook Alley that I went to as a little girl. We did it last year, but Jack might have been too young. This year was perfect. He was totally into it. He was a little scared, but he would try to scare everyone anyway. It didn't matter that he was covering his eyes as he was yelling BOO, right?? It was cute. The people working there were great and acted scared each time he yelled BOO. He left each one by saying... "Thanks for being spooky." The chocolate doughnut was a hit and it was the first time we have gotten him to drink hot chocolate. He now loves that as well. The ward Halloween party was super fun as well. Jack and I made a Black Cat cake for the cake walk and he loved the little spook alley they had at the church.

A couple of days later, we were able to take Jack to his grandma's dance studio to trick or treat. It was the first time that he really understood that he was really going to get a lot of candy! He had a good time showing off his Buzz Lightyear costume to all of her dancers.

On Thursday, Jack had his Halloween party at school. They were so cute dressed up in their costumes. They did a little parade around the street and performed their Halloween songs for us in the driveway. He loves loves loves preschool! He also loved that his teachers were dressed like the Cat in the Hat.

On Friday, we had a really busy day. I took him downtown to Wells Fargo where I used to work and he totally filled up one plastic pumpkin with all the goodies he got there. We then went to Jason's work. That night we carved pumpkins and watched "Casper's Scare School..."

On Saturday, Jack woke up ready to trick or treat but had to wait until it got dark. Our ward had a fun trunk or treat that we hit first and then we made our way down the street with a couple of Jack's friends. He filled a whole other pumpkin! He loved being Buzz Lightyear and he now is sad that Halloween is over. I am trying to give Thanksgiving the proper respect so we are not decorating yet for Christmas, but I kind of want too! I think preschool will be good this month so that Jack actually learns about Thanksgiving.