Look Who Has Glasses!!!

About two weeks ago I get letter in the mail from the school telling me that Jarren failed his vision test. Jarren has been complaining for the last month that he is having trouble seeing the bored at school. So last week went to see the eye doc and confirmed that Jarren needed glasses. We are not surprised that one of our children would need glasses since John and I both wore glasses from the time we were little till the time we had Lasiks. Jarren picked out some very nice frames and is starting to warm up to the idea of wearing them. He was surprised at how much can now see with them on.

He looks pretty good in them.

Our Christmas Adventure.....

This year we took the kids to Temple Square to see all the lights on Christmas Eve and got to ride the tracks downtown. The boys were very excited about the train, but did not like the cold once we got there. After 2 mins they were all screaming to go home and get hot chocolate. Once back on the train I was chased down by some crazy woman, not really my friend Jen Holt happen to be on the tracks at the same time and came running down to say hi to the family and give hugs. I am so grateful to her!! She is the tender mercy that was left in my life after Jocelyn was born when she came to take Jocelyn's photos for us. Thank You my sweet angel and Thank you Jen.

Home at last with the kids in bed. On with the marathon of wrapping Santa gifts!!! (hope the boys don't read this). Once they were all wrapped and placed under the tree it was finally time to crawl into bed and sleep for oh, a few hours since I knew it would not be long before the boys were up and ready to go....

The Boys got all new Pj's filled socks. Yes we filled one for Jocelyn.

The Tree looking nice and full with Santa's arrival!!

John and I's sock with a candy canes and butterfly book.

7:30am!!!! Two out of three boys up and ready to go!!! Joseph was out cold and still having issues on wanting to wake up. But big brothers made sure that he was up in no time.....

The boys waiting to open their gifts to each other. left to right: Joseph, Jacob, Jarren

Left to right: Jacob, Jarren, Joseph all dressed in their new Pj's holding their new Lego carrying boxes.

The boys opening presents. Look more Lego items!!!

Jacob, Jarren, Joseph so happy to have more Lego's from Santa!!! Can't wait to pick up all the little pieces every where!

Me and the boys!! Merry Christmas

  

Once everything was all opened and unwrapped the boys all piled into the kitchen to start building their Lego sets. I went and took a shower. Finally some peace and quite.

Joseph and Jacob working hard and serious. Yes Lego are serious business at our house.

Jarren is very determined and focused.

After spending time building Lego's and getting dressed we then took and piled into the van to head over to my parents place for the rest of the day and more fun adventures....But 1st we stopped at the cemetery to put Jocelyn's mini sock and candy canes on her grave. Something I never thought I would be doing on Christmas, visiting a child that was not physically with us. John and I did better then we thought on Christmas. I think because we had a good break down of emotions when setting up for Santa. I also tried to focus on the beautiful thought and image that I have child who gets to be with the really birthday guy and sit on his lap during his Birthday.

Her little sock with a J on it and two candy canes. It has helped to go through the motions of giving her 1st. Something I needed to help in my healing process.

Me with the boys

The boys feet showing off her Christmas decor.

John with the boys.

....Upon arriving at my parents place the boys rushed in and share all their things they got from Santa!!! While my parents are getting things ready for our breakfast brunch of breakfast burritos!!! Yum!!! So of course we were put to work right away...

Left to right: my dad and mom. haha mom you blinked!!!

John sauteing some onions in my parents kitchen.

After eating all the yummy food we went on to more present fun!!! It was more then we bargained for that is for sure!!!

Holy Crap!!! I think Santa over did it at my parents place or should I say my Sister Heather and her hubby Layne over did it!!!

John got a new baseball mit from my parents. Sweet he now can play catch comfortably with the boys. He has been using mine which does not work well for someone who is left handed

Left to Right: my sister in law Natalie, my niece Sophia, and Joseph

My sister Heather and her hubby Layne with their new puppy mini. She is sooo Cute I was ready to taker her home.

Left to Right my Brother Sean, Jarren, and John. They all look scared.

Sophia would rather sit on her gift then open it.

Joseph opening one from Grandma and Grampa

Jarren opening his from Grandma and Grandpa.

This was not the end of presents by far....My parents then brought out three large packages one for John and I and my sister and brother and their spouses. Which turned out to be new luggage with plane tickets to Orlando FL this summer!!! Yes everyone is going my Parents,the kids, and all of us. Nice mom and dad...

So I thought that was the biggest surprise in gifts?! Oh No!! Heather and Layne decided it was great idea to arm my boys with weapons!!! Yes I mean real weapons!!! They got a small 22 long rifle and bows and arrows. The boys were...well not sure what they thought at 1st. I am ok with these gifts. It will be good for the boys to go to a shooting range to learn gun safely and see that a gun is serious and not a toy. But we were able to go out back and set up a target and let the boys try out the bows. So that was fun. They even were able to get a left handed bow for Jarren, which also made it nice for John to try it as well.

Jacob giving his bow a try

Looking good and well focused

Loading for another round

Joseph taking a turn. Looks good I would say

Before Joseph taking a shot Layne giving him instruction.

Joseph getting help on how to load the bow.

I even took a shot at it. It was a nice release.

Jarren up and getting instruction from Layne

Jarren taking his 1st aim.

Jarren looking like a pro

Not bad for the 1st time!!

Even though we were not able to shoot the 22. Layne wanted to give some instruction on how to hold the gun and to be sure that it was not to big for the boys to handle. We will get out to a shooting range sometime this week to give it a shot.

So as you can tell it was a nice Christmas with the family with some surprises along the way. We hope that you all had a great Christmas as well and may you blessed in the coming year. Lots of Love to you all!!!

How It Has Felt This Year....

These past few months of Holidays have been very hard knowing that last year at this time I was in my last trimester putting together a baby's room and feeling excited about our little girl joining our family. The thoughts of wow I am going to actually get to do pink, purple, and bows. The boys getting excited to have a sister. Then...in a blink of an eye gone.....

The following song shares a little of how it has felt. The pictures are not of Jocelyn. But these babies are precious.

Through Out The Year

I am not sure if there are words that can describe this year. My mind is so full of thoughts and feelings that it becomes over whelming to organize them.

I know that as I look back over the year and try to remember moments I see black holes where I can not remember a thing. But then there are parts of the year that I do remember and find joy in.

I remember......
-The love that I felt when I held my daughter for the 1st and only time
-The amazing love for those that have been here by our sides through this heart break.
-Jarren turning 8 and being baptized
- Joseph playing soccer
- The moments of love and peace felt by the lord
-The moments when I was not sure I would survive the year
- The doubts I have felt
- The love of new found friends in the struggle of losing a child
- My love that I do feel for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ even in the times when my faith has wavered.
- The moments of why's which will be answered through out my hole life and even those that may not be answered until the life after this.

As we come to the end of this year and stop to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I am over whelmed with gratitude for family, friends, and neighbors and all the love and service that has been shown to our family. I know that I talked about how grateful we are for what has been done for us during this year but I honestly can not thank everyone enough. It has meant so much to our family.I wish and hope that everyone in our life can feel the love of the Lord this Christmas and be blessed in his love. For that is what we celebrate. That only through Christ can we find peace and happiness.

Jocelyn's Tree

Here are the pictures of Jocelyn's tree that My friend Amy worked so hard on. It turned out beautiful. Our tree sold to a anonymous buyer and are grateful that it is bringing peace to others this Christmas Season. I feel blessed to have been able to help raise money for Primary Children's Hospital and to help them continue the great and wonderful things that they do for families. Thank you to everyone that was able to help put this tree together.

We did have a couple local papers call and feature our tree and Jocelyn's story. I posted the Salt Lake Tribune on Thanksgiving Day. Here is the South Valley Journals article. I am so grateful to be able to share Jocelyn's short life with others and to share with others who have to face this path that they are not alone. Click HERE to read.

Jen my sweet friend and Jocelyn's photographer

Jocelyn hidden J for the tree

My friend Amy who came to me about doing a tree for Jocelyn

Left to right: Jen, Me, Joseph, Stephanie, and Amy

Left to Right: Joseph, Me Stephanie, Amy and Jori

Joseph enjoying a sweet roll

My and Dad I

John came down on his lunch hour to help a little

I saw this picture a few months after Jocelyn was born and has been how imagine Jocelyn as a toddler in heaven.

Our completed Butterfly Angel Tree