He's Walking

Jaxson has been a little slow getting on the walking train. It has been different with him, because Hallie was an early walker...we kept wondering when he would finally decide to start walking.

Last Monday morning he wasn't walking at all, and then that night he just started walking and hasn't looked back since! I love seeing him toddle around! We love you Jaxson boy.

I didn't really get and good pictures yet, although it's on our video camera. I don't know how to upload videos on here.


I have lots to blog about...we had a great Christmas with lots of family time. Hopefully I'll get caught up this week.

Christmas 2008

Hallie making cookies for Santa

We spent Christmas at home this year, and it was nice to be in our own house for the first time at Christmas. We had a really white Christmas, which I also loved!

We were planning on opening presents whenever the kids woke up, but Wes's alarm went off unexpectedly at 6, so we just decided to get up and get on with it! Wes's mom makes us matching pajamas every year, a tradition we love. This year all the boys had camo pants, and all the girls had pink pants.

Christmas morning before presents. Matching pj's.

Hallie and me in our matching pj's

Jaxson loving the new toolbench

The kids were very excited about their toolbench (we got it really cheap at KB Toys). They didn't want to open any of their other presents after that! We ended up opening their presents for them. We also got a trampoline as a family gift (although we're not putting it up until spring when most of the snow will be gone). Hallie was really disappointed that it wasn't put together.

After we were finished we headed over to my in-laws where they were just getting ready to open presents. Our nieces got these cars, which our kids both LOVED! They spent a lot of time just sitting in them, since there was too much snow outside to ride. Hallie came over to me after she had been sitting in the convertible and said, "Mom, I need snacks for my ride". The dads took the kids to our church building later that afternoon so they could ride around to their hearts content.

Per tradition, we went out to eat for breakfast Christmas morning and we had an amazing dinner of prime rib, ham, and lots of other yummy things! We really enjoyed spending the week with all of Wes's family, and watching the kids get excited about Christmas for the first time!

First (Real) Snow

We had a long and dreary week last week, full of snow! The kids here had snow days Tuesday through Friday! It was our first real snow of the season, and I must say, it put me into the Christmas spirit. I don't like snow that much, but I do like having a white Christmas.

On Saturday we left Jaxson with my mother-in-law and took Hallie up to the ranch to play in the snow. I knew it would take Wes and his dad some time to clear the roads of the snow, so I was glad we had left Jaxson. And I really enjoyed the one-on-one time I had with Hallie. We took her on a 4 wheel ride, until she got too cold, and then Wes took her sledding. He is such a good dad like that.

Wes and I both had to be at church at 8 o'clock Sunday morning. I was especially grateful for this sunrise I got to look at through my bedroom window while I got ready.

Ward Christmas Party

We had our Ward Christmas party on Friday night. We enjoyed the food and good conversation while Hallie played and ran all over the place. She ran around with a few of her friends, hand in hand, playing ring around the rosy.

Hallie playing with her friends

I had talked with Hallie about Santa earlier in the day. I didn't want her to be scared (Santa comes to our Christmas party every year), because we hadn't really talked about it with her before. I told her she could tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. When the time came, she told Santa, nice and loud, that she wanted a trampoline. We'll have to wait and see what he brings!

Jaxson was checking this girl out.

I thought Jaxson would be afraid of Santa and start crying, but he just kicked back and started sucking his thumb...it was cute!

We teach them young! j/k

One Way I Simplify Christmas

As a young mom, my Christmas season isn't as packed as others (I don't have any school related parties or giftgiving, etc.), but I still like to simplify things around this time so I can spend lots of time with my family.

I ran across this "poem" a couple of years ago, and it has simplified my present buying for my kids. It goes like this:

Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
Something to read.

So, we only get our kids 4 presents each Christmas...a fun toy, something they are in need of, an outfit, and a book. I am able to buy things early on, because I already know what I'm looking for. And this keeps us from wanting to spoil them with presents!

What are some ways you simplify your life during this busy Christmas season?

Balloon Glow

Photo taken from the Web

Wes's cousins, Tyler and Erin, came into town Friday. We had lots of fun hanging out with them. The boys went coyote calling Saturday morning, and 4-wheeling in the afternoon, while us girls stayed home with the kids. Both of our kids LOVE Tyler and Erin...Hallie started crying when they had to leave Saturday night.

Last night we met up with some other cousins, Justin and Betty and their kids, at Grandpa's Grill. After some yummy food we headed over to our mall to go to a "balloon glow". We've had a hot air balloon show here in town the past couple of days, so we decided to take the kids to see them all lit up at night.

I was worried about how fun it would be, because it was pretty cold, but we all really liked it! There was around 20 balloons and they would light up every now and then, so they wouldn't fly away. Every few minutes the crowd would count down from 10 and all the balloons would light up at the same time. It was so cool! Hallie loved it and kept squealing and staring in awe.

We walked around to see all the different designs and we found one balloon that was letting little kids get in and pull the lever that lit up the balloon. Hallie got to do it a few times and had SO much fun. She loved it! (And I am still kicking myself for not having my camera with me). Hallie told me we could go back next time so I could take her picture. We definitely will!

We ended the night with ice cream at our house and some Wii. It was a great, fun night for all of us!

Thanksgiving/Hallie's 3rd Birthday

We went to Mesa for Thanksgiving this year. I hardly took any pictures this weekend...I didn't even get any of my new nephew :(. I didn't realize that until we were already home. We had a good time with my dad's side of the family on Thanksgiving. We had lunch/dinner at my parents new house, this house was made for entertaining. We had a LOT of people there, but it really didn't feel too crowded. It was good to see relatives that I don't get to see very often anymore, and Hallie loved having more people around. She is shy on occasion, but more often than not she is a chatterbox.

Hallie and Ike playing Guitar Hero

Jaxson learned how to climb stairs. Sadly, he never figured out how to get down.

This is what Hallie does when you say "say cheese".scary.

Hallie's birthday happened to fall the day after Thanksgiving, so she got to have a big party with lots of our family there! Thanks to my mom and dad for letting us use their house for the party...it turned out perfectly. She got lots of cute clothes and fun toys. Thanks everyone! Hallie has been waiting for her birthday for a looooong time, she was so excited it was her day. When I went to get her up that morning I said "Hallie, it's your birthday today!" She asked "It camed?"

Janae and Jax at the party.

Hallie's cake. She loved the sprinkles and her name.

Hallie all dressed up for church in one of her new outfits.

She is already telling me how old she will be on her next birthday. Heaven help us.

Random Things

I finally downloaded some pictures from my camera...I don't like posting without any pictures to show...

My camera always takes grainy pictures when I don't use the flash...it's so annoying, but here is a pretty good picture of Jaxson's new teeth.

Wes went on his annual quail hunt last week from Wednesday to Saturday. He started growing his beard out a few weeks ago (along with the other guys he hunts with). This picture was after the hunt, when he had already shaved a lot of it off. Don't worry he is now clean shaven again (at least until next hunting season). We stayed busy working at the office on Wed. and Thurs., and then hung around the house the rest of the time. We sure missed him, and were glad to have him back home!

Jaxson is walking all over, with the help of his car. He'll push that thing around for a long time. He still isn't walking on his own, though. He went back to the doctor this week, and has gained over a pound in the last month. He is definitely feeling heavier to me these days!

Hallie's new pasttime is painting. She wants to do it all the time. She always wants to write my name, so she'll ask me "What's your name?" over and over again....that's her way of asking how to spell my name.

Jaxson also loves to ride this horse. He can get going on it! Too bad he doesn't like the real thing yet.

We're excited to see family for Thanksgiving. Hallie's birthday is on Friday, so we're gearing up for that!

Getting Started on Christmas

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...we just don't have anything exciting going on right now, I guess.

I've been trying to get a head start on Christmas this year...I would love to be done by December 1st, so I can focus on enjoying the season. I already have quite a few gifts done, and it feels great!

Jaxson is getting a new carseat for part of his Christmas (exciting, I know!). He isn't 20 lbs yet, but I figured I might as well buy it now, so we'll have it ready for him when he weighs enough.

This is the carseat I ordered:I'm so excited about this! (Only a mom would get excited about a new carseat!). I did a LOT of research, and this one was my favorite for a few reasons:

1. It can hold infants/toddlers in the 5 point harness until they are 65 lbs, not the usual 40 lbs. (Hallie's carseat only goes to 40 lbs., but I'm going to want her in something longer than that.)

2. It converts to a high-back booster for kids 30-100 lbs. And it converts into a no-back booster for kids 40-100 lbs.

This is the high-back booster

This is the no-back booster (don't know why the pic is so small?)

If you want to look into it, it's the Graci Nautilis. I'm excited that Jaxson will have a carseat that will last him until he can just use a regular seatbelt.

Halloween Fun

We didn't do much for Halloween this year. Both of my kids wore costumes that we already had on hand. We did go to our tri-ward Trunk-or-Treat, and Hallie had a lot of fun at that. She even won 2nd place in the costume contest (which surprised us!).

Last Weekend

Wes and I went to a Halloween party of one of our friends. It was adults only, which was nice for a change! (I think this is the first time our group of friends has done something that wasn't with our kids.)

Wes was a Town and Country employee (complete with earrings!), and I was a golfer. Not the most original, but OK for throwing it together 5 minutes beforehand.

We played Fear Factor, and we ended up winning $50! We weren't expecting that! Wes ate a live worm and goldfish, and I ate pigs feet. I just could not do the stuff that was alive. We were excited about our winnings.

Saturday morning Wes went hunting up at the ranch for deer. He got his first one, and was so excited about it. One of our friends helped him skin it, and they're going to cut it up this weekend. Now, the question is, will I be able to eat the meat?? I'm kind of grossed out about it.

Wes and his prize.

Even horses have to wait in line

I looked out my kitchen window and saw this:





..and I thought, how weird, it looks like they are standing in line. Upon further inspection, I found out they were standing in line-there's a trough at the front of the horses. My question is, how did Sassy get the first turn? (I don't know where my horse was...she is kind of a loner anyway. And we bought a new, friendlier horse on Saturday for Wes. We are hoping to sell Shasta before winter sets in. The new horse is currently named Bell, or Jingle Bell, as Hallie calls it.)



Jaxson had his 1 year check-up yesterday. He is still on the very smallest side of the chart at 16 lbs. 8 oz, and 27 3/4 inches. But he is a happy, healthy little guy, so I'm not worried about his weight. They pricked his finger to run a few tests (I don't remember Hallie having that done at a year), and it turns out his iron is low. So now I have to give him iron, twice a day. And his doctor thought he looked jaundice (I think it was the lights in the office that made him look yellow), so he has to go back in a month to check his hemoglobin again, and to make sure he isn't really jaundice. His doctor is ultra-conservative...she is always worried about every little thing, and always wants to see Jaxson as a follow up. It kind of bothers me, because I'm pretty laid back and don't like to take my kids to the doctor for every little thing. Oh, well.

Jaxson's first horse ride...

...didn't go so well.

More Visitors

So, we had my family here last weekend for Jaxson's birthday. That's 3 sets of visitors in 2 weeks! Aren't we lucky? They came late Friday night, so they would be here in plenty of time to help with chores on Saturday morning.

We had told my dad that we would be branding and castrating the new calves on Saturday morning, but apparently he didn't tell my brothers that. (Probably so they wouldn't have a chance to back out).

These pictures don't do them justice. It was hilarious to see my brothers try to do this...something they've never done before, and probably won't ever do again. I did get a couple short clips on my video camera that are pretty funny.

After they were done with the calves we played a little on the swing set at my in-laws. Of course my brothers had to do pull-ups. It was so cold and incredibly windy that day, we didn't end up spending that much time outside.
We did get some Wii in. Wes and Luke played that blasted tanks game...they got farther than ever before...I just wish they would hurry up and beat it already. Lots of dodgeball was played, as that is our favorite game. I can actually hold my own playing dodgeball!

Jaxson's birthday cake...its an oreo ice cream cake that Wes made. It was delicious! Jaxson loves ice cream, so he was in heaven. Hallie helped him blow out the candles. She cannot wait until it is her birthday.

Opening the blanket his Nana made for him. He loves this blanket already!

This birthday boy loves to be upside down like his sister!

My Dad was teaching Jaxson about music.

Meadow took this picture of our family on Sunday...the nightshot was accidently on, that's why the colors are funky. How many husbands can say that they can hold their whole family? Mine can!

A Year in Review

Here are some pictures of Jaxson over the past year:

1 day

3 months

5 months

9 months

12 months

At 12 months, Jaxson:

-has 2 bottom teeth

- says "Hi" and "Dad", and "Hi, Dad"

-walks around furniture and crawls super fast

-hates getting dressed

-loves brushing his teeth, eating, taking baths, and playing with Hallie

-can clap, wave, and slap fives (only when he wants to)

-is a happy, smiley, good natured little boy

We had a great weekend...lots of my family was able to come (everyone but my Mom and Meagan and her family-she just had her baby). I will post pictures in the next couple of days of all the festivities...including my brothers and dad branding and castrating calves!