2012 Recap

Well I suck at this game. I really do think about posting something at least once a month, but as you can tell it doesn't happen.
So much has happened in the last year.
On November 17th 2011 we welcomed Madeleine Grace into our family. She is such a blessing to our family! In May Keith graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors of Geography and a GIS (Geographic Information Science) Certificate. He's done! I'm so proud of him and so grateful that he's been willing to make sacrifices and attend school. Keith is still working evenings at the Post Office Encoding Center. This last September he started an Internship with the Salt Lake City Sanitation Department. He's really enjoyed working there and using his schooling. We've heard rumors of them turning his position into full time. We are praying that happens!
Caitlin turned three in may. She's becoming quite the little lady. It's so fun to watch her play and pretend! Cait will talk your ear off if you let her and the things she comes up with sometimes blows me away. She going to be smarter then I am before too long.
Jackson is in the 1st grade now. I can't believe how big he's gotten. He loves school and his teacher.
Madeleine is now one. This last year went by way too fast. She's running all around the house now and even though it took her until she was 11 months, she now has 8 teeth. She loves following Jackson and Caitlin around and tries to do whatever they are.
The week after Jackson got out of school one of my nieces was in a car accident. She was in the ICU for a couple of weeks before passing away. More on that at a later time. So needless to say, summer was a whirlwind of crap and I wasn't able to spend much time with the kids. We were able to go camping with Keith's family a couple of time and spend time with my brother Jay and his daughter Kira.
Before Jackson started school this year I had a hard time deciding where to send him. A lot of the kids in our neighborhood go to schools outside of our boundary. Our school is a title 1 and has 51 languages spoken there. Most kids don't learn English until they start there. I really felt like I needed to send him there but decided that if I was I'd throw myself into volunteering at the school. So I joined the PTA and I'm now the Treasurer. The PTA President is wonderful and understands some of my concerns about Jackson being there. So far we've had a great year and I'm excited for the rest of it.
All in all we've had good times and some hard times this year. We stay pretty busy and try to spend time together as a family as often as we can. I'm excited for the New Year and can't wait to see what it has in store for us!
Here are a bunch of pictures, hope you enjoy!

Just some pics

Here are some pictures of the last little bit. One of these days I'll write an update, but for now enjoy!

Here is some of our family pictures taken by Nikki Nelson.I love her work! You can her awesome work here!

Fall Time Again!

I love Fall. It's my favorite season. I love everything that it brings, cooler weather, turning colors, sweaters, wrapping up in blankets, hot cocco, tons of yummy comfort foods (not that I need them), and getting ready for the Holiday seasons. The change over from Summer to Fall has brought a lot of new experiances for us.

Keith is has started what should be his last year of school. I'm hoping that by this time next year he will have 9 to 5ish job with paid time off and Insurance we can afford!

I am oficially a College Student! The plan was that I would what until Keith was done with school then I would start. But, I've had the poking thought that I needed to start sooner. So I am taking a Math class at SLCC. I have a new found respect for Mom's who go to school, work and take care of their families. Some days I think I'm crazy for doing this!

Jackson started Preschool in September. He loved it! I say "loved" because after a lot of debating and tears on my part, I decided to take him out after a month. I had a hard time coming to this decision but our days were so packed between everthing we have going that most days we didnt get home til after 6pm. We (meaning the kids and I) had no time to play together and it was forever tears around the house. The two weeks that he's been home have been a lot happier around here.

One thing that Jackson learned in school was the letter "J". He now goes around pointing out all the J's. "Mom! that's my name!" It's so cute. We are going to start working on the other letters in his name.

Caitlin is growing so fast and has such personality. She keeps me moving non stop. Recently she has started to bring her baby and blanket to to Keith or I so we can wrap it up. She'll then kiss and rock her baby.

Here are some pictures from our Summer adventures!

Pelican Lake July 2010

Caitlin was so mad that Jackson was sitting with her, she was yelling at him and trying to push him off!



The wonderful hair gel made from sunscreen and sweat.



Fun at Mae's house





Bear Lake Labor Day Weekend 2010






So this is the only picture we have of Jackson at Bear Lake right now. He was on the boat the whole time we were at the beach.

Bee's Game (Thanks Carli!)

At home

State Fair

Not happy to be on the horse!

CSN GiveAway!

So my wonderful friend from http://alittlebitofkooky.blogspot.com/ is doing a $50 giveaway with the CSN Store. I would love to get these beautiful correlle plate. I've been slowly, very slowly, collecting one piece at a time. My Mom gave me two bowls and two plates for my birthday, I now have five pieces! Winning would totally help me out. Go visit http://alittlebitofkooky.blogspot.com and enter to win!

No more Slacking...

I know this is late, but better late then never right? We had a fun Easter, it lasted a couple of weeks at my house. We colored eggs at the in-laws the day before Easter.






Jackson made a "dragon" egg, he doesn't know that it was turned into a salad the next day. Poor baby dragon.

The next day Caitlin and Jackson got their baskets, (sorry no pictures, I'm trying to be better) and then we had dinner and an Egg Hunt at my Sister's.





Like Jackson's Spiderman Halloween basket?

Then a couple of weeks later, we went to an Egg Hunt on my in-laws side. Lots warmer and lots bigger. 70 people vs. the 20 at my families!

Upside Down....

I feel like the contents in my house have been shaken then turned upside down. I am madely trying to make things right again but all I'm doing is running in circles. Ever feel that way? I have so many projects that I want to do, or need to do (dishes) and I've started lots, just haven't finished any of them (or the dishes). Oh wait! I did get all of my pictures from various CD's onto my computer. I'm quite proud of that one because I started out not having a clue what I was doing. Plus I got out of doing the dishes a little longer.

So, back to the things I "should" (dishes) be doing. We have three bedrooms in our house, mine and the hubbies room, Jackson and Caitlin's room, (that looks like this half, ok, MOST of the time)

and then the computer (thats broken and we haven't used in over a year), and craft/food storage/ junk holder room. That one is way to scary for pictures, seriously, we make people sign liability release forms before entering. So my Sister had the brilliant idea to turn the junk room into a playroom. Then all of the toys could be a mess in there, my kids would have a clean room, and my junk room would be gone! Until it finds its way to another part of the house, but thats besides the point. I have slowly, very slowly, been working on making the switch, but this is the week! I know you're excited for me. Keith is done with School for the Semester and he has plegded his service to me. Hmm... maybe the dishes will get done...I will put up pictures when its done. The rooms, not dishes. Hehe! I cant wait!

In the middle of that I have a mile long list of other things I need/want to get done.

• Walls decorated in the bedrooms and soon to be playroom


• dishes


• kids bathroom decorated


• dishes


• my room some what orginized


• dishes


• wall art


• madehair bows finished

and the list goes on, it does include the mundane every day things, but who wants to dwell on those? dang never ending dishes... sorry, not dwelling... argh!

In the midst of all my crazy circle running we do find time to play. It's really more play then work at my house, but I didn't admit that.

bathtime is always fun





Inside Jungle Gym, complements of the couch!



Well, off to my list, or maybe the dishes, maybe.