Scrubbing....the In-laws are Coming!

3 days till Nana & Papa are here.  We are so excited for their visit.  We got to get busy though.  Scrub, Scrub, Scrub and more scrubbing.  If only I could convince the thundering trio to not follow behind me and destroy all the progress we make.  

Gratitude

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation

is not to utter words, but to live by them.

~ John F. Kennedy

Top: 2008 Thankful List

(ooops, I forgot to take a picture last year)

Bottom: 2006 Thankful List

Two years ago, we were living in San Diego. Some days it feels just like yesterday; other times it feels like a lifetime ago. Jaxon & Ashlin were in this wonderful Daycare during the Dissertation Phase and one of the activities they had was to decorate a "Thankful Poster". They displayed each family's poster around the halls of the center. We loved the idea so much, we made it a family tradition. It's been fun to see the differences in our list each year as well as the things that stay the same. This year, we invited 2 new families from our ward to join us in our tradition. We really enjoyed their company and sharing in the things they were thankful for. It was a great opportunity to build friendships.

Our family is incredibly blessed. I am so grateful that we have the Holiday Season to share the gratitude that is held so quietly in our hearts the other 10 months of the year.

Family and the Gospel are the two things I treasure and am most thankful for.

These two things make life worth living. I am so thankful that Shawn didn't give up on my stubborn heart and had the patience for me to be able to see the eternity we could share together. He puts up with me through the good and the bad. He is such a wonderful father. One of the best moments of the day is when he plays with the kids and gets them belly laughing.

My kids are so very precious to me. At one time, I was unsure I would ever be able to have kids....look at me now. I am thankful for the medical care that made that possible. Each day they add a little more love, a little more happiness, and a lot of laughter to our lives. We have a great extended family that supports us daily. They make the hard moments of life bearable and the good moments of life even better. (Shawn likes to paraphrase Homer Simpson and say, "kids, the cause, and solution, to all life's problems.")

I am so thankful for the Gospel in our lives. It makes life worth living, it brings the color into life. I am thankful for the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. He knows us and knows the experiences that each one of us needs to be able to learn and grow and return to live with him.

I am thankful for old and new friends. Life is more fun, and easier to take when the going gets tough, when you have a friend by your side.

“Gratitude is deeper than thanks. Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.

Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words.

Gratitude is shown in acts.”

President David O. McKay

Our First Primary Program

This past Sunday was our ward's Primary program.  This was Ashlin's first year to participate.  She did such a good job sitting up on the stand.  There were a few times she waved and blew me a kiss, but I didn't mind too much.  She said her part with a loud clear voice.  I would lie if I didn't say that I wasn't overly emotional.... there was a moment when my eyes watered up with tears of gratitude for the my sweet baby girl.  She is such a happy and loving girl.  She is a shining example to those around her including myself.  There is nothing more beautiful than to see your child show love for their Heavenly Father and to see their testimony begin to take shape.  Thank you friends and family for helping guiding her along her journey.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Jaxon!

November 08, 2005

1 Year Old

2 Years Old

3 Years Old

We began the birthday celebrations with a lunch at Texas Roadhouse. Afterwards, we went to UCA's family day. They had jumpees, pony rides, and other fun activities.  We followed this by attending the UCA football game (UCA won 42-6!!!!). We had a very fun but COLD time at the game. We enjoyed visiting with the Sherwood's and the Shipp's during the quieter moments of . The Shipp's then invited us for yummy hot chocolate. We were able to have a nice visit and the kids were able to play and let out some of the pent up energy they had from sitting at the game for so long. We then came home and opened gifts. He was so cute opening his gifts and seeming genuinely happy for each one.It's hard to believe it's our precious little boy's third birthday and that he has been a part of our family for that long. Each day he adds joy and happiness to our lives and a few choice words every now and then as well. He is a sweet boy with boundless energy. He is constantly exploring and seeing what is going on. He melts my heart each day when he says, "Mom, I don't like you.....I LOVE YOU! I am so thankful that Heavenly Father sent him to us, because I can't imagine life without him.  

We love you, Jaxon.  

Thanks for being a shining star in our lives each day!

Pity Party Anyone....

If anyone would like to join me in crying, moping, complaining, or eating all of the chocolate that can fit into your body......please come by my house.

In the last two weeks, we have had the stomach flu, shootings at our work, a lost hearing aid. I have scrubbed my house from top to bottom. I have tried to be extra nice to the students due to their recent traumatic event. I tried to say, Oh well.......we were applying for a grant for new hearing aids so it is as good as a time as ever. You would think surely that this little family have reached the end of their bad luck streak....no not the case.

Monday morning at 3 a.m. little Jeron woke up with a high fever and was throwing up. Yes....more throw up. He looked so miserable! We drug him to the doctor and it turns out he has an ear infection and strept throat. No wonder the little guy looked so bad. We then proceed to go to the pharmacy to pick up his prescription. The boys and I sat in the car, while Shawn ran in. Jax kept saying, "I gotta go potty." I being the reasonable mother saying, Hold it since he has been crying wolf all morning. Nope not wolf this time, he pooped his pants. You can imagine how fun that was to clean up in the parking lot. Although, it was probably cleaner than a public restaurant. After calling Shawn numerous times and asking how much longer he thought it would take, he comes out over an hour later. They kept telling him just a few more minutes. Come on..... can't you just be honest and say we are way behind. Instead of making people, who are already stressed and not feeling well walk around your store multiple times wondering who actually buys this stuff.

Since we were already at the pharmacy we thought we will refill Ashlin's antibiotics (for her VR reflux if your interested) while we were there. Of course, her prescription is expired. I put a call into her pediatrician and of course the nurse can never talk to you then and there. I missed their call back and they left a message we can't fill this unless we see her and check her urine. She's on this medicine for maintenance purposes......Did you even look at her chart?!? I was slightly excited finally someone I could call and let out a bit of my frustration. I put another call in and left a message after I called the Children's Hospital and left a message to ask them to fill the prescription. since the pediatrician's office is obviously incompetent. I should have just called them in the first place. Wrong once again. Right before they called I told Shawn I was just going to let them have it......the nurse called was incredibly nice this had looked back at her chart and despite the fact I had already called the Children's Hospital and left a message said she would call it in anyway. I got off the phone and Shawn looked at me and said with sarcasm, "You really let her have it!"

I know I know none of it's a big deal it's more that all of these events have occurred so close together that makes it seem so overwhelming and irritating.

Today, I was moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. I look into the dryer and there is the second hearing aid. Yep, I had washed it. We no longer have any functioning hearing aids. I can not tell you how careful we have been with these hearing aids to prevent them from being damaged or lost and we managed to do both in less than a week. In April, we went to see Jaxon's ENT and he asked about his hearing aids if one had been thrown into the toilet yet. I remember not thinking that was funny at the time and I most definitely don't think it's funny now.

The only thing I can be thankful for is Shawn's mother is out of the country. This is helpful because whenever you have these moments she says in her sweetest voice, "Don't worry this too shall pass." I know that but I don't want to hear that in the moment. I made the mistake of telling Lindsee and now she tells me, "Don't worry this too shall pass." Now I don't even have that to be thankful for.

In all honestly, I miss Shawn's mom and her pep talks. I am so grateful for the friends that have been compassionate during these moments when you just want to pull your hair out (even if it is sarcastic comments). You can put $2500 on a credit card for new hearing aids, but you cannot buy friends and family. You can get through anything when you have love and support from those people that care for you. Once again, Thank you!

Happy Halloween!

We had a fun filled week of Halloween activities.  Wednesday was the ward trick or treat party.  They got enough candy there that we should have quit while we were ahead. 

The kids of course enjoyed themselves and Jeron found the joy in trick or treating.  When it was time to go home we put their pumpkins in the truck.  Jeron literally screamed all the way home, "I want my pumpkin!", over and over and over.  

Friday, Ashlin's school went trick or treating at Mashburn Hall.  This is the building Shawn and I work in.  Shawn dressed the boys up and took them up to his office while I was teaching.  He took Candy to hand out to Ashlin's fellow preschool friends.  We ended up bring more home than we took between the graduate students and office staff.  They just gave them handfuls and handfuls of candy.  Jaxon handed out the candy to Ashlin's class.  Shawn said, he wasn't too excited to be giving "his" candy away.  Ashlin was able to come into my class and say hello.  It was fun to get to see her with her class.  Of course, there were ooo's and aaaa's everywhere.  

Last night, Lindsee invited us over for wonderful homemade chicken noodle soup.  After that, we went trick or treating in her neighborhood with a group of friends.  We had a really nice time until Shawn looked down and noticed Jaxon's hearing aid was not there.  Shawn then went and retrace our steps, we drove around the neighborhood very slowly, and no we didn't find it anywhere.  That put a little damper on Halloween night for the parents! 

We finished the night off at our friends the Nail's.  This helped lighten the mood and the children absolutely love them. 

We would like a little rest and relaxation....yeah right.....November is upon is and is full of activities to keep us busy running from one place to another.