feelin the love...

well i'm about ten post behind... and i'm not really sure where to start... or how to catch up on this crazy life of mine. So instead... i'll just give you an incite of the end of our family pics that we recently took. pretty sure i wanted a cute family kissing pic... and well.... jaks wasn't quite sold on that idea....

but after popping in the binkie... he finally gave in...... however, the poor kid looks like he has been through it all.... lol, promise we don't usually torture him like this. ;)  

Thanks Jaks for putting up with us! We Love you!

Kickin A Pinecone....

So this past weekend Wes and I (and Jaks) decided to go on a last minute camping trip with our good friends that we have met down here in AZ. It was so much fun and we took plenty of pictures in just our short 18 hour vacation.... however before I get to posting those, I wanted to first share a short video of the highlight of my trip. OR maybe it was Jaks' highlight..... either way I'm glad we at least got the tail end of this on video. After we set up camp, we decided to go on a little walk. Well, on our walk we encountered hundreds of pine cones, which naturally, while walking I kicked one........

Who would have known that kicking a pine cone would be about the funniest thing a 14month boy has ever seen. I wish I would have recorded him at the beginning of the giggle fest, cause this is taken after 10 minutes of hysterical laughing... but I still think you can see how funny he though it was.

One of those days...

This is what happens when it's just one of those days....

One of those days that nothing seems to get done, but yet it's crazy all day

One of those days when nothing seems to satisfy Jaks 

One of those days where Jaks doesn't want to leave my side or leg

One of those days when I finally just needed a second to breathe

So Jaks got pudding

and he got pudding his way

and I got a moment to breathe

and a moment to laugh and smile at the cutest mess I've ever seen

And no... we don't usually eat like dogs at our house

and no we don't even have a dog

So i'm not sure why he decided that eating this way would make it taste that much better.

Loving All Of It!

I'm definitely not a perfect mom. I have more flaws than I would ever like to admit. Which is even more reason to celebrate and thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me to raise one of his most precious spirits. I think we can all agree that motherhood is by far the most amazing journey anyone can take in this life. OF course one of the most challenging things we will ever do as woman, but with that comes the greatest reward. And today I just wanted to thank all the great examples in my life who show me every day what it means to be an amazing Mother. I have so many great woman to look to... an amazing mother-in-law, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, aunts, cousins and friends..... and most importantly my best friend, my strength, my example, the one I run to, cry with and pour my soul too, the one who knows ALL of me and who has LIVED every moment of her life for Me.... my  MOM!

Words could never express the gratitude that I have for my Mom. I am so thankful that she worked so hard to have the relationship that she has with all her children. My mom has always been more than a Mom to me... which in itself is enough. But no... she was and has always been my best friend, my catcher, the one person I can't hide anything from, the one who always knows how I'm REALLY doing...even when she is 500 miles away. The one who has stayed up late with me, helping me with so many urgent projects.... the one who has cried with me through all the tough times, the one who I want by me through the tough times.... the one who constantly shows me how to endure, how to love and continually push forward. The one who taught me how to pray, how to have faith and how to listen to the spirit. THe ones who has always reminded me to look for the good and soak in the tiny moment. The one who has defended me to her grave, stuck up for me and fought to the bitter end for me. The one who taught me how to love your children unconditionally and the one who is truly my greatest example of someone who has exemplified every and ALL of the divine characteristics and traits of a mother. Thank you MOM!!! I love you more than ever and am so thankful I have YOU Forever! I pray that I can be half the mother you are and that my children will have the same trust in me that we have in you. We love you!!

 I made this for my mom two Christmas' ago... but I think it displays pretty well the relationship she has with all of us. :)

And of course to celebrate Mother's Day, I wanted to share a few pics of Jaks and I. I don't do a lot of things well, but I try with all my heart to let Jaks be Jaks, and enjoy who he is.... even at the cost of a lot of extra messes, like when he doesn't want to sit still in his chair to eat... so we have lunch on the floor, with  no utensils and no plates. And he feeds himself... or when we go out in the back and eat sand and cover ourselves with mud... and then of course bring the mess inside. OR when he wants to play with ALL of his toys at the SAME time. So although my house is usually a disaster, and Jaks usualy looks like an orphan or is running around naked.... I am loving it! Thanks Jaks... thanks for all the fun adventures we have had and will continue to have! I love being your Mom!!!!

Jaks 1 Year Old (Part Two)

Can I just tell you how much I love this kid! Freak... I know I was a baby before, but being Jaks Mom has made me the ultimate softy and blubber boober. (I think I just made that word up). But really.... every time I watch him, and then again when I go back and see pictures of moments we had, I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude that I can't help but shed a few tears. Tears of happiness and joy... tears of fear and worry.... tears of hard work and exhaustion... and of course just tears of overwhelming love.  And I know every single post has been about how much I love Jaks and how he literally is my whole world... but hey... can you blame me?!

Here is PART II of my little guys 1 YEAR OLD PICS. Yes, I know... by the time I finish his 1 Year Old Pics... he will probably be two. But hey, at least I'm trying, right? I only have about 50 more pics that I want to post. Having our family live away from us, and have a brother, brother-in-law and grandmother on a mission.... I can't decide which pictures to post, and I don't want my family to miss out on any emotion that Jaks has... so I probably will just keep posting ALL of them. However... tonight I'm going to stop, cause it's getting late and I don't want to overwhelm everybody too bad with my Jaks Shrine. ;)

But then again... how can you ever get sick of this face?

Jak Jak Facts... 1 Year:

Walking + Lot's of Falling

Says "Bobba", "Mama", "Dada"

Shakes his head yes and no

Loves Dipping his Food 

(Chocolate Milk and Toast, Cheese Crisp and Guac, Chicken & Ranch., Cookies & Milk)

Wrinkles his nose when he laughs

Has 5 teeth

Loves to Climb

Can go UP & DOWN the stairs by himself

Loves Loves Loves being outside

Will sit in front of our sliding glass door until we take him outside
And if we fail to take him outside... he will often start banging his head against the door. LOL, But no.. he isn't neglected.. 
I promise..and Yes... I know that's not healthy. But he is a crack up!

Is always giggling

Thinks it's hilarious when someone says, "Get that CORN outta my FACE"

Loves to make MESSES. Of all shapes and sizes. I am learning a new way EVERY DAY to make a complete disaster.

Loves playing with our Sound System & DVD Player. 
He knows how to turn off and on the Sound and how to Open the DVD Player.  
Pretty much loves opening and closing ANYTHING! 
Loves pushing Buttons.
Will only eat, if HE can do it himself. 

Is always smiling and happy. He also has flirting down... we are in trouble. ;)

Loves Loves Kids. All and Any. Wants to be with them, wants to do what they do... 

Loves People for that matter and knows how to catch EVERYONES attention

LOVES TOYSTORY... the only thing he will sit through

And yes... is addicted to the computer. This is another story. But all day long he tries to get on my computer, put his feet up, move the mouse and hit the keyboard. I think he has watched his Mom, one too many times!

 And yes... we had to get one with BUZZ.... The one constant thing that has gotten us through the last three months. Thanks TOYSTORY 3 for making a few road trips and days even possible.

Jaks.. 1 Year Old (Part I)

Has it really been a year? I always new time would slip through my fingers once I became a mother, but I had no idea that the velocity would almost be unbearable.... I can't believe Jaks is already ONE. Of course... there is the part of my heart that aches... aches for the fact that I will never have that year again... that Jaks will never be an infant and that time will only move faster. But, the rest of the my heart, and most of it at that... is Celebrating! Celebrating in the growth and success that Jaks has everyday. I love watching and embracing his new achievements. Walking, talking... and yes.. all the new messes as well. He is so much fun right now and I love every moment!

The last month has been a world wind... and I'm pretty sure we celebrated and photographed this milestone to it's fullest.  I was trying to organize all my pics and put everything together, but it completely overwhelmed me. So, I made a truce with myself and decided to break it up in a few post. So here is to Part I of Jaks One Year Pictures! :) We took these while we were down In California. He was fighting allergies and the bright sun... but even with all the negative elements... I'm pretty sure we had success!

Oh I love him!!! I seriously can't get enough of these... they just melt my heart... oh and don't worry, there are PLENTY MORE on there way!

 

This would be Jaks letting me know he has had it...

 

Cali.... here we come!

House Totally Cleaned.... check!

Bags Packed.... check!

Behind schedule 5 hours.... check!

Ready to have an AWESOME week with both of our families in Cali.... CHECK!!!

hey sista... soul sista...

Well, it's safe to say that they aren't lying when they say... "absense makes the heart grow fonder." Being away from family has definitely given me a different kind of love and appreciate for every single member of my family... and although I could talk about each of my family members specifically.. (which I will some time or another) today I wanted to share a little bit about my "Soul Sista" and BFF... Shalei...

I'm not sure if it was the age difference, the fact that I secretly wished I had an older sister... so I tried to be the best one I could be, the fact that we slept in the same bed every night... and every night I would have to sing Primary Songs to her and rub her feet to get her to go to sleep, or because I was her only babysitter.......maybe it was all the time she spent watching me play sports... or the fact that she thought I was the most amazing person in the world and believed in me, even when my self worth and self confidence had been destroyed......or maybe.... it was all those things.... either way, I have been blessed to not only have an amazing little sister, but been blessed that she truly is one of my best friends.

Since the day she was born, Shalei has been a leader. She never wanted to do things like anyone else. She has had a gift for entertaining and has definitely been a light in my life. She has always known how to make me laugh and I have always admired her ability to let loose, not care what the world thinks and just be who SHE want to BE. Shalei truly is one of a kind and I definitely miss her sunshine and laughter in my life. She has always been my right hand man! The one I can always call on and the one who is always left standing by my side. Thanks Shalei! Which is why I'm just thankful we have forever to hang out.. ;) Shalei thanks for all you have ever taught me and for bringing so much laughter in my life! I LOVE YOU!

I'm also way excited cause this year she is running for Junior Class President! :) (Wow... I'm getting old! She will be driving this year...) Anyways.... we are way excited for her and this weekend I had the privilege of helping her with some things for elections. I always love helping her with these, cause it  challenges me creatively. It's extremely hard to come up with anything original... since student council elections have pretty much existed since the beginning of time, and the requirements have never changed. Every year the posters have the same stipulations.... and I would dare say every theme that exist has been covered....but we still did our best to find something unique. I really wanted her poster this year to "SCREAM" Shalei... which meant the design had to be  FUN, LOUD, BRIGHT, CRAZY, and CONFIDENT! And... well.....This is what we came up with!

  It definitely was a team effort! My Mom and Melody took her pics... I designed the poster.... and well... Shalei was the inspiration and Model! :) I am so proud of her and want to wish the best! Good Luck Shalei!! Love ya tons, Thanks so much for letting me help... I had a BLAST Designing it!!

Oh yea... and to celebrate!! I decided to give away those frames up above for FREE! :) All you have to do is "like" Signature Scrapbooks facebook page (the scrapbooking company I design for) and you get them FREE! Hurray! I wanted everyone to have a little bit of "Shalei" in their life.. CRAZY, FUN and FREE!!!

birthday bash and best buds....

Well it's official... Wes is another year older! This year ended up being unlike any other birthday we have celebrated throughout our marriage. Usually on our birthdays we get the privilege of celebrating it with both of our families. Which, we always love. But, this year.... besides the few people we had for cake and ice cream.....we spent the day with just the three of us. The weather was beautiful and to celebrate I took my hubby and son to the park for a picnic! :) It honestly was one of the best days ever. We have both been so busy and stressed that we haven't had time to just enjoy one another.... so if there is one thing we accomplished for Wes' birthday it was that.... we took time to embrace each other and soak in one of God's greatest gifts.....family.

I know there a lot of pics, but they tell the story so much better than I do. Hopefully you can get a glimpse of the relationship Wes and Jaks have. We have been so blessed to have Wes home the last few months, and because of it, Wes and Jaks have pretty much been inseparable. Jaks loves his dad! I'm so glad I had my camera and that my Heavenly Father blessed me with a chance to capture the love and bond these two have!

We couldn't find any grass to have our picnic on (something I didn't know about until we moved here... the grass in AZ is nonexistent in the winter...not cool!) So we settled on having our picnic under a canopy.... I made Wes his favorite chicken salad...

However our lunch ended quickly. Jaks apparently knew exactly where he was, cause he took Wes hands and headed straight to his favorite place... the swings. And I think you can tell how that went! :) 

 We then headed to the slide.. this is Jaks favorite slide. And yes... he goes down by himself. I think some of the parents think we are crazy when we let him slide down by himself... cause it's no short slide... but he's never scared. He marches himself right up to the slide, sits down, and off he goes. :)

We then had to go exploring and eat, chew, climb and grab everything that was in site.

And last but not least... I saved my favorites for last. It amazes me when I watch Jaks with Wes.... As long as Wes is by his side.... Jaks believes he is invincible! He has no fear and feels as though he can do anything! I also watch the same little boy hesitate with timidness and fear whenever he is left to do something by himself.... It's amazing. He already knows his dad is Superman! Which is funny,  cause I too feel invincible with Wes by my side. And for that... I can't thank him enough. I love you Wes! Thanks for the amazing husband and father you are. Jaks and I are the luckiest people ever!

Happy Birthday!

i hope they call me on a mission.....

so i have started about three times to post these pictures, and all three times i had heart felt things to say. the first time was my thoughts about service, the second about missionary work and the third was just about how blessed i feel to have one of God's choice spirits in my home.... but all three times i got interupted and was unsuccessful at actually posting the pics.... so no more deep thoughts...no story behind the suit or what caused me to want these pictures.....i think they speak for themselves. so here are a "few" ;) pictures i took in december....enjoy!