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!

finding joy in havoc and chaos....

Most of you that know me, probably know that I spend most of my life in havoc and chaos. This is not something I am proud of... and definitely a lifestyle I am trying to change. However, I am finding that changing an old pattern is not an easy task. Especially when it's a lifestyle you have lived for more than 10 years of your life. Ever since I can remember I have had "too much to do, and not enough time!" Although this lifestyle has come from an innocent heart and a desire to only do good.... I'm reminded over and over of Martha and Mary. Sometimes my heart aches for Martha, especially since her emotions and actions are too close to my own. Sister Bonnie D. Parkin used the account of Martha and Mary to teach and advise us to, "choose the good part".  Like Martha "the good part" isn't always clear for me.  I know Martha truly and sincerely felt as though she was choosing the good part. She LOVED Jesus,  she worshiped Jesus and knew that HE was her Lord and Savior. She wanted nothing more than to SERVE HIM... to let him rest in a place of order and cleanliness. She wanted to show her love to him by serving him her finest. But, although service is often a "good part", Jesus taught us that listening to His words was the better part that night...........

which, I guess is the hardest part about it. The good part isn't always constant, it changes.  The "good part" on Monday, isn't always the "good part" on Saturday. The inconsistency is often the reason I'm not very good at choosing the "good part". (which is the same reason I was always better at math than English.... 2+2 always equals four, but "i after e, except after c and exceptions..." Yea.... I've never been good at anything, when I have to "use my best judgment".  And thank goodness the Lord knows this about me.... :) Cause... in April of 2010, he gave me my constant.... the one thing that always comes first and is ALWAYS the "good part". ......My little man Jaks!

The hardest part about moving to AZ, was knowing and worrying about how it would affect Jaks. And...there is no doubt...moving has taken a toll on my little guy,. There is also no doubt that I have cried and worried about the fact that he doesn't understand why his world has been turned upside down and he isn't surrounded by a million people anymore, or by the comfort of what use to be his "home"..... However..... even amongst all of my crying and worrying, the Lord has taught me (through Jaks) that he does not command us to do anything, without providing a way to do it. In the last month Jaks has helped me understand why our Heavenly Father asks us to be "as a little child".

This month Jaks has endured 4 new teeth, a new house, a few new beds, a few car rides, a lot of new faces, not seeing old faces, and a mother who can't get it together. But.... even with all of those tribulations he has still been the one person in this house, to find joy in the journey. And for that, I owe him! Thanks Jaks.... Thanks for being the "good part!" Thanks for teaching your mom how important it is to find joy... even if it's in small small moments. Thanks for teaching me how to forgive and love someone through their weakness... .thanks for being so patient with us and for cuddling next to me, when you knew I just needed a hug. I love you!!

So here are the "good parts" of my month..... and yes, there are a million of them.. and yes they aren't edited... because right now.... making sure they look good, is not a "good part!" :)

Bath time has been our little escape lately... Jaks loves loves loves the water. We often will take a bath 2 to 3 times a day..... this being because of how dirty my son seems to end up every hour and also because it's is favorite place to be....

This particular bath time Jaks decided to bring along his drumstick. It was so funny because he wouldn't let it leave his mouth, but still managed to play with his other toys with both hands.... 
it was so funny!

And of course after bath time... :) And yes... Jaks' hair is getting out of control... it's growing in some spots and not in others... but hey we love it...

Here are a few from the park. The swings are Jaks bestfriend. Wes and I try and take him everyday so he can get fresh air and have a little outlet from the chaos at the house. (I say chaos.. because we are still under construction at our house and there is stuff every where... lol, so maybe the swings are an outlet for me from the chaos. ;) Either way we both LOVE them, and it gives me so much joy to watch his face as he sways back and forth!

Him doing his favorite thing, the same thing Wes and I find ourselves doing all day long. Walking... walking and walking.... all Jaks wants to do is hold our fingers and walk. :) And since he is the "good part" we do it. All day long.. :)

And last, but not least.... him in all his little glory. Jaks is definitely an independent little guy and one who wants to do it himself. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are a set time for a food fight. Jaks refuses to use his bid, no matter how many times I put it on him, he finds a way to yank it off. He also won't eat, unless he can put the food in himself... which is making it really difficult... but hey... a diet based solely off of Cherrios isn't bad, right? Lol... none the less... i decided to soak these moment in, instead of dreading them.... which has made the clean up after every meal not seem so bad. :)

I love you Jaks!! Thanks for helping me find JOY in the havoc and chaos these last two months! I couldn't have made it without you!