Newest pictures

When Jackson turned 4 months old we got these great pictures, they are a little old now, but still super cute right?

Christmas Parties!

Jackson has absolutely loved Santa. Everytime he gets with him he comes up with the happiest biggest smile. I guess he knows where the good stuff is.

The MBA put on a great party for the students and spouses. We listened to a John schmitt concert and ate great food. We are loving our new friends through the program and are happy to get to spend fun time with them.

It is always nice to have an excuse to get dressed up!

12 events of Thanksgiving

12 siblings gathered

we missed Tyler and Kacey, but Ry and MaryAnn (plus Dayton!), Shane and girlfriend Kim, Carly and Doug, Melinda, and Marcie all joined us on Thanksgiving day. I love having family so close in location and so close in relation. I love you guys!

11 pounds and gaining!

We had an amazing turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. I made a sweet yams and sweet potato crunch that I think will become a yearly tradition . . . it's vegetable that is also dessert! THEN we ate at Schnieders (at Zermatts) an All-you-can-eat Seafood buffet complete with Sushi, shrimp, crab, all types of fish AND a 3 table dessert bar. The following day we at "big platters" at Matty's Bistro (also at Zermatts) and finished it off with another Turkey dinner at Dave's parents.

At Matty's German style Bistro.

10s and 100s of blessings

As we said our "Thanks" around the table this year I found it hard to choose just one thing to be thankful for. My life is full of good friends, close family, a wonderful marriage, a beautiful baby, a job I thoroughly enjoy, a comfortable home, a ward family, good health, and many more blessings. I am so thankful to Heavenly Father for taking care of us so well. I know that life isn't always so peachy, so I will enjoy and relish the time I have with so many blessings. I feel happier than I have ever been before.

My two greatest loves . . .

9 carols a singing

The Messiah sing in is one of Dave's favorite events of the season. WE get to listen to the Utah Symphony, stellar soloist and OURSELVES! Yep, they let us try and pick out our part in Handel's Messiah and sing along with the choir. I think I am getting better every year (It helps to sit next to a strong alto to follow her lead!)

(BOTH of my sister in laws are expecting . . .yeah! more cousins!)

8 Touchdowns!

Post turkey dinner football bowl was exciting and shocking. Despite Dave's go-go gadget arms, we lost due to Shane's secret weapon girlfriend. Having 10 people playing in a narrow backyard made for some great plays and fun times. (We didn't get a pic, so here is our future NBA star palming a basketball (pay no attention to the hand beneath the ball . . .))

7 games of racquetball

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning were all spent in the racquetball courts. I love to play different people. Racquetball is always new and exciting and fast paced. I love to play. I have a championship racquetball game with a partner from the MBA program this week. wish us luck!

6 hours of sleeping (without baby interruptions!)

enough said!

5 AM SHOPPING!

Yep, we were among the MANY crazy people out and about early in the morning. We got all the deals we wanted and a few extra ones we didn't know we wanted until we got there . . .

4 hot tub soakings

We used the gym's hot tub, then the hotels. Plus, we got upgraded to the penthouse (Thanks, Marc!!) so we had a hot tub in our bedroom looking over our 4 poster bed and fireplace. It was awesome. Here is the view from our 5th floor room. This is elegant Midway.

3 Games a playing

Checkers, chess and shuffleboard are all the rage at 5 star hotels (at least they are the free activities!)

2 Years of marriage

December 1 marks our 2 year anniversary. Zermatts was the most romantic and relaxing place to spend our weekend. It was nice to have some alone time away from Jackson (Thanks mom!) and remember all the wonderful reasons we are married. We really love being together and building our marriage. I love you Dave!

1 BLACK EYE

Playing racquetball with Dave gave me a black eye. Somehow the ball went from Dave's racquet straight into my eye without giving me time to blink (or move at all for that matter). However, the game continued and I am proud to say I still beat him in all my one-eyed glory.

This is the grossest picture of me (do I say that about all of my pictures?) but it shows the damage. Now the eye just looks like I smudged my masscara. but it was swollen for a couple of days!

motherhood

I love this list of 15 things that change when you become a mother. Life really has changed for the better and I hope I am becoming a better person because of it!

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

Sushi is not for wimps!

Friday night we had Dave's school "team" over for "make your own sushi" night. I love to pull out my Japanese souveniers (dishes and serving trays) to make the night a bit more authentic. We did include raw salmon and tuna (nope, NO ONE got sick, even from fish shipped all the way to Utah!) but also had some mellow rolls with fake crab or (cooked) chicken. I think everyone liked the raw fish! I absolutely love the taste of sushi and sashimi. I love the Japanese feel of the night (although the eggnog definitely put a different twist on things!)

The night was topped by amazing cheesecake made by one of the groupies wives. I really love getting to know the guys and the spouses of those on Dave's teams. It is nice to be in the same boat with other people. Each of the people in Dave's group has one kid, except one guy has 3 kids! =So we had quite the full basement apartment (which is not yet baby proofed- but everyone and everything survived).

Members of Dave's team include some of the new blogs you will find on my "friend" list. Namely,

Oliver & Kristen (They're preggo with #2 girl);

Dave & Mandy,

Ken & Emily,

Scott & Kristen (not converted to the blogging world as of yet, I am working on her!)

TV addict!

November 10, 2008

but it helps him learn to sit so it is ok right?

Can you help but smile?

One of the things I love most about Jackson is the pure joy he gives off. His whole body smiles and laughs. You can't see that and not feel happy yourself.

Nov. 17, 2008