It's official, I'm no Mariah Carey

So I've never considered myself a singer. I was always playing the piano for the singers. I do think I can hold my own when singing along with the radio, but I may be wrong. I always thought that kid's liked the sound of their mother singing, at least that's what my mom told me. So when I would put my babies to sleep I'd shut myself in a room where no one else could hear me and I'd sing to my babies. As Payton has gotten older I've gotten a little bit more daring. He doesn't need lullabies anymore, he needs something to keep him entertained while I'm changing his diaper so he won't roll away. I made up a few songs that used to make him laugh. I obviously can't write the tune but the words were along the lines of, "It smells like somebody pooped! It smells like somebody pooped! It smells like Payton pooped his pants. He pooped! Pooped! Pooped!" There were other little ditties that I made up but it doesn't get any better than the poop song. So last week I'm changing his diaper and singing my songs when he starts yelling at me. Not in a screaming tantrum cry-baby way, but like he was communicating with me. He was trying his hardest to make me understand something. A new word was coming out of his mouth that he'd never said before. Finally after I finished the song it hit me. He was yelling, "STOP! STOP! STOP!"

So there's the proof. Not all babies like the sound of their mother singing.

Jackson's first big purchase....

For Jackson's birthday his friend Spencer got him a lighting McQueen wallet and his friend Beckham just happened to give him 10 dollars for his birthday. He's been so excited to have a wallet like Daddy! Tonight we took him to the store to pick out his own toy. He actually really surprised me. I told him that he had 10 dollars so there were only certain toys that he could afford. I'm sure when I was a kid I would've tried to convince my parents to help me buy the biggest toy I could find. But he went in there knowing exactly what he wanted,.........a Ben Ten action figure. (don't ask me what/who Ben Ten is. He watched the cartoon with his cousins when we were in Utah two months ago, then he never mentioned it again. I don't know how he remembered it.) He found his action figure (surprisingly it was the smallest one too) then proudly carried it up front. We told him he could also afford a treat so he picked out some gummy bears and carried his stuff to the cash register. There was a line and he did try to butt his way up to the front, but once we told him he had to wait his turn he patiently waited. He handed his items to the cashier and got his money out and handed it to her. I think he was a little surprised to get $3.75 back. (that's the beauty of shopping at the PX, no sales tax) I helped him put his cash back in his wallet and put it in his back pocket like daddy. He told me that next time we go grocery shopping he wants to buy his own chocolate milk.

The really cute thing about it all is that he was more willing to share with Payton. Usually he doesn't like to share his treats (and who does, really?) but I think Payton ate more of the gummy bears than Jackson did but he was totally OK with it.

Photos Nate took of the BEAUTIFUL scenery that surrounds us!

Jackson's Birthday Party

The kids loved climbing our big trees and running around in our back yard. They didn't even want to try to play games because they were having so much fun running around.

The girls did the most tree climbing. They would climb as far up as they could, then they'd call for me to come and get them down. They were so cute.
I had a good time watching how excited the kids were to have Jackson open the present they had brought. Jackson was so happy to have so many friends there with him to play with all his new things. He's been so lucky to make such cute little friends.
Spencer, Madyha, Beckham, Justice, Jackson, Ricky, Bella, & Emma.
Jackson and Ricky. They met at pre-school and have become great friends. Ricky's mom also stayed at the party to help me out with the kids. I was lucky she stayed since Nate had to go out and get the pizzas. I don't think I could've taken care of eight kids by myself.
After they had pizza and cake the kids went into Jackson's room to play. They were climbing in the crib, into the wardrobe, hiding under the bed, and hiding in the closet. They were having so much fun I almost didn't want them to go home.

Jackson blowing out his 4 birthday candles!

One of the girls didn't eat her Pizza and just left it on her plate, so a wondering Payton naturally picked it up.....

.....Then decided to try a bite.....

.....Then decided to shove the whole thing in his mouth!

He walks...........and here's the proof!

For some reason both my boys have been determined to put off walking as long as possible. They wait until I finally throw my hands up in the air and declare, "I'm not holding you anymore boy!" Payton figured out how to walk a few months ago, he just didn't want to keep doing it. Finally about 6 weeks ago he decided that walking really was better than crawling or asking to be carried. Now he proudly walks all over the place, probably wondering why he waited so long to do it.

(the video is side-ways, so just tilt your head to the left and you'll be just fine....)

Happy Birthday Mr. J!!!

Well, he's officially 4 today!! I'm looking back at these pictures of him when he was a baby and I just can't believe he's such a big boy now. It seems like "just yesterday" when he was learning how to walk, but now he's potty trained, feeds himself, has the ability to run away from me, and tells me I'm mean when he doesn't get what he wants. Man, they change fast......

I was blessed from the very beginning with Jackson. When he was born he didn't even cry. I had a C-section so I couldn't' see anything. I new the he was out, but I didn't hear any thing so I started to panic. Then he sneezed. That was the only noise he made. He was always happy. He was a good sleeper, good eater, easy to take care of, and soooo handsom.

I always say that Jackson saved my life. When I had him I wasn't ready to be a mom, but if I hadn't had him who knows where I'd be and what I'd be doing.

People always tell me that Jackson is the sweetest boy that they know. Of course I see the not so sweet moments, but we all have those. Jackson can't go to bed at night without making sure that he get a kiss from both mom and dad. If I forget to read the Book of Mormon to him at bed time or say prayers with him he always reminds me. He always wants to help me cook, or clean. He loves to work with me in the yard whether I'm pulling weeds, raking leaves, or planting flowers. He always finds the cutest moments to say, "mom, I just really love you."

He was so excited to have a little brother. When Payton was just a few weeks old he was asleep, Jackson was in his bedroom playing with his toys, and I was mopping the kitchen floor. Payton woke up and started crying. Before I even had time to react Jackson was running down the hall yelling, "I'm comin' for ya Payton!!!" Even now, even though Jackson and Payton fight sometimes, Jackson still sticks up for him. This isn't the best example of sticking up for him, but it's cute. My friend Amanda was watching my kids while I was at work. Payton was in the high chair eating fishies, then decided to start throwing them. Amanda told him to stop throwing the fishies and apparently Jackson got mad at her for it. I don't know exactly what he said, but this is what was said when we got home. "So Jackson, I heard you were talking sassy to Amanda." "Yeah, she was tellin' MY brother what to do." "Well she's allowed to do that, she's the baby sitter. Payton shouldn't be throwing fishies." "I don't like her tellin' Payton what to do. I told her not to. Me and Daddy are the boss of Payton." "Well, actually Mommy and Daddy are the boss of Payton." "No."

I'm excited to watch him as he grows up. I'm so eager to see the new stages that he goes through and to see what kind of person he becomes. Right now I'm just trying to enjoy this special time I have with him while he's young. Before I know it he be in school all day and I won't have all this quality time with him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON!!!

My Little Men

Sometimes I just can't believe how cute they are. It's usually when Payton is screaming at me or when Jackson tells me I'm mean because I won't let him eat one of those massive cartons of Fishies all in one sitting that I forget how cute they are. Seriously though, these boys are little charmers.

In two days my baby Jackson turns 4! It's hard for me to believe. Has it really been four years? I feel so young. How is it possible that I have a 4 year old? He's going to have his first major birthday party!!! He's made so many friends here so I couldn't wait for the chance to have a party for him. I just hope I can handle all those 3 and 4 year olds running around. Just keeping my 4 year old under control is a huge task. It seems like lately I have to keep my eyes on him 24/7. It's like one minute he's there, the next minute he's in the bathroom trying to brush his teeth but in reality the only thing that he's succeeded at doing is get toothpaste all over him and all over the bathroom. He's also trying to get his own drinks so there's always a big puddle of water on the floor every time I walk into the kitchen. I even caught him trying to climb up onto the counter so he could attempt to get up on the fridge to get the Fishies. At that moment I was really grateful that he's afraid of heights really un-coordinated. Sometimes I get really frustrated, but then I have to remind myself to live in the moment more. Unless he's doing something dangerous I think maybe it's better to just laugh and enjoy how cute he is. Obviously he's not my baby anymore, and who knows how much longer he'll be doing all these cute things.

Payton is fond of saying "No." He is seriously a little teaser. He'll walk over to the TV and stand there looking at me pretending like he's going to turn the TV off. He just waits for a reaction from me. As soon as I say "Payton.........." he turns as fast as he can to touch a button. Then I'll say "Do you need a time out?" and he'll sit down real fast and shake his head and say "NO." Then I'll say, "You want some fishies?" "NO." (but then he comes and gets some anyway) "You want some milk?" "NO" (drinks it anyway) "Want some peanut butter?" "NO" (then cries until I give him a spoonful) It's really quite entertaining. This kid has a great sense of humor.

Isn't this just a funny picture???

My children are so incredibly photogenic, but every once in a while we get a real winner!

Motherhood

Elder Russell M. Nelson on motherhood:
"During my professional career as a doctor of medicine, I was occasionally asked why I chose to do that difficult work. I responded with my opinion that the highest and noblest work in this life is that of a mother. Since that option was not available to me, I thought that caring for the sick might come close. I tried to care for my patients as compassionately and competently as Mother cared for me."

Julie B. Beck:
"The responsibility mothers have today has never required more vigilance. More than at any time in the history of the world, we need mothers who know. Children are being born into a world where they wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

However, mothers need not fear. when mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children."

The First Presidency:
"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind."



Payton was up in the middle of the night with a bad cough. I got him out of bed and gave him some cough syrup. I was really tired so I was going to just put him back to bed, but I decided to sit on the couch and hold him for a while. Payton always wants to be moving. Since he learned how to crawl he's wanted to be on the move constantly. Once he got past the newborn stage I wanted to train him to go to sleep on his own so I tried to never let him fall asleep in my arms. I'd forgotten what a great feeling it is to have my little one fall asleep while I was holding him. Last night he snuggled right into me and just held me as tight as he could. While he was falling asleep he just rubbed my shoulder with his chubby little hand. It was nice to sit alone in the quiet of the night and look at his perfectly chubby face while he slept. In the craziness of the day it's easy to forget how lucky we are to be mothers. I'm grateful for those quiet moments with my children when I can remember how blessed I am to be a mother.

Our Little Chef

Jackson is starting to take his Independence seriously!

Usually when we wake up in the morning he just sits on the couch and waits for me to get him his breakfast. This morning I was in my bedroom changing my clothes and I heard some banging in the kitchen. Payton is always getting in the kitchen messing with the pots and pans so I didn't really think anything of it and continued to take my time. I'm not a morning person so it always takes me a while to get moving.

When I got into the kitchen I saw that Jackson had gotten out a pan and the eggs and had already cracked four eggs. He did surprisingly well. He got the eggs into the pan before cracking them open so there wasn't a mess for me to clean up on the counter top. After cracking the eggs he did drop the shells into the pan as well so I did have to spend some time getting all the shells out. I was proud of him for trying to be such a big boy. I let him stir the eggs and it made his day.

Now that he's realized he can do more for himself he's also started climbing up to the sink to get his own water. He also decided he wanted to get himself some cheese. He grabbed a 4 lb. block of un-opened cheese out of the fridge and tried cutting himself a slice with one of his plastic kiddie knives. Obviously he was unsuccessful. It was cute to see him try though.