Good Times with Aunt Beth

So Aunt Beth invited Jeremy, Riley and Deanna to come play, and then for Riley and Deanna to spend the night at her home, but first they had to stop at the grocery store to pick up pizza and junk food (neccessities of all good slumber parties).

At the store:

Aunt Beth:  Someone has to watch Jeremy.

Deanna and Riley in unison:  Not it!

All three children ran is separate directions.

So they put Jeremy in on of those race car shopping carts and Riley wants to ride in the car too!  Which was fine until they were in the checkout line and Riley was stuck!  Aunt Beth needed Jeremy to get out first so Riley would have room to negotiate himself out.

Aunt Beth:  Jeremy get out of the car so Riley can get out.

Jeremy:  NOOOOO!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aunt Beth got Jermy out and put him in the shopping cart. 
Jeremy climbed on top of the car part of the cart.

Beth asked me later, "Is this what its like everytime you go shopping?"
My reply, "No, I also have a 6 month old."

On the car ride home the children wanted to play slug bug.  Aunt Beth said OK, but no hitting the driver.  Riley thought that wasn't a good rule, but Deanna understood that it was for safety reasons.

Aunt Beth:  You could hit me and break the knobby thing off my arm bone like Aunt Margaret.

Riley:  Oh yeah, I am pretty strong.

Deanna:  Yeah, and Aunt Beth is pretty old.

Poor Aunt Beth.  I wonder if she will be inviting the children over again any time soon.

All Aboard!

“Well, are you coming?” asks the conductor.

“Where?” I asked.

“Why, to the North Pole, of course,” was his answer.

“This is the Polar Express!”

Last Saturday was our ward's Christmas Party! It was so much fun, the kids loved it and so did we!
The theme, if you couldn't already tell was "The Polar Express."


Here are two of my boys on the train! Jeremy loved, loved, loved it. I had such a hard time getting him out of there. Bryan and I are on the activity committee so they were amoung a select few children allowed behind the scenes.




We even had a conductor take us on a journey through the mountains and snow. You know where he was taking us, don't you?

To see Santa of course!

Here is Riley with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. I think he may be getting to the age where he is too cool for santa. Why, you ask? Well, when we told him to go get in line to see Santa, he replied, "do I have to?" However, I think he is still a believer!

Here is our little Cody and his first visit with Santa. He didn't mind at all, in fact he was so interested in the bell Santa gave him I'm not sure he even noticed I was gone.

This was also Jeremy's first experience with Santa. He was so excited to see him and he wanted to go meet him! But when it was our turn he cried and clung to me. Big surprise for a two year old huh?

Cody and B, having fun! And just in case you haven't figured it out by now, we were in our pjs because that is what you wear when you ride the Polar Express!

Riley and his buddies. It was nice that they paused for one picture. I'm so happy that he has made friends so easily in our new ward.

Jeremy with his doughnut. The best part of the night for him and a fantastic reward for meeting Santa!

Merry Christmas!

Grandpa's Shirt

So a few days ago I was getting Jeremy dressed and told him we were going over to Grandpa's house. He picked out a new shirt to wear, but when I put it on him it was to big! I tried to take it off, but Jeremy screamed NOOOO!!!! and held his hands over the buttons so I couldn't undo them. He then ran off to find Bryan, and pointing to his shirt said "Papa's Shirt!"

I hadn't thought it looked like Grandpa's shirts when I bought it.... but yup, its Grandpa's shirt.

Should I worry that at age 2 Jeremy is getting fashion tips from his Grandpa?!?

Cody Jacksen

Becca recently took some AWESOME pictures of my new little guy, Cody Jacksen! It was a really fun photo shoot, and she captured some pretty great faces on Cody. Here a just a few of the pictures....




Me and the newest love of my life! Isn't he precious?!?



So peacefull....

I love his face! It looks like he's laughing! ... probably just gas though....

Oohhhh.....

Teny tiny feet!

And teny, tiny hands!


Thank you Becca, you are a very talented and creative woman!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!

I can't belive you are TWO years old!

What happened to my little baby boy?

I look at Jeremy now and I can't believe he is so big!

He is definately a toddler now, a big boy! Not a baby anymore.

I miss my chunky little guy, so here are a few pics of how I still remember Jeremy...

Jeremy at his blessing. Such an angel!

My snuggly little pooh bear!

My chunkster! He could definately pack it away!

Always Grandpa's little helper!

And always getting into mischief! (well at least that hasn't changed!)

Yes, I really miss the first year. Not that this last year hasn't been a blast too! Its been pretty awsome building sand castles and really playing around!

Happy Birthday JJ! You are two and ready to take on the world! Go for it!

I can't wait to see what happens now. You take me on some crazy adventures and throw some awesome challenges at me.

I love every minute of it! And I love you!

Colorado

Ahhh, I miss Colorado! So peacefull and relaxing. Nothing to do but sit on the porch and enjoy the 70 degree weather and sceanery. It was so tranquill, watching the boys fish while I read my book. I can't remember the last time I was able to sit down and enjoy a good book.

We had a great family reunion with Bryan's family in this beautiful home. There was so much to do from fishing at the pond in the back yard to riding quads to simply hanging on the porch. What a great vacation!

Here is my little porch buddy and his older brother. Cody was such a snuggler and sleeper. Jeremy just can't stop kissing him. He was a big hit with his Grammy, aunts, and cousins. I barely got to hold him! ... except of course at about 3am when he would refuse to sleep!! But I love him anyway.

Here is Bryan teaching Jeremy how to fish. Unfortunately they didn't have any luck at the pond. Poor Bryan, all he wanted was to just catch one fish!

Maybe Jeremy and Papa will have better luck? Its just so sweet how much this kid loves his Papa! Anywhere Papa goes, Jeremy is running after him.

Well, Jeremy was able to finally get in touch with his feminine side on vacation. Any time his cousin dropped her baby doll, he'd pick her up. He would cuddle her, pat her back and give her kisses. Too cute! It must be the influence of a new baby in the house.

Not to worry to much though about Jeremy and his femininity. He is still a boy through and through. He loved riding around on the quads!

He especially loved riding with Riley. Jeremy holds on tight as Riley says "Look Dad! No hands!"

Ok, now if you have noticed there is a definate lack of Riley pictures. Not my fault! He was busy running around with the cousins, only checking in for meals and bed time. And besides I was busy relaxing on the porch watching to make sure Jeremy didn't go swimming.

Ok, now here is a quad that Jeremy just didn't want to get off. A quick ride around the block was just not enough! Common dad!

Yep, Colorado was a fantastic family vacation!

Little League

Little League is over now, but what a great season!

The Rockies are Undefeated!!!

.... so who cares that scores aren't kept in coach pitch?

Here is Riley, looking the professional base ball player during warm up. Don't forget to smile!


Bryan was their coach! Here he is warming up with his team. Go Coach Hunt!


Here is Riley waiting at third base to run home! Riley turned out to be quite the hitter. He didn't strike out once! .... could this be why his number is #1?

... and here he comes! Home run Riley!