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Merry Christmas

We had a FABULOUS Christmas. And the most precious gift of all...Grayson saying his first 2 words, besides mama and dada. The little stinker is 10.5 months old and says HOT, and while waving he will say bye, bye. Melted my heart. He kept doing it on demand all day and night...it is so cute. He babbles a lot and sometimes I think he is saying words, but now it is for sure.
I loved this GIFT but do NOT like the idea that my BABY is getting so BIG so FAST!

Grayson

Too cute for words...

Remember the Reason for the Season...

It's Christmas time this year and when we were putting up our tree,

I wished I could find one simple way to remember Christ's gift to me.

Some little sign or symbol,to remind me as the days go by.

the Little babe, born one day, though he really came to die.

A symbol of his nail pierced hands,

the blood he shed for me...what if I hang a simple nail

upon my Christmas tree?

A crimson bow tied round the nail,

Represents his blood that flowed so free.

To save each person from his sin,

and redeem us for eternity.

I know it was his love for us,

that held him to that tree

and when I see this simple nail,

I know he died for me.

Give thanks and gratitude to Him. He is the reason for the season.

Tis the seson to be JOLLY...

AND JOLLY ARE WE!!!

I am sure this is the prettiest tree we have ever had. I think that in years past when I decorated the tree I did get some sort of joy from it,BUT this year it is so different. This year the boys helped every step of the way and I think that our tree is the best it has ever been. All our decorations are about 4 feet off the ground, it has tipped over about 10 times and it just looks better every time. We are very grateful to Chase for climbing the mountain in Idaho, picking out the most gorgeous tree on the hill, and getting this 12 foot tree to our house. Thanks Chase I know it is not easy and we love you for doing this for us. A real tree smells so yummy.

At school Easton made these countdown loops and they are not just ordinary loops. Each loop has a special message on the inside that says things like: tell someone in your family you love them, give everyone in your family a hug, sing your favorite Christmas song with your family and many more. It is so fun and brings the spirit of the season into our home.

This past weekend we went to Provo to stay with our great friends Bryan and Cecilie. They recently bought a new home and it it GORGEOUS! We kicked off our weekend by going to the lights in Temple Square. They are FABULOUS this year. There is always a magical, warm feeling there. We looked at the nativity, saw the Christus, listened to carolers, and loved the seeing the sparkling lights. The kids loved the reflection pool and the glowing temple. Then we headed to the Brothers home, went to their ward Christmas breakfast and program on Saturday, then Cecilie and I spent the rest of the day shopping. That night the Dads got to go out for fight night, while the rest of us played, ate popcorn and watched movies. We had a FUN filled weekend. It was so much fun that when it was time to go, there were tear filled eyes saying our goodbyes. (the kids get along so well and didn't want to leave.)

I love this time of year and all the fun parties and things to do. I especially love the crisp air, and the feeling of love and happiness this time of year brings.

Happy Holidays to all and to all a great year!

Laughter

Some funny things that my boys do and say make me LAUGH! I love to LAUGH. The past 2 days Easton has said quite a few things that have struck my funny bone. Yesterday he said to me while we were driving, "Mom why don't you have sharp teeth?" Speaking about my canine teeth. I said "because the Orthodontist gave me the Hollywood treatment when he took my braces off." He looked at me for a split second and said "well then I guess you will ALWAYS have to be an ELK!" he was dead serious, so I had to hold in my roaring laughter. He then followed with "I am a leopard, dad is a bear and you will always be an elk." I laughed so hard I almost cried. I am still laughing. When we play like we are animals or hunting I guess I am an elk because they don't have sharp teeth.

Another that is funny, but not FUNNY at all, I heard him playing and I heard these words, "What the hell?" I asked where did you learn that? He said Todd says it all the time. Me...Todd? No he doesn't (thinking of my borther in-law). Easton- yes he does mom. Then in a sarcastic tone he says, Yeah, I hear him say that when I am over at my friend house.

Tonight when Garet and I came home from our date night he asked me to come and play with the train set. I said sure, just let me feed Gray real fast. He replied just do it down by the trains. Okay. We get downstairs and I started to nurse Grayson. He looks at me and says "No NO No Mom, sit by the trains and milk Grayson. Come sit over here and milk him." AHHHHH

Mason has picked up on naughty words like dummy, and idiot. But when he says it, it is funny and cute and really hard to discipline... with a straight face. He says it like this Bummy, and i don't even know how to translate idiot. Big brothers teach the good and the bad. other cute words: oh gosh, kew kew kew for shooting a gun, Gay Gay for Gray Gray. Recently I asked why Grandma Kathy is special and he shouted CHASE! He loves to turn the cd player on and dance.

Grayson has started dancing too. He watches Mason and dances whenever he hears a beat. Just like Mason. He waves Hi and it seems like sometimes he tries to say it. He throws his hands over his head when you say soo big. He loves real food now and loves to drink from a cup. He can throw a ball and has started to call for me. Mama, Ma Ma mum, or mum, mum, mum. He gives kisses and really likes Garet now too. He climbs all over his daddy just like the other 2 boys. He wants to be so big, but he is still my little. He is 9.5 months. One new milestsone for Grayson is free standing and walking along furniture. He will go from the table to the couch and he is pretty good at it. He is so fast crawiling and loves to get into all the cupboards and drawers and empty them. He has 4 teeth and 2 more that are so close. He is even working on his molars. I hope these teeth come in quickly because they do not make us laugh.

BOYS I LOVE YOU! Thanks for making my heart happy and my eyes sparkle and shine.

They R palyin' 1 of our songs baby...

The stars lean down to kiss you, And I lie awake and miss you. Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere. Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly, But I'll miss your arms around me. I'd send a postcard to you dear, Cause I wish you were here. I'll watch the night turn light blue. But it's not the same without you, Because it takes two to whisper quietly, The silence isn't so bad, Till I look at my hands and feel sad, Cause the spaces between my fingers Are right where yours fit perfectly. I'll find repose in new ways, Though I haven't slept in two days, Cause cold nostalgia chills me to the bone. But drenched in Vanilla twilight, I'll sit on the front porch all night, Waist deep in thought because when I think of you. I don't feel so alone. I don't feel so alone. I don't feel so alone. As many times as I blink I'll think of you... tonight. I'll think of you tonight. When violet eyes get brighter, And heavy wings grow lighter, I'll taste the sky and feel alive again. And I'll forget the world that I knew, But I swear I won't forget you, Oh if my voice could reach back through the past, I'd whisper in your ear, Oh darling I wish you were here. (song-owl city, vanila twilight)

Thanks hunners I love you...more than you know.

Halloween Dinosaur park style

Kathy & Parker came to town and we all went to the dinosaur park. It was FUN and decorated so cute for halloween. This rock wall is HUGE! Every pumpkin was carved and no 2 are the same. What a great place...what a great day.

We have FRATERNAL TWINS

It is true we have fraternal twins. A boy and a girl. They are cute, cuddly, take care of themselves, sleep through the night and love to be wrapped in a blankie and held. Okay so technically they aren't twins but brother and sister, however they were born on the same day from the same litter. Easton chose his kitty because he LOVES Figiro on Pinochio and named him Figiro too. Mason just loved his and named it Pinochio (AKA Coco as he says it and so we do too). They are cute and playful. It is so fun to watch their personalities. FIG is all boy. He sneaks up on Coco and pounces her. He even prowls in the grass and hunts the kids. He climbs the tree and loves the toys. Coco is sweet and mellow. She plays too but not quite as aggressive. She likes to swat at a string, or swat at the jingle bell ball. She loves to be wrapped in a blankie like a baby.

They are our first real pets. We have our fish too...Oscar and Plako but the kitties are different.

So far we have been LUCKY

Somehow we have managed to dodge the FLU bullet. Right now 3 of Garet's family members are infected. Meag keep your distance I really want to see you this weekend. Charlotte I hear had it, and we were really lucky to have missed that bullet. We were together at the dinosaur park and she shared my boys water bottle. That night she started with a fever and the next day they took her to the ER. She is okay and doing great. Then one of my family members may or may not of had it. She went to the doc. who said she had it, but didn't test for it, but her symptoms didn't match any of the symptoms acording to the CDC webpage. Who knows...but I am feeling lucky or should I say BLESSED. I hope we can keep this up.

2009 Halloween BASH!

I got to hold our yearly halloween party this year. My cousin Alisha started the tradition and has held it for the past 4 years. This year she and her family were in between homes and so I got the chance to have the party at my house. It wasn't as great as hers but we had a BLAST! We ate, played the balloon game, had a spooky story and had to feel the remains of a dead witch and laughed and laughed. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to all of those who came. This year we got to have some new friends of ours from New Zeland come to our party. It was a new, crazy experience for them since they do not celebrate Halloween over there. They are the couple dressed as a witch and the scream guy. It was fun to introduce this holiday to them. Sally and Jace if you come back next year to the ranch we will do it again.

Happy Halloween to all!!

Please add me to your list

So many of you have gone private and some how I didn't get my name added to your lists before you did this. So now I am BEGGING all of you to add me to your list. (Lauren I am your sis. in-law, Becky Lewis...) I sure would love to see and read your blogs.
THANKS!
Sharee
shareejones@yahoo.com

Swimming with Grandma Kathy at Grandma Clo's

Kathy asked us to meet in Logan at Grandma Clo's house and play. We had a great play day. We swam in the pool, ate yummy lunch, and played. Before Easton would jump to Grandma he asked her if she was a good swimmer and made her show him how she could swim. She taught them some good swimming skills, and swam and swam and swam. They all loved it. It was really fun. We love you and thank you for a great day.

Shiver ME Timbers!!

This email is rated PG13 for strong language SO BEWARE!

If there is one thing I HATE in this world these nasty creatures are IT! I know hate is a strong word but I can definitely apply it to all spiders...THEY ARE NASTY!

This guy has made a BIG web outside one of our windows and we get to watch it. I first saw it when I climbed the ladder to replace a bulb, and just about died. My boys think it is great and love to check on it. They climb onto the bathroom counter and look out the window to see if it is still there. So now it has become like Charlotte's web.

I looked it up on the Internet and found out that it is a garden spider. They carry all there babies in the big shield on there rear ends. They die in late autumn and the babies live on. So I need it GONE soon. I definitely do not want a breed of those nasty critters around.

Also we have been dealing with a few funnel grass spiders and I am positive I have identified some hobos around too. I have only had like 5-6 in my house but that is WAY too many for me. The hobos and Grass are aggressive too. They seriously charge right into you when you try to kill them. It is very SCARY! My skin is crawling as I write. I am trying to be brave and not scream and freak out when they are around, I just squeal and wince. I don't want to pass my fear on to my boys. Easton tells me they are nice and good. He says we should just pick the up and put them outside. I say if they come into my house they will be sprayed or smashed, as long as they are outside they are fine, but they are not welcome inside. HMMMMMMM YUCK.

HOBO (the grass looks very similar)

BOTTOM LINE... I HATE, HATE, HATE them with a passion.

LOVE MY PHOTOGRAPHER

Love Heather Mickey. She is the greatest photographer. This photo session was a disaster. I had planned for it all day and it all fell apart at go time. Our session was at 5:45pm Mason, Grayson and I were there but Garet and Easton didn't come until the session was over. Heather quickly snapped a couple of shots of us as a family and Easton solo and I tell you what SHE ROCKS! It takes an awesome photographer to be able to get something like these when your clients aren't helpling you out much.

I especially LOVE the last picture of the boys hands. Baby, toddler, boy. It tells a huge story for me. They are my angels and I always want to remember their sweet little hands.

Heather you really are amazing thanks for capturing our moments for us...we will cherish them forever.

Chocolate Waffles...GENIUS!

My sis. gave me a copy of her ward cookbook and a recipe for Chocolate Waffles was inside. It is DELISH! First of all anything with CHOCOLATE in the title has to be good. My boys love these. They are a good alternative to the monotonous pancake, waffle, french toast...breakfast. These are a breath of fresh air, and a good little treat. We like to top them with whip cream, powdered sugar, and fresh fruit, or with butter and syrup, homemade raspberry jam or plain. The options are endless. They also make a great after school treat. If you want the recipe let me know. YUMMMMMM!

1st day of pre-school

This is late, but better late than never. Easton started school big 4 year old pre-school. He LOVES it. His best little buddy Hunter is in is same class, he loves his teacher Mrs. Lori, and has made new friends and reconnected with old pals from last year. We have a ton of boys in our area, there is only one girl in Easton's class. I am not sure if she is lucky or unlucky. She is a cutie though. He has already learned so much. He can tell you the life of a caterpillar. 1. starts out as an egg, 2. a baby Caterpillar pops out, 3. eats leaves, 4. turns into a chrysalis or you can say cocoon, 4. and then after 2 weeks a beautiful butterfly comes out. He really enjoys learning and school. I have noticed that Easton very lucky with the ability to retain information. He gets this quality from is Dad. I would study, take the test, then poof it is gone. But Garet and Easton really learn and remember things. He is so grown up now. He is becoming a responsible young boy. He is learning manners, how to obey, and loves to take care of me. He is very thoughtful...he will say to me "Mom i noticed you are my beautiful, or I noticed you work hard, or I noticed I love you mom." whenever we leave the house he always opens the door and waits for me to come out, and closes the door behind us. Sometimes I will say go get in the car and he will just politely wait for me, patiently holding the door until I get all of us and our stuff out in the car. He has done this for about 1 1/2 years now. I didn't have to ask him to do this he just "noticed" I needed the help. It is a special thing for me. I could go on and on but the bottom line is...I LOVE YOU EASTON.

It happened TODAY Litte baby Gray cut his first 2 teeth. I am a little sad about this because those cute little baby gums are gone. Your baby grows up faster when the teeth come. They transform almost overnite, it seems, from baby to toddler. So today is a big day. I am happy about it as well because he has been a grumpy little baby. I know he is getting 6 teeth all at once and I am very happy that 2 came in at the same time. But still my baby is growing up and it makes me sad!!!

Reaching milestones early

SLOW down baby Gray. He is in a hurry to grow up. I want my baby to stay a baby but he has bigger plans. This llittle guy is already CRAWLING! He started rolling and army crawling at 5 months...REALLY. And now he is full on crawling. He figured this out just before turning 7 months old and now he has got it down. FULL ON knees and hands crawling. It is so cute. He is still a little bambi like. A little tipsy and clumsy but he knows how to do it and LOVES to practice his new found freedom. He just turned 7 months old 10 days ago and perfected the skill of crawling about 3 days ago. Time to get the stair gate out, here comes trouble.
A few other things he began early are:
drinking from a glass at 5 months
Teething not just 2 teeth but 6 all coming at once
rolling over and moving
seperation anxiety 6 months
1 thing i WISH he would have figured out early is sleeping ALL night. I am partly to blame, his ear infections too,but I would LOVE to sleep all night long. Any tips anyone has I would love to hear.

Who should I call for HELP?????

I had just gotten home from a Costco trip and was unloading the car. The kids were following me in and out ,riding bikes and playing in the garage. I was talking to Meag on the phone and suddenly I hear Mason screaming at the back door. I run to the door and see him with a DART sticking from his temple on his head. YES A BIG SHARP DART! I hang up, grab him, and look at this object impelled in his head. I was just about to pull it out and then thought SHOULD I or SHOULDN'T I? In first aid they teach you not to pull out impelled objects. But what am I going to do? Garet is at the ranch, I can't strap him in the car and head to the E.R., 911...no. So I call the ranch no answer, call my dad...no answer,repeat this 3x to each. FINALLY they answer at the ranch but don't know where Garet is at. I tell them it is an emergency find him and have him call. Then my dad calls I tell him to come FAST. Then I remember in our other ward Danette who is a physicians assistant. I call her and she races over. (Thank you for awesome neighbors.)Right as she pulls the dart out my dad pulls up. RELIEF!!! Luckily the dart was under the skin and not deep into the head. He will be just fine.
HOLY COW SCARY!!! Just a bit farther and it woud have punctured his eye or...WORSE. It is scary what kids find and how quickly it can happen. I don't leave these things out. There is 1 box in the garage that is full of games and is too heavy for me to carry in, not a very good excuse.
So WARNING look around and find those things that can cause injury and get it out of there. I would never forgive myself for something I could have prevented. Kids get into enough mischief on their own.

MMM YUMMY

I LOVE Maddox steak house. It is so yummy. I especially craved this while pegnant with Easton. My sister and I would drive all the way to brigham city to get it. Turkey steak, baked potatoe, green salad with ranch, their famous cornbread and rolls, and the delish cream pies...mmm. So tonight I am making turkey steaks. I know they will not be as tasty as the real thing, but they will fill my need for them. Why is it nothing is as good as the real thing? Even if you buy all the stuff from the main place, it still never tates the same. Like olive garden salad. You can buy the dressing from the resturant but you can't get it the exact same. Well I am super hungry so I hope my turkey steaks cook FAST!