Thanksgiving 2014

I always loved this time of year.... a time to be thankful for all of the wonderful blessings my Heavenly Father has blessed me with, a time to be with family, to eat way too much food, a time to be together with those you love, and a time of gratitude for all things. This year has been a little different. It has been a very interesting time of year for me. Yes I was able to think about all of my many blessings; my family, my husband, my little boy Easton, my home, etc. etc and the list goes on and on. However due to circumstances this year has also been a time of sorrow and of grieving in our family- details of which I am not read to write about at this very moment but someday I hope to share with all of you. I am however grateful for a supportive family and my understanding of the Plan of Salvation- that I will be able to have all my loved ones near me after we leave this life. I am so very grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how personal the Atonement is for each one of us. I am so thankful that someone knows the exact pain I am going through when I experience sadness and loss. I am grateful for all of my knowledge about these things for without this knowledge the hardest days would be even more of struggle than they already are. This Thanksgiving was spent with my family. We arrived a few days before Thanksgiving for our stay. On Thanksgiving we went to my Aunt and Uncles for our family dinner. Charlene and Matthew and their kiddos were there so that was fun for Easton to play with his cousins. Sam and Evan were in attendance and most of my extended family were there also. We enjoyed turkey, stuffing, potatoes & gravy, delicious rolls, salad, and of course various pies that were very tasty. All in all it was an enjoyable Thanksgiving day. I have a wonderful family who loves me and the most amazing husband and little boy who brighten each and everyday. I am blessed and I am so grateful for that.

Easton is 18 months old!

Dear 18 month old Easton, 3000 + diapers 700 + baths 100 + bananas 50 gallons of apple juice 1 trip to the ER plus dozens and dozens of trips to the Pediatrician 100 + temper tantrums 100,000 kisses and Unlimited LOVE.. This is approximately how we have spent the past amazing 18 months. I watched you grow from my precious teeny tiny 7 lb. 21 inch baby

Into the most amazing little boy I have ever had the privilege of loving and knowing

And you like to do BIG BOY things now there is no doubt about that! And like all BIG BOYS you have a mind of your own. Case in-point: You DESPISE diaper changes and getting dressed although we are making leaps and bounds on the diaper changes because you have figured out on your own timeline that clean diapers are much better than dirty ones. But you still hate to sit still for clean clothes and absolutely do not like mommy's lotion baths. You are becoming a picky eater. I swear you used to eat everything and now you have your favorites of Mac& Cheese, cheese, crackers, smores gold fish, and chicken nuggets. You will eventually pick through the meals I cook but seldom do you touch or finish anything you do not approve of. I remember one special moment a few weeks ago…it was a small miracle when you ate every bite of your dinner, and I literally cried tears of joy.

As it turns out you’re a bit of a tickler. And while Mommy thinks its adorable when you try to tickle her neck while we cuddle on the couch I have a hard time appreciating your tickles in bed with us at 3:00 am! I'm glad you enjoy a little fun though. I love your laugh and I could tickle you back all day long to hear that sweet sound!

You have selective hearing. For example, "get off the coffee table" or "don't touch that" means absolutely nothing to you but "lets go outside" you high tail it to the door and practically throw your own shoes on. You have a remarkable sense of balance–as is evident when use the back of the couch as a balance beam, or climb onto the coffee table from the couch. It would be safe to say that you make my heart stop about 15 times a day–and not in a good way.

Sometimes when we go out or when you are playing by yourself, I just take a step back and I watch you…like really get a good look at you…try to get into that little head of yours and see the world through your eyes. And in these moments, I admire your fascination with the all the little things this world has to offer–all the things in this world that you are witnessing for the first time. And then it’s like I am seeing the world for the first time all over again.

I get giddy when I see your wheels begin to turn as you learn something new. And you are always so eager to learn to learn new things, so long as it’s not Momma trying to force you to learn them. You can say more words now than you did a few months ago and you like to sign them too. You say "pease", "danks", "tractor", "more", "deer", "boo", "mommy", "dad", and occasionally "papa". You are our little jabber box!

You do things in your own way and in your own time, and I am learning to be okay with this.

In 18 short months, you have changed my world, and I am so proud of the little boy you are becoming! “I love you through and through”, Mommy

Halloween 2014

This year for Halloween Easton dressed up as Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates cartoon on Disney Junior. Jake and his crew of pirate friends basically watch over Neverland for Peter Pan while he explores beyond Neverland. It is a cute cartoon that we watch way too often in our house but East is obsessed! He loves Jake and squeals every time it comes on the tv. He begs us to put it on for him on the computer or iPad too…. it is fun to see him develop "favorite things" though. Anyway he dressed up as Jake and I dressed up as Jake's parrot friend Skully.

I loved growing up that my mom would dress up with us so I thought it might be a fun tradition to start with my kids. Yep…. I'm that mom haha the cool one who dressed up with the kids for Halloween… But we had fun regardless of how "cool" or "un-cool" it is for a mom to dress up ;) On the 25th we took Easton to the downtown trick or treating and "Scaramie" in downtown Laramie. The shops and businesses downtown do trick or treating a week early for the kids which is fun because it extends the festivities! Easton was super sleepy but I think he had fun… We went with his cousin Madyn and his friends Luke and Brooklyn. It was fun to see the kids get so excited about candy!

On the 29th we dressed up for our preschool party which was lots of fun. The kids got to learn about Halloween, pumpkin, pumpkin guts, they got to color a paper plate pumpkin, and decorate sugar cookies and cupcakes. It was so fun to see all of Easton's little friends dressed up for our party.

Halloween week I made some fun food including spaghetti brains and eye balls, ghost pancakes, and mummy dogs. On the day before Halloween we had Kylie, Eric & Madyn and Sam & Evan over for a Fall Apple Night. I made homemade mulled apple cider, Sam made homemade apple crisp, and we dipper caramel apples in homemade caramel and heath bits. It was all so delicious!

Halloween day we took Easton to the safe treat at the Wyoming Student Union. Mark works in the union and all of the RSO's and Student clubs dress up and give the kids a safe place to play halloween games and trick or treat. The offices in the union had a decorating contest and Mark's office of course won…. they did an amazing job of portraying Mario Cart in their Campus Activities office. Mark enjoyed the bragging rights ;) Easton got tons of candy since Mark knows so many people in the union and everyone gawked at his cute costume! Easton really got into grabbing the candy and putting it in his bucket it was so cute. After this we headed to the women and children's clinic where nurses and doctors stood behind doors and handed out candy and little toys to the kids. We love our doctor's office they always try to make everything so fun for the kids and we especially love our pediatrician Dr. Anderson who Easton walked right up to and let her pick him up even though she was dressed as a ghost! After the clinic we headed to the LDS stake trunk or treat we hit this at the end of it but Easton still made a haul! We have so much candy it is doubtful that we will ever be able to finish it! After all the fun trick or treat activities we headed to a couple of houses and then at jack o lantern pizza with Eric, Kylie, and Madyn. We had a wonderful Halloween this year! Boo!!