Day two of potty training...

one accident at school (but it was discreetly done out of sight of the teacher) and one at home. I'm so proud!
And Hero#2 eats his Oreos (with no coaxing from us) middle first. I eat them whole. Hubsters dips them in milk but Hero #2 eats them (and I saw him do it) by pulling it apart, eating the creme, then eating some of the cookie and then smashing the rest.

If Hero#2 could really talk, it might look like this:

Hero#2 has also taken to spitting and making raspberries all over his seat while we're driving. I think he's getting revenge for being strapped in so effectively. He usually strains against the device after 30 min to 45 in the car.

D-Town today

I got to go to D-town with my good friends the Cools. Jackson tried Star Tours (he held onto my hands really tight-but asked for more alien robots after) and Soarin over CA. He said, "No flying" when I explained the ride but then after said, "More flying". Silly boy.

Sam konked out. We hit up all the regulars and people still told me I was brave for taking two kids into the park by myself. At least the nice ones told me I was brave. The quiet ones were thinking, "She's crazy!"

We had a blast! Jackson was responsible for his special pass and was very eager to show cast members. Sam loves Toy Story, but mostly Winnie the Pooh.

We were gonna go all undies today, but my friend from out of town called and so the undies had to wait until tomorrow.

TV Shows

There haven't really been any pictures lately because we lost our card reader and the cord for the camera. I've had a lot of chores and cleaning and have discovered a new show.No it's not this one. It's this one--Psych. Hilarious. I included Monk because this is also a fantastic crime show.


Honestly, my interest in Castle has flagged a little with the recent episodes. The return of the Triple X Killer was interesting, but I really displike the new chief. Calling her "sir". Really? Lame. In any case, Psych is my new favorite and since I've just discovered the show, I've got lots of catching up to do before I break into the new season.

Been Reading + Some History While I'm At It

Some friends of ours recently got me hooked on the Fablehaven series. Pretty cool. I really liked "The Grip of the Shadow Plague". The books are definitely written for younger audiences and the characters are "young", but it is really creative. It was actually inspiring. I read Harry Potter and think, "Wow. I'll never be able to write that." But this book, I read it and thought, "Wow. This is really creative. I could write something like that!"

I really like writing, almost as much as I like reading. I've got quite a few stories that circulate in my head and it's always been a dream of mine to be published. Really published. To walk into a bookstore and see my books. Awesome.

I've been dying to read "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York." It's a non-fiction "...beguiling concoction-equal parts true crime, twentieth-century history, and science thriller." Honestly, this book is the reason I'm at the computer right now. It was setting the scene for Jazz Age NY and it started talking about Typhoid Mary. Now, I'll admit, deep down I'm a little (okay, maybe a lot) of a geek. I'm not talking nerd. I'm talking geek. I think hierarchal order in Nerdom, geek falls somewhere in between nerd and World of Warcraft-er. I digress. When I heard Typhoid Mary, I immediately thought of the Marvel comic book villain "Typhoid Mary". So I looked it up. Turns out Typhoid Mary was really Mary Mallon, Irish immigrant who was a healthy carrier of typhoid bacteria and worked as a cook, unknowingly spreading typhoid fever to all those she worked for. She infected around 6-7 different families after working as their cook. She would care for them after they fell ill, but would eventually find other employment and the cycle would start over again. She was eventually quarantined and died in isolation 30 years later. Wow. Tough break, Mary. (Mel, if you're reading this, is it any wonder I can only write about dead things ;)

Anyway.

I've also been studying Hokusai, as in this guy:

I've always been moved by this piece. Turns out, he's really one of the only Japanese artists known to the Western world and lived an interesting life. He incorporated Chinese watercolor techniques and rebelled against the studio system becoming an independent painter, painting what he chose. He chose common things in Japanese life, which the Japanese may or may not have liked as it showed intimate details of Japanese life to foreigners. Hokusai lived a poor and desolate life, changing his name and paying off the debts of his no-good grandson.


Hmmm. Appreciate the culture.

Now for pop-culture.

Handsome has recently been enamored of Star Wars. Joanna, every time I watch this I think of you. He only watches Episode V: The Empire Rises and only the Hoth battle. He's gotten far enough in the movie to learn how to laugh like Yoda, but after that, it's back to Hoth. He mostly likes these guys:

The AT-ATs or All Terrain Attack Transport... or something like that. Geeeeekyyy. I love it! Mr. Handsome will catch my eyes and say, "Evil Alien Robot" then sing "DUM, dum, DUM, dum, DEE, dum, DUM, dee dum." You know, the Imperial March. He also uses a vacuum attachment as a laser blaster. And Jo, he says one of your favorite lines from Solo: Who's Scruffy-lookin'?. We're working on "Laugh it up, fuzzball."

In fact, the other night he snuck out of bed while I was reading on the couch and caught my eye at the door. He looks at me and pauses, then says, "Evil Alien Robot" starts to shuffle, and sing the song. Then he stops. Looks at me and says, "Where's the couch?" I say, "I don't know. Where is the couch?" Then he pauses and looks at me and says, "Where's the "sit-down"?" I say, "Would you like to sit down?" He then runs over the couch laughing the whole way and sits down. Love that kid.

That's all for now!

I remember

I am humbled. I am grateful.

Jackson Rode...

...THIS today!


And the teacups and Alice in Wonderland. He didn't cry or anything! Promise. But he didn't want to do the train again.

4 NEW POSTS TODAY!

Wow! Don't miss Jackson's prayer. So cute!

Jackson Started School

Jackson started school and I allowed myself a 5 min cry in the car with Sam in the back thinking, "My mom has lost it." Then I turned the car on, wiped my face and cleaned, groceried and what not.

Jackson loves school. Sam loves dropping Jackson off and getting him and will frequently ask "Where's Jackson?" throwing his hands wide as if freeing the question in the air like a bird. We will have to get a crib tent at some point for Sam because he's already figuring out to climb out. He will use tension from his feet on the slats to push off them with his feet while hanging onto the siding. Jackson is really learning so much (he has started quoting whole movie scripts (in order) including, but not limited to: The Incredibles, Ponyo, Monsters Inc, Peter Pan). He's also singing, singing, singing and I love it. His current favorite song is the Incredibles Theme, Ponyo end credit Theme, and "Hey Jackson". It goes something like: Hey Jackson, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind! And I'm sure you get the rest.

Jackson is starting to get the idea that poop in your pants is no fun! Wee!

Jackson is improving so much. He snuck out of bed and ran to shut Colby's and my door so that he could have the run of the house. He's reenacting scenes from Thomas the tank. He's singing! He's jumping and climbing. He's looking at other people and strangers and I'm so happy. It's all thanks to the help of my family and friends and the help of the Lord. I really believe that the combined faith and fast of family and friends for Jackson with the help of a merciful Heavenly Father has led to an ongoing miracle. Jackson started really talking in December and our fast was not even a month before. Thanks to you all and praises to Heavenly Father.

St George pics from another camera

Alright, last post of St. George
What a beautiful temple! We were able to do sealings there with ALL my sisters (and bro-in-laws) and hubsters. It was fantastic - so joyous to be there with everybody and
so proud of all of us living righteous so we were able to go.

We went to the Tuacahn marketplace there too. Some pretty neat stuff, but BOY, was it hot. Meggie with Bubba

Ice cream at Costco.

Dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

Logan just absolutely loving Mark.

Celebrating our three August babies.

Logan playing football with Mark.

A close-to-midnight run to Menchies.

Just two boys sitting in the tree.

Mark tried really hard to include Sam.

A very nice "men only" picture.

What what? Who's that? That's right, it's Bryce! He's resurfaced after days of being incapacitated with a kidney infection. Good thing he was able to get to the clinic.
*TANGENT* So after Bryce got medication, he started acting really funny. Turns out, he was having an adverse reaction and having hallucinations from some of the medication. Don't worry, he's fine now, all better. But (no offense Bryce) it was pretty funny while it lasted (it's okay Bryce you were on drugs and couldn't help it). Here are some of the things Bryce said:
-"Shhh!" to Danielle at the dinner table. She wasn't talking.
-"Where's my wallet? Where's my wallet?"
Jared:"Why do you need your wallet?
Bryce: "Why do I need my what?"
-(while watching a movie) There's a man sitting on my chest! There's a man on my chest!
-"It snowed last night!" (taking mom to the window and seeing the dry ground): "Well, obviously itmelted."
-Driving home, there was no music playing, but Bryce sits upright and says, "Can we stop listening to Christmas music?! This is the longest rendition of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' on the accordion I have ever heard!"
Wow Bryce, very specific hallucinations. Impressive.
We love you Bryce and are glad you're ALL BETTER!

There was swimming, playing, eating, toe painting, movie watching,

book reading, sun bathing, and all other kinds of fun.

But alas, it did have to end. On their way back up to the Great North, the fam

stopped off in Provo for lunch. They went to Roll Up Crepes and it was delicious!

Logan and Grandad - each giving each other a "look."

Look at that look on Annelisa's face. That's a candid shot: pure contentment.

Chocolate will do that to you.

It was sad to say goodbye.

Logan actually tried to ditch Meggie and hitch a ride up to Canada, but she caught him just in time.

What a great vacation, family!

Thanks for the fun.

Family, I love you, I love you I do.

Jackson's First Prayer

Jackson's First Prayer touched my heart.

Dear Heavenly Father,(pause) In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Disneyland with the Grandparents

Here's Colby at his new dental school.Watching pictures at Disney CA Adventure
Sam and Colby on the Dumbo ride
New Disneyland hotel; the headboard lights up and plays "When You Wish"
Finding our room
They had a mini couch and small TV showing classic Mickey, Goofy, Donald cartoons...brilliant.

Jackson was excited!
We had so much fun. Grandma and Grandpa treated us to a weekend at Disneyland Park Hotel. It was fantastic. We rode the monorail into and out of the park, we rode Winnie the Pooh, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear and Jungle Cruise. There were a few people and it was definitely warm, but we didn't let that stop us!
Poor Chad was such a trooper. His foot was hurting him but he carried on! The show must go on!
Thanks so much Grandma and Grandpa! We loved it!

The Help: The Movie

I loved it. That being said, the book is better. But I still LOVED it! Everything from costumes to acting, to sets, all of it was perfect. It would have been impossible to have shown everything from the book in the movie, but they came close. Where they couldn't show everything, the actresses made up the difference and the "essence" of the character was true to the book. Sounds really cheesy I know, but it was fabulous! Read it then see it or see it then read it. You won't want to miss it!
Honestly, I was so enamored with the costumes I kept reminding myself to watch the movie.

St George Part

We rencently went to St. George for our first ever family reunion. It was a lot of fun. Here are the pictures in reverse order. Everybody was eventually able to come, even Mark who had thought he wouldn't flew in to Vegas and then we met up. It was quite the health extravaganza. Bryce had a kidney infection 2nd day and the meds he got caused him to hallucinate. More on that later. Colby was coughing and it turns out it was ambulatory pneymonia. Then, after the trip poor little Logan lost a tooth, yesterday (at home).

Here's a cousin shot. That's Logan and Jackson, they are about 18 mos apart.

Logan and Sam LOVED each other. Logan kept calling Sam Na-nee (Natalie) who is Logan's other cousin on the other side of the family. These two would hug each other all the time.
Family shot. Sam's a little nap deprived.

The men
You can't see Mark, whose face is just as red as Sam's saying, "Take the picture! Take the picture!"

Uncle Jared and Cousin Logan
The women
The cousins. If you watch this series with the cousins, you'll see Sam get placated with keys.





And Jackson did actually lean in close for the picture!


Coming back from a hike in Zion's
Sam finally conked out. Auntie Dani carried Sam the whole way! It was an awesome backpack!!!



My explorer pose or my Captain Morgan pose.
The great-grandkids with Grandad



Megan's Hallelujah pose


We went on the Emerald Pools trail. Next time we go it will be the Narrows.
If you look close, Uncle Mark is on a rock on the other side of the canyon.


Walking from Lazy Daisy Cottage to 15 on Main Cupcakes
First date



Logan in Zion's





Before the trip with Grams and Grandpa visiting with their new iPad.

Sam LOVES silly hats and he was carrying a clean diaper around so I strapped it on his head. He loved it.
Reading historical plaques. We had so much fun at the reunion. We're hoping maybe in another 18 mos or so. Montana, Oregon, AZ or CA. Who knows? Family is great!