4th Quarter 2012 Wrap Up

I have taken to blogging every 3 months it seems. Here's our last 3 months!

I took Jack's 2 year old pictures just a few days after he turned 2. Being the typical 2 year old he was not very cooperative and needed suckers and squirt bottles to be happy.

We finished out the AZ summer with: no more binkie! successfully climbing the "rock wall" at the park. feeding the ducks. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse during general conference. Playing with cousin Grant. and WAY too long of hair-shortly after this, he got a haircut.

October was a month of: playing neighborhood watch. Going to the zoo. Meeting new cousin, Claire. Discovering a new favorite book. My friend Lauren came to town.

Halloween Crafts. Pumpkin Patch. Carving pumpkins. Buzz Lightyear for Halloween.

I put together my sister's bridal shower at the beginning of November. Balloon themed.

The invitation I created for her bridal shower.

My sister Lauren got married the 17th of November.

More wedding. Jack asked a little girl to dance and it was sooo cute.

Thanksgiving seemed like a blur. Hence, the two photos I have of the affair. The top is of Jack waking up earlier than he's ever woken up in his life (7:15am).  I was planning on sleeping in while Stuart was out playing football with friends, but no such luck. Good thing he is so cute.

My brother, Blake, got married 2 weeks after my sister on December 1st. It was several weeks of weddings for us.

PREGNANT! We are having another boy due May 12th, but I suspect he will come earlier than that because Jackson did.

After Stuart took the bar this summer we got used to having him around 24/7 while he was job hunting. Well that came to an end this month. December 20th he started his job with a firm here in Mesa!! It has been the most difficult adjustment of my life, but I am starting to get accustomed to life without Stuart during the day. We are just extra happy when he gets home at dinner time.

More activities to keep the toddler busy. Painting. Learning to hit a baseball. Playing on the iPad-while crossing his legs. "Driving" tractors at the zoo.

CHRISTMAS! We adopted an elf this year and named him Patrick. Jack didn't really understand at first but he got used to hunting for him when he came downstairs every morning. We took him to see Santa-he was SO excited before he actually got up close. After that it was just fear. We had a fun play day with friends decorating Christmas Trees with candy. We picked out and decorated our real tree.

Temple Lights. Christmas Eve nativity program-Jack was a Wise Man. Christmas Eve Jammies.

Christmas morning. This year's haul: a flashlight. a strider bike. a train. a book. tractor and animals with a fence. clothes. a tent.

Family Christmas Picture.

My parents gave him a roller coaster. Yes you read that right. My house is now an official circus. He loves his bike. A little slow still right now, but he'll get there.

Christmas Card 2012

Ending Christmas break with movies on Mom & Dad's bed. Helping me "New Year" clean and going to the zoo. My mom came with us and fed the giraffes with him. He was so upset when his turn was all done.

Summer Wrap Up & Jack Turns 2!

Catching up on our family life again...
 

Went to lots of summer movies. Wore our hat sideways. Watched games. Went on Dates. Swam A LOT.

Hung out with friends. Got into messes in the pantry. Jumped in puddles on 4th of July. Had lots of frozen yogurt and Yogurtland. Colored SO MUCH. Learned to love sunglasses or "eyes".

Getting too big. I read the Divergent Series Part 1 and 2 and am real excited for Part 3. Love our Buzz Lightyear action figure. Discovered what our future profession is-garbage truck driver. Obsessed.

Went on a day trip to a Payson campground for a birthday celebration for my grandpa. It rained and we left quickly-totally soaked. Jack had his first golf lesson in the woods.

Went on the annual Carlsbad, CA Vacation. Best trip ever. We took lots of naps and walks. Watched the closing ceremony of the Olympics. GO Spice Girls! And ate at the best restaurants!

Cutest beach bum.

Digging holes and tunnels in the sand with Dad. It took a while for him to warm up to having sand all over him. He likes to be clean Thank-you-very-much.

Papa calls him the "resort baby" and for good reason. He likes it so much better than the beach because he does not get dirty.

Stayed for Sunset one night. So beautiful. We built a sandcastle while we waited for the sun to go down. The picture on the bottom is Jack mad that we are going home.

It cooled off for a few days in a row and we got to play at the park in the middle of summer. Best treat ever! Hung out with his cousin. Colored some more. Played with Play-Doh for the first time. Such a big boy on Mom & Dad's bed watching a movie while we pack for Utah.

Took a whirlwind trip to Utah for Alisha's wedding. We stayed at Stuart's Aunt & Uncle's house. Jack loved it! Got to see my best friends! Such a treat.

We gave him a tool bench for his 2nd Birthday. To say he is obsessed would be an understatement.

Threw Jack a Paint Party for his 2nd Birthday Party.

The Little Artists.

We played games and Stuart manned the pizza oven for the guests.

Blowing out the candles.

He only ate the frosting on his cupcake. And we had to have 2nd dinner later that night so he could test out his new table. Such a silly boy! We just love this little guy and are so happy he is ours!

What Our Munchkin is Up to and Other Things

Swimming. The water finally warmed up so now he doesn't glare at me like the middle pictures.

Jackson loves: ice cream. coloring. sweeping. hanging out with his favorite cousin. his Buzz Lightyear action figure that his Aunt Lauren gave him.

My favorites lately: summer manicure/pedicures. Madewell. This chapstick. Being Jack's mom. The bottom photo was taken on Mother's Day.

We celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary.

A goal of mine for 2012 was to read a book a month. I love reading and I don't get to do enough of it! These are the last 3 I read. For some reason I missed out on reading "The Outsiders" in high school!

Went on a "stay-cation" in Scottsdale. Best 2.5 days EVER.

It was nice to be missed, however. He didn't leave my side for DAYS.

Last minute road trip to Vegas for my friend, Carolyn's, 30th birthday surprise party. I am pretty lucky in that Stuart thinks he should carry all the luggage! Thanks, Scurr's, for letting us crash at your house!!

Girls that went to Vegas.

Randoms. Top Left: Stuart has started his Bar Prep course and is not home as much. So for a few mornings Jackson wanted to look at pictures on my phone of his Daddy. It makes him smile from ear to ear. Top Right: Toolson's came to town and Jack got to meet Asher! They were fast friends. Bottom: Went to take a few pictures for Britt & Cody of their new darling baby. There is nothing like being around a newborn. So sweet.

Stuart's Law School Graduation

About to play catch up, like I always do! But this is the family journal so I am not giving up!

STUART GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL!
Big accomplishment in his (read: our) life and we are so proud of him!

The ceremony was during Jack's nap time and he was really tired. Decided to lay on the (filthy) ground for a few minutes. If I hadn't been trying to keep him quiet I can pretty much guarantee that he would not have had a chance to do this.

 

Went to dinner at Don & Charlie's that night with his mom & dad, sister/brother-in-law, and his grandpa.

Grad Present from Jack to Daddy.