Happy Birthday Jed

Highlights of the celebration...

Jed is now 27, we were able to use the 2 and 7 from my cake on his, talk about recycling. Anyway, we had a quiet familial get together with an ice cream desert. Oven catching on fire=no dinner for birthday celebration. (That's another story.) Pinata in the rain=soggy, worthless mess. I've spent a decade celebrating birthdays with Jed. The very first present he ever got from me was a GI Joe flashlight ($1 from Wal-Mart.) Other gifts have included, jumping from boxes, pinata's (in the MTC), electronics and children. This year he got his main gift 3 months ago, Jack, the gift that keeps on giving.

I love that Jed and I have been able to grow up together. He always makes fun of me for being older than him but really we're pretty lucky to be close in age and share the same life experiences together. Happy birthday Jed.

Jack's Newborn Pictures

Here are a two of my favorite pictures I had taken of Jack when he was one month old.

Growing so Fast

Can you tell who's who?

Bath time angry face

Post bath happy face

Jack's blessing day January 4th

T & T

T&T You may be wondering "what is that?" Trials and Tribulations of course, the words that are so bad I have to initial them. I have yet to post a spiritual thought yet, maybe because I'm too busy ranting at politicians or birds but I felt very touched by this quote today as I picked out a quick story to read in the Ensign. It puts T&T into a whole new light for me and a little light bulb went on over my head as to the realization of why people say the word joy simultaneously with Trials. So here is the quote...
"Always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by."
-Elder George Q. Cannon

Festivities

All of our random Holiday Moments...


Jara in her new church dress from Grandma Wheeler, she calls it her "rina" (ballerina) dress


Jara and Jenna playing football on New Year's Eve. Jara and Jenna have spent every New Year's together.

Jack still likes to be cuddly.

Jack smiled and cooed all Christmas morning while we opened presents.

Jack and Ella-what a difference only 4 months can make. They are plotting against Jara already!

Jara and Grandpa calling Bingo numbers on Christmas Eve. Everyone won but my mom, the planner of the event. Jordan won makeup he was kind enough to trade to me.

Jara tucking in her baby. If you zoom in you will see "baby" nestled in the blankets.

What happens when you are given treats as you are driving and you throw your diaper bag on the seat. Ooops!

What I found in the shower one morning. This plastic goat keeps appearing in strange places.

The girls singing vocals for guitar hero. Yes, it was that bad. Ashley and I should have let Sublime die with the Suzuki in '99.

Jara chowing down on pizza at Jordan's b-day party, she's actually using a fork.

Jed and his spawn.

Jed and his hedger. I will update when he has groomed our plants into elephants.

Jara and her kitchen. She was so excited when she saw it Christmas morning she covered her eyes and fell to the floor.

What too much Guitar Hero can do to a 2 year old. Now that the holidays are over Jara's rock star era has ended.

Finals

YEAH!!! Jed passed all of his classes, including chemistry! He has now finished and passed calculus, chemistry, AND physics! No more mind combusting classes. He must be pretty smart because he works at least 40 hours a week and has to take care of a family and a church calling. I revamped a song in his honor. The tune is a little off, but if you start the tune over at the second chorus you should get it. Sorry if it is a little immature, stupid, etc.

JOY TO THE WORLD
FINALS ARE OVER!
AND CHEMISTRY IS DEAD!
We'll flush your book down the potty
but it might be naughty.
And we won't be able to get it down.
And we won't be able to get it down.
lalalalalalalalala

But we shall prevail
because we can sale
it to the highest bidder!
And we shall overcome on Amazon.com
And we shall overcome on Amazon.com
lalalalalalalalalaaaaaaaa

Jack's First Month

His favorite thing to do. I love how he sleeps with his arms above his head, if they're not wrapped up.

Already out of newborn clothes and into 3 month size.

After his first bath.

Jack is a wonderful baby, so far. He likes to sleep, eat and be held. He hates baths, diaper changes, and his bassinet. Here are other observations I've made over the past month...

• He sleeps best on either Jed's or my chest curled up in a ball. He's very compact.
• His hair has a reddish tinge to it.
• He is very sensitive, one day I was upset and so was he. He also gets so upset when he is put alone in his bassinet that he pukes. I thought it was just because I was laying him down on his back to quickly after eating, but if I lay him down on his back, next to me, he has no problem. His bassinet has turned into an expensive pacifier holder.
• If he is taken out of his clothes he waves his arms like Frankenstein.
• He takes a pacifier. Hallelujah! And a bottle!
• He snorts, a lot.
• Jara loves him and gives him kisses and says "pet Jack." She also sometimes calls him dude. For example, when he sneezes she says "Acchhoo Dude!" I'm starting to get over the fear she will kill him. Thankfully she hasn't tried to pick him up or wanted to hold him, yet.
• He is starting to make happy coo noises and wave his arms and legs during his wake time.
• He is very strong and "crawls" scrunches to burrow in my neck when I'm laying down holding him.
• He loves touching his face with his hands and it's all I can do to get them away from his mouth to try to feed him. Even in ultra-sound pics he was always touching his face.
• He's developing male pattern balding
• Jara likes to play "This Little Piggy..." with his toes.
• He has very long fingers and toes. How could he not? Jed and I are both at fault for this genetic trait.